Music News

12 Dec 2024

Mariah Carey Has Now Ruled the Billboard Hot 100 in a Record 20 Different Years

Adding yet another honor to her Billboard chart résumé, Mariah Carey has now ranked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in a record-extending, and milestone, 20 distinct years.

As previously reported, Carey‘s 1994 anthem “All I Want for Christmas Is You” returns to No. 1 for a 15th total week atop the Hot 100.

With the song’s latest coronation, on the Hot 100 dated Dec. 14, 2024, Carey has now placed at No. 1 in a record-extending 20 distinct years (per chart dates), encompassing her 19 career leaders: 1990-2000, 2005-06, 2008 and, thanks to “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” 2019-24.

Next up are four acts that have each spent time atop the Hot 100 in 10 individual years: Paul McCartney (including his billings with Wings), Beyoncé, Michael Jackson and Madonna.

Below is a look at the five superstar acts with such uncommon longevity atop the Hot 100.

Carey, meanwhile, marveled at her sleigh ride back to the Hot 100’s highest bough when the news was revealed to her – while she was performing in concert – Monday night (Dec. 9) at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C. “Last night, I found out that ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ returned to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100,” Carey shared (Dec. 10), alongside a repost of a fan video of her twins, Moroccan and Monroe, handing her flowers. “I couldn’t have dreamed of a better time or place to celebrate the news than on stage with my amazing fans, my kids and my #Christmastime tour family. I love you and am so grateful to you all.”

12 Dec 2024

‘Vanderpump Rules’ Star James Kennedy Arrested for Misdemeanor Domestic Violence

Vanderpump Rules star James Kennedy has been arrested for misdemeanor domestic violence, the Burbank Police Department confirms to Billboard. TMZ was first to report the news.

According to law enforcement, police were called to a home around 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday (Dec. 10) in response to an argument between a man and a woman. “The investigation determined it was a domestic incident,” which led to the arrest of the Bravo star (whose full legal name is James Kennedy Georgiou), the Burbank PD told Billboard.

Burbank police added that Kennedy, who has also parlayed his TV fame into a career as a successful DJ, was booked for misdemeanor domestic violence. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the reality star has posted $20,000 bail. “Formal charges are pending review by the Burbank City Attorney’s office,” Burbank’s law enforcement told Billboard.

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Billboard has reached out to Kennedy’s rep for comment.

The Bravolebity, who is known for his big personality and viral quips on the Emmy-winning Vanderpump Rules, is the son of model and actress Jacqueline Georgiou and music producer Andros Georgiou. The elder Georgiou previously worked with late Wham! singer George Michael, who was also Kennedy’s godfather, as discussed on the popular Bravo show. The reality program also followed the DJ’s struggle with alcohol and his sobriety journey, as well as his relationship with his girlfriend Ally Lewber. (Burbank PD did not identify the woman in its statement; Billboard has reached out to Lewber for comment.)

Bravo announced in late November that Vanderpump Rules — which Kennedy joined in season two — would be returning in 2025 for its 12th season with a whole new cast.

12 Dec 2024

Beyoncé’s Publicist Seemingly Shuts Down Claim That Christmas NFL Halftime Show Will Be 20 Minutes Long

Beyoncé is set to celebrate Christmas onstage, as she’ll be the NFL Halftime Show headliner for the Dec. 25 game between the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans — but not for 20 minutes.

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The superstar’s publicist, Yvette Noel-Schure, seemingly responded to a fan account’s post via X on Thursday (Dec. 12) that claimed Bey’s upcoming performance is”expected to be 20 minutes long, NFL will give Beyoncé more time than the conventional Superbowl time 12-15 minutes.”

In response, Noel-Schure simply wrote, “Untrue. Her performance will not be 20 minutes.” See the response here. Billboard has reached out to her to confirm her response, but had not heard back at the time of publication.

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Earlier this week, Bey dropped a 30-second teaser for the upcoming performance, in which she lights up a cactus Christmas tree dressed in an all-white outfit and cowboy hat. “HALFTIME SHOW,” reads a title card at the end of the video, which was shared to Bey’s YouTube channel. “THIS CHRISTMAS HOUSTON, TX.”

The event will mark the “Texas Hold ‘Em” star’s first time performing since the release of her Billboard 200-topping album Cowboy Carter back in March.

The Texans vs. Ravens match, which will take place at Bey’s home city’s NRG Stadium, won’t be the only game NFL broadcasts on Christmas Day. The Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers will start the day off at 1 p.m. ET before the next game begins at 4:30 p.m. ET. Both games — and Bey’s halftime performance — will stream live on Netflix, with regional broadcasts and mobile access via NFL+.

12 Dec 2024

Morgan Wallen Pleads Guilty to 2 Misdemeanor Charges, Sentenced to Probation & a Week in DUI Education Center

Morgan Wallen pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts in a Nashville courtroom on Thursday (Dec. 12) following an April incident during which he threw a chair off the sixth-floor balcony of Eric Church’s bar, Chief’s, in April.

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He was sentenced to probation for two years and seven days in a DUI education center.

Wallen pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment, which had been pled down from the original charges, which were three Class E felonies for reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon (the chair) and one misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct.

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Thursday’s appearance followed a hearing on Tuesday (Dec. 10), which Wallen did not attend, but where his attorney, Worrick Robinson asked to waive the country artist’s right to a preliminary hearing and a grand jury.

Wallen, wearing a gray blazer, black pants and black shirt, entered the courtroom Thursday with his attorney and security. It was the first time he has attended any of the hearings following the April incident. In the courtroom, Wallen and his attorney Worrick Robinson stood before Judge Cynthia Chappell, who reiterated the charges that Wallen was entering a guilty plea for. Wallen kept his comments to a minimum during the session, mostly answering the judge’s questions with a direct, soft-spoken “Yes, ma’am” or “No, ma’am.” Following the session, Wallen and his attorney exited the courtroom.

In a statement following the hearing, Robinson said, “Earlier today, Morgan Wallen appeared in Davidson County Circuit Court with Judge Cynthia Chappell presiding, where he entered a conditional plea pursuant to Tennessee’s Diversion Statute that does not result in a conviction. The plea agreement with the Office of the District Attorney requires Mr. Wallen to spend seven days at a DUI education center, be on probation for two years — one year for each of the misdemeanor charges for reckless endangerment— pay a $350 fine and court fees. Upon the successful completion of his probation, the charges will be eligible for dismissal and expungement … Mr. Wallen has cooperated fully with authorities throughout these last eight months, directly communicating and apologizing to all involved. Mr. Wallen remains committed to making a positive impact through his music and foundation.”

The court date comes three weeks after Wallen won entertainer of the year at the CMA Awards on Nov. 20.

12 Dec 2024

Meek Mill Slams Coverage of UnitedHealthcare CEO’s Murder While Gun Violence Runs Rampant

Meek Mill is never one to mince words on X. He shared his thoughts on Wednesday (Dec. 11) regarding the rampant gun violence in America while pressing the media for being hung up on the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, who was shot and killed in New York City earlier this month.

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“100 kids get murdered in my hood the press stuck on one CEO,” he began. “I will never get it! When somebody put me to the challenge I’ll collect 1000 guns off Philadelphia street without snitching just helping clean my community! I ain’t come this far for off games! Only pain and growth.”

Meek continued: “Rip to that CEO too his life matters too! Never over looking the life of a human unless they’re a danger to society and I don’t know anything about no healthcare ceos except ‘CINQCARE’ because they are for us!!!!!”

The Dream Chasers boss then turned his attention to gun violence and revealed he was stopped from launching a program to get 1,000 guns off the street. Meek also voiced his frustration at being harassed by authorities over obtaining guns to protect himself when traveling.

“Guns are for sale by the boatload in the streets, I choose to buy from the store legally and still getting harrased like I’m buying guns for people,” he added. “Y’all don’t even want me protecting me and my family legally! Racism lurking in my home state!”

The Philly native questioned why police allegedly continue to investigate his gun ownership across his home state of Pennsylvania, and Meek believes a racist motive could be at play.

“Old white men pursing young black men need to be monitored,” Meek penned. “Because I will never lay down again…. I already had cops say I pointed firearms at them and had to live as a felon for years and I knew that wasn’t my character! They tortured me already!”

Since his release from prison in 2018, Meek has done plenty of work when it comes to reforming the criminal justice system and transforming the parole and probation system in his role as co-chair of the Reform Alliance.

Find his tweets about gun violence below.

12 Dec 2024

Charli xcx & Troye Sivan’s SWEAT Tour Coming to Meta Quest VR

If you didn’t get a chance to catch Charli xcx and Troye Sivan‘s SWEAT tour in person, you can still “feel the rush” and soak up the Brat Summer vibes at home. The superstar duo’s tour is making its way to virtual reality, Billboard can exclusively reveal, thanks to iHeartMedia and Meta and produced alongside OBB Media.

Charli xcx & Troye Sivan Present SWEAT in VR will be available exclusively on Meta Quest devices starting Dec. 27 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The show was filmed during one of Charli and Troye’s performances at the KIA Forum in Los Angeles in October.

“The LA shows were incredible because of the energy in the crowd — it was especially good on night 2,” Sivan tells Billboard exclusively. “Having friends and family in the audience made it more special, too. It felt like a celebration with everyone I love and admire right there in the room.”

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He continues: “The SWEAT tour was one of the best experiences of my life, and I wanted to immortalize it in a way that felt as immersive and special as it was for me. iHeart, Meta and OBB have been able to make this come to life in VR and it’s the perfect medium to capture the intimacy, the energy, and the joy of those nights so that people at home could truly feel like they were there, or relive it.”

“Performing with Troye every night on the SWEAT tour was truly iconic and I’m so excited for fans to now be able to experience it at home,” Charli xcx added in a release announcing the news.

The 22-date nationwide tour wrapped in October and featured both artists taking turns performing high-energy hits, including Charli’s Brat hits like “360,” “Von Dutch” and “Girl, So Confusing,” as well as Troye’s fan-favorite jams including “My My My,” “Rush” and “One of Your Girls.” The concert, which is available for free in Meta Horizon Worlds Music Valley, will give fans a front-row seat to all the fun with 180-degree views of the show.

“She brings such an insane energy to the stage, and those performances felt like pure magic,” Sivan shares of his onstage partner. “I can’t wait for fans to relive or experience those moments for the first time.”

Charli xcx & Troye Sivan Present SWEAT in VR is executive produced by iHeartMedia’s John Sykes, president of entertainment enterprises, and Bart Peters, senior vice president of production and development; as well as Michael D. Ratner, Scott Ratner, Anthony Anchelowitz, Simone Spira and Kfir Goldberg for OBB Pictures, the Film & TV division of OBB Media; with Glenn Stickley, co-executive producing for OBB Media.

“Charli xcx, Troye Sivan and their teams have built something electric and singular with this show,” Ratner said of the SWEAT tour. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to partner with Meta and iHeartMedia to share this experience with fans around the world.”

Sykes agreed, saying in a statement: “Partnering with Charli xcx and Troye Sivan and with Meta gives us a unique opportunity to offer our millions of listeners the chance to experience two of the most talented artists in music performing on the most exciting new visual platform today.”

Sarah Malkin, director of Metaverse Entertainment at Meta, added, “The SWEAT Tour is the latest in a long lineup of incredible performances that we’ve brought to Music Valley. “Connecting fans to their favorite artists in a totally unique way through virtual reality extends the joy and excitement of concerts to even more people – and we couldn’t be more thrilled to partner with iHeart, Charli xcx and Troye Sivan to do that with this show.”

After the show, fans can catch free concerts from more artists in Music Valley, or experience the thousands of apps available in the Meta Horizon Store. Meta Quest 3S retails for $299, and features 128GB of storage, but you can upgrade to the 256GB device for $399.99. Meta Quest 3S is available at major retailers such as Amazon, Target, Walmart, Best Buy and Meta.com.

12 Dec 2024

Snoop Dogg Planning to Blast Into Space For Director Luc Besson’s Upcoming Sci-Fi Movie

Snoop Dogg is headed into space for a starring role in an upcoming sci-fi movie from director Luc Besson (The Fifth Element). The rapper will not only top-line The Last Man, but according to Variety, he will also co-produce the post-apocalyptic tale whose plot is being kept quiet for now.

The magazine reported that The Last Man is believed to be inspired by Planet of the Apes and have a connection to Snoop’s 2009 track “Last Man Standing.” Besson’s eclectic, four-decade-plus filmography has included a number of science fiction films, among them 1997’s The Fifth Element with Bruce Willis and Milla Jovovich, the trippy Lucy with Scarlett Johansson in 2014 and the big-budget Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets in 2017, which featured Clive Owen, Cara Delevingne, Rihanna and Ethan Hawke.

Besson is also writing the script for the upcoming film, which Variety speculated would be in the same wheelhouse as The Fifth Element, mixing sci-fi with comedy and action. The project will be a reunion for the director and rapper, who worked together in 2006 on the live action/animated fantasy movie Arthur and the Invisibles, in which The Voice coach starred as Koolamassai leader Max alongside an all-star cast that also included Madonna, Robert DeNiro, David Bowie, Freddie Highmore, Mia Farrow and Chazz Palminteri.

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“Ever since I’ve seen The Professional, I’ve always wanted [Luc] to direct a whole movie for me. Now we finally get the opportunity for him to write and direct me in a Luc Besson movie,” Snoop said.

Besson returned the admiration, adding, “I’ve been a big fan of Snoop Dogg’s music ever since ‘Who Am I.’ We first met 20 years ago, and we’ve always wanted to work together again. We just needed the right project that would excite us both — and this is it, with Snoop in the lead role. I can’t wait to get started!”

Snoop’s Death Row Pictures is co-producing the movie along with Besson and wife Virginie Besson-Silla for EuropaCorp, with filming slated to begin next year.

The rapper’s acting resume is nearly as long as his rapping sheet, dating back to early appearances in Half Baked and Caught Up in the mid-1990s, as well as co-starring roles in a variety of dramas, comedies and genre films, including Baby Boy, Training Day, Bones, The Wash, Starsky & Hutch and Dolemite Is My Name, among many others.

In the meantime, Snoop is gearing up to release his Missionary album on Friday (Dec. 13), which represents his first full-length LP made in collaboration with mentor Dr. Dre since Snoop’s 1993 debut, Doggystyle.

12 Dec 2024

Billie Eilish Resurrects an Old Deep Cut About the ‘First Time I Fell in Love’ on ‘Tiny Desk’: Watch

Billie Eilish is currently touring through arenas and stadiums, but she’s also making time for smaller venues — tiny ones, you might say.

On Thursday (Dec. 12), the 22-year-old superstar’s appearance on NPR’s Tiny Desk web series went live on YouTube, showing Eilish, her brother and producer Finneas and a few band members cramming into the show’s iconic office space to perform four songs. She began with two favorites from her most recent album, Hit Me Hard and Soft: “The Greatest” and “L’Amour de Ma Vie,” both of which she gave a gentler vocal approach to match the intimacy of the room.

“This is nerve-racking for me,” she told the crowd gathered at NPR’s office in Washington, D.C., during a pause. “This is so cool. I’ve wanted to do this my whole life, so I’m a little shaky.”

The two-time Oscar winner then surprised fans by pulling out one of her older deep cuts, softly singing “I Love You” from her Billboard 200-topping debut LP, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, over Finneas’ soft acoustic guitar. “This is one of our favorite songs that we’ve ever written,” she said, introducing the track. “It was the first time I fell in love and it was very scary. It’s funny how that fear never goes away — that fear of falling.”

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Eilish went on to close out the show with her three-week Billboard Global 200-topping single “Birds of a Feather,” which recently earned three nominations ahead of the 2025 Grammys for best pop solo performance as well as song and record of the year.

The performance comes as Eilish is getting ready to wrap the North American leg of her Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour, which kicked off late September. After breaking Dec. 21 following five nights at the Kia Forum in L.A., the singer will head out on a run of dates in Europe and Australia in February.

Watch Eilish’s Tiny Desk above.

12 Dec 2024

Post Malone Celebrates Platinum Certification For Debut Country Album and 5X Certification For ‘I Had Some Help’

In addition to hanging those stockings with care, Post Malone is going to have to make more room on his mantle for new hardware from the RIAA. The Recording Industry Association announced on Thursday (Dec. 12) that Malone’s star-packed debut country album, F-1 Trillion, has been certified Platinum (one million).

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And that’s not all. In addition to scoring his latest Platinum album plaque, the album’s Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 single, “I Had Some Help” (feat. Morgan Wallen) — which spent six weeks atop the chart — was certified 5x Platinum, and his Blake Shelton collab, “Pour Me a Drink,” was certified Platinum.

Malone could pick up more trophies for F-1 Trillion at February’s 67th annual Grammy Awards, where he has seven nominations, including best country album and best recording package, as well as best country song and best country duo/group performance for “I Had Some Help.” He could also win some awards for his collaborations this year, including on “Fortnight” from Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department (best music video, record of the year, song of the year) and best pop duo/group performance for his team-up with Beyoncé on her Cowboy Carter tune “LEVII’s JEANS.”

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Malone won’t have much time to celebrate, as he’s gearing up to headline the Bud Light Backyard Presents show at the Fillmore New Orleans on February 7, two days before the big game takes place at the Caesars Superdome in the Big Easy. The rapper/singer’s 2025 will also have him headlining a night at Coachella in April alongside Lady Gaga, Green Day and Travis Scott, as well as headlining the North American Big Ass Stadium tour with guest Jelly Roll next spring and summer.

12 Dec 2024

John Mayer & Shawn Mendes Bond Over Ex-Girlfriends Writing Songs About Them

During a recent conversation, John Mayer and Shawn Mendes opened up about an experience not many others can relate to: having a high-profile ex write a hit song about you.

On the latest episode of the “Daughters” singer’s How’s Life With John Mayer program on SiriusXM, the two men — who, between the two of them, are believed to have inspired bangers by artists such as Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Camila Cabello and Sabrina Carpenter — got real about the “psychological toll,” as Mayer called it, of those songs opening up their personal lives to public scrutiny.

“No one’s gonna understand,” Mayer began, conceding that he and his friend are “handsomely rewarded for the stuff we have to deal with.” “You and I are both talking as people who’ve heard songs that — at least other people are saying — are references to us.”

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Agreeing, Mendes shared, “It sucks to feel like … It’s a funny feeling to feel like you’re being written about, and maybe the whole picture’s not being expressed.”

As Mayer pointed out, it’s also not exactly like the two musicians can talk about these issues to a professional who relates to the pressures of celebrity life. “You talk to a therapist and go, ‘You ever seen your ex-girlfriend on a billboard before?’” the “Your Body Is a Wonderland” artist said, laughing. “‘Let me tell you, it’s a weird two weeks.’”

Even so, the Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile star said he wouldn’t let that prevent him from falling in love with another songwriter. “The suffering that is from hearing a song talking about you in a way you don’t want to be talked about is not even close to the beauty of falling in love with someone for the first time,” he told Mayer.

Neither of the artists named names, but both have been in public relationships with very famous women in music. Between 2012 and 2015, Mayer dated the “Teenage Dream” singer — whom he bumped into at a recent Carpenter concert — and before that, he had a relationship with a certain Eras Tour headliner, whose scathing 2010 ballad “Dear John” is widely believed to be about the guitarist.

Speaking of the “Espresso” singer, Mendes is the long-rumored center of a love triangle with his “Señorita” duet partner and Carpenter. Cabello’s “June Gloom” and the Girl Meets World alum’s “Sharpest Tool” and “Taste” detail a love interest who’s still not over his ex, seemingly mirroring how Mendes was spotted with Carpenter several times in 2023 right before rekindling things with Cabello.

Without getting into details, Mendes did appear to touch on the situation with Mayer. “The biggest lesson I’ve learned is no one gets out of this life without getting hurt, and no one gets out of this life without hurting someone,” the “Mercy” singer said.

Watch Mayer and Mendes talk about being the inspiration for songs below.