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14 Oct 2023

Aaron Carter’s ‘Final Resting Place’ Revealed by Late Star’s Twin Sister Angel

Aaron Carter’s twin sister, Angel Carter, has revealed the final resting place of the late singer.

On Friday (Oct. 13), Angel took to social media to provide an update on her brother’s burial site. Her post included an image of a bronze plaque featuring a carved portrait of her brother.

“Aaron’s portrait was placed this morning at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills,” she captioned the photo on Instagram. “He adored his fans, and I know how much this would mean to him now having a final resting place where we could all celebrate his life.”

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Angel added, “I invite you to visit, share your memories, and never forget who Aaron was deep down,” followed by a white heart and dove emoji.

Aaron, a former child star and brother of Backstreet Boys’ Nick Carter, died in November 2022 at age 34, with a string of chart hits and TV credits to his name.

Earlier this year, Carter’s autopsy results were released by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner, who ruled his death as accidental and revealed the late star drowned in his bathtub after taking a deadly combination of difluoroethane (the gas used in cans of compressed air) and alprazolam (the generic form of Xanax).

At the time of his younger brother’s death, Nick Carter posted an emotional and devastating memorial to him, writing, “My heart is broken. Even though my brother and I have had a complicated relationship, my love for him has never ever faded. I have always held on to the hope that he would somehow, someday want to walk a healthy path and eventually find the help that he so desperately needed…God, Please take care of my baby brother.”

Other tributes honoring Carter poured in across social media from everyone from Hilary Duff — whom he dated briefly in the early 2000s — and New Kids on the Block to Paris Hilton, Christy Carlson Romano, Melissa Joan Hart and more. Controversy erupted among the onetime teen heartthrob’s fanbase when he was left out of the “In Memoriam” segment at the 2023 Grammy Awards just a few months later.

See Angel Carter’s post on Instagram below.

14 Oct 2023

‘Murdaugh Murders: The Movie’ How to Watch for Free Without Cable

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Murdaugh Murders: The Movie, a two-part film based on the “twisted true story” of convicted killer Alex Murdaugh, premieres on Lifetime on Saturday (Oct. 14).  

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Award-winning actor Bill Pullman portrays Murdaugh, a South Carolina attorney who killed his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, in 2021. Murdaugh was convicted in the gruesome double murder in March. He is currently serving two life sentences. 

Read on for more details on when and how to stream the movie for free without cable.

Where to Watch & Stream Murdaugh Murders: The Movie

The first part of Murdaugh Murders: The Movie premieres Saturday (Oct. 14) at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Lifetime. Part two will premiere on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The movie will also be available to stream on Lifetime.com starting on Sunday (you’ll need a provider log-in to stream).

Can you watch Lifetime live, without cable? Yes! You can watch Lifetime live on Philo, Hulu + Live TV, and DirecTV.

Want to stream for free? Sign up for a free trial to Philo or DirecTV. Philo lets you stream free for the first week ($25/month after the trial period), plus you’ll get access to 70+ channels cable channels including Lifetime, A&E, AMC, BET, ID Network, HGTV, Discovery and TLC.  

DirecTV offers a similar package with 75+ channels, but you can also watch live local channels along with cable channels. The most affordable plans are priced at $65/month for 75+ channels, or $89.99/month for 109+ channels. DirecTV also offers free Starz, Max and other channels with certain packages.

Click below to launch your free trial to DirecTV.

Want to watch Lifetime from outside of the U.S.? You’ll need a VPN such as ExpressVPN or NordVPN to stream internationally.

Watch the trailer for Murdaugh Murders: The Movie below.

14 Oct 2023

How to Watch ‘Saturday Night Live’ Online

A star-studded episode of Saturday Night Live helps to kick off the show’s 49th season, with Pete Davidson taking on the role of host, and Ice Spice making her debut on the 30 Rockefeller Plaza stage as musical guest.

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In a promo for the episode, Davidson is seen wandering the SNL studio when he runs into Chloe Fineman and Bowen Yang. When told that only cast or hosts are allowed in the SNL studio, the comedian agrees and simply replies that he’ll host.

While SNL airs on NBC on Saturday nights at 11:30 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. PT, those without cable don’t have to miss out. With free trials on fuboTV and DIRECTV Stream, NBC is available to stream live online from any device.

For those wanting basic channels (including NBC) without buying a TV plan, Amazon Prime offers a sleek indoor antenna for about $25. See it here. The digital antenna gets you all your local networks, like ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC.

Full episodes of Saturday Night Live are also available the next day on both Peacock and Hulu, which offer seven-day and 30-day free trials, respectively.

14 Oct 2023

Wisin’s 5 Favorite Latin Things | Billboard

Wisin tells us all about his five favorite Latin things backstage at Billboard’s Latin Music Week 2023.

Wisin
Hello, my lovely people. This is W, and these are my 5 favorite Latin things

Wisin
My favorite Latin word…

Wisin
Wow. Sabroso, sabroso. [Tasty, tasty.]

Wisin
My favorite Latin dish is arroz, lechon y mofongo [rice, roast pork and mashed plantains].

Wisin
There are so many things in Puerto Rico, you eat well.

Wisin
My Latin vacations

Wisin
Well, in Puerto Rico, I’m always on vacation.

Wisin
I don’t need a vacation.

Wisin
Puerto Rico is an eternal vacation. 365 days a year.

Wisin
I have many favorite Latin songs

Wisin
I really love Ricky [Martin]’s “Livin’ La Vida Loca.”

Wisin
I think that song was big in that moment and it impacted all of us, so there are many favorites.

Wisin
And from great friends in the genre…and even those outside the genre who have impacted my life with music, so there are many favorites.

Wisin
My favorite Latin athlete

Wisin
Well he’s no longer active, but I really loved Félix “Tito” Trinidad. He’s a retired boxer, a great friend.

Wisin
I think he’s a true representative of the “Boricua.”

Wisin
I remember when he used to fight, and when he came to Puerto Rico, we had the day off.

Wisin
It was a celebration, so Félix “Tito” Trinidad.

14 Oct 2023

Eladio Carrión Takes Over Theater at Madison Square Garden: 5 Takeaways from Sauce Boyz Tour Stop

Surrounded by striking pyrotechnics, amid apocalyptic-like trap and drill beats — punctuated by occasional machine gun sounds — Eladio Carrión made a grand entrance at New York’s Theater in Madison Square Garden.

He was decked out in an outfit reminiscent of Mad Max, rocking a tactical vest and black cargo jeans, with a glimmering B.B. Simon belt. The result was a visual that evoked the image of an urban gladiator stepping onto the stage, an uncanny coincidence considering the superstitious nature of Friday the 13th.

Starting his set at 9:50 p.m., he rallied his ardent fan base, captivating them with a two-hour spectacle that showcased the full spectrum of his career. His performance spanned from the early “SoundCloud days” of Sauce Boyz (2020) to his latest Billboard 200-charting 3MEN2 KBRN, creating a musical journey that left no stone unturned.

His arrival comes one week after he kicked off the second leg of his The Sauce USA tour in Chicago on Oct. 7. The U.S.-born, Puerto Rican rapper expressed his excitement about performing at the legendary Manhattan venue: “You are all here for my first big show in New York at Madison Square Garden. This is a very special day,” he told the audience, reminiscing just a few years ago when he performed in nightclubs.

The enthusiasm was palpable throughout the entire show. It was a mutual exchange of energy with his passionate fanbase, making the performance a memorable one. Presented by Live Nation, Carrión’s tour stops include Las Vegas (Oct. 21), San Diego (Oct. 29), Seattle (Nov. 5) and more before wrapping up Nov. 11 in Miami. 

Here are five takeaways from the trap star’s Sauce Boyz show at The Theater at MSG.

14 Oct 2023

Jada Pinkett Smith Looks Back on Tupac Shakur Kiss, Will Smith Oscars Slap & More

Jada Pinkett Smith is baring it all in the lead-up to her new memoir, Worthy.

In a primetime special on Friday (Oct. 13), the Emmy-winning actress and talk show host sat down with NBC News’ Hoda Kotb for a wide-ranging interview about her husband Will Smith’s infamous 2022 Oscars slap, kissing Tupac Shakur, and much more.

During the broadcast, titled Jada’s Story: An NBC News Special with Hoda Kotb, Pinkett Smith reflected on Smith slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards. The actress revealed that she didn’t realize her husband had struck Rock until a commercial break when her publicist told her, “Chris has left the building and he’s not going to press charges.”

Earlier in the week, Pinkett Smith told People that she hasn’t spoken with Rock since the incident, but that the comedian approached her shortly after the onstage slap and attempted to apologize for his G.I. Jane 2 joke about her nearly bald head, which is caused by her battle with alopecia.

“Chris came down to the end of the stage and tried to apologize to me,” the actress said. “He said, ‘I didn’t mean you any harm.’ I said, ‘I can’t talk about this now, Chris. This is some old s—.’”

Elsewhere during the TV interview, Pinkett Smith touched on her past friendship with late rap icon Tupac Shakur, whom she met in the late 1980s while attending Baltimore School for the Arts in Maryland. “Pac was new. It was my sophomore year, and he looked over, and he saw me, and he just targeted me,” she said, describing him as “charismatic” with a “beautiful smile.”

She added, “He had a little peanut head… He was just this happy, bouncy, energetic, just full of life, vibrant, you know? And I was like, ‘Whoa.’”

Pinkett Smith downplayed any romantic connection with 2Pac, but shared a story about the pair kissing on her back porch. “We both pulled back like ‘What the hell?’” she said, laughing. “It was not for either one of us.”

In a preview of the primetime special, the actress revealed that she and Smith have been separated since 2016 after the couple became “exhausted with trying” to keep their marriage together. She told Kotb that it was not a divorce “on paper,” but it was definitely a divorce in their minds, even as the couple continued to present a united public front.

