State Champ Radio News
Page: 189
Trending on Billboard
LiSA and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: the record-breaking collaboration that established a milestone in the history of Japanese entertainment is back. LiSA’s “Zankoku na yoru ni kagayake” (English title: “Shine in the Cruel Night”) graces the blockbuster animated movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle — Part 1: Akaza Returns as one of its two theme songs alongside Aimer’s “A World Where the Sun Never Rises.”
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
Yuki Kajiura, who composed the soundtrack for the movie with Go Shiina, wrote “Shine in the Cruel Night.” Kajiura is the songwriter responsible for some of LiSA’s biggest Kimetsu collabs that perfectly capture the work’s universe, including “from the edge,” “Homura,” “Akeboshi,” and “Shirogane.” This comeback marks a significant chapter in LiSA’s hits-laden music career.
The songstress saw her singing overlap on screen with the actual movie footage for the first time shortly before this conversation with Daisuke Koyanagi (Interview inc.). Brimming with excitement, she spoke enthusiastically and deeply about the journey that led to her return to the world of the Kimetsu anime.
The movie was amazing, wasn’t it? We just saw it.
LiSA: I thought the animation’s production team was incredible. The way ufotable illuminates the scenes in the movie is just so beautiful. Throughout the entire film, the light in the characters’ eyes, too… the Infinity Castle movie is a work of art that makes abundant use of torchlights and illumination. The skillful craftsmanship of the artists is amazing, and the story is also great.
It really felt like the final battle in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba has begun at last.
Yeah. The story makes it clear that no one can be missing from it.
And this is also your first Kimetsu theme song since the Mugen Train story arc.
While we were working on it, Ms. Kajiura and the team at ufotable talked about making a song that would grace the story. Ms. Kajiura and I wanted to make a song with a quiet chorus that would let everyone reflect on the tale so far and feel emotional, a tug at their heartstrings.
It was amazing. Perfectly intertwined with the story. It makes you wonder what kind of roadmap they created and how much they calculated to achieve that level of precision.
Ms. Kajiura puts thought into how a song will become part of the story, and also writes them with a lot of love for the singer. I think she considered how I could sing it as my own song for a long time to come. We discussed it together, exchanging ideas like, “How about something like this?” or “What about this kind of feeling?”
I’m guessing that until now, the situation was more like “LiSA sings songs written by Yuki Kajiura,” but this one was created differently, with you involved in closer proximity.
I was happy about that, too. Ms. Kajiura believed in me and welcomed me into her circle as someone she could talk to about music. At first, my mind was to just entrust her with (writing the song). In the sense that I have complete faith in her. I can tell that she cares deeply about (Kimetsu) and about me, too, so I thought my job was to interpret that and sing the songs. But after seeing the movie just now, it struck me again that everyone involved poured their hearts into every single scene. I felt that no one wanted to compromise on anything. So they probably also wanted to focus on the music and work closely with Ms. Kajiura to pursue it to the utmost.
Right.
The fact that they took my views into consideration helped me interpret the song with greater clarity when I sang it, and I felt like we were fighting together, which strengthened my commitment towards (the movie).
I get what you mean. How did you feel when you first heard that you’d be working with Ms. Kajiura again on a theme song for Kimetsu?
We last “fought” together on the Mugen Train story arc TV series [televised in 2021, a year after the Mugen Train movie opened in theaters], so being able to work with her again for this felt like we were taking it on together, just like in the story.
It’s been about five years since “Homura” (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train theme song) and you’ve gone through various phases in your career. Ms. Kajiura is someone who helped you seize a huge opportunity. Working on Kimetsu again with someone who knows you so well must have been both exciting and stressful, stirring up all kinds of emotions.
To be honest, I didn’t feel much stress about it. After all, anything that comes from working with her on a project like Kimetsu is bound to be good. I was just excited to see what kind of song she would give me to sing and what new perspectives the work itself would open up for me.
What was your impression when you first received the demo from her?
When I first heard it, it was a bit darker. It felt like it was a little more in tune with a darker mood.
And that changed with each take?
Right. When I received the song, I wanted to talk to her directly, so I visited her studio. I spoke to her of my resolve to fight alongside her as comrades in the same battle, and how I interpreted the song as “a story about us meeting again and going to defeat Muzan, our final enemy” and that I hoped my resolve would be reflected in it. I think that’s why it became more emotional and dramatic during the process. It was the same way with “Homura,” I was the one who wanted to include bright, hopeful phrases, while Ms. Kajiura wrote about sadness as it is. My impression of her first version of that song was also sadness being depicted as sadness.
