News

27 Nov 2023

Taylor Swift Poses Backstage With Family of Fan Who Died at Rio De Janeiro Show

The family of Ana Clara Benevides Machado — the 23-year-old Taylor Swift fan who died before one of the singer’s Eras Tour gigs in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil earlier this month — was on hand Sunday night (Nov. 26) in São Paulo to see the show and meet the star.

People magazine reported that Swift invited Machado’s family to her final Brazilian tour stop and, according to pictures posted on X, she also met the group backstage and posed for a picture with the Machado’s, who were all wearing shirts with images of Ana Clara on them; a source close to Swift confirmed the invitation and the photo with Machado’s family.

Machado died on Nov. 17 before Swift’s show at Estadio Nilton Santon in Rio after falling ill at the show, where first responders attended to her before she was transferred to a local hospital, where she died. Nine days later, her family watched Swift’s show from a VIP tent on the floor of — per pictures and video posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Swift was shaken by the news of Benevides’ death, posting he reaction in an Instagram Story in which she said, “I can’t believe I’m writing these words, but it’s with a shattered heart that I say we lost a fan earlier tonight before my show. I can’t even tell you how devastated I am by this. There’s very little information I have other than the fact she was so incredibly beautiful and far too young.” 

She said she would not be able to speak about the loss from stage because she felt “overwhelmed by grief when I even try to talk about it. I want to say now I feel this loss deeply and my heart goes out to her family and friends.”

Following his daughter’s death, Machado’s father, Weiny Machado, spoke to a Brazilian newspaper last week about the loss of his only daughter, who he called a “happy and intelligent girl… I have no words to express my pain. She left home to fulfill a dream and came back dead.” NBC News reported that the Rio Civil Police launched an investigation into the company behind the Swift shows in Brazil, Time4Fun, just days after Machado’s death.

A spokesperson for the Civil Police Department of Rio de Janeiro told NBC that its consumer delegations department had launched an inquiry into “the crime of endangering the life and health” of concertgoers. The shows in Rio were held during a record-breaking heat wave in which temperatures at the stadium reportedly reached a heat index above 130 degrees Fahrenheit; Swift postponed one of the weekend shows due to excessive heat.

The department told NBC that the investigation is not directly connected to Machado’s death; the young fan reportedly passed out during the second song of Swift’s set and experienced cardiorespiratory arrest, though the official cause of death has not yet been announced.

See a pic of Swift with the family below.

27 Nov 2023

Jennifer Lopez Announces ‘This Is Me…Now’ Release Date, Plus Details About First Single & Film

Jennifer Lopez’s long-awaited new album, This Is Me…Now, has a release date.

J. Lo’s ninth studio album will arrive on Feb. 16, 2024, through Nuyorican/BMG, she announced Monday morning (Nov. 27).

It’s the star’s first full-length solo release in nearly a decade. Her last album, 2014’s A.K.A., reached No. 8 on the Billboard 200 and featured Billboard Hot 100-charting singles “I Luh Ya Papi,” “First Love” and “Booty.”

This Is Me…Now is the sister album to 2002’s This Is Me…Then, which was dedicated to her partner at the time, Ben Affleck. Lopez and Affleck have since rekindled their romance, and the couple married in 2022.

The new album is written and executive produced by Lopez and Rogét Chayed, along with Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman and HitBoy. Additional songwriter-producers are Angel Lopez, Drew Love, INK and Prince Chrishan. BMG’s Brandon Riester serves as A&R.

The first single fans will hear from This Is Me…Now is titled “Can’t Get Enough,” and it’ll be here in the new year, on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024. “Can’t Get Enough” will mark Lopez’s first release under her recording and publishing partnership with BMG.

On the same day of Lopez’s new album release, This Is Me…Now: The Film, which has been acquired by Amazon MGM Studios, will become available globally on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories. She first teased the project over the weekend, sharing an 18-second clip with fans.

