Music News

03 Dec 2022

Nick Cannon Hospitalized With Pneumonia

A day after bringing his Wild ‘N Out Live show to New York City’s Madison Square Garden, Nick Cannon found himself hospitalized with pneumonia.

Cannon shared a health update with fans on Instagram, where he posted selfies from his hospital bed.

“Okay, so I guess I’m not Superman… I promised myself I would never be back at this place again… But this is a great lesson to take care of YOU or YOU won’t be able to take care of everyone else,” Cannon wrote in an Instagram post Friday night (Dec. 2).

“Don’t trip though, I don’t need any well wishes or prayers , just some solid rest and I will be back on the journey to becoming stronger than ever… it’s just pneumonia, nothing I can’t handle,” he added.

“Crazy thing is, last night we was just rocking a sold out crowd at Madison square garden in front of thousands of fans, now I’m all alone in a tiny hospital room,” Cannon said. “Life is definitely a rollercoaster!”

He ended the post with the hashtag #LupusWarrior, in reference to his ongoing battle with lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease.

The Wild ‘N Out star, who’s also a host on The Masked Singer, had just checked in with fans earlier in the week, sharing a comedic video to his YouTube channel about the stress of buying holiday gifts for his 11 children.

See Cannon’s update from the hospital below.

03 Dec 2022

Cameron Crowe Adores Recording ‘Almost Famous’ Cast Album

Cameron Crowe believes the spirit of a place lingers long after the moment has passed. That’s what makes recording the Broadway Almost Famous cast album at New York’s iconic Power Station studio so special for him.

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“It’s like going back to the roots of why I love music and what I love about records,” Crowe told The Associated Press during a break in the recording session.

Working in the control room alongside fellow producers Tom Kitt and Scott M. Riesett, Crowe called the process “utterly authentic” as they directed the cast, chorus and band in different studios across multiple levels.

“I have this thing where I believe that the spirits of a place, the spirit of what’s happened in a room stay. The house you lived in, you can go visit. You can feel what happened to you when you lived there,” Crowe said.

Some of the most prominent rock and pop albums were recorded at the legendary studio, including Bruce Springsteen’s The River, David Bowie’s Scary Monsters and Tattoo You by The Rolling Stones.

Standing against the soundboard, Crowe wears that pride on his brow as he tells the latest version of his story through the music. More than another project, Almost Famous was a deeply personal coming-of-age-story for Crowe when he wrote and directed the 2000 film, loosely based on his experiences as a teenage music journalist.

“It was the movie we got to make because Jerry Maguire did really well. And so, the fact that that becomes what we get to take to Broadway just means the power of music.”

That power increased with the addition of original songs, allowing Crowe — with a huge heaping of help from composer Kitt — to transform the stage version into something more than his cinematic love letter to rock ‘n’ roll. Those songs allowed Crowe to tell a more personal story.

“I thought, if we are going to do something for the theater, for the stage, maybe it’s this personal story that’s filled with music that could make people feel that kind of elixir of the movie. And that was always our goal,” Crowe said.

Before the interview, Crowe sat beside Kitt for one more pass at “Something Real,” one of the songs written for the stage version that includes homage to Deep Purple’s “Highway Star.”

Next on the agenda was a cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Ramble On.” Interestingly enough, the time-honored track blended well with the new songs in a morphing of classic rock and show tunes. Crowe credits Kitt with finding that “sweet spot” between the two genres.

“Tom understands what the songs of the day felt like,” he said. “He’ll write a song that feels like it could have been on Madman Across the Water,” the Elton John album.

But the admiration goes both ways. During another recording break, Kitt attributes Crowe with familiarizing him with music of the era.

“Cameron is someone who is just a walking encyclopedia when it comes to music,” Kitt said. “So, I was looking forward just learning from him and hearing new songs and new tonalities that were going to inform the work,” Kitt said.

