Music News

30 Mar 2023

Here’s Why Fans Think Kelly Clarkson Is Calling Out Her Ex in Her Cover of Gayle’s ‘ABCDEFU’

Kelly Clarkson was not playing around in her latest Kellyoke performance. The three-time Grammy winner sang a fiery cover of Gayle‘s viral hit “abcdefu” on The Kelly Clarkson Show Thursday (March 30), after which fans were quick to notice that she’d made a few pointed lyric changes — which they believe are directed at her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock.

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Right from the start, Clarkson made the 2023 Grammy song of the year nominee her own, belting out tweaked lyrics as strobe lights and electric guitar raged behind her. “Forget you, and your dad, and the fact that you got half,” she sang, an immediate departure from the original words. “And my broken heart, turn that s–t into art.”

The “Stronger” singer later repeated those lines in place of the song’s chorus, which usually goes, “F–k you and your mom and your sister and your job/ And your broke a– car and that s–t you call art.”

The lyric change, particularly “the fact that you got half,” seemed indicative of Clarkson’s high profile 2022 divorce settlement with Blackstock, to whom she was married from 2013 to 2020 — at least, it did to fans, who also picked up on some extra passionate facial expressions and hand gestures the Voice coach added to the new Kellyoke cover. “The finger listing at the end, all the eyebrow raising…we see and hear you @kellyclarkson,” tweeted one fan in response to a video of the performance.

“Oh she real mad at Br*ndon!!” tweeted another.

“On the video’s YouTube page, more fans shared their belief that the singer was calling out her ex.

“‘the fact that you got half’ — yesss drag him!!!” wrote one viewer. “my broken heart, turn that bullsh*t into art — new album coming!”

“Kelly is putting Narvel and Brandon on some serious blast,” added another. Narvel is Blackstock’s dad, who is a producer and manager. The elder Blackstock was previously married to Reba McEntire for 26 years.

Billboard has reached out to Clarkson’s reps for comment.

Clarkson first filed to split from Brandon in June of 2020. In December of that year, she was granted primary custody of their two children, River and Remington. In March of 2022, the former couple finalized the terms of their divorce, with the American Idol alum agreeing to pay her ex $1.3 million in addition to monthly child support. 

Her flaming new Kellyoke cover comes just a few days after Clarkson announced her next album Chemistry, which doesn’t yet have a confirmed release date. The record will explore the complicated emotions she experienced in the wake of her breakup and her adjustment to life as a single mom, as well as the evolution of her past relationship.

“I was trying to find a word, it might be one of the songs on the album, but I was trying to find a word that really described the whole thing,” she said while announcing the project Sunday (March 26). “I didn’t want everybody to think I was just coming out with some ‘I’m angry,’ ‘I’m sad’ — just one or two emotions. This album is definitely the arc of an entire relationship.”

Watch Kelly Clarkson cover Gayle’s “abcdefu” on The Kelly Clarkson Show below:

30 Mar 2023

NF Announces the Hope Tour With Special Guest Cordae

With NF gearing up for his fifth studio album, HOPE, slated for an April 7 release, the Michigan rapper is building anticipation for his upcoming effort by announcing his latest tour. 

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The massive 47-show trek will cross through North America, Canada, Europe and the U.K. Beginning July 12 at Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio, NF’s North American leg will feature special guest Cordae as the two rappers will coast through the U.S. while making stops in cities including Boston, Philadelphia and Anaheim, Calif. After completing the U.S. and Canadian portion of their tour, NF will embark on his 16-date European leg, beginning Sept. 23 at the Fabrique in Milan.

Fans in the U.S. and Canada can now register for the Verified Fan system. Registration closes April 2 at 11:59 p.m. ET. General on-sale tickets will begin Friday, April 7, at 10 a.m. local time and can be purchased here. 

NF’s last body of work came in 2021 with Clouds (The Mixtape). The 11-track effort debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and included its Hot 100 hit “Clouds.” Before that, he netted two No. 1 Billboard 200 albums, including 2017’s Perception and 2019’s The Search. As for his upcoming effort, NF previously released several singles, including “HAPPY” and “MOTTO.” The project will also have features from Julia Michaels (“GONE”) and Cordae (“CAREFUL”).

Take a look at the dates for the HOPE TOUR below. 