The Nuyorican Productions and Dave Meyers-directed film is described as a “narrative-driven, intimate, reflective, sexy, funny, fantastical and highly visual musical reimagining of her publicly scrutinized love life.” J. Lo’s husband Affleck appears in the writing credits with the star and Matt Walton.

Additional This Is Me…Now: The Film credits include story by Lopez, Meyers and Chris Shafer; produced by Nathan Scherrer; and executive produced by Lopez, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, Benny Medina and Courtney Baxter on behalf of Nuyorican Productions.

Lopez, of course, stars in the This Is Me…Now film, and additional cast members are yet to be announced.

27 Nov 2023

Jack Harlow Eyes Third Week at No. 1 In U.K. With ‘Lovin On Me’

Christmas songs are coming, fast, but for now Jack Harlow has the hottest single in the U.K.

The Louisville singer and songwriter leads the U.K. chart blast with “Lovin On Me,” which has already clocked up two weeks at No. 1.

Based on sales and streaming data captured by the Official Charts Company, “Lovin On Me” has the advantage after the first weekend of the chart cycle.

Meanwhile, bouncing EDM track “Prada” (Ministry of Sound) by cassö, RAYE & D-Block Europe is forecast to hold at No. 2, while singer and songwriter Noah Kahan continues to climb with “Stick Season” (Republic Records), his breakout song. It’s up 4-3 on the First Look chart, and, if it holds its position, would mark a new career high for the U.S. artist.

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Brits love a Christmas song, and this year is proving no different. Less than a month before Santa hands out the presents, three holiday themed numbers should get the gift of a top 10 appearance when the Official U.K. Singles Chart is published late Friday, Dec. 1.

Leading the way is Wham’s “Last Christmas” (Epic) at No. 6 on the chart blast, ahead of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” (Columbia), while Sam Ryder is on the brink of his second top 10 appearance with his Amazon Music Original “You’re Christmas To Me” (East West/Rhino), flying 50-10 on the chart blast. Ryder is something of a national hero after he represented the U.K. in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 with “Space Man,” which finished first in the jury vote and second overall, behind the Ukraine’s entry, Kalush Orchestra’s “Stefania”. “Space Man” is Ryder’s only U.K. top 10 appearance to date, peaking at No. 2.

Further down the chart blast, Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” (MCA) is set to climb 31-17 and Jorja Smith’s cover of East-17’s “Stay Another Day” (FAMM), also an Amazon Music Original, could fly 75-18, a new peak. “Stay Another Day” should give Smith a sixth U.K. top 40 hit.

As previously reported, Christmas came early to the U.K. singles chart earlier this month as those evergreen records by Wham! and Carey made their earliest annual appearance on the chart.

The chart race for the coveted Christmas No. 1 starts Dec. 15.

27 Nov 2023

Coco Jones, Janelle Monae, Muni Long, BJ the Chicago Kid Perform at Soul Train Awards 2023 Hosted by Keke Palmer

In kicking off BET’s “house party of the year” — aka Soul Train Awards 2023 — host Keke Palmer ticked off three rules for the annual affair premiering Nov. 26, whose top winners were SZA, Usher and Victoria Monét.

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

“Welcome to Keke’s,” said a grinning Palmer to the mix of nominees, performers, presenters and invited guests ensconced on sofas in the opulent backyard of a Beverly Hills mansion. “Rule No. 1: Act like you all got sense. No. 2: Treat my furniture like it’s your own. And No. 3: When you’re at a Keke party, get up when the spirit moves you!” And those gathered did just that despite the uninvited, blustery presence of Los Angeles’ signature Santa Ana winds. In fact, at one point during the pre-taped show, Palmer humorously noted, “I feel like my wig is falling off.”

One special note: In tandem with the Soul Train Awards saluting the end of the writer’s strike, it was announced that for the first time in Soul Train history, the 2023 writing team was comprised of all females of color.   

