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Christie Brinkley is showing her support for ex-husband Billy Joel following news of his recent health diagnosis.
On Saturday (May 24), the 71-year-old model took to social media to share a heartfelt tribute to Joel, 76, just one day after he revealed he had been diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), a type of brain disorder.
“Dear Billy, the whole Brinkley gang is sending you lots of love and good wishes for a full and speedy recovery,” Brinkley wrote on Instagram. Her message was accompanied by video clips of herself and daughter Sailor Brinkley Cook — whose father is Peter Cook — attending one of Joel’s past concerts.
“I was looking for some cute photos of you and Alexa to send you, when I came across this clip from a recent concert,” she continued. “It made me laugh … but it also reminded me of all the joy you create, and all the sensational sing a longs you’ve lead… You turn an arena of strangers into a living room full of friends as we all sway in unison.”
Brinkley closed her message with an emotional note of encouragement.
“I’m sure I’m speaking for everyone in that room when I say please take good care of yourself, we all want you back in that white hot spotlight, you’re OUR piano man,” she wrote. “And we’re always in the mood for your melodies And we all hope you’re feeling alright! We Love You, the kids, me and an arena or two!”
Brinkley and Joel married in 1985 and welcomed daughter Alexa Ray Joel that same year. The couple divorced in 1994 after nearly a decade together.
Just last month, Brinkley was spotted in the audience at Joel’s concert at New York’s Madison Square Garden, smiling and dancing along to his 1983 hit “Uptown Girl” — a song he famously wrote with Brinkley in mind. In his 2014 biography Billy Joel: The Definitive Biography, the iconic musician revealed that the track was initially inspired by the models of Manhattan, but he changed the title from plural to singular after beginning his relationship with Brinkley.
Earlier this week, Joel announced he would be canceling all upcoming shows due to complications from NPH.
“This condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance,” he said in a statement. “Under his doctor’s instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period. Billy is thankful for the excellent care he is receiving and is fully committed to prioritizing his health.”
The cancellations include several scheduled appearances throughout summer and fall 2025, as well as early 2026, including joint shows with Sting, Rod Stewart, and Stevie Nicks.
Crunchyroll, the global brand fueling anime fandom, revealed the winners of the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards during a live ceremony held at Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa in Tokyo on Sunday (May 25). Creepy Nuts won best anime song for “Otonoke,” the opening theme from anime of the year nominee DAN DA DAN. Hiroyuki Sawano won best score for Solo Leveling, which won anime of the year.
The ninth annual Anime Awards was co-hosted for the third year in a row by voice actress Sally Amaki and entertainer Jon Kabira. The winners were revealed by celebrity anime fan presenters, including Grammy-winning singer Kacey Musgraves; Canadian director, musician, and actor Finn Wolfhard and American actor Gaten Matarazzo, both from the hit series Stranger Things; global superstar and anime collaborator J Balvin; Italian singer-songwriter Damiano David; musician and actor Rina Sawayama; Brazilian pop icon Pabllo Vittar; American snowboarder Chloe Kim; and screenwriter Zak Penn.
During the awards show, fans enjoyed performances from Creepy Nuts, the 2025 Anime Awards winning hip-hop duo, who performed “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born,” the opening theme from Mashle: Magic and Muscles. Rock band FLOW performed “DAYS” to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Eureka Seven; and LiSA, Spotify’s most streamed Japanese artist globally in 2020, performed three songs — “crossing field,” “Datte Atashino Hero,” and “gurenge,” the hit from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.
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During the ceremony, Attack on Titan was awarded the Anime Awards’ first global impact award. The final film Attack on Titan: THE LAST ATTACK premiered in late 2024, marking the end of the longstanding anime. Yuichiro Hayashi from MAPPA accepted the award on behalf of all the creatives who brought the series to life over the years.
This year, a record 51 million votes were cast by fans worldwide to celebrate their favorite series, films, and actors. The 2025 Anime Awards will be available to stream as video-on-demand shortly on Crunchyroll’s YouTube and Twitch Channels, along with SONY PICTURES CORE and the Sony Group Corp Japan and Global YouTube Channels.
