Music
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Diddy will remain behind bars until his sex trafficking trial begins in May, but those closest to him have broken their silence. Peacock released the shocking trailer to the Diddy: The Rise of a Bad Boy documentary on Thursday (Jan. 2), detailing the embattled Bad Boy mogul’s rise to fame, transformational years in the spotlight […]
Ariana Grande is explaining what really happened with that scrapped hip-hop version of “Popular,” which composer Stephen Schwartz had intended to put in Jon M. Chu’s Wicked films before the pop star pushed back on the idea.
In a cover story interview with Variety published Thursday (Jan. 2), Grande recalled first hearing the original rehearsal track for Glinda’s standout number at the very beginning of production in London — and she wasn’t totally thrilled with the instrumentation. “They had hip-hop drums,” she told the publication. “I called Jon first. I was shaking. ‘Is this something that we can meet in the middle on?’”
“And of course, it was so understood,” she continued. “And that’s what happens when you have a team who loves and respects each other and can hear those truths, because nothing has to be withheld.”
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The interview comes over a month after Schwartz — who created the soundtrack for the Wicked Broadway musical more than 20 years prior before working on the films — first revealed that the R.E.M. Beauty founder had said no to a hip-hop version of “Popular,” which he’d pitched “in the spirit of being open to new things” for the adaptation. “I thought, ‘Let’s refresh the rhythm. Let’s, maybe, I don’t know, hip-hop it up a little bit,’” he told The Los Angeles Times. “Ariana said, ‘Absolutely not, don’t do it. I want to be Glinda, not Ariana Grande playing Glinda.’”
In the new cover story, Grande clarified that the scrapped version had been less about making “Popular” sound like a song from her own multi-platinum discography and more about modernizing it for the times. Regardless, the “Yes, And?” singer still “wanted to lovingly and respectfully say, ‘Absolutely not!’” to the idea.
“Thinking through the lens of the character — Galinda Upland does not have that bounce to her at all,” she explained to Variety. “She’s as vanilla as they come.”
Though “Popular” never did get the hip-hop treatment, the track did experience some changes. Fans who saw the movie on or after its Nov. 22 premiere, or listened to its No. 2 Billboard 200-charting soundtrack, discovered that the bubbly anthem was extended with an alternate ending — featuring three key changes and an atmospheric opera note hit by Grande for the big finish.
“I had this idea for a new vocal ending,” Schwartz told The Times of the updates in November. “Ariana was a little hesitant about it, but I told her that if I had thought of it for the original show, this is how it would have been. Once she was reassured that this new bit of music was coming out of character, she was on board.”
See Grande with Chu and Wicked co-leading lady Cynthia Erivo on the cover of Variety below.
Bunnie XO is healing through trauma as she plans for motherhood.
The star, who is married to country singer Jelly Roll, sat down with a psychic medium on the Jan. 2 episode of her Dumb Blonde podcast, revealing that despite going through a number of pregnancy losses, she’s now ready to become a parent — especially as she experienced being a stepmother to Jelly’s 15-year-old daughter, Bailee.
“I just feel like I’ve been healing so much trauma with my parents that I finally am ready to be a parent,” Bunnie said. “Like, I’ve helped raise Bailee since she was 7, and I think that also showed me that, hey, I’m not gonna f— up a kid’s life too badly.”
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She added that she also wants “a little piece of J and I together.”
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The podcaster also touched on some fertility “trauma” she’s gone through, including ectopic pregnancies, a sometimes life-threatening event in which a fertilized egg cannot survive because it grows outside the uterus.
“I have been pregnant three times in my life. When I was 16, I got pregnant the first time I had sex, and I ended that with an abortion because I was scared,” she shared. “I didn’t know what to do. I was a runaway. And then after that, three years after I had an ectopic pregnancy. I had two ectopic pregnancies.”
Bunnie previously opened up about her IVF journey on a July episode of her podcast. “I’m in my baby mama gardening era,” she joked, adding that Jelly said he would “love” to have a baby with her. “That was not the response that I thought he would say,” she admitted, noting that he’s “so excited” about the possibility of having children together.
“We were going to keep it from the Internet, because how the Internet is, they love to ruin beautiful things,” she recalled, before finding out that her husband broke the news during an appearance on the Bussin’ With the Boys podcast. After the episode dropped, Bunnie XO also shared a snippet from the podcast on her social media, adding in the caption, “God willing–Baby DeFord 2026,” and revealing that the couple is undergoing IVF.
She added, “Papa Bear dropped a surprise on this pod today. We had planned on doing this privately, but decided our IVF journey needed to be shared because we’ve always been so open. And w/ all odds stacked against us, it’s already been hard and we have only just begun. We have been meeting with IVF doctors & exploring all our options to add to our family.”
Wayne Osmond, the second-oldest of the legendary Osmond Brothers, died on Wednesday (Jan. 1). He was 73 years old.
The musician’s family confirmed the news of his death in a statement to Salt Lake City news station, KSL TV. “Wayne Osmond, beloved husband and father, passed away peacefully last night surrounded by his loving wife and five children,” the statement reads. “His legacy of faith, music, love, and laughter have influenced the lives of many people around the world. He would want everyone to know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true, that families are forever, and that banana splits are the best dessert. We love him and will miss him dearly.”
Following the news of his death, a number of Wayne’s family members took to social media to honor him. Jay Osmond said that he has “always felt the most connected to Wayne out of all of my siblings.”
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“My heart is deeply saddened for the loss of my brother Wayne. It is said that where there is great love there is great grief as we part during our earthly journey,” the post reads. “What gives me joy is to know that my brother ‘Wings’ has earned his wings and I can only imagine the heights he is soaring right now.”
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Merrill Osmond noted in his post that Wayne had suffered a “massive stroke” and was hospitalized shortly before his death. “My brother was a saint before he came into this world, and he will leave as an even greater saint than he came in,” he wrote in a Facebook post. “I’ve never known a man that had more humility. A man with absolute no guile. An individual that was quick to forgive and had the ability to show unconditional love to everyone he ever met.”
He continued, “His departure from this earth will be a sad moment for some, but for those who are waiting for him on the other side, there will be a massive celebration beyond anything we can imagine.”
Wayne, one of nine Osmond siblings, started a barbershop quartet in 1958 alongside his brothers Alan, Merrill and Jay. After getting discovered from a Disneyland performance, the boys were cast over a seven-year period on NBC’s The Andy Williams Show beginning in 1962. When brothers Jimmy and Donny joined the group, they became known as the Osmonds and were the standout teen idols throughout the 1970s.
The Osmond family was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2003. Wayne is survived by his wife Kathlyn Louise White and their five children.
Kim Kardashian quoted bars from her ex Ye — formerly known as Kanye West — with a post to her Instagram Story on Wednesday (Jan. 1) to ring in 2025.
“Sunglasses & Advil… last night was mad trill,” she wrote in her caption, which was a repost from July 2012 from her own account. The original photo features gold Cuban link shades with two Advil gels, and boasts more than 100,000 likes, including from the late designer Virgil Abloh.
The caption is partially an homage to Ye’s rhymes on Watch the Throne standout “No Church in the Wild.” “Sunglasses and Advil/ Last night was mad real/ Sun coming up 5 a.m./ I wonder if they got cabs still,” he raps on the Frank Ocean-assisted track.
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Co-produced by West and 88 Keys, “No Church in the Wild” reached No. 72 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2011.
The Skims mogul appeared to spend the holidays with family, as she posted a series of photos to Instagram featuring her four children — North, Psalm, Chicago and Saint, whom she shares with the rapper — and mom Kris Jenner and sister Kourtney Kardashian.
It doesn’t appear Ye was part of the family’s Christmas festivities. The reality star spoke about Ye’s lack of help in co-parenting when she claimed to be “raising four kids” by herself during an appearance on the What in the Winkler? podcast last year. The couple officially divorced in 2022 after Kim filed in 2021 following seven years of marriage.
“It’s not something that I talk about a lot because I feel like there is always a lot of judgment or people always will jump to the, ‘Oh, but you have the resources to have nannies and to have help,’” she said on the podcast. “And I just think that no matter what kind of help I have, basically raising four kids by myself.”
West looks to be doing his own thing bringing in 2025. The Grammy Award-winning rapper returned to social media and posted photos on Instagram with his wife, Bianca Censori, as they vacation in the Maldives.
See Kardashian’s original “Sunglasses & Advil” Instagram post below, which she reshared on Stories on New Year’s Day.
Clark Sisters member Karen Clark Sheard scores her second solo No. 1, and first in a lead role, on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart as “Send It Down” rises two spots to the top of the list dated Jan. 4. During the Dec. 20-26 tracking week, the single increased by 1% in plays, according to Luminate.
Clark-Sheard co-authored the song with Kierra Sheard, her daughter; J. Drew Sheard II, her son; and Marcus Johnson, who also produced it.
Apart from the Clark Sisters, Clark-Sheard previously topped Gospel Airplay as featured on Kierra Sheard’s “Something Has to Break,” which dominated for two weeks in October 2021. (It became Kierra’s fourth of five No. 1s.) She next reigned with “Miracles,” featuring Pastor Mike Jr., for a week in July 2023.
“Send It Down” is from Clark-Sheard’s LP Still Karen, which arrived at its No. 9 best in September, marking her seventh top 10.
Clark-Sheard boasts three additional solo Gospel Airplay top 10s: as featured on Donnie McClurkin’s “Wait on the Lord,” a No. 2 hit in August 2009; “Prayed Up” (No. 9, June 2010); and “My Words Have Power,” featuring Donald Lawrence & The Co. (No. 5, July 2015).
The Clark Sisters have rolled up three Gospel Airplay leaders: “Blessed and Highly” (seven weeks, starting in June 2007), “Victory” (two, June-July 2020) and “His Love,” featuring Snoop Dogg (one week, May 2021).
Launched in their hometown of Detroit in 1980, the Clark Sisters are comprised of siblings Dorinda Clark-Cole, Jacky Clark Chisholm, Karen Clark-Sheard and Twinkie Clark. (The act was first a quintet; Denise Clark Bradford left in 1986.)