Featuring a cross section of established and emerging R&B/soul artists, the two-hour telecast’s performance highlights included:

Spirit of Life Award honoree Janelle Monae. Bedecked in a colorful flowered cape, matching boots and head crown and backed by an all-female horn section, Monae immediately revved up the proceedings, energetically sashaying her way through “Float” and “Champagne Shit.” Both tracks are from her latest album The Age of Pleasure, Grammy-nominated in both the album of the year and best progressive R&B album categories. 

Muni Long, who joined forces with fellow Grammy winners Jermaine Dupri (who introed the performance) and Bryan-Michael Cox (providing piano accompaniment) on “Made for Me” —which the trio also co-wrote with Jordan XL. Dressed in sparkling silver trousers accented by a white blazer that was adorned by a long sheer train in the back, Long delivered a nuanced performance of her latest single. Boosting the ballad’s emotional quotient: the take-me-to-church, soul-searing vocals of Long’s six backing vocalists.

This year’s Soul Cypher, which featured R&B artists Nicci Gilbert (lead vocalist of girl group Brownstone), Arin Ray, Eric Bellinger and Marsha Ambrosius (one-half of the duo Floetry). Accompanied by Cox — who also doubled as the show’s DJ — the quartet freestyled over Usher’s 2001 Hot 100 No. 1 “U Got It Bad,” co-written by Dupri and Cox. Noted Ambrosius during her mic turn, “The last time I was here, I won song of the year.” Sealing the deal: the group’s pristine harmonizing on the song’s hook as the cypher came to an end.

A double showing by Coco Jones, who also won best new artist. Jones first delivered a mesmerizing performance of her London on da Track-produced single “Double Back,” which samples the SWV hit “Rain.’” Then that revered group’s members Cheryl “Coko” Gamble, Tamara “Taj” George and Leanne “Lelee” Lyons took center stage and showed off their still potent vocalizing on “Rain,” with Jones joining the trio to close out the performance. Later in the show, Jones teamed up with BJ the Chicago Kid on their mid-tempo single “Spend the Night” — which host Palmer rightfully described as “the melodic pairing we didn’t know we needed.”

Speaking of Palmer, the actress also turned in an riveting performance by way her latest single,  “Ungorgeous.” Among the song’s lyrics is the line, “I’m tired of proving myself to you.” After sustaining a long note just before the ballad’s cold stop, Palmer the singer didn’t have anything to prove given the audience’s enthusiastic response.

The evening’s closing highlight was the presentation of the Legend Award to T-Pain. Rapper, activist and longtime friend David Banner spoke about the “rappa ternt sanga” whose new sound in the mid-2000s “had the whole world sprung. When people copied him, he stood. When people criticized him, he stood. He did not fold. That’s a legend in the making.”

Thanking Banner and his beautiful, “strong wife for dealing with his negatives and flaws” as T-Pain and his real name Faheem Rashad Najm — “a feat I haven’t figured out my damn self” — the artist reflected on turning 39 this year. “Receiving a legend award at 39 may be weird or a little early,” he acknowledged. “I feel like I’ve got two or three more songs I could probably do [laughter]. This is amazing. But to the new artists out there, I don’t want you to chase this. I don’t want you to base your life on how many of these people in this crowd can tell you that you can have this. I want you to know that you already got this. You already have this in your mind. on or care what other people say. Be who you are unapologetically. Be who you ever want to be.” 

Then T-Pain shifted the audience into full-fledged party mode with a rollicking, get-up-on-your-feet medley of his many hits. Among those he reeled off were “Got Money,” “Good Life,” “I’m N Luv (Wit a Stripper),” “Bartender,” “Low,” “Blame It,” “Buy U a Drank” and “All I Do Is Win.”

27 Nov 2023

Jack Harlow Extends Reign In U.K. With ‘Lovin On Me’

The Brits are still lovin on Jack Harlow.

The Louisville rapper’s latest hit “Lovin On Me” (via Atlantic) enters a second week at No. 1 on the U.K. chart, racking up a market-leading 6 million streams in the latest cycle, the Official Charts Company confirms.

The leader at the midweek stage, “Lovin On Me” is Harlow’s fourth U.K. top 10 appearance, after his 2021 Lil Nas X collaboration “Industry Baby” (No. 3 peak), 2022’s “First Class” (No. 2) and 2023 Jung Kook team-up “3D” (No. 5).

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Meanwhile, club track “Prada” (Ministry of Sound) by cassö, RAYE & D-Block Europe enjoys a resurgence, up 3-2 for its equal best chart position, while Tate McRae’s “Greedy” (Ministry of Sound) lifts 4-3, also its peak spot. “Greedy” is one of the Canadian artist’s two top 40 appearances on the Official U.K. Singles Chart, published Friday, Nov. 24. McRae also bags the highest new entry on the chart with “Exes,” new at No. 12.

There are new peaks for Noah Kahan’s standout “Stick Season” (up 5-4 via Republic Records) and Tyla’s “Water” (up 8-5 via Since 93/RCA), while Mitksi returns to the top 10 with “My Love Mine All Mine” (up 11-10 via Dead Oceans).

Olivia Rodrigo continues to climb with “Can’t Catch Me Now” (Geffen), taken from the latest in The Hunger Games franchise, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. “Can’t Catch Me Now” rises 25-13 in its second week on the tally, and it’s her 11th U.K. top 40 hit.

Christmas is only a month away, and a string of holiday classics are already making their annual charge – five in total. Leading the pack is Wham’s “Last Christmas” (Epic), up 26-14; Mariah Carey is close behind with “All I Want for Christmas is You” (Columbia) up 28-16; while Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” (MCA) reenters at No. 31; Michael Bublé’s “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” (Reprise) is at No. 37; and Ariana Grande’s “Santa Tell Me” (Republic Records) returns at No. 38.

27 Nov 2023

Janelle Monae Invokes the Spirit of Prince, Stevie Wonder, Grace Jones & More During Soul Train Awards Acceptance Speech

One of the highlights of Soul Train Awards 2023 was Janelle Monae’s powerful acceptance speech after being presented with the Spirit of Soul Award during the show’s premiere on BET (Nov. 26).

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Delivered before a rapt and cheering audience, the current Grammy Award nominee’s remarks fervently underscored the core mission of the annual ceremony, launched by Soul Train dance show creator Don Cornelius in 1987.

Here’s the full text of Monae’s nearly five-minute speech:

“There’s nothing like being recognized by your own family. Thank you, Soul Train. Thank you, BET, for keeping soul alive. So many people have reinvented that word. I’m so honored to have something like this for us that continues to evolve and showcase so many different forms of what soul can be. As I think about this moment, [there are these] words: ‘I used to walk into the room head down. I don’t walk, now I float’ [reciting a lyric from their song “Float”]. When I think about where my spirit is today, my spirit is lighter. And as I think about the word spirit, I know y’all have heard this: Let the spirit use you, baby. My grandmother would always say that. And I’m just so thankful for her spirit. Her spirit was one of humbleness. Her spirit was one of taking care of our family. She would always tell me, ‘Take care of your family, baby.’

“And that is what I’ve tried to do since the beginning of my career: take care of my family. Y’all are my family. I wanted to shine a light on our community through my storytelling, through the art that I make through music, movies, fashion; bringing it back around to us, to our Blackness, to our beauty. And I cannot help but think about the spirit of so many who’ve had to whisper to me, ‘thank you,’ in my ear because they did not feel seen. They did not feel safe. And they felt unheard for far too long. I’m thankful to be able to show up for you. I’m thankful to show up for my people in ways that are rooted in love. I’m thankful for that.

