Music

13 Jan 2023

Austin Butler Remembers the ‘Bright Light’ of Lisa Marie Presley: ‘My Heart Is Completely Shattered’

Elvis star Austin Butler is remembering the “bright light” of Lisa Marie Presley, a day after the singer/songwriter and only child of Elvis Presley died Thursday at age 54.

“My heart is completely shattered for Riley, Finley, Harper and Priscilla at the tragic and unexpected loss of Lisa Marie,” Butler said in a statement, acknowledging Lisa Marie’s three surviving children — 33-year-old actress Riley Keough and 14-year-old twins Finley and Harper Lockwood — as well as mother Priscilla Presley, 77. “I am eternally grateful for the time I was lucky enough to be near her bright light and will forever cherish the quiet moments we shared. Her warmth, her love and her authenticity will always be remembered.”

Butler nabbed the coveted role of Elvis Presley in director Baz Luhrmann’s 2022 biopic of the music icon and had the opportunity to spend time with the Presley family, who gave the film their blessing. The actor had just thanked Lisa Marie and Priscilla onstage at Tuesday’s 2023 Golden Globe Awards as he accepted the best actor in a drama award for Elvis.

“Thank you for opening your hearts, your memories, your home to me,” he said to the mother-daughter duo in the audience. “Lisa Marie, Priscilla, I love you forever.”

Luhrmann also shared his condolences via Instagram on Friday, posting a photo of Lisa Marie with Butler and writing, “Over the last year, the entire Elvis movie family and I have felt the privilege of Lisa Marie’s kind embrace. Her sudden, shocking loss has devastated people all around the world. I know her fans everywhere join me in sharing prayers of love and support with her mother, Priscilla, and her wonderful daughters Riley, Finley and Harper.”

Lisa Marie was reportedly rushed to the hospital early in the day Thursday after going into cardiac arrest. Priscilla Presley shared the news of her daughter’s death on Thursday evening.

13 Jan 2023

Nick Jonas Confirms Next Jonas Brothers Album Is ‘Done’

2023 is the year of the Jonas Brothers.

Nick Jonas joined his former fellow The Voice coach Kelly Clarkson on her daytime talk show on Friday (Jan. 13), where he discussed navigating life as a new father and, of course, upcoming music following the success of the sibling trio’s Las Vegas residency at Dolby Live at Park MGM.

“Later this year, there will be a tour,” he revealed to Clarkson, who asked him if he’s prepared to balance both touring life and fatherhood, as the 30-year-old shares one-year-old Malti with wife Priyanka Chopra.

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“I will probably be hitting you up for advice on how we should structure it. Kevin and Joe have had kids on the road, but I haven’t,” Jonas told Clarkson. Joe Jonas and wife Sophie Turner have two daughters, and so does Kevin Jonas and wife Danielle.

Nick went on to reveal that fans can expect more music from the JoBros in the near future. “The album is done,” he shared. “We are very excited about it. We’re kind of in that planning moment with the campaign, the album, the single — all the things.”

The upcoming release will follow the group’s 2019 comeback album, Happiness Begins.

In response, Clarkson gushed, “The thing I love about your band as well is that I also love y’all separately. I loved the projects you’ve done, the solo stuff. Everything awesome. That doesn’t usually happen […] Y’all as a whole are still solid, it’s amazing.”

Watch the full interview below.

13 Jan 2023

Here’s Why Some Fans Think Kelsea Ballerini Is Dating ‘Outer Banks’ Actor Chase Stokes

Is Kelsea Ballerini jumping in ‘Heartfirst’ with someone new?

The singer-songwriter was spotted hanging out with Outer Banks actor Chase Stokes during the college football national championship game at Inglewood, California’s SoFi Stadium on Monday as the Georgia Bulldogs took on the TCU Horned Frogs.

Ballerini and Stokes were included in a group photo from the game that Raising Canes founder Todd Graves shared on social media. The group also included Taylor Rooks, entrepreneur Jonathan Davis, Noah Beck and more.

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Stokes later shared a carousel of photos, including a pic of himself seated beside a blonde woman as they watched the game together. He tagged Ballerini in the photo. Ballerini commented on the post, saying, “Go Vols,” a nod to her Knoxville, Tennessee, hometown football team, the Tennessee Volunteers.

In August, Ballerini revealed her split from husband and fellow country artist Morgan Evans. Ballerini and Evans met in March 2016 while both were co-hosting the CMC Awards in Australia. They became engaged in December of that year and married Dec. 2, 2017, in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

“I’ve always tried to share my life with you in a real and vulnerable way, while also protecting layers of my personal life as they unfold,” Ballerini told fans via social media. “This is now public record so I wanted you to hear from me directly that I am going through a divorce.” Ballerini called the “deeply difficult decision” a “result of a journey of love, growth and effort that ultimately has come to an end.”

Last year, Ballerini also released the album Subject to Change, spearheaded by the album’s first single, “Heartfirst.” At the Grammy Awards on Feb. 5, the song is nominated in the best country solo performance category.

13 Jan 2023

Lana Del Rey Reveals ‘Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd’ Track List Featuring Bleachers, Father John Misty & More

We’re officially two months away from the arrival of Lana Del Rey‘s ninth studio album, Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, and on Friday (Jan. 13), the singer unveiled the official track listing for the much-anticipated release in a post on her private Instagram page.

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The 16-track set out on March 10 includes the previously released title track, as well as a number of collaborations. Del Rey is teaming up with Father John Misty on “Let the Light In,” Tommy Genesis on “Peppers” and Bleachers on “Margaret,” seemingly a sweet reference to frontman Jack Antonoff‘s fiancée Margaret Qualley. Both Jon Batiste and Judah Smith have their own respective interludes on the forthcoming album.

Antonoff, who previously worked with Del Rey on 2021’s Chemtrails Over the Country Club, is also listed on the cover as a producer, as are Mike Hermosa, Drew Erickson and Zach Dawes, who worked on Blue Bannisters, also released in 2021. The new record is available now for pre-order on the New York native’s website, as are vinyls with several alternate covers.

The Grammy-nominated artist hasn’t released a full album since Blue Bannisters last year, but she did drop an ethereal single titled “Watercolor Eyes” in January for Euphoria‘s soundtrack. She also worked with Father John Misty on the EP Buddy’s Rendezvous this year, and was featured on Taylor Swift’s Midnights track “Snow On the Beach,” which became Del Rey’s second Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit.

13 Jan 2023

Adele, Coldplay & More Future Superstars Who Lost the Brit Award for Best New Artist

Kojey Radical, Mimi Webb, Rina Sawayama, Sam Ryder and Wet Leg got the thrill of a lifetime on Thursday when they received 2023 Brit Awards nominations for best new artist.

Several of the nominees expressed their joy on hearing the news. Wet Leg exclaimed, “Somebody hold our horses while we get to grips with this wild news, being nominated for a BRIT award is too hard to comprehend, we never could have expected for our wee band to achieve this.”

Webb gave a shout-out to a previous winner in the category. “I remember seeing Dua Lipa win Best New Artist in 2018 and being in awe of her – that moment really inspired me to work hard and be the artist I am today.”

Ryder expressed his joy in a most vivid way: “I’m buzzing! I feel like a Golden Retriever that’s won a medal.”

Wet Leg, the female indie rock duo that tied Harry Styles for the most nominations by any artist this year (four), is the clear front-runner here, but the other four acts should not lose heart. Many future superstars have lost this award and gone on to do very well. The gifted singer whose photo accompanies this story is one of them.

It’s not that the Brits don’t know a talented new artist when they see one. The roster of winners in this category includes such heavyweights as Oasis, Arctic Monkeys, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, Dua Lipa and Lewis Capaldi. It’s just that it’s not always easy to envision how an artist will develop and grow based on just their first year – and sometimes, less than a year – of success.

Note: The category has undergone several name changes over the years. When the Brits originated in 1977, they presented separate awards for British female newcomer and British male newcomer. When the show resumed in 1982 following a four-year hiatus, the Brits made the category gender-neutral and called it the Brit Award for British newcomer. In 2003, they changed it to the Brit Award for British breakthrough act. In 2020, they changed it again to the Brit Award for best new artist – mirroring the language the Grammys had used since they introduced the award in 1959.

Here are 10 artists who lost the award for best new artist, but (thankfully) didn’t let that stop them.

13 Jan 2023

Taeyang’s Best Collaborations

As a soloist and part of the superstar boy band BIGBANG, Taeyang has been a pioneer in K-pop’s international expansion. His collection of collaborations has been a critical part of his barrier-breaking longevity, as well as his ongoing artistic development for around two decades in the industry.

Even before Taeyang made his official debut on the K-pop scene with his boy band in 2006, the young star sang and rapped on records with his labelmates under YG Entertainment, which helped him find his voice as an artist. Once BIGBANG secured their place as certified chart-toppers, all the members began experimenting with solo albums. Since his first EP in 2008, Taeyang honored his love of soulful music that spotlighted vocals and showmanship akin to his idol Michael Jackson, even leading to his 2014 album Rise becoming the highest-charting solo album by a K-pop artist at the time on the Billboard 200.

Fast-forward to 2023: Taeyang is unleashing a new collaboration to return to music and reintroduce himself to the world. Teaming up with Jimin of BTS, “Vibe” marks the superstar’s long-awaited return to the music industry after he took time off to marry longtime partner Min Hyorin in 2018, handle his mandatory military in 2019, and welcome his first child in 2021. Last year marked the return of BIGBANG with their poignant and moving comeback single “Still Life” (one of the best K-pop releases of 2022, according to Billboard), and set the groundwork for Taeyang to reach for new musical goals in his career this year.

From working with his bandmates on special songs to tracks that span genres with a range of guests, revisit the best of Taeyang’s collaborations to date.

13 Jan 2023

Jordan Davis’ Radio ‘Spins’ Lead to Fourth Country Airplay Chart No. 1

Jordan Davis banks his fourth leader on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart, as “What My World Spins Around” rises from No. 3 to No. 1 on the list dated Jan. 21. In the tracking week ending Jan. 12, the song increased by 14% to 29.9 million impressions, according to Luminate.

Davis co-wrote “World” with Matt Dragstrem and Ryan Hurd. It’s the second single from Davis’ sophomore album, Bluebird Days, due Feb. 17.

“It feels like yesterday I was praying for that first one to ring the bell,” Davis tells Billboard of his latest Country Airplay coronation. “Huge thanks to my friends at country radio and [the MCA Nashville] promo team for believing in this song. When Ryan, Matt and I wrote this song, there was always that little feeling in the back of my mind that this one might be special. Pumped that it’s connected the way it has.”

On the streaming-, airplay- and sales-based Hot Country Songs survey, “World” hit a No. 8 high in December.

For the 34-year-old Davis, from Shreveport, La., “World” follows “Buy Dirt” (featuring Luke Bryan), which dominated Country Airplay for two weeks beginning on the ranking dated Jan. 29, 2022. (The song marked Bryan’s 26th No. 1.) “Dirt” controlled Hot Country Songs for four weeks beginning the same frame, awarding Davis his first No. 1 (and Bryan his most recent of 12 leaders).

Davis notched his first No. 1 on Country Airplay with his launch release “Singles You Up,” which led for a week and reached No. 4 on Hot Country Songs in April 2018. “Take It From Me” followed, peaking at No. 2 on Country Airplay and No. 4 on Hot Country Songs in March 2019; “Slow Dance in a Parking Lot” became the singer-songwriter’s second Country Airplay leader, for a week in April 2020, and hit No. 6 on Hot Country Songs that month; and “Almost Maybes” rose to No. 5 on Country Airplay and No. 7 on Hot Country Songs in July 2021.

13 Jan 2023

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s Best Music Moments

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson quickly became one of the biggest names in Hollywood due to his multifaceted career as a former professional wrestler and football player, Teremana tequila founder and, of course, an actor. He’s known for his roles in Jumanji, The Game Plan, Get Smart, Black Adam, DC League of Super-Pets, the Fast & Furious franchise and so many more.

However, a lesser known fact about the 50-year-old star is that he’s also proficient in the music world. He has shared his musical talents on talk shows, on social media, in films and on actual studio recordings.

As a result, we at Billboard have compiled our favorite music moments by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. See them below in chronological order.

13 Jan 2023

Nicolas Cage ‘Heartbroken’ Over the Death of Ex-Wife Lisa Marie Presley

Nicolas Cage broke his silence Friday (Jan. 13) about the sudden death of his ex-wife Lisa Marie Presley following a heart attack.

“Lisa had the greatest laugh of anyone I ever met,” the Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent actor said in a statement to E! News. “She lit up every room, and I am heartbroken.”

Going on to call the news of Presley’s death “devastating,” he added, “I find some solace believing she is reunited with her son Benjamin.” In July 2020, Lisa Marie’s 27-year-old son Benjamin Keough died by suicide in Calabasas, Calif.

Cage and Presley were married for three and a half months from August to November 2002, though their divorce wasn’t technically finalized until two years later. The actor was Presley’s third husband after musician Danny Keough, to whom she was wed from 1988 to 1994, and Michael Jackson, whom she married just 20 days after her divorce from Keough. She would later go on to marry one more time — to guitarist Michael Lockwood from 2006 to 2021, though they legally split in 2016.

Throughout her life, Presley released three albums: 2003’s To Whom It May Concern, 2005’s Now What and 2012’s Storm & Grace. Both her freshman and sophomore studio sets landed in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 while her 2003 single “Lights Out” peaked at No. 34 on the Pop Airplay chart.

Other stars who have spoken out to remember Presley include Questlove, LeAnn Rimes, Elvis director Baz Luhrmann, Dolly Parton and more.

13 Jan 2023

Viola Davis Really Wants to Win at 2023 Grammys to Complete EGOT Status: ‘Throw Me a Bone!’

Viola Davis is one award shy of achieving EGOT status, and at this year’s Grammy Awards, she could get it done. On Thursday night’s (Jan. 12) Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the actress made it clear that she’s not ashamed to campaign for herself.

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“I have to tell you — the Grammy thing…I’m a serious actor. I am,” she told the late-night host. “I went to Juilliard [School of the Performing Arts], I feel it’s about the work. [But] it’s like my niece Annabella who had a meltdown at Circus Circus [Las Vegas] when she was 6 years old, snot dripping and crying, and all she was saying was, ‘I wanna win! I wanna win!’ In my brain with the Grammy, I’m like, ‘I wanna win! I wanna win!’”

Davis is nominated at this year’s Grammy Awards in the best audio book, narration & storytelling recording category for her audio book Finding Me. “There’s something in me that says that I deserve it,” she continued. “All of them have already won it!”

She’s right: The other four nominees in the category are all past Grammy winners. Questlove, nominated for Music Is History, is a six-time Grammy winner. Mel Brooks, nominated for All About Me!: My Remarkable Life in Show Business by Mel Brooks, is a three-time Grammy winner – as is Lin-Manuel Miranda, nominated for Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World. Jamie Foxx, who rounds out the category with Act Like You Got Some Sense, has won one Grammy.

Davis tells Kimmel that the Recording Academy “could throw me a bone.” Unfortunately, Davis’ Kimmel appearance came too late to have any impact on the vote: Grammy voting closed Jan. 4.

The actress has previously won a Primetime Emmy for outstanding lead actress in a dramatic series for How to Get Away With Murder (2015), an Oscar for best supporting actress for Fences (2016) and two Tonys – featured actress in a play for King Hedley II (2001) and lead actress in a play for Fences (2010). Should Davis win at the Grammys, she would be the 18th person to achieve EGOT status.

Watch Davis’ interview with Kimmel in the video above.