CMA Fest, June 5-8, Nashville. Performers: TBA
Carolina Country Music Festival, June 5-8, Myrtle Beach, S.C. Headliners: Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, Rascal Flatts, Kid Rock
Tailgate N’ Tallboys, June 5-7, Clinton, Iowa. Performers include: Whiskey Myers, Jason Aldean and Riley Green.
The Country Fest, June 11-14, Orrville, Ohio. Headliners: Warren Zeiders, Dierks Bentley, HARDY, Bailey Zimmerman
Tailgate N’ Tallboys, June 12-15, Bloomington, Ill. Headliners: Koe Wetzel, Cody Johnson, Hardy, Bailey Zimmerman
Rock the Country Festival, June 13-14, Hastings, Mich. Headliners: Kid Rock, Nickelback, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Travis Tritt.
Gordys HWY 30 Music Fest, June 21-24, Filer, Idaho. Headliners: TBA
Rock the South, June 19-21, Cullman, Ala. Headliners: Hank Williams, Jr., Kid Rock, Nickelback
Barefoot Country Music Festival, June 19-22, Wildwood, N.J. Performers: Jason Aldean, Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson
Telluride Bluegrass Festival, June 19-22, Telluride, Colo. Performers: TBA
Rock the Country Festival, June 20-21, Little Rock, Ark. Headliners: Kid Rock, Nickelback, Hank Williams, Jr., Travis Tritt.
Winstock Country Festival, June 20-21, Winstead, Minn. Headliners: Jordan Davis, Thomas Rhett
Buckeye Country Superfest, June 21, Columbus, Ohio. Headliners: Jelly Roll, Kane Brown
ROMP Fest, June 25-28, Owensboro, Ky. Performers include: Wynonna Judd, Del McCoury Band, Sam Bush, Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway
Jackalope Jamboree, June 26-28, Pendleton, Ore. Headliners: Midland, 49 Winchester, Paul Cauthen.
Country Jam, June 26-28, Grand Junction, Colo. Headliners: LUke Bryan, Bailey Zimmerman, Cody Johnson
Country Stampede, June 26-28, Bonner Springs, Kan. Headliners: Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Cole Swindell, Ashley McBryde
Hoofbeat Country Fest, June 26-28, Cadott, Wis. Headliners: Brooks & Dunn, Lainey Wilson, Riley Green
Dauphin’s Countryfest, June 26-29, Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada. Headliners: Jordan Davis, Josh Ross, John Michael Montgomery.
Country Summer Music Festival, June 27-29, Santa Rosa, Calif. Headliners: Sam Hunt, Kane Brown, Dustin Lynch
Lakes Jam, June 26-28, Brainerd, Minn. Performers: Bush, Riley Green, Gary Allan
Travis Kelce and Caitlin Clark relived some of the magic of Taylor Swift‘s Eras Tour on the latest episode of New Heights Thursday (Jan. 2), nearly a month after the global trek ended Dec. 8 in Vancouver, B.C.
While serving as a special guest on the podcast hosted by the Kansas City Chiefs tight end and his brother, former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, the women’s basketball superstar gushed about the “electric” experience of watching one of Swift’s performances at Lucas Oil Stadium in November, which Travis also attended.
“It’s just a great show and a lot of fun,” Clark said of the pop star’s three-hour-plus show as the Grotesquerie star affirmed, “Ugh, that was so much fun.”
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“My mom was begging me to take her,” the Indiana Fever guard continued. “She’s like, ‘I gotta go, like, everybody’s talking about it.’ I’m like, ‘OK, OK’ … Full Swiftie, turned my mom into a full Swiftie now. Good time, good time.”
Clark added that the show she saw with Travis had been her third Eras Tour concert total, having attended another Indy show the night prior as well as a June 2023 stop in Minneapolis. The Chiefs player previously opened up about hanging with the WNBA star during his famous girlfriend’s Lucas Oil stint in a November episode of New Heights, revealing, “Saw Caitlin Clark there, got to meet Caitlin, she’s awesome … she’s a Swiftie through and through.”
“I wanted to see Tay one more time before this thing got closed up,” Travis also said at the time. “I’ll tell you what, man. The American crowds, they did not disappoint. I heard that it was a lot more rowdy this time around, knowing she was coming back to stop through America one last time before the tour was over with, and I’ll tell you what, man, that thing was rocking. Absolutely rocking.”
Clark also previously shared details about her Indy Eras experience in her TIME athlete of the year cover story. According to the athlete, Swift gifted her with four bags of merch along with a note saying that she and Travis planned on catching a Fever game in the future.
Watch Clark and Travis gush about the Eras Tour on New Heights below.
Lupe Fiasco is adding to his educational résumé as he takes the next step in his teaching career. The Chicago rapper announced on Wednesday (Jan. 1) that he’ll be joining the faculty at Johns Hopkins University’s Peabody Institute as a visiting professor. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Lupe […]
Jelly Roll celebrated the end of the year with another homage of one of his musical heroes. During the Nashville’s Big Bash New Year’s Eve special on Tuesday night (Dec. 31), the singer performed Toby Keith’s 1993 debut single, “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” as part of a five-song set that also included his own hits […]