“I’m thankful for the spirit of so many who have come before me. The spirit of Prince, whose spirit taught me ‘I’m not a woman. I’m not a man. I am something that you’ll never understand’ [lyric from Prince’s “I Would Die 4 U”]. I’m thankful for the spirit of Nina Simone, who reminds me that my job as an artist is to reflect the times. I’m thankful for the spirit of Grace Jones, who encourages me to remain a free-ass MF. I’m thankful to the spirit of Earth, Wind & Fire for reminding me if there ain’t no beauty, make some beauty. Have mercy [paraphrasing lyric from the band’s “All About Love”]. I’m thankful for the spirit of Stevie Wonder, who reminds me that love is still in need of love today [referencing the icon’s “Love’s in Need of Love Today”].

“As we continue as a people to fight against the systemic injustices and abuses of power that have gone unchallenged for way too long, y’all … we see it around the world. We see what’s happening. I ask us all to please let the spirit of love use you. Let the spirit of kindness use you. Let the spirit of empathy use you. Let the spirit of peace be your guide, always and forever. And may our spirits guide us toward creating a safe and equitable space for our people. May we all experience joy, the spirit of true joy. I love you. Let the spirit use you, baby.”

26 Nov 2023

Madness Prevails on U.K. Chart With ‘Theatre of the Absurd’

The U.K. has had a week of Madness, as Theatre of the Absurd Presents C’est La Vie (via BMG) debuts at No. 1.

Theatre of the Absurd is the pop-ska band’s lucky thirteenth studio album. The leader at the midweek stage of the chart cycle, Theatre of the Absurd is the north London act’s 11th top 10, third leader, and first-ever U.K. No. 1 studio album.

Suggs and Co. previously reigned over the chart with career retrospectives Complete Madness (from 1982) and Divine Madness (1992).

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Theatre of the Absurd manages to go one better than Madness’ 1979 debut album, One Step Beyond, which peaked at No. 2 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart, as did their sophomore set from 1980, Absolutely.

With Madness sweeping the nation, Taylor Swift’s 1989 (Taylor’s Version) (via EMI) is deposed after a three-week stint at No. 1. Swift’s fourth re-recording project dips 1-2 on the national tally.

Meanwhile, Drake’s chart-topping For All the Dogs (OVO/Republic Records) rockets 21-3 following the release of its deluxe Scary Hours Edition.

Dolly Parton proves herself a rockstar once more with her latest LP, Rockstar, starting at No. 5 (Big Machine), for her fifth U.K. top 10 album. Inspired by her induction into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, Rockstar is a collection of rock cover versions, with assists from Miley Cyrus, Sting, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and others.

Further down the list, violinist and showman André Rieu’s Jewels of Romance (Decca) with Johann Strauss Orchestra bows at No. 12 on the Official Chart, published Friday Nov. 24, for the Dutchman’s 20th U.K. top 40.

As the festive season nears, Michael Bublé’s Christmas is heating up again, rising 32-16. Also, U.S. alternative rock act the National snag a sixth U.K. 40 album — and second this year — with Laugh Track (4AD), new at No. 24. It’s the followup to First Two Pages of Frankenstein, which peaked at No. 4 in May.

26 Nov 2023

Taylor Swift Debuts ‘Say Don’t Go’ & ‘It’s Time to Go’ Live at Final Eras Tour Show of 2023

Taylor Swift put together a themed set of surprise songs for the final Eras Tour concert she’ll play in 2023.

The São Paulo, Brazil, crowd loudly chanted “Reputation” during Swift’s acoustic set Sunday (Nov. 26), but did not get Reputation surprise songs.

Instead, at Swift’s Sunday night concert at Allianz Parque stadium — the 13th international date on The Eras Tour, and the last date until the tour resumes in February 2024 — she performed “Say Don’t Go” and “It’s Time to Go,” treating the audience to live renditions of both for the first time ever.

The emotionally charged ballad “Say Don’t Go,” which Swift debuted live on guitar, was co-written with Diane Warren and just released in October as a vault track on 1989 (Taylor’s Version).

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Then came the concert debut of “It’s Time to Go,” a track co-written with Aaron Dessner and featured on the deluxe version of 2020’s Evermore.

Swift has been performing two surprise songs each night of The Eras Tour and trying to not repeat them.

