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Emmylou Harris, R&B star Eddie Floyd and Jody Stephens, drummer of iconic power-pop band Big Star, are set to perform at the 2025 Grammy Hall of Fame Gala, which will take place Friday, May 16, at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California – the site of the first Grammy Awards ceremony in 1959.
All three have recordings being inducted this year. Harris will be joined by producer Daniel Lanois and jazz drummer Brian Blade for a performance of a song from her 1995 album Wrecking Ball, which Lanois produced. Floyd is being honored for his 1966 classic “Knock on Wood”; Big Star for its 1972 album #1 Record.
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Percussionist Cindy Blackman, who is married to Carlos Santana, is also set to perform. The band Santana’s 1999 album Supernatural is being honored.
Also on the bill: R&B powerhouse Ledisi; actor and singer Leslie Odom Jr.; and guitar virtuoso Orianthi; as well as previously announced performer, composer and bandleader Jon Batiste. Each performance will celebrate one of this year’s Grammy Hall of Fame inductees. More performers will be announced soon.
The event will additionally honor this year’s label honoree, Republic Records. Atlantic Records was the initial label honoree at last year’s gala, which marked the first time there was a stand-alone event to honor the inducted recordings. Last year’s gala was held at the Novo Theatre at L.A. Live.
As previously announced, the event will also include the presentation of the inaugural Ray Charles Architect of Sound Award, created in partnership with The Ray Charles Foundation. This new annual honor recognizes an artist whose creative legacy reflects the visionary innovation of Ray Charles. The first recipient is seven-time Grammy Award winner Batiste, who will also perform during the gala.
Returning as host is CBS News journalist Anthony Mason. The show will again be produced by Ken Ehrlich, alongside Ron Basile, Lindsay Saunders Carl and Lynne Sheridan. Ehrlich produced or executive produced the annual Grammy Awards telecast for 40 years. Cheche Alara, a Grammy and Latin Grammy Award-winning composer, producer and conductor, will serve as musical director for the event.
The gala will celebrate the 2025 Grammy Hall of Fame inducted recordings. In addition to the four already named, they are: J.D. Crowe & The New South’s J.D. Crowe & The New South; Jay-Z’s Reasonable Doubt; Fela Kuti & Afrika 70’s Zombie; Linda Martell’s “Color Him Father”; Miami Sound Machine’s “Conga”; Cat Stevens’s Tea for the Tillerman; Luther Vandross’s Never Too Much; Clara Ward’s “How I Got Over”; and Geeshie Wiley’s “Last Kind Words Blues.”
This year’s additions to the Grammy Hall of Fame meet the main requirements – they exhibit “qualitative or historical significance” and are at least 25 years old. Eligible artist(s), producer(s), engineer(s), and mixer(s) of these 13 recordings will receive a certificate from the Recording Academy.
The Grammy Hall of Fame was established by the Recording Academy’s national trustees in 1973. Inducted recordings are selected annually by a member committee drawn from all branches of the recording arts with final ratification by the academy’s national board of trustees. Counting these 13 new titles, the Grammy Hall of Fame totals 1,165 inducted recordings. The full list of past inducted recordings can be found here.
The Grammy Hall of Fame Gala serves as a fundraiser to support the Grammy Museum’s national education programs. It includes a cocktail reception, dinner, and concert program. Tickets are on sale now. Individual tickets are $1,250. For more information, visit this site.
Turning 40 led Natalia Lafourcade to discover CANCIONERA, the vein of the message that fuels her new musical project, the character that brings her alter ego to life, and the concept of a tour that will take her around the world for more than a year to perform her artistic creation live. A year later, with the release of her new album on Thursday (April 24), the acclaimed Mexican singer-songwriter says that this work reaffirmed her role in life and the path she wanted to follow.
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“I feel that CANCIONERA came to remind me of that message as a songstress, but it also made me feel very inspired by songs from around the world, at a moment in my life when I said to yourself, ‘I’m 40 now, what’s next?’” Lafourcade tells Billboard Español in an interview in Mexico City.
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The LP follows De Todas Las Flores, her celebrated 2022 album that earned her a Grammy Award and three Latin Grammys and marked a creative partnership with her friend and colleague, Franco-Mexican producer, musician, actor, and director Adán Jodorowsky. Again, they collaborate on CANCIONERA, which was entirely recorded on analog tape in Mexico.
The album also features contributions from El David Aguilar, Hermanos Gutiérrez, Israel Fernández, Diego del Morao and Gordon Hamilton, who enrich the set with nuances and textures ranging from bolero to son jarocho, with hints of tropical and ranchera music. Additionally, the work of Soundwalk Collective adds a sound design that complements the album’s depth, integrating natural sounds as part of the musical landscape.
The repertoire of CANCIONERA, Lafourcade’s 12th album, includes original compositions and a couple of reinterpretations of traditional Mexican music, such as the son jarocho songs “El Coconito” and “La Bruja,” which establish a dialogue with the essence of the project. Released by Sony Music, the album consists of 14 tracks, including an acoustic version of “Cancionera,” where she explores sounds like bolero, son jarocho, tropical music, and ranchera, very much in the style of the iconic Chavela Vargas. Other titles on this production are “Amor Clandestino,” “Mascaritas de Cristal,” “El Palomo y La Negra,” “Luna Creciente,” “Lágrimas Cancioneras” and “Cariñito de Acapulco.”
The four-time Grammy and 18-time Latin Grammy winner — recently highlighted among Billboard’s Best 50 Female Latin Pop Artists of All Time — admits that her alter ego in this new project pushed her to do things she, as Natalia Lafourcade, wouldn’t have done. “This songstress soul cornered me into maximum creativity through dance, exploration of movement, exploration of painting, many things I love and had perhaps kept locked away in a drawer,” she says. “It shows that this is a new facet, a stage that taught me about the capacity I have to transform, and not just me, but everyone.”
And unintentionally, she confesses, Mexico — through its traditional rhythms, lyrics, and songbooks — once again permeated her work, just as it did in her previous albums Un Canto por México (2020), Un Canto por México II (2021), and De Todas las Flores (2022).
“I think the album has a lot of Veracruz in it, a lot of our way of speaking, our wit. And again, without seeking it, without forcing it, all the influences of those involved and that sense of Mexican identity came through,” Lafourcade explains. “Just as Emiliano Dorantes brought the influence of Agustín Lara, ranchera Mexico came through, tropical Mexico with Toña La Negra, the Mexico embodied by Chavela Vargas. All those glimpses manifested in the process. I loved that because it shows that we’re all here and we exude that Mexican spirit.”
Additionally, she points out, the new songs conveyed fantasy and a surreal touch, “what happens as if in a dream.” Without hesitation, she knew her new album needed to feature Jodorowsky as co-producer, whose critical and sensitive ear would help her direct her creations.
“Creating with Adán is one of the most beautiful things. Besides Adán, there was David Aguilar, Emiliano Dorantes, Alfredo Pino, my lifelong musicians, people I love and admire, all gathered in a studio, playing, making music — some of the happiest moments of my life creating,” she says. “And Adán, I really appreciate his philosophy of life, his way of working, his friendship, the way he loves me. I’ve found in him a producer who understands both my roles: as a producer and as an artist.”
The singer of “Hasta la Raíz” notes that with Jodorowsky — son of the renowned Chilean-born filmmaker, theater director, psychomagician, writer, and producer Alejandro Jodorowsky — she knows she can fulfill her role as a producer and songwriter without losing focus. “When you go into the recording studio, you’re so vulnerable; everything happens — there’s joy, and there’s also confrontation. There are days when you’re having a terrible time, when you’re very fragile and need a sensitive person. That’s Adán.”
Lafourcade shared that before CANCIONERA became a conceptual album, it was initially envisioned as a tour with just her voice and guitar on stage. “That was the first spark that led us to create an entire album.” Thus, a series of intimate concerts in Mexico, produced by Ocesa to promote the album, began on Wednesday (April 23) in Xalapa, Veracruz, and will arrive at the Teatro Metropólitan in Mexico City on May 2, before returning in September to the Auditorio Nacional. With stops in several cities across the country, the United States and Latin America, the CANCIONERA Tour is shaping up to be one of Lafourcade’s most ambitious ones.
With Mexico as one of her greatest inspirations, and after having elevated the country’s name with her music, Lafourcade applauded the government initiative México Canta, announced on April 7 by president Claudia Sheinbaum to promote songs free of violence glorification. “I agree that it’s time to analyze a little and open our eyes, to be aware that music has a lot of power,” Lafourcade says. “Sung words have an even greater power; they truly affect us, transform us, for better or worse. It’s a transformation on a level we don’t even realize. I think a constructive perspective is always a great contribution.”
Disgraced hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs‘ precipitous fall from grace will be chronicled in the upcoming BBC investigative documentary P Diddy: The Rise and Fall. According to the BBC, the doc will examine the highs and lows of Combs, “whose influence and impact is undeniable, but whose legacy could not be indelibly tarnished.”
The doc — the latest in an increasingly long list of such films and series exploring Combs’ highs and lows — will be hosted by award-winning broadcaster Yinka Bokinni and air on the BBC Three and iPlayer on April 28. Combs has been in jail for nearly eight months as he awaits the May 5 start of his upcoming trial in a federal criminal case in which he is charged with racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution, with prosecutors alleging that he “abused, threatened and coerced women” in the furtherance of a “criminal enterprise” that allegedly involved kidnapping, arson, bribery and forced labor. Combs has pleaded not guilty to the charges and last week lost a bid to delay the start of the trial.
He is also facing dozens of other lawsuits accusing him of rape and assault, allegations he has denied.
The BBC said that Bokinni will explore how Combs “has gone from being the world’s biggest Hip-hop mogul, to hemorrhaging friends and fans in a matter of months,” mapping both his extraordinary success and influence in fashion, music and culture, “while meeting those close to him to understand what may have led to this very public disgrace… [and] unpack[ing] the interplay of power, money, moral corruption, and sexism, which underpins this story.”
Bokinni said, “My job is to tell stories — but never did I imagine I’d be telling this one. Investigating the alleged actions of Diddy has forced a spotlight onto the darker side of an industry so many of us dream of belonging to. We sang his songs, bought into the lifestyle, watched the shows and wanted more. This has been an emotional, sometimes difficult experience. And with a trial on the horizon, what happens next will no doubt be gripping — in the most sobering way.”
The BBC effort is one of a raft of docs exploring Combs’ undoing, including Max’s The Fall of Diddy, TMZ’s The Downfall of Diddy, as well as Prime Video’s Diddy: Monster’s Fall, Diddy: Summit to Plummet and an upcoming Netflix doc from 50 Cent’s G-Unit Films whose release date has not yet been announced.
Musician and producer Natalie Bergman is back with her second solo album. Formerly one-half of the brother/sister duo Wild Belle, Bergman will release My Home Is Not in This World via Jack White’s Third Man Records on July 18. Recorded analog-to-tape and produced by her brother and longtime collaborator Elliot Bergman, the 12-track record shimmers […]
Kendrick Lamar leads this year’s American Music Awards nominations with a total of 10, including artist of the year, album of the year (GNX) and song of the year (“Not Like Us”). Impressively, he has three of the five nominees for favorite hip-hop song: “Like That” with Future and Metro Boomin, “Not Like Us,” and “Luther” with SZA).
Lamar, who already has three AMA wins to his name, could tie Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston for the most awards in a single year should he win in all eight categories.
Post Malone is runner-up with eight nominations, including artist of the year, album of the year (F-1 Trillion) and song of the year for “I Had Some Help,” his smash collab with Morgan Wallen. Posty, who has previously taken home awards in the rap/hip-hop and pop/rock categories, could take home an award in a third distinct genre. He has three nominations in country categories. He also has two nominations for collaboration of the year: “I Had Some Help” and “Fortnight” with Taylor Swift.
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Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan and Shaboozey are next in line with seven nods. Six artists tied with six nominations each: Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Wallen, Sabrina Carpenter, SZA and Swift. Swift, the top winner in AMAs history with 40 wins, could extend her lead should she win in any of her six categories.
Women artists did well in the nominations: Seven of the nominees for album of the year are women, as are six of the nominees for artist of the year.
Roan is the only artist to be nominated in all three of this year’s new categories: album of the year, song of the year, and social song of the year.
Of the 49 artists to receive two or more nominations, just three were groups or duos, a sign of how dominant solo personalities are in this era. Fuerza Regida was the top group or duo, with three nominations, followed by Linkin Park and Twenty One Pilots with two each.
Two of the five nominees for favorite country album are by Black artists, a sign of increased diversity in that genre. Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter and Shaboozey’s Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going are both vying for the prize. The artists are also nominated for favorite female country artist and favorite male country artist, respectively.
Ariana Grande is nominated for both artist of the year and favorite soundtrack, for her work alongside Cynthia Erivo on the Wicked soundtrack.
The 51st AMAs, with host Jennifer Lopez, is set to air live from Las Vegas on Monday, May 26. The show will air live coast-to-coast at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBS, and stream on Paramount+ in the U.S. This marks Lopez’s second time hosting the ceremony, a role she first took on in 2015. Lopez, who has performed on 10 previous AMA telecasts, will also perform on this one.
This will be the first regular American Music Awards broadcast in two and a half years, since the show in November 2022 that was hosted by comedian Wayne Brady. This will also be the first regular AMAs broadcast on CBS. The AMAs aired on ABC from 1974 to 2022.
This show will be the first in two other ways. It’s the first AMAs show to be broadcast in Las Vegas. All the others were held in the Los Angeles area. And it’s the first show since it moved to Memorial Day. The show aired in January or February each year from 1974 through 2003, and then in October or November each year from 2003 to 2022. The plan is for the show to air each Memorial Day, paying tribute to U.S. troops and veterans in addition to honoring the year’s hottest music stars.
Three of the 10 artists nominated for artist of the year are first-time AMAs nominees: Roan, Carpenter and Zach Bryan. (Bryan is a first-time nominee because the show was on hiatus in the period in which he broke through.)
Several of the artists who already hold the lead for most wins in their categories could extend their leads this year. Swift is already out front in three categories in which she is nominated again this year – artist of the year (seven wins), favorite female pop artist (seven wins), favorite pop album (five wins).
Other artists who could extend their leads in their categories are Eminem for favorite male hip-hop artist (three wins), Bad Bunny for favorite Latin album (three wins), Linkin Park for favorite rock artist (six wins), and Marshmello for favorite dance/electronic artist (four wins).
Shakira, who won five times in the gender-neutral Latin artist category, is nominated for favorite female artist, where she is competing with two-time category champ Becky G.
Nominees are based on key fan interactions – as reflected on the Billboard charts – including streaming, album and song sales, radio airplay and tour grosses. These measurements are tracked by Billboard and Luminate, and cover the data tracking eligibility period of March 22, 2024 through March 20, 2025.
Legendary producer Dick Clark created the show, which is known as the world’s largest fan-voted award show. The 2025 American Music Awards is produced by Dick Clark Productions and will broadcast globally across linear and digital platforms.
Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers will have access to stream live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service, as well as on demand. Paramount+ Essential subscribers will not have the option to stream live but will have access to on-demand the day after the special airs.
American Music Awards 50th Anniversary Special, which aired on CBS in October 2024- was one of the most-watched entertainment specials of the year. As the most-streamed AMAs in the show’s history, the special surpassed 13M in reach and averaged over 6.1M viewers, an increase of +53% from the last show in 2022 on ABC.
Fan voting is now open via VoteAMAs.com and the @AMAs Instagram profile in all awards categories. Voting closes Thursday, May 15, at 11:59 p.m. PT, with the exception of collaboration of the year and social song of the year, which will remain open through the first 30 minutes of the AMAs broadcast (on the VoteAMAs.com site only; Instagram voting in all categories ends May 15).
Here’s a complete list of 2025 American Music Awards nominees. They are listed in alphabetical order by first name.
Artist of the Year
Ariana Grande
Billie Eilish
Chappell Roan
Kendrick Lamar
Morgan Wallen
Post Malone
Sabrina Carpenter
SZA
Taylor Swift
Zach Bryan
New Artist of the Year
Benson Boone
Chappell Roan
Gracie Abrams
Shaboozey
Teddy Swims
Tommy Richman
Album of the Year (new category)
Beyoncé, Cowboy Carter
Billie Eilish, Hit Me Hard and Soft
Chappell Roan, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess
Charli xcx, Brat
Gracie Abrams, The Secret of Us
Future & Metro Boomin, We Don’t Trust You
Kendrick Lamar, GNX
Post Malone, F-1 Trillion
Sabrina Carpenter, Short n’ Sweet
Taylor Swift, The Tortured Poets Department
Song of the Year (new category)
Benson Boone, “Beautiful Things”
Billie Eilish, “Birds of a Feather”
Chappell Roan, “Good Luck, Babe!”
Hozier, “Too Sweet”
Kendrick Lamar, “Not Like Us”
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars, “Die With a Smile”
Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen, “I Had Some Help”
Sabrina Carpenter, “Espresso”
Shaboozey, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”
Teddy Swims, “Lose Control”
Collaboration of the Year
Kendrick Lamar & SZA, “Luther”
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars, “Die With a Smile”
Marshmello & Kane Brown, “Miles on It”
Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen, “I Had Some Help”
ROSÉ & Bruno Mars, “APT.”
Taylor Swift featuring Post Malone, “Fortnight”
Social Song of the Year (new category)
Chappell Roan, “HOT TO GO!”
Djo, “End of Beginning”
Doechii, “Anxiety”
Lola Young, “Messy”
Shaboozey, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”
Tommy Richman, “Million Dollar Baby”
Favorite Touring Artist
Billie Eilish
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
Taylor Swift
Zach Bryan
Favorite Music Video
Benson Boone, “Beautiful Things”
KAROL G, “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”
Kendrick Lamar, “Not Like Us”
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars, “Die With A Smile”
Shaboozey, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”
Favorite Male Pop Artist
Benson Boone
Bruno Mars
Hozier
Teddy Swims
The Weeknd
Favorite Female Pop Artist
Billie Eilish
Chappell Roan
Lady Gaga
Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift
Favorite Pop Album
Billie Eilish, Hit Me Hard and Soft
Chappell Roan, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess
Charli xcx, Brat
Sabrina Carpenter, Short n’ Sweet
Taylor Swift, The Tortured Poets Department
Favorite Pop Song
Benson Boone, “Beautiful Things”
Billie Eilish, “Birds of a Feather”
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars, “Die With a Smile”
Sabrina Carpenter, “Espresso”
Teddy Swims, “Lose Control”
Favorite Male Country Artist
Jelly Roll
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
Post Malone
Shaboozey
Favorite Female Country Artist
Beyoncé
Ella Langley
Kacey Musgraves
Lainey Wilson
Megan Moroney
Favorite Country Duo or Group
Dan + Shay
Old Dominion
Parmalee
The Red Clay Strays
Zac Brown Band
Favorite Country Album
Beyoncé, Cowboy Carter
Jelly Roll, Beautifully Broken
Megan Moroney, Am I Okay?
Post Malone, F-1 Trillion
Shaboozey, Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going
Favorite Country Song
Jelly Roll, “I Am Not Okay”
Koe Wetzel & Jessie Murph, “High Road”
Luke Combs, “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma”
Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen, “I Had Some Help”
Shaboozey, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”
Favorite Male Hip-Hop Artist
Drake
Eminem
Future
Kendrick Lamar
Tyler, The Creator
Favorite Female Hip-Hop Artist
Doechii
GloRilla
Latto
Megan Thee Stallion
Sexyy Red
Favorite Hip-Hop Album
Eminem, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)
Future & Metro Boomin, We Don’t Trust You
Gunna, one of wun
Kendrick Lamar, GNX
Tyler, The Creator, Chromakopia
Favorite Hip-Hop Song
Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar, “Like That”
GloRilla, “TGIF”
GloRilla & Sexyy Red, “Whatchu Kno About Me”
Kendrick Lamar, “Not Like Us”
Kendrick Lamar & SZA, “Luther”
Favorite Male R&B Artist
Bryson Tiller
Chris Brown
PARTYNEXTDOOR
The Weeknd
Usher
Favorite Female R&B Artist
Kehlani
Muni Long
Summer Walker
SZA
Tyla
Favorite R&B Album
Bryson Tiller, Bryson Tiller
PARTYNEXTDOOR, PARTYNEXTDOOR 4 (P4)
PARTYNEXTDOOR & Drake, $ome $exy $ongs 4 U
SZA, SOS Deluxe: LANA
The Weeknd, Hurry Up Tomorrow
Favorite R&B Song
Chris Brown, “Residuals”
Muni Long, “Made for Me”
SZA, “Saturn”
The Weeknd & Playboi Carti, “Timeless”
Tommy Richman, “Million Dollar Baby”
Favorite Male Latin Artist
Bad Bunny
Feid
Peso Pluma
Rauw Alejandro
Tito Double P
Favorite Female Latin Artist
Becky G
KAROL G
Natti Natasha
Shakira
Young Miko
Favorite Latin Duo or Group
Calibre 50
Fuerza Regida
Grupo Firme
Grupo Frontera
Julión Álvarez y su Norteño Banda
Favorite Latin Album
Bad Bunny, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS
Fuerza Regida, Dolido Pero No Arrepentido
Peso Pluma, ÉXODO
Rauw Alejandro, Cosa Nuestra
Tito Double P, INCÓMODO
Favorite Latin Song
Bad Bunny, “DtMF”
FloyyMenor X Cris Mj, “Gata Only”
KAROL G, “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”
Oscar Maydon & Fuerza Regida, “Tu Boda”
Shakira, “Soltera”
Favorite Rock Artist
Hozier
Linkin Park
Pearl Jam
Twenty One Pilots
Zach Bryan
Favorite Rock Album
Hozier, Unreal Unearth: Unending
Koe Wetzel, 9 lives
The Marías, Submarine
Twenty One Pilots, Clancy
Zach Bryan, The Great American Bar Scene
Favorite Rock Song
Green Day, “Dilemma”
Hozier, “Too Sweet”
Linkin Park, “The Emptiness Machine”
Myles Smith, “Stargazing”
Zach Bryan, “Pink Skies”
Favorite Dance/Electronic Artist
Charli xcx
David Guetta
John Summit
Lady Gaga
Marshmello
Favorite Soundtrack
Arcane League of Legends: Season 2
Hazbin Hotel (Original Soundtrack)
Moana 2 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) • Auliʻi Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson and Cast
Twisters: The Album
Wicked: The Soundtrack • Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande and Cast
Favorite Afrobeats Artist
Asake
Rema
Tems
Tyla
Wizkid
Favorite K-Pop Artist
ATEEZ
Jimin
RM
ROSÉ
Stray Kids
The American Music Awards are produced by Dick Clark Productions, which is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Eldridge Industries and Billboard parent company Penske Media.
The American Music Awards are fan-voted, and now that the 2025 nominations have been announced — with Kendrick Lamar leading the way thanks to a whopping 10 nods — here’s how to cast your ballot for your favorite stars. There are a few different ways to vote: First, you can cast your vote online at […]
The Tennessee Board of Parole recommended on Tuesday (April 22) that the state’s Governor consider pardoning Jelly Roll for his past convictions. According to the Associated Press, the board issued its nonbonding recommendation after voting unanimously on the move following a nearly two hour session that included testimony from Nashville Sheriff Daron Hall and several others.
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Jelly Roll has long talked about the his remorse for the multiple arrests in his youth and the long road he’s taken to make amends, including frequently visiting jails and rehab centers before his shows. Following the board’s action, it is now up to Gov. Bill Lee to decide if the singer (born Jason DeFord) will be pardoned. The move could pave the way for the singer to travel internationally to perform, something he has not been able to do to date.
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“This was incredible,” Jelly Roll said of the board’s decision. “I pray this goes through. But today was special for me, regardless.” During the board meeting, Jelly Roll described falling in love with songwriting while in detention, explaining, “It started as a passion project that felt therapeutic and would end up changing my life in ways that I never dreamed imaginable and opened doors that I’ve never thought possible.”
Jelly Roll, 40, was convicted on robbery charges at 17, when a female friend helped him and two other young men enter a house in 2002; both of the other men were armed, though Jelly Roll was not. They demanded money and got $350 and an empty wallet. Because the victims knew the woman and Jelly Roll, they were both arrested right away and he was sentenced to a year in prison. Then, in 2008, police found marijuana and crack cocaine in his car, which resulted in a sentence of eight years of court-ordered supervision. He has been jailed more than 40 times over the years for a variety of drug charges dating back to when he was 14.
Due to those incidents, and a number of other brushes with the law, until last year Jelly was unable to secure a passport in order to book shows outside of the U.S. due to legal restrictions on travel by former felons.
The parole board began considering Jelly Roll’s pardon application since Oct. 2024, which marked at least five years since his sentence expired.
Following Tuesday’s recommendation, Republican Gov. Lee told reporters that “the reporting on Jelly Roll, that’s encouraging for his situation, but there are steps yet to happen in that case.” A number of friends and civic leaders wrote to the board about Jelly Roll’s generosity and transformation to bolster his case, according to the AP.
Sheriff Hall — who runs Nashville’s jail — wrote in a note that Jelly Roll had an “awakening” in one of the jails he managed, while Live Nation Entertainment CEO Michael Rapino wrote about the generous donations the singer has given to charities for at-risk youth.
Among the reasons Jelly Roll gave for needing the pardon was the current difficulty he faces traveling to Canada to perform due to his criminal record. Last June, Jelly booked his first-ever international shows when he scheduled gigs in Ontario and Ottawa. A week before announcing the shows, Jelly told Howard Stern that he had just gotten off the phone with his lawyer about the travel ban. “We are working … it’s getting good, it’s starting to look promising. It didn’t look good even just six months ago, but it’s starting to look really promising,” he said at the time.
Jelly told the board that he needs the pardon to be able to play more shows in Canada because currently he needs to apply for a special permit to travel north, which can sometimes be a lengthy process. “I want to be an inspiration for people who are now where I used to be — to let them know that change is truly possible,” Jelly told the board. “One of the reasons I’m asking for your recommendation for this pardon is because I’m looking to take my message of redemption through the power of music and faith through the rest of the world.”
He said that due to his criminal record, every time he travels it takes a “team of lawyers and a mountain of paperwork to secure my entry into those countries.” He noted last year’s inaugural Canadian shows, as well as his first trip to the U.K., where he traveled to speak about a rehab program.
Check out Hall’s post about the hearing below.
A year ago, I wrote @GovBillLee asking for a full Pardon for Jason “Jelly Roll” Deford…..today the Board unanimously recommended his Pardon. It’s now in the hands of our Governor. pic.twitter.com/NACZOGW2y0— Daron Hall (@DaronHall7) April 22, 2025
As Deltron 3030 reportedly prepare the release of their long-awaited third album, they’ll first be taking a look back at their debut, performing the record in full on their upcoming North American tour.
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The revered hip-hop supergroup – comprising rapper Del the Funky Homosapien (aka Deltron Zero), producer Dan the Automator (the Cantankerous Captain Aptos) and turntablist Kid Koala – will be returning to the live stage this summer, launching a 16-date tour in Vancouver, BC on July 18 before traveling throughout the U.S. and Canada over the next three months.
The tour will see Kid Koala pulling double duty as he opens the shows alongside Lealani, while the main event will see Deltron 3030 performing their self-titled debut album in full.
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Originally released in May 2000, Deltron 3030 didn’t reach dizzying commercial heights, instead peaking at No. 194 on the Billboard 200 and No. 18 on the Independent Albums charts. However, it was highly-regarded by critics, with the hip-hop concept album pairing stark social commentary with tongue-in-cheek humour as atmospheric beats accompanied narratives of dystopian society in the year 3030.
Deltron 3030 were largely inactive in the years following their debut album’s release, though they would re-emerge in 2013 with a sequel record titled Event 2. The album would hit No. 41 on the Billboard 200 and reach No. 6 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, with the group touring in earnest in the following years.
Currently, the release of a 2016 live album (fittingly-titled Live) is the group’s latest commercial release, though Deltron 3030 have hinted towards a third studio LP in previous years. Alongside news of their forthcoming tour, it’s been confirmed that a new record is indeed in the works, though it’s likely that fans will have to wait until the completion of their live commitments before new material or updates arrive.
Deltron 3030 – 2025 Tour Dates
July 18 – Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, BCJuly 19 – Summer Concerts at the Pier, Seattle, WAJuly 21 – Revolution Hall, Portland, ORJuly 23 – The Regency, San Francisco, CAJuly 25 – Bellwether, Los Angeles, CAJuly 26 – Observatory, Santa Ana, CAJuly 27 – House of Blues, San Diego, CASept. 24 – Uptown, Minneapolis, MNSept. 25 – House of Blues, Chicago, ILSept. 27 – Majestic Theatre, Detroit, MISept. 28 – The Concert Hall, Toronto, ONSept. 29 – Théâtre Beanfield, Montreal, QCOct. 2 – Big Night Live, Boston, MAOct. 3 – Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PAOct. 4 – 9:30 Club, Washington, DCOct. 6 – Webster Hall, New York, NY
Sharon Osbourne has shared her disdain of Northern Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap and the outspoken messaging present in their recent Coachella set, going so far as to call for the revocation of their work visas.
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Osbourne shared her comments on social media on Tuesday (April 22), days after Kneecap played the second weekend of the Coachella festival. The Friday (April 18) performance drew recognition for the band’s use of strong anti-Israel sentiments during their set – sentiments which they had claimed were censored during their first weekend appearance.
“Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people,” the projected messages read. “It is being enabled by the U.S. government who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes. F–k Israel; free Palestine.”
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These messages weren’t the only pro-Palestinian sentiments shared during the 2025 edition of the festival. Notably, Green Day altered lyrics to reflect the plight of Palestinian children, while names such as Bob Vylan and Blonde Redhead displayed Palestinian flags during their sets. In the case of the latter, the onstage event was soundtracked by audio of Mahmoud Khalil – the detained Columbia University graduate student currently being held in an immigration detention center following his role in on-campus protests.
However, Osbourne shared a lengthy response to the apparent politicisation of Coachella, noting that this year’s edition will be remembered “as a festival that compromised its moral and spiritual integrity.”
“Goldenvoice, the festival organizer, facilitated this by allowing artists to use the Coachella stage as a platform for political expression,” she wrote. “At a time when the world is experiencing significant unrest, music should serve as an escape, not a stage for political discourse.
“While festivals like Coachella showcase remarkable talent from around the globe, music’s primary purpose is to unite people. It should not be a venue for promoting terrorist organizations or spreading hate.”
As Osbourne continued, she noted that despite being a fan of Saturday headliners Green Day, she felt that their own views of events in the Middle East would have been more appropriate if shared “at their own concert, not at a festival.” Kneecap’s sentiments, however, were deemed so egregious that she closed by asking supporters to join in her “advocating for the revocation of Kneecap’s work visa.”
“Kneecap, an Irish rap group, took their performance to a different level by incorporating aggressive political statements,” Osbourne wrote. “Their actions included projections of anti-Israel messages and hate speech, and this band openly support terrorist organizations.
“This behavior raises concerns about the appropriateness of their participation in such a festival and further shows they are booked to play in the USA. Reports indicate that Goldenvoice was unaware of Kneecap’s political intentions when they were booked. However, after witnessing their performance during the first weekend, allowing them to perform again the following weekend suggests support of their rhetoric and a lack of due diligence.”
In the wake of Kneecap’s performance, Goldenvoice CEO Paul Tollett reportedly claimed he was “blindsided” by the band’s actions. While HYBE America CEO and former talent manager Scooter Braun – who previously staged exhibits in Los Angeles and Israel about the October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel – defended Tollett, Osbourne expressed disbelief that anyone who attended exhibits such as Braun’s could book an artist such as Kneecap for the festival.
“Furthermore, the Independent Artists Group, which represents Kneecap, includes individuals of Jewish heritage,” she continued. “It is disheartening that they have not used their positions to prevent the promotion of such controversial messages. Shame on them.
“As someone with both Irish Catholic on my Mothers side and Ashkenazi Jewish heritage on my Fathers side, and extensive experience in the music industry, I understand the complexities involved,” she added. “Goldenvoice’s claim of being ‘blindsided’ by Kneecap’s performance seems implausible given the circumstances. I know for a fact that certain people in the industry had written to Goldenvoice, airing their concerns around the booking of Kneecap.”
For their part, Kneecap have not responded directly to the criticism of their messaging, instead sharing examples of the myriad supportive messages they have received in the wake of their Coachella sets. The group will return to North America in October for another run of live dates.
Lorde has given fans in New York City a preview of her new single after plans for an in-person event fell by the wayside thanks to local law enforcement.
The New Zealand singer is currently preparing to launch new single “What Was That” on Friday (April 25), with the track serving as her first piece of solo music since 2021. The first taste of her upcoming fourth album, Lorde initially teased the single with her first-ever post on TikTok, sharing a video of herself walking through Washington Square Park in New York City while listening to the dreamy synth-pop track.
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In lieu of traditional social media updates, Lorde has since taken to connecting with fans by way of text messages and voice notes, with her legions of supporters receiving a message on Tuesday (April 22) which told fans to “meet me in the park” at 7pm.
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As a result, fans flooded to Washington Square Park to hopefully catch a glimpse of the musician, though the gathered masses were soon urged to leave by local law enforcement.
Lorde took to her Instagram Stories soon after to address those who had turned out for the last-minute affair. “Omg @thepark the cops are shutting us down I am truly Amazed by how many of you showed up !!!” she wrote. “But they’re telling me you gotta disperse … I’m so sorry.”
According to Rolling Stone, a spokesperson for New York City’s DCPI stated that officers had been alerted to an “unscheduled event” within the park, adding that a “sound and parks permit” is required to hold a concert event in a NYC park. “This individual did not possess either,” the statement added. “Organizers of the event were informed they could not perform and they left the location.”
Fans who remained within Washington Square Park were rewarded for their patience, however, with the singer later showing up to play her new single. Though Lorde didn’t perform the track live, she danced along to “What Was That” while it was being played by producer Dev Hynes of Blood Orange fame.
Lorde’s appearance in New York City comes just over a week after she made a surprise appearance during Charli XCX’s Coachella set to guest on a performance of “Girl, So Confusing.”
With her new single set to arrive in a matter of days, Lorde’s new era is fast-approaching, telling fans in her recent voice note that “everything is about to change.” She added, “These are the last moments where it’s just us, which is crazy. But so right. I’m so ready.”
