Music News

06 May 2025

Brandy Returning as Cinderella for Disney’s ‘Descendants: Wicked Wonderland’

Brandy and Rita Ora are returning as Cinderella and the Queen of Hearts for Descendants: Wicked Wonderland, Disney announced on Tuesday (May 6). The fifth installment of the hit Disney Channel Original Movie series is set for release in 2026 on Disney Channel and Disney+.

The two music stars were also featured in 2024’s Descendants: The Rise of Red, in which Brandy returned to the role of Cinderella for the first time since she starred alongside Whitney Houston in the 1997 TV movie Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella. Ora originated the Queen of Hearts role in The Rise of Red.

Also returning are Paolo Montalban as King Charming — who played Brandy’s Prince Charming in the 1997 film too — and Melanie Paxson as Fairy Godmother, making her the only actor to appear in all five Descendants films.

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Kylie Cantrall will once again play the Queen of Hearts’ daughter Red and Malia Baker will reprise her role as Cinderella’s daughter Chloe.

Filling out the Wicked Wonderland cast are: Liamani Segura as Red’s sister Pink; Brendon Tremblay as Maddox Hatter’s son Max; Alexandro Byrd as Luisa Madrigal’s son Luis; Kiara Romero as Captain Hook’s daughter Hazel Hook; Joel Oulette as Robin Hood’s son Robbie; Zavien Garret as Dr. Facilier’s son Felix; Ryan McEwen and Dayton Paradis as the Smee Twins, Squirmy and Squeaky; and Leonardo Nam as the Mad Hatter’s son Maddox.

Kimmy Gatewood will direct Wicked Wonderland — her first time helming a Descendants film — with a script from Tamara Chestna and The Rise of Red writers Dan Frey and Ru Sommer. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the first Descendants film, which debuted on Disney Channel in July 2015.

All four Descendants albums reached No. 1 on both Billboard‘s Soundtracks chart and the Kid Albums chart, and reached the all-genre Billboard 200. The first three titles all reached the top 10 of the Billboard 200, with the first release debuting at No. 1. The four projects have collectively earned 3.9 million equivalent album units in the United States, through May 1, according to Luminate.

See Cantrall and Baker reveal the title of the fifth movie in the series below:

06 May 2025

Ye Storms Off Piers Morgan Interview: ‘We Can Circle Back When You Can Count’

Ye (formerly Kanye West) joined Piers Morgan for another interview on Tuesday (May 6), but the combative chat was short-lived as West stormed off just minutes into the sit-down.

Within the first few seconds, things got contentious when Morgan called him “Ye West,” with Ye responding that he’s dropped West to lose his “slave name.”

“You see that view,” Yeezy said with a serene balcony view of the ocean off the Mallorca coast behind him. “Judge me by the view,” he said when asked how his life is “at the moment.”

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Morgan felt that reply was in “direct contrast” to the sentiments Ye has expressed with unhinged rants on X in recent months.

“I already disagree,” Ye cut off Morgan. “It’s not in contrast. It’s so many people and artists that are championing the idea of expressing who they really are and having to go through the war of being attacked by the banks and to still be here with this view, that’s the win.”

Right before things went off the rails, Ye was offended that Morgan got his follower count wrong on X. Morgan listed 32 million when the exact number is upward of 33.3 million at press time.

“You’re not gonna take inches off my di–, bro,” the Chicago native said. “I’m a gift, bro. Why do all you people in media act like you haven’t played my songs at your weddings, or graduations or at funerals or when your child was born?”

He continued: “You take someone like that’s living, like a [John] Lennon or a Michael Jackson. That nuance right there is idiotic. It just shows the hate that you put out for people that put out love. There’s so much love in the art that I put out.”

The Uncensored host was taken aback, and then West stormed off. “This is what you get for now, we can circle back when you can count.”

Morgan called Ye a “sniveling little coward” and took out his frustrations on streamer Sneako, who was seated next to Ye during the interview. Morgan wanted to “hold Ye accountable,” and he pressed Sneako about standing next to Ye in recent months after the rapper had expressed antisemitic remarks and praised the likes of Hitler and Diddy.

Watch the full interview with Ye below.