“There’s some songs that I still really, really wanna play,” said Swift.

But she explained that when she gets back on tour in 2024, she plans to reset and “make all the songs fair game” again.

Throughout the night, “Rep TV” trended on X as fans widely theorized that Swift might announce the release date of Reputation (Taylor’s Version) during her last concert of 2023. That theory grew stronger when Swift slipped up and said “Rep” instead of “Eras” Tour on stage, while introducing her acoustic set.

Although a Reputation (Taylor’s Version) announcement didn’t happen at the show, it was still a very special one for Swift. Earlier in the night, sitting at the piano during the Evermore era of the set, she told the cheering crowd, “This has been the most magical adventure of my life.”

“We find ourselves on the last night of The Eras Tour 2023,” she said. “This tour is something that I thought of because I really wanted to celebrate all the times you guys have been there for me and put together a show that incorporated all my favorite memories of touring — and I’ve been touring most of my life. I love traveling through these memories with you.”

Watch clips of Swift playing “Say Don’t Go” and “It’s Time to Go” below.

26 Nov 2023

SZA, Usher & Victoria Monét Are Top Winners at 2023 Soul Train Awards: Full List

SZA was the top winner at the 2023 Soul Train Awards, which premiered Sunday, Nov. 26, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET and BET Her. The red-hot star won four awards: best R&B/soul female artist, album of the year for SOS, and both song of the year and the Ashford & Simpson songwriter’s award for “Snooze.”

This is the sixth consecutive year that a female solo artist has won album of the year at the Soul Train Awards. H.E.R.’s H.E.R. won in 2018, followed by Lizzo’s Cuz I Love You, Summer Walker’s Over It, Jazmine Sullivan’s Heaux Tales, Beyoncé’s Renaissance and now SOS.

This marks the second time SZA has won best R&B/soul female artist; she previously won in 2017.

SZA, who was Billboard’s woman of the year for 2023, is this year’s leading Grammy nominee with nine nods, including album of the year and best progressive R&B album for SOS (which logged 10 weeks atop the Billboard 200) and best R&B song for “Snooze” (which reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100).

Usher was runner-up at the Soul Train Awards with three awards, followed by Victoria Monét with two. Keke Palmer hosted the show, which was billed as “the soulful house party of the year.”

Usher won best R&B/soul male artist for the second time. He previously won in 2010 in a tie with Trey Songz. He also won the certified soul award and best collaboration for the hit “Good Good,” on which he teamed with Summer Walker and 21 Savage. That was the only award for Walker, who went into the night with nine nods (tied for the lead with SZA and Usher) and 21 Savage, who was the nominations runner-up with eight.

Monét won best dance performance and video of the year, both for “On My Mama.” That track is up for two Grammys: record of the year and best R&B song.

Coco Jones was named best new artist. She also won in that category at the BET Awards on June 27. Jones, 25, is nominated in that category at the Grammys as well.

Kirk Franklin won the best gospel/inspirational award for the fifth consecutive year, and the sixth time overall, for “All Things.”

Burna Boy, Chris Brown, Janelle Monáe and October London, each of whom received four nominations, were shut out, though Monáe received the Spirit of Soul Award. The show tweaked the name of its Lady of Soul award, which it has presented annually since 2015, “to honor the diversity and inclusivity of this year’s recipient.” Monáe identifies as nonbinary.

Connie Orlando, EVP, specials, music programming & music strategy, oversaw the annual show and executive produced for BET with Jamal Noisette, VP, specials & music programming. Jesse Collins, CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment, served as executive producer, along with Jesse Collins Entertainment’s Jeannae Rouzan–Clay and Dionne Harmon.

Fans can watch encore presentations of the show on Monday, Nov. 27, at 9 p.m. ET/PT and on Wednesday, Nov. 29, at 6 p.m. ET/PT on BET. The show will air internationally on BET Africa on Monday, Nov. 27, at 3 CAT, and on BET France on Tuesday, Nov. 28 at 20:45 PM CET. The show will also be available to watch on My5 and Sky On-Demand in the U.K. beginning Thursday, Nov. 30.

