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Sexyy Red could’ve been a wrestler in the WWE universe.
During a profile with Dazed, it was revealed that the St. Louis rapper was offered “a permanent role as wrestler.” However, Sexyy’s busy schedule didn’t allow for proper time to train and she ultimately settled for cameo instead. And when talking about the subject, she compared her current occupation with sports entertainment. “Rapping and wrestling are pretty much the same,” she explained. “It’s not quite acting, but it’s kind of acting too, right? Because when we go home and take off all our jewels and gold and remove the costumes we wear, we then have to go right back to reality with our families.”
Sexxy made her WWE debut last May when she hosted NXT where she unveiled the brand new NXT North American Women’s Championship belt and sang Shawn Michael’s iconic “Sexy Boy” theme song with the legend himself. She then hosted NXT Battleground in Nevada a couple months later.
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Elsewhere in the profile, she said what she would change if she became president and admitted to having around 600 pairs of True Religion jeans. “I would give all the hungry poor people free food,” she said. So they don’t have to steal it no more, because it’s too expensive right now. Food should be free! No one should ever be homeless.”
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Adding, “The people at the bottom are my favorite kind of people, period. I like people that wear True Religion jeans, even though they’re [seen as being] too ghetto. I’ve got like 600 pairs! I represent the people with no airs and graces.”
She also talked about the hardships of fame and how she’s still racially profiled when she goes back home. “Trying to live a normal life is difficult when you’re famous,” she admitted. “Sometimes y’all be so annoying. If you see me with my babies bagging up groceries, then get the f—k away from me. No photos!”
She continued by saying the more famous she gets, the more she feels unsafe. “I feel like with me, the more famous I get, the more people will see me as a threat,” she added. “As I get bigger and more viral, there’s going to be more and more people who want to harm me, 100 percent.”
Sexyy then brought up her dealing with law enforcement in her hometown. “The police in St. Louis just shot another Black kid dead the other day. That sh—t’s so wrong,” she said. “When I go back home, there are usually two outcomes [when I am stopped in traffic]: they either like your music and want to tell you about their kids being fans, or they choose to mess with you even more [now you’re this celebrity]! Sometimes they pick on me or just fuck with me for fun. They like to remind you of where you are. It’s all about reinforcing their position [of power].”
Her song with Bruno Mars “Fat Juicy & Wet” currently sits at No. 34 on the Hot 100 where it peaked at No. 17 and has been on the chart for two weeks.
The Podcast Academy, the professional podcast organization, has announced the nominees for its fifth annual Awards for Excellence in Audio (The Ambies). Hosted by comedian Tig Notaro, the Ambies will take place on Monday, March 31 at the McCormick Convention Center in Chicago. The ceremony will be livestreamed by Twitch from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. CT.
The ceremony will highlight 199 nominees across 28 categories with winners to be selected by voting members of The Podcast Academy — in addition to a Governors Award. Eligible new members will be able to vote to determine this year’s winners if applications are submitted by Feb. 20. Go to: www.thepodcastacademy.com/join-the-community.
Jon Stewart, Rainn Wilson and Pulitzer Prize-winning critic Wesley Morris are among the nominees for best podcast host or hosts. Bowen Yang, Jane Lynch and Tisha Campbell are among the nominees for best performance in audio fiction.
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“As we celebrate the fifth Annual Awards for Excellence in Audio, we are excited to announce this year’s nominees, whose work continues to push the boundaries of storytelling and innovation in the audio space,” Christy Mirabal, chairperson of The Podcast Academy, said in a statement. “This milestone year for the Podcast Academy is a reflection of the incredible growth and creativity within the podcasting community.”
“I’m so excited to host The Podcast Academy’s fifth Annual Awards for Excellence in Audio,” exclaimed Notaro. “It’s like being at the Oscars, only it’s celebrating those of us who are good at talking into a microphone while wearing sweatpants in our closets with pillows on our windows. Take that Meryl. And Meryl, while I have your attention, would you be a guest on my podcast?”
