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Beyoncé’s Dad Congratulates Her on Becoming Billboard’s No. 1 Greatest Pop Star of the 21st Century: ‘You Were Meant for Greatness’

Billboard officially named Beyoncé its Greatest Pop Star of the 21st Century, and no one is more proud of her than — of course — her dad.

Mathew Knowles took to X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday (Dec. 3) to share the graphic of the accomplishment, alongside a sweet note reflecting on his daughter’s success. “Beyoncé was shy growing up. But, as soon as she started singing, it was like a different person emerged and we knew from a very young age that she was destined to pursue her passion in music,” he began. “She turned everyone around her into a believer with her determination, work ethic, stage presence and talent.”

He then addressed Bey directly, writing, “Beyoncé, I am so proud of you. This is another one of your many major distinctions, yet I sit here not surprised because I knew you were meant for greatness from the moment I held you in my arms for the first time!”

Knowles concluded, “Congratulations on being named Billboard’s #1 artist of the 21st century, and using your voice to inspire millions of people around the world.”

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See Mathew’s note below, and check out who made Billboard‘s Greatest Pop Stars list here, as well as out staff’s list of Beyoncé’s 100 Greatest Pop Star Moments, and our recently rebuilt list of the Greatest Pop Star by Year from 1981 to 2023.

Kelly Clarkson, Dan + Shay & More to Perform During ‘The Voice’ Season 26 Finale

The Voice is wrapping up season 26 with a star-studded finale this month, and NBC revealed on Tuesday (Dec. 3) the performers for the episode.

Myles Smith, Riley Green and Ella Langley, Tears for Fears, season 24 winner Huntley, season 25 winner Asher HaVon and former Voice coaches Dan + Shay and Kelly Clarkson will be taking the stage during the live show on Dec. 10. Sting and The Voice coach Snoop Dogg will also team up for the television premiere performance of their new collaboration, “Another Part of Me.”

Following the performances, one of the five finalists will be crowned winner of season 26. The competition is currently in the semi-finals, with remaining contestants including Team Snoop Dogg’s Christina Eagles and Jeremy Beloate; Team Reba McEntire’s Adam Bohanan and Danny Joseph; Team Gwen Stefani’s Jan Dan and Sydney Sterlace and Team Michael Bublé’s Shye and Sofronio Vasquez.

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Ahead of the finale, Bublé will take the stage with playoff advisor Carly Pearce to debut their holiday duet, “Maybe This Christmas,” during the Dec. 9 episode. The collaboration came to life after the duo connected while advising Team Bublé this season. “I wrote a Christmas song for people that might not love Christmas because they’re hurting, because they’re vulnerable, because it’s a tough time for a lot of people,” Bublé said in an Instagram video of the track. “I wanted to write something to give them hope.”

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Catch the season 26 finale of The Voice on Tuesday night (Dec. 10) at 9 p.m. ET on NBC and streaming on Peacock.

Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats Top Adult Alternative Airplay With ‘Call Me (Whatever You Like)’

Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats ascend to No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Alternative Airplay chart dated Dec. 7 with “Call Me (Whatever You Like).”

Band leader Rateliff now boasts seven Adult Alternative Airplay leaders overall – six with the Night Sweats and one, “And It’s Still Alright,” in 2020 as a soloist. Rateliff, with the band and on his own, slots into a tie for the eighth-most No. 1s on Adult Alternative Airplay, which began in January 1996.

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Most Adult Alternative Airplay No. 1s:
14, U2
13, Coldplay
11, Jack Johnson
11, Dave Matthews (solo and with Dave Matthews Band)
8, The Black Keys
8, Death Cab for Cutie
8, John Mayer
7, Cage the Elephant
7, Sheryl Crow
7, Counting Crows
7, Hozier
7, The Lumineers
7, Nathaniel Rateliff (solo and with Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats)
7, R.E.M.

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“Call Me (Whatever You Like)” is Rateliff and the Night Sweats’ second Adult Alternative Airplay No. 1 in a row, after “Heartless” led for three weeks beginning in July. The band first topped the tally with its initial entry, “S.O.B.,” for four weeks in 2015.

Concurrently, “Call Me (Whatever You Like)” holds at its No. 30 high on the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay chart with 1.1 million audience impressions in the week ending Nov. 28, according to Luminate.

The song is the second single, following “Heartless,” from South of Here, the band’s fourth studio album. The set reached No. 37 on the Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart in July and has earned 30,000 equivalent album units to date.

Luis Angel ‘El Flaco’ Earns First Billboard No. 1 Hit as a Soloist With ‘Amor Bonito’

Luis Angel “El Flaco” achieves a career milestone with his first No. 1 as a solo singer on a Billboard chart thanks to “Amor Bonito,” which climbs 6-1 to lead the Regional Mexican Airplay ranking (dated Dec. 7).

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“Amor Bonito,” released on Sept. 19 via Sony Music Latin, lands at the summit with the Greatest Gainer honors of the week thanks to a 53% gain in audience impressions — up to 8 million — earned in the U.S. for the tracking week of Nov. 22-28, according to Luminate. The song trades places with last week’s champ, Jessi Uribe’s “Si Ya Me Voy,” which dips 1-6 due to a 24% drop in impressions.

While “Amor Bonito” gives Angel his first No. 1 as a solo singer — dating to his first visit to a Billboard radio chart in 2021 — the Mexican singer has been part of many No. 1s in the past. While he was the lead singer of Banda Los Recoditos, the group achieved 13 No. 1s across various Latin rankings (both albums and songs) during a 13-year career with the band.

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Beyond his first champ on Regional Mexican Airplay as a soloist, El Flaco has claimed six other top 10s, nearly missing the No. 1 slot with the No. 2-peaking “Una Julio 70” in 2022. In total, he’s landed seven times in the upper region among 10 career performances.

“Amor Bonito” also gives El Flaco his second top 10 on the overall Latin Airplay chart, where it surges 12-2 for his best placement to date. “Una Julio 70” took him to his first top 10, peaking at No. 6, in December 2022.

El Flaco’s first No. 1 song, produced by Arturo Gárate and written by Meño Segovia, concurrently earns him a maiden appearance on the Emerging Artists chart with a No. 42 debut. The chart ranks the most popular developing artists of the week, using the same formula as the all-encompassing Billboard Artist 100, which measures artist activity across multiple Billboard charts, including the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard 200.

El Flaco’s breakthrough arrives on the heels of the banda singer’s Latin Grammy award nomination for best música banda album for Yo Te Extrañaré.

Mustard Is ‘Just Getting Started’ After Kendrick Lamar’s Hot 100 Takeover

Mustard is celebrating a major Billboard Hot 100 accomplishment.

Seven of the tracks off Kendrick Lamar’s surprise album GNX hit the top 10 of the all-genre songs chart this week, two of which were produced by Mustard — “TV Off” and “Hey Now” featuring Dody6, which hit No. 2 and 5, respectively. The producer took to Instagram on Monday (Dec. 2) to celebrate, posting the top 10 and writing, “I’m just getting started #2 and #5!”

Lamar’s GNX also debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart (dated Dec. 7), marking his fifth chart-topper. On the Hot 100, “Squabble Up” topped the chart, becoming Lamar’s fifth Hot 100 No. 1, and his third of 2024 – the most among all artists this year. He previously led in 2024 with “Not Like Us,” for two weeks beginning in May, and “Like That,” with Future and Metro Boomin, for three weeks in April.

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The SZA-assisted “Luther” came in at No. 3, “Wacced Out Murals” hit No. 4, “Reincarnated” at No. 8 and “Man at the Garden” at No. 9. He joins only Taylor Swift, Drake and The Beatles in having placed at Nos. 1-5 in a single week.

“Squabble Up” additionally marks Lamar’s sixth No. 1 on the all-genre Streaming Songs chart and his fifth No. 1 on both the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs tallies.

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Dexter and the Moonrocks’ Debut Hit ‘Sad in Carolina’ Tops Alternative Airplay Chart

Dexter and the Moonrocks’ first entry on Billboard’s Alternative Airplay chart, “Sad in Carolina,” rises a spot to No. 1 on the Dec. 7-dated ranking.

“Sad in Carolina” is the Texas rockers’ first song on any Billboard chart. They’re the second act to earn a first Alternative Airplay No. 1 in 2024, following Myles Smith, whose “Stargazing” topped the Sept. 28-dated survey, and the first band with an introductory leader since Bad Omens ruled with “Just Pretend” in September 2023.

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As “Sad in Carolina” also first made any Billboard chart when it debuted on Alternative Airplay on the Aug. 3-dated list, Dexter and the Moonrocks achieve a feat akin to recent Mainstream Rock Airplay No. 1 act The Funeral Portrait, whose “Suffocate City,” featuring Spencer Charnas, likewise sparked its first Billboard appearance when it debuted, followed by its coronation in November.

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Concurrently, “Sad in Carolina” bullets at its No. 11 high on the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay chart with 3 million audience impressions (up 4%) in the week ending Nov. 28, according to Luminate.

“Sad in Carolina” is from the act’s Western Space Grunge, released by in July. The group’s first release since signing to Big Loud Rock has earned 8,000 equivalent album units to date. The band’s drummer, Ryan Fox, describes its sound on the band’s website as “country with twang and grunge with a bite,” inspired in part by Johnny Cash’s cover of Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt” and singer-songwriters Zach Bryan, Tyler Childers and Noah Kahan. “When you take that sound and plug it into amps with electric guitars, you get Dexter and the Moonrocks.”

Vybz Kartel Plans New Year’s Eve Freedom Street Concert in Jamaica

After serving 13 years in a Jamaican prison, recording his biggest hit from behind bars and having his life sentence overturned earlier this year, Vybz Kartel has some big upcoming plans.

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Having already released two projects this year in the Party With Me EP — Grammy nominated for best reggae album (his first) — and the compilation First Week Out, the Worl’ Boss is launching a new rum called STR8 VYBZ and will be returning to the stage on New Year’s Eve at National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica, for his highly anticipated Freedom Street concert. He then plans on following the concert by releasing a deluxe version of his 2015 album, Viking (Vybz Is King), to celebrate the album’s 10th anniversary in January of 2025.

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His rum, STR8 VYBZ, is partnership with TJ Records and The House of Angostura bitters and will be available in a white overproof named Fever, a spiced version named Ramping Shop, a white flavor in Electric, and a dark rum entitled Unstoppable. Each version of the rum will be produced and bottled by Angostura Distillers in Trinidad and Tobago. “STR8 VYBZ is more than just a rum; it’s a movement. Each bottle embodies the energy and passion of my music, and the spirit of the culture I represent,” Vybz said in a press release.

Produced by Downsound Entertainment, the Dec. 31 concert — Vybz first since being released — will boast special guests such as Popcaan, Spice, Skillibeng, Tommy Lee Sparta, Chronic Law, Shawn Storm, Lisa Hyper, Sheba, Gaza Indy and Kartel’s sons Likkle Vybz and Likkle Addi, among others.

Taylor Swift Thanks Fans for ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ Becoming Apple Music’s Top Streamed Album of the Year

Apple Music released its year-end charts on Tuesday (Dec. 3), and Taylor Swift rounded out a groundbreaking 2024 with yet another accomplishment.

The superstar was named the top streamed artist of 2024, while her The Tortured Poets Department earned the top streamed album of the year. Swift took to her Instagram Stories to celebrate, writing, “Ahhhhhh thank you for listening to my music and TTPD so much!!!! You, the fans, made The Tortured Poets Department the TOP STREAMED ALBUM of The Year on @applemusic!!!”

She added with a playful, tongue-out emoji, “You guys snagged me that Top Streamed Artist spot too.” See her Story before it disappears here.

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The Tortured Poets Department, Swift’s 31-track 11th studio album, went 6x platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America earlier in the day. The project outperformed all of her past albums on the Billboard 200 by spending 15 weeks at the top of the chart. The LP arrived amid Swift’s record-breaking Eras Tour.

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Elsewhere on Apple Music’s Replay of 2024 is Kendrick Lamar coming in at No. 1 on the Top Songs of 2024: Global list with “Not Like Us” — Swift also appeared on the chart’s top five with “Cruel Summer,” which came in at No. 5. Her Post Malone collaboration “Fortnight” hit No. 20, “Lover” came in at No. 34, “Anti-Hero” at No. 47, “Down Bad” at No. 78, “You Need to Calm Down” at No. 81 and “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart” at No. 82.

Check out the full list of year-end charts here.

Jelly Roll Ties Pretty Reckless’ Record as ‘Liar’ Lifts to No. 1 on Mainstream Rock Airplay Chart

Jelly Roll has now gone 4-for-4 atop Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart, rising to No. 1 on the tally dated Dec. 7 with “Liar.”

With the coronation, all four of Jelly Roll’s Mainstream Rock Airplay entries have reached No. 1. He first led with “Dead Man Walking” in 2022, followed by “Need a Favor” in 2023 and “All My Life,” with Falling in Reverse, this July.

Jelly Roll’s feat of sending four initial Mainstream Rock Airplay chart entries to No. 1 equals the record first set by The Pretty Reckless, which reigned with “Heaven Knows,” “Messed Up World,” “Follow Me Down” and “Take Me Down” in 2014-16.

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Concurrently, “Liar” bullets at No. 7, after hitting No. 6, on the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay chart with 3.7 million audience impressions (up 7%) in the week ending Nov. 28, according to Luminate.

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Like “Need a Favor,” “Liar” is a dual rock and country radio single, as the latter rises 30-26 on the latest Country Airplay survey. Last year, “Need a Favor” became the first song in Billboard history to top both the Mainstream Rock Airplay and Country Airplay charts.

In addition to its all-format radio reach (10.9 million impressions), “Liar” drew 6.7 million official U.S. streams and sold 3,000 downloads Nov. 22-28.

“Liar” is the newest single from Beautifully Broken, Jelly Roll’s 10th studio album. The set debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 dated Oct. 26 and has earned 603,000 equivalent album units to date. The set’s “I Am Not Okay” topped Country Airplay for three weeks in November. Also being promoted to pop and adult radio, “I Am Not Okay” holds at its No. 8 best on the Dec. 7-dated Adult Pop Airplay chart.

Joss Stone Adopts Baby Boy With Husband Cody DaLuz

Joss Stone and husband Cody DaLuz are now a family of five, with the English singer-songwriter announcing Monday (Dec. 2) that the couple recently adopted a baby boy named Bear

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The duo’s new addition is the pair’s third child together, coming after 3-year-old sister Violet and 2-year-old brother Shackleton. Stone broke the news to her Instagram followers by sharing a video of their experience receiving the call that Bear had been placed in their custody and their voyage to the hospital to pick him up.

“We are in love big time with this little guy,” the Eragon actress wrote in her caption. “The reason why Cody even exists is because his bio mum loved him enough to make an adoption plan for him and the same goes for Bear.”

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“Honestly bio mothers do not get the gratitude they deserve,” Stone continued. “It is a more selfless love than I knew existed. Truly. We are just so happy to be part of this beautiful cycle.”

Stone’s video also features the couple wearing hospital gowns, holding their new son for the first time. “We’re so happy you’re here,” DaLuz says while cradling Bear, feeding him a bottle.

Plus, the “Tell Me ‘Bout It” singer shouted out the nursing staff who took care of Bear while he was in the NICU, as well as included a photo of Violet meeting her youngest brother in the video. “Please share your [stories] of adoption in the comments if you have any,” she added in her caption. “And please welcome our gorgeous baby boy to this wonderful world xxxx.”

Stone first became a mom in 2021, when she and her then-boyfriend welcomed Violet via C-section. In November 2022, they welcomed Shackleton in what the musician described at the time was a “scary labor,” just under a year before Stone revealed that she and DaLuz had tied the knot in 2023.

See Stone’s post below.