Music
Page: 212
Duo The War and Treaty are set to release a new album, Plus One, on Valentine’s Day. The 18-song set, which will release via Mercury Nashville, was primarily produced by the duo’s Michael Trotter Jr., and recorded at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Ala.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
The duo’s Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter worked with their longtime live band on the album, and wrap in a blend of gospel, bluegrass, country, soul, symphonic pop and more. Along the way, they collaborated with producers including Jonathan Singleton (Luke Combs, Chase Rice), John Shanks (Stevie Nicks, Sheryl Crow) and Jesse Frasure (Jelly Roll, Kelsea Ballerini).
“We see this record as an open invitation to be a part of what we’re doing — it came from wanting to be the hope we believe people need right now, as well as the hope that we need for ourselves,” Tanya Trotter said in a statement.
Trending on Billboard
“One of our main intentions with this album is to inspire people to share themselves with others, and open themselves up to the possibility of being loved,” Michael Trotter Jr. added.
The album’s songs include “Drink From Me” featuring Billy Strings; “Love Like Whiskey,” which the Trotters wrote with Miranda Lambert; and the Black gospel-influenced “Called You by Your Name.”
Plus One follows the duo’s 2023 project Lover’s Game, which earned a Grammy nomination for best American roots song (for the album’s “Blank Page”), while The War and Treaty was nominated for best new artist.
Over the past year, The War and Treaty has opened shows for Chris Stapleton, Zach Bryan and The Rolling Stones. In March, the duo will also launch the Plus One Tour, which will visit 30 cities across the United States, including New York City’s Irving Plaza, The Howard Theatre in D.C., The Troubadour in Los Angeles, The Kessler Theater in Dallas and more. The tour begins March 26 in Minneapolis and will conclude on June 19 in Bristol, Tenn. General ticket on-sale opens next Friday, Dec. 13, at 10 a.m. local time.
See the tracklisting for Plus One below:
“Love Like Whiskey”
“Skyscraper”
“Can I Get an Amen”
“Called You by Your Name”
“Stealing a Kiss”
“Teardrops in the Rain”
“Leads Me Home”
“Carried Away”
“Drink From Me” feat. Billy Strings
“Reminisce”
“Save Me”
“Love Is on Fire”
“I Can’t Let You Go”
“Home”
“Love Light”
“Mr. Fun”
“Tunnel Vision”
“The Glorious Ones”
There’s nothing artificial about Mariah Carey, who has addressed rumors that her 2024 Spotify Wrapped video message to fans was AI-generated. “Bad lighting and a red lip have you all thinking this is AI??” the vocalist tweeted Thursday (Dec. 5), reposting the video in question from a fan account on X. “There’s a reason I’m […]
Rauw Alejandro is going on tour next year in support of his latest album, Cosa Nuestra. The Puerto Rican superstar unveiled the dates to his world tour on Friday (Dec. 6). The Live Nation-produced stint is set to kick off April 5 in Seattle, and will then visit major cities including San Francisco, Chicago, Houston, […]
In this year’s producer of the year, non-classical category, there is one notable absence — Jack Antonoff, who would have been nominated for his sixth consecutive year — and one welcome addition: R&B producer-musician Alissia, who becomes just the ninth woman (or team of women) in the history of the category to receive a nomination. Had Antonoff been nominated and won, he would have set a record as the only consecutive four-peat in the 50-year history of the award. Meanwhile, a woman has yet to take home the trophy.
The 2025 nominees also include superproducer Daniel Nigro, “Not Like Us” hit-maker Mustard and veteran producers Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II and Ian Fitchuk. Of the five, Alissia, Mustard and Fitchuk are first-time nominees in this category. Below, all five nominees reflect on being nominated.
Alissia
Alissia
Caleb and Gladys
Of your nominations, why is producer of the year so special?
Trending on Billboard
I’ve worked so many years to really perfect my craft as a musician and then later as a producer, and just to be nominated as a producer of the year, it’s huge. It’s like all the endless sessions, late nights and nonstop working just really reminded me that, man, hard work pays off. And it was so crazy to me because my biggest inspiration as a producer passed away that week, Quincy Jones. So it was such an emotional week. He was such an inspiration for me to start arranging strings and everything. So [my nomination is] representing a lot more than just me.
You join a small class of women who have been nominated in this category. What extra significance or pressure does that add?
