Music News

13 Dec 2022

Matty Healy Kisses Phoebe Bridgers in Cheeky Snap With Bo Burnham: ‘Gay Poets Society’

Matty Healy showed off his affection for Phoebe Bridgers in a new social media post on Monday (Dec. 12).

In the Instagram photo, the frontman of The 1975 puckers up for a closed-eyed smooch on the lips with Bridgers as Bo Burnham stands behind the pair with his hands on each of their shoulders. “Gay Poets Society,” Healy captioned the post, referencing the 1989 classic Dead Poets Society starring Robin Williams, Ethan Hawke, Josh Charles and more.

Naturally, fans of both artists went crazy over the pic, with one commenting, “What was more culturally significant? The Renaissance… or this photo.” Another wrote, “Bold of you to assume dead poets society isn’t gay.”

“Why is this my 2021 Spotify wrapped,” a third added.

Several others made reference to Normal People‘s Paul Mescal, who’s been in a relationship with Bridgers since 2020. “PAUL MESCAL DO SOMETHING,” one follower hilariously wrote in all caps, while another commented, “The only thing that could make this better is if paul mescal was involved.”

This is hardly the first time Healy’s publicly locked lips with a fellow musician, either. At the end of November, he engaged in a brief but passionate onstage kiss his long time bandmate Ross MacDonald during The 1975’s concert at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco. (“The luckiest girl in the world,” the bassist joked at the time, sharing the photo on his own Instagram feed.)

Meanwhile, Bridgers recently teamed up with SZA for their new collab “Ghost In the Machine” off the R&B star’s long-awaited sophomore album SOS.

Check out Healy and Bridgers’ Burnham-approved kiss on Instagram.

13 Dec 2022

Ronnie Turner’s Cause of Death Revealed

Nearly a week after Tina Turner‘s youngest son, Ronnie Turner, died at age 62 on Dec. 8, Billboard has confirmed his cause of death.

According to Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s office, Ronnie died from complications of metastatic colon carcinoma, an advanced-stage type of cancer which originates in the colon and has spread to other parts of the body. The documents also noted that while it wasn’t his primary cause of death, Ronnie also had atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

When TMZ initially shared the news of his death, the publication reported that police received a call that Ronnie was not breathing and later arrived on the scene to revive him with CPR, but were unsuccessful.

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Following the tragic news, the legendary “The Best” singer took to Facebook to mourn her youngest son, whom she shared with late ex-husband Ike Turner.  “Ronnie, you left the world far too early. In sorrow I close my eyes and think of you, my beloved son,” she wrote.

Ronnie’s wife, Afida Turner, also grieved her late husband on Instagram, when she posted a series of pictures of him along with the caption, “MY GOD RONNIE TURNER A TRUE ANGEL HIUGE SOUL HIGHLY SPIRITUAL MY HUSBAND MY BEST FRIEND MY BABY IYOUR MUMMY YOUR NURSE I DID THE BEST TO THE END THIS TIME I WAS NO ABLE TO SAVE YOU LOVE U FOR THIS 17 YEARS THIS IS VERY VERY VERY BAD I AM VERY MAD THIS IS A TRAGEDY U WITH YOUR BROTHER CRAIG AND YOUR FATHER IKE TURNER AND ALINE REST IN PARADISE SO UNFAIR.”

13 Dec 2022

Taylor Swift Spends Record-Extending 57th Week Atop Artist 100 Chart

Taylor Swift continues her command of the Billboard Artist 100 chart as she logs a record-extending 57th week at No. 1 (on the list dated Dec. 17).

Swift holds as the top musical act in the U.S. thanks to her latest album Midnights, which ranks at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart after five weeks at No. 1 with 143,000 equivalent album units earned in the Dec. 2-8 tracking week, according to Luminate.

Swift scores nine albums on the latest Billboard 200, the most among all acts. After Midnights, she appears with Folklore (No. 26), Lover (No. 42), Red (Taylor’s Version) (No. 43), Evermore (No. 45), 1989 (No. 71), Reputation (No. 111), Fearless (Taylor’s Version) (No. 116) and Speak Now (No. 195).

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Swift also places five songs from Midnights on the Billboard Hot 100, led by former six-week No. 1 “Anti-Hero” at No. 6.

Swift has now spent seven weeks at No. 1 on the Artist 100 in 2022, passing The Weeknd for the second-most this year after Bad Bunny (eight).

Elsewhere on the Artist 100, Metro Boomin re-enters at No. 3, a new high, thanks to his new sophomore LP Heroes & Villains. The album launches at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, becoming his third leader, after 2018’s Not All Heroes Wear Capes and 2020’s Savage Mode II, with 21 Savage.

Plus, BTS’ RM re-enters the Artist 100 at No. 8, a new high, thanks to his debut solo album, Indigo. The set arrives at No. 15 on the Billboard 200 (31,000 units), while its single “Wild Flower,” with Youjeen, starts at No. 83 on the Hot 100, becoming his first solo entry outside BTS. The K-pop boy band has spent 21 weeks at No. 1 on the Artist 100, the most among groups and the fourth-most overall after Swift, Drake (37) and The Weeknd (28), dating to the survey’s 2014 inception.

RM is the sixth BTS member to hit the Artist 100 solo, after Jung Kook (No. 47 peak, earlier in December), Jin (No. 10, November), J-Hope (No. 9, July), V (No. 57, January) and Suga (No. 57, December 2021, after he soared to No. 4, billed as Agust D, in 2020).

The Artist 100 measures artist activity across key metrics of music consumption, blending album and track sales, radio airplay and streaming to provide a weekly multi-dimensional ranking of artist popularity.

13 Dec 2022

Mark Tuan & Lana Del Rey Top Hot Trending Songs Chart

Mark Tuan’s “Broken” lands atop Billboard’s Hot Trending Songs chart, ranking at No. 1 on the Dec. 17-dated survey.

Billboard’s Hot Trending charts, powered by Twitter and sponsored by Xfinity Mobile, track global music-related trends and conversations in real-time across Twitter, viewable over either the last 24 hours or past seven days. A weekly, 20-position version of the chart, covering activity from Friday through Thursday of each week, posts alongside Billboard’s other weekly charts on Billboard.com each Tuesday, with the latest tracking period running Dec. 2-8.

Originally released as part of Tuan’s album The Other Side on Aug. 26, “Broken” – along with “Let U Go,” which swoops in at No. 7, from the same album – ranks high as fans reminisce about and post videos from Tuan’s fall North American tour.

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It’s followed by Lana Del Rey’s new song “Did You Know There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd” at No. 2, the first taste of Del Rey’s upcoming album of the same name, due March 10, 2023. Concurrently, “Blvd,” which was released Dec. 7, bows at No. 34 on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart with 1.7 million official U.S. streams and 1,000 downloads.

SZA’s “SOS,” the title track from her new album released Dec. 9, starts at No. 3 as prospective listeners discussed the album’s tracklist after she shared it Dec. 5. More gains are possible for the album on the Hot Trending Songs tally dated Dec. 24.

Keep visiting Billboard.com for the constantly evolving Hot Trending Songs rankings, and check in each Tuesday for the latest weekly chart.

13 Dec 2022

Taylor Swift Is 33! Which of Her Songs Is Your Favorite?

Taylor Swift is feeling 33! The superstar rang in her latest birthday on Tuesday (Dec. 13), and as Swifties the world over celebrate their queen’s day, Billboard wants to know which of her songs is your favorite.

But rather than go for just the straightforward hits, we’ve done something a little different. Yes, some of Tay’s biggest singles are here. But we’ve also rounded up fan favorites and deep cuts from each of the singer’s eras among our 33 choices.