Here are the nominees for The 2025 Ambies in categories most relevant to the music and entertainment industry.
Podcast of the year
99% Invisible: Not Built for This
Beyond All Repair
Cement City
Dragon Age: Vows & Vengeance
Empire City: The Untold Origin Story of the NYPD
Faraway
Fire Escape
Hot White Heist 2
Hysterical
Throughline
Best podcast host or hosts
Diallo Riddle and Blake ‘LUXXURY’ Robin – One Song
Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach and Amanda Doyle – We Can Do Hard Things
Jon Stewart – The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart
Rainn Wilson – Radio Rental
Ronald Young Jr. – Weight for It
Sam Sanders – The Sam Sanders Show
Wesley Morris – The Wonder of Stevie
Best original score and music supervision
Dan Leone – Ripple
Daniel Lloyd-Evans, Louis Nanke-Mannell and Toby Matimong – Extrasensory
Deron Johnson – Dungeon Masters
Jonathan Pfarr, Carson Graham and Bobby Mota – Celebrity Pets
Peter Nashel, Ross Hopman, Gio Lobato, Dana Hom, Brad Fischer, Jordan Lieb, Lucas Villemur and Lindsay Dievert – Hammerless: A True Crime Podcast in a Fantasy World
Skyler Gerdeman, Martin Lynabel, Nicholas Alexander, Max O’Brien and Caroline Thornham – Kill List
Stro Elliot and Eric Gersen – Historical Records
Best production and sound design
Casandra Tinajero and Andrés Bahena – Nocturno: Tales From the Shadows
Jeremy S. Bloom – Hot White Heist 2
Kenny Kusiak and George Drabing Hicks – The Confessions of Anthony Raimondi
Michelle Macklem – Girl v. Horse
Realm – Narcosis
Sagafilm and Skybound Entertainment – Impact Winter Season 3
Ted Bonnitt – Hindsight: The Day Before
Best entertainment podcast
Infamous
Lemme Say This
Rattled & Shook
Scamfluencers
Split Screen: Kid Nation
The Road to Joni
The Wonder of Stevie
Best society and culture podcast
Hysterical
In Retrospect with Susie Banikarim and Jessica Bennett
Inheriting
Mind Your Own with Lupita Nyong’o
My Divo
Sixteenth Minute (of Fame)
Weight For It
Best podcast for kids
Culture Kids
Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest
Historical Records
Mysteries About True Histories
PJ Library Presents: Beyond the Bookcase
Skylar & Bones – Funny Stories for Kids!
Wow in the World
Best Spanish language narrative podcast
¡No Vengan!
Greal: El Secreto de las Ocho Llaves
Hechos Reales
HUMO: Murder and Silence in El Salvador
No quieren que sepas
Pantallas & Mentiras [Screens & Lies]
Pétrea
Best sports podcast
30 for 30 Podcasts
Broomgate
Good Game with Sarah Spain
Pablo Torre Finds Out
Shadowball: The Rise of the Black Athlete
The Raven
The Rich Eisen Show
Best comedy podcast
Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend
Hot White Heist 2
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Scam Goddess
SmartLess
We’re Here to Help
Who Replaced Avril Lavigne? Joanne McNally Investigates
Best indie podcast
Sightings
The Insurgence: Sheriffs
The Man Who Calculated Death
The Nightingale of Iran
The People’s Recorder
The TMI Project Story Hour
What Happened in Skinner
Best indie podcast host or hosts
Dallas Taylor – Twenty Thousand Hertz
Deja Perkins and Purbita Saha – Bring Birds Back
Jill Jonassen – The Cost of Extremism
Kate McCoy and Kevin Corbett – Horrorwood: True Crime in Tinseltown
Lisa Phillips – From Now On
Lisa Woolfork – STITCH PLEASE
Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson – 80s TV Ladies
Best interview podcast
American Masters: Creative Spark
Apple News in Conversation
Overlooked: Women’s Health Can’t Wait
Thanks Dad with Ego Nwodim
The Assignment with Audie Cornish
The Integrated Schools Podcast
Tomorrow’s Cure
Best performance in audio fiction
Bowen Yang, Cynthia Nixon, Shannon Woodward, Jane Lynch, Jesse James Keitel, Sarah Steele, Ian McKellen, Raul Esparza, Sara Ramírez, Joel Kim Booster, Bianca Del Rio, Cheyenne Jackson, Abbi Jacobson, Stephanie Beatriz, Katya Zamolodchikova, Trixie Mattel, Yvie Oddly, Jane Krakowski, Sandra Oh, and Tony Kushner – Hot White Heist 2
Caitlin Stasey, Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts, David Yow, Caroline Morahan, Guinevere Turner, Elizabeth Halpern, Travis Harmon, Brad Griffith, James Bacon, Jameson Cush, Jonathan Shockley and Ayla Glass – The Skies Are Watching
Fredi Bernstein, Cody Wilkins and Dana Domenick – The Box
Mikki Hernandez, Toby Meuli, Geri-Nikol Love, Rachel Kylian – Ominous Thrill
Ruth Righi – Winnie Taylor’s 4th & Inches
Sanaa Lathan – The Justice
Tisha Campbell – Snoriezzz
Mexican superstars Maná have made history by being the first Spanish-language act to receive a nomination to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The band, composed of Fher Olvera, Alex González, Sergio Vallín and Juan Calleros, has left an indelible mark on music, not only in Latin America but globally, through their career spanning more than three decades.
Since their formation in Guadalajara, Jalisco, the quartet has captured the hearts and minds of millions with their lyrics full of passion and their sound that mixes rock, pop and pan-Latin rhythms. With this nomination, they celebrate a milestone not just in their career, but for music in Spanish too. (Fans can cast a vote for Maná’s induction into the Hall of Fame here.)
The band made their debut on the Billboard charts in 1994 with their seminal album Dónde Jugarán los Niños, which reached No. 2 on the Top Latin Albums chart. Their success continued to grow and, over the years, they have managed to position 10 of their songs at No. 1 on the Hot Latin Songs chart, including classics like “Mariposa Traicionera” and “Labios Compartidos.”
These tracks, along with other timeless hits not on this list — such as “Oye Mi Amor,” “Rayando el Sol” and “Clavado en un Bar” — have solidified the Mexican rockers as one of the most influential bands in Latin music. Although the Hot Latin Songs chart, which started in 1986, is the barometer of success in the Latin market — combining data from radio plays, streaming, and digital sales — their achievements go beyond certifications and accolades. They have connected with a worldwide audience through their philanthropic efforts aimed at social justice and peace.
“We want to share this recognition with all Latinos everywhere, especially the immigrants who are suffering right now,” frontman Fher Olvera said in a statement about their nomination. “Don’t lose faith. Our people always find a way. Maná loves you. We’ll always be here standing with you.”
In honor of their nomination to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Billboard Español has compiled their 10 songs that have topped the chart, in chronological order.
“Mariposa Traicionera”
Image Credit: Bernardo Flores
Destiny’s Child reassembled this week for an important celebration: Kelly Rowland‘s 44th birthday.
In photos posted by Beyoncé on Instagram, Bey and Michelle Williams honored their former bandmate’s big day over a candlelit dinner. In one picture, the ladies — each of them modeling glamorous cocktail dresses — pose together in a row and smile at the camera. In another pic, Rowland looks emotional at the dinner table as the “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer beams in the seat next to her, while a third photo shows the two women pulling each other in for a hug.
“Birthday bestie,” Bey captioned the carousel, adding a birthday cake emoji.
The Mea Culpa star turned 44 on Tuesday, and two days later, Rowland wrote on Instagram, “THANK YOU ALL FOR THE BIRTHDAY LOVE, I took it all in and felt overwhelmingly BLESSED and seen by God!”
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“Every person who took the time, to send me B-Day love, I thank you, from the bottom of my heart!!” she added.
The ladies’ reunion comes just a couple of days after Williams shared details about the Destiny’s Child group chat during an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show. After gushing that the thread’s vibe is “pure, it’s friendship, it’s all of those things,” the Broadway star revealed who in the group is the most talkative — and it’s a toss-up.
“Who’s the most talkative? Surprisingly me,” she said, laughing, before adding: “I don’t know, Kelly, now … Kelly can talk!”
It’s also not the first time the “Bootylicious” women have reunited for the sake of an important birthday. Last year, the trio assembled to celebrate Bey’s mom, Ms. Tina Knowles, and her 70th turn around the sun. The group even sang for the businesswoman, after which Knowles wrote on Instagram, “I just got spoiled to death this weekend! I even got serenaded by Destiny’s Child! How amazing is that?!”
After the global success of Boza‘s hit song “Orion,” featuring Elena Rose — which peaked at No. 2 on Billboard‘s Latin Airplay chart and remained on the tally for more than 17 weeks — the Panamanian artist is back with an exciting new musical venture. He has teamed up with Colombian singer Greeicy to release […]
Drake and PartyNextDoor are dropping their joint album $ome $exy $ongs 4 U on Thursday night, and one song title on the recently revealed track list stuck out: The duo named the project’s ninth track “Brian Steel” after the attorney who represented Young Thug during his much-publicized RICO trial. New York Times reporter Joe Coscarelli […]
Issa Rae has canceled her sold-out show at the Kennedy Center following Donald Trump’s board takeover, with the actress calling the president’s actions an “infringement on the values” of the cultural organization.
In a statement posted to Instagram Stories on Thursday (Feb. 13), Rae thanked fans for buying tickets to her event titled “An Evening With Issa Rae” before writing, “Unfortunately, due to what I believe to be an infringement on the values of an institution that has faithfully celebrated artists of all backgrounds through all mediums, I’ve decided to cancel my appearance at this venue.”
Noting that all tickets would be refunded, the producer added, “Thank you so much for understanding, and I hope to see you soon.”
Rae’s announcement comes shortly after Trump gutted much of the Kennedy Center’s historically nonpartisan board of trustees and appointed his own supporters in their places. Naming himself chairman, the twice-impeached POTUS also fired the institution’s longtime president, Deborah F. Rutter; the board has replaced her with interim president Richard Grenell, who served as ambassador to Germany during Trump’s first term in the White House.
The Barbie actress is just one of multiple people in the entertainment industry distancing themselves from the Kennedy Center amid the changes. Ben Folds has left his position as adviser to the National Symphony Orchestra, while Shonda Rhimes has resigned as treasurer of the center’s board.
Philadelphia rock band Low Cut Connie has also followed Rae’s lead, with frontman Adam Weiner announcing Wednesday that the group would be pulling out of its scheduled March 19 concert at the iconic Washington, D.C., venue. “Our little rock n roll act stands for diversity, inclusion and truth-telling,” the musician wrote in a message announcing the cancelation on Instagram. “Maybe my career will suffer from this decision, but my soul will be the better for it.”
Trump first announced his plans to overhaul the Kennedy Center leadership team last Friday (Feb. 7), writing on Truth Social, “I have decided to immediately terminate multiple individuals from the Board of Trustees, including the Chairman, who do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture.”
Specifically condemning the center’s inclusion of drag shows in its past programming, the politician added that performances “targeting our children” will come to an end under his supervision. “The Kennedy Center is an American Jewel, and must reflect the brightest STARS on its stage from all across our Nation,” he concluded. “For the Kennedy Center, THE BEST IS YET TO COME!”
Ariana Grande has long been an ally to the LGBTQ community, and the feeling appears to be mutual.
At the 2025 Dorian Awards, presented by GALECA, the Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics, the pop superstar won the award for supporting film performance of the year. She beat, among others, Zoe Saldaña for Emilia Pérez, who appears to be her main rival for the Oscar for best supporting actress.
Grande’s Wicked co-stars Cynthia Erivo and Jonathan Bailey won awards too. Erivo (who is also Oscar-nominated, but in the best actress category) won here for GALECA LGBTQIA+ film trailblazer. Bailey won the “we’re wilde about you!” rising star award.
The body-horror movie The Substance won a leading five trophies, including two that almost never go together at award shows: film of the year and campiest flick. The film’s other awards were film performance of the year for Demi Moore, director of the year for Coralie Fargeat and genre film of the year (science fiction/fantasy/horror). In addition, Moore received the timeless star award, a non-competitive career achievement prize. Previous timeless star honorees include Jodie Foster, Jane Fonda, Nathan Lane, John Waters, Rita Moreno, Jane Fonda, George Takei and Ian McKellen.
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There were three double winners: I Saw the TV Glow (LGBTQ film of the year and LGBTQ screenplay of the year for Jane Schoenbrun), Will & Harper (documentary of the year and LGBTQ documentary of the year), and Challengers (screenplay of the year for Justin Kuritzkes and film music of the year for Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross). Reznor and Ross’ score was passed over for an Oscar nod, but has received numerous other awards, including a Golden Globe and a Critics Choice Award. Here, it beat three scores that did receive Oscar nods: The Brutalist (Daniel Blumberg), Emilia Pérez (Clément Ducol and Camille) and Wicked (John Powell and Stephen Schwartz).
Founded in 2009, GALECA annually honors the best in film, television and stage, with an eye on the LGBTQIA+ community. Its goal is to “remind bigots, bullies, and our own beleaguered communities that the world looks to the informed Q+ eye on entertainment.”
Here is the complete 2025 Dorian Awards winners list:
Film of the year
Anora (Neon)
Challengers (Amazon MGM Studios)
I Saw the TV Glow (A24)
Nickel Boys (Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios)
WINNER: The Substance (Mubi)
LGBTQ film of the year
Challengers (Amazon MGM Studios)
Emilia Pérez (Netflix)
WINNER: I Saw the TV Glow (A24)
Love Lies Bleeding (A24)
Queer (A24)
Film performance of the year
Adrien Brody, The Brutalist (A24)
Daniel Craig, Queer (A24)
Colman Domingo, Sing Sing (A24)
Karla Sofía Gascón, Emilia Pérez (Netflix)
Cynthia Erivo, Wicked (Universal)
Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Hard Truths (Bleecker Street)
Nicole Kidman, Babygirl (A24)
Mikey Madison, Anora (Neon)
WINNER: Demi Moore, The Substance (Mubi)
Justice Smith, I Saw the TV Glow (A24)
Supporting film performance of the year
Michele Austin, Hard Truths (Bleecker Street)
Yura Borisov, Anora (Neon)
Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain (Searchlight Pictures)
WINNER: Ariana Grande, Wicked (Universal)
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Nickel Boys (Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios)
Jack Haven, I Saw the TV Glow (A24)
Clarence Maclin, Sing Sing (A24)
Guy Pearce, The Brutalist (A24)
Margaret Qualley, The Substance (Mubi)
Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez (Netflix)
Director of the year
Brady Corbet, The Brutalist (A24)
WINNER: Coralie Fargeat, The Substance (Mubi)
Luca Guadagnino, Challengers (Amazon MGM Studios)
RaMell Ross, Nickel Boys (Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios)
Jane Schoenbrun, I Saw the TV Glow (A24)
Screenplay of the year
Sean Baker, Anora (Neon)
Coralie Fargeat, The Substance (Mubi)
WINNER: Justin Kuritzkes, Challengers (Amazon MGM Studios)
Jane Schoenbrun, I Saw the TV Glow (A24)
Peter Straughan, Conclave (Focus Features)
LGBTQ screenplay of the year
Rose Glass and Weronika Tofilska, Love Lies Bleeding (A24)
Justin Kuritzkes, Challengers (Amazon MGM Studios)
Justin Kuritzkes, Queer (A24)
WINNER: Jane Schoenbrun, I Saw the TV Glow (A24)
Julio Torres, Problemista (A24)
Film music of the year
The Brutalist (A24) — Daniel Blumberg
WINNER: Challengers (Amazon MGM Studios) — Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
Emilia Pérez (Netflix) — Clément Ducol and Camille
I Saw the TV Glow (A24) — Alex G
Wicked (Universal) — John Powell and Stephen Schwartz, et al.
