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Ariana Grande has a lot of gratitude for Thank U, Next. While reflecting on her career in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter‘s Awards Chatter podcast, the singer-actress opened up about the therapeutic powers her smash 2019 album had during a “dark” period in her life.
Of writing and recording Thank U, Next over the span of two weeks just a few months after her previous album, Sweeter, dropped in August 2018, Grande said on the episode posted Monday (Feb. 3), “I think I needed it.”
“I was doing so much therapy, and I was dealing with PTSD and all different kinds of grief and depression and anxiety,” she continued. “I was, of course, treating it very seriously, but having music be a part of that remedy was absolutely contributing to saving my life. They were dark times, and the music brought so much levity.”
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It’s not the first time the “Yes, And?” singer has opened up about pouring herself into the Thank U, Next creative process. Around the time she was making the album, she publicly dealt with the grief of losing ex-boyfriend Mac Miller, who died in September 2018, as well as the heartbreak of her split from ex-fiancé Pete Davidson the following October. Months prior, Grande’s Manchester concert was targeted by a deadly terrorist attack, after which she struggled with PTSD.
“[Thank U, Next] poured out with urgency, and it was made with urgency,” she added on Awards Chatter. “It was a means of survival. The label understood that, but they were also very hesitant to stop Sweetener dead in its tracks and move onto an album so quickly … I just said, ‘I don’t really care about the formula. I don’t want to play by the rules at this moment, because this is what I need for my soul.’ It felt really healing and freeing.”
The album ended up spending two weeks atop the Billboard 200, with its title track leading the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 1 for a total of seven weeks. Grande performed songs from both LPs on her subsequent Sweetener World Tour in 2019 — during which time she started hearing “murmurs” that her favorite Broadway musical, Wicked, was in talks to get the live-action treatment in Hollywood, she told Awards Chatter.
Flash forward more than half a decade, and Grande is now Oscar-nominated for her portrayal of Glinda in Jon M. Chu’s adaptation of the show. After the academy unveiled its nominees in late January, the “We Can’t Be Friends” artist wrote on Instagram, “i’m humbled and deeply honored to be in such brilliant company and sharing this with tiny ari who sat and studied Judy Garland singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow just before the big, beautiful bubble entered.”
“i don’t quite have all my words yet, i’m still trying to breathe,” she added of her best supporting actress nod at the time. “but thank you. oh my goodness, thank you.”
Shakira, Don Omar and Peso Pluma are set to headline 2025 Sueños Music Festival in Chicago, taking place May 24-25. The full lineup was announced on Tuesday (Feb. 4) with Grupo Frontera, Maria Becerra, Wisin, El Alfa, Tito Double P, Bellakath and Oscar Maydon, among others, also set to perform in Grant Park. Colombian superstar […]
It’s an event anytime DJ Khaled is in album mode. The We the Best mogul brought out all of the stops to reveal the title of his upcoming 14th studio album, Aalam of God, which translates to “the word of God” in Arabic.
DJ Khaled released a blockbuster seven-minute album trailer — directed by Eif Rivera — on Tuesday (Feb. 4), which finds the Miami native in the middle of an intense heist scene. In it, Khaled is doing everything he can to protect the files for his upcoming album — which features a pair of Drake songs — as assailants attempt to extract the project from his briefcase throughout the cinematic clip.
The 49-year-old does his own stunts as he makes a great escape from Mark Wahlberg’s team of robbers. “Did you get it?” Wahlberg asks. “This guy’s two Drake songs on there. What if he’s got another 100-bar from Jay-Z and that thing gets out on the f–king street?”
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Khaled hops into the car with Anthony Ramos, who he believes is his friend, but Ramos ends up double-crossing the musician after lunch at a Jamaican spot while holding him at gunpoint and demanding he cough up the album.
“Look how far we came and you f–king worried about what they saying? You know our saying, ‘Win with us or watch us win,’” Khaled says to Ramos, who’s playing Tone. “One more thing, Tone, you a piece of s–t!”
An unreleased snippet soundtracks the final scene with a track seemingly titled “God Is on Our Side.” “Make sure you listen in order too — from the intro to the outro,” Khaled says as he walks off scot-free. He heads to the private jet and hints at a collaboration with Rihanna on the way. “Send Rihanna the record,” he adds. “Aalam of God.”
In announcing the project on social media, Khaled also told fans in his Instagram caption, “”DRAKES BACK TO WORK… SO AM I! THIS THE ONE WITH✌🏽DRAKES.” He also tagged producer Ayo Juan while teasing a potential Ri collab, saying, “matter of fact..send that record over to @badgalriri .. u know…I JUST WANNA BREATHE – THE AIR THAT RIHANNA BREATHES – yo RIH everyTING locked.”
Aalam of God is set to arrive later in 2025, and will serve as Khaled’s 14th studio album. “This is not my last album, it’s my Black album,” Khaled said in a press release while channeling his inner Jay-Z.
Watch the cinematic trailer below.
Sabrina Carpenter is extending her Short n’ Sweet era, and she’s bringing one of her biggest heroes along for the ride. On Tuesday (Feb. 4) — two days after winning her first-ever Grammys — the pop star announced that she’s dropping a deluxe edition of her breakthrough album featuring none other than Dolly Parton on […]
The proceeds from the all-star FireAid benefit shows last month are expected to bring in more than $100 million according to organizers. In a statement released on Tuesday (Feb. 4), the team behind last week’s dual shows at L.A.’s Intuit Dome and Kia Forum said that proceeds raised by the shows will help to support the L.A. region’s immediate needs and long-term recovery from a series of wind-whipped wildfires that killed 29 people and destroyed more than 16,000 homes and other structures.
The release noted that the shows drew more than 50 million viewers across 28 streaming platforms for moving performances from more than 30 artists, including Green Day with Billie Eilish, Jelly Roll, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Olivia Rodrigo, Peso Pluma, Stevie Wonder, Lil Baby, Tate McRae, Sting, Alanis Morissette, Anderson .Paak with Dr. Dre and Sheila E, Dawes, John Mayer, a Nirvana reunion, Joni Mitchell, a reunited No Doubt, P!nk and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, among many others.
“The estimated amount raised includes ticket sales for both venues, sponsorships, merchandise sales, and donations from the public including generous private gifts from the Azoff family, the Eagles, Andrew Hauptman and Ellen Bronfman Hauptman, and U2,” read the release, which noted that operating costs for the six-hour benefits were offset by the NBA’s L.A. Clippers, with billionaire Steve Ballmer and wife Connie matching every pledge made during the broadcast and VOD viewing and Live Nation serving as the production partner.
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The money will go to support the L.A. region’s immediate needs, long-term recovery and forward-spinning initiatives to help prevent such large-scale fires in the future following what experts say could be the most destructive blazes in the city’s history. With fundraising still open, organizers said that they expect to begin rolling out the first grants by mid-month.
FireAid announced that it had raised more than $60 million from tickets sales and sponsorships before the show began, with all proceeds to be distributed through the L.A.-based Annenberg Foundation. The shows that came together in record time were a collaboration between Shelli, Irving, and the Azoff family, Live Nation and the LA Clippers, with Joel Gallen of Tenth Planet serving as executive producer and Rick Krim as talent producer.
Arizona’s Pure Imagination festival is returning for its fourth year, May 17, at Watson Lake in Prescott. This year’s festival is led by Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees Cheap Trick, Grammy-nominated artist Matisyahu, and Grammy winning hip-hop group Arrested Development.
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Also performing is 80s ska, pop, soul, reggae and punk outfit English Beat, as well as Gone Gone Beyond, Kelsey Waldon, Ponderosa Grove, Bird and Byron, Kids In America, Pijama Piyama and Dutch Holly.
Since its debut in 2022, the female-founded and curated Pure Imagination has become a standout experience, seamlessly merging music, nature, and culture with an eco-conscious ethos. Nestled in the Granite Dells—the traditional lands of The Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, The Yavapai-Apache Nation, and The Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe—the festival fosters a minimal-impact experience where attendees can immerse themselves in live music, interactive art and nature-driven adventures, according to a press release announcing the festival. “Festival-goers can explore scenic hiking trails, on-site kayaking, and the vibrant Prescott Night Market, featuring artisan vendors, immersive art activations, and mesmerizing performances by aerial artists, fire dancers, and more,” they said.
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The driving force behind Pure Imagination is Candace Devine, front woman of Ponderosa Grove and CEO of Further West, the festival’s production company. Devine created the festival to help attract outside visitor to Prescott and it’s surrounding 1.3 million acres of the Prescott National Forest, known for its premier mountain biking, hiking, and rock climbing.
“Pure Imagination is about more than just music,” Devine says. “It’s about creating an unforgettable experience where people can connect, be inspired, and celebrate the power of art in one of the most beautiful places in the world.”
Tickets are on sale now at www.pureimaginationfestival.com.
The 2025 Met Gala now has a dress code. About four months after first revealing that this year’s theme will be “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” co-chairs A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams, Colman Domingo and Lewis Hamilton announced Tuesday (Feb. 4) that the accompanying guideline for how guests should arrive on the first Monday in May will […]
The Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game has long been a staple of All-Star Weekend, and the NBA revealed the rosters and coaches on Tuesday (Feb. 4) for the 2025 game coming to The Bay set for next Friday (Feb. 14). 2 Chainz and San Francisco 49ers legend Jerry Rice will run the sidelines as coaches […]
Chance the Rapper is tipping off NBA All-Star Weekend. The Chicago native is slated to headline the NBA on TNT American Express Road Show Fan Experience with a performance on Feb. 13 in San Francisco. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news It’s all going down at Pier […]
Drake launched the Anita Max Wynn Tour in Australia on Tuesday (Feb. 4), kicking off in Perth, and he left the audience with some choice words to close out the first show. The 6 God is always one to end a set with some inspiration for fans, and he’s typically very intentional with what he […]