06 May 2025

Bebe Rexha Reveals Pregnancy Loss After Azealia Banks’ Met Gala Criticism: ‘I’m Tired of People Commenting on My Weight’

Bebe Rexha is tired of people commenting on her body.

The pop singer/songwriter clapped back on social media after Azealia Banks was trying to play Joan Rivers as she watched the 2025 Met Gala. “Sis gives me – hormonal birth control implant or something,” Banks tweeted on Monday night. “It’s giving Implanon/NuvaRing she needs removed or depo shot that needs to stop happening (I’m not even tryna play her).”

Rexha responded by quote-tweeting that the Harlem rapper should seek some help.

“And you might wanna jump on some type of therapy, sis,” she wrote. “Lexapro worked great for me. something that helps with the deep rooted sadness and chaos you keep projecting. Healing looks good on everyone. Try it.”

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Then in another tweet that has since been deleted, Rexha expressed mental fatigue when it comes to seeing comments online about her body, saying that she suffers from polycystic ovary syndrome and that people should think twice before sharing their opinion on the way someone looks.

“I’m tired of people commenting on my weight,” she tweeted. “I have PCOS and struggle with infertility. I got pregnant, and it didn’t work out and I’ve been carrying that pain in silence. I never owed anyone that truth, but maybe now you’ll think twice before commenting on anyone’s body.”

Over the years, Rexha has been an open book with her fans. In 2019, she revealed on social media that she suffers from bipolar disorder. “For the longest time, I didn’t understand why I felt so sick,” Rexha wrote at the time. “Why I felt lows that made me not want to leave my house or be around people and why I felt highs that wouldn’t let me sleep, wouldn’t let me stop working or creating music. Now I know why.”

She added: “I’m bipolar and Im not ashamed anymore.”

06 May 2025

David Oyelowo Says He Lost Points With His Kids When He Asked: ‘What’s a Doechii?’

David Oyelowo says he lost points with his children after not knowing who Doechii was.

Sitting down for a chat on The Jennifer Hudson Show on Monday (May 5), Oyelowo spoke about his family, which includes his musician wife and his artistic children. However, while the British actor is very close with his family, but clarified that his kids definitely don’t think he’s cool.

“I’m transitioning into full on uncoolness,” Oyelowo said. “I was cool for so, so long and this was really typified the other day. My son is in the music scene, I’m not … and I made the mistake the other day of seeing this word on my phone and saying, ‘What’s a Doechii?’ And they went, ‘Like Doechii?’…”

This is now the second time the Grammy-winning rapper and Billboard‘s 2025 Woman of the Year has come up on J-Hud’s show in recent weeks. Back in April, You star Penn Badgley hit Doechii‘s signature “Anxiety” dance on his way down the backstage spirit tunnel.

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Doechii co-signed Badgley’s dance by commenting: “Exactlyyyy.”

The Swamp Princess’ “Anxiety” dance still has consumed the world. Earlier in April, LISA and her White Lotus castmates all attempted the challenge as well, hopping on TikTok to take part in the Internet craze. “Anxiety” is Doechii’s first top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 10 last month.

Watch David Oyelowo stop by The Jennifer Hudson Show below.

06 May 2025

Gloria Estefan’s ‘Raíces’ Rules Billboard Charts: ‘It’s Both Humbling & Incredibly Emotional for Me’

Gloria Estefan’s “Raíces” lands atop Billboard’s Latin Airplay, Tropical Airplay and Latin Pop Airplay charts (dated May 10).

Having first led Latin Airplay with “Abriendo Puertas” in October 1995, Estefan boasts the longest span of reigning at No. 1: 29 years, six months and three weeks. She also becomes the seventh act to have topped the chart in the 1990s, 2000s, ‘10s and ‘20s.

“To see ‘Raíces’ reach No. 1 across the Latin Airplay, Tropical Airplay and Latin Pop Airplay charts is both humbling and incredibly emotional for me,” Estefan tells Billboard. “It’s been over a decade since I’ve had a song connect on this level, and I’m beyond grateful.”

