Music

28 Nov 2023

Take That’s ‘This Life’ on Track for Massive First Week on U.K. Chart

Take That’s This Life (via EMI) will claim the U.K. chart crown.

With This Life, the members of pop royalty chalk up the biggest first-week sales for a British act in 2023, topping 103,000 chart units at the midweek stage, the Official Charts Company reports.

That’s more than the week one tallies for Lewis Capaldi’s Broken by Desire to be Heavenly Sent (95,000 combined units), Ed Sheeran’s – (subtract, with 76,000) and Rolling Stones’ Hackney Diamonds (72,200).

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This Life should mark the ninth No. 1 for Take That, now performing and recording as the trio of Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen.

Previous, the lads reached the summit with Everything Changes (from 1993), Nobody Else (1995), Greatest Hits (1996), Beautiful World (2006), The Circus (2008), Progress (2010), III (2014) and Odyssey (2018).

In the week Kylie Minogue’s Australian record label home Mushroom caps its 50th anniversary celebrations, the princess of pop is set to mark her own milestone with a return to the U.K. top three.

Thanks to the release of a 35-year anniversary edition, Minogue’s debut album Kylie (via BMG) enters the midweek chart at No. 3. Following its release in 1987, Kylie held top spot on the Official U.K. Albums Chart for six non-consecutive weeks.

Close behind on the Official Chart Company is Michael Bublé’s Christmas (Reprise), which is poised for its annual return to the U.K. top 10. The Canadian crooner’s holidays classic fires-up 13-4 on the midweek list. Released in 2011, Christmas has clocked 96 weeks in the top 40, including five at No. 1.

Also eyeing the top 5 is The 1975 with their new live album At Their Very Best – Live from Madison Square Garden (Dirty Hit), new at No. 5 on the midweek tally. The MSG recording was cut during the British band’s tour in support of Being Funny in a Foreign Language, their fifth consecutive No. 1 in the U.K. Matty Healy and Co. have since announced an “indefinite hiatus” when they complete dates for the current Still… At Their Very Best world tour in late March 2024.

The late, legendary Tina Turner could land posthumous U.K. top 10 with Queen of Rock’n’Roll (Rhino). The career retrospective is set to enter the chart at No. 6, for what would be Turner’s 10th career top 10 album in the U.K. The eight-time Grammy Award winner died May 24 at the age of 83.

Finally, Scottish indie act the Trashcan Sinatras are about to lift the lid on their U.K. first top 40 appearance, thanks to a remastered and reissued version of their 1990 debut, Cake (via Last Night From Glasgow). It’s new at No. 10 on the Official Chart Update, and should easily eclipse its previous peak of No. 74. To date, the Trashcan Sinatras has a career best of No. 50 for 1993’s I’ve Seen Everything.

All will be revealed when the Official U.K. Albums Chart is published late Friday, Dec. 1.

27 Nov 2023

Bobby Brown Shares Photo With Late Son 3 Years Since His Death

Bobby Brown is honoring his late son Bobby Brown Jr., who died at age 28 on Nov. 18, 2020.

The songwriter and artist took to Instagram over the weekend (Nov. 25) to share a photo with Bobby Jr., and captioned it with a brown heart emoji.


In November 2020, Los Angeles police responded to an undisclosed medical emergency at a home in Encino at around 1:50 p.m., which is when they discovered the body, as the Associated Press reported.

Bobby Jr. died of an overdose of alcohol, cocaine and the opioid fentanyl, according to a coroner’s report received by BBC.

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Bobby Jr.’s mother is Kim Ward, who Brown dated for 11 years before he married Whitney Houston.

Brown lost his daughter, Bobby Jr.’s half-sister Bobbi Kristina, in July 2015, after she was found unconscious in a bathtub and was then in a coma for months. The autopsy revealed the cause of death was lobar pneumonia due to “immersion of face in water complicating mixed drug intoxication.” Bobbi Kristina died three years after the February 2012 death of her mom, Whitney Houston.

27 Nov 2023

TikToker Catches Boyfriend Teaching Puppy Important Taylor Swift News

Taylor Swift is now reaching the canines.

A viral TikTok shared by user @maya.and.hunter this week shows Maya walking in on Hunter teaching their golden retriever puppy about Swift’s recent “Karma” lyric change. “And then she says, ‘Karma is the guy on the Chiefs,’” Hunter is seen telling the pup, who is sweetly falling asleep in his arms.