U.S. + Canada tour dates:

  • Wed Jul 12 — Columbus, OH — Schottenstein Center *
  • Fri Jul 14 — Rosemont, IL — Allstate Arena
  • Sat Jul 15 — Minneapolis, MN — Target Center
  • Sun Jul 16 — Lincoln, NE — Pinnacle Bank Arena
  • Tue Jul 18 — Grand Rapids, MI — Van Andel Arena
  • Thu Jul 20 — Newark, NJ — Prudential Center
  • Fri Jul 21 — Boston, MA — Agganis Arena
  • Sat Jul 22 — Philadelphia, PA — The Liacouras Center
  • Mon Jul 24 — Greensboro, NC — Greensboro Coliseum Complex
  • Tue Jul 25 — Huntsville, AL — Propst Arena at the Von Braun Center
  • Wed Jul 26 — Nashville, TN — Bridgestone Arena
  • Fri Jul 28 — Orlando, FL — Addition Financial Arena ^
  • Sat Jul 29 — Duluth, GA — Gas South Arena
  • Mon Jul 31 — North Little Rock, AR — Simmons Bank Arena
  • Tue Aug 01 — Tulsa, OK — BOK Center
  • Wed Aug 02 — Fort Worth, TX — Dickies Arena
  • Fri Aug 04 — Glendale, AZ — Desert Diamond Arena
  • Sat Aug 05 — Anaheim, CA — Honda Center
  • Sun Aug 06 — San Francisco, CA — Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
  • Tue Aug 08 — Portland, OR — Veterans Memorial Coliseum
  • Wed Aug 09 — Seattle, WA — WAMU Theater
  • Fri Aug 11 — Salt Lake City, UT — Vivint Arena * 
  • Sat Aug 12 — Denver, CO — Ball Arena
  • Wed Aug 23 — Vancouver, BC — Rogers Arena
  • Fri Aug 25 — Calgary, AB — Scotiabank Saddledome
  • Sat Aug 26 — Edmonton, AB — Rogers Place
  • Sun Aug 27 — Saskatoon, SK — SaskTel Centre
  • Tue Aug 29 — Winnipeg, MB — Canada Life Centre
  • Fri Sep 01 — Toronto, ON — Scotiabank Arena
  • Sat Sep 02 — Ottawa, ON — Canadian Tire Centre
  • Sun Sep 03 — Laval, QC — Place Bell

^Without support from Cordae

Europe and U.K. tour dates:

  • Sat Sep 23 — Milan, Italy — Fabrique 
  • Sun Sep 24 — Zurich, Switzerland — Halle 622 
  • Tue Sep 26 — Vienna, Austria — Gasometer 
  • Wed Sep 27 — Munich, Germany — Zenith
  • Fri Sep 29 — Düsseldorf, Germany — Mitsubishi Electric Halle
  • Sat Sep 30 — Amsterdam, Netherlands — AFAS Live 
  • Sun Oct 1 — Paris, France — L’Olympia 
  • Tue Oct 3 — Frankfurt, Germany — Jahrhunderthalle
  • Thu Oct 5 — Hamburg, Germany — Sporthalle
  • Fri Oct 6 — Berlin, Germany — Max-Schmeling-Halle
  • Sun Oct 8 — Brussels, Belgium — Forest National 
  • Tue Oct 10 — Manchester, UK — O2 Victoria Warehouse 
  • Wed Oct 11 — Glasgow, UK — O2 Academy 
  • Thu Oct 12 — Dublin, Ireland — 3Olympia Theatre 
  • Sat Oct 14 — Cardiff, UK — Great Hall 
  • Sun Oct 15 — London, UK — Eventim Apollo 

30 Mar 2023

Kesha Warns: ‘Don’t Get Surprised If S–t Gets Ugly’ on Snippet of New Song, ‘Fine Line’

After previewing the trippy new track “Eat the Acid” earlier this month, Kesha posted a snippet of another new song on her Instagram Story on Thursday (March 30). And in keeping with the singer’s cards-on-the-table radical honesty songwriting vibe, it said the loud part out loud.

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The snippet of the whispery ballad “Fine Line” finds the singer wondering how she can keep toeing the line and hold her tongue amid the madness. “There’s a fine line I’ve been walking/ I’m trying to balance, it’s exhausting/ This is where you f—ers pushed me,” she sings over a faint keyboard.

The pace picks up as her ire rises, singing, “Don’t be surprised if s–t gets ugly/ All the doctors and lawyers that cut the tongue out of my mouth/ I’ve been hiding my anger, but b—h, look at me now/ I’m at the top of the mountain with a gun in my head/ Am I bigger than Jesus, or better off dead?”