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Estefan last reached the summit on Latin Airplay in 2012, when “Hotel Nacional” ruled for one week. Prior to that, she topped the list with “No Llores” for two weeks in 2007, marking her fifth No. 1 of the 2000s. She earned her first five leaders in the ‘90s (dating to the chart’s 1994 start).

“Personally, this song is a tribute to where I come from — to my heritage, my culture and the rhythms that shaped me,” Estefan adds of “Raíces” (which translates in English to “roots”). “Professionally, it’s a reminder that music truly has no expiration date when it comes from the heart, and to see Latin music elevated and crossing charts globally really is a dream come true and a testament to the growth of our culture and sound.”

“Raíces” makes its No. 1 breakthrough on Latin Airplay as the song soars 11-1 with the Greatest Gainer honors, awarded weekly to the song with the largest increase in audience among the chart’s 50 titles. It earned 13 million impressions, up 123%, in the week ending May 1, according to Luminate. “Raíces,” released on March 20 under Crescent Moon/Sony Music Latin, received substantial support from Spanish Broadcasting System radio stations during the latest tracking week, led by WZNT, WODA. WRXD and WMEG in Puerto Rico, as well as Miami’s WCMQ, Orlando’s WPYO and Tampa’s WSUN in Florida.

As Estefan achieves her 12th ruler on Latin Airplay, she secures her place among an elite group of artists who have logged at least one Latin Airplay chart-topper in four distinct decades. She becomes the third woman artist to achieve the feat, joining Shakira and Jennifer Lopez. The other such acts overall: Enrique Iglesias (who holds a record 32 No. 1 hits, spanning 1995-2024), Ricky Martin, Marc Anthony and Alejandro Fernández.

With “Raíces” also claiming the top spot on the Tropical Airplay and Latin Pop Airplay charts, it dons a rare triple crown, becoming the first title to top the three tallies since Carlos Vives and Camilo’s “Baloncito Viejo” held command across the June 18, 2022-dated rankings.

On Tropical Airplay, Estefan scores her first No. 1 since “Hotel Nacional” in 2012. On Latin Pop Airplay, she had last led with “No Me Dejes de Querer” in 2000.

Thanks almost entirely to its radio haul, “Raíces” makes its way to the Hot Latin Songs chart, where it debuts at No. 37. It’s her 31st entry, a total that includes 15 No. 1s among 23 top 10s.

“Thank you to the fans, radio and everyone who’s embraced ‘Raíces’,” Estefan says. “You’ve made this journey back to my musical roots so meaningful and unforgettable.”

06 May 2025

Katy Perry Reacts to Viral AI-Generated Met Gala Photo That Tricked Fans (Again)

Another year, another Met Gala, another Katy Perry deepfake.

For a second year in a row, an AI-generated photo falsely depicting the pop star as walking the event’s red carpet made the rounds on social media, tricking fans into thinking she was actually there — something Perry reacted to on Instagram.

Sharing a few of the faux images of herself seemingly at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City — complete with a sleek black dress that doesn’t actually exist, but nevertheless coincides with this year’s Met theme of “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” thanks to the power of artificial intelligence — Perry wrote, “Couldn’t make it to the MET, I’m on The Lifetimes Tour (see you in Houston tomorrow IRL).”

“P.s. this year I was actually with my mom so she’s safe from the bots,” she added. “but I’m praying for the rest of y’all.”

The post comes one year after the same exact thing happened on the day of the 2024 Met Gala, when a fake photo of Perry — who, like this year, was not in attendance at last year’s event — similarly went viral online. That year’s AI-generated snap showed the “Firework” singer in a voluminous ballgown decked out with flowers, matching the 2024 theme of “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” — but again, the dress, much like Perry’s attendance at the past two Met Galas, was not real.

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That didn’t stop the former American Idol judge’s mom from falling for it last year. At the time, Perry shared a screenshot of a text from her mom that said, “Didn’t know you went to the Met … what a gorgeous gown,” to which the singer had replied, “Mom, the A.I. got you too, beware.”

Though Perry was not at the Met this year, countless other stars — from Rihanna to three-fourths of BLACKPINK, Doechii, Sabrina Carpenter and more — were. Co-chaired by A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams, Lewis Hamilton and Colman Domingo, this year’s theme paid tribute to “the role of sartorial style in forming Black identities, focusing on the emergence, significance and proliferation of the Black dandy,” according to Vogue.

As Perry mentioned, she’s currently on the road in support of her 2024 album, 143. The Lifetimes Tour kicked off April 23 in Mexico City; she’s now gearing up for a U.S. leg starting Wednesday in Houston.

06 May 2025

Here’s Why Kid Cudi & Michael B. Jordan Came Up During Jury Selection for Diddy’s Trial

Jury selection began at Diddy’s sex trafficking and racketeering trial on Monday (May 4), and some celebrities like Kid Cudi and actor Michael B. Jordan were mentioned during the selection process.

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According to CNN, the Sinners actor won’t be called to testify as a witness in the case against Diddy. Jordan was previously referenced by Cassie in a 2023 lawsuit against Diddy. Although Cassie didn’t list Jordan by name in the lawsuit, CNN confirmed that she was indeed referring to the actor.

The case, which was quickly settled, alleged that Cassie started a “flirtatious relationship with an actor” in 2015 while she and Diddy were on a break. After spending New Year’s Eve with Jordan, Diddy allegedly called the actor and “threatened” him.

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As for Kid Cudi, he was listed by name in Cassie’s lawsuit against Diddy. Combs allegedly was “enraged” to find out that Cassie and Cudi were communicating in 2012, and he threatened to “blow up Kid Cudi’s car.”

Around the same time, the Ohio rapper’s car blew up in his driveway. Reps for Cudi confirmed Cassie’s allegations to be “all true” in a statement to the New York Times.

Billboard has reached out to representatives for both Jordan and Cudi for comment.

While Diddy settled the lawsuit filed by Cassie, he’s denied all of the allegations against him and an attorney representing him said that the settlement isn’t an “admission of wrongdoing.”

Opening statements in Diddy’s case are set for May 12, which is being overseen by U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian. Diddy’s legal team is led by Marc Agnifilo along with Teny Geragos and Alexandra Shapiro. Brian Steel, who represented Young Thug in his RICO case, is also on board.

If found guilty on sex trafficking or racketeering charges, Diddy potentially faces life in prison.

06 May 2025

Lil Durk Rap Lyrics, Diddy Jury Selection, Led Zeppelin Lawsuit & More Top Music Law News

This is The Legal Beat, a weekly newsletter about music law from Billboard Pro, offering you a one-stop cheat sheet of big new cases, important rulings and all the fun stuff in between.

This week: Prosecutors delete Lil Durk’s lyrics from his murder-for-hire case, jury selection begins in Diddy’s sex-trafficking trial, Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page is sued over a decades-old credits dispute and much more.

THE BIG STORY: Rap On Trial — Or Not?

When federal prosecutors indicted Lil Durk on murder-for-hire charges last year, they quoted from one of his songs, claiming the lyrics were a direct reference to the alleged shooting and evidence of his guilt.

That was a controversial choice. The use of rap music as evidence in criminal cases has drawn pushback in recent years, as critics argue it threatens free speech and can sway juries by tapping into racial biases. Some states have moved to restrict the practice, but many have not — and there are no such rules in federal prosecutions.

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In Durk’s case, his lawyers strongly objected to the use of his music, arguing the song in question was written and recorded months before the shooting even took place. They called the lyric allegations “false evidence” that had been unfairly used to indict him and to deny him pre-trial release. In a public statement, Durk’s family said he had been the latest rapper to be “criminalized for their creativity.”

Prosecutors initially defended the move, arguing that Durk had “repeatedly used his pulpit as a voice of violence.” But in an updated version of the indictment released last week, they backed down — removing all reference to his lyrics and instead focusing on other allegations tying him to the shooting.

The case against Durk will continue — in a separate filing, the feds stressed that the new indictment still contains “significant allegations that show defendant’s alleged role in the execution-style murder” — but it will do so without his lyrics.

Other top stories this week…

DIDDY TRIAL, EXPLAINED – Jury selection is officially underway in the sex trafficking trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs, ahead of opening statements next week. To get you up to speed before the trial gets underway, I put together an exhaustive explainer on everything you need to know about the Diddy trial — from the exact charges he’s facing, to key players in the courtroom, to the Cassie Ventura tape and much more.

AIN’T OVER YET – A federal appeals court revived a lawsuit claiming Sam Smith and Normani stole key elements of their 2019 hit “Dancing With a Stranger” from an earlier track, ruling that a judge prematurely dismissed the case and should have sent it to a jury. That’s a worrying ruling for any artist hit with a song-theft lawsuit; if such disputes must be litigated all the way to trial to be decided, they become dramatically more expensive.

WHOLE LOTTA LITIGATION – Led Zeppelin‘s Jimmy Page was hit with a new lawsuit over the credits to “Dazed and Confused,” reviving a decades-old dispute over the iconic track. Jake Holmes has claimed for years that he actually wrote the song, and he reached a legal settlement with Page back in 2012 to resolve those allegations. But in the new case, Holmes says Page is effectively ignoring the settlement and has released archival recordings that infringe Holmes’ copyrights.

SCENT SETTLEMENT – Revlon and Elizabeth Arden have fully settled a corporate espionage lawsuit, filed last year, that claimed several former employees “sabotaged” the companies’ decades-old fragrance partnership with Britney Spears and took the business to an upstart rival called Give Back Beauty. The settlements clear the way for Give Back Beauty to formally take over Britney’s lucrative perfume brand, which reportedly earns tens of millions per year.

JAY V. BUZBEE GOES ON – Jay-Z filed an unusual new allegation in his legal war with attorney Tony Buzbee, accusing the lawyer of ordering employees at his law firm to edit Wikipedia pages in an effort to damage the rapper’s reputation. The new claim was the latest salvo in a bitter fight that started when Buzbee filed a shocking lawsuit accusing Jay-Z of raping an unnamed girl decades ago.

06 May 2025

Streamer N3ON Signs Record Deal With EMPIRE

Content creator and streamer N3ON has signed a record deal with EMPIRE, the company tells Billboard.

Through the agreement, which EMPIRE calls the first of its kind with a streamer, the label will release a collaborative project from N3ON and his network of creatives. Jake Moritt at Proper Loud, a management company that specializes in bringing creators to music, is on the project’s creative team.

N3ON has already made some forays into music. The content creator previously hopped on stage with NAV and Flo Rida and attended late-night studio sessions with Big Sean and Murda Beatz, according to a press release. He also introduced audiences to the Billboard Hot 100-charting track “Tweaker” by Gelo (a.k.a. LiAngelo Ball) during a stream earlier this year.

“We’ve been interested in partnering with a streamer for a while now but it just had to make sense and be the right fit,” Nima Etminan, COO of EMPIRE, said in a statement. “I had the chance to spend some personal time with N3on and get to know him, it’s clear he has his head on straight, takes his work seriously and has remained humble despite all the attention. I think he has a bright future ahead of him.”

Harrison Golding, EMPIRE’s senior vp of strategic marketing, echoed Etminan’s sentiment, adding, “N3on is a key force of internet culture. His platform and collaborations with today’s biggest music artists is breaking through the noise. Partnering with him to craft a project — the first of its kind from a top streamer — is going to continue to shift how streaming and music culture can collaborate.”

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“I am grateful for this opportunity, and I am ready to show the world what this network of creatives can make. Happy I can be a resource for others even more,” N3ON added in a statement.

The deal comes after N3ON linked with Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) in Spain earlier this week.

06 May 2025

Loyle Carner Shares Pair of Intimate Singles From Upcoming LP, Announces World Tour

Loyle Carner shared two new songs on Tuesday (May 6) from his upcoming album hopefully !, due for release on June 20 (Island EMI). “about time” and “lyin” are the third and fourth songs to be released as singles from the record following “all i need” and “in my mind,” which were released in April.

Both tracks were inspired by his role as a father, with “about time” – the LP’s closing track – featuring a snippet of Carner speaking with his young son, and “lyin” being informed by the changes in his life since having children.

The recent Billboard U.K. cover star recently announced a world tour that kicks off in October and runs through the U.K. and Europe, Australia and North America into 2026; his four shows at London’s historic O2 Brixton Academy in London sold out instantly. On June 27, he will headline Glastonbury’s Other Stage alongside Charli XCX and The Prodigy; headliners on the Pyramid Stage are The 1975, Neil Young and Olivia Rodrigo.

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Speaking to Billboard U.K., Carner discussed the new indie influences on the record such as Fontaines D.C., Mkgee and Big Thief, as well as forming his own band for the recording sessions. “I loved the anonymity of being in a band,” he shared. “I wanted to be around when the magic is happening and to not just be sent a beat after all the fun parts had already happened. I wanted to move away from the words being all that I can contribute.”

He added, “As a rapper, the insecurity is that I don’t have any musical talent or whatever, so I’m like, ‘F–k, I better fill every gap so people know that I was there, too.’ But now I don’t mind people hearing a song and I’m barely on it, because I’m so across from everything else [in the creative process].”

Carner’s new album, hopefully !, will be his fourth and his first since 2022. Carner’s debut Yesterday’s Gone (2017) was nominated for the Mercury Prize; Not Waving But Drowning (2019) landed at No. 3 on the U.K.’s Official Albums Chart; hugo (2022) landed a second Mercury Prize nomination and saw the Londoner headline the 35,000-capacity All Points East Festival in the capital.

Listen to his two new songs below:

Loyle Carner ‘hopefully !’ World Tour Dates

  • Oct. 7 – Stockholm, Sweden @ Annexet
  • Oct. 8 – Oslo, Norway @ Sentrum Scene
  • Oct. 10 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ AFS Live 
  • Oct. 11 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ AFAS Live
  • Oct. 13 – Copenhagen, Denmark @ KB Hallen
  • Oct. 15 – Berlin, Germany @ UFO im Velrodrom
  • Oct. 16 – Hamburg, Germany @ Sporthalle
  • Oct. 18 – Munich, Germany @ Zenith
  • Oct. 19 – Zurich, Switzerland @ Halle 622
  • Oct. 21 – Frankfurt, Germany @ Jahrhunderthalle
  • Oct. 22 – Cologne, Germany @ Palladium
  • Oct. 24 – Paris, France @ Zenith
  • Oct. 25 – Brussels, Belgium @ Forest National
  • Nov. 2 – London, England @ O2 Academy Brixton
  • Nov. 3 – London, England @ O2 Academy Brixton
  • Nov. 4 – London, England @ O2 Academy Brixton
  • Nov. 5 – London, England @ O2 Academy Brixton
  • Nov. 7 – Cardiff, Wales @ Utilita Arena
  • Nov. 9 – Dublin, Ireland @ 3Arena
  • Nov. 12 – Glasgow, Scotland @ O2 Academy
  • Nov. 13 – Glasgow, Scotland @ O2 Academy
  • Nov. 14 – Glasgow, Scotland @ O2 Academy
  • Nov. 18 – Newcastle, England @ O2 City Hall
  • Nov. 19 – Newcastle, England @ O2 City Hall
  • Nov. 20 – Birmingham, England @ O2 Academy
  • Nov. 21 – Birmingham, England @ O2 Academy
  • Nov. 23 – Manchester, England @ O2 Victoria Warehouse
  • Nov. 24 – Manchester, England @ O2 Victoria Warehouse
  • Nov. 25 – Manchester, England @ O2 Victoria Warehouse
  • Dec. 2 – Brisbane, Australia @ Fortitude Music Hall
  • Dec. 4 – Sydney, Australia @ Sydney Opera House Forecourt
  • Dec. 6 – Melbourne, Australia @ Sidney Myer Music Bowl
  • Dec. 9 – Perth, Australia @ Metro City
  • Feb. 19, 2026 – Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
  • Feb. 21, 2026 – Toronto, ON @ History
  • Feb. 22, 2026 – Montreal, QC @ Beanfield Theatre
  • Feb. 24, 2026 – Boston, MA @ Royale
  • Feb. 26, 2026 – Washington, DC @ The Fillmore
  • Feb. 27, 2026 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Paramount
  • March 3, 2026 – San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom
  • May 3, 2026 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Novo