“Raising the next generation of Swifties,” the caption reads.

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The lyric change, of course, came during Swift’s Eras tour stop in Buenos Aires earlier this month, which her rumored boyfriend Travis Kelce attended. While onstage, Swift had altered the lyrics slightly to sing, “Karma is the guy on the Chiefs coming straight home to me,” in reference to Kelce’s position as tight end on the Kansas City Chiefs (The original line goes, “Karma is the guy on the screen coming straight home to me.)

“Yeah no I had no clue [she would do that] … well, I might have had a little bit of a clue, but definitely when I heard it come out of her mouth, it still shocked me,” Kelce admitted during a follow-up episode of his New Heights podcast, which he co-hosts with brother Jason Kelce. “I was like, ‘Oh s–t, she really just said that.’”

Watch the adorable TikTok below.

27 Nov 2023

Nick Cannon Hints at Holiday Plans With His 11 Kids: ‘Saint Nick Will Be in Every Chimney’

Despite having 11 children, Nick Cannon is not stressed about making the holidays great for each of his kids. The Masked Singer host hinted at what he has in store for his kin for the month of December now that Christmas is officially on the horizon in a new interview with Entertainment Tonight.

According to the host, Christmas is his “favorite time of year,” and as such, he has a few surprises up his sleeves for both fans and his little ones in the upcoming weeks leading up to the holiday.

“Saint Nick will be in every chimney I could possibly be in,” he told the outlet, noting that the main focus is making his children happy ahead of Christmas and beyond. “It’s all about the kids so, you’ll definitely see us doing some fun, over the top stuff in the next 30 days.”

Cannon’s shopping list will likely be a hefty one this year. The former Wild N’ Out star is father to twins Monroe and Moroccan with ex-wife Mariah Carey; twin sons Zion and Zillion, as well as daughter Beautiful Zeppelin with Abby De La Rosa; Golden Sagon, Powerful Queen and Rise Messiah with Brittany Bell; Zen — who died in December 2021 — and Halo Marie with Alyssa Scott; Legendary Love with Bre Tiesi; and Onyx Ice Cole with LaNisha Cole.

“People even often ask, ‘Are you gonna have more? You gonna stop?’” Cannon recalled of people’s critique of his amount of children in a 2022 interview with Men’s Health. “I’m like, those are questions that I don’t really even sit around and think about. I’m just walking in my purpose and trying to be the best father and best provider I could possibly be.”

27 Nov 2023

Cardi B Welcomes the Holiday Season With Peppermint Whipshots Campaign Photo

‘Tis the season to get turnt — with some help from Cardi B.

The “I Like It” rapper’s alcoholic whipped cream company, Whipshots, re-launched its festive peppermint flavor for the holiday season, and Cardi stuns in the campaign photos, in which she’s seen sitting amid a winter wonderland full of trees and presents in a flowing red gown. “The holidays are all about coming together and getting lit – and we’re not just talking about the Christmas tree, Fam,” the caption reads. “Elevate your celebrations with Whipshots Peppermint vodka whipped cream – the perfect stocking stuffer to bring the bougie to your holiday bash. (Besides, bringing a bottle of wine for your friends and family is so been there, drank that!).”

See the photo here.

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Back in March, Whipshots celebrated selling two million cans of its boozy treat. “We just went double platinum! We’re not playing around when we say Whipshots is the best,” Cardi said in a statement. “Boozy and beautiful since day one, and two million cans later, there is no slowing us down. I love the fans supporting our brand – let’s keep this party going!”

The Bronx native partnered with Starco Brands to release the alcohol infused, non-dairy whipped cream, which sold its first million cans in just 10 months and went on to sell another million cans four months later.

Cardi B’s Whipshots can be found where most alcohol is sold, including Total Wine, DoorDash, GoPuff, Drizly, Albertsons and Vons.

27 Nov 2023

Dolly Parton’s ‘Rockstar’ Roars In Atop Country, Rock & Alternative Album Charts

Dolly Parton’s 30-song set Rockstar, released Nov. 17, blasts in atop Billboard’s Top Country Albums and Top Rock & Alternative Albums charts (dated Dec. 2). The legend adds her ninth No. 1 on the former and her first on the latter.

The rock-influenced LP earned 128,000 equivalent album units, with 118,000 in album sales, in the week ending Nov. 23, according to Luminate.

The album opens at No. 3 on the all-genre Billboard 200, marking Parton’s third top 10 and highest career rank. She previously visited the tier with Blue Smoke (No. 6 in 2014) and Trio, a collaborative set with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris (No. 16 in 1987).

Rockstar additionally debuts at the summit on the all-genre Top Album Sales chart, becoming Parton’s first No. 1. Its first-week sales were bolstered by its availability at outlets including Barnes & Noble, Cracker Barrel, Dollar General and Target.

The set more than doubles Parton’s previous biggest sales week for an album, notched when Slow Dancing With the Moon sold 50,500 copies in its second chart week (March 20, 1993).

The star-studded Rockstar is being promoted as Parton’s first rock album, its recording initiated following her induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022. She initially declined the honor but after entering being enshrined went all-in with the release of Rockstar.

The collection mixes original songs and covers and boasts a long list of prominent credited guests, including Pat Benatar, Miley Cyrus, Melissa Etheridge, Mick Fleetwood, Peter Frampton, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts, Elton John, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Paul McCartney, Stevie Nicks, Chris Stapleton, Ringo Starr, Sting and Steven Tyler.

Parton first reached Top Country Albums with the aptly named Hello, I’m Dolly in November 1967. She scored the first of her 49 top 10s with Just Between You and Me, with Porter Wagoner (No. 8, March 1968), and her first No. 1 with her 34th entry, 1977’s New Harvest…First Gathering, which led for a week that May.

Rockstar is Parton’s first Top Country Albums No. 1 since A Holly Dolly Christmas in 2020. “I am so proud and humbled to have my album reach No. 1 on the Billboard country and holiday charts,” she beamed to Billboard that week. “Boy, what a great early Christmas present for me!”

Meanwhile, Parton leads Top Rock & Alternative Albums in her first appearance on the chart. (Rockstar also rules Top Rock Albums, likewise marking her first visit to the survey.)

The new album’s “World On Fire” debuted and peaked at No. 26 on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs in May.

Plus, Parton’s cover of Prince and the Revolution’s “Purple Rain” enters the Rock Digital Song Sales chart at No. 14 (1,000 sold). It’s the sixth song from Rockstar to make the ranking, with three having hit the top 10 prior to the album’s release. “World On Fire” led for a week in May and her versions of The Beatles’ “Let It Be” (featuring McCartney and Starr) and Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball” (featuring Cyrus) hit Nos. 2 and 6 in September and November, respectively.

27 Nov 2023

Jack Harlow Celebrates ‘Lovin on Me’ Becoming His Third Hot 100 No. 1 & He’s Just ‘Warming Up’

Jack Harlow is lovin’ being on top. The Kentucky rapper took to social media Monday (Nov. 27) to celebrate his latest single, “Lovin on Me,” reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

“Warming up. More coming,” he captioned his victorious Instagram carousel, which featured a text exchange between Harlow and one of the song’s producers, OZ, the latter of whom had sent over the “Whip Your Lovin Beat” and wrote “Heater” underneath it. “Woahhhhh,” reads the first part of Harlow’s response. “Don’t send that to a soul. I’m going in on that.”

After “Lovin on Me” debuted at No. 2 on the Hot 100 last week, it dethrones Taylor Swift‘s “Cruel Summer” this week (dated Dec. 2) following the song’s four-week reign on the all-genre songs tally.

The Cadillac Dale-sampling single is Harlow’s second solo Hot 100 No. 1 after “First Class,” the Fergie-sampling single from his sophomore album Come Home the Kids Miss You that spent three weeks at the top in April-May 2022, and third overall No. 1 after his “Industry Baby” collaboration with Lil Nas X, which spent one week at No. 1 in October 2021. Harlow is now one of only three artists to get at least one new Hot 100 No. 1 in each of the last three years, joining Drake and Swift (whose streaks both date to 2020).

The song is also spending a second week at No. 1 on both the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs charts.

27 Nov 2023

TOMORROW X TOGETHER Deliver Stripped-Back Performances of ‘Chasing That Feeling’ & More for Tiny Desk Korea: Watch

TOMORROW X TOGETHER is the latest K-pop group to perform on Tiny Desk Korea, taking to the intimate live concert program to perform a trio of songs.

