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After publicly hard-launching her romantic relationship, Lucy Dacus is taking a moment to acknowledge her recent friendship with pop star Chappell Roan.
In a new interview with People, Dacus revealed that she and the “Pink Pony Club” singer have become friends over the course of the last year, saying that she is “really cherishing” her “new friendship” with the pop phenom.
Pointing to a recent example of that new rapport, Dacus said that Roan was there to support her when she was having a rough time recently. “I had kind of a bad week a couple of weeks back, where putting out music just feels worse, and it made me wonder if I should just skip to the part of my life where I live off the land and have a job that isn’t my name,” she said. “And [Chappell] was just like, ‘No, what you make is important and makes a lot of people feel less lonely.’”
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That relationship has proven to be a two-way street. When Roan was feeling overwhelmed with her sudden, meteoric rise to international recognition last year, the singer told Rolling Stone that Dacus and her Boygenius bandmates Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker were there to talk her through the experience of sudden fame, and how bad fan interactions can often feel “abusive and violent.”
Dacus recalled that same instance in her new interview, explaining that all three members of her rock supergroup know what it’s like to go from cult following to sudden, headline-making success. “When she was feeling spread really thin, all of us in Boygenius were encouraging her and telling her that it’ll die down,” she said. “It is just a really spinny trip when everybody has something to say about you.”
The news comes during a big week for Dacus. Along with continuing to promote her fourth studio album, Forever Is a Feeling (out March 28), the “Talk” singer also confirmed that she is in a relationship with Boygenius bandmate Baker in an interview with The New Yorker. “I want to protect what is precious in my life, but also to be honest, and make art that’s true,” Dacus said of her decision to open up about her relationship. “I think maybe a part of it is just trusting that [my relationship]’s not at risk.”
Roan, meanwhile, is fresh off the release of her country anthem “The Giver.” In a conversation on Amazon Music’s Country Heat Weekly, Roan said that her jump to the country genre was simply born out of a funny idea rather than a new direction for her music as a whole. “I’m not trying to convince a country crowd that they should listen to my music by baiting them with a country song,” she said. “I just think a lesbian country song is really funny, so I wrote that.”
Jelly Roll and Bunnie XO are currently in the midst of a challenging IVF journey, but it has its perks.
In a hilarious video shared by the Dumb Blonde podcaster on TikTok Tuesday (March 18), she comes down off of anesthesia following a fertility treatment. “Not gonna lie, I love propofol,” she says drowsily, lying back in a hospital bed as a healthcare professional tends to her. “That’s good s–t.”
“I’m f–king high as hell,” Bunnie continues in the clip, verbalizing her stream of consciousness. “I’m so thankful, praise Jesus … Did I poop on the doctor?”
For the record, the entrepreneur did not poop on the doctor, as the caregiver in the room quickly assured her.
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As good of a time as she appeared to have this time around while sedated, Bunnie shared in the comments that she had been “so stressed” about having to undergo anesthesia leading up to the procedure. “Mrs. Bunnie doing what she can for babies regardless of being terrified of anesthesia!” one fan had written, to which she replied, “I didn’t even sleep last night I was so stressed.”
The “Son of a Sinner” singer and Bunnie first revealed that they were trying to welcome children through in vitro fertilization in June last year. The two stars are already parents to 16-year-old Bailee, whom Jelly welcomed in a previous relationship but now shares full custody of with Bunnie. Jelly also has a son, Noah, from a previous relationship.
“My wife and I are talking about having a baby,” the country star said at the time on the Bussin’ With the Boys podcast, after which Bunnie clarified on Instagram, “We had planned on doing this privately, but decided our IVF journey needed to be shared because we’ve always been so open. And w/ all odds stacked against us, it’s already been hard and we have only just begun. We have been meeting with IVF doctors & exploring all our options to add to our family.”
Jelly is currently on tour in support of his Billboard 200-topping album Beautifully Broken. In April, he’ll kick off his joint stadium trek in North America with Post Malone.
While he’s on the road, Bunnie has seemingly been holding down the fort at home while continuing with her IVF treatments. In another TikTok shared a few days prior to the video about her latest clinic visit, she sits in a chair and acts out calling her husband on the phone, hilariously mouthing along to an audio that says, “I’m f–king cleaning, like I’m always doing.”
“When my husby is working hard on tour in another country & I’m at home baking eggs in my ovaries chilling by the pool,” she captioned the clip.
See Bunnie’s post-anesthesia TikTok below.
It would have been a trio for the ages. According to a new interview with Barbra Streisand‘s A&R rep Jay Landers, when the singer was working on her 1993 Back to Broadway album, in the midst of recording some of the Great White Way’s most beloved tunes by Oscar Hammerstein, Richard Rodgers, Stephen Sondheim, Kurt Weill, Leonard Bernstein and Frank Loesser, someone came up with the brilliant idea to cover the Annie Get Your Gun classic “Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better” as a duet with Madonna and another very special guest.
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“David Foster created a demo and we said, ‘well, who could we do this with?’” Landers said. “And we chose Madonna and… Bette [Midler]. So it was going to be the three of them.” As envisioned at the time, the triple-headed vocal extravaganza would then end with all three women in the lady’s room, with Madonna and Bette kvetching, “‘God, she’s such a b–ch! She’s so controlling’ and this and that and the other thing and blah, blah, blah. And then we hear another stall open and, ‘Ladies! I’m in here!’ And that’s how the song was going to end,” he said.
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Landers noted that Foster had cooked up a “brilliant” arrangement for the trio that started off in a manner similar to the Irving Berlin-penned version we all know and love, in which Annie Oakley and Frank Butler engage in a playful musical game of one-upmanship; the original version appeared in the Ethel Merman/Ray Middleton 1946 cast recording for the show. But when it came to the Madonna section where she sings, “Anything you can sing, I can sing sweeter,” Landers said Foster dropped in a “Madonna disco beat.”
Similarly, when it came to Midler’s section, Foster slid in a “Wind Beneath My Wings”-style motif. “So it touched upon their sounds,” Landers explained. “Really clever.” Landers’ job was to wrangle all three women, who, amazingly, all agreed to do the session. That is, he lamented, until Madonna was unable to participate at the last minute for an undisclosed reason.
Watch Landers tell his musical fish-that-got-away story below.
Tom Corson, co-chairman/COO of Warner Records, is set to receive the City of Hope’s 2025 Spirit of Life Award. It will be presented this fall at the annual Spirit of Life Gala in Los Angeles. For more than 50 years, the music industry has united around the Spirit of Life campaign, raising nearly $170 million to support City of Hope’s research and treatment efforts — mainly focused on cancer and diabetes.
“It is a profound honor to be recognized as this year’s Spirit of Life honoree,” Corson said in a statement. “At Warner Records, we often say it’s not just about the song — it’s about the artist. In the same way, City of Hope isn’t just about treatments — it’s about the people, their dreams, and their futures. When I sit down with an artist, we talk about their goals and aspirations, and we work to make those dreams a reality. That same spirit of transformation is at the core of City of Hope’s mission: turning hope into tangible breakthroughs for patients fighting cancer. The music industry has always been about more than entertainment; it’s about connection, transformation, and impact. I am proud to stand with my peers in championing this cause and supporting the vital and lifesaving work City of Hope does every day.”
Evan Lamberg, president of Universal Music Publishing Group North America and chairman of City of Hope’s Music, Film and Entertainment Industry (MFEI) board, said Corson’s honor was well-earned: “Tom has been an unwavering supporter of City of Hope for years, and his leadership and dedication to both our industry and this cause make him a truly deserving honoree.”
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Alissa Pollack, executive vp of global music marketing at iHeartMedia and president of City of Hope’s MFEI board, added: “Tom Corson has been a driving force in shaping modern music, and his philanthropic passion reflects that same commitment. The Spirit of Life campaign reminds us of the power of music to heal and inspire, and Tom’s leadership will help us elevate that message even further this year.”
“We are thrilled to honor Tom Corson as this year’s Spirit of Life recipient,” said Kristin Bertell, chief philanthropy officer at City of Hope. “Tom’s leadership, both in the music industry and as a long-time member of the Music, Film and Entertainment Industry Board, exemplifies the transformative spirit that defines our work.”
The honor is a cornerstone of the MFEI’s annual philanthropic campaign. This year, the campaign takes on even greater significance as Los Angeles continues to recover from January’s devastating wildfires — events that not only displaced families but also contributed to long-term health risks due to toxic smoke exposure.
A group of key industry executives founded City of Hope’s MFEI group in 1973. The Spirit of Life Award is the organization’s most prestigious honor. Past honorees include Jay Marciano, Lyor Cohen, Shelli and Irving Azoff, Edgar Bronfman Jr., Coran Capshaw, Eddy Cue, Clive Davis, Sir Lucian Grainge, Allen Grubman, Quincy Jones, Rob Light, Monte and Avery Lipman, Doug Morris, Mo Ostin, Bob Pittman, Jon Platt and Sylvia Rhone.
Since Corson joined Warner Records in January 2018, the storied label has had success with such new and established artists as Dua Lipa, Zach Bryan, Michael Bublé, Benson Boone, Teddy Swims, Rufus Du Sol, Linkin Park, Cher, Dasha, Red Hot Chili Peppers, JISOO, Josh Groban, Gary Clark Jr., Green Day, The Black Keys, Saweetie, NLE Choppa and Omar Apollo.
Corson came to Warner Records from RCA Music Group, where he spent nearly 18 years and most recently served as president/COO. He began his career in the music industry as a college intern at IRS Records. Upon graduating from UCLA, he joined the label as director of West Coast sales. Corson moved to A&M Records in 1985, advancing to vp of marketing. In 1990, he was named senior vp of marketing at Capitol Records. From 1996 to 2000, he served as senior vp of marketing at Columbia Records.
Corson has appeared on the Billboard Power 100 list for the last 14 years. On this year’s list, published in January, he and Warner Records co-chairman/CEO Aaron Bay-Schuck were listed at No. 15. Billboard’s capsule entry noted, in part: “Since taking over Warner in 2018, they’ve signed stars Zach Bryan, who was a 21-time finalist for the 2024 Billboard Music Awards; Teddy Swims and Benson Boone, who are both nominated for best new artist Grammys; Dasha, who ‘crossed over in pop and country,’ Corson says; and rapper NLE Choppa, who hit 9 billion career total streams. The label also relaunched Linkin Park, which released its first studio album in seven years, From Zero, and debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200.”
In addition, Corson and Bay-Schuck were named 2024 Variety Hitmakers Executive of the Year. Corson is a member of the Recording Academy and the Music and Entertainment Industry board for City of Hope and also sits on the executive committee of the board of directors for the T.J Martell Foundation. He is also the chairman of the UCLA School of Music Business’ board of advisors.
Colombian reggaetón star Ryan Castro has signed a global publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music, the company tells Billboard. Born in Medellín, Castro released his debut album El Cantante del Ghetto, a nod to his journey from street busking to bona fide hitmaker, last year. “Joining Warner Chappell is a big step in my career as an […]
Durand Jones & The Indications are back and it’s “Been So Long.” The soul group – officially the trio of Durand Jones, Aaron Frazer and Blake Rhein – are returning Wednesday (March 18) with the announcement of their fourth studio album Flowers (out June 27 on Dead Oceans) and lead single “Been So Long.”
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Their latest offering – the first since the release of the band’s funky Private Space in 2021 – is a callback to their soulful roots featuring 11 tracks that reflect “a strong sense of the band’s maturation and conviction.” According to the group, Flowers is “grown and sexy, fit for cruising, and delight in the softer side of soul and disco.”
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“We are all in our 30s, have all been through ups and downs in our personal lives and professional lives, and flowers are a sign of maturity, growth, spring, productivity,” Jones said in a release.
Much of the self-produced album was written together at Rhein’s Chicago home studio, and many tracks are based on one-take demos.
“We took the spirit of play that started the project and added in the wisdom and lessons we’ve acquired through the years,” Frazer said.
Lead single “Been So Long” is a toe-tapping jam that reveals the band’s renewed sense of camaraderie as they sing in unison: “Itʼs been so long/ Since weʼve been gone/ Itʼs good to be back together.”
Of the single, the band says, “ʻBeen So Longʼ felt like a natural choice for the first single from the new album. Although it hasnʼt been that long since weʼve been apart, it is the longest stretch the band hasnʼt toured or released music in nearly a decade. The feeling of returning to your hometown is not unlike getting back together with your band mates after a spell. Some things have changed nearly beyond recognition, while others are exactly as you always remembered.”
For the “Been So Long” video, Jones, Frazer and Rhein take center stage alongside Chicago musicians Wyatt Waddell and Michael Damani (who also feature on the track’s background vocals) for some beautifully choreographed moves that harken back to the city’s deep soul heritage. Check out the video below.
“When I think of Flowers, I think of this sense of naturalness. There’s a lot of courage in showing the human side of making music,” added Rhein. “We spent the most energy playing to each other’s strengths and learning how to support each other. Being able to make art from an intuitive level takes a lot of confidence, not second guessing yourself, not asking if it’s going to be well received.”
The Latin Recording Academy has announced several major updates to its eligibility guidelines on Wednesday (March 19) for the 26th annual Latin Grammy Awards.
Among the updates is the addition of a new field for visual media and the introduction of two new categories: best music for visual media and best roots song — singles or tracks only, with the latter falling under the traditional field.
These changes aim to reflect the Latin Academy’s “commitment to evolve with the ever-changing musical landscape, and to best serve its membership body of music creators and professionals,” as noted in the press release. These updates take effect immediately for the awards scheduled for November.
The category of music for visual media will recognize “original music created to accompany and enrich the storyline of movies, television series, video games and other visual media.” To qualify for this category, a project must either incorporate Latin rhythms that are recognized as eligible genres for the annual Latin Grammy Awards, or be composed by an individual of Ibero-American heritage.
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Meanwhile, the best roots song award will be given to the songwriters of “new, unpublished recordings, both vocal and instrumental, that reflect the traditions and roots of various communities, cultures, or social groups, especially those of Hispanic American origin, whether in Spanish, Portuguese or in indigenous languages or dialects,” notes the release. It will highlight works in genres like tango, folk, flamenco, and other traditional subgenres.
Other amendments include category renaming. In the pop field, “best pop vocal album” will now be called “best contemporary pop album”; in the children’s field, “best Latin children’s album” is being renamed to “best children’s album”; and in the urban field, “best urban fusion/performance” will be named “best urban/urban fusion performance.” The later category will now require 60% urban elements for eligibility, rather than 51%. “Remixes are eligible only if the original version of the song was released within the same eligibility year,” states the official announcement regarding the urban field.
Additionally, the songwriter of the year category reduced its minimum song threshold from six to four, while producer of the year will now undergo screening “by a specialized committee in addition to the membership screening and voting process.”
For more information, visit LatinGRAMMY.com.
Crowdsurfing can sometimes feel like a trust-fall: you are hoping against hope that the people you’ve put your faith in will be there to grab you before you crash to the ground. At least that’s how it’s supposed to work. That definitely was not the case on Sunday night (March 16) when producer/DJ The Dare […]
Of course Joe and Kevin Jonas were in the house on Tuesday night (March 18) to support their brother Nick Jonas in his return to Broadway in The Last Five Years. The siblings were reunited on the stage with Nick’s co-star, Adrienne Warren in a family snap at the kick-off of preview performances at the […]
Sir Rod Stewart is not done with Las Vegas. The ageless pop wonder announced another six-pack of residency shows at the Colosseum for this fall, extending his Sin City run yet again. “Las Vegas! You wanted more, so here we go—I’ve added more shows! I’ll be back at @colosseumatcp this September and October, Can’t wait to see […]