Here’s the complete list of 2023 Soul Train Awards nominees, with winners marked:

Album of the year

The Age of Pleasure, Janelle Monáe

Age/Sex/Location, Ari Lennox

Clear 2: Soft Life EP, Summer Walker

Girls Night Out (Extended), Babyface

I Told Them…, Burna Boy

Jaguar II, Victoria Monét

WINNER: SOS, SZA

What I Didn’t Tell You (Deluxe), Coco Jones

Song of the year

“Back to Your Place,” October London

“Favorite Song,” Toosii

“Good Good,” Usher, Summer Walker, 21 Savage

“ICU,” Coco Jones

“Kill Bill,” SZA

“Lipstick Lover,” Janelle Monáe

“On My Mama,” Victoria Monét

WINNER: “Snooze,” SZA

Video of the year

“Back to Your Place,” October London

“Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2,” PinkPantheress & Ice Spice

“Boyfriend,” Usher

“Good Good,” Usher, Summer Walker, 21 Savage

“ICU,” Coco Jones

“Kill Bill,” SZA

“Lipstick Lover,” Janelle Monáe

WINNER: “On My Mama,” Victoria Monét

“Special,” Lizzo

Best R&B/soul female artist

Ari Lennox    

Beyoncé        

Coco Jones  

H.E.R.    

Janelle Monáe        

Summer Walker      

WINNER: SZA       

Victoria Monét

Best R&B/soul male artist

6lack   

Babyface       

Brent Faiyaz

Burna Boy     

Chris Brown

Eric Bellinger        

October London    

WINNER: Usher

Best group

Dvsn    

Flo        

Jagged Edge

Kool & The Gang     

WINNER: Maverick City Music         

Phony Ppl      

Ronald Isley & The Isley Brothers   

Tank and The Bangas       

Wanmor         

Best collaboration

“America Has a Problem” (Remix), Beyoncé Feat. Kendrick Lamar

“Boy’s a Liar, Pt. 2,” PinkPantheress & Ice Spice

“Creepin’ (Remix),” Metro Boomin, The Weeknd, Diddy Feat. 21 Savage

“Fly Girl,” Flo feat. Missy Elliott

WINNER: “Good Good,” Usher, Summer Walker, 21 Savage

“Sittin’ on Top of the World,” Burna Boy Feat. 21 Savage

“Special,” Lizzo feat. SZA

“To Summer, From Cole (Audio Hug),” Summer Walker, J. Cole

Best new artist

Ambré 

Ayra Starr   

WINNER: Coco Jones  

Doechii

Flo        

Fridayy

Tyla     

Wanmor         

Certified soul award

Anthony Hamilton 

Ashanti

Ciara   

Eric Bellinger        

Monica

PJ Morton     

Ronald Isley & The Isley Brothers   

T-Pain   

WINNER: Usher

The Ashford and Simpson songwriter’s award

“Back to Your Place,” October London

“Favorite Song,” Toosii

“Good Good,” Usher, Summer Walker, 21 Savage

“ICU,” Coco Jones

“Kill Bill,” SZA

“On My Mama,” Victoria Monét

“Sittin’ on Top of the World,” Burna Boy Feat. 21 Savage

WINNER: “Snooze,” SZA

Best dance performance

“Better Thangs,” Ciara Feat. Summer Walker

“Boyfriend,” Usher

“Good Good,” Usher, Summer Walker, 21 Savage

“How We Roll,” Ciara & Chris Brown

WINNER: “On My Mama,” Victoria Monét

“Snooze,” SZA

“Summer Too Hot,” Chris Brown

“Under the Influence,” Chris Brown

Best gospel/inspirational award

“All of the Glory,” Shirley Caesar

WINNER: “All Things,” Kirk Franklin

“Came Too Far,” Fridayy Feat. Maverick City Music & My Mom

“Cry,” Koryn Hawthorne

“Feel Alright (Blessed),” Erica Campbell

“God Problems,” Maverick City Music, Chandler Moore, Naomi Raine

“The Journey,” H.E.R.

“Try Love,” Kirk Franklin

26 Nov 2023

Marty Krofft, Producer That Put ‘Donny & Marie’ and ‘H.R. Pufnstuf’ on TV, Dies at 86

Marty Krofft, the TV producer known for imaginative children’s shows such as H.R. Pufnstuf and primetime hits including Donny & Marie in the 1970s, has died in Los Angeles, his publicist said. Krofft was 86.

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

He died Saturday (Nov. 25) of kidney failure, publicist Harlan Boll said.

Krofft and his brother Sid were puppeteers who broke into television and ended up getting stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Along the way, they brought a trippy sensibility to children’s TV and brought singing siblings Donny and Marie Osmond and Barbara Mandrell and her sisters to primetime.

The Osmonds’ clean-cut variety show, featuring television’s youngest-ever hosts at the time, became a lasting piece of ‘70s cultural memorabilia, rebooted as a daytime talk show in the 1990s and a Broadway Christmas show in 2010. The Kroffts followed up with Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters, centered on the country music star; it ran from 1980-82.

“I am so saddened by the passing of my dear friend, Marty Krofft,” Donny Osmond wrote Sunday in a statement posted on social media. “He and his brother, Sid, created the whole format of The Donny and Marie show. Together, they put my sister and me on the map and both of us will be forever grateful for their vision and creativity. Marty Krofft’s television legacy is incredible. His fingerprint is on generations of entertainment and the impact he’s had in connecting people around the world is an astonishing legacy he leaves behind. Our best wishes and love go out to his family and loved ones. As Marie and I sang at the end of every show, ‘May God keep you in His tender care, ’till He brings us together again.’”

Like the Osmonds, H.R. Pufnstuf proved to have pop culture staying power. Despite totaling just 17 episodes, the surreal show, featuring an island, a witch, a talking flute, a shipwrecked boy and a redheaded, cowboy boot-wearing dragon, came in 27th in a 2007 TV Guide poll ranking of all-time cult favorites.

More than 45 years after the show’s 1969 debut, the title character graced an episode of another Krofft brothers success, Mutt & Stuff, which ran for multiple seasons on Nickelodeon.

“To make another hit at this time in our lives, I’ve got to give ourselves a pat on the back,” Marty Krofft told The Associated Press ahead of the episode’s taping in 2015.

Even then, he was still contending with another of the enduring features of H.R. Pufnstuf — speculation that it, well, betokened a certain ‘60s commitment to altering consciousness. Krofft rebuffed that notion: “If we did the drugs everybody thought we did, we’d be dead today,” he said, adding, “You cannot work stoned.”

Born in Montreal on April 9, 1937, Krofft got into entertainment via puppetry. He and his brother Sid put together a risqué, cabaret-inspired puppet show called Les Poupées de Paris in 1960, and its traveling success led to jobs creating puppet shows for amusement parks. The Kroffts eventually opened their own, the short-lived World of Sid & Marty Krofft, in Atlanta in the 1970s.

They first made their mark in television with H.R. Pufnstuf, which spawned the 1970 feature film Pufnstuf. Many more shows for various audiences followed, including Land of the Lost; Electra Woman and Dyna Girl; Pryor’s Place, with comedian Richard Pryor; and D.C. Follies, in which puppets gave a satirical take on politics and the news.

The pair were honored with a Daytime Emmy for lifetime achievement in 2018. They got their Walk of Fame star two years later.

Sid Krofft said on Instagram that he was heartbroken by his younger brother’s death, telling fans, “All of you meant the world to him.”

While other producers might have contented themselves with their achievements far earlier, Marty Krofft indicated to The AP in 2015 that he no had interest in stepping back from show business.

“What am I gonna do — retire and watch daytime television and be dead in a month?” he asked.