In the video, released to NPR’s official YouTube page on Monday (Nov. 27), members Yeonjun, Soobin, Beomgyu, Taehyun and HueningKai sat next to each other in a blue room, complete with a small library and just enough space for the trio of backup singers, instrumentalists and some decoration to liven up the space.

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For the set, the K-pop group delivered performances from their recently released album, The Name Chapter: Temptation, which was released on Oct. 13 and hit No. 3 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. The quartet kicked off their performance with a laid-back version of “Skipping Stones,” hitting the track’s high notes with ease and getting help with intricate harmonies from the backup singers.

“Hello, we are TOMORROW X TOGETHER. First of all, thank you for inviting us to Tiny Desk Korea. We are so grateful to be here,” the boys said in Korean, before introducing the members of their backing band and heading into the subsequent tracks. “This gives us the opportunity to present our music in a different light. We’re going to have so much fun.”

“Happily Ever After” was up next for the boys; whereas the original features bouncy, dance instrumentals and synth, the Tiny Desk version of the track was slightly jazzier while maintaining its upbeat nature, and featured the K-pop stars all joining in for the infectious “la la la la la” portion of the chorus. The set concluded with the second The Name Chapter: Temptation single “Chasing That Feeling” and giving the crowd, as well as their band, a heartfelt thank you.

Watch TXT’s full Tiny Desk concert in the video above.

27 Nov 2023

Blue Ivy Fought For Her Spot in Beyonce’s Renaissance Tour

Blue Ivy has become a fan-favorite part of her mother Beyoncé’s Renaissance tour, taking the stage for “My Power” and “Black Parade” night after night, with her confidence evolving over the course of the tour. In Bey’s new Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé concert documentary, it became evident that the 11-year-old fought for her place onstage.

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According to the New York Times, Blue’s performance was only supposed to be a one-off. “She told me she was ready to perform, and I told her no,” Bey says in the film, noting that the child was devastated after reading comments criticizing her initial performance. However, the “Break My Soul” superstar said she was proud that her daughter, instead of quitting, chose to train harder for future dances.

When Blue first started joining her mother onstage, Bey also shared how proud she was of her eldest girl. “My beautiful first born ?? I’m so proud and thankful to be your mama. You bring us so much joy, my sweet angel,” she wrote in a May 29 post.

Blue’s grandmother, Tina Knowles-Lawson, told People of Blue back in July, “She’s having the time of her life, and I couldn’t be more proud of her because she really worked hard.” She added, “She is 11 years old, and she had one week to prepare, and she’s just getting better and better. So I’m the proud grandma, always.”

27 Nov 2023

‘Mr. Big Stuff’ Singer Jean Knight Dies at 80

Jean Knight, the R&B singer best known for her 1971 hit “Mr. Big Stuff” died at 80 on Wednesday (Nov. 22). “New Orleans and the music world mourns the loss of one its most treasure musical daughters, Jean Knight,” her family said in a statement shared with USA Today.

Rolling Stone also confirmed the singer’s passing with longtime friend Bernie Cyrus — who was the executive director of the Louisiana Music Commission for decades — who said, “She was always willing to get involved with good causes and help out.”

Cyrus said the bouncy soul-stirring song was “just so universal. People remember it. And look, so many people covered it. But nobody did it like Jean.”

Surrounded by music in her hometown of New Orleans, Knight — who was born Jean Caliste on Jan. 26, 1943 — began singing around town after graduating from high school and recorded her first single, a cover of Jackie Wilson’s “Stop Doggin’ Me Around” in 1965, which got her a recording contract with the Jet Star/Tribe record label.

Her climb to fame began when she met producer Wardell Quezerque; he took her to Jackson, Miss., where she recorded “Mr. Big Stuff,” which became her first single and the title track from her debut studio album on Stax Records. The song earned a Grammy nomination for best female R&B vocal performance, and in July 1971, it reached the top of the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, where it remained for five weeks; the song peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 the following month. The album itself reached a high of No. 60 on the Billboard 200 in September 1971.

“Jean Knight’s legacy is not just a musical one; it is a testament to the enduring love between an artist, her hometown, and the fans who adored her,” the family’s statement to USA Today noted. “As we bid farewell to this iconic soulstress, New Orleans and her global fan base join together in gratitude for the indelible mark she left on the world.”