Released by Sony Masterworks Broadway, the cast recording of Almost Famous will be available for digital purchase and streaming along with physical releases on CD and vinyl March 17. Of course, for now fans can always catch the show at the Bernard Jacobs Theatre on Broadway.

03 Dec 2022

YouTube Is Working to Remove Reposts of Kanye West’s Interview With Alex Jones: Report

YouTube is reportedly working to remove reuploaded video clips of Kanye “Ye” West‘s controversial interview on Alex Jones’ Infowars talk show.

During his appearance Thursday (Dec. 1) on the alt-right conspiracy theorist’s program, Ye shocked viewers by praising Adolf Hitler and the Nazis. “Every human being has something of value that they brought to the table, especially Hitler,” the rapper said. “How about that one?”

Later in the day, Ye was also suspended once again from Twitter after posting an image of a swastika merged with a Star of David.

NBC News reported on Saturday (Dec. 3) that YouTube parent company Google was “working to remove reuploads if the antisemitism in the interview isn’t denounced in the video via added commentary,” according to a statement from the tech giant.

The article also pointed out that other social media platforms, like Twitter, had not yet stated how it would addressed the matter.

Billboard has reached out to representatives for Google/YouTube and Jones’ Infowars for comment.

Ye has been on a monthlong media tour that has found the rapper repeatedly spewing hateful rhetoric aimed at Jewish people, which has led to rapid downfall of his once-formidable fashion and music empire. The reaction from the public was swift, with several companies — including The Gap, Balenciaga and Adidas — terminating their relationships and brand deals with the rapper.

Ye also announced in recent weeks that he intends to run for president again in 2024.

03 Dec 2022

Britney Spears Shares Emotional Tribute to Estranged Sons Jayden James & Sean Preston on Her 41st Birthday: ‘I Send My Love’

Britney Spears shared a sweet message with her estranged teenage sons on her 41st birthday.

The pop superstar took to Instagram on Friday (Dec. 2) to post a loving shoutout to her boys Jayden James, 16, and Sean Preston, 17, whom she hasn’t seen in recent months following a public fallout.

“To both of my boys … I love you … I would die for you !!! God speed my precious hearts !!! I would give anything just to touch your face !!! I send my love … Mamasita,” Spears wrote in separate posts dedicated to each son.

The “Hold Me Closer” singer previously opened up about the painful, prolonged estrangement from Jayden James and Sean Preston, whom she shares with ex-husband Kevin Federline.

“Since they’ve been gone, I’ve honestly felt like a huge part of me has died,” she said in an audio clip posted to her Instagram in September. “Like, literally, I have no purpose anymore.”

Federline told the Daily Mail in early August that the former couple’s sons had been avoiding their mother in recent months, and that they were having a difficult time dealing with her nude images on social media following the end of her 13-year conservatorship.

In addition to her sons, Spears also spent her 41st birthday posting a loving tribute to her estranged sister Jamie Lynn Spears, with whom she’s been in a public war of words for a year.

“It’s my b-day but you’re my heart so I’m thinking about you,” Britney’s caption reads. “Congratulations on being so brave, inspiring, and showing guts and glory in your show !!! You ain’t alone … if anybody knows what that feels like … I get it. My baby sister !!! I love you !!!”

See Spears’ tributes to her sons on Instagram here and here.

03 Dec 2022

5 Uplifting Moments in Latin Music This Week (Dec. 3)

From career milestones and new music releases to major announcements and more, Billboard editors highlight the latest news buzz in Latin music every week. Here’s what happened in the Latin music world this week.

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The year in Latin charts

While Bad Bunny may have owned 2022, Colombian star Karol G is No. 1 on Billboard’s year-end Top Latin Artists – Female chart for a fourth consecutive year. The success comes after her strong showing in 2022 with her fusion of Colombian rhythmic tunes with pop and Afrobeats (“Provenza”) and her collaboration with Becky G on “MAMIII.” At No. 1 on the year-end Top Latin Artists chart is Bad Bunny for a fourth straight year. Earning him the top spot was his success during the 2022 chart year on both the weekly Top Latin Albums chart and Hot Latin Songs chart, as well as his tour earnings as reported to Billboard Boxscore.