The chorus plays off a familiar trope, with a Kesha, twist, of course. “There’s a fine line between genius and crazy/ There’s a fine line between broken and breaking/ Whole life trying to change what they’re saying about me/ Sick of walking that fine line.”

The singer also re-previewed a song she dropped a snippet of earlier this month, the appropriately spacey, trippy “Eat the Acid.” Over quick-picked acoustic guitars, she sings, “I searched for answers all my life/ Dead in the dark, I saw the light/ I am the one that I’ve been fighting the whole time/ Hate has the place in the divine.”

The track then ramps up with a choir of angelic voices and a thrumming beat as the chorus kicks in: “You said don’t ever eat the acid/ If you don’t want to be changed like you changed me/ You said all the edges got so jagged/ Now everything you saw then can’t be unseen.”

The singer — whose official website features the bold-letter tease “Kesha is coming” — also posted a cryptic video on Instagram on Thursday in which she stands in the desert with her arms outstretched as a haunting instrumental plays behind her with the message, “You never know that you need something to believe in when you know it all.”

A spokesperson for Kesha could not be reached for comment at press time in response to Billboard‘s question about whether the songs are slated for the follow-up to her fourth studio album, 2020’s High Road.

See Kesha’s post below.

30 Mar 2023

Chlöe Bailey Says Comparisons to Sister Halle ‘Piss Me Off’: ‘That Gets Under My Skin the Most’

It’s Chlöe x Halle, not Chlöe vs. Halle. While sitting down with Latto on the “Big Energy” rapper’s 777 Radio show Thursday (March 30), Chlöe Bailey opened up about feeling sick of people pitting her against her younger sister and bandmate.

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“Honestly, it really pisses me off,” the “Have Mercy” musician said. “I think out of everything, that’s the thing that gets under my skin the most, when people are comparing us because we are best friends, we’re sisters.”

“Sometimes we forget that we’re not twins and it’s like, don’t mess with my blood,” added Bailey, who presented Latto with the Powerhouse Award at the Billboard Women in Music Awards earlier this month. “Don’t mess with her. Sometimes I just have to brush it off because people only see what they want to make up, what they want to believe.”

Speaking of the Little Mermaid live action star, Bailey also spoke about her sister’s romance with rapper DDG. “I am so protective of my sister,” she told Latto. “But seeing how happy she is, I’m happy. I told him I had my eye on him.”

If rumors are to be believed, Halle isn’t the only Bailey sister with a man — though Chlöe remained tight-lipped about her rumored relationship with Quavo. “He’s a really nice guy,” was all she divulged about the Migos rapper, with whom she’ll costar in Peacock’s Praise This, despite all of Latto’s efforts to uncover more.

The Grownish star did, however, reveal that she has had love enter her life recently — whether or not Quavo is part of it — something that’s helped her create the music on her new album, In Pieces, out Friday (March 31). “I never went to high school,” she told Latto. “I was homeschooled for high school. So it’s like all the experiences, falling in love, falling out of love, breaking up, making up, all of that, I’m going through it now.”

“So it’s really been motivating the lyrics,” Bailey continued. “And when I’m angry, instead of crying or wanting to throw things, I just sit there and I write, and then I’m like, “OK, s–t.”

Watch Chlöe Bailey chat with Latto about Halle Bailey, Quavo and more on 777 Radio below:

30 Mar 2023

Miranda Lambert Addresses Whether She’d Be Interested in a ‘Yellowstone’ Role

Miranda Lambert is opening up about whether fans could someday see the reigning ACM entertainer of the year on the hit television series Yellowstone.

During her interview with Entertainment Tonight, it was noted that certain scenes from the series feature posters from Lambert’s 2009 Revolution album.

“My baby posters … I was, like, 19 in that picture,” Lambert pointed out.

Lambert’s fellow country artist Lainey Wilson has a recurring role on the series, portraying a musician named Abby, while the series also heavily features country music by artists including Wilson, Zach Bryan, Flatland Cavalry, Myron Elkins and Ryan Bingham. Meanwhile, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill starred in the Yellowstone prequel 1883.

Lambert didn’t completely rule out the possibility of appearing on the show.

“I’ve never been an actress, it’s not my favorite thing. If I can play myself, which I am today, that’s a little bit easier on me,” Lambert said.

At present, Lambert is gearing up for the April 25 release of her book Y’all Eat Yet? Welcome to the Pretty B*tchin’ Kitchen, written with author/journalist Holly Gleason.

If Lambert did ultimately choose to make a Yellowstone cameo, it would not be her first acting role. The 38-time ACM Awards winner previously appeared in a 2012 episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, where she portrayed an actress who claimed to have been assaulted by a television producer.

30 Mar 2023

Slash, Wynonna Judd & More Set for Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute During CMT Music Awards

CMT is set to pay tribute to the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd with a power-packed performance during Sunday’s (April 2) CMT Music Awards. Guns N’ Roses lead guitarist Slash will join Wynonna Judd, Billy Gibbons, Chuck Leavell, Cody Johnson, Paul Rodgers, Warren Haynes and LeAnn Rimes as part of the performance, which comes half a century after the 1973 launch of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s self-titled debut album.

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The Lynyrd Skynyrd album included many of the group’s signature hits, including “Simple Man,” “Gimme Three Steps” and “Free Bird.” The tribute performance also follows the death of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s final original founding member, guitarist Gary Rossington, who passed away on March 5 at age 71.

Johnson and Rodgers will lead vocals with Gibbons, with Slash and Haynes on electric guitar for a one-time-only performance of a pair of timeless Lynyrd Skynyrd hits. Nashville studio musicians Ethan Pilzer and Rich Redmond will round out the lineup on bass and drums. Rimes and Judd will fill the role of The Honkettes.

Rossington’s wife and band member Dale Krantz Rossington is set to attend the event, along with fellow Lynyrd Skynyrd members Johnny Van Zant and Rickey Medlock.

In 2016, Lynyrd Skynyrd appeared on CMT Crossroads with Brantley Gilbert. The CMT Music Awards will air live on CBS, from the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, and will stream live and on-demand on Paramount+.

The tribute performance joins previously announced performances from Darius Rucker with The Black Crowes, as well as sets from Carrie Underwood, Jelly Roll, Tyler Hubbard, Ashley McBryde, Carly Pearce and CMT Music Awards co-hosts Kelsea Ballerini and Kane Brown.

30 Mar 2023

Faith Hill, Meghan Markle & More to Be Honored at 2023 Gracie Awards

The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation revealed on Thursday (March 39) the winners of the 48th annual Gracie Awards, which recognize outstanding programming and achievements by women, for women and about women.

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Among the winners this year are Faith Hill, Meghan Markle, Christina Applegate, Ava DeVernay, Amanda Seyfried, Danielle Monaro, Shelley Wade, Abbott Elementary, TODAY, The Drew Barrymore Show, frontline journalists and more. The theme of the 2023 celebration is “storytelling,” which highlights the narratives shared by the inspiring, informative winners.

Additionally, the Showtime series The First Lady will be honored with the prestigious Grand Award, which signifies a distinct level of talent, dedication and production. During the ceremony, the Gracie Awards will feature a special in-show moment dedicated to recognizing women directors, following a record number of women director submissions, serving as an important reminder of the crucial role that women play in molding the stories that we see on screen.

“As we close out Women’s History Month, it is important to remember the legacy of Gracie Allen, the inspiration behind these esteemed awards,” AWMF President Becky Brooks said in a press statement. “This year’s recipients exemplify Gracie Allen’s spirit through their exceptional talent, innovation, and vision. Their steadfast dedication to their craft and their tenacious resolve to break boundaries serve as a compelling testament to the essential role women play in molding the cultural landscape. We eagerly anticipate celebrating their outstanding accomplishments.”

The Gracie Awards Luncheon will take place at Cipriani in NYC on June 20. See the full list of honorees here.

30 Mar 2023

Mother of Flo Rida’s Son Files Suit After Child’s Fall From Fifth Floor Window

The mother of Flo Rida‘s six-year-old son has filed a lawsuit against the owners of a rental property after Zohar P. Dillard was seriously injured in a March 4 fall from a fifth-floor window of her New Jersey apartment building.

According to People, Dillard’s mother, Alexis Adams, is named as a plaintiff in the negligence suit — along with her special needs son — in documents submitted to the Superior Court of New Jersey on Monday (March 27) against Pitch Perfect 74, LLC, Goldberg Management and others. The legal action came after the child was reportedly seriously injured in a fall in which he landed on a patch of concrete below the window; a spokesperson for Goldberg had not returned Billboard‘s request for comment on the suit at press time.

A spokesperson for Flo Rida (born Tramar Lacel Dillard) did not return Billboard‘s request for comment at press time; the rapper is reportedly not a party to the lawsuit.

According to a copy of the lawsuit obtained by New Jersey’s Daily Voice, Zohar suffered a shattered pelvis, left metatarsal fractures, a grade 3 liver laceration, internal bleeding and collapsed lungs in the incident and he remained in the ICU as of Wednesday (March 29). “As a single mom to a special needs child, this feels like a nightmare,” Adams told the Voice. “My heart is broken into a million pieces. It is devastating to see my child go through such pain and trauma knowing that this could’ve been avoided.”

Adams’ attorney, Steven P. Haddad, demanded a jury trial and claims the building’s managers are at fault for maintaining the building in a “negligent, careless and reckless manner creating foreseeable and dangerous conditions,” according to People. The suit claims that management installed “incorrect sized guards” on the windows on the fifth-floor apartment, “thereby breaching their duty of care.” At press time Haddad had not returned Billboard‘s request for comment on the filing.

The suit is seeking an undisclosed amount of damages for Dillard’s current and future medical bills, legal feels and any ongoing and future medical and mental pain and suffering.

30 Mar 2023

Here’s Why Missy Elliott Thinks Her ‘Craig of the Creek’ Role Is ‘Perfect’ for Her

Add another entry to Missy Elliott’s already lengthy list of credits. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominee and Grammy-winning artist will guest star on Cartoon Network’s hit series Craig of the Creek. The episode will premiere Monday, April 3 (5 p.m. ET/PT).

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Titled “The Jump Off,” the episode finds series characters Craig, Cannonball, Sparkle Cadet and Diane gearing up for a Double Dutch tournament. When the group asks Craig’s mom Nicole for a few pointers, she tells them a story about her own Double Dutch rivalry with a girl named Carla Frazier, voiced by Elliott, at the regionals (pictured holding the trophy in the art above).

“I’m so excited to be part of this Craig of the Creek episode,” Elliott tells Billboard exclusively via email. “Voicing the Carla character was perfect for me as I am a huge Double Dutch fan. I hope the fans enjoy the episode!”

According to Jeff Trammell, one of the writers of “The Jump Off” episode, the idea of Elliott voicing a guest role on the series took shape while the team was working on the show’s Halloween episode, “Trick or Creek.” Supervising director Tiffany Ford had pitched the notion of having Craig’s mom, Nicole, dress up as Elliott’s iconic image from the rapper’s video for “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly).”

“The second the [costume] idea came up,” Trammell tells Billboard, “we knew we had to pay homage to one of the greatest musicians of our lifetime and thought it would be cool if Missy somehow saw it. The fact that she not only saw it but was a fan of our shoutout meant the world. So we were hopeful she’d agree to do an episode of ‘Craig of the Creek.’ Needless to say, once Missy agreed, we were thrilled and thought a fun twist on Nicole’s costume would be to have Missy voice Nicole’s (extremely one-sided) rival Carla Frazier, jump-rope extraordinaire. As with everything, Missy knocked it out of the park. We couldn’t have been more excited to work with her; a dream come true for the entire crew.”

See a clip from “The Jump Off” below:

30 Mar 2023

Lizzo Announces Yitty Line of Gender-Affirming Shapewear: ‘You Deserve to Feel Like You’

When Lizzo says Yitty is for everybody, she really means every body. The musician announced Thursday morning (March 30) that her clothing company will soon be rolling out a line of gender-affirming shapewear called “Your Skin,” including binders and tucking thongs for all gender identities.

“Introducing.. YOUR SKIN by @Yitty,” Lizzo wrote in an announcement posted to her social media accounts. “You deserve to feel like you. You deserve to feel good in Your Skin.”

“We’ve been working on this a long time & it’s finally ready!” the “About Damn Time” singer added. “Binder tops & tucking thongs coming this summer !”

Lizzo also included preview photos of the upcoming products in her post, featuring models showing off form-fitting tops and bottoms made out of black and purple fabric. The four-time Grammy winner has long been vocal about her support for LGBTQ rights. In fact, Yitty’s new line comes just a couple weeks after Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed highly controversial bills targeting trans and nonbinary youth, which Lizzo has denounced.

“When we say we support every body, we mean it,” read a separate Your Skin announcement on the official Yitty Instagram account, which noted that the “passion project” has been in the works for two years. “We believe in radical self-love for people of all gender identities — including the trans, non-binary, gender-fluid and gender non-conforming communities that have been chronically underserved. So, we decided to take our expertise and create styles that serve those very same communities.”

“It is our mission to continue serving all bodies, which is why these core styles will always be available at YITTY, starting late summer 2023,” the announcement concluded. “And this is just the beginning. We hope you can feel the love in every stitch.”

See Lizzo’s Your Skin announcement below: