State Champ Radio Music
Page: 368
Kate Cassidy, who dated Liam Payne for two years before his sudden death in October, is opening up about her emotional last moments with the singer.
In a raw interview on Jay Shetty’s On Purpose podcast posted Wednesday (April 16), the influencer recalled saying goodbye to Payne days before he suffered a fatal fall from a third-story hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The couple had been in Argentina on a trip together before Cassidy left by herself, but not before having one last heartfelt conversation with her boyfriend, of which she says, “I’m so glad that we had that last beautiful moment together.”
“On the last day in Argentina, my car was in the driveway, and we went back into the guest house, grabbed my suitcase and we were sitting on the couch and I just kept going on and on and on about how much I love him and how much he means to me,” Cassidy recalled. “And he laughed and he interrupted me, and he just said, ‘Kate, you’re gonna miss your flight … You’re acting like this is the last time you’re ever gonna see me again.’”
Trending on Billboard
“I think when I think about the last day and the last words that we said to each other, it brings me this mixture of pain and peace,” she explained to Shetty. “We’d just bought a new house. We just got a dog. We just moved to America as well. I mean, I was living in England with him for two years … It was just all these new beginnings, and it was in just such a positive light. So I remember sitting there with him and I was going on and on and on, and saying to Liam how much I love him.”
Cassidy and the former One Direction star first met when the TikToker was working as his server at a bar in Charleston, S.C. Over the course of their relationship, she would often share videos of the two of them together, including one of the couple attending Niall Horan’s concert in Argentina just a couple weeks before Payne’s death.
When they initially started dating, Cassidy remembers that some of Payne’s fans would send her hate, picking apart her appearance and speculating on the validity of their relationship. “It was just hard to see that,” she told Shetty. “Liam would say to me, ‘I’m so sorry.’ Like, he would feel at fault. He’d be like, ‘I feel so bad that you have to put up with this and deal with this’ … And I was like, ‘I don’t care what people think at all, because I love you.’”
On the podcast, Cassidy also opened up about supporting Payne through his struggles with substance abuse, something he was open about in his lifetime. At the time of his death, the “Strip That Down” musician had several substances in his system and a nearly life-threatening blood-alcohol content, according to the toxicology reports.
“He experienced struggles with mental health for years before dating me,” Cassidy said. “It’s something that I, at first, didn’t fully understand. I don’t have addiction that runs in my family. I think in the beginning of our relationship, when he was struggling a little bit, I think that I remember just kind of being like, in my head, ‘Can’t you just not do that?’ But it’s not that easy. It’s not easy at all.”
“An addict doesn’t want to do that,” she continued. “He doesn’t want to pick up a drink, he doesn’t want to take a certain substance. They don’t want to do that, but they, it’s almost like their brain is wired to pick up that beer to do that thing … I finally realized that this is something he did not choose.”
“We would have the best day, we would have such a great day,” she added. “And then, later on that night, it was just … something would just tick in his brain where he couldn’t help himself.”
Listen to Cassidy’s full interview with Shetty below.
If you or anyone you know is facing mental and/or substance abuse disorders, reach out to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Helpline for referrals and information 24/7 by calling 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or visiting the SAMHSA website.
For any number of fans who got upset last year at Bowen Yang‘s Saturday Night Live segment parodying both Moo Deng and pop star Chappell Roan, the “Pink Pony Club” artist would ask you to please calm down.
On the Wednesday (April 16) episode of Las Culturistas, Yang and co-host Matt Rogers chatted with Roan about her fans’ reaction to Yang’s appearance on Weekend Update, during which he dressed as the viral baby pygmy hippopotamus and echoed the singer’s sentiments about inappropriate fan behavior. “Do not yell my name or expect a photo just because I’m your parasocial bestie or you appreciate my talent,” his Moo Deng proclaimed before clarifying that the hippo’s talent was “having a slippery body that bounces.”
While some fans felt that Yang was mocking Roan’s boundary-setting statement, the pop singer says she never felt that way. “I wasn’t even mad,” she declared as soon as Rogers brought up the topic. “I did [think it was funny], I didn’t feel anything!”
Trending on Billboard
As Yang explained that he chatted with Drag Race winner and Roan’s friend Sasha Colby about the public outcry, the singer explained that she wished some of her fans would pump the breaks before jumping to her defense. “People do not have to get mad on my behalf — we are fine. What is there to be mad about?” she said. “It’s comedy! It was so lighthearted. It was, to me, harmless. Even if you were to push it further — harmless! It’s comedy, I just don’t understand … I just don’t know ‘the line’ anymore.”
Rogers explained some fans’ “parasocial” need to “protect this person,” even when the person in question has not asked for protection. Chappell agreed, adding that “even if you didn’t think the Moo Deng sketch was funny, you don’t have to say anything! Like, you can always not say something.”
Elsewhere on the podcast, Roan also chatted with the pair about some disappointed fan reactions to “The Giver” after her viral debut of the track on SNL, referring to their preference as “demo-itis.” “You have attached memories, all of these things to this one version of the song, but it’s actually not as good as the recorded version,” she explains. “But you fall in love with what you hear first, because when you hear a different version, you’re just going to hate it because it’s different.”
Check out Chappell’s full conversation with Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers on Las Culturistas below:
After years of laying the groundwork, Coco Jones is stepping fully into her moment. The singer, songwriter and actress has been riding high since the success of her breakout EP What I Didn’t Tell You, which earned her a best R&B performance Grammy for her 2022 track “ICU” and introduced the world to her powerhouse vocals and unapologetic storytelling. Now, she’s ready to reveal even more.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
On April 25, Jones will release her debut album Why Not More? via High Standardz/Def Jam Recordings — a bold, genre-blending project that she describes as magnetic, genuine, and transparent.
“I’m really trying to push the boundaries of what R&B can be,” Jones tells Billboard. “Because I have so many influences — I have what my mom taught me as a kid, Disney Channel influences, and then I have me as a young adult — I feel like I blend genres naturally as a personality. I wanted to match that energy with the album and continue to show the versatility of R&B.”
Trending on Billboard
Her EP was about introductions. Why Not More? is about deepening the connection. “ I think I have built up a good rapport with my fans,” she says. “I’ve learned a lot about them, they’ve learned about me — and I can kind of let my hair down and be riskier.”
That growth is reflected not just in the themes, but in the collaborators as well. Jones tapped into new creative chemistry with producers like Stargate and Cirkut, alongside longtime collaborators London on da Track and Cardiak.
Still, it’s the personal moments that might matter the most. On “By Myself,” Jones sings about self-reliance, inner peace and delivers what she believes to be one of the album’s most important messages. “It’s really about wanting to be comfortable alone,” she says. “Comfortable without needing validation, without needing to be around people — some boy or girl, whatever. Just comfortable with you. I think that will really resonate with a lot of my listeners.”
When asked to sum up the project in three words, Jones doesn’t hesitate: “Authentic. Charismatic. Vulnerable.”It’s a fitting description for a body of work that’s already resonating. With four singles out — including “Here We Go (Uh Oh)” and “Taste,” both of which charted on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart — and a tour around the corner, Jones is paying close attention to how fans are responding. “I think it’s really good to get feedback,” she says. “I make music for my listeners, and I want them to be happy. I want them to have music that makes them feel heard.”
For Jones, that feedback plays a crucial role in shaping her approach moving forward. “Having positive perceptions — having any, opinions — is always crucial because music is subjective,” she says. “But I make it so that it works for [the listeners].”As for the tour itself, Jones promises it’s not just a concert — it’s a ride. “We’re gonna have some fun, we’re gonna cry a little bit, we’re gonna get in our bag,” she shares. “Definitely going to have some flips, have some remixes, have some old stuff that I think is really catchy and really fun brought back in and kind of remix with my new stuff.” The tour kicks off May 6 in Philadelphia, and for her, it’s all about connection. “At the end of the day, I hope that you walk away feeling like you know me more and you’re excited for the next time.”
One track she’s especially excited to perform hasn’t dropped yet, but it’s one she describes as more “aggressive,” channeling her confident “Here We Go” energy. And yes, there will be surprises. We know for sure that Lady London will join her as an opener — the two have a new song together on the album. “I don’t know if that’s exclusive,” she teases with a smile.
Reflecting on everything she’s built, Jones says this album doesn’t feel like a new stage — it feels like a beginning. “I think this album is a chapter,” she says. “I’ll look back and say, ‘That was this era.’” But right now, “It’s chapter one of a very long story, hopefully.”
If she could offer one piece of advice to the Coco who started this journey years ago? “Post more. I did a lot of waiting on opportunities, when — girl, you could’ve had your own TV show on your phone by now!”
With Why Not More?, Coco Jones isn’t waiting on anyone. She’s owning her narrative, amplifying her voice, and delivering the kind of debut that asks — and answers — the question: Why not more?See the full track list for Why Not More? below:
“Here We Go (Uh Oh)”
“Other side of love”
“Hit You Where It Hurts”
“Keep It Quiet”
“Thang 4 U”
“AEOMG”
“Why Not More?”
“On Sight”
“Taste”
“Nobody Exists”
“Most Beautiful”
“You”
“Forever Don’t Hit Like Before”
“By Myself”
The Elton John AIDS Foundation and Brandi Carlile‘s Looking Out Foundation announced a new initiative on Wednesday (April 16) to address what they call an urgent global humanitarian crisis caused by recent drastic cuts to HIV/AIDS funding in the U.S. The emergency initiative “Who Believes in Angels?” campaign — named in honor of the duo’s recent joint album of the same name — will bring communities together to raise funds for John’s long-running AIDS Foundation and its Rocket Response Fund to continue their lifesaving work around the globe.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
“Without prompt action, decades of progress in the global fight against HIV could be reversed, creating a global health crisis that we have both the power and the tools to prevent,” John said in a statement about the urgent need to raise funds in the wake of the Trump administration’s termination of USAID support for such efforts. “Our mission is more important than ever – we refuse to leave anyone behind – and I’m so fortunate that Brandi is not only a wonderful collaborator and artist, but a dear friend who shares my vision of a world where HIV care is prioritized and protected.”
Trending on Billboard
According to the statement, the Rocket Response Fund will direct resources to open shuttered clinics, restore access to essential medications and maintain prevention services to ensure that people around the world can get the HIV care they need.
The Hill reported this week that the deep cuts enacted by Health and Human Services (HHS) Sec. Robert F. Kennedy to the nation’s public health workforce as part of Trump’s drastic cuts to the government workforce threaten to undo decades of working combating HIV, as well as potentially delaying upcoming scientific advances. Kennedy’s plans to reduce HHS staffing by 20% will effectively zero-out a number of divisions within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Hit especially hard are offices focused on HIV/AIDS, including the firing of the entire staff of the Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy, as well as the lay-off of one-quarter of the Global Health Center Division of Global HIV and TB, as well as the National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD and Tuberculosis Prevention. In addition, five branches of the CDC’s HIV prevention division were entirely eliminated, including the research, surveillance and prevention communication branches.
Hit particularly hard were grants for HIV research focused on transgender, Black and Latino individuals — who’ve been disproportionately impacted by the epidemic — in what the Hill said was likely tied to the Trump team’s efforts to eliminate what they deem diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in federal agencies. The Hill noted that before being named as HHS secretary, Kennedy publicly questioned whether the HIV virus causes AIDS and promoted the unsubstantiated belief that AIDS could be cause by the recreational drug known as “poppers,” which is popular in the gay community; the CDC and World Health Organization have long acknowledged that if left untreated HIV can lead to AIDS.
“It was a lifelong dream come true for me to come together with my hero and friend Elton John to make our album Who Believes In Angels? and now, we’re excited to announce that our foundations are also partnering to make our music mean even more,” said Carlile in a statement. “Elton’s activism and work with the Elton John AIDS Foundation was what led me to Elton before I even heard a note of his music. It’s an incredible honor to launch this partnership and raise funds for the life-saving work of the Elton John AIDS Foundation and the Rocket Response Fund at a time when support is needed the most.”
The announcement noted that international funding has been crucial to reducing new HIV transmission and deaths worldwide. But with a number of countries joining the U.S. in considering aid cuts the Lancet HIV projected that — based on data from 26 countries — up to 10.8 million additional HIV cases and 2.9 million HIV-related deaths could occur by 2030 if international support dries up.
Donations to the campaign — which the Looking Out Foundation will match dollar-for-dollar through Friday morning (April 18) — can be made here.
It may only be April, but a handful of music’s biggest stars — Ed Sheeran, ROSÉ of BLACKPINK and Snoop Dogg, to name a few — have already dominated the year so much that TIME100 has named them on its list of Most Influential People of 2025.
As announced Wednesday (April 16), the “Shape of You” singer, K-pop superstar and hip-hop legend are just a few of the many celebrities honored on this year’s list, which each year celebrates individual artists, icons, world leaders, industry titans, pioneers and innovators who are “transforming the world.” Hozier and Nicole Scherzinger also earned spots on the ranking, as did actors such as Adam Scott, Rashida Jones, Kristen Bell, Demi Moore, Adrien Brody and Blake Lively.
Trending on Billboard
The 2025 list also features Serena Williams, Simone Biles, Jalen Hurts and other athletes, as well as political figures such as President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Elon Musk. Each honoree received a personal tribute written by a colleague, with Shaboozey, Alicia Keys and Becky G respectively penning words for singer-songwriter Myles Smith, artist Mickalene Thomas and designer Willy Chavarria.
Chris Hemsworth wrote Sheeran’s blurb, gushing that the four-time Grammy winner “has an almost supernatural ability to connect” with his audience through music while also being “one of the most kindhearted, down-to-earth people.” Lily Collins recalled befriending ROSÉ at a fashion show in Paris last year, praising the “APT.” singer for being a a “total bada–” and “such a dynamic performer and songwriter,” while Noah Kahan wrote of the “Take Me to Church” musician, “I’m not sure where my life would’ve gone if I hadn’t been exposed to his music … Thank you, Hozier, for sharing your gift with us mere mortals.”
“Snoop Dogg once told me he’s a ‘moment’ type of guy, and if the moment’s right, he’ll grab it,” wrote Hoda Kotb of the “Drop It Like It’s Hot” rapper. “I’ll say. The world’s warmest cool kid has been carpe diem-ing for more than three decades … There’s just something about this guy that makes me — and millions of his fans — feel so happy and loved.”
True to its title, the TIME100 list honors a total of 100 people. Last year, Dua Lipa, 21 Savage, Burna Boy, Kylie Minogue and Jack Antonoff were among the 2024 Most Influential honorees.
See Sheeran and Snoop on the cover of TIME100 below.
The Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival is set to bring surges of guitar-slinging rock, Red Dirt country, blues and Americana when the annual fest returns to The Park at Harlinsdale Farm in Franklin, Tenn., Sept. 27-28.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
John Mayer, Kings of Leon, Turnpike Troubadours and Young the Giant lead this year’s lineup, which also features Father John Misty, Sam Barber, Better Than Ezra, Colony House, American Aquarium, Grace Potter, Maggie Rose and Angel White.
Others on the bill also include Sam Grisman Project, The Heavy Heavy, Taylor Hunnicutt, Eddie 9V and verygently. The Americana Music Triangle will highlight Ben Chapman’s Peach Jam featuring JD Clayton, Meg McRee, Will McFarlane and Sam Grisman Project featuring Vince Herman, Lindsay Lou and Cristina Vane. The fest will offer a range of stages and amenities, including the VIP Village, the Midnight Sun Stage, the Gold Record Road Stage, the Craft Beer Hall and the Americana Music Triangle.
Trending on Billboard
Since its inception in 2015, the Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival has become a must-see experience, boasting headliners including Zach Bryan, Justin Timberlake, Chris Stapleton, Keith Urban, Eddie Vedder and Willie Nelson over the years. In 2024, the headliners included Dave Matthews Band, Noah Kahan, Hozier and NEEDTOBREATHE. The fest is produced by Better Than Ezra frontman Kevin Griffin, along with Michael Whelan and W. Brandt Wood.
Mayer’s most recent album, 2021’s Sob Rock, reached No. 2 on the all-genre Billboard 200, while Kings of Leon released its more recent album, Can We Please Have Fun, nearly a year ago. Turnpike Troubadours just released its new album, The Price of Admission, and launched a series of The Boys of Oklahoma concerts in Stillwater, Oklahoma, alongside Cross Canadian Ragweed.
Tickets for Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival go on sale starting at 10 a.m. CT on Thursday, April 17.
Billboard’s Dance Moves roundup serves as a guide to the biggest movers and shakers across Billboard’s many dance charts — new No. 1s, new top 10s, first-timers and more.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
This week on charts dated April 19, Skrillex, 2hollis, PinkPantheress and others achieve new feats. Check out key movers below.
Skrillex
The influential DJ-producer dropped his fourth studio album, F*CK U SKRILLEX YOU THINK UR ANDY WARHOL BUT UR NOT!!
Linkin Park will headline the upcoming UEFA Champions League final kick-off show at Munich Football Arena on May 31. The teams for the finale of one of the most prestigious football tournaments on Earth have not yet been announced, but regardless of which top-division European club makes the cut, they will have the pitch more […]
A forthcoming compilation album will feature a collection of many of Avicii‘s biggest hits, along with a never before released song. Titled Avicii Forever, the compilation will be released on May 16 via Interscope Records. The compilation is a project by Interscope, the Avicii Estate and Pophouse, which acquired 75% of the late producer’s recording […]
Gospel Music Hall of Fame members Amy Grant, CeCe Winans and Michael W. Smith will help usher in the holiday season, with their Christmas Together tour launching Nov. 28 in Greensboro, N.C. The tour will make seven more stops in states including Georgia, Illinois, Virginia and Ohio, before wrapping Dec. 8 in St. Louis.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Last year, Winans released the holiday set Joyful, Joyful: A Christmas Album, with her rendition of “Joy to the World” rising to No. 6 on Billboard‘s Hot Gospel Songs chart. Grant has released five studio Christmas albums, including 2016’s Tennessee Christmas. Her songs such as “Emmanuel,” “Breath of Heaven,” “My Grown Up Christmas List” and “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” have become holiday classics. Smith has also released a handful of holiday projects, including 2023’s Every Christmas. In 2013, his collaboration with Carrie Underwood on “All Is Well” reached No. 6 on the Hot Christian Songs chart.
Trending on Billboard
This isn’t the first time the three artists have performed together for a holiday tour; Grant and Smith have held Christmas tours for more than 30 years, with Winans joining them on their 1998 Christmas Tour.
“I’m so excited to be joining Michael and Amy for the Christmas Together tour,” Winans tells Billboard. “There’s nothing like coming together with friends to celebrate the true meaning of the season through music, worship and joy. I can’t wait to share these unforgettable nights with audiences across the country.”
“I look forward to every moment of Christmas Together with Michael and CeCe, the rehearsals, the travel, the concerts! We can’t wait to celebrate Christmas together and with all of you,” Grant tells Billboard.
“We all know, Christmas is hands down my favorite time of year, and getting to tour with Amy always makes it even more special — but this year, we’re taking it to the next level!” Smith adds. “We’re beyond excited to have our dear friend CeCe Winans join us. After so many years of touring together, adding CeCe’s incredible voice and spirit to the mix feels like the ultimate Christmas gift. To say that the three of us are thrilled about this tour is simply an understatement.”
See the full list of dates for the Christmas Together Tour below:
Christmas Together
Courtesy Photo