That’s interesting.
(For “Cruel Night,”) I didn’t convey any wishes to her or anything, just talked about how I felt as we were about to fight alongside each other, like I mentioned. But I did tell her that rather than singing about sadness in a tragic way, I wanted to convey a bit more hope. From Tanjiro (the protagonist of Kimetsu) and the others’ perspectives, they’re having a rough time, but that’s why they don’t want to give up on victory. Then she arranged it into the chorus we have now.
That means you felt it was perfectly natural to talk directly to Ms. Kajiura about such things, and that you felt a sense of responsibility in being involved with the work.
Yes, and also that she lets me do it. She’s left that door open for me, and after working together on four songs, I feel like we’ve built up a relationship of trust, so I figured she’d be OK with it.
And your vocals on this are incredible too. Starting off with a nuance like it’s blended into (the movie), it gradually becomes the theme song, and then ends up as a LiSA number. I imagine the process of making that happen must have been carried out with great precision and attention to detail. How did you approach it?
When I recorded the demo, I was thinking how the chorus shouldn’t sound too bright, but I have a bright voice to begin with, so no matter how hard I try, it ends up sounding like that. I spoke to Ms. Kajiura about it and she told me, “The brightness of your voice is wonderful and that’s what I love about it.” So I decided to trust her to handle that bright quality of my voice. She also said that I didn’t have to lower it on purpose. Since I was going to sing the chorus like that, I figured I’d sing the other parts as someone other than myself… with various personalities, and then just be me in the chorus. I think I was able to sing with various personalities because she said she loved my voice.
You can hear completely different vocalizations in each part.
It was so much fun. For my performance of “Homura” at Nippon Budokan (May 15), too, I was like, “It’ll be ‘LiSA’ no matter how I do it, so I might as well go all out!” [Laughs] I don’t have to try to be LiSA to make her manifest, so I can focus on the emotions. The joy of singing like that is what I’ve gained from Ms. Kajiura’s music.
That’s true, your performance of “Homura” at the Budokan was different from before. Or rather, it felt like your interpretation of the song has become more multi-layered. Does that have something to do with you having recorded this song (“Cruel Night”)?
Yeah, it has a lot to do with it. If “LiSA” is going to manifest without my being like, “This is LiSA!” then I can enjoy using myself more freely and sing songs that fit the music.
Right. If you let “LiSA” out at full blast even for a second, you can make her manifest throughout. At this point in your career, you just have to let that full blast out once, then the rest will become a proper LiSA number even if you create the story that fits the song. Your methodology is changing and becoming more precise. I’m guessing you’ve felt that way for a while. How has it deepened?
I hope I’m not misunderstood, but one thing is that I’ve gained confidence in expressing “LiSA.” Songs like “Rising Hope,” “Catch the Moment,” and “Gurenge” are examples of this, but the LiSA that manifests through identifying techniques is unbreakable now, no matter what I do. I now have a lot of songs that give me confidence that she’ll never disappear. That’s why I can enjoy other ways of expression and feel the potential. I just finished watching the movie, so I’m really identifying with Tanjiro right now. I think I’ve become really fast with a sword because I’ve trained so much. [Laughs] I’ve grown stronger through training.
You’ve become stronger through training, and faster, and it’s like you have a clear view of your surroundings even while fighting at incredible speeds. Like a heightened awareness… the way you manifest “LiSA” and her world is unclouded now.
Yeah. Today, while watching the movie, there were many phrases that made me go, “I get it!” I’ve read the original manga so many times, but there were still lots of phrases that I wanted to remember as words to live by. I think they resonated with me because I’m in this phase of my life right now.
What I found particularly impressive about “Shine in the Cruel Night” was how bare and raw the vocal mix sounded. The last chorus in particular sounds so raw like nothing was done to it after recording. It feels so realistic that it’s like you sang it and just left it as is.
Ms. Kajiura said, “That’s great!” on the first take, so I think that’s what they used.
She did? That’s amazing. When someone tells you, “That’s great!” when you sing once is the ultimate sign of trust.
I always practice really hard for recordings, but this time I approached it with the mindset of creating something together with Ms. Kajiura. As we went through multiple takes, there were a few instances where she said, “This is it!” And whenever she said that, I was thinking the same thing while singing it. But I’m greedy, so I think, “If I could do it now, I could sing it even better if I try a bit harder,” and record it again, but usually the first take is better. [Laughs]
So you were like, “Oh, this will be the one,” when you’re singing it.
Yeah, exactly. It’s like you’re in the zone at times like that. It’s more of a sensory experience so it’s not like you’re thinking with your brain, and you’re not controlled by your emotions, either. When you sing from your senses, that’s what comes across, I think. It was the same with “Homura.” That’s why I trust Ms. Kajiura so much.
“Shine in the Cruel Night” is one of the biggest and greatest achievements of what Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Yuki Kajiura, and LiSA have built up over time. The universe that you’ve all created is proof of the wonderful time you’ve spent together.
It really is an all-out battle. Maybe that’s what Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is all about. Everyone strives for that state and pours their love into it. It’s like no one feels anything else.
—This interview by Daisuke Koyanagi first appeared on Billboard Japan
Trending on Billboard
Tyler, The Creator has added “Mother,” which he described as the first song he made for his eighth album, Chromakopia, but took off last minute, to the LP’s deluxe edition on its first anniversary.
In an Tuesday (Oct. 28) Instagram post, the rapper reflected on riding his bike through his old neighborhoods — Inglewood, Hawthorne and South Bay in California — in 2020, and questioning what home really meant. “Is it a feeling i carry or a place? convos with my mother i found out things that was opposite of what i’ve built a narrative around,” he wrote underneath a childhood photo of him and his mother.
The IG carousel also included a photo of his RIAA platinum plaque for Chromakopia, snapshots from his recently concluded world tour with openers Lil Yachty and Paris Texas, and a video of him recording with Thundercat in the studio.
While Tyler said “Mother” is “pretty much the grounding piece of the album,” he also opened up about approaching Chromakopia as his diary. “things ive touched on before, things i havent. the pressure of monogamy, the fear of fatherhood, how i felt about my hair, the judging of sexual freedom, my paranoia, etc. nothing too ‘deep’ or crazy, just thoughts that stay on loop,” he continued. He also said Chromakopia “ended up taking me places the others didnt. 15 years in; biggest its ever been. im in awe of the success…. its been a year since release, time is moving. to those who love this body of work, tell me about it. i hope it holds weight in your life.”
Tyler released Chromakopia one year ago on Oct. 28, 2024, via Columbia Records. The 14-track project spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and notched three top 10 hits: “Noid” (No. 10), “St. Chroma” featuring Daniel Caesar (No. 7) and “Sticky,” featuring GloRilla, Sexyy Red and Lil Wayne (No. 10). It earned 299,500 equivalent album units in its first week, marking Tyler’s biggest album to date even after arriving on an off-cycle Monday and therefore only having four days of activity in its first tracking week. He wrote on his IG post that he planned on Chromakopia “being my last album for a VERY long time. release it. do the big tour. go disappear and only pop out for movies roles. see what a life is like without work being top of mind. its hard tho, i love making things.”
But in July, he released his ninth studio album, Don’t Tap the Glass, which also debuted atop the Billboard 200 and earned the rapper his fourth No. 1 LP. He’s also making his feature film debut alongside Timothée Chalamet in the Josh Safdie-directed Marty Supreme.
See his post and listen to “Mother” below:
Trending on Billboard
Rising South Korean R&B singer dori is set to release a live recording of his collaborative track “Sketch” with Furui Riho, captured during his first-ever solo show in Japan earlier this year. The EP, entitled dori feat. Furui Riho at Billboard Live, is due Oct. 29.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
With a silky, captivating vocal tone and a refined melodic sensibility, dori first made his debut in February 2022 with the single “2 O’CLOCK.” The track has since racked up nearly 20 million streams on Spotify and sparked buzz in Japan as well, after being used on TikTok by acts including JO1 and Local Campione. The 26-year-old has continued to release music at a steady pace, dropping his second EP in 2024 and successfully holding his first headlining concert that year. His work as a songwriter has also earned high recognition, including contributions to the soundtracks of hit Korean drama series Welcome to Samdal-ri and Queen of Tears.
For his first headlining show in Japan, held in May at Billboard Live Yokohama, dori invited singer-songwriter Furui Riho as a special guest. Furui has long been drawn to dori’s music — so much so that she regularly plays his songs as the pre-show BGM at her own concerts. That connection led to a one-night-only collaboration, where their distinct voices intertwined on “Sketch.” The newly released live audio captures the emotion of that moment, bringing the audience right back to the stage.
“A special moment like this release is something I believe will continue to have a big impact on my life in music,” dori shares. “And when things get difficult or tiring in my work, I want to be able to come back to this album and let the memories of this release give me strength.” He also speaks with admiration and respect for Furui as a fellow musician, saying she’s “exactly the kind of artist I used to dream about, like someone I’d see in a movie.” He also goes on to confess to her: “I even feel a little envy knowing you grew up with gospel influences from such a young age. Meeting you, talking with you, and creating music alongside you made me feel your presence and appeal even more strongly.”
This project came to life through the collaboration of Billboard Live — known for hosting leading artists from Japan and abroad — and Billboard Japan Records, working together with ONGRAY. This marks the first time Billboard Japan Records is releasing a project from an international artist. See below for dori and Furui Riho’s comments in full.
dori’s Comment
To be honest, it still doesn’t feel real. It makes me so happy to feel that I’ve been able to follow in the footsteps of artists I’ve long looked up to, even in a small way. Live albums were always something I listened to on CD or streaming, so to release one under my own name — and to do so together with Billboard Japan, a place I’ve often visited — is truly emotional for me.
I know I wouldn’t have made it here without my fans and my team. I’m deeply grateful. A special moment like this release is something I believe will continue to have a big impact on my life in music. And when things get difficult or tiring in my work, I want to be able to come back to this album and let the memories of this release give me strength. Thank you again, from the bottom of my heart.
And to Riho — I truly respect you as a fellow musician. You’re exactly the kind of artist I used to dream about, like someone I’d see in a movie. I even feel a little envy knowing you grew up with gospel influences from such a young age. Meeting you, talking with you, and creating music alongside you made me feel your presence and appeal even more strongly. Your vocal approach — your ad-libs, your melodic lines — are so beautiful that I genuinely want to learn from them. On stage, and even in rehearsal, I was able to be at ease and have so much fun.
Everyone — Riho is truly a captivating artist. Please go listen to her song “LOA” right now. I’m sure you’ll immediately understand what I mean. Thank you, Riho. Let’s keep making wonderful music together — even after I come back from military service.
Furui Riho’s Comment
It was such an honor to be invited as a guest for this special occasion — dori’s first live show in Japan. And the fact that it took place at Billboard Live, the same stage I had the privilege of performing on last year, made it feel even more meaningful. I’m truly happy we were able to share such a wonderful moment there.
I’ve actually been drawn to dori’s music and listened to it a lot since before he came to Japan. So to be able to stand on the same stage and make music together with an artist I’ve admired felt like a dream. He’s so sincere, and his love for music runs so deep. Every piece he creates is both delicate and powerful, and his voice, his sound, and his sense of creativity all hit me right in the heart.
This time, we performed one of my favorite songs of his, “Sketch,” together. I joined by adding original Japanese lyrics. Because I love the song so much, I also felt a bit of pressure — but the experience was incredibly fun and so special to me. I’m now dreaming of the day we get to create new music together and share it with everyone. Thank you, dori, for finding me and for making music with me. I’d be so happy if many people could feel how special this day was for us.
Trending on Billboard
On charts dated Aug. 8, 2020, Taylor Swift made two of the grandest entrances in Billboard history.
That week, her album Folklore launched at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and “Cardigan,” from the set, bounded in at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Dating to the charts’ starts in 1956 and 1958, respectively, it marked the first time that an artist had debuted atop Billboard’s premier album and song charts simultaneously.
(Swift reacted to the feat at the time by posting a GIF of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in the movie San Andreas, simply marveling, “Oh my God.”)
What started as record-establishing soon became record-extending for Swift, who has upped her career count to seven simultaneous arrivals at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and Hot 100 through the charts dated Oct. 18, 2025, when The Life of a Showgirl and “The Fate of Ophelia” began at the summits of both surveys.
To date, artists have debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and Hot 100 together 17 times, with Swift’s seven such starts followed by Drake’s three. Zach Bryan, BTS, Future, Ariana Grande, Kendrick Lamar, Olivia Rodrigo and Morgan Wallen having crowned both rankings simultaneously upon their bows one time each.
Meanwhile, Swift is the only act to maintain commands of the charts in those instances beyond their first weeks, with Midnights and “Anti-Hero” spending their first two weeks at No. 1 in 2022, while The Tortured Poets Department and “Fortnight,” featuring Post Malone, repeated the achievement in 2024. In November 2025, The Life of a Showgirl and “The Fate of Ophelia” made for the first occurrence of an artist debuting at No. 1 on the tallies simultaneously and holding in their top spots for three straight weeks.
Here’s a look at all the times that artists have made Billboard 200 and Hot 100 debuts twice as nice, opening at No. 1 on the charts side-by-side. (Helping the chances of the honor, artists have more commonly not released preview singles from albums, instead opting to premiere sets in their entireties all at once, in recent years.)
Taylor Swift
Trending on Billboard
At September’s MTV Video Music Awards, a question about Mariah Carey‘s music videos stumped the members of KATSEYE. Just in time for Halloween, the fast-rising pop group has done its homework.
On Tuesday (Oct. 28), KATSEYE dropped a Halloween-themed music video for “Gabriela,” which peaked at No. 40 on the Billboard Hot 100. Emmy-nominated Saturday Night Live star Bowen Yang kicks off the video spoofing Billboard’s Kyle Denis. “We’re honoring Mariah Carey tonight,” he says. “Do you guys have a favorite Mariah Carey music video? We’ll go one by one — I feel like everyone’s got one!”
When Denis asked KATSEYE the question on the real-life VMAs red carpet on Sept. 7, the KATSEYE members answered with blank stares before quickly coalescing around Lara Raj’s answer of her favorite song — “either ‘Obsessed’ or ‘My All’.” In the “Gabriela” music video’s version of events, Yang’s question gives way to a fashion show featuring the group members modeling Carey’s most iconic music video looks. Daniela delivers a roller rink-ready “Fantasy” fit, Lara Raj bares some skin for her “Obsessed” costume, Sophia nails her sailor-themed take on “Honey,” Manon pulls a gorgeous wedding dress in honor of “We Belong Together,” Yoonchae dons a picture-perfect “All I Want for Christmas Is You” Mrs. Claus bodysuit and Megan brings everything home with a “Heartbreaker” costume that helped Yang introduce Bianca, Carey’s beloved music video alter ego.
How does Bianca fit in? According to Yang, “Bianca … really is the ultimate ‘Gabriela.’” From there, KATSEYE launches into a dance performance of “Gabriela,” with each member flaunting their very own Rainbow tank top to pair with their white booty shorts and black knee-high boots.
“I just asked a very simple question, but, go off, KATSEYE,” Yang concludes the video. “You clearly know and love Mariah Carey. Well, that was six eras, one lamb-approved carpet. Happy Halloween, EYEKONS!”
In addition to proving their Mariah Carey fandom, the new “Gabriela” music video also brings the group’s VMAs debut full circle in another way. At this year’s ceremony, where the ladies won push performance of the year, KATSEYE performed a medley of their Hot 100 hits, “Gnarly” and “Gabriela,” at the pre-show.
Check out KATSEYE’s Halloween-themed “Gabriela” music video below:
Trending on Billboard
Chappell Roan won’t be eligible for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame until 2042 — 25 years after the release of her first commercial recording — but she’ll have a chance to check out the proceedings on Saturday, Nov. 8, when she is a guest at the 2025 Induction Ceremony. The Killers, who become eligible for Rock Hall membership much sooner, in 2028, have also joined the lineup.
The 40th annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony is set for the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Previously announced guests who will take the stage to present, perform and honor this year’s inductees are Beck, Brandi Carlile, David Letterman, Doja Cat, Elton John, Flea, Iggy Pop, J.I.D, Killer Mike, Maxwell, Missy Elliott, Olivia Rodrigo, Questlove, RAYE, Sleepy Brown, Taylor Momsen, Teddy Swims and Twenty One Pilots.
As previously announced, this year’s inductees are Bad Company, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Cyndi Lauper, Outkast, Soundgarden and The White Stripes, along with Salt-N-Pepa and Warren Zevon for Musical Influence, Thom Bell, Nicky Hopkins, and Carol Kaye for Musical Excellence and Lenny Waronker for the Ahmet Ertegun Award.
The induction ceremony will stream live coast-to-coast on Disney+ on Saturday, Nov. 8, at 8 p.m. ET, and will be available to stream following the ceremony. ABC will air a primetime special with performance highlights and standout moments on Thursday, Jan. 1, at 8:00 p.m. ET, available the following day on Hulu.