Back in her teenage days, Swift made a name for herself with singles such as “Tim McGraw,” “Our Song” and “Love Story,” but her fervent fandom learned every word of devastating album tracks including “White Horse” and “Dear John” too. And, of course, you’re an early Swiftie if you know that her third album, 2010’s Speak Now, got its original working title from “Enchanted.”

Taylor’s status as a Billboard Hot 100 titan kicked off in earnest with the release of 2012’s Red, when lead single “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” became her first career No. 1. But it wouldn’t be a birthday-appropriate poll if we didn’t include “22” alongside the hopeful “Begin Again” and 1989 tracks such as “Blank Space,” “Style,” emotional closer “Clean” and bonus cut “New Romantics.”

Emerging from her Reputation era with a new hold on her narrative and unforgettable like “I Did Something Bad” and “New Year’s Day,” Tay gave us the single that never was in the form of Lover‘s “Cruel Summer” before surprising the world with the twin releases of Folklore and Evermore in 2020.

In the age of her re-recordings, Swift has given her fans even more music, including vault tracks such as “Mr. Perfectly Fine” off Fearless (Taylor’s Version), and the mythical 10-minute version of “All Too Well” from Red (Taylor’s Version).

And ahead of her birthday, she, of course, capped off her latest trip around the sun with the complete domination of Midnights, which earned the star her biggest Hot 100 hit since 2014 with “Anti-Hero.”

To celebrate her birthday, vote for your favorite Taylor song below.

13 Dec 2022

Adam Sandler to Receive 2023 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor

Adam Sandler is set to receive the 2023 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor on March 19, 2023 in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall in Washington, D.C.

Sandler, who was a cast member of NBC’s Saturday Night Live from 1991 to 1995, is the seventh former cast member of that long-running show to receive the honor, a sign of its profound influence on American comedy. He follows Billy Crystal, Tina Fey, Will Ferrell, Eddie Murphy, Bill Murray and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. In addition, Lorne Michaels, who created the show, received the honor in 2004.

“Adam Sandler has entertained audiences for over three decades with his films, music, and his tenure as a fan favorite cast member on SNL,” Kennedy Center President Deborah F. Rutter said in a statement. “Adam has created characters that have made us laugh, cry, and cry from laughing. I am looking forward to a laughter-filled evening like no other as we celebrate his career at a ceremony that is sure to bring together the best in comedy.”

Over the past 30 years, Sandler has enjoyed success as a comedian, actor, writer, producer, and musician. His films, including Grown Ups, Big Daddy, The Longest Yard and The Waterboy, have grossed more than $3 billion worldwide.

Sandler’s work has been recognized with nine People’s Choice Awards, five MTV Movie Awards and 10 Kids Choice Awards. He has also been nominated for a Golden Globe Award, four Emmy Awards and three Grammy Awards. 

Sandler has also made his mark on the Billboard charts. His first two comedy albums, They’re All Gonna Laugh at You! and What the Hell Happened to Me? each logged more than a year on the Billboard 200. Three of his albums – What the Hell Happened to Me?, What’s Your Name? and Stan and Judy’s Kid – have made the top 20 on that chart. His “The Chanukah Song” has been a holiday perennial since its release in 1995.

Previous recipients of the Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize are Richard Pryor (1998), Jonathan Winters (1999), Carl Reiner (2000), Whoopi Goldberg (2001), Bob Newhart (2002), Lily Tomlin (2003), Lorne Michaels (2004), Steve Martin (2005), Neil Simon (2006), Billy Crystal (2007), George Carlin (2008), Bill Cosby (2009; rescinded in 2018), Tina Fey (2010), Will Ferrell (2011), Ellen DeGeneres (2012), Carol Burnett (2013), Jay Leno (2014), Eddie Murphy (2015), Bill Murray (2016), David Letterman (2017), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (2018), Dave Chappelle (2019) and Jon Stewart (2022).

The event was created by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Bob Kaminsky, Peter Kaminsky, Mark Krantz and John Schreiber. The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is the nation’s busiest performing arts facility. It hosts more than 2,000 performances for audiences totaling nearly 2 million annually.

Sponsorship packages for the Mark Twain Prize gala performance, which start at $1,300 and include a pre-performance reception, gala performance tickets, and a post-performance celebration, are on sale now and can be reserved online or through the Development Office by emailing mtp@kennedy-center.org. Information about limited sales of performance-only tickets will be made available at a later date.

Performance tickets will be available at the Kennedy Center Box Office, online at kennedy-center.org, and via phone through Instant Charge, (202) 467-4600; toll-free at (800) 444-1324. For all other ticket-related customer service inquires, call the Advance Sales Box Office at (202) 416-8540.

13 Dec 2022

Diplo Teases Forthcoming Country Song Featuring Kodak Black & Koe Wetzel on TikTok: Watch

Thomas Wesley is riding his horse back into the collective consciousness.

In a video uploaded yesterday (Dec. 12) to TikTok, the producer sidles up to the check-in counter at a lavish hotel. “Checking in for Diplo?” the hotel concierge says. “No, this time it’s Thomas Wesley,” counters the artist. He then winks at the camera before the video cuts to a shot of him strutting down a hallway while putting on a white cowboy hat while a clip of what is presumably his forthcoming country crossover plays.

The clip’s caption notes that “Thomas Wesley is back in business” and IDs the song as “Wasted,” a project with Kodak Black and emerging outlaw country singer Koe Wetzel. No release date for the song has been announced.

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“Wasted” marks a return to country for Diplo, who released his debut album in the genre, Diplo Presents Thomas Wesley, Chapter 1: Snake Oil, in 2020. The lead single from the album, the Morgan Wallen collaboration “Heartless,” spent 39 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 29. The album, which also included collaborations with Leon Bridges, Noah Cyrus, Cam, Zac Brown, Julia Michaels and more, spent 25 weeks on the Billboard 200, and peaked at No. 50.

“We’re reaching people without Nashville giving us the approval,” Diplo told Billboard of his work in the country genre in a 2020 cover story. “We don’t really need it. With streaming services, you don’t need to be on the radio. Country records go for, like, a year to reach the charts. I’m into that. I’m learning from that.”

Watch Diplo’s TikTok teasing his new song “Wasted” below.

13 Dec 2022

Selena Gomez Posts Throwback Video Proving She Manifested Her 2023 Golden Globe Nomination: Watch

Selena Gomez is officially a Golden Globe nominee, and there’s one person who’s definitely very proud of her right now: Her younger self. To celebrate the news that she’s been nominated for best actress in a TV series, musical or comedy at next year’s awards, the 30-year-old star posted an old video in which she confesses in an interview that her big dream has always been to do exactly that.

Gomez shared the throwback to TikTok Tuesday (Dec. 13), one day after it was announced that her performance in Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building had received a Golden Globe nod. In the video, a much younger Selena sits for a TV interview and talks about her experience attending that year’s Grammy awards.

When an interviewer asks her if she aspires to receive a Grammy nomination of her own someday — which for the record, did end up happening in 2021, when her record Revelación was in the running for best latin pop album — she says her sights are set more on acting-based awards.

“I think it would be an honor, of course, but I’m more of a Golden Globe or Oscar girl,” young Selena says.

Modern day Selena captioned the TikTok: “Dreams do come true!! GUYS IM NOMINATED FOR A GOLDEN GLOBE. brb gonna scream.”

Fans in the comments were quick to congratulate the “Rare” singer on the milestone. “Look at how far you’ve come selena we’re so proud of you,” wrote one. “Emmy, grammy and golden globe nominations all in one year,” replied another, referencing Only Murders‘ Emmy recognition in this year’s outstanding comedy series category. “We call her slaylena for a reason.”

Fans have a little less than a month until the awards ceremony on Jan. 10 next year to see if Gomez will go from Golden Globe nominee to Golden Globe winner. Also nominated in the best TV actress category are Abbott Elementary‘s Quinta Brunson, The Flight Attendant‘s Kaley Cuoco, Wednesday‘s Jenna Ortega and Hacks’ Jean Smart.

See Selena Gomez’s TikTok below.

13 Dec 2022

Blake Shelton Once Sent Jennifer Hudson a Goat for Christmas

Blake Shelton stopped by Jennifer Hudson‘s talk show on Monday (Dec. 12) to reminisce about the time he gifted her a goat — yes, an actual goat — for Christmas.

“I missed you! We wanted you to come back to The Voice, not start your own freaking talk show!” the country star joked with his former co-star before plugging the singing competition’s season 22 finale.

Eventually, the conversation turned to gifts the two pals had given one another over the years, and Hudson turned to the audience to ask, “Y’all know Blake sent me a whole goat?” As it turns out, the present was actually a request from the Oscar winner’s 13-year-old son, who asked Shelton all about the farm animals on the set of The Voice.

“It was this time of year, it was the fall season,” he clarified. “I think at some point I asked you, I said, ‘I really would like to get him a goat for Christmas.’ And so, got him a pygmy goat.

“But then then the season was over and I wasn’t gonna see y’all, so I had to, like, get an airplane to fly this freaking goat from Oklahoma to Chicago,” Shelton continued. “I mean, this goat had, like, a first-class ride.”

Hudson went on to share that her son named the pygmy goat Prancer and called the experience “one of the most memorable Christmases for my kid, ever.”

Watch Shelton and Hudson recount the story of the Christmas goat below.

13 Dec 2022

Nick Kroll Sings Harry Styles’ Praises in a Personal Essay: ‘He’s So F–king Charming’

Harry Styles and Nick Kroll have got to be one of the best bromances to come out of 2022. After bonding this year as costars on set of Don’t Worry Darling and forming a friendship off screen, Kroll has now helped Entertainment Weekly celebrate the pop star — named one of the publication’s entertainers of the year — by writing a sweet personal essay about his admiration for Styles.

“If Harry Styles were just to put out an album or just go on tour or just put out one movie, that would be an accomplishment,” Kroll wrote in the piece, published Monday (Dec. 12). “The fact that he is able to do all of these things in the same year — and then, still be a human being who you can drop in and have a real conversation with — is incredible.”

Kroll then briefly touched on the public’s fixation with Styles’ personal life — likely referring to the “As It Was” singer’s relationship with Darling director Olivia Wilde, though the two have reportedly split — which he called “the elephant in the room.” “To navigate all of that, stay above the fray and to continue to try to make his art, it’s a tightrope to walk,” the comedian wrote. “He is able to navigate it with a ton of class and grace.”

According to Kroll, the Grammy winner’s kindness was always evident on the set of Darling, to which Styles apparently showed up every day with coffee, doughnuts or extra vitamin C packets for the cast and crew. “He was always providing for people in a very nice way,” the Big Mouth creator wrote. “One of the things that I enjoyed about him as an artist — but also now as someone who I know — is that he really doesn’t take himself, or any of it, too seriously. When you’re someone in his position, that’s hard.”

“He’s so f—ing charming — you feel like you’re watching someone who is in the room with you at that moment,” he added.

Kroll closed out the tribute to his costar-turned-friend by recalling their famous kiss at the Venice Film Festival (at which Styles also made headlines for appearing to spit on Chris Pine’s lap — though the Star Trek actor denies it).

“He made me much cooler with my nieces and nephews (and many, many people) by very publicly kissing me at the Venice Film Festival,” he wrote. “It was one of the most surreal moments in my life. That was not planned. No matter what I accomplish in my life, it will probably go somewhere in my obituary: ‘father, comedian, creator, and also someone kissed by Harry Styles.’”

“I gotta say, I ain’t mad at it,” Kroll concluded. “That’s his power.”