More about the year-end Latin charts here.

Shakira’s “Waka Waka” re-emerges

With the 2022 FIFA World Cup in full swing, Shakira‘s “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” has made its debut on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart, peaking at No. 46 on the tally dated Dec. 3. On the Billboard Global 200, it debuted at No. 96. The resurfacing of “Waka Waka” makes her the ultimate queen of World Cup music, as it becomes the only official World Cup song or anthem from previous years to appear on the Billboard global charts.

Niña Dioz scores fútbol-themed ad

Mexican rapper Niña Dioz and U.S. women’s national soccer team player Ashley Sanchez are both starring in the new ‘Donde We All Play’ spot for Taco Bell, that is airing now during the World Cup. The TV spot features her recently debuted track “Siéntelo,” which is about moving forward and pushing the boundaries. “I’m so excited they gave me a platform to elevate my voice through one of the biggest stages in the world because I’m able to represent the Latinx community, being Mexico’s first openly queer rapper and showing the young Latin community that anything is possible,” Niña Dioz said in a statement.

Sanchez added: “I’ve been playing soccer since I was young and to become one of the few Latinas to ever play for the U.S. women’s national team is a huge accomplishment, especially growing up and not seeing much Latin representation in sports. Working with Taco Bell on the campaign allowed me to fuse my cultural heritage and passion for soccer as well as love for the brand to reach a wider audience in hopes that it’ll inspire the younger Latin generation to do what they love.”

Viña del Mar lineup

The Festival de Viña 2023 will feature performances by Latin artists such as Karol G, Maná, Alejandro Fernández, Christina Aguilera and Camilo. Set to take place from Feb. 19 to 24 in Chile, additional artists will be announced soon. The Chilean event’s organizing committee announced that tickets for the general public can be purchased starting Wednesday (Nov. 30) on the PuntoTicket website.

Spotify’s most-streamed Latin artists are …

For the third year running, Bad Bunny was the most streamed artist in the world on Spotify in 2022, the music streamer announced earlier this week.

Beyond Bunny, the most streamed Latin artists on Spotify in 2022 were J Balvin, Rauw Alejandro, Daddy Yankee and Karol G., with slight variations in order between the U.S. and the world. While Balvin came in second in streams in the U.S., Alejandro bested him globally, with Yankee coming in at No. 4 and Karol G at No. 5.

The “Provenza” singer was the most streamed female Latin artist in the world for the third consecutive year. She was followed by Shakira and Rosalía, while Latin heritage artists Camila Cabello and Selena Gomez came in at Nos. 4 and 5 respectively.

02 Dec 2022

Bizarrap & Duki’s ‘Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 50’ Tops Billboard Argentina Hot 100 Chart

Bizarrap is at it again, as his latest collaboration with Duki, “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 50,” tops the Billboard Argentina Hot 100 chart (dated Nov. 26). The track tops the tally after its No. 11 debut the week prior. It’s the DJ and producer’s seventh No. 7, while Duki secures his third.

As “Vol. 50” arrives at the summit, it sends Manuel Turizo’s “La Bachata” to the runner-up slot after its 11-week reign, the longest domination in 2022, and the fifth-most overall.

Meanwhile, Rosalía’s “Despechá” drops 2-3 and Bizarrap and Quevedo’s “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 52” moves 3-4 (the song ruled for eight consecutive weeks starting the July 16-dated recap.) Plus, La Joaqui’s “Dos Besitos,” featuring Salas and Gusty DJ, advances to the top five with a 9-5 ascent.

Elsewhere, Miranda’s “Don” scores the Greatest Gainer of the week as the song surges 79-40. It’s the group’s highest-charting title since its first chart entry in September 2020.