“Fans form deep emotional connections to anime. These are not just series, films or songs, but rather works of art that help define the identity of anime fans,” Rahul Purini, president of Crunchyroll, said in a statement.
Sony Music Solutions Inc., part of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., and Dempsey Productions supported Crunchyroll in the execution of the Anime Awards this year.
Here’s a complete list of 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards nominees and winners.
Anime of the Year
DAN DA DAN
Delicious in Dungeon
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
Kaiju No. 8
WINNER: Solo Leveling
The Apothecary Diaries
Best Anime Song
Abyss – Yungblud – Kaiju No. 8
Bling-Bang-Bang-Born – Creepy Nuts – MASHLE: MAGIC AND MUSCLES The Divine Visionary Candidate Exam Arc
Fatal – GEMN -【OSHI NO KO】Season 2
LEveL – SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]: TOMORROW X TOGETHER – Solo Leveling
WINNER: Otonoke – Creepy Nuts – DAN DA DAN
The Brave – YOASOBI – Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
Best Score
BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Conflict- Shiro Sagisu
DAN DA DAN – kensuke ushio
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc – Yuki Kajiura, Go Shiina
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End – Evan Call
Look Back – Haruka Nakamura
WINNER: Solo Leveling – Hiroyuki Sawano
Film of the Year
HAIKYU!! The Dumpster Battle
WINNER: Look Back
Mononoke The Movie: The Phantom in the Rain
My Hero Academia: You’re Next
SPY x FAMILY CODE: White
The Colors Within
Best Original Anime
BUCCHIGIRI?!
GIRLS BAND CRY
Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Night
Metallic Rouge
WINNER: Ninja Kamui
Train to the End of the World
Best Continuing Series
BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Conflict
WINNER: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc
My Hero Academia, My Hero Academia Season 7
ONE PIECE
【OSHI NO KO】【OSHI NO KO】Season 2
SPY × FAMILY, SPY × FAMILY Season 2
Best New Series
DAN DA DAN
Delicious in Dungeon
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
Kaiju No. 8
WINNER: Solo Leveling
The Apothecary Diaries
Best Opening Sequence
Abyss – Yungblud – Kaiju No. 8
Bling-Bang-Bang-Born – Creepy Nuts – MASHLE: MAGIC AND MUSCLES The Divine Visionary Candidate Exam Arc
Fatal – GEMN – 【OSHI NO KO】Season 2
LEveL – SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]: TOMORROW X TOGETHER – Solo Leveling
WINNER: Otonoke – Creepy Nuts – DAN DA DAN
UUUUUS! – Hiroshi Kitadani – ONE PIECE
Best Ending Sequence
Antanante – riria. – Ranma1/2
Burning – Hitsujibungaku – 【OSHI NO KO】Season 2
KAMAKURA STYLE – BotchiBoromaru – The Elusive Samurai
Nobody – OneRepublic – Kaiju No. 8
WINNER: request – krage – Solo Leveling
TAIDADA – ZUTOMAYO – DAN DA DAN
Best Action
BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Conflict
DAN DA DAN
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc
Kaiju No. 8
WINNER: Solo Leveling
WIND BREAKER
Best Comedy
Delicious in Dungeon
KONOSUBA -God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World! 3
WINNER: MASHLE: MAGIC AND MUSCLES The Divine Visionary Candidate Exam Arc
My Deer Friend Nokotan
Ranma1/2
SPY × FAMILY Season 2
Best Drama
A Sign of Affection
DEAD DEAD DEMONS DEDEDEDE DESTRUCTION
WINNER: Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
【OSHI NO KO】Season 2
Pluto
The Apothecary Diaries
Best Isekai Anime
KONOSUBA -God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World! 3
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation (season 2, Cour 2)
WINNER: Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 3
Shangri-La Frontier Season 2
Suicide Squad ISEKAI
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 3
Best Romance
A Sign of Affection
WINNER: Blue Box
Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines!
Ranma1/2
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off
The Dangers in My Heart Season 2
Best Slice of Life
Laid-Back Camp Season 3
WINNER: Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines!
Mr. Villain’s Day Off
My Deer Friend Nokotan
Sound! Euphonium 3
The Dangers in My Heart Season 2
Best Animation
DAN DA DAN
Delicious in Dungeon
WINNER: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
Kaiju No. 8
Solo Leveling
Best Background Art
DAN DA DAN
Delicious in Dungeon
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc
WINNER: Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
Pluto
The Apothecary Diaries
Best Character Design
WINNER: DAN DA DAN
Delicious in Dungeon
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
Kaiju No. 8
The Apothecary Diaries
Best Director
Fuga Yamashiro – DAN DA DAN
Haruo Sotozaki – Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc
WINNER: Keiichiro Saito – Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
Megumi Ishitani – ONE PIECE FAN LETTER
Norihiro Naganuma – The Apothecary Diaries
Yoshihiro Miyajima – Delicious in Dungeon
Best Main Character
Frieren – Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
Kafka Hibino – Kaiju No. 8
Okarun – DAN DA DAN
Maomao – The Apothecary Diaries
Momo – DAN DA DAN
WINNER: Sung Jinwoo – Solo Leveling
Best Supporting Character
WINNER: Fern – Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
Himmel – Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
Jinshi – The Apothecary Diaries
Seiko – DAN DA DAN
Senshi – Delicious in Dungeon
Turbo Granny – DAN DA DAN
“Must Protect at All Cost” Character
WINNER: Anya Forger – SPY × FAMILY Season 2
Frieren – Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
Okarun- DAN DA DAN
Senshi – Delicious in Dungeon
Tokiyuki Hojo – The Elusive Samurai
Yuki Itose – A Sign of Affection
Best Japanese Voice Artist Performance: Aoi Yuki (Maomao) – The Apothecary Diaries
Best English Voice Artist Performance: Aleks Le (Sung Jinwoo) – Solo Leveling
Best Arabic Voice Artist Performance: Hiba Snobar (Anya Forger) – SPY × FAMILY Season 2
Best Brazilian Portuguese Voice Artist Performance: Charles Emmanuel (Sung Jinwoo) – Solo Leveling
Best Castilian Spanish Voice Artist Performance: Masumi Mutsuda (Sung Jinwoo) – Solo Leveling
Best French Voice Artist Performance: Adrien Antoine (Kafka Hibino) – Kaiju No. 8
Best German Voice Artist Performance: Daniel Schlauch (Monkey D. Luffy) – ONE PIECE
Best Hindi Voice Artist Performance: Lohit Sharma (Satoru Gojo) – JUJUTSU KAISEN Season 2
Best Italian Voice Artist Performance: Ilaria Pellicone (Kyomoto) – Look Back
Best Latin Spanish Voice Artist Performance: Miguel Ángel Leal (Eren Jaeger) – Attack on Titan Final Season THE FINAL CHAPTERS Special 2
When Shakira announced the stadium tour dates for her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran trek, Chicago was not part of the list, leaving fans wondering why the Windy City was left out. Soon after, it was unveiled that she’d headline Sueños Festival and on Saturday (May 24), the Colombian star closed out day one of the two-day event in Chicago’s Grant Park.
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What was originally billed as a two-hour performance starting at 8 p.m., Shakira went onstage closer to 8:30 p.m. and played a 90-minute set. The crowd — which had quickly dispersed after Peso Pluma’s set — slowly returned to find a good spot to watch Shakira and the empty spots filled up, especially when the main stage lights were turned on.
Shakira’s crowd was multigenerational, which is noteworthy given that Sueños caters to a younger, perhaps Gen Z-leaning crowd. Many women in attendance paid homage to Shakira, wearing her signature belly-dancing hip belts. And Colombians proudly waved their flags, eager to hear La Loba howl.
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“I was really looking forward to being with you tonight,” a beaming Shakira said, speaking in a mix of English and Spanish. “This is incredible. This city, wow I’m in love with this city, it’s so beautiful. Thank you for making me feel at home. There is definitely no better reunion than a she-wolf with her pack. Chicago, tonight, we are one.”
While it’s hard to replicate a stadium tour stage in a festival setting, it’s safe to say Shakira gifted Chicago fans an unforgettable night. Going from wearing a shimmery white jumpsuit and large black sunglasses to a sparkly pink dress in a blink of an eye, the “Pies Descalzos” singer, backed by a troupe of fierce dancers, kicked off with bangers, including “Girl Like Me,” “Las de la Intuición,” “Estoy Aquí,” “Inevitable,” “Te Felicito,” “TQG” and “Don’t Bother.”
“These last few years have not been easy for me, nobody is saved from falls. But if I have learned anything, it’s that the fall is not the end but the beginning of a higher flight. We, women, get up a little stronger, a little more wiser, every time we fall,” Shakira said, a nod to the empowering theme of her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran era, inspired by the healing that comes from a heartbreak.
During her 90-minute set, Shakira’s hypnotizing dance moves and choreography were on full display, including her unmatched belly-dancing in “Ojos Asi” and the champeta and calypso footwork during “Waka Waka.” But a fan favorite moment was when Shakira revisited her rockera roots, singing “Pies Descalzos, Sueños Blancos” and “Antología.”
Of course, she closed with the global hit “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53,” which had all the women in attendance singing at the top of their lungs, ending an epic reunion between a she-wolf and her pack.
Sueños continues on Sunday (May 25) with Grupo Frontera and Don Omar as headliners. Meanwhile, Shakira’s Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran is set to visit Boston, Atlanta, Miami and Los Angeles next.
Sueños fans waited one year for Peso Pluma to headline the Latin music festival in Chicago’s Grant Park after his set was canceled by festival organizers last year over thunderstorms.
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“It’s good to be in Chicago,” Peso told attendees at the top of his one-hour-and-15-minute set on Saturday (May 24). “Remember last time we got rained out? Well, no rain can stop me this time.”
The significant crowd that gathered to see him perform at the event’s main stage roared, crowding the stage area to be closer to Peso.
Although the air was crisp and unseasonably cold temperatures had festival-goers rethinking their summery wardrobe choices, it did not rain. This time, mother nature was on Peso’s side. And so he went on to sing his biggest hits, including “AMG,” “Rubicón,” “Nueva Vida,” “La Patrulla,” “Rompe La Dompe” and “Lady Gaga,” to name a few on his Sueños setlist.
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Dressed casually in jeans, a black T-shirt with a black puffer jacket over it and a black and white Chicago White Sox baseball cap (which he later traded for a beige one), Peso was accompanied by his band composed of nearly 10 musicians — giving life to signature sound powered by instruments like charchetas, trombones and trumpets and following Peso’s lead.
“They are my family,” Peso gushed about his band. “Over the past three years, we’ve grown this project together.”
A handful of artists joined him onstage as special guests, including Oscar Maydon and El Alfa — both who had performed earlier in the day — and labelmates Tito Double P and Jasiel Nuñez. Throughout his show, Peso expressed his Mexican pride and wrapped a Mexican flag at the end of his set saying, “Viva la cultura mexicana!”
And, although he didn’t address head on the bans on narcocorridos in Mexico and the U.S., and how they’ve impacted a few of his fellow regional Mexican hitmakers, Peso made note during his set that he’s focusing on romantic corridos.
According to Sueños’ website, as of Saturday, about 95% of the passes to the event were sold, although actual daily attendance figures were not made readily available by festival organizers. Now in its fourth edition, day one of Sueños featured other acts like NSQK, El Malilla, Dei V, Oscar Maydon, El Alfa and Arcángel. Shakira closed out Saturday with a 90-minute set.
Don Omar and Grupo Frontera will headline day two of Sueños on Sunday (May 25).
Sophie Turner seems to be streaming her ex’s new album. The actress posted Joe Jonas‘ Music for People Who Believe in Love on Saturday (May 24) in an Instagram Story, where she also shared a note of support for his latest solo release.
“Go go @joejonas,” Turner wrote on the post, which showed an image of the album on Spotify and tagged her ex-husband’s Instagram profile.
Her reaction to Music for People Who Believe in Love‘s release comes after the former couple — who co-parent their two children, four-year-old Willa and two-year-old Delphine — finalized their divorce in September 2024. Jonas, who outside of his solo endeavors is one third of the Jonas Brothers, met Turner in 2016. They were wed in 2019.
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Though Jonas and Turner initially had a disagreement over custody, they voluntarily entered into a confidential parenting plan and separation agreement that was in the best interest of the family, a judge declared on final judgement paperwork for the divorce, dated Sept. 6, 2024.
“After four wonderful years of marriage we have mutually decided to amicably end our marriage,” they said in a joint statement that first announced their split in 2023. “There are many speculative narratives as to why but, truly this is a united decision and we sincerely hope that everyone can respect our wishes for privacy for us and our children.”
Turner later said the breakup “was incredibly sad.” “We had a beautiful relationship, and it was hard,” she told Harper’s Bazaar.
Music for People Who Believe in Love was released on Friday (May 23) via Republic Records. The set is Jonas’ second studio album as a solo artist, following 2011’s Fastlife, and features the singles “Work It Out,” “What This Could Be” and “Heart By Heart.”
Working on the personal project “was scary at times, and also freeing,” Jonas told Billboard last summer. “I’m not trying to come for anyone on this album. I’m not trying to put stuff on blast. I have a beautiful life that I’m grateful for. I’ve got two beautiful kids. I’m a happy person, and the music needed to resemble that — but also, the journey to get here.”
D’Angelo has dropped out of the 2025 Roots Picnic in Philadelphia, citing medical complications related to a previous surgery.
On Friday (May 23), the iconic R&B artist announced through social media that he will no longer headline the Roots Picnic, scheduled for May 31 and June 1 at Philly’s The Mann in Fairmount Park. The decision was made following medical advice related to an “unforeseen” delay in his surgical recovery.
“It is with the deepest of regrets that [I] must cancel my performance at the Roots Picnic in Philadelphia next weekend,” D’Angelo wrote in a statement shared through the Roots Picnic’s Instagram page. “But, due to an unforeseen medical delay regarding surgery [I] had earlier this year, [I’ve] been advised by my team of specialists that the performance this weekend could further complicate matters.”
The festival added its support in the post’s caption. “Due to a longer-than-expected surgical recovery, @thedangelo won’t be able to join us at Roots Picnic this year. We’re sending love and keeping him in our thoughts as he continues to heal!” organizers wrote.
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The 17th annual Roots Picnic will still go forward with a stacked lineup including headliners Meek Mill and Lenny Kravitz. Other performers include GloRilla, Miguel, Tems, Latto, Kaytranada, and Jeezy.
D’Angelo was originally slated to perform alongside festival curators The Roots. Stepping in as his replacement is fellow neo-soul icon Maxwell, the festival announced Friday on Instagram.
“It is nearly impossible to express how disappointed [I am] not to be able to play with my Brothers ‘The Roots,’” D’Angelo added. “And even more disappointed to not see all of You.”
The singer closed the message by thanking fans for their continued support, hinting at new music on the horizon. [I’m] currently in the Lab & can’t wait to serve Up what’s in the Pot!” he wrote. “LOVE U All and will see you very soon!” he wrote.
D’Angelo last performed at the Roots Picnic in 2016, during the festival’s first-ever New York City edition. The appearance followed the release of his acclaimed third album, Black Messiah, which reached No. 5 on the Billboard 200 in January 2015.
Sacha Jenkins, a pioneering hip-hop journalist, author, filmmaker and cultural historian, has died at the age of 54.
Jenkins passed away on Friday (May 23) at his home due to complications from multiple system atrophy, his wife, journalist and filmmaker Raquel Cepeda, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter.
Throughout his multifaceted career as an author, producer, magazine founder and filmmaker, Jenkins was widely regarded as a key authority on hip-hop culture. Born in Philadelphia and raised in New York City, he moved to Queens in the late 1970s — a formative time when hip-hop, punk, graffiti and skateboarding were all rising cultural forces.
Jenkins was the son of Horace Byrd Jenkins III, an Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker who worked on 60 Minutes and Sesame Street. He began his own career by founding Graphic Scenes & X-plicit Language, an early magazine dedicated to graffiti art. Jenkins later co-founded the hip-hop newspaper Beat Down with childhood friend and fellow music journalist Elliott Wilson.
In 1994, Jenkins and Wilson launched the influential hip-hop and skateboarding publication Ego Trip. The magazine ran for 13 issues and spawned two acclaimed books: 1999’s Ego Trip’s Book of Rap Lists and 2002’s Ego Trip’s Big Book of Racism! Alongside team members Jefferson “Chairman” Mao, Gabriel Alvarez and Brent Rollins, Ego Trip also branched into television, producing several shows for VH1, including 2007’s The (White) Rapper Show.
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Jenkins contributed his writing to publications like Spin, Rolling Stone and served as both music editor and writer-at-large at Vibe. He recently held the position of creative director at Mass Appeal, according to Rolling Stone.
As a filmmaker, Jenkins directed and produced a range of projects. His work includes Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues (2022), Bitchin’: The Sound and Fury of Rick James (2021), Fresh Dressed (2015), All Up in the Biz (2023) and Harley Flanagan: Wired for Chaos (2024). His 2019 docuseries Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men earned him an Emmy nomination.
Jenkins is survived by his wife, Raquel Cepeda, and their two children.
Justin Bieber made a rare onstage appearance with SZA during her concert at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on May 23.
The surprise collaboration took place during the second Los Angeles stop of SZA and Kendrick Lamar’s co-headlining Grand National Tour, which launched in April.
Bieber, who is currently working on new music, stunned the packed crowd as he joined the five-time Grammy nominee for a flirty rendition of “Snooze.” The pop superstar previously featured on the acoustic remix of the track, originally released on SZA’s 2022 sophomore album, SOS.
Wearing an all-black ensemble topped with a Balenciaga jacket, Bieber traded verses with SZA, kissed her hand multiple times, and danced with her throughout the sultry performance.
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The singer’s wife, Hailey Bieber, showed her support by sharing a clip of the moment on her Instagram Story, captioning it, “My 2 favorite artists.”
“Snooze” earned SZA her second No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart in July 2023, and also topped the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay tally.
The unplugged version of the track featuring Bieber dropped in September 2023. The music video also stars Young Mazino, Woody McClain and Benny Blanco.
This isn’t Bieber’s first time performing “Snooze” live. In February 2024, he attempted a solo rendition during a surprise appearance at the NHL All-Star Draft in Toronto, according to Rolling Stone. Friday’s performance at SoFi Stadium marked the first time Bieber and SZA have performed the song live together.
Bieber has made several surprise appearances at concerts in recent years, including a performance of “Private Landing” at Don Toliver’s L.A. show in October 2024, and a cameo during Tems and Wizkid’s Coachella 2024 set to perform the “Essence” remix. He hasn’t played a full solo concert since September 2022.
During the first night of the Grand National Tour’s Los Angeles stop on Wednesday (May 21), SZA brought out surprise guest Lizzo for a live performance of their “Special” remix. SZA and Lamar are set to play one final show at SoFi Stadium on Saturday.
From career milestones to new music releases to major announcements and those little important moments, Billboard editors highlight uplifting moments in Latin music. Here’s what happened in the Latin music world this week.
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Los Tigres del Norte Honored in New York
Los Tigres del Norte Way is officially a street in New York, named after the legendary norteño group. “As of today, a street in Brooklyn bears the name of Los Tigres del Norte. Thank you for walking with us, today and always,” the group posted on Instagram. See the photos from the street naming presentation here.
During their stop in New York — where they are set to perform at Madison Square Garden today (May 24) — Los Tigres also honored the fallen Mexican Navy cadets, América Yamilet Sánchez and Adal Jair Marcos, who died after crashing into the Brooklyn Bridge on May 17. “Honor and eternal memory,” the Mexican band posted with a video from the vigil alongside New York’s Mayor Eric Adams.
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Rauw Alejandro & Dad
During one of his Cosa Nuestra shows in New York, Rauw Alejandro and his father shared a special moment onstage. “I want to introduce you to my dad, Raul Ocasio on the guitar,” he told the crowd. The moment was particularly special given that his father was born in Brooklyn and the Cosa Nuestra tour concept pays homage to the Nuyorican diaspora.
See the sweet moment onstage below:
Billboard Latin Music Week Dates Unveiled
Billboard Latin Music Week will return to Miami from Monday, Oct. 20 to Friday, Oct. 24, with the Billboard Latin Music Awards set for Thursday, Oct. 23.
Set once again at the historic Fillmore Miami Beach, ticket and lineup information for Billboard Latin Music Week 2025 will be announced in the coming weeks. Pre-register now for the latest information at billboardlatinmusicweek.com.
More than 10,000 people attended Latin Music Week last year, including the live shows by Fuerza Regida with Majo Aguilar; a reggaeton night with Omar Courtz, Dei V, and Saiko; and LMW’s 35th anniversary party with Young Miko, Tito Double P, Belinda, Elvis Crespo and more, among other events.
Myke Towers’ New Soccer Initiative
Myke Towers’ Young Kingz Foundation and soccer star David Villa’s DV7 Academy officially kicked off their global partnership earlier this weekend. The event, held in Madrid, marked the start of a series of joint initiatives with projects underway in Puerto Rico, Colombia and Spain that include free sports clinics, exchange programs, urban space revitalization and educational support for vulnerable youth.
“I’m not doing this expecting it to blow up like a song,” Towers told Billboard Español then. “It’s more about leaving a legacy. Creating a habit. Inspiring those who can help to do so, in their own way.”
Get more details on the partnership here.
Roger Nichols, best-known for co-writing such Carpenters hits as “We’ve Only Just Begun,” “Rainy Days and Mondays” and “I Won’t Last a Day Without You” with lyricist Paul Williams, died on May 17. He was 84.
Williams confirmed Nichols’ death in an extended, and deeply affectionate, post on Instagram. Williams didn’t list a cause of death, though he reported the basic circumstances of the death. “Roger Nichols passed away peacefully four days ago, at home with his beautiful family …his wife Terry and the daughters he was so proud of, Claire and Caitlin at his side.” (See full text of Williams Instagram post below.)
Nichols signed as an artist to A&M Records in 1968, a year before Karen and Richard Carpenter were signed to the Los Angeles-based label. His debut album Roger Nichols and the Small Circle of Friends was produced by Tommy LiPuma, engineered by Bruce Botnick, and featured session contributions from Van Dyke Parks, Randy Newman and Lenny Waronker. Although the album failed to crack the Billboard 200, A&M co-founder Herb Alpert thought there was something there and recommended that Nichols be hired by A&M’s publishing company as a staff songwriter. It was during this period that he was introduced to Williams.
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That was a characteristically astute call on Alpert’s part. Williams and Nichols were one of the hottest pop songwriting teams of the early 1970s.
Williams and Nichols took off as songwriters in the fall of 1970, when they had two songs in the top 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time. On the charts dated Oct. 17 and 24, Carpenters’ version of “We’ve Only Just Begun,” a ballad which had originated as “soft-sell” commercial for Crocker-Citizens National Bank, was in the top five (on its way to a No. 2 peak). Three Dog Night’s “Out in the Country” was holding at its No. 15 peak.
The Carpenters smash, an instant standard, was lushly romantic. The Three Dog Night hit was a fresh-sounding mix of pop, rock and folk. Having two simultaneous hits by two different acts in two different styles caught the industry’s attention. “We’ve Only Just Begun” went on to receive two Grammy nominations – for song of the year and best contemporary song — at the first live Grammy telecast in March 1971. (It lost both awards to Paul Simon’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”)
Williams and Nichols continued writing songs for the Carpenters, including “Rainy Days and Mondays,” a superb and remarkably adult ballad which reached No. 2 (it took Carole King’s letter-perfect “It’s Too Late” to keep it out of the top spot), “Let Me Be the One” (another first-rate ballad that the duo never got around to releasing as a single), and “I Won’t Last a Day Without You,” a 1972 album track that was finally released as a single in 1974, when it climbed to No. 11.
Barbra Streisand covered “I Won’t Last a Day Without You” on her ButterFly album later in 1974. On her following album, Lazy Afternoon, she recorded another Williams-Nichols song, “I Never Had It So Good.” Both of those albums went gold.
Art Garfunkel recorded a tender Williams-Nichols song, “Traveling Boy,” for his first solo album, 1973’s Angel Clare, which made the top 10 on the Billboard 200. The song was released as the third single from the album, and bubbled under the Hot 100.
Nichols also had some successes with other collaborators. He teamed with William Lane to write “Times of Your Life,” which Paul Anka recorded in 1975. Like “We’ve Only Just Begun,” this song was also adapted from a popular TV commercial – for Kodak. Anka’s recording reached No 7 on the Hot 100 in February 1976.
Nichols retired soon afterwards, but his songs live on. R.E.M. covered “Out in the Country” as a B-side for their 2003 single “Bad Day.” Rumer covered “Traveling Boy” on her 2012 album Boys Don’t Cry.
Nichols was honored during Florida Chapter Presents The Recording Academy Honors 2006 at Loews Miami Beach Hotel in Miami.
He was nominated for the Songwriters Hall of Fame on Nov. 12, for the class that will be inducted on June 12. He wasn’t elected (the competition is fierce every year), but the ballot listed the five songs that are probably his most famous and enduring: “We’ve Only Just Begun,” “Rainy Days and Mondays,” “I Won’t Last a Day Without You,” “Out in the Country,” “Times of Your Life”
In a comment on Williams’ Instagram post, Nichols’ daughter Claire wrote, “My mom, Terri, and my sisters, Caroline and Caitlin, are all so proud of the man he was, and are in awe of the legacy he leaves.”
Here’s the full text of Williams’ Instagram post announcing Nichols’ death.
“The first song, Roger Nichols and I wrote was called “it’s hard to say goodbye. “… Sadly, we hit the nail on the head. Roger Nichols passed away peacefully four days ago, at home with his beautiful family …his wife Terry and the daughters he was so proud of, Claire and Caitlin at his side. They were his dream come true. His greatest joy“Roger was my writing partner and my music school… a collaboratorfor years and a friend for life. I was an out of work actor looking for a career in music when I was signed by A&M records publishing. They were looking for a lyricist for Roger Nichols. An industrial strength, lucky break that changed my life.“We wrote almost every day for several years. He was as disciplined as he was talented. I had the attention span of a sea otter… I was ready for a break after three hours and Roger would plunge ahead for another four or five. The words were born of the beauty in his completed melodies.I wrote what I heard, note for note…word for word. The lyrics waiting in the emotion already in his music. He made it easy.“After many wonderful productive years, I wanted us to write songs for movies. He had another dream. He said I wanna go fishing … wanna go back to Montana. He smiled and said something about having a family and maybe making a home by a nice little river… it was clear that he was already gone. A few years ago, I visited him and met Terry and the girls at the house by the river …and I knew he found his dream.“One last story. Roger was really excited when his daughter Caitlin was getting married last September. He chuckled and asked, “can you picture me wheeling down the aisle in my wheelchair, holding my daughter’s hand?”“Of course, I said yes then …. and right now Roger, I can picture thousands of proud dads and their beautiful daughters that walked down the aisle to your gorgeous music or danced their father and daughter dance to We’ve only just begun… picture them standing and applauding what you brought to their lives and to mine. You brought love and beauty into this world, and we will never forget you.In gratitude with much love… Paul”
