Music News

16 Nov 2024

Sabrina Carpenter Joined by Christina Aguilera for Surprise Performance of ‘What a Girl Wants’ & More at L.A. Concert

Sabrina Carpenter was joined by Christina Aguilera for an unforgettable moment during her Short n’ Sweet Tour stop in Los Angeles on Friday (Nov. 15).

The 25-year-old “Espresso” singer surprised fans at L.A.’s Crypto.com Arena when she welcomed the iconic pop star, 43, on stage for a pair of duets. Together, they performed Aguilera’s classic hits “Ain’t No Other Man” and “What a Girl Wants.”

The surprise collaboration opened with Carpenter playing a game of Spin the Bottle with her backup dancers, announcing Xtina as the winner. As the crowd cheered, the five-time Grammy winner emerged from a platform beneath the stage and launched into “Ain’t No Other Man.”

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The duo then slowed things down for a rendition of “What a Girl Wants,” evoking memories of the iconic performance they shared during Aguilera’s 25th anniversary celebration of her self-titled 1999 debut album, filmed at Spotify Studios in L.A.

“I’m freaking out,” Carpenter told to the crowd, before sharing a personal memory of Aguilera’s early influence on her. “I think the first time I ever heard your voice was when my mom played me a video of you singing ‘A Sunday Kind of Love’ at 8 years old,” she said, referencing Aguilera’s 1990 performance on Star Search. “It was the most inspiring thing for me to see as a young girl who wanted to sing but didn’t think I could do it at that age.”

Released in 1999, “What a Girl Wants” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, while “Ain’t No Other Man” hit No. 6 in 2006.

Carpenter’s Los Angeles concert also featured another playful moment, with Carpenter “arresting” actress Rachel Sennott during her song “Juno.” The pop star had pulled a similar stunt with Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown at an Atlanta tour stop in October.

15 Nov 2024

Zach Bryan Completes Deferred Prosecution Agreement, 2023 Arrest Case Closed

Zach Bryan has completed his deferred prosecution agreement connected to his 2023 arrest in Oklahoma, People confirmed with the Craig County, Oklahoma District Attorney’s Office.

Per the publication, since he completed the six-month agreement, the criminal case against him has been closed. “He admitted responsibility and followed all of the rules and conditions of probation,” District Attorney’s Office spokesperson Michelle Lowry said. Billboard has reached out to Bryan’s reps for more information.

Deferred prosecution agreements are typically used in situations where the person has no criminal record, and is considered an opportunity to take responsibility avoid having a recorded criminal conviction.

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In September, footage of Bryan’s arrest made its rounds on the Internet. During the traffic stop, which occurred after Bryan was pulled over for driving 78 mph in a 55 mph zone, and 60 mph in a 35 mph zone, the “Pink Skies” was “clearly aggravated and argumentative,” per the affidavit and ignored officer’s demands for him to get back into his car. He also told officers, “I’ll go to jail. Let’s do it,” and added that situations like his is why “people do not like police officers,” per the document.

Bryan was released on a $1,000 bond after being booked in Craig County jail.

The country singer confirmed the news of his arrest on Sept. 8, admitting that he got “too lippy” with officers. “I was an idiot today. My decisions did not reflect who I was as a person… I should have been smarter about it,” he explained, laying out the full timeline of events from his perspective. “I felt like a child, it was ridiculous, it was immature. And I just pray everyone knows I don’t think I’m above the law. I was just being disrespectful and I shouldn’t have been and it was my mistake,” he said.

15 Nov 2024

Luke Bryan & Peyton Manning on How New Hulu Series ‘It’s All Country’ Became ‘So Much More’ Than They’d Envisioned

Hulu’s new docuseries It’s All Country takes fans behind the scenes with some of their favorite acts.

Hosted and co-created by Luke Bryan, the series — which premiered Friday (Nov. 15) — features the country superstar going deep with his fellow artists, revealing the stories behind the songs, their hidden inspirations and how their lives inform their music.

The series, executive produced by Bryan’s CMA Awards co-host Peyton Manning’s Omaha production company, features Kane Brown, Lady A, Luke Combs, Sheryl Crow, Wynonna Judd and Mickey Guyton.  Guest musicians appearing in the series include Julie Williams, Cash Cortes, Jimbo Mathus, Tenille Arts, Jaimee Harris, Shaboozey, Benjamin Tod and Sierra Ferrell. In addition to Manning, Bryan, his manager Kerri Edwards and Grant Kahler serve as executive producers.

In the trailer, Bryan is seen playing music with his guests and interviewing them. “Behind every country song is a human story, an untold story, and I’m here to find those stories,” he says in the trailer.

The series was Manning’s idea. “When Peyton first came to me about doing this show in our country music space, I loved the idea,” Bryan tells Billboard. “I had seen his previous work in the NFL space and knew this could really be special for our fans. It really became such a conversational piece that I don’t always have the opportunity to do with my peers.”

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For Bryan, getting to spend in-depth time with his fellow artists yielded far more rewards than he could have ever hoped. “It was honestly so much more than I envisioned going into the filming,” he says. “Each one gave us pieces of their stories that I had never heard before, and I think the audiences will also feel the same.”

Manning calls himself a “lifelong” fan of country music, “but co-hosting the CMA Awards has made me a lot more knowledgeable in the space,” he tells Billboard.

“A few years ago, the team at Omaha asked me what some of my passions and interests were outside of sports,” Manning continues. “I’ve always been a huge country music fan. I’ve had the chance to host the CMA Awards the last few years and I go to as many country concerts as I can, so it was a natural fit to expand into this space and take a swing at producing a show that celebrates country music, like we’ve done in sports.”

It's All Country

It’s All Country

Courtesy of Disney/Hulu

In his role as executive producer, Manning says, “I just wanted to give a platform to artists to tell their stories. I enjoy watching the rough cuts and giving my two cents or suggestions and seeing the episodes come to life.” He opened up his rolodex when it came to booking the series. “Early on in production, the producers gave me a target guest list, and I went through and said, ‘I can text Luke Combs’ or ‘I’m a fan of Sheryl Crow,’ and we went from there,” Manning says. “I’m proud of all the different artists featured in the show – they’ve all had their own unique experiences and made an impact on country music.”

Manning admits he had a soft spot for Lady A, the only group featured in the first season. “Coming from a team sports background, the episode with Lady A resonated with me in particular,” the former Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos quarterback says. “I can understand how critical that relationship with your bandmates or teammates is. The viewer gets a taste of how they’ve navigated all their success as a group, supporting each other like teammates in a locker room.”

As far as other series he may want to be involved in, Bryan isn’t limiting himself. “Oh gosh, you never know with me,” he says. “I’m the type that stuff is constantly popping in my head. It comes down to weeding through the ideas that people around me feel best serve our industry and fit my overall brand.  Very thankful to have this opportunity.”

Bryan and Manning will be joined by Lainey Wilson as co-hosts of the CMA Awards, airing Nov. 20 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and streaming the next day on Hulu.

15 Nov 2024

Elmo Has an Awkwardly Funny ‘Chicken Shop’ Playdate With Amelia Dimoldenberg

Elmo’s traveled from Sesame Street all the way to a chicken shop in London to go on a date with Amelia Dimoldenberg.

The Chicken Shop Date creator/stae has had dates with many famous faces in her 10-year journey to find love at the chicken shop — most recently, Andrew Garfield. (If you’re one to read the comments, you’ll know fans of both have been convinced he’s the one.)

From the music world, Burna Boy, Sabrina Carpenter, Charli XCX, Cher, Billie Eilish, Jack Harlow, Matty Healy, Rema, Rosalia, Ed Sheeran and SZA are among the many talented artists who’ve been to the chicken shop with Dimoldenberg. British rapper Ghettz was her first date, in 2014, for the series that’s become a short-form comedy hit on YouTube.

You might say she went for a different type for the latest episode of Chicken Shop Date.

Dimoldenberg invited Elmo, the lovable puppet from Sesame Street, out for a playdate version of one of her typical dates. She met with him at the chicken shop only to learn he doesn’t eat chicken, that he can match her deadpan delivery, and that he also has an innate talent for making the moment awkward.

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“Does Elmo like nuggets?” she asks to open the episode, which dropped Friday (Nov. 15) on YouTube.

“Well, Elmo does vegetarian nuggets,” Elmo replies.

“Oh, you’re a vegetarian?” Amelia asks.

“Well, Elmo knows lots of chickens, you know. Elmo has friends that are chickens,” he says.

Elmo dishes the truth to his date about hugs (ask first), getting out of your head, and learning a word called “patience.” He also shouts out Beyoncé in hopes of bringing her to both Sesame Street and Chicken Shop Date — a move that Dimoldenberg warns him is desperate, before admitting that she’s desperate to be getting advice about romance from Elmo.

“What do you think Cookie Monster would make of chicken shops?” she wonders at another point.

“A mess,” Elmo says.

“Right,” says Amelia.

Watch Elmo on Chicken Shop Date below to see how the date went.

15 Nov 2024

It’s Time! iHeartRadio Stations Make the Flip to Christmas Music for 2024 Holiday Season

‘Tis officially the season, which means its time for festive songs on the radio!

iHeartMedia announced that the annual station flip to holiday music kicked off on Friday (Nov. 15) with more than 85 stations across the country broadcasting modern holiday hits as well as Christmas classics from Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and more all day long.

“Year after year, as the Christmas season approaches, listeners look to our stations as the holiday music destination, anticipating the return of their favorite songs, from the timeless classics like ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’ to Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You,’” said Tom Poleman, iHeartMedia’s chief programming officer, said in a press statement. “Listeners around the country have really come to rely on our stations to kick off the season, these songs ignite their spirits and evoke memories, hearing the music is nostalgic. That’s what also makes this Holiday Special, well, so special because it’s their favorite artists sharing their personal holiday memories with their fans. After all, it is the most wonderful time of the year!”

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To continue the holiday festivities, the iHeartRadio Holiday Special is returning this year. The annual event will be hosted by Mario Lopez, and feature interviews with stars including Dan + Shay, Jennifer Hudson, Jimmy Fallon, Kelly Clarkson and more, as they discuss their favorite holiday songs and traditions.

The special will broadcast across iHeartMedia stations nationwide and on the iHeartRadio app on  November 27 at 7 p.m. local time. 

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15 Nov 2024

Jin’s ‘Happy’ Album: Every Track Ranked

See how we broke down every song from the BTS superstar’s long-awaited solo album.

Jin

Jin

Courtesy of BIGHIT MUSIC

With Jin finally feeling like it was the “right time” to release his first solo project, Happy is a radiant ode to explore his favorite genre in rock music as well as the gratitude he wants to share with fans.

While the BTS superstar’s participation in the album’s production is evident all the way through the final track “I will come to you,” a poignant ballad he wrote for ARMY fans, Jin also enlisted a cast of global collaborators to bring his Happy feelings to life. The electrifying main single “Running Wild” was co-produced by Gary Barlow of British boy band Take That, while the pre-release track “I’ll Be There” marks the latest team-up between BTS and “Lights Down Low” singer MAX. There’s also Taka and Toru of Japanese rock group ONE OK ROCK, Wendy of K-pop girl group Red Velvet and some of Jin’s longtime collaborators like PDOGG, all present so that Happy presents Jin as a versatile vocalist unafraid to experiment with new styles without losing his authenticity.

While listeners have been treated to solo songs by Jin for years — including his Billboard Hot 100 hit “The Astronaut” that had contributions from Coldplay — this tight, six-song EP finally gives fans a longer Jin listening experience while exploring universal themes like love, joy and personal growth.

From the singles “Running Wild” and “I’ll Be There” to new solo songs including “Heart on the Window” and “Another Level,” check out our ranking of every song from Jin’s debut solo album, Happy.

15 Nov 2024

Snoop Dogg Recalls Telling Sexyy Red ‘You Got Star Power’ When They First Met

Snoop Dogg is all aboard the Sexyy Red train.

While chatting with Vibe in a video posted Wednesday (Nov. 13), the 53-year-old hip-hop icon shared the praise he gave the “Get It Sexyy” artist when they first met. “‘You got star power. I love you,’” he recalled telling her. “She said, ‘Unc, you real as a motherf—er.’”

“I said, ‘Yeah, I f— with you, cuz,’” Snoop continued. “We partying, having a good time.”

Snoop’s remarks come the same day Sexyy posted a video of herself dancing at an outdoor party with the “Drop It Like It’s Hot” artist, both of them singing along to her 2023 single “SkeeYee” as the St. Louis star smoked a cigar. “I’m wit snoop yal!!” she captioned the clip.

As Snoop told Vibe, he loves hanging out with younger rappers and passing on words of wisdom. “I said, ‘One thing about me, I’m from the old generation but I don’t hate on y’all,’” he continued of meeting Sexyy. “‘I may critique, but when I see y’all, I’m gonna give you love and I’m gonna tell you face-to-face, ‘You’re doing an amazing job, here’s some things you can do better.’”

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Though he self-identifies as “the old generation,” Snoop is still churning out hits. On Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart dated Nov. 16, his and Dr. Dre’s “Gorgeous” collaboration with Jhene Aiko debuted at No. 29 — marking the first time in 13 years the two men have appeared on the listing together.

The track comes ahead of Snoop’s upcoming Dre-produced album Missionary, which is slated for a Dec. 13 release. It’ll mark the rapper’s first LP since 2022’s BODR.

Watch Snoop recall meeting Sexyy Red below.

15 Nov 2024

Kodak Black Receives Sobering Advice From Gillie & Wallo: Watch

Kodak Black has been in the news lately due to his unsettling appearance with streamer Kai Cenat, so Gillie and Wallo of the podcast Million Dollaz Worth of Game decided to pay the enigmatic rapper a visit.

One portion of the 45-minute interview making the rounds is where Wallo — who turned his life around after serving 20 years in prison — is giving him one of his famous motivational talks. “Look at me, man,” he said as he held Kodak’s hand while looking him in the eyes. “Listen: You special. Don’t ever doubt yourself, and you got them babies counting on you. Now, there’s gonna be times where you gonna doubt yourself, you gonna be in pain, but them babies counting on you. You got to be here.”

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He added: “And I’m telling you that because a lot of people get around you and they see your success… A lot of people need you and they ‘yes man’ you. I ain’t here to ‘yes man’ you. You know me, every time we connect, you know I got love for you, not because I need you. I got love for you because you’re a young cat. And I was young. Gil was young. Live, live! And I’m telling you that because you see that love that that lady gave you? You see how you light up when I talk about your babies? Live. These people want to laugh, they want to joke, they want to criticize. They don’t know your pain. I don’t know your pain, but I know one thing. Them babies counting on you, your family counting on you, and you’re talented.”

Wallo then told Kodak not to take what he’s accomplished for granted and to be a positive example to his children. “A lot of brothers ain’t here no more that had the opportunity that you had,” he began. “Some of them in prison, some of them dead, and they looking at us like we just some n—as that don’t give a f—. We’re junkies, we’re criminals. That’s what they think of us. We got to learn how to change the narrative, brother. You got a lot of young people watching. … Don’t hurt yourself, brother.”

Kodak has faced a slew of legal issues and has battled addiction over the years. His erratic behavior during his visit with Cenat drew some concern from his peers and fans. One positive, though, was Rihanna referencing his freestyle about being offered sex while waiting for a bus. Many blamed the subject matter on the rapper being high, but he was actually referring to an old popular YouTube video titled “Sex?…I’m Just Waiting For The Bus…..(Haitian Vs. Hooker.)”

You can watch the full interview below.

15 Nov 2024

Diddy’s 17-Year-Old Twins Honor Mother Kim Porter 6 Years After Her Death: ‘Wish You Were Here’

It’s been six years since the tragic death of model and Sean “Diddy” Combs’ longtime Kim Porter, and the couple’s twin daughters D’Lila and Jessie paid tribute to their beloved mother on the anniversary of her death on Friday (Nov. 15).

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“We can’t believe it’s been 6 years without you,” the duo captioned a black-and-white photo of Porter holding the twins as newborns, kissing one in the air while the other rests on her shoulder. “We think about you every single second of the day. We love and miss you so much words can’t even explain. We wish you were here with us but we know your spirit will be around forever!! We Love you Mommy.”

See the post here.

Porter passed away on Nov. 15, 2018, and her cause of death was determined to be lobar pneumonia. She was 47.

Last month, Amazon pulled the bestselling 60-page Kim’s Lost Words: A Journey for Justice From the Other Side…, a memoir allegedly written by Porter. The book reveals an alleged abusive relationship between the couple, and Combs’ attorney Erica Wolf called the memoir “fake” and “offensive – a shameless attempt to profit from tragedy” in a statement to Billboard last month.

“Claims that our mom wrote a book are simply untrue,” Combs and Porter’s children said in the statement. “She did not, and anyone claiming to have a manuscript is misrepresenting themselves. Additionally, please understand that any so-called ‘friend’ speaking on behalf of our mom or her family is not a friend, nor do they have her best interests at heart.”

The statement went on: “Our lives were shattered when we lost our mother. She was our world, and nothing has been the same since she passed. While it has been incredibly difficult to reconcile how she could be taken from us too soon, the cause of her death has long been established. There was no foul play. Grief is a lifelong process, and we ask that everyone respect our request for peace as we continue to cope with her loss every day.”

Diddy was arrested on Sept. 17 in New York City on federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges. He has since been denied bond twice and will remain in prison until facing trial.

15 Nov 2024

Shyne Tells Stephen A. Smith He Wasn’t Offered Money to Take the Fall for Diddy

Shyne isn’t finished talking about his relationship with Diddy.

During a recent appearance on The Stephen A. Smith Show to promote his Hulu documentary The Honorable Shyne, the rapper-turned-politician again spoke on his relationship with his former Bad Boy label boss Diddy and why it was the right time to do a documentary about his journey and second chance at life.

First, Shyne revealed that he’s been asked to make a documentary about his life for 20-plus years, and he revealed that actor and producer Mark Wahlberg had once offered him $1 million to do one. “I had been inundated with solicitations to do a documentary for the last 22 years, to be factual,” the Leader of the Opposition in the Belize House of Representatives told Stephen A. Smith. “Mark Wahlberg offered me, I think, a million-dollar deal back in 2004 and I have that proposal, I can share it with you. I just was always looking for the right partner and it had to make sense fiscally.”

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Shyne also said he waited this long because he didn’t want the documentary to just be about Diddy. “I didn’t want to tell the Diddy story, because that’s not my story,” he said. “My story is ‘next Prime Minister of Belize.’ My story is power. My story is victor. My story is triumph over tragedy. That’s my story.”

Stephen A. pushed back, though, and asked Shyne to explain exactly what happened to him and why he’s been reluctant to talk about that fateful night in 1999 and its aftermath. “In my words, I said so many years ago back in 2001,” he said, referring to his first of six XXL covers entitled Death Before Dishonor. It was me talking about not snitching on Diddy and not getting him in trouble to get myself out of trouble. I said that 20-odd years ago.

He added: “I’ve always maintained in every interview I did until recently when I healed and I moved on and I forgave, but for years I was saying what a creep I thought he was and how he destroyed my life and at one point, I thought he was the devil,” he said. “But because of the power of Diddy, which is so loud as far as a pop culture icon, nobody listened. So I moved on. And I pivoted my life to healing, to forgiveness and to taking accountability for what I can control.”

He then continued by claiming he was made the fall guy without being offered compensation for the pain and suffering he endured during his 10-year sentence. “And I can’t control what someone did to me decades ago. I can’t control them not wanting to pay reparations, not wanting to make it right,” Shyne admitted.

“People say, ‘Oh, Diddy gave me millions to go to jail.’ Nothing! Probably made two what I thought were offensive contributions over the last 20-something years, which led to a breakdown in the relations. But I moved on. So yes, was I the sacrificial lamb? Of course. Did I take the fall? Yes. There was no quid pro quo. There was not, ‘Listen, we’re gonna have $10 million waiting for you when you come out,’ or just do the right thing. I did that on my own. I’ve been saying that, it’s not anything new.”

However, he did give Diddy credit for teaching him the entertainment business and referred to the fallen mogul as a “professor” and referred to his label as “the University of Bad Boy.”

Billboard reached out to Diddy’s team for comment and received this message: “Mr. Combs categorically denies Mr. Barrow’s allegations, including any suggestion that he orchestrated Mr. Barrow to ‘take the fall’ or ‘sacrificed’ him by directing witnesses to testify against him. These claims are unequivocally false.

“Mr. Combs was acquitted of all charges related to the 1999 Club New York incident and has consistently maintained his innocence. He cannot accept or condone any characterization of his actions as ‘demonic’ or malicious.

Mr. Combs appreciates the path Mr. Barrow has pursued and wishes him continued success. It is unfortunate that Mr. Barrow has chosen to revisit these allegations. Mr. Combs trusts that responsible journalism will weigh both the established legal outcomes and Mr. Combs’ positive, longstanding support for those he has worked with.”

You can watch the full conversation below.