Fans who wish to attend the ceremony in person can purchase tickets at AXS.com.
The 2025 Inductee Exhibit at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland is set to open to the public on Oct 31. It will feature artifacts such as Lauper’s handwritten lyrics to “Time After Time”; the outfits worn by Meg White and Jack White on the cover of The White Stripes’ Icky Thump; a 1979 Gibson Les Paul electric guitar played by Chris Cornell of Soundgarden; and outfits worn by the members of Outkast including the outfit Andre 3000 wore in the “Hey Ya!” music video.
Who qualifies for the Rock Hall? According to their site: “Artists — a group encompassing performers, composers and/or musicians — become eligible for induction 25 years after the release of their first commercial recording. Besides demonstrating unquestionable musical excellence and talent, inductees will have had a significant impact on the development, evolution and preservation of rock n’ roll.”
Billboard’s Live Music Summit will be held in Los Angeles on Nov. 3. For tickets and more information, visit the event’s website.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Trending on Billboard
With 30 million albums sold and hit tracks such as “Out Last Night” and “The Boys of Fall” under his proverbial belt, Kenny Chesney has done it all.
Now, the country music star can add author to his long list of accomplishments with the release of his first book, titled Heart Life Music. The novel speaks to Chesney’s more than three decades in the music industry through ups and downs. It is cowritten alongside journalist Holly Gleason.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
For those looking to learn more about the Tennessee native, you can preorder a hardcover version of his book right now on Amazon for $21.12. A Kindle version retails for $14.99, while a paperback version goes for $36. The book will officially ship on Nov 4. You can also preorder a signed copy of the book at Barnes & Noble for $32.50.
‘Heart Life Music’ by Kenny Chesney
$21.12
$32.50
35% off
$32.50
A book by Kenny Chesney.
The book explores the “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy” singer’s humble beginnings playing for tips at bars in college, fostering his love of connection and music, to rocking stadiums and founding a massive fanclub. Along the way, readers are treated to anecdotes about some of Chesney’s most influential tracks, namely “You and Tequila” off the star’s hit 2010 album, Hemingway’s Whiskey, featuring fellow musician Grace Potter.
From an excerpt published by CBS News in a chapter simply titled “Grace,” Chesney explains how the song is a cover of a track of the same name cowritten by Deana Carter and Matraca Berg for Carter’s 2003 album, I’m Just a Girl. The country singer recalls first coming into contact with Potter’s music, saying he’d felt “blessed” after listening. Chesney wanted something to make his track “shine,” and Potter was the one to do it. “When you’re a dreamer, you can’t not take Door No. 3. That mentality fuels you. Seeking inspiration, wanting to find out has risk involved. Some Door No. 3s don’t work out. But Grace Potter? She’s the epitome of why Door No. 3 is always better than playing it safe,” Chesney writes.
The book offers a rare perspective when it comes to producing music. It’s a look into how the sausage is made, a peek behind the process. If you’re interested in country music or just a big fan of Chesney, we suggest you shop this book now. Fair warning: Once you pick it up, you won’t be putting it down anytime soon.
Trending on Billboard
At just 23 years old, João Gomes has captured Brazil’s heart — and proved it during a free concert for 80,000 people at the Arcos da Lapa, one of Rio de Janeiro’s most iconic landmarks, this Sunday (Oct. 26). The singer recorded a historic DVD featuring some of the biggest names in Brazilian music, including Ivete Sangalo and Zeca Pagodinho, alongside close collaborators Jota.pê and Mestrinho, as well as Dorgival Dantas, MC Cabelinho, L7nnon and BK’, Rua Vitor Vaqueirinho and more.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
The 36°C heat didn’t deter fans who gathered near the big screens. Held in partnership with Riotur, the event featured large-scale infrastructure, including a full stage setup, public services, accessibility measures and a special security and mobility plan for the crowd that packed the Arcos.
Even with a delay of about an hour, the crowd was thrilled by the charisma and easygoing nature typical of the young artist from Pernambuco.
“Calm down, folks! The piseiro is about to start,” João Gomes said as he took the stage.
To open the show, the singer appeared on stage with his son, Jorge, and performed a song dedicated to him. His wife, Ary Mirelle, later joined them on stage.
Next, João invited Tarcisio do Acordeon to join the celebration on a stage designed to resemble a beach, followed by accordionist Mestrinho and singer Jota.pê, close friends who helped create the album Dominguinho. After that, Ivete Sangalo and Zeca Pagodinho made the Rio audience erupt with excitement as they sang samba classics alongside João.
Check out some highlights from João Gomes’ show below.
João Gomes now has over 16.5 million followers. With his charisma and numerous collaborations, the artist is no longer seen merely as a piseiro singer — he has become a kind of “Midas” of Brazilian music. Every project the young artist takes part in turns into a major success.
In early 2025, the project Dominguinho was born, in collaboration with Latin Grammy winner Jota.pê and accordionist Mestrinho. The album inspired a special tour and earned several award nominations.
“João Gomes has a sound that builds bridges between the tradition and the future of Brazilian music,” said Barbara Teixeira, executive producer of Tiny Desk Brasil, in an interview with G1 about João’s selection to open the Brazilian edition of the program.
At the Arcos da Lapa, piseiro echoed like a love cry to the nation — and João Gomes wrote yet another unforgettable chapter in the history of Brazilian music.
Presley Ann / DDG / Halle Bailey
After going at each other since their highly publicized breakup, it appears DDG and Halle Bailey have reached a peaceful resolution for the sake of their child.
TMZ exclusively reports that two musicians have agreed to stop beefing with each other and drop their domestic violence order requests against one another.
They even worked out custody rules for their son, Halo.
Per TMZ:
In a new stipulation filed by the parties and signed off on by the judge, the exes worked out temporary custody issues for their 1-year-old, Halo, while agreeing to dismiss their respective DVRO requests. They each reserved the right to resurrect the DV claims in the event of any future incident of abuse … but, it’s a start to show they’re trying to move past their differences.
As for custody, they’ve worked out a temporary arrangement that gives DDG custody on Wednesdays and certain weekends.
Love Pop Culture? Get more! Join the Hip-Hop Wired Newsletter
We care about your data. See our privacy policy.
TMZ also reports the couple has even worked out holiday visitation schedules, with Halloween being the first test of their new agreement.
This is positive news because it was nothing but pure chaos after the couple split back in October 2024.
The couple, who at one point were madly in love with each other, couldn’t stand each other, giving each other the business in court filings and accusing one another of being abusive.
Now they both agreed to stop taking shots at each other on social media and to stop posting their one-year-old son there.
We hope this peace between the two musicians lasts.
With growing resistance to the current administration’s political stances, many are finding ways to use their constitutional right to free speech despite the backlash it can inspire. In Virginia, an owner of a popular dive bar has a direct message to President Donald Trump and his policies, riling up some of the former business mogul’s MAGA base.
William McCormack, the owner of McCormack’s Irish Pub in Richmond, Va., was profiled in local outlet RVA Mag, highlighting his line of t-shirts that take direct aim at Trump, ICE, and fascism overall. As a result, McCormack has attracted detractors who used Yelp to review bomb his establishment from thousands of miles away. The shirts, which feature the words “F*ck ICE, F*ck Nazis, F*ck Trump” in a circular setup with an “Antifascist AF” stamp in the middle of a shamrock.
From RVA Mag:
The conversation, which started on Facebook and quickly spilled into Google and Yelp reviews, has spread nationally with a predictable mix of support and outrage from commenters in California, New Jersey, North Carolina, and elsewhere. A debate McCormack has welcomed, “I’m protesting our government,” he told me. “It’s literally the very definition of the First Amendment.”
Love News? Get more! Join the Hip-Hop Wired Newsletter
We care about your data. See our privacy policy.
For those not familiar with McCormack, his Irish Pub is something of an institution in Shockoe Bottom. It’s one of the city’s last original dive bars with a deep punk history stretching back to the 1990s. But over the years, he’s successfully branched out as a restaurateur, with his two whisky bars earning recognition both nationally and internationally.
“I’ve never hidden my politics there,” said McCormack, referring to his Irish pub. “It’s bigger than just the bar, it’s what you believe. And it’s what I believe one hundred percent.”
Naturally, the MAGA faithful and other so-called “patriots” are flooding McCormack’s social media feeds with insults and threats to not support his establishment. Sticking to his guns, McCormack didn’t seem necessarily concerned about the potential loss in business and is instead focused on serving those who share his values.
See the shirt and the chatter here.
—
Photo: Getty
