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K-pop girl group XG have been on the road all year in 2024, kicking off their first world tour, The First Howl, in Osaka, Japan in May. They then made their way across Asia and played a series of sold out shows in North America in October, winding down on Oct. 21 with a gig at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.
Along the way, group member MAYA tells Billboard they have been delighted to see their superfans, the ALPHAZ, coming out in huge numbers. “We had so much fun [and] we met so many of our U.S. ALAPHAZ and they were all dressed up with amazing cool outfits, they sang top to bottom… so much good energy from them,” she says of the love they felt from their American supporters in the full video you can watch above.

After completing their Asian swing, HARVEY adds that the seven-member group took that good energy and used to to fuel their performances, saying it was a nice “give-and-take” that has hyped them up in advance of the upcoming European leg of the outing. JURIN says it’s also been nice to add new songs and choreography to the mix along the way. They’ve had a lot of fresh tracks to beef up their set list thanks to a clutch of new songs they’ve released this year, including the Valorant video game soundtrack tune “Undefeated” in April and “Woke Up” in May, followed by “Something Ain’t Right” in July and “IYKYK” in October. They also dropped their second EP, Awe, last month, which featured the latter three tracks as well as the 8-track mini-album’s first single, “Howling.”

“We want each performance to be fresh and exciting,” JURIN says of adding “IYKYK” and “Something Ain’t Right” into the live mix. “Whether they are longtime ALPHAZ or seeing us for the first time.” And no surprise, she notes that even though the songs were brand new when they began the North American swing, ALPHAZ already knew the choreography and the lyrics.

The women also discuss the concept behind AWE, with JURIN explaining the EP that mixes up R&B with upbeat dance tunes and the signature hip-hop/pop style they are known for was inspired by, “the sense of curiosity and shock people experience when they encounter something new. We hope that through our album you can feel awe and experience many surprising and exciting moments.”

Elsewhere the group — member Cocona was not present for the interview — talk about the outer space theme of the “IYKYK” video and how sometimes their own style is inspired by outfits they see on ALPHAZ in the audience. Watch the full interview above.

Eminem’s mother, Debbie Nelson, has died, Billboard can confirm. She was 69 years old.
TMZ was the first to report the news. According to the outlet, Nelson passed due to complications related to advanced lung cancer in St. Joseph, Mo. Billboard has reached out to the medical examiner’s office. Reports of her cancer diagnosis surfaced earlier in 2024.

Nelson was born on a military base in Kansas as the oldest of five children. She married Marshall Bruce Mathers Jr. as a teenager, and gave birth to Eminem — born Marshall Mathers — on Oct. 17, 1972.

Em and his mother went through a turbulent relationship during his childhood and into his Hall-of-Fame career. The Detroit rap icon expressed his derision for his mother on hits such as “Cleanin’ Out My Closet” and “My Name Is.”

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Nelson ended up suing her son for defamation in 1999, seeking $11 million. Although the judge ruled in her favor, she was awarded only $25,000 in 2001 and recouped much less after legal fees, per ABC News.

She also exposed a large part of her relationship with Eminem throughout her revealing 2007 memoir, My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem.

Em had publicly extended an olive branch to his mother while regretting how he handled their relationship over the years on tracks such as 2013’s “Headlights.”

“And I’m mad I didn’t get the chance to thank you for being my mom and my dad/ So Mom, please accept this as a tribute I wrote on this jet,” he raps on The Marshall Mathers LP 2 cut.

In more recent years, Nelson applauded her son for his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022. “Marshall, I want to say, I could not let this day go by without congratulating you on your induction into the Hall of Fame,” she said in a congratulatory video message at the time. “I love you very much. I knew you’d get there. It’s been a long ride. I’m very, very proud of you. And also I’m very proud of [granddaughter] Hailie Jade, my big girl. I want to tell you, Hailie, great job on your podcast and God bless you guys. I love you very much.”

Tyla is set to perform on the 2024 Billboard Music Awards.
Hosted by actress and comedian Michelle Buteau, the 2024 BBMAs presented by Marriott Bonvoy is set to air Thursday, Dec. 12, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on FOX and Fire TV Channels, and on-demand on Paramount+, with performances also rolling out across Billboard.com and via @BBMAs and @Billboard social channels.

Tyla joins SEVENTEEN and Teddy Swims, who Monday became the first performers to be announced for the show.

Tyla’s global hit “Water” hit No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January. The following month, it was the inaugural Grammy winner for best African music performance. Her debut album Tyla reached No. 24 on the Billboard 200 in April.

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Tyla is a finalist for eight Billboard Music Awards: top R&B artist, top R&B female artist, top Afrobeats artist, top R&B album (Tyla), top R&B song and top Afrobeats song, where three of her songs are finalists – “Truth or Dare,” “Water” and “Jump,” the last-named title a collab with Gunna and Skillibeng.

As previously announced, Zach Bryan, Taylor Swift, Morgan Wallen and Sabrina Carpenter are the leading finalists for the 2024 Billboard Music Awards.

This marks the show’s return to FOX, which carried the show from its 1990 inaugural broadcast through 2006. In addition, Paramount+ will provide on-demand streaming of the show, while the free Fire TV Channels app will provide one-click access to fans using Amazon devices (Fire TV smart TVs and streaming media players and Fire Tablets).

The BBMAs will celebrate music’s greatest achievements with exclusive original performances, artist interviews, and award celebrations taking place from global locations and in the midst of sold-out tours. Shaboozey will deliver a special performance from W Hollywood, part of the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio. Additional performers and special guests will be announced soon.

The BBMAs honors the year’s biggest artists, albums, songs, producers and songwriters across multiple genres, as determined by year-end performance metrics on the Billboard charts. The eligibility dates for this year’s awards are aligned with Billboard’s Year-End Charts tracking period, which measures music consumption from the charts dated Oct. 28, 2023 through Oct. 19, 2024.

The Billboard Music Awards are produced by dick clark productions, which is owned by MRC. MRC and Penske Media are co-parent companies of Billboard.

The show is presented by Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott International’s travel program and portfolio of more than 30 hotel brands. For more information, visit MarriottBonvoy.com

Nathy Peluso dazzled during her late-night TV debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Monday (Dec. 2), captivating audiences with a powerful performance of “El Día Que Perdí Mi Juventud” and “Corleone” from her latest album, Grasa. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Adorned in an […]

Because they knew each other, Kristin Chenoweth and Ariana Grande have been changed for good — and now, they have matching jackets to prove it.
On Monday (Dec. 2) — just over a week after Jon M. Chu’s Wicked premiered in theaters Nov. 22 — the 56-year-old singer-actress revealed on Instagram that she’d surprised the 31-year-old pop star with coordinating pink denim coats while on set together. In the film, Grande plays Glinda — a role Chenoweth originated on Broadway — while the Our Little Secret star makes a cameo alongside Idina Menzel, who first played Cynthia Erivo’s role of Elphaba.

“Leading my babygirl down the yellow brick road,” Chenoweth captioned her post, sharing multiple photos of herself and the “Yes, And?” singer posing in their new apparel. “I surprised @arianagrande with these jackets on set at @wickedmovie… a little physical memento of our ‘passing of the wand.’”

The backs of the jackets feature custom illustrations of Grande and the Broadway legend holding hands while walking down Oz’s famous Yellow Brick Road toward the Emerald City, both of them dressed in Glinda gowns. The two women have been in each other’s lives for about two decades now, first meeting when the Victorious alum saw the original Broadway cast of Wicked when she was a child. When Grande was cast to play Chenoweth’s iconic role in the two-part film adaptations, the latter was on hand to give the former advice and support throughout the two-year production process.

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“[Ariana] was really nervous,” Chenoweth recalled on The Kelly Clarkson Show last year. “She said, ‘I want to pay homage to you but I’m scared. I want to make you proud.’ I go, ‘Well you’ve already made me proud, so it doesn’t matter … What I want to encourage you to do, Ariana, is make Glinda your Glinda. Sure, you can tip your hat at me if you want, but really I just want you to do you.”

In her Monday post, Chenoweth added, “I’ll lead you down any road you let me, Ari. I’m so so proud of you baby. 🫧”

The “We Can’t Be Friends” artist wrote in the comments, “my entire heart 🫧 thank you for your thoughtfulness, generosity and support ♡ my Glinda.”

In the 10 days since its release worldwide, Wicked has seen massive success. Its soundtrack album recently opened at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 — the highest ever debut for a big-screen adaptation of a stage musical on the chart — and the film has so far brought in over $260 million in North America, becoming the highest grossing movie ever at the domestic box office based on a Broadway musical.

The project has also generated newfound interest in the original Broadway soundtrack led by Chenoweth and Menzel. A quarter-century after it was first released, the musical’s album reached the top 40 of the Billboard 200 for the first time ever, jumping to No. 33 on the chart dated Dec. 7.

Sixteen-year-old New York native Sydney Sterlace made a strong case for a slot in the upcoming finals when the Team Gwen singer wowed the studio audience and viewers on Monday night (Dec. 2) during the launch of the live rounds on The Voice. Dramatically backlit, Sterlace stood alone center stage in a black and tan […]

Taylor Swift has a new plaque to hang up behind her desk at the Tortured Poets Department, as the Recording Industry Association of America has announced that her blockbuster 11th studio album went 6x Platinum Nov. 30.  In an Instagram post delivering the news Monday (Dec. 2), the RIAA revealed that the pop star’s The […]

Actors Mindy Kaling and Morris Chestnut will present the nominees for the 2025 Golden Globes on Monday, Dec. 9, with all 27 categories announced on CBS’ Golden Globes website and the CBS News mobile app at 8:15 a.m. ET/5:15 a.m. PT and 10 exclusive categories revealed beginning live at 8:30 a.m. ET/5:30 a.m. PT on CBS Mornings.
The nominees will be highlighted across Golden Globes social media accounts as they are announced, with the complete list of nominees available on the Golden Globes website immediately following the announcement.

The 82nd Annual Golden Globes will air live on Sunday, Jan. 5, at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET on CBS and stream on Paramount+ in the U.S. The show will be held at its usual home, the Grand Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.

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The Golden Globes also announced a new partnership with entertainment data and analytics partner Luminate. The company will provide the Golden Globes team with streaming viewership data for all submitted film titles in the Cinematic and Box Office Achievement category, helping to inform consumption trends and amplify viewership insights beyond box office performance. Analysis will be done via Luminate’s Streaming Viewership product, which measures viewership of originally produced and library content across all major streaming platforms, including Netflix, Max, Hulu, Prime Video, Apple TV+, Paramount+, Disney+, AMC+ and Peacock. The product fuels Variety’s recently launched Streaming Original Charts.

This will be the second year the Globes have presented the Cinematic and Box Office Achievement category. In its first year, it went to Barbie over such rivals as Oppenheimer and Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour.

Votes will be tabulated by KPMG, the U.S. audit, tax and advisory firm.

The Golden Globe Awards, which likes to call itself Hollywood’s Party of the Year, is the first major awards show of the season. It’s also the world’s largest awards show to celebrate the best of both film and television.

Nikki Glaser is set to host the show for the first time. Glaser was nominated for her first Primetime Emmy this year for outstanding variety special (pre-recorded) as executive producer and performer on the HBO special Someday You’ll Die. She is currently nominated for her first Grammy Award for best comedy album for that same title.

Viola Davis and Ted Danson have been named as recipients of the Cecil B. DeMille Award and the Carol Burnett Award, respectively. They will be recognized on the Golden Globes telecast. In addition, they will be feted at a separate gala dinner on Friday, Jan. 3, also at the Beverly Hilton. This marks the first time that the Golden Globes will host a special evening dedicated to the recipients of these two honorary awards. The DeMille Award dates to 1952; the Burnett Award originated in 2019.

Multi-Emmy Award-winning producing duo Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner of White Cherry Entertainment will return as executive producing showrunners for the 82nd Golden Globes. Dick Clark Productions will produce the show.

The Golden Globes will air on Sunday, Jan. 5 (8-11 p.m. ET/5-8 p.m. PT) on CBS, and stream on Paramount+ in the U.S. (live and on-demand for Paramount+ with Showtime subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the special airs).

Penske Media Eldridge — a joint venture between Billboard’s parent company Penske Media Corporation and Eldridge — owns Dick Clark Productions, the producer of the Golden Globe Awards.

Fresh off teaming up for a pair of tracks on Kendrick Lamar’s GNX album, K. Dot and SZA are joining forces for the co-headlining 2025 Grand National Tour. Presented by Live Nation, pgLang and Top Dawg Entertainment, the North American trek featuring the former TDE running mates is set to invade 19 stadiums across the […]

In 2025, Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas will set out on the group’s first tour together in a decade when The Arcadia 2025 Tour finds the storied group performing 73 dates across the United States and Canada.

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The new slate of tour dates starts with a two-night stint at The Louisville Palace in Louisville, Ky., on April 17-18. The tour dates continue through late September, with stops in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, New York, Oklahoma City, San Diego, and Nashville. The trek will feature special guest Willie Watson, a co-founder of Old Crow Medicine Show. Two decades into his career, Watson recently released his self-titled solo album in September.

Alison Krauss & Union Station are also set to release new music next year, marking the group’s first new release since 2011’s Paper Airplane, which earned a Grammy for best bluegrass album.

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“I’m so grateful to get to make music again with my comrades of 40 years,” Krauss said in a statement. “They’ve always accomplished incredible work individually and have been constantly traveling because of it. We’re very inspired to experience this new exciting chapter in the band’s history.”

This new chapter also features a lineup shift for the group, with the addition of vocalist-guitarist Russell Moore, who is best known for his work as frontman for IIIrd Tyme Out. Moore replaces Union Station’s former member Dan Tyminski. Moore has earned six male vocalist trophies from the International Bluegrass Music Awards, making him the most awarded male vocalist in the history of the IBMA Awards. He’s also led IIIrd Tyme Out to seven IBMA vocal group of the year honors. Moore will join longtime Union Station members Ron Block (banjo, guitar, vocals), Barry Bales (bass, vocals) and newly inducted Bluegrass Hall of Fame member Jerry Douglas (Dobro, lap steel, vocals).

“To say I’m excited about recording and touring with Alison Krauss & Union Station would be a huge understatement,” Moore said in a statement. “After 40 years of playing music full-time and leading my own group for 34 years, this opportunity is among the few things at the top of the list that my music career has offered me. My hopes and desires are to fill this spot in AKUS with the same professionalism, precision, and thoughtfulness as other members who have held this position before me, and I’m looking forward to the ‘ride’!”

Tickets for The Arcadia 2025 Tour will go on sale to the general public on Friday, Dec. 6, with presales available from Wednesday, Dec. 4, at 10 a.m. local through Thursday, Dec. 5, at 10 p.m. local time.

See a list of the group’s tour dates for 2025 below: