Music

09 Jan 2024

‘The Voice’ Contestant Lauren Duski Mourns Mom After Apparent Suicide: ‘There Will Never Be Another You’

The Voice contestant Lauren Duski is mourning the death of her mother, Janis Duski, in a touching tribute posted to Instagram. According to TMZ, which first reported the news, the Tuscarora Township Police in Indiana River, Michigan, said Janis was found dead in an apparent suicide.

In her Instagram post, Lauren Duski says she was hesitant to share the news publicly but thought she might be able to help others through her mother’s story.

“I wasn’t planning on sharing this but these last few days I’ve been feeling the most violent pull in my heart to remind you to please talk to one another,” Duski wrote. “If you’re struggling, do not be ashamed. Do not be ashamed. Do not be ashamed. Your mental health is nothing to be ashamed of and neither is talking about it. We are all trying to navigate this beautiful, messy life. I’ve learned that even the strongest humans have a breaking point. Be patient and gentle with yourself. Minute by minute. Please do not lose hope. Trust in God. There is always another chance…and there will never be another you.”

Duski competed on season 12 of The Voice in 2017 and chose to join Blake Shelton’s team among the three coaches who turned their chairs for her audition. The country singer finished as the season’s runner-up.

Lauren’s late mom can be seen, alongside her dad, celebrating her daughter’s success backstage in her blind audition video, in which she covered Jewel’s “You Were Meant for Me.”

Three of Duski’s covers on The Voice hit the Billboard Hot 100 following her season: “Deja Vu” (No. 43), “The Dance” (No. 92) and “Ghost in This House” (No. 98).

Read Lauren’s full message about her mom below:

Said goodbye to my best friend and hero this past Friday. My mom was the greatest human I’ve ever known. There was no one who loved harder.  She offered her entire being — heart and soul to everyone she encountered and always held up the mirror to remind you of how wonderful and special you were.  She set the bar above the moon. She adored her family and her grandchildren.  She was an endless dreamer. brilliant. an absolute powerhouse. Top of her class AND president in dental school. Served as a captain in the United States Air Force. She pioneered the Wolverine Patriot Project alongside the University of Michigan School of Dentistry and made it her mission to provide oral health care to disabled and homeless Michigan military veterans. We called her “Yoda” for her endless wisdom, energy, wit, and humor. She was selfless in every way. She never quit. Especially with a fishing pole in her hand.  She loved to spend time exploring and road tripping across country with just a road map.

She saw God in everyone and everything.

Mom, you are infinitely loved. I will miss you every second of every day. I still don’t know how the hell I’m supposed to do this without you. I will thank God every day for our 32 years together and see you every time I look in that mirror.

I wasn’t planning on sharing this but these last few days I’ve been feeling the most violent pull in my heart to remind you to please talk to one another. If you’re struggling, do not be ashamed. Do not be ashamed. Do not be ashamed. Your mental health is nothing to be ashamed of and neither is talking about it. We are all trying to navigate this beautiful, messy life. I’ve learned that even the strongest humans have a breaking point. Be patient and gentle with yourself. Minute by minute. Please do not lose hope. Trust in God. There is always another chance…and there will never be another you.

We have the opportunity to save a generation and beyond. Say “I love you” every chance you get. Don’t wait. You never know the true impact you have on those around you.

I love you, mom. Forever. May you rest in glorious peace.

Janis Patricia Duski – 1964-2024

If you’re thinking about suicide, or are worried about a friend or loved one, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, available 24 hours, at 1-800-273-8255.

09 Jan 2024

Jeymes Samuel Celebrates the ‘Original Storytelling’ of ‘The Book of Clarence’

The Jeymes Samuel-directed The Book of Clarence hits theaters on Friday (Jan. 12), and to celebrate his newest film, the star sat down with Billboard‘s Gail Mitchell to discuss the movie.

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“I think for me, ‘epic’ and ‘bold’ are two of the words that define cinema. When every other movie is a superhero movie […] it’s really quite rare that we get original storytelling in the cinematic experience,” he shared. “I love cinema, I love film, I love music, I love originality. Who better to combine those things than moi?”

Samuel’s reimagined take on Hollywood’s classic Biblical epics stars LaKeith Stansfield as the streetwise Clarence, a man who is struggling to make a better life for himself and his family. Inspired by the rising power and glory of the Messiah and his disciples, Clarence stakes his own claim to a similar life as he embarks on a journey that encompasses risks as well as redemption and faith.

The film’s soundtrack was spearheaded by Samuel’s longtime friend Jay-Z and his entertainment company, Roc Nation. “We speak every single day,” the British filmmaker said of Jay’s involvement in the film. “It’s not like we create together. He’s a floor to the ceiling creator and I’m a floor to the ceiling creator. We’re just having conversation, laughing our heads off, having fun and at the end of it, these classics are made.”

He continued, “We’re always collaborating. I don’t know when it begins and when it ends, because we’re natural born creators.”

Watch Billboard‘s full interview with Jeymes Samuel above.

09 Jan 2024

Lil Nas X Shares Acceptance to Biblical Studies Program, Claims ‘Not Everything Is a Troll’

Lil Nas X seems to be continuing to joke about being dedicated to the Christian faith — despite claiming otherwise.

The “Industry Baby” star took to Instagram on Tuesday (Jan. 9) to share a photo of his acceptance letter to Liberty University, where he will be taking a dual concentration in Christian Leadership and Biblical Studies starting in the fall. “I know some of yall hate me right now but i want yall to know im literally about to go to college for biblical studies in the fall. Not everything is a troll! Anyways IM A STUDENT AGAIN! LETS GOOO,” he captioned the post, which you can check out here.

Lil Nas has a new gospel song set for release on Friday (Jan. 12), titled “J CHRIST.” In his announcement earlier in the week, the musician shared the cover art featuring himself taking Jesus’ place on a crucifix as five bystanders begin to raise him off the ground. A second video clip sees him nailed to a gold cross that suddenly transforms into a mechanical suit complete with a halo. “MY NEW SINGLE IS DEDICATED TO THE MAN WHO HAD THE GREATEST COMEBACK OF ALL TIME,” Lil Nas wrote in his announcement.

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Through a series of increasingly ridiculous clips, Lil Nas also claimed that he had been “blackballed” from releasing music in 2023 after “promoting God to the masses,” claimed that the music industry was “wicked” and threatened to “expose y’all favorite artists.” In another clip, the “That’s What I Want” singer also stood next to two officers in front of a police car flashing its lights. “me staying with the police department 24/7 for the next 5 days before i expose the music industry for what they did to me,” he wrote. “evil will not stop what god has planned.”

09 Jan 2024

50 Cent Is ‘Practicing Abstinence’ in 2024

In the hook for “In Da Club,” 50 Cent proclaims, “I’m into havin’ sex, I ain’t into makin’ love” — but that won’t be the case in 2024.

The rapper revealed that he’s “practicing abstinence” this year in a new Instagram post promoting his champagne and cognac brands Le Chemin Du Roi and Branson Cognac. “My new idea is so big, I don’t have time to be distracted I’m practicing abstinence, I have been meditating and focusing on my goals,” he wrote. “I hope this New Year helps you excel to the next level.”

See his post here.

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In 2023, 50 celebrated  the 20th anniversary of her magnum opus Get Rich or Die Tryin’. Speaking about the 2003 set, which earned a Grammy nod for best rap album, the rapper reflected in an interview with The Rebecca Judd Show on Apple Music 1 on what he wanted two decades ago and his thoughts on one-hit wonders. “If you had asked me to make a wish in 2003, I would’ve just wish that my music was a hit. I didn’t see 20 years ahead in music like that,” he told Judd. “I’m just that at the moment for it to work.”

“And then what’s crazy is most artists, they think they’re ready before they are,” he continued. “Most good artists, they’ve thought they were ready before they actually are, but they’ve had that window of time to work that allowed them to actually become good enough. That’s why we have one-hit wonders in hip-hop culture. Because when that happens, they have that first hit and then it takes them out of the studio to go perform and to go meet all the distractions to come with being a successful artist, and then they land back in the studio without being trained to know how to create the next song. So they be stuck with that one hit.”

09 Jan 2024

Kelly Clarkson Gets Jazzy With Kelsey Grammer for ‘Frasier’ Theme Song Kellyoke Duet

Despite being a three-time Grammy winner, having nine top 10 albums on the Billboard 200 and too many other accolades to count, Kelly Clarkson still gets starstruck. She did just that on the Tuesday (Jan. 9) episode of her namesake talkshow after having the privilege to perform with Frasier star Kelsey Grammer for her opening Kellyoke segment.

The episode kicked off with the pair singing the Frasier theme song “Tossed Salads and Scrambled Eggs,” which is performed by Grammer in NBC’s original 1993-2004 Cheers spin-off as well as in the 2023 Paramount+ revival. Backed by Clarkson’s band Y’all, the pair took turns on the verses, with Grammer completing the track’s big finish.

“Hey baby, I hear the blues a-callin’/ Tossed salads and scrambled eggs,” the pop star sang against a backdrop of jazzy instrumentals.

“And maybe I seem a bit confused/ Yeah maybe, but I got you pegged!/ But I don’t know what to do with those tossed salads and scrambled eggs/ Life’s callin’ again/ Scambled eggs all over my face/ What is a boy to do,” the pair harmonized on the last few lines.

After a round of applause, Clarkson extended her thank yous to the crowd and to Grammer, who first played psychiatrist Frasier Crane on TV when Cheers debuted in 1982.

“Thank you for jamming with me. This is like a dream come true for me, y’all,” Clarkson said. “That was the theme song from his new series Frasier, which is a reboot of literally possibly — that’s a top two show for me of all time. Frasier is one of my favorites. You have no idea. I’m freaking out right now.”

Watch Clarkson’s latest Kellyoke below:


https://youtube.com/watch?v=9EZvp9SPlTo&version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent

09 Jan 2024

Megyn Kelly Says Taylor Swift Wasn’t a ‘Good Sport’ During Jo Koy Golden Globes Monologue

When Taylor Swift shot this year’s Golden Globes host Jo Koy an icy glare following a quip during his opening show monologue, fans online rallied behind the superstar. Megyn Kelly, however, feels differently.

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“Can’t she just, like, show that she’s a good sport? I think she made the wrong move,” the host said on her SiriusXM show on Monday (Jan. 8). “By the way, she’s not in charge with the number of times the NFL chooses to put her on cam. That’s not her fault.”

Koy’s joke at the awards ceremony centered around how often the NFL’s cameras cut to reaction shots of the singer when she attends boyfriend Travis Kelce’s games. “The big difference between the Golden Globes and the NFL? At the Golden Globes, we have fewer camera shots of Taylor Swift,” the comic joked as cameras, naturally, cut to Swift, who reacted with pursed lips before casually sipping from her champagne flute.

In another post-show interview with GMA3, Koy explained that the joke was meant “to make fun of the NFL using cutaways and how the Globes didn’t have to do that. So it was more of a jab toward the NFL. But it just didn’t come out that way.” He added that the joke was “a little flat” and “a weird joke, I guess.”

09 Jan 2024

Black Keys, Talking Heads, Odesza, Lil Jon & More to Perform at The Marquis Park City During Sundance Film Festival

Utah is getting a brand-new, live music venue, just in time for the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. The Marquis Park City is set to open its doors later this month and will see a host of musicians across rock, EDM and hip-hop play the venue for “The Premiere Series,” the venue’s official launch lineup.

Leon Bridges is slated to kick off The Marquis’ opening night on Jan. 18, while The Black Keys will continued “The Premiere Series” with two shows on Jan. 19 and Jan. 21. Odesza will play Jan. 20, while Devo and Lil Jon will play on Jan. 22 as an early and late show double-header. Charlie Crockett will take the stage on Jan. 23, followed by Kaskade on Jan. 26 and a final show by Talking Heads on Jan. 27.

In addition to the Sundance Film Festival “Premiere Series” shows, Steve Aoki will hit up the venue next month on Feb. 23, as will GoldFish on March 16.

“We are so excited to officially debut The Marquis with ‘The Premiere Series’ during the upcoming annual film festival, offering an incredible lineup of highly anticipated performances from in-demand artists across a variety of music genres,” LNE Presents founder Vaughn Carrick said in a press release.

Elsewhere during the festival, music will get to shine on the big screen: Netflix’s The Greatest Night in Pop, a documentary about the recording of the 1985 charity single “We Are the World,” is slated to premiere at Sundance on Jan. 19.

The Sundance Film Festival will takes place from Jan. 18-28.

09 Jan 2024

Selena Gomez Reveals What She & Taylor Swift Were Whispering About at Golden Globes — Not That It’s ‘Anyone’s Business’

Selena Gomez was, indeed, sharing some piping-hot tea with Taylor Swift in that viral video from Sunday’s night’s 2024 Golden Globe Awards — it just wasn’t about what you think.

The actress/musician took to the comments section on Instagram to respond to the rumors around the moment, which was captured in the crowd at the Beverly Hilton ballroom on Sunday night between Gomez, Swift and Miles Teller’s wife, Keleigh.

“Was Selena Gomez Gossiping About Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet at Golden Globes?” asked an E! News headline on Instagram, to which Gomez responded: “Noooooo I told Taylor about two of my friends who hooked up. Not that that’s anyone business.”

The rumor floating around online about the viral moment — including fans citing “lip-reading experts” to support their theory — was that Gomez had asked Wonka star Chalamet to take a photo and that his girlfriend Jenner had shot it down.

Chalamet himself had already defused that rumor in a run-in with TMZ cameras on Monday night. When asked if he and Gomez were on good terms, he responded: “Yeah, of course.” Then, after being pressed about whether Gomez and Jenner are feuding, he said, “No… They’re good.”

Gomez was nominated for best female actor in a TV series, musical or comedy for Only Murders in the Building on Sunday night, while Swift was on hand as a nominee in the brand-new category cinematic and box office achievement for her Eras Tour concert film.

Watch the viral video below:

09 Jan 2024

21 Savage Announces Third Solo Album ‘American Dream’

21 Savage announced Tuesday (Jan. 9) that he will release his third solo album American Dream on Friday via Slaughter Gang and Epic Records.

According to a press release, American Dream serves as the soundtrack for 21 Savage’s debut film American Dream: The 21 Savage Story, for which he unveiled a trailer on Monday (Jan. 8). The trailer, directed by Donald Glover, Stephen Glover, Jamal Olori and Fam Udeorji, features three generations of 21 Savage — played by Caleb McLaughlin (Stranger Things), Glover (Atlanta) and himself, “in the heat of a personal crisis,” according to the release.

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Victoria Pedretti (The Haunting of Hill House), Young Mazino (Beef), Chad Lindberg (Fast & Furious), Gail Bean (Snowfall) and Druski (Praise This) also star in the preview. Olori and Stephen Glover wrote the trailer, which was produced by Udeorji and Tara Razavi, who are also credited as executive producers.

The trailer also previewed a new track from the rapper, who was born Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph in London and raised in Atlanta since he was 7 years old, which starts off with a sample of Rose Royce‘s 1978 hit “Wishing on a Star.” “How you that n—a when you can’t go where you grew up at?” he raps.

American Dream arrives six years after his sophomore album I Am > I Was, which earned the rapper his first Billboard 200 No. 1 album and was nominated for best rap album at the 2020 Grammy Awards. Its hit single “A Lot,” featuring J. Cole, won the Grammy for best rap song that year.

09 Jan 2024

Zach Bryan Says Tyler Childers Just Now Scoring His First Country Radio Hit Is ‘F—n Insane’

Tyler Childers just notched his first top 50 country radio hit with “In Your Love,” which peaks at No. 50 on Billboard‘s Country Airplay this week — and his longtime supporter, fellow singer/songwriter and “I Remember Everything” hitmaker Zach Bryan, offered up some thoughts on the milestone.

Bryan expressed his frustration that Childers is just now, after releasing music for more than a decade and becoming one of Americana music’s biggest artists, seeing a song break through on mainstream country radio.

On X (formerly Twitter), Bryan wrote, “‘First Ever’ is f—n insane, one of the best songwriters to ever do it.”

As several of Bryan’s fans chimed in to agree, Bryan added another statement, this time taking a shot at radio and mentioning a smash hit from singer/songwriter Walker Hayes.

“Imagine being radio (whoever the hell that is), hearing [Childers’] ‘Shake the Frost’ and being like, ‘no no let’s go with the Applebees song,’” Bryan wrote, referencing a line in Hayes’ TikTok-dance-fueled hit “Fancy Like,” which reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2021 and stayed atop the Hot Country Songs chart for 24 weeks.

“In Your Love” is from Childers’ sixth studio album Rustin’ in the Rain, which reached No. 4 on Billboard‘s Top Country Albums chart and No. 10 on the all-genre Billboard 200 last year. “In Your Love” also peaked at No. 43 on the Hot 100 in December. The song is at No. 7 on the Adult Alternative Airplay chart, where Childers previously had a top 40 hit with “House Fire” and saw his song “All Your’n” reach No. 16. “All Your’n” also reached No. 46 on the Hot Country Songs chart, which incorporates streaming data.

Since Childers released his debut album, Bottles and Bibles, in 2011, he’s earned an RIAA Platinum album with 2017’s Purgatory, along with two Gold albums (2019’s Country Squire and 2018’s Live on Red Barn Radio I & II) and steadily ascended to headliner status. In 2020, Childers earned the Americana Music Honor for emerging artist of the year. This year, Childers is nominated for multiple Grammys, including “In Your Love” being up for best country song, best country solo performance and best music video.

Bryan later clarified his statement after one X commenter criticized his mention of Hayes.

“not insulting anyone! Meant it with humor not malice, different strokes different folks was just bent about the first ever on mainstream radio thing my bad,” Bryan wrote.

This year, Bryan has had his own smash hit, “I Remember Everything,” his collaboration with Kacey Musgraves. The song debuted at No. 1 on the Hot 100, has topped the Hot Country Songs chart for the past 15 weeks, and is currently at No. 28 on Country Airplay.

Bryan and Childers have been chief among several more Americana, acoustic and/or roots-oriented artists, such as Dylan Gossett, Charles Wesley Godwin and Wyatt Flores, who have seen various successes on the charts and performance fronts over the past year or so, including leading a plethora of new festivals.