Music
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Their fans had eagerly awaited since Tuesday (Feb. 25), when the event had to be canceled due to a massive blackout in Chile, and Morat did not disappoint. In their debut at the Viña del Mar International Song Festival, the Colombian pop-rock band got the “monster” of Quinta Vergara excited with a show full of energy and heart.
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On a luminous stage, the Bogota quartet composed of Simón Vargas, Juan Pablo Isaza, Juan Pablo Villamil and Martín Vargas sounded impeccable as they performed hits like “No Se Va,” “Salir Con Vida,” “Por Si No Te Vuelvo A Ver” and “Amor Con Hielo,” which the audience sang along to from beginning to end, belting out the lyrics with emotion. It wasn’t long before they were awarded the Gaviota de Plata (Silver Seagull) award, and finally, they also took home the Gaviota de Oro (Gold Seagull), the highest honor given by the audience at the event.
“You can’t imagine know how much we dreamed of being here,” one of the members expressed just before receiving the Gaviota de Oro. “Thank you, really. We love you with all our soul.”
Morat’s setlist also included “París,” “Llamada Perdida,” “Besos En Guerra” and, for the big finale, “La Policía.”
“How wonderful Viña, how wonderful!” the band exclaimed before ending their debut performance at the Chilean festival. “You can’t imagine the dream we are fulfilling here. Thank you so much for all the support, for all the love.”
With hits including “No Se Va,” “Besos en Guerra” and “Cuando Nadie Ve,” Morat debuted in 2016 with the album Solo el Amor y Sus Efectos Secundarios, and received a Latin Grammy nomination for best new artist the same year. Morat’s fourth and latest LP, 2022’s Si Ayer Fuera Hoy, gave the band their first entry on the Billboard Latin Pop Albums chart, peaking at No. 18.
Later on Saturday, Sebastián Yatra returns to Quinta Vergara to close the festival. Yatra, with almost a dozen No. 1s on the Billboard Latin Airplay chart — including “Robarte un Beso” with Carlos Vives, and “Tacones Rojos” and “Un Año” with Reik, to name a few — had previously performed in Viña del Mar in 2019 with a full show, as well as the previous year during Vives’ concert, joining him on “Robarte un Beso” — something he did again on Wednesday during Vives’ performance.
The 64th edition of the Viña del Mar Festival kicked off Sunday (Feb. 23) with a riveting set by Marc Anthony. Since then, artists like Myriam Hernández, Ha*Ash, Carlos Vives, Carín León, Incubus, Duki, Eladio Carrión and Kid Voodoo have performed at the Quinta Vergara. All nights are livestreamed in the United States online at Billboard and Billboard Español.
Amidst the joy and celebration at the 2025 BRIT Awards was a poignant moment of remembrance for One Direction’s Liam Payne, who tragically passed away in October. Jack Whitehall, host of this year’s awards show, introduced the tribute to Payne on stage at The O2 Arena on Saturday (March 1). “It is now time to […]
Chappell Roan seems to have started a trend with her pointed acceptance speech at the Grammys on Feb. 2, in which she challenged labels to provide better healthcare and financial support for their new and developing artists. At the BRIT Awards on Saturday (March 1), several artists used their acceptance speeches to make points that mattered to them.
Myles Smith, whose “Stargazing” was a global hit, posed three questions, to the government, music venues and label executives. Georgia Davies of The Last Dinner Party challenged successful arenas like The O2, where the Brits were held, to do more to support small independent venues, who, she said, were dying. And Chappell Roan had still more to say about artistic freedom and queer joy in her two acceptance speeches.
Here, we look at three artists who used their acceptance speeches at the BRITs not just to recite a laundry list of thank yous, but to actually say something. These are the pertinent excerpts from their speeches.
Chappell Roan
Award: International song of the year for “Good Luck, Babe!”
“Over the years, I have written many songs. I don’t believe in bad art, but let’s just say I had to write a lot of bad songs to get to the good ones, and artists deserve that freedom to write bad songs and to explore horrible concepts and to flop — and rise and not be pressured into making music based off of what’s trending. So, we must continue to support these artists so they can find success on their own terms and have long careers. So, this is dedicated to the people who have helped me protect my bad art and lifted me up along the way.”
Award: International artist of the year
“Chappell Roan was born through experiencing queer joy. It’s so special I had to write an entire album about it. I dedicate this to trans artists, to drag queens, to fashion students, sex workers and Sinéad O’Connor. Because of all those people, they have laid the groundwork for me to be here today. I did not give up because of them and I will continue going because of them.”
Myles Smith
Award: BRITs Rising Star
“Tonight, whilst I have the attention of the nation and this award, which gives me kind of like this really cool speaking power, I want to ask three questions:
“My first is to the government. If British music is one of the most powerful cultural exports we have, why have we treated it like an afterthought for so many years? How many more venues need to close? How many more music programs need to be cut before you realize that we can’t just celebrate success, you have to protect the foundations that make it?
“My second is to the biggest venues in the country and around the world. If artists selling out your arenas and your stadiums started in grass-roots venues, what are you doing to keep them alive?
“And my third, to the industry, to the execs in the room and to the people behind-the-scenes. Are we building careers or are we just chasing moments because moments fade and careers take time. So please stick with artists past their first viral hit, please stick with artists past their first tour, because it really matters to us. And moments, they fade, but careers last forever.”
Georgia Davies of The Last Dinner Party
Award: Best new artist
“We wouldn’t be a band, and a lot of the artists here would not be bands either, without the U.K.’s incredible independent venues, and they are the lifeblood of the music industry and they are dying. And if venues like this, like The O2, like arenas, stadiums across this country contributed even a tiny bit toward these independent venues, then we would not be losing them at this alarming rate. We wouldn’t be here without them. None of this would be happening without them. So, I want to say to those artists who are playing independent venues all over the country tonight — keep going because that’s the best kind of art there is. In a time when art is under threat, that is the most important thing to keep supporting.”
2025 BRIT Awards winner Charli XCX was gorgeously draped in a Dilara Findikoglu dress, a garment of sheer layers that mostly concealed the singer’s bust, at Saturday night’s show — but the look must’ve nearly been deemed risqué by British network ITV.
“I heard that ITV were complaining about my nipples,” Charli commented at the podium on March 1 at London’s O2 Arena, while accepting the artist of the year award. “I feel like we’re in the era of free the nipple though, right?”
“Thanks for being on my side,” she added after the crowd cheered.
Styled by Chris Shoran, Charli wore look nine from Dilara Findikoglu‘s autumn/winter 2025 collection. The black dress, with a calf-skimming, pencil skirt silhouette layered over a minimalist, bikini-shaped bottom, was paired with classic pumps by Christian Louboutin.
Charli XCX attends the BRIT Awards at The O2 on March 1, 2025 in London.
Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images
“I’ve gotta say, I feel like I’ve always been an artist but it really takes a whole team, and they’re all like sat at that table. I just want to say thank you so much to the people who helped me make this record,” said the Brat singer as she accepted her third of four award wins at the 2025 BRITs. She’d already collected the awards for song of the year and dance act.
Charli gave a special shout out her fiancé in her artist of the year speech: “George Daniel, love you, baby.” (Daniel is a notable musician and producer, and a founding member of the band The 1975. For Charli he produced “Apple” and “Club Classics” on Brat, and also worked on “I Might Say Something Stupid,” which also features Jon Hopkins and Daniel’s 1975 bandmate Matty Healy, for the companion release Brat and It’s Completely Different but Also Still Brat).
George Daniel and Charli XCX post during the BRIT Awards at The O2 Arena on March 1, 2025 in London, England.
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“Thank you to all the artists out there who feel like they don’t fit in but are brave enough to try and be rejected a million times. I share this with you,” Charli said, candidly.
“Keep partying,” she told the audience. It was a pastime she was likely talking part in; host Jack Whitehall joked at the start of the ceremony that Charli had asked to not perform so she could get drunk Saturday night.
The mind behind Brat won the awards for artist of the year, album of the year, song of the year (for “Guess,” featuring Billie Eilish) and dance act at the 2025 BRITs, and the night’s honorary songwriter of the year prize also went to her. Brat executive producer A.G. Cook won producer of the year.
What should fans expect from Charli’s next album? “I’ll probably do something completely different,” she said at the BRIT Awards.
“I used to tell myself that things like this weren’t important,” Charli admitted when returning to the stage to accept the album of the year award. “This kind of recognition, awards in general, weren’t important. That was really easy for me to do because until last year I was literally never nominated for anything … Now it’s cool to not be in that position.”
“I guess this time around the culture caught up with us and wanted to be on the journey with us,” she said.
Charli XCX gave the BRIT Awards a Brat makeover on Saturday night (Mar. 1) by scooping the biggest prizes of the night, including the coveted album of the year prize.
She won four awards at the ceremony: song of the year, dance act, artist of the year and album of the year. She also collected the honorary songwriter of the year prize, while Brat‘s executive producer A.G. Cook won producer of the year.
Speaking when she collected the album of the year prize, Charli said: “I used to tell myself things like this weren’t important and that was easy for me to do because until last year I wasn’t nominated for anything. I always felt like an outsider in the British music industry, so it feels nice to be recognized on this album when I actually haven’t made any sacrifices.”
Brat was one of 2024’s defining records, landing at No. 1 on the U.K.’s Official Album Charts and at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. It was named the Billboard staff’s album of the year.
The awards took place at The O2 Arena in London, and were hosted by comedian Jack Whitehall for a fifth time.
Elsewhere it was a big night for Chappell Roan, who triumphed in the international artist and international song categories, beating off competition from Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish and Beyoncé.
Sabrina Carpenter opened the show with a two-song medley of “Espresso” and “Bed Chem” and collected the honorary global success award.
Sam Fender had a big night , winning rock/alternative act and performing the title song from People Watching. On Friday, the North Shields-born musician’s third album went to No. 1 and clocked the biggest opening week for a British act in three years, topping over 100,000 units.
Ezra Collective collected group of the year and shouted out youth clubs and the musical opportunities they offer, while Myles Smith challenged the U.K. government to do more for grassroots venues in his speech while collecting BRITs Rising Star.
Baroque-pop group The Last Dinner Party performed “Nothing Matters” and picked up best new artist. Like Smith, they used their speech to champion the small venues in the U.K.
RAYE won best R&B act, and Stormzy shouted out his fellow nominee Central Cee when he triumphed in the best hip-hop/grime/rap.
Performances came from Carpenter, Teddy Swims, Ezra Collective, Fender, The Last Dinner Party, JADE and Lola Young.
In December, the BRITs announced Luton-born singer-songwriter Myles Smith as the recipient of the 2025 BRIT Rising Star award — a new music prize that is handed out to the British act that the voting academy believes will make the biggest impact on music in the coming year. He performed his breakout song “Stargazing” on the night.
It was not Dua Lipa’s night: She went 0-4. The Cure and Central Cee were also shut out, despite three nominations.
The nominees and winners were chosen by the BRIT Awards Voting Academy, its membership made up of musicians and industry figures; the public decided the winners of the genre categories, with voting taking place via a WhatsApp campaign.
Here’s the complete list of 2025 BRIT Awards winners.
Mastercard album of the year
WINNER: Charli XCX – Brat, Atlantic/Warner Music Ezra Collective – Dance, No One’s Watching, Partisan RecordsDua Lipa – Radical Optimism, Warner/Warner MusicThe Cure – Songs of a Lost World, Polydor/Universal MusicThe Last Dinner Party – Prelude to Ecstasy, Island/Universal Music
Artist of the year
Beabadoobee, Dirty Hit Central Cee, Columbia/Sony MusicWINNER: Charli XCX, Atlantic/Warner Music Dua Lipa, Warner/Warner MusicFred Again.., Atlantic/Warner MusicJamie xx, Young/XL BeggarsMichael Kiwanuka, Polydor/Universal MusicNia Archives, Island/Universal MusicRachel Chinouriri, Parlophone/Universal MusicSam Fender, Polydor/Universal Music
Group of the year
Bring Me the Horizon, RCA/Sony MusicColdplay, Parlophone/Warner MusicWINNER: Ezra Collective, Partisan Records The Cure, Polydor/Universal MusicThe Last Dinner Party, Island/Universal Music
Best new artist
English Teacher, Island/Universal MusicEzra Collective, Partisan RecordsMyles Smith, RCA/Sony MusicRachel Chinouriri, Parlophone/Universal MusicWINNER: The Last Dinner Party, Island/Universal Music
Song of the year
“I Like the Way You Kiss Me,” Artemas, Parlophone/Warner Music“Kisses,” BI3SS x CamrinWatsin (ft. Bbyclose), Atlantic/Warner Music “BAND4BAND,” Central Cee (ft. Lil Baby), Columbia/Capitol/Motown/Sony MusicWINNER: “Guess,” Charli XCX (ft. Billie Eilish), Atlantic/Interscope/Warner Music“Backbone,” Chase & Status (ft. Stormzy), 0207 Records/EMI/Merky/Universal Music“Feelslikeimfallinginlove,” Coldplay, Parlophone/Warner Music“Training Season,” Dua Lipa, Warner/Warner Music “Alibi,” Ella Henderson (ft. Rudimental), Atlantic/Warner Music“Angel of My Dreams,” Jade, RCA/Sony Music “Kehlani,” Jordan Adetunji, Warner/Warner Music“Thick of It,” KSI (ft. Trippie Redd), Atlantic/Warner Music“Stargazing,” Myles Smith, RCA/Sony Music“You’re Christmas to Me,” Sam Ryder, East West/Rhino/Warner Music “Somedays,” Sonny Fedora/Jazzy/D.O.D, Solotoko/Ada Warner Music “Now and Then,” The Beatles, Apple/UMR
BRITs Rising Star
WINNER: Myles Smith, RCA/Sony Music Elmiene, Polydor/Universal MusicGood Neighbours, Polydor/Universal Music
International artist of the year
Adrianne Lenker, 4AD/XL BeggarsAsake, YBNL NationBenson Boone, Warner/Warner MusicBeyoncé, Columbia/Parkwood Entertainment/SonyBillie Eilish, Interscope/Universal MusicWINNER: Chappell Roan, Island/Universal Music Kendrick Lamar, Interscope/Universal MusicSabrina Carpenter, Island/Universal MusicTaylor Swift, EMI/Universal MusicTyler, the Creator, Columbia/Sony Music
International group of the year
Amyl and The Sniffers, Rough Trade Records/XL BeggarsConfidence Man, Chaos/Universal MusicWINNER: Fontaines D.C., XL Recordings/XL Beggars Future & Metro Boomin, RCA/Sony MusicLinkin Park, Warner/Warner Music
International song of the year
“Beautiful Things,” Benson Boone, Warner/Warner Music “Texas Hold Em,” Beyoncé, Columbia/Parkwood Entertainment/Sony“Birds of a Feather,” Billie Eilish, Interscope/Universal MusicWINNER: “Good Luck, Babe!,” Chappell Roan, Island/Universal Music “End of Beginning,” Djo, AWAL/Djo/The Orchard “Houdini,” Eminem, Interscope/Universal Music “Too Sweet,” Hozier, Island/Universal Music“Lovin On Me,” Jack Harlow, Atlantic/Warner Music“Stick Season,” Noah Kahan, Republic Records/Universal Music“I Had Some Help,” Post Malone (ft. Morgan Wallen), Republic Records/Universal Music“Espresso,” Sabrina Carpenter, Island/Universal Music“A Bar Song (Tipsy),” Shaboozey, American Dogwood/Empire“Fortnight,” Taylor Swift (ft. Post Malone), EMI/Universal Music“Lose Control,” Teddy Swims, Atlantic/Warner Music“Million Dollar Baby,” Tommy Richman, ISO Supremacy/Pulse/Stem Disintermedia
Alternative/rock act
Beabadoobee, Dirty HitEzra Collective, Partisan RecordsWINNER: Sam Fender, Polydor/Universal Music The Cure, Polydor/Universal MusicThe Last Dinner Party, Island/Universal Music
Hip-hop/grime/rap act
Central Cee, Columbia/Sony MusicDave, Def Jam/Universal Music Ghetts, Warner/Warner Music Little Simz, AWAL/Sony MusicWINNER: Stormzy, 0207 Records/EMI/Merky/Universal Music
Dance act
Becky Hill, Polydor/Universal MusicWINNER: Charli XCX, Atlantic/Warner Music Chase & Status, 0207 Records/Universal MusicFred Again.., Atlantic/Warner MusicNia Archives, Island/Universal Music
Pop act
Charli XCX, Atlantic/Warner MusicDua Lipa, Warner/Warner MusicWINNER: Jade, RCA/Sony Music Lola Young, Island/Universal MusicMyles Smith, RCA/Sony Music
R&B act
Cleo Sol, AWAL/Sony MusicFlo, Island/Universal MusicJorja Smith, FAMM/The Orchard/SonyMichael Kiwanuka, Polydor/Universal MusicWINNER: Raye, Human Resources/The Orchard/Sony
Songwriter of the year
WINNER: Charli XCX
Producer of the year
WINNER: A.G. Cook
Global success award
WINNER: Sabrina Carpenter
Sabrina Carpenter kicked off the 2025 Brit Awards with a rousing medley of “Espresso” and “Bed Chem” at London’s O2 Arena Saturday night (March 1).
The American pop star — who later on Saturday would be celebrated with this year’s Global Success Award — got the crowd going with a flirty set that referenced the Union Jack and the King’s Guard before moving over to the Short n’ Sweet singer’s heart-shaped bed at the awards show, which was broadcast live on ITV1 and streaming service ITVX in the U.K., and streamed elsewhere via the Brits’ official YouTube channel.
Surrounded by dancers dressed as marching guards for “Espresso,” Carpenter then playfully shed her sparkly, British-inspired bodysuit, paired with thigh-high stockings and garters, for a red negligee and lacy lingerie. She perched herself atop a bed staged at the O2, where she complemented her “Bed Chem” vocals by performing some sultry, synchronized choreography.
Carpenter wrapped her performance with a camera trick implying her attempt to seduce a member of the King’s Guard. Judging by the guard’s wink, it worked.
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Carpenter was awarded with the Global Success honor later in the evening. The award was presented to her by Millie Bobby Brown, who joked that after seeing Carpenter’s steamy Brits performance Saturday night, the singer’s the one who should be handcuffed on stage — a bit she does to someone else for being “too hot” on the Short n’ Sweet Tour. (Brown personally requested to be arrested on stage and got her wish in Atlanta.)
Sabrina Carpenter accepts the Global Success award on stage during the Brit Awards 2025 at the O2 Arena on March 1, 2025 in London, England.
Brown introduced Carpenter to the Brits crowd as “the woman who keeps us all hot and bothered.”
“The first time I ever came to the U.K. was 10 years ago,” the “Please Please Please” hitmaker recalled during her acceptance speech. “I was with my mom. Nobody knew who I was. Maybe 10 people.”
“This week I get to headline the O2 because of you guys,” she said. Carpenter is set to play the 20,000-capacity arena for two nights, on March 8 and 9, as part of the European leg of her tour.
Not one to leave the stage without wise crack, and appreciating that the English get her dry humor, she quipped, “In a very primarily tea-drinking country, you guys streamed the shit out of ‘Espresso.’”
Carpenter also thanked her fans: “This is all because of you and this is for you. Thank you so much. Cheerio!”
Angie Stone died in a car crash on Saturday (March 1), a representative for the R&B and soul singer, who was also a founding member of the trio The Sequence, confirmed to Billboard. With a career in music that spanned the late ’70s through her sudden passing, Stone topped both the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Adult R&B Airplay charts and was nominated for three Grammy Awards.
“Unfortunately, at around 4 a.m. while heading back to Atlanta from Alabama, the Sprinter flipped over and was subsequently hit by a big rig. Thankfully, all survived except for Angie,” Walter Millsap, president of Conjuction Entertainment, said in a statement obtained by Billboard Saturday afternoon.
Stone was on the lineup of the Mardi Gras Association’s Grand Marshal’s Ball in Mobile, Alabama, on Friday (Feb. 28).
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“My mommy is gone,” performer Ladi Diamond, Angie’s daughter with Rodney Stone, wrote in a Facebook post on Saturday. Stone is also survived by her son with singer D’Angelo, Michael D’Angelo Archer II, who goes by stage name Swayvo Twain.
Born Angela Laverne Brown on Dec. 18, 1961, in Columbia, South Carolina, Stone’s career in music began with female rap trio The Sequence, known for their single “Funk You Up” that reached No. 15 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in 1980.
Five of Stone’s albums as a solo singer reached the top 10 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. She saw her set The Art of Love & War rise to No. 1 in 2007, while Dream made it to No. 3 (2015), Mahogany Soul and Stone Love both reached No. 4 (in 2001 and 2004, respectively), and Black Diamond charted at No. 9 (2000).
Stone had six top 10 hits on the Adult R&B Airplay chart, including two No. 1s, “No More Rain (In This Cloud)” (1999) and “Baby” (2007). The four other top 10s were “Wish I Didn’t Miss You” (No. 2, 2002), “Brotha” (No. 3, 2002), “More Than a Woman” (No. 4, 2002) and “Sometimes” (No. 7, 2008).
“No More Rain (In this Cloud)” also reached the top 10 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, on which it peaked at No. 9 in 2000.
Though Stone never won a Grammy Award, she was a three-time nominee. She received nods for best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocals for “More Than a Woman” with Joe in 2003, best female R&B vocal performance for “U-Haul” in 2004, and best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocals for “Baby” with Betty Wright in 2008.
Stone was the founder of national nonprofit Angel Stripes, with the goal of facilitating artistry and neighborliness in communities.
Memorial service details will be announced by Stone’s family members, who at this time request privacy.
Country music reigned at the Ryman Auditorium on Friday night (Feb. 28), as Zach Top stepped onto the revered stage for the first of two headlining shows at country music’s historic Mother Church. The shows come as part of his Cold Beer and Country Music Tour, which sold out just hours after the trek went on sale.
Washington native Top’s brand of tunes — steeped in the influence of ‘80s and ‘90s country music, along with bluegrass — has swiftly pushed him to the forefront of a new generation of neo-traditional artists who are seeing their careers ascend.
Opening the show was Texas native and George Jones acolyte Jake Worthington, who told the crowd, “You’re getting a whole bunch of country music tonight.”
Worthington and Top made good on that promise, proving themselves as worthy musical torchbearers for fans starved for sounds inspired by ‘80s and ‘90s country.
Throughout the evening, both musicians offered a heady blend of their own music, mixed with a plethora of covers of hits from Jones, Keith Whitley, Merle Haggard, George Strait, Randy Travis and Sammy Kershaw.
Worthington launched into his set with a charismatic onstage persona and deep twang on “Night Time Is My Time,” then previewed a song that will feature Marty Stuart called “I’m The One.” His ace band included Gordon Mote on piano.
He also offered up a solo version of his Miranda Lambert collaboration, “Hello Shitty Day,” before nodding to the influence of Country Music Hall of Famer George Jones by offering up spot-on renditions of Jones classics “The Grand Tour” and getting the audience grooving to the rollicking “White Lightnin’.” He finished with his own “The State You Left Me In,” eliciting cheers from the audience.
“This song got me a lot of opportunities,” Worthington said.
A neon-lit jukebox was situated at the side of the stage, playing snippets of country classics as Top took the stage to fervent cheers from the audience. The crowd was instantly on its feet — and stayed on its feet for the rest of the show.
Top, who was highlighted in Billboard’s “Future of Country Music” spotlight earlier this year, spent his two-hour set blending top-shelf vocals, ace guitar picking, energetic performances and a devotion to old-school country music to prove why he’s leading today’s crop of future country superstars.
He kicked off his set with his Country Airplay top 15 hit “Sounds Like the Radio,” from his debut country project Cold Beer and Country Music, before nodding to his bluegrass roots with “I Don’t Mind,” from his 2022 self-titled bluegrass project.
Top had a laid-back, easygoing camaraderie with the crowd, cracking jokes between songs and regaling them with songs from Cold Beer and Country Music.
“I’m thankful that y’all have come out to make us feel welcome. We appreciate it. I’ll need one of these for the next song,” he quipped, opening up a beer before launching into “Beer for Breakfast.” He followed with “Dirt Turns to Gold” and a particularly well-received rendition of “Lonely for Long,” followed by “There’s the Sun.”
Like Worthington, he peppered his set with perfectly selected cover songs, highlighting his love for country’s deep canon of hits, including Strait’s “Love Bug,” Haggard’s “Ramblin’ Fever” and Travis’ “If I Didn’t Have You.” In his signature starched shirt and cowboy hat, grinning beneath his signature mustache, Top also slyly nodded to those Burt Reynolds and Tom Selleck comparisons in a cover of Kershaw’s “Cadillac Style.”
Top has earned the praise of many of his country contemporaries and has amassed 6 million monthly followers on Spotify alone. His Cold Beer and Country Music Tour is set to headline the 7,000-capacity Appalachian Wireless Arena in Kentucky in May. He’s also been on the road opening shows for Alan Jackson and will open shows for Dierks Bentley this year.
Judging from the fan reactions at country music’s Mother Church, which served as home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974, it seems like country music is in good hands and that Top is on a direct trajectory to headlining his own slate of arena shows in the very near future — and being the tip of the spear of a crop of new artists bringing classic country music back into prominence.
Here, we look at five top moments from Top’s Ryman show:
Top Closes Out His Show With a Hit and a Mission
David Johansen, frontman of the pioneering punk group New York Dolls and solo “Hot Hot Hot” hitmaker as his alter ego Buster Poindexter, has died. He was 75. “David Johansen died at home in NYC on Friday afternoon holding hands with his wife, Mara Hennessey, and daughter Leah, surrounded my music, flowers and love,” his […]
From career milestones to new music releases to major announcements and those little important moments, Billboard editors highlight uplifting moments in Latin music. Here’s what happened in the Latin music world this week.
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See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Andrea Bocelli in Venezuela
On Feb. 22, Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli performed in Venezuela’s Estadio Monumental Simón Bolívar, where Venezuelan singer-songwriter Nella was a special guest. The two shared the stage to sing anthemic songs like “Bésame Mucho” and “Vivo Por Lei.”
“Infinite gratitude,” Nella wrote on Instagram. “This is one of those moments that I will treasure and keep in my heart for the rest of my life. Grateful to everyone who accompanied me and made this day possible.”
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Karol G Honors Shakira
Karol G shared an emotional message on her Instagram stories on Friday (Feb. 28), honoring fellow Colombian hitmaker, Shakira. The “Mi Ex Tenía Razón” singer took to social media to express how much Shakira means not just to to her but all of Latin America. “Her songs and her story have represented our country and the Latin industry for decades and it’s inspiring to see her shine like never before, or better yet, shining like always,” Karol wrote. “Sending you a hug from afar, enjoy it all.” Shakira is currently on tour with her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran trek, recently wrapping up her string of shows in her native Colombia.
‘El Gordy y La Flaca’ Hosts on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Television hosts Lili Estefan and Raúl de Molina, best known for their show El Gordo y La Flaca, were honored on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Thursday (Feb. 27), where music stars Thalia, Gloria and Emilio Estefan were in attendance.
“Lili is Emilio’s niece by blood,” Gloria began here speech at the ceremony. “I’m so proud of Lili, she always knew who she wanted to be and worked so hard to get there. People always say, ‘Oh, you helped Lili’ but we did nothing. She did this all on her own.”
Mexican star Thalia spoke a few words in honor of her good friend Lili Estefan, saying she is a reference to many Latin women who look up to her. You can watch the entire ceremony here.
Marco Antonio Solís References Kendrick Lamar
Mexican icon Marco Antonio Solís referenced Kendrick Lamar‘s hit “Not Like Us” during a concert in Argentina. Solís incorporated the 2024 diss track at Estadio Centenario (Resistencia) on Sunday (Feb. 23), and even added Lamar’s viral dance moves from his Super Bowl halftime performance in New Orleans. Solís first danced to the mariachi song “El Celoso,” which then transitioned into “Not Like Us.” It was indeed a fan-favorite moment as the crowd erupted in a roar.
Check out the moment below:
Carlos Vives’ Sweet Moment at Viña
Colombian star Carlos Vives performed at Viña del Mar on Wednesday (Feb. 26), where he was awarded with Gaviotas de Plata and Oro. One of the most memorable moments from his set was when he serenaded his wife Claudia Elena Vásquez with “Volví a Nacer.” “I want to share with you something very special, this song was composed during a difficult moment of my life,” he prefaced the song. “We all spend difficult nights, but we know that the next day the sun rises. I composed this song for a person at a very special moment and from this song things changed in my life, and I want to dedicate it to everyone because I know that at some point we will all be born again.” The couple shared a passionate kiss to seal his performance.