Non-English language film of the year
All We Imagine as Light (Sideshow / Janus Films)
Emilia Pérez (Netflix)
Flow (Sideshow / Janus Films)
WINNER: I’m Still Here (Sony Pictures Classics)
The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Neon)
LGBTQ non-English film of the year
Crossing (Mubi)
WINNER: Emilia Pérez (Netflix)
Queendom (Greenwich Entertainment)
Vermiglio (Sideshow / Janus Films)
All Shall Be Well (Strand Releasing)
Unsung film of the year
Didi (Focus Features)
Hundreds of Beavers (Cineverse, Vinegar Syndrome)
My Old Ass (Amazon MGM Studios)
WINNER: Problemista (A24)
Thelma (Magnolia)
Unsung LGBTQ film of the year
Femme (Utopia)
My Old Ass (Amazon MGM Studios)
National Anthem (Variance, LD Entertainment)
WINNER: The People’s Joker (Altered Innocence)
Problemista (A24)
Documentary of the year
Dahomey (Mubi)
Daughters (Netflix)
The Remarkable Life of Ibelin (Netflix)
Sugarcane (National Geographic)
WINNER: Will & Harper (Netflix)
LGBTQ documentary of the year
Chasing Chasing Amy (Level 33)
Frida (Amazon MGM Studios)
Merchant Ivory (Cohen Media Group)
Queendom (Greenwich Entertainment)
WINNER: Will & Harper (Netflix)
Animated film of the year
WINNER: Flow (Sideshow / Janus Films)
Inside Out 2 (Disney)
Memoir of a Snail (IFC Films)
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (Netflix)
The Wild Robot (Universal, DreamWorks)
Genre film of the year (science fiction, fantasy and horror)
Dune: Part Two (Warner Bros.)
I Saw the TV Glow (A24)
Nosferatu (Focus Features)
WINNER: The Substance (Mubi)
Wicked (Universal)
Visually striking film of the year
The Brutalist (A24)
Dune: Part Two (Warner Bros.)
Nosferatu (Focus Features)
WINNER: Nickel Boys (Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios)
The Substance (Mubi)
Campiest flick
Hundreds of Beavers (Cineverse, Vinegar Syndrome)
Madame Web (Sony)
Megalopolis (Lionsgate)
WINNER: The Substance (Mubi)
Trap (Warner Bros.)
“We’re wilde about you!” rising star award
WINNER: Jonathan Bailey
Vera Drew
Karla Sofía Gascón
Jack Haven
Mikey Madison
Katy O’Brian
Drew Starkey
Wilde artist award
WINNER: Colman Domingo
Luca Guadagnino
Coralie Fargeat
Jane Schoenbrun
Tilda Swinton
GALECA LGBTQIA+ film trailblazer
Vera Drew
WINNER: Cynthia Erivo
Luca Guadagnino
Jane Schoenbrun
Julio Torres
Timeless star (career achievement award)
WINNER: Demi Moore
Jimmy Kimmel is calling out Kanye West after the rappers string of hate speech over the past week. During the monologue kicking off his late night talk show on Wednesday night (Feb. 12), Kimmel called Ye a “Nazi.” He added, “In the wake of his antisemitic spinout this weekend, Adolf Twitler was cut by his […]
Cardi B entered the year single for the first time in a long time and she’s embracing her new sense of freedom. Not only for herself, but the Grammy-winning rapper wants the Bardi Gang back outside and maintaining their single status with her. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts […]