Music
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Machine Gun Kelly is excited to be a dad again. Two weeks after his on-and-off fianceé Megan Fox announced that she’s pregnant with her first child with the rapper-turned-rocker-turned-country-singer, MGK confirmed the news in an X post about his next music phase. “isolating myself in the desert next week to restart this album from scratch. […]
(In 2018, the Billboard staff released a list project of its choices for the Greatest Pop Star of every year, going back to 1981 — along with a handful of sidebar columns and lists on other important pop star themes from the period. Find one such sidebar below about how Lorde unforgettably took the air out of an increasingly puffed-up 2013 pop landscape, and find our Greatest Pop Star picks for every year up to present day here.)
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Over the early 2010s, as a class of rising and returning stars was minted on radio, iTunes and YouTube, pop’s arms race was accelerating to unsustainable levels of hype. Each major-label release was a self-proclaimed event, each expected to be bigger than the last. Something had to give, and in 2013, the dam broke — over and over again. Lady Gaga’s ARTPOP, Katy Perry’s PRISM, Jay-Z’s Magna Carta… Holy Grail, Britney Spears’ Britney Jean, Justin Timberlake’s The 20/20 Experience – 2 of 2; each promised the world, and each fell short in different, fascinating, and exhausting ways.
Amidst all the hubbub emerged a 16-year-old with humble origins and a grand name: Lorde.
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Popular music had never seen a teenage star quite as self-possessed as the New Zealand native, whose debut single “Royals” was pointed directly at the state of the pop zeitgeist: “Jet planes, islands, tigers on a gold leash/ We don’t care/ We aren’t caught up in your love affair/ And we’ll never be royals…” Her Queen-like vocal harmonies swoop above her dramatic, yet conversational lead vocals, barely accompanied by producer Joel Little’s kick drums and finger-snaps. This was a pop song with no obvious predecessor, whose negative space forced the listener to lean in and take notice.
“Let me live that fantasy,” Lorde sang with a knowing irony — that even as a buzzy artist signed to Universal, she’d likely never reach those heights. Incredibly, she did: From its initial release in November 2012, “Royals” slowly made its way up charts and playlists across the globe. By late 2013, it had not only topped the Billboard Hot 100 for nine weeks, but also reached top five on alternative and hip-hop/R&B radio — becoming a truly post-genre hit.
If Lana Del Rey was the first figurehead in pop’s trajectory towards moodier, more hip-hop-inflected territory over the 2010s — scoring her own first two top 40 hits in 2013, after her splashy 2011 debut and subsequent backlash the next year — Lorde took it to another level. Her debut album Pure Heroine more than delivered, bringing her tales of teenage ennui to a mass audience, while only hinting at the potential she’d unlock with 2017’s sweeping Melodrama. Though Lorde wouldn’t maintain her brief position as a singles-driven hitmaker, she’d become even more beloved as a cult pop artist.
“Post-genre,” “alt-pop” — these were labels that had never been applied to mainstream pop even as late as 2010, that have now become the norm for an entire class of streaming-era artists who aspire to cultural cachet over traditional pop stardom. “Royals” was one of the decade’s most minimalist hits, but it dared to dream big — leaving a long-term impact even Lorde herself could never have imagined.
(Read on to our Greatest Pop Star of 2014 here, or head back to the full list here.)
Some people resolve to lose that last few pounds, quit drinking for a month, say hello to a stranger every day or finally book a dream vacation to Hawaii. But Cardi B‘s New Year’s resolutions have a bit more bite to them. The “Bongos” rapper hopped on Instagram Live on Sunday (Nov. 24) to let everyone with a bone to pick know that 2025 is the year she’s done with your mess.
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In a fan capture of the post, Cardi explained that she and her friends have been making new year goals, new year plans and new year affirmations, and you better believe she is not playing with any of them. “I’m telling you right motherf–king now, every n–ga or a b–ch that motherf–kin’ play with me in 2024? I’m letting you know right now… y’all better apologize to me today!,” Cardi said in the clip in which she appears to be in her pajamas.
“Because you wanna know what? You wanna know why? Because next year… as soon as… you know everybody always say this every New Year’s, but this time I’m standing on it,” she added. “Next year, as soon as 12 a.m. hit I’m hitting the reset button. You hear me? I’m hitting the motherf–king reset button.”
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Cardi then got specific about the level of reset she’s planning. “I’m hitting the f–king reset button. I’m whipping everybody’s ass with a we belt,” she warned. “I’m sick of f–king everybody. I’m telling you, next year I’m not taking f–king nothing.” While Cardi did not specify who her ire was aimed towards, she said a “whole bunch” of stuff happened to her this year that threw her 2024 into chaos.
After having all her music plans in order, including working on music videos and getting unspecified surgery at the beginning of 2024, Cardi said, “God was like, ‘not so fast. I’m sending you a f–king baby!’” To be clear, Cardi gushed over the baby daughter who was born in early September, just weeks after the rapper filed for divorce from Migos MC Offset — with whom she has two other children. Cardi called her “so f–kin beautiful… and she’s my bestie. If I could I would take her to the club with me because she’s my bestie. I wanna be with her all day.”
Cardi spent much of 2024 teasing her long-awaited sophomore album, including in another recent Instagram livestream in which she told fans she’s “wilding out lately” but wants to “get [her] f–-king life together… I have so much things coming next year,” she said. “I know next year is gonna be my f–-king year.” Among the items on her 2025 to-do list are: releasing her as-yet-untitled follow-up to 2018’s Billboard 200-topping debut album Invasion of Privacy, as well as, hopefully, getting “a little boyfriend.”
In October, Cardi told fans that her second full-length studio album was “coming really, really soon,” confirming that she was in the studio working on it.
If Morgan Wallen watched the 2024 CMA Awards on TV last week, for most of the show, he probably felt he’d made the right decision to stay away from the proceedings at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. He lost six awards in a row, including male vocalist, single and song of the year. The night was shaping up to be a replay of the 2022 CMA Awards, where he went 0-2 or the 2023 show, where he went 0-3. Voters, it seemed, were reluctant to honor an artist who had been caught on video using a racial slur.
Then Jeff Bridges came onstage to present the evening’s final award. This time, Wallen won. Bridges mispronounced Wallen’s last name, but that clumsy move didn’t change the fact that Wallen had just won the biggest award in country music – and he wasn’t there to accept it.
Suddenly, Wallen’s decision to stay away looked very different. He had just been received an award that has gone to many of the greatest country stars of the past six decades – and he wasn’t there to accept it. If he had shown up, he could have thanked his fans and the country music community for their loyalty and for giving him a second chance. Instead, all we remember from that moment is an actor’s botched pronunciation of his last name.
Several previous CMA entertainer of the year winners were also no-shows. Eddy Arnold wasn’t present when he became the inaugural winner at the 1967 show, nor was John Denver in 1975 or Garth Brooks in 1997 or 1998. (A CMA official notes: “Good reminder that CMA does not know winners in advance.”)
This happens at all awards shows, where a top winner isn’t there in person to accept. It happened fairly often in the early years of the Grammy telecast, which launched in 1971. At the 1973 telecast, the only “Big Four” recipient who was on hand to accept was Ringo Starr, a featured artist on album of the year winner The Concert for Bangla Desh. No-shows happen much less often than they used to, especially at top-level shows like the Oscars and the Grammys. The coinage of the term EGOT in 1984 makes winning at these shows even more consequential than it used to be.
Three years ago, most thought the late Chadwick Boseman would win best actor at the Oscars for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. The producers of the Oscar telecast even positioned that award last in the show – after best picture – thinking they would end the show with a powerhouse emotional moment. But the award instead went to previous winner Anthony Hopkins for The Father, who wasn’t even there to accept. Hopkins was the first best actor winner not to be there to accept since Paul Newman in 1987.
It’s a similar story in the best actress category at the Oscars. The last best actress winner who wasn’t on hand to win in person was Katharine Hepburn in 1982.
Here are 20 times a big winner at an awards show was a no-show. This being Billboard, naturally we focus on music.
John Barry, 1967 Oscars
BTS‘ Jin has cooked up a Thanksgiving treat for ARMY. The singer dropped a new version of his solo track “Falling” on Tuesday (Nov. 26), spicing the finger-snapping, whistle pop tune with some additional vocals from collaborator and ONE OK ROCK lead singer Taka. The B-side from Jin’s recently released debut solo album, Happy, finds […]
One hundred shows over two years, waterfalls, pools, pyro, designer gowns, a career-spanning setlist and a one-of-a-kind vanishing act. Adele‘s epic Weekends With Adele residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas wound down on Saturday, but the singer is still reminiscing about the epic time she had in Sin City.
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“Well what an adventure! Las Vegas you’ve been so good to me. This residency went on to mirror what 30 was about – lost and broken to healed and thriving! Seems so fitting in the end,” the singer wrote on Instagram on Monday (Nov. 25). The post was accompanied by a video chronicling the great adventure, featuring footage from the glamorous shows, including the tear-filled superstar summit last month when Adele met Celine Dion and the two shared a tear-stained moment.
Cued to 30‘s “Cry Your Heart Out,” the brief clip is a primer for anyone who didn’t make it to the glamorous twice-a-weekend gigs that Adele said she cherished, but is also ready to put in her rear view. “The only thing left to do in this case is move on,” she wrote. “These 100 shows have been so easy to love. They were all completely different because I got to really be with every single person in the room every night.”
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She concluded, “I’ve loved every single second of it and I am so proud of it! I will miss it terribly, and I will miss YOU all terribly too. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! See you next time 🪐”
After kicking off the residency in November 2022, Adele — who typically goes off-the-grid for an extended period between albums/tours — informed the audience at her final show over the weekend that the future is wide open for now. “I don’t know when I’m next going to perform again,” she said. “I will miss it terribly, and I will miss you terribly.” She also added, “I’m not doing anything else. I’m actually s–ting myself about what I am going to do. I don’t have any f–king plans.”
Previously, Adele said she needs to take a break when her residency ended, with plans to temporarily step away from music. Adele added that she wants to take “a big break after this, and I think I want to do other creative things, just for a little while.”
Check out Adele’s tribute to her Vegas residency below.
This past weekend, both Zach Bryan and Wiz Khalifa found themselves confronting disruptive fans at their respective shows mid-performance, once again calling attention to the troubling trend in live music: objects being thrown at artists on stage.
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Country superstar Bryan had to stop his Tacoma Dome show in Washington after an item was tossed on stage, striking one of his on-stage guests.
In a video posted to Country Central, Bryan held up the item before he turned to the crowd and asked, “Who threw this? Who was it? Does anyone know?” When no one confessed, he issued a stern warning, saying, “Don’t throw s— at concerts, huh? And if you guys do know who threw it, you need to get ‘em outta here, if we ever find out who did it.”
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Across the pond at Club 808 in Pattaya, Thailand, Wiz Khalifa experienced a similar disruption during an afterparty for Rolling Loud Thailand, after he paused his set when a fan threw stacks of money on stage.
The rapper, who was performing his Billboard No. 1 hit “Black and Yellow,” stopped to address the behavior in a video circulating social media: “Stop throwing money on the stage. I’m not a stripper, dog. Quit throwing money on the stage.” Though the fan quickly apologized, Khalifa doubled down, saying, “I’ve already told you once. I’m not a dancer. If you don’t know, I’m Wiz Khalifa.”
Both Khalifa and Bryan resumed their performances after addressing the disturbances, but it again highlights a troubling trend that has seen artists increasingly dealing with disruptive fan behavior. Drake recently had a fan throw a vape onto his stage, Pink was shocked when someone threw their mother’s ashes at her, and Bebe Rexha suffered an injury after a fan threw a phone at her face during a performance.
Despite the disruption, country crooner Zach Bryan continues to have a major year. He is among the leading finalists for the 2024 Billboard Music Awards, alongside Taylor Swift, Morgan Wallen, and Sabrina Carpenter. The awards show, hosted by Michelle Buteau and presented by Marriott Bonvoy, will air on Thursday, Dec. 12, at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on Fox and Fire TV Channels.
It will also be available on-demand on Paramount+, with performances rolling out on Billboard.com and Billboard’s social media platforms.
Khalid has addressed allegations made by his ex, Hugo Almonte, and the emotional fallout that led to his unplanned coming out via social media.
In a video shared on social media on Monday (Nov. 25), the R&B singer expressed his frustration and pain over the claims and the public’s reaction, saying, “I feel like it’s important to speak my side of the situation.”
“All of this is definitely frustrating,” Khalid said. “I’m not gonna run around like I’m unbothered. I never said I was unbothered by anything. This is very bothering. … I had to say something.”
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As reported by Rolling Stone, the outing that Khalid referred to came from a series of since-deleted tweets from X user and recording artist Hugo Almonte. After writing that a “gay R&B singer” had once “tried to set me up and lie that I broke into his house,” as well as claiming he served him “pink cocaine”, Almonte shared a since-deleted photo of himself and Khalid.
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Khalid has now firmly denied the accusations. “I’ve never done cocaine a day in my life,” he said in the video, “For real.” adding that he never “never paid anyone for sex” or to be “be in a relationship”.
“I’m trying to watch my tone now… The last time I talked to this guy was four years ago. This is all random, I don’t know why he did it, and I don’t know what’s going on with him. Mental health is real, but I haven’t even had a conversation or seen this dude in four years.”
He went on to say accused anybody publicly of breaking into his house, and the only people who knew about a breaking were his close circle.
“Nobody knew because I don’t want everybody in my business,” Khalid added.
“Seeing the few comments of people painting me as if I’m just some manipulative abuser, it’s just crazy to me… Regarding the stories of the abuse, it’s triggering because it’s the other way around, and that’s what hurts.”
He added, “That’s what hurts the most.”
The situation escalated when Almonte’s posts, which included photos of himself with Khalid, effectively outed the artist. In response, Khalid confirmed his sexuality on X last week, writing, “🏳️🌈!!! there yall go. next topic please lol… I got outed and the world still continues to turn.” He added, “I am not ashamed of my sexuality! In reality, it ain’t nobody’s business! But I am okay with me.”
In a statement given to Rolling Stone last week, Almonte claimed that he had wanted to “share how he tried to use his power to silence me because I simply ended our relationship,” and said he received death threats from many accusing him of “chasing clout” with his claims. “I was holding onto this for five years, and I finally had enough.”
Khalid’s debut single, “Location” from 2016 spent 5 weeks at No. 1 on the Hot R&B Songs chart and reached number 16 on the Hot 100. His debut album American Teen dominated the Top R&B Albums chart for 16 weeks, and his second album Free Spirit debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 in 2019.
Glastonbury Festival has announced the first artist for 2025’s edition: Sir Rod Stewart. The legendary musician will take on the annual Legends slot, which often draws some of the biggest crowds of the entire weekend. The “Maggie Mae” singer will perform on the Sunday of the festival, which will run its main music program from […]
After more than 20 years, Courtney Love is readying her long-awaited second solo album, and ber own admission, it’s shaping up to be an eclectic release.
Having released America’s Sweetheart in February 2004 following the breakup of Hole two years prior, Love’s debut record didn’t set the world ablaze, only hitting No. 53 on the Billboard 200 upon its arrival. However, in the ensuing decades, she’s experienced something of a career renaissance, having released a new album with Hole in 2010, and promising the release of her forthcoming memoir, Girl with the Most Cake, after a decade of writing.
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Another project which appears to be on the way is her second solo album, which had been teased for a late 2023 release, but never eventuated. It’s a far more promising update than 2013’s news that a record tentatively titled Died Blonde would arrive early the following year.
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In a new interview with The Standard, however, Love has opened up about her new record and talking about the artists who will be guesting along the way – just don’t call anything made with another artist a ‘collab’.
“I don’t do ‘collabs’ – man, I hate that word! However, I have co-written songs with some people on this album,” she explained. “[R.E.M.’s Michael] Stipe mentioned our collaboration to The New York Times, so I can say it’s gorgeous.
“I fell down weeping hearing his voice – it’s better than ever! I thought I knew the outcome, but I’m still the grasshopper while Michael is the sensei. There are others I can’t mention; I didn’t intend for any collaborations.”
Love also confirmed that Echo & the Bunnymen’s Will Sergeant has contributed to her new record, calling his involvement a “miracle”.
“Will Sergeant, my favourite guitarist on earth, from my favourite band agreed to work with me!” she enthused. “My goodness, when he returned from LA for our first song together, I nearly fainted—he’s such an icon! If you lined up Jimmy Page, Jonny Greenwood, and Will Sergeant, I’d pick Sergeant every time; it’s insane! He’s on this album and elevating songs beyond description.”
Elsehwere, Love also namechecked a number of contemporary artists she is fond of, citing a desire to work with Kendrick Lamar (“I have a mad crush on him,” she admits), and a love of Stormzy and Doja Cat.
“I’d love to co-write a song with Lana Del Rey – I’d like to be ‘Paul’ and go hard on choruses while going back to Norman and go hard on choruses, or whatever,” Love explained. “She’s currently on her honeymoon; I’m very happy for her.
“But every time some kid asks me to ‘collab’ with Lana – I mean come on!” she added. “Can you stop saying ‘collab’ to someone who straddles Gen X and boomer? We don’t do that! Call it ‘writing a song together,’ not ‘featuring.’ It makes me lose my temper and makes it the last thing I want to do. I love Lorde too.”
However, one artist who has apparently fallen out of favor with Love is English musician PJ Harvey. In an earlier interview with The Standard in April, Love namechecked Harvey as a female artist she’s fond of, alongside Nina Simone, Patti Smith, Julie London, and early Joni Mitchell.
While noting in the same interview she’d begun growing tired of Lana Del Rey, Love cited Harvey’s “first four albums” as her favorite period of the musician’s discography. Now, Love has apparently turned against Harvey.
“I did ask PJ Harvey to come back – I wanted just one of her great iconic Stones guitar riffs,” she told The Standard. “We have a relationship; I’ve endorsed her over the decades, but she chose not to respond to me. So I wrote her about how f***ing rude that was.
“Her manager tried to smooth things over, but it’s not okay – she hasn’t played rock music in 100 years!” she added. “Her first five albums are great; after that, she ventured into art space (though I do love ‘The Last Living Rose,’ which feels like a John Donne poem with… WTF? A tuba?).”
Love’s forthcoming album is yet to receive an official release date.