It’s very humbling to be the ninth woman ever being nominated in this category alongside some of my favorites like Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey and all these ladies who’ve really worked hard to pave the way for me to be nominated in this category. I don’t take that for granted. I see this as a big milestone for women producers in general. What really made me the most happy and emotional is that I started receiving so many DMs from young girls, producers and musicians and just women in general. It really warmed my heart up. It’s a big deal.
What would an ideal Grammy night celebration look like?
I have a party series called Boogie Nights. It’s going to be so much fun. I want to celebrate with everyone, and also celebrate everyone else because I saw so many of my friends that got nominated too. The goal of Boogie Nights is to connect artists and creatives with each other to hopefully, maybe, spark a collaboration or whatever comes naturally. It’s also just to have fun. So Los Angeles is the perfect place and the Grammys are the perfect time.
Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II
D’Mile
Monhand Mathurin
How did you find out and react to being nominated for producer of the year, non-classical?
This is my third year in a row being nominated. And to be honest, the first time we even tried and I got nominated, I was happy with that. I was like, “OK, I did it.” And then last year, I almost didn’t even bother trying to get my name submitted. But funny enough, Victoria Monét’s manager [Rachelle Jean-Louis] basically made me do it. And then this year, in a way, was similar. I was indifferent about if we should try or not — and I’m glad we did. I’m always just happy to be recognized… Of course, if I win, that would be amazing. But it was a good year for everybody.
How does this year’s class of nominees represent what’s resonating in music today?
I feel like it definitely resonates well. I feel like country music, to start, has had a great year with a whole bunch of artists that are already in the field or that have dabbled in it. Mustard had a great record with “Not Like Us,” so no surprise there. Me and Dan [Nigro] actually have spoken a couple times about it and joked, like, “Maybe next year we’ll go up against each other again.” I’m such a big fan of his and what he’s done with Olivia [Rodrigo] and Chappell [Roan]. I even voted for him the first round, like, “You got to be up there.” Alissia, I know her well. She’s an incredible musician. I was happy to see a female producer. I feel like [the nominees] actually translate well to the past year — all the hard work paying off.
“Die With a Smile” is your fourth song of the year nomination. You’ve won with Bruno Mars before, with “Leave the Door Open.” Are there any similarities between the two hits?
When [“Leave the Door Open”] came out, [it had] the same impact and similar reactions. It just felt like everybody knew it instantly, everybody seemed to love it instantly. So I still can’t tell which one they love more. But I mean, I think because it’s two powerhouses, Lady Gaga and Bruno, on a song like that, I’m sure that helps a lot. Gaga’s fans, The Monsters, and The Hooligans put together? Forget about it.
Ian Fitchuk
Ian Fitchuk
Fairlight Hubbard
What does it mean to be nominated for producer of the year?
It means a lot to be recognized for the work that I’ve put in, not just this year, but kind of my whole career, which at this point has been about 24 years. And I feel like it’s also a celebration of all the people that I get to work with — the engineers, songwriters, producers. I feel like I share that nomination with friends of mine that have made me better at what I do and have put tons of work and time and energy into the projects that I’m associated with.
How does this year’s class of nominees represent what’s resonating in music today?
It’s an awesome representation of where music is — and I’m a fan of everybody else that’s in the category. I’m well aware of the work that they’ve been doing, and I think that it touches on all different genres. I love that it doesn’t feel heavy-handed in one space over another. I think it’s really cool. I love Dernst [“D’Mile”] and Dan and I’m not as familiar with Alissia, but Mustard, my son has made me more aware of him.
You worked on Kacey Musgraves’ Deeper Well and won your first two Grammys for her Golden Hour. Why is that relationship so special?
I would say this about everybody, but being able to record and make music that I would want to listen to is a gift, because I know that this is a hard world to work in and you don’t always get to make things that align with your tastes necessarily. And I like that I’ve been able to be true to who I am with the music that I get to make. To be trusted like that is awesome.
What would an ideal Grammy night celebration look like?
Probably a milkshake and in bed by 10 p.m.
Mustard
Mustard
Kanya Iwana
How did you find out and react to being nominated for producer of the year?
I wasn’t even expecting producer of the year. I was just on some “Not Like Us,” Faith of a Mustard Seed, “Parking Lot” [with Travis Scott], one of those things. I’m just waiting for [the category] to pass, to get to the other s–t, and then [they said], “Mustard” and I was like, “What the f–k?” My thought process wasn’t there. You know, the Grammys is a long time coming for me. I’ve always wanted to be nominated for producer of the year. But I just believe that things happen when God wants them to happen. So I was overly excited and screaming in the house and s–t, running around.
This is also your first nomination for record of the year. Why is “Not Like Us” a worthy contender?
Culturally, man, we did something that woke everybody in music, in the world, up. It’s going to be a piece of history. It’s one of the biggest songs just for the West Coast, and you know, it was really dark over here for a while. It’s more than the dis song part of it. It’s just bringing everybody together. I think everybody feels the West Coast right now. And the Dodgers won, so s–t. I think it helped.
Where’s the craziest place you’ve heard that song so far?
They performed it at my daughter’s school, and it was really crazy. It was the clean version, though, but it was just like, “You guys are doing a dance to this song?” She’s 9, so for me it was just like, “What the f–k?” It’s just some crazy s–t.
What would an ideal Grammy night celebration look like?
If I win producer of the year, I mean, s–t, I might be doing backflips all the way down Figueroa [Street].
Daniel Nigro
Daniel Nigro
Shervin Lainez
How did you find out and react to being nominated for producer of the year, non-classical?
My wife and I were walking our dog the morning of the announcements, so when my manager called and said, “Congratulations!” I responded with “For what!?” I was definitely hoping for a nomination this year but also didn’t want to get my hopes up because you just never know. I’m really excited about how things turned out. To celebrate, we had a very, very small get-together at the studio. We ordered some Papa John’s and had a cake.
This is your second time being nominated in this category, and your third time being nominated for song of the year, record of the year and album of the year. What’s your secret?
I wish there was a secret. I just feel so lucky that I get to work with such incredible artists and songwriters that get nominated. What I’d like to know is if there’s a secret to winning one of those categories, because it hasn’t happened yet.
You’ve also been involved in the debut albums from two best new artist nominees: Olivia Rodrigo and Chappell Roan. What does it mean to be a part of an artist’s career from the start?
I feel very fortunate to have this happen twice for me. I get a lot of joy and satisfaction from being a part of the development process. As someone who once was a recording artist, I try to take the things I learned during those years and help other artists navigate the madness that is the music industry.
This story appears in the Dec. 7, 2024, issue of Billboard.
Lance Bass has had an eclectic career since *NSYNC went on hiatus in 2002. He’s acted on TV in 7th Heaven and Dancing With the Stars, in the movies in On the Line, Zoolander and I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry and on Broadway in Hairspray, as well as hosting the drive-time radio show Dirty Pop with Lance Bass and training for an (ultimately failed) chance to blast off into space.
But the one thing the singer could not do, apparently, was play it straight for a sitcom at a time when he said that marriage equality was beginning to bubble up in the national conversation. In a chat this week on the Politickin’ podcast, the 45-year-old pop star opened up about his lost bid at a network role after he came out in 2006.
Trending on Billboard
“I had a sitcom with The CW at the time, and we were about to shoot the pilot and this came out and they were like, ‘We can’t do the show anymore. Like, they have to believe that you’re straight to play a straight character,’” married father of twins Bass said about the unnamed show. “Every casting director I knew, they’re like, ‘Lance, we can’t cast you because they can’t look past… You’re too famous for being gay now that they can’t look at you as anything other than that.’ So, I lost everything, agents, everything.”
Bass called it a “crazy scary situation,” because, he said, “all the examples I’ve ever had of anyone coming out, especially in entertainment, was that it’s a career killer.” Bass came out in a People magazine story in 2006 and told the pod’s host, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Super Bowl champ Marshawn Lynch and agent Doug Hendrickson that he continued to struggle to find work in Hollywood afterwards, though some of those same people have since cast him in other projects.
“I mean, I knew I was gay since I was, you know, 5-years-old,” he said. “But also knew at a young age that was something I was going to have to hide my whole entire life because, you know, it was dangerous, especially growing up in a state like Mississippi where there’s not one gay person, not one out person at all, because it, again, was dangerous.”
The singer also talked about *NSYNC’s financial struggles in the early days and their battles with late manager Lou Pearlman to get paid, which prompted Newsom to bring up the legislation he signed in September — championed by Demi Lovato — that ensures that child and teenage performers who make online content are protected from financial abuse. “Always have a great group of people around you… you have to trust someone,” Bass said.
Alex Warren‘s breakthrough hit “Burning Down” just got even hotter. The singer/songwriter teamed up with Joe Jonas on Friday (Dec. 6) for a new version of the track via Atlantic Records, and Billboard is exclusively sharing a performance video the duo filmed to accompany the song. In the clip, Jonas and Warren trade lines of […]
Dolly Parton wants to give you the chance to slip into her fabulous footsteps. On Thursday (Dec. 5), the country icon and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer announced an open internet casting call for her upcoming Broadway show, Dolly: An Original Musical. “Hey there, it’s Dolly, and I am so excited to share some […]
Chris Martin and Coldplay are giving all their love to Dick Van Dyke on the legendary performer’s 99th birthday.
On Friday (Dec. 6), the rock band unveiled a short-film-style music video for its Moon Music ballad “All My Love” focusing on the Hollywood icon’s life and career as Van Dyke celebrates his last double-digit trip around the sun. Directed by Spike Jonze and Mary Wigmore, the seven-minute visual shows the Mary Poppins star limberly dancing in a suit and bare feet, showing off his infectious sense of humor and offering up musings about his personal journey in between shots of Martin playing piano.
“I’m acutely aware that I could go any day now,” Van Dyke says at one point while looking back on old family photos and heirlooms from his expansive filmography. “But I don’t know why, it doesn’t concern me. I’m not afraid of it. I have that feeling — totally against anything intellectual I have — that I’m gonna be all right.”
The project was filmed at the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang actor’s house in Malibu. Toward the end, he’s joined by his extended family, who applaud and give the patriarch hugs during the track’s high point.
Trending on Billboard
On Thursday night, Martin and Van Dyke appeared side by side on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to share how the video came together. “To tell you the truth, I didn’t know who he was,” Van Dyke told Kimmel about the call to make the video with the band. “I didn’t know who you were,” Martin quipped back with a big smile. “I said, ‘we’re looking for an old guy. Who’s the oldest guy?’”
Martin then admitted that he’s a “super fan” of the Hollywood legend and revealed that Van Dyke is (kind of) a neighbor and one day a few years ago he invited the legend over for breakfast. In fact, the singer then busted out what he said is his one and only impression: the dry laugh that Van Dyke did as old banker Mr. Dawes in Mary Poppins, which cracked the actor up.
“This really may be the most fun thing I’ve ever done. It makes me so grateful,” Martin said. “It’s a big deal for me.”
A shorter version of the visual will arrive Dec. 13, the date Van Dyke officially turns 99.
The day prior, Coldplay will make its performance debut at the Billboard Music Awards live from the band’s Music of the Spheres World Tour stop in Australia. The “All My Love” music video comes about two months after Coldplay dropped its 10th studio album, Moon Music, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
Ariana Grande has been in the spotlight for more than half of her life. In an interview with YouTube personality Sally this week, the Wicked star got very candid about what that has felt like, specifically how it feels to constantly have strangers evaluating and judging her body. And, in a super honest moment, she had a simple message for people who do that.
“There’s a comfortability people have with commenting on that [my body] that I think is really dangerous. And I think it’s dangerous for all parties involved,” she said, as her Wicked co-star, Cynthia Erivo, held the singer’s hand and comforted her as she appeared on the verge of tears while answering a question about the struggle for women to live up to society’s exacting, often unreasonable, beauty standards
“I’ve been kind of doing this in front of the public and kind of been a specimen in a petri dish since I was 16 or 17, so I have heard it all,” Grande said. “I’ve heard every version of it… of what’s wrong with me. And then you fix it, and then it’s wrong for different reasons. But that’s everything from – even just the simplest thing – your appearance, you know?”
Trending on Billboard
Grande, 31, said it’s hard to protect yourself from that noise and it’s uncomfortable no matter where you experience such pressures. “Even if you go to Thanksgiving dinner, and someone’s granny says, ‘Oh my God, you look skinnier! What happened?’ or ‘You look heavier! What happened?’” she said. “That is something that’s uncomfortable and horrible no matter where it’s happening… and I think in today’s society there’s a comfortability that we shouldn’t have, at all, commenting on other’s looks, appearance, what they think is going on behind the scenes, or health, or how they present themselves.”
Getting animated, Grande said those kinds of judgements about what women are wearing and how their bodies and faces look are “dangerous.” She counted herself lucky to have a good support system that allows her to “know and trust that I am beautiful… but I do know what the pressure of that noise feels like… I just don’t invite it in anymore. It’s not welcome. I have work to do. I have a life to live. I have friends to love on, I have so much love and it’s not invited.”
She added that however you have to block that noise out, whether it’s deleting a toxic social app or blocking trolls online, “you keep yourself safe. Because no one has the right to say s–t!”
The latter comment drew a clap from host Sally, as well as an “amen” seconded by Erivo. “Can you tell I needed that today?” Grande said with a smile as Erivo grabbed her arm and displayed yet another example of the way the two women have openly supported and big-upped each other during the exhaustive press tour in support of the hit movie musical which has already rolled up $372.9 million in ticket sales so far.
Grande has spoken before about fans’ concerns over her appearance, including in a TikTok video last year in which she had similar thoughts about people’s concerns about her body.
“I think we should be gentler and less comfortable commenting on people’s bodies — no matter what. If you think you’re saying something good or well-intentioned, whatever it is. Healthy, unhealthy, big, small, this, that, sexy, not sexy, I don’t… We just shouldn’t. We should really work towards not doing that as much,” she said at the time.
“But I also just wanted to say one, there are many different kinds of beautiful,” she added. “There are many different ways to look healthy and beautiful. I know personally for me, the body that you’ve been comparing my current body to was the unhealthiest version of my body. I was on a lot of anti-depressants, and drinking on them and eating poorly, and at the lowest point of my life when I looked the way you consider my ‘healthy.’ But that, in fact, wasn’t my healthy. I know I shouldn’t have to explain that, but I do feel like maybe having an openness and some sort of vulnerability here, something good might come from it.”
Check out Grande and Erivo’s interview with Sally below.
Sabrina Carpenter is set to headline BST Hyde Park in 2025, marking another milestone in her meteoric rise to pop stardom.
The “Espresso” singer will take center stage in London on Saturday, July 5, with special guests Clairo and beabadoobee joining her on the iconic Great Oak Stage.
Additional acts are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. Fans can grab tickets starting Wednesday, Dec. 11, at 10 a.m. GMT. Tickets can be purchased here. For those with an American Express card, an exclusive presale began on Dec. 6 and runs until 9 a.m. on Dec. 11.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
This announcement comes on the heels of Carpenter’s landmark year, during which she earned six Grammy nominations and garnered praise from peers like Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift. Notably, Swift recently called her “the pop princess of our dreams” after the two collaborated on an acoustic mash-up of their songs during Swift’s 1989 (Taylor’s Version) release event.
Trending on Billboard
BST Hyde Park has become synonymous with iconic performances, and Sabrina’s inclusion solidifies her status as one of pop music’s brightest stars. She joins an already stellar lineup of headliners, including Olivia Rodrigo, Noah Kahan, Jeff Lynne’s ELO, Zach Bryan, and Hugh Jackman.
Carpenter’s appearance at BST Hyde Park will be part of a busy year for the singer-songwriter. She is also set to headline Primavera Sound alongside Charli XCX and Chappell Roan and will embark on the U.K. and European leg of her tour, featuring Rachel Chinouriri as a special guest.
The tour begins at Dublin’s 3Arena on March 3 and includes stops in Birmingham, London, and Manchester. Adding to the excitement, Carpenter recently announced her upcoming Netflix holiday special, A Nonsense Christmas, premiering Dec. 6. The special boasts a star-studded guest list, including Chappell Roan, Tyla, Quinta Brunson, and Cara Delevingne.
Sabrina Carpenter has been rewriting chart history in 2024. She became the first solo artist, and only the second act after The Beatles, to achieve two simultaneous top-three hits on the Billboard Hot 100.
Her singles “Please Please Please” debuted at No. 2, and “Espresso” peaked at No. 3. Additionally, she became the first woman in Billboard Hot 100 history to have three songs (“Espresso,” “Please Please Please,” and “Taste”) in the Top 10 for five consecutive weeks, surpassing Cardi B’s previous record of four weeks.
Carpenter also achieved a Billboard 200 milestone with her sixth studio album, Short n’ Sweet, debuting at No. 1. The album sold 362,000 equivalent album units in its first week, marking her first album to top the chart.