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Saturday Night Live is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary, and the festivities continue with a brand new documentary NBC announced on Thursday (Dec. 19).
Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music will feature interviews with artists, cast members, writers and producers who have contributed to SNL‘s iconic legacy. The three-hour documentary will also “feature untold stories behind the culture-defining, groundbreaking and newsmaking musical performances, sketches and cameos of the past 50 years,” per a press release description.
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The broadcast is directed by Questlove and Oz Rodriguez, and produced by Two One Five Entertainment, RadicalMedia and Broadway Video. Questlove also serves as executive producer alongside Lorne Michaels, Zarah Zohlman, Erin David, Dave Sirulnick, Jon Kamen, Meredith Bennett, Alexander H. Browne, Shawn Gee and Tariq Trotter. Rodriguez serves as producer.
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Bad Bunny, DJ Breakout, Elvis Costello, Miley Cyrus, Billie Eilish and Finneas, Dave Grohl, Debbie Harry and Chris Stein, Mick Jagger, Dua Lipa, Darryl DMC McDaniels, Tom Morello, Kacey Musgraves, Olivia Rodrigo, MC Sha-Rack, Paul Simon, Chris Stapleton, Justin Timberlake, Lee Ving and Jack White are all the musicians set to appear in the documentary. The show will also feature cast members including Jimmy Fallon, Bowen Yang, Fred Armisen, Conan O’Brien, Bill Hader, Eddie Murphy, Andy Samberg, Kenan Thompson, Maya Rudolph and many more.
“Everyone knows the most famous SNL appearances, whether it’s Elvis Costello, Prince or the Beastie Boys, but they’re the tip of a huge iceberg,” Questlove said in a press statement. “The process of going back through the incredible archival footage was like being in a time machine, DeLorean or other. I’m so happy I went on the trip and now get to share it with everyone.”
Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music will premiere Jan. 27 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC and stream the next day on Peacock. The documentary is part of a collection of celebratory programming, including a four-part SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night Peacock docuseries on Jan. 16 and a live primetime special on Feb. 16 on NBC and Peacock.
The new trailer for James Gunn’s new Superman teaser looked a little familiar to Lizzo.
After the buzzy trailer dropped Thursday (Dec. 19), the superstar joked that the video — particularly one scene in which the titular character, played by David Corenswet, saves a little girl from a slow-motion explosion — had some parallels to her own 2023 “Special” visual. In her music video, Lizzo also plays a caped superhero who at one point gets in between a slo-mo crash and a young girl just in the nick of time, singing, “In case nobody told you today, you’re special/ In case nobody made you believe, you’re special.”
Sharing a clip of that scene on Bluesky, the four-time Grammy winner wrote, “I just watched the new Superman trailer and I thought it was the Special music video for a second 😫”
Lizzo quickly followed it up with another post, writing, “Naw but forreal.. I watched the Superman trailer and I have thoughts…”
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The hitmaker went on to call Rachel Brosnahan’s casting as Lois Lane “perfect” and asked whether “the actor playing Superman” is British. (Nope, Corenswet is American.) “I think showing the dog was cute but premature,” she added of one scene in the trailer in which Clark Kent’s trusty sidekick, Krypto, rescues him after a crash into icy terrain.
Released in 2022, “Special” serves as the title track for the musician’s fourth studio album, which bowed at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. Its lead single, “About Damn Time,” spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and took home record of the year at the 2023 Grammys.
Lizzo has been active on Bluesky since mid-November, when she and countless others started accounts on the ever-growing platform following the 2024 presidential election. “Anyways I joined bluesky cus we’re leaving toxicity in 2024 😃,” she wrote on Instagram at the time. “I hate the internet.”
Also starring Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor and Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El, Gunn’s take on Superman is set to arrive in theaters July 11. Watch the trailer — and compare and contrast it with Lizzo’s “Special” video — below.
If there’s one thing Brad Paisley can relate to it’s the mortal fear a performer has when their voice just won’t cooperate after they’ve gone too hard. That’s why when his wife, actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley, felt her voice failing at her annual Alzheimer’s Association event in 2022, his first thought was “man, she’s overdone it.’ Because I only had my own experience to deal with,” the singer told People magazine in a cover story.
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“I remember thinking, ‘You are going to be fine. Give a few days and it’ll come back,’” he recalled telling the Father of the Bride star, who said she first noticed her voice pitching higher more than five years ago. Over the next two years, Paisley readily admitted that he “stepped in it so much” during the time when his wife could barely speak above a whisper.
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Paisley leaned into what he knew, or thought he knew, asking Kimberly to project, clear her throat and counseling her to, “‘learn to power through it.” Looking back, though, he’s realized he was “so stupid and naive” to give such advice. As it turns out, a few months after that event, Kimberly was diagnosed with a partially paralyzed vocal cord and had to undergo surgery to correct it.
While his initial tough love tips were not super helpful, Paisley did come up with a fun, somewhat silly solution to Kimberly’s inability to be heard above a whisper, even in her own home. “It was really hard because she would yell upstairs, ‘Hey, boys, come downstairs, dinner’s ready,’” and they could never hear her,” Paisley said of their sons, Huck, 17, and Jasper, 15.
For Christmas, Paisley gave Kimberly a bright pink megaphone she could bust out when she needed to call the boys. “It was one of the kindest things Brad did for me — it was really hilarious and so necessary,” she said. “I started using it immediately. He is so good at keeping me laughing.”
She said the boys also tried to help out, always eager to step in to be a voice for her. She recalled being at events where, if they noticed that someone she wanted to talk to was walking away and she couldn’t call out, they would go fetch them for her. “They’re used to assisting me, which is really sweet,” she said.
In an accompanying video, Kimberly noted that “so much of our personality” is expressed in our voice, especially for an actor/public speaker like her, who uses her voice as part of her “value system.” So, when it wasn’t there, she wondered, “who am I?”
Though she has battled back since her surgery in August, Paisley said it was “heartbreaking” to watch his wife — who “lives to talk to to people” — struggle to be heard. “Seeing her fight to figure it out was amazing. There was never a moment where she was just going to give up. It was inspiring,” he said.
Watch the People magazine cover story interview below.
Season 12 of The Masked Singer announced its winner on Wednesday night (Dec. 18), revealing the trio of buffaloes was R&B luminaries Boyz II Men. Coming in second place was Mario as The Wasp, who, in recent weeks, didn’t show his hand and played it coy when asked if he was the artist behind the mask. In an exclusive interview with Billboard, Mario speaks about his time on the show and how he enjoyed the role of The Wasp.
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“So many great things came out of that for me,” reveals the “Let Me Love You” singer. “I have a wild imagination, so using my imagination just to imagine how The Wasp would move or even if when I was standing still, creating this character was really fun. I enjoy challenging myself [by] singing different songs like Aretha Franklin. It was a lot of fun.”
Mario divulges his tedious preparation and explains how he sang in the mask to get a feel for the outfit before going out on stage. “You could breathe, but it’s five times harder breathing and delivering. Even if you go back and watch my performances, you can hear the muffles, but that’s what made it real. Once the costume is done, you have to commit to it. So, I was committed.”
December has been an active month for Mario, who released his new album, Glad You Came, on Dec. 13. Executive produced by songwriter extraordinaire James Fauntleroy, Mario etched together his first project in six years and his first with Epic Records, completing his grand return to the R&B circuit.
“I really absorbed how he takes his time to process the music and not rush the storytelling,” Mario says of Fauntleroy’s work ethic. “I like to work like that too, where I like to get my melodies down first. I’ll lock in my melodies, have intention behind it, and be free in the thought process behind it.”
With records such as “Space” and “Glad You Came,” Mario aims to show growth and evolution since entering the music industry in 2002. Next year, he’ll accompany Mary J. Blige and Ne-Yo on tour, and hopes to show off his flashy performance prowess after pitstops on Dancing With the Stars in season six and now, The Masked Singer.
“It looks like a lot of rock n’ roll,” says a gushing Mario when speaking about the forthcoming tour. “It looks like sex, love, partying, crying and everything you would want to feel at a show. All of the human emotions are going to be onstage that night. It’s going to be beautiful.”
Watch Mario’s full interview with Billboard News above as he speaks about “Let Move Love You” turning 20, teaming up with Nas on King Disease 3 and replacing Usher for his first-ever hit “Just a Friend.”
Benny Blanco has had a week to process his engagement to Selena Gomez, but he’s still in disbelief. Seven days after the couple announced that the producer had popped the question — to which the singer-actress, of course, said “yes” — Blanco said he’s still reeling from the news. Reposting Gomez’s week-old Instagram post about […]
It’s the season of giving, and GloRilla is doing her part. Big Glo returned home to her alma mater Melrose High School in Memphis on Wednesday (Dec. 17), where she surprised students and faculty members with a $25,000 check. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The CMG […]
Nikki Glaser paid a pretty penny to follow Taylor Swift on 22 Eras Tour shows these past two years — but she has no regrets.
In an interview with People published Thursday (Dec. 19), the comedian revealed that she spent “close to $100,000” on nearly two-dozen Eras concerts since the trek kicked off in March 2023, “including travel expenses, hotels, and me also flying and putting up everyone that I would invite to go with me, plus tickets, plus merch.”
“All well worth it,” Glaser continued. “I would’ve paid even more.”
Though the amount she spent might be eye-popping to a lot of people, the Trainwreck star has long been open about her diehard love for the “Anti-Hero” singer. By October 2023, she’d already spent $25,000 on Eras tickets, telling Kelly Clarkson at the time that she’d originally planned on using the money to freeze her eggs, but decided to use it on Swift’s trek instead.
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In July, Glaser’s show count had gone up to 17. “I know, I know! I’m addicted,” she said on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, revealing that she would consistently fly all over the world to catch various Eras stops while on breaks from her own Alive and Unwell comedy tour. In August, she was supposed to see Swift perform in Vienna, but the performances were canceled due to a terrorism plot.
It’s a so-called addiction that Glaser now has no choice but to kick, with Swift wrapping up her blockbuster run after two years and 149 shows with a final performance in Vancouver, B.C., Dec. 8. The 14-time Grammy winner finished with a historic $2 billion+ in grosses.
While speaking to People, Glaser said that she can justify the fraction she contributed to Swift’s haul because she doesn’t have kids on whom to spend the $100,000. “It’s something that I consciously decided not to do, and it was something that I struggled with,” the stand-up said of becoming a mom. “It wasn’t the easiest decision.”
“There was a part of me that was like, ‘I would like kids,’ but it just doesn’t fit in my life,” she continued. “In order for me to make myself feel better about the decision, I did look up how much it cost to raise a kid. And so once I saw that number, I thought, ‘It’s no problem for me to spend this on Taylor Swift.’”
Thursday (Dec. 19) would have marked Earth, Wind & Fire founder Maurice White’s 83rd birthday. To honor his big brother, EWF co-founder Verdine White has released a new single titled “Superman.” The release — available on all music platforms through DistroKid — also marks the first time that the group’s renowned bassist is singing solo.
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“Would you believe this is my first time,” a laughing White tells Billboard. “I was nervous, but it turned out beautifully. Now that the pressure is off, I think I’ll do more.”
“Superman” was brought to White’s attention by Motown Records lyricist Janie Bradford (Barrett Strong’s “Money [That’s What I Want]”) a little over a year ago. Completed by Bradford and White in collaboration with Carnell Harrell, the loving tribute was produced by Shelly Clark White, co-founder of the late ‘60s R&B/soul girl group Honey Cone (“Want Ads”) and Verdine’s wife. Featured along with Clark on backing vocals are fellow current Honey Cone members Kathy Merrick and Wendy Smith-Bruné.
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Verdine White and Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire
Verdine White Archives
With its vibrant fusion of R&B, soul and pop, “Superman” is immediately reminiscent of EWF’s legendary zeitgeist. And its heartfelt lyrics evoke all that Maurice means to baby brother Verdine. As the latter expresses in a pleasing tenor on the song’s chorus, “More than any other/ He would always understand/ He called me his little brother / I called him Superman.” (Check out the song and its video on YouTube, which also features photos and clips of Maurice.)
“Maurice is the icon,” says White of his brother, who passed away from Parkinson’s disease in 2016. “A great leader, great big brother, great mentor. And he did a magnificent job in putting together Earth, Wind & Fire. We miss him dearly.”
Still going strong 55 years after it 1969 inception, EWF — whose bastion of hits includes “Shining Star,” “That’s the Way of the World,” “September” and “Can’t Hide Love” — hit the road this year for a string of solo shows in addition to joint shows with Lionel Richie and Chicago. And the group is already set to play the Hollywood Bowl next year on July 2, 3 and 4. Also in the works: an EWF documentary directed by Questlove.
Asked how Maurice would react to “Superman,” White says, “I think he’d chuckle and say, ‘Man, I didn’t know you could sing like that.’”
Thirty-five years after Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1989, a cover of the song from Deadpool & Wolverine rules the TikTok Billboard Top 50 dated Dec. 21.
The TikTok Billboard Top 50 is a weekly ranking of the most popular songs on TikTok in the United States based on creations, video views and user engagement. The latest chart reflects activity from Dec. 9 to 15. Activity on TikTok is not included in Billboard charts except for the TikTok Billboard Top 50.
The I’ll Take You There Choir version of “Like a Prayer,” heard in the 2024 Marvel/Disney superhero film originally released in July, lifts 2-1 to rule the chart in its second week.
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The choir-led rendition of the song has earned TikTok prominence thanks most recently to a trend in which creators tell a long text-based story (often one that’s embarrassing for the user), accompanied by a photo of Pepe from The Muppets.
This version of “Like a Prayer” earned 1.5 million official U.S. streams in the week ending Dec. 12, a gain of 37%, according to Luminate. Madonna’s original, meanwhile, has received auxiliary attention of its own: 1.6 million streams, up 12%.
“Like a Prayer” leads a change at the top of the TikTok Billboard Top 50, as M.I.A.’s “Paper Planes” and Malcolm Todd’s “Chest Pain (I Love)” follow at Nos. 2 and 3, respectively, both songs’ first time in the top five.
“Paper Planes,” a No. 4 hit on the Hot 100 for M.I.A. in 2008, vaults 21-2 in its second week on the TikTok Billboard Top 50 thanks to a dance trend. Its corresponding streaming gains are enough to push the song onto the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart at No. 16 via 3.7 million streams, a gain of 29%.
“Chest Pain (I Love),” meanwhile, continues to rise after the song was released on streaming services on Dec. 4, following weeks of it being teased on TikTok. Todd’s repeated “I love” refrain is highlighted in most of the clips, which often center around creators and the people or things they love. The tune earned 3.1 million streams in its first full week of release and bowed at No. 20 on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs.
Two other songs pop into the TikTok Billboard Top 50’s top 10 for the first time, led by Frank Ocean’s “White Ferrari,” which leaps 13-6. “White Ferrari” reaches the top 10 in its ninth week on the tally and marks Ocean’s first song in the region since the ranking began in September 2023. The song rises from the “lamp looks weird” trend, where users question if a moment they think they’re experiencing or want to experience is actually happening or if it’s some sort of simulation or dream.
The other, Jeddy Knox’s “Wander On,” jumps 14-10 in its second week. Released Nov. 21, the country song has been used in a variety of sports-related videos as well as other general viral content.
See the full TikTok Billboard Top 50 here. You can also tune in each Friday to SiriusXM’s TikTok Radio (channel 4) to hear the premiere of the chart’s top 10 countdown at 3 p.m. ET, with reruns heard throughout the week.
There’s been no shortage of excellent K-pop albums this year, and now that 2024 is winding down, Billboard wants to know which record has defined your year the most. Three K-pop artists earned career milestones on the Billboard 200 with projects this year: TWICE earned their first chart-topper in March with the girl group’s personalized […]