One ranking below, Emilia’s Underground” debuts at No. 40 as the Hot Shot Debut of the week.

Further, four other songs debut this week: Pablo Alborán and Maria Becerra’s “Amigos” joins at No. 43; Trinidad Cardona, Davido and Aisha’s World Cup anthem “Hayya Hayya (Better Together)” opens at No. 47; while Quevedo secures his sixth entry with “Punto G” at No. 78. Lastly, both Punto40 and Marcianeke make their first chart appearance as “Mini Mini” bows at No. 95.

02 Dec 2022

Britney Spears Posts Loving Tribute to Estranged Sister Jamie Lynn Spears, Leaving Fans Stunned

On Friday night (Dec. 2), Britney Spears raised eyebrows among her fans when she posted a loving tribute to her estranged sister Jamie Lynn Spears, with whom she’s been in a public war of words for a year.

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The Instagram post, shared on Britney’s 41st birthday, included two pics of Jamie Lynn — one of her holding a guitar and one of her posing in a kitchen — and gave photo credit to the younger Spears sister in the caption.

“It’s my b-day but you’re my heart so I’m thinking about you,” the caption reads. “Congratulations on being so brave, inspiring, and showing guts and glory in your show !!! You ain’t alone … if anybody knows what that feels like … I get it. My baby sister !!! I love you !!!”

The show the caption is likely referencing is the celebrity reality competition series Special Forces: The Ultimate Test, which premieres next month on Fox and features the younger Spears and other familiar faces competing in the same challenges used in the military’s special forces selection process.

The Spears sisters have been publicly estranged for the past year, with Britney calling out the release of Jamie Lynn’s tell-all memoir Things I Should Have Said and bringing up other grievances in lengthy Instagram captions. “Please please stop with these crazy lies for the Hollywood books !!!” Britney wrote in one such post back in January.

Britney’s fans aren’t convinced that the new Instagram post signals a truce for the feuding siblings. In fact, they’re more convinced that the elder Spears isn’t in charge of her own Instagram account. Billboard has reached out to a rep for Britney Spears to confirm that Britney is behind the new post.

See Britney’s new post and some of the confused fan reaction below.

02 Dec 2022

‘George & Tammy’: How to Watch the Limited Series for Free Without Cable

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George Jones and Tammy Wynette’s tumultuous love story is explored in the new miniseries George & Tammy, premiering on Showtime on Saturday (Dec. 4).

Jessica Chastain stars as Wynette and Michael Shannon as Jones in the limited series, which is based on the book, The Three of Us: Growing Up With Tammy and George.

Michael Shannon and Jessica Chastain George Tammy.

Jessica Chastain and Michael Shannon Talk Playing Tammy Wynette and George Jones, Bouncy Castles…

The lovebirds first met at a Nashville recording studio in 1968 and wed the following year. They went on to welcome a daughter before divorcing in 1975.

“Stand By Your Man,” Wynette’s breakout hit, was released the year she met Jones. Audiences will get to hear Chastain and Shannon sing the former couple’s songs in the series.

“I had so much anxiety and stress about trying to sound like her, but that’s an impossible thing to do,” the Oscar-winning actress shared in a recent interview with Billboard. “She had a once-in-a-lifetime gift.”

Read on for ways to watch and stream George & Tammy online.

How to Watch George & Tammy for Free

George & Tammy will premiere at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Showtime and the Paramount Network.

If you have cable, satellite, T-Mobile or another live TV provider, refer to your channel guide to navigate to Showtime or the Paramount Network. You’ll need a provider log-in to watch or stream George & Tammy at Showtime.com or on the app.

Not subscribed to Showtime? No cable necessary! Join today and get the first 30-days free. After your free trial ends, the subscription will cost $3.99 a month for the first six months but you can cancel anytime.

Showtime

$3.99/month after 30-day free trial

You can also stream free for a week when you add Showtime to your Hulu account or subscribe through Prime Video and pay just $1.99/month for two months.

The limited deal ends Dec. 4 and applies to Showtime, Paramount+, EPIX, STARZ, AMC+, Hallmark Movies Now, Noggin, Lifetime Movies Club, MotorTrends, PBS Kids, BBC Select, PBS Masterpiece, BritBox and other Prime Video channels. Showtime is available on Fubo TV, DirectTV Stream and Sling as well.

To expand your streaming network, bundle Showtime and Paramount+ for just $11.99 a month (free trial included). Streaming from outside of the country? Use ExpressVPN to watch Showtime and more.

Showtime is home to award-wining and cult-favorite movies, documentaries, championship boxing and exclusive series such as The L Word Generation Q, Let the Right One In, The Affair, Ziwe, and The Chi.

Watch the trailer for George & Tammy below.

02 Dec 2022

Cher Gushes Over ‘Fabulous’ New Boyfriend, Even Though ‘On Paper, It’s Kind of Ridiculous’

Cher knows her 40-year age difference with new boyfriend Alexander “AE” Edwards is making headlines, but she doesn’t mind at all.

The 76-year-old icon stopped by The Kelly Clarkson show this week, where she talked about her relationship with the 36-year-old artist. “On paper, it’s kind of ridiculous,” she admitted. “But in real life, we get along great. He’s fabulous. And I don’t give men qualities that they don’t deserve.”

She added that Edwards is “very kind, very smart, he’s very talented, and he’s really funny,” before adding, “And I think he’s quite handsome.”

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Clarkson then asks Cher if it’s true that she’s always thought older men were “intimidated” by her, to which the “Believe” singer replied, that she “would’ve never had a date” if there weren’t younger men in her life. “Older men just didn’t like me all that much,” she explained. “Do you know what I mean? I have had a couple boyfriends that were hovering around my age, but they just didn’t like me for some reason. And maybe younger men don’t care if you’re funny or outrageous and want to do stupid things, and you have the strong personality. I’m not giving up my personality for anybody, okay?”

Cher and Edwards met at Paris Fashion Week in September, and were later spotted holding hands. The rapper and music executive was previously linked to Amber Rose, with whom he shares three-year-old son Slash Electric.

Watch the full clip of Cher on The Kelly Clarkson Show below.

02 Dec 2022

DJ Khaled Pays Tribute to His ‘Brother’ Takeoff at Soundstorm Festival, Reveals That Migos Was Scheduled as Surprise Guest

DJ Khaled took the stage at Soundstorm Festival in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Friday night (Dec. 2), where he took a moment to honor his friend and former musical collaborator, Migos‘ Takeoff, who was shot and killed at age 28 on Nov. 1.

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“We love you brother,” Khaled declared from the stage, as captured by Billboard from the festival. “You’re one of the nicest people I ever met in my life. Every time I talk to you, you said you love me. I hit you back, and said I love you. I’ll never forget my last text with Takeoff. Long live forever Takeoff. He said, ‘Khaled, I’m so happy to call you my brother.’ I’m so happy to you call you my brother, Takeoff.”

The Grammy winning producer went on to play a series of Migos hits including “Fight Night” and “Versace,” before he revealed that the hip-hop trio was scheduled to perform with him at the festival. “It was going to be my surprise guest,” Khaled revealed. “They’re still here. Make some noise for my brother, Takeoff. Takeoff is here right now. We love you. We appreciate you.” I’m doing this for hip-hop. I represent hip-hop across the world.”

Earlier in the day, Houston Police Department Chief Troy Finner announced during a news conference that a man has been arrested and charged in connection to Takeoff’s murder. 33-year-old Patrick Xavier Clark was arrested on the east side of Houston, Texas, on Thursday (Nov. 1), and charged with murder, while another man, 22-year-old Cameron Joshua, was arrested and charged with the unlawful carrying of a weapon.