Pinkett Smith new book, Worthy, is scheduled for release on Tuesday (Oct. 17).

14 Oct 2023

Taylor Swift ‘Eras Tour’ Film Headed Toward $100M Opening at Box Office

Taylor Swift is ready to conquer the box office.

The pop superstar’s new concert film, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, is headed for a $100 million domestic opening, according to early estimates by AMC Theatres, per The Hollywood Reporter. Hollywood studios are reportedly projecting that the movie’s opening weekend could earn between $90-$110 million.

The Eras Tour film grossed a whopping $39 million on Friday (Oct. 13), placing it along other blockbusters like Spider-Man: No Way Home ($39.2 million) and Joker ($39.4 million), THR reports. The concert movie has a chance at becoming the biggest October opening of all in North America if it surpasses Joker, according to Comscore.

By the end of the weekend, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour will likely become the top-grossing contemporary music concert film of all time. Justin Bieber‘s Never Say Never movie, released in 2011, currently sits at No. 1 on the top 10 list with a domestic gross of $73 million, according to boxofficemojo.com.

Following its release on Thursday (Oct. 12), the Eras Tour film had already broken records for single-day advance ticket sales revenue in the AMC Theatres’ 103-year history with $26 million in the first 24 hours of onsale, the company said in early September.

Swift was on hand for the world premiere of the movie at The Grove in Los Angeles on Wednesday (Oct. 11), where she delivered a three-minute speech and gave shoutouts to her band, dancers and, of course, Swifties.

“I’ve always had fun doing this. I can’t believe I get to do music as a career. That’s crazy,” the singer said. “I’ve always had so much fun doing it. I’ve never had this much fun in my life as I have had on The Eras Tour. It is far and away just the most electric experience of my life.”

The movie is also opening overseas, where AMC predicts a global start in the range of $150 million, according to THR. International grosses will be available on Sunday (Oct. 15).

14 Oct 2023

Nicky Jam Explains the Stories Behind These Photos | Billboard

Nicky Jam explains the stories behind these photos backstage at Billboard’s Latin Music Week 2023.

Nicky Jam:
Hi, I’m Nicky Jam and I’m taking you Behind the Photos with Billboard.

Okay, so this picture right here was taken on my way back from tour. I was touring for two months in Europe and finally, I was coming back to my house here in Miami so I was really happy. And it was two months so two months is crazy. So you could tell I was really tired here.

Now this picture is, it’s an epic moment because it’s me, Karol G, J Balvin, as you see, and we’re flying on Balvin’s plane in that moment. He bought, at that time, he doesn’t like talking or bragging so I’ll brag for him. He bought a global like one of the biggest private planes so we were all happy on his new plane and we were flying to do the remix video for “Poblado.” That’s that moment right here.

Now this moment is just me going crazy. This is me trying to look like Feid when we came out with the song. No, actually we were going to Medellín to do a rally with a whole bunch of motorcycle people. The whole city came out and showed me love and I needed my beard again. So I drew my beard like I painted my beard. And if you see a picture you won’t notice but I did my beard again myself. So there you go, Nicky Jam. Boom. Feid Jam!

Watch the full video above!

14 Oct 2023

Once a Sad Boy, Always a Sad Boy: Junior H Brings Corridos & Moody Tunes to Chicago

Chicago’s gloomy Friday the 13th was the perfect setup for Junior H’s Sad Boyz Tour stop at the Allstate Arena. The Mexican corridos singer returned to Chicago five months after he performed at the city’s Sueños Festival in May in Grant Park. This time, he sang at the venue — located northwest of Chicago — with a capacity of nearly 20,000 people.  

“Ese grito de mis niños tristes esta noche (I want to hear from all my sad boys tonight),” Junior H said throughout his sold-out show. The sad boy lifestyle has become a brand for the artist who first delivered his $ad Boyz 4 Life album two years ago. Since, Junior H’s career has catapulted to chart success and massive tours in the U.S. and in Mexico.

On this particular night in Chicago, he was clad in sporty black slacks, a hoodie that read on the back, “enjoy the ride through the neighborhood,” and crisp white Air Force sneakers — but his accessories were anything but that. Besides his gold-accentuated dark sunglasses, a diamond-heavy chain adorned his neck.

“Are we drinking or are we not drinking?” he asked a crowd that was ready to kick off their fin de semana (weekend) with Junior H. Throughout his two-hour set, he performed songs such as “Lady Gaga,” “Tronando Ligas,” “El Azul,” “Luna,” “Disfruto Lo Malo,” “Bipolar,” “Fin De Semana” and “Abcdario.” He was backed by a full banda, a norteño ensemble and his corridos band, which includes a tololoche and a requinto. His ability to navigate regional Mexican music subgenres such as norteño, banda and corridos on the stage is what makes Junior H a standout act among a crowded field of young artists.

Signed to Rancho Humilde, Junior H rose to stardom four years ago alongside labelmate and corridos tumbados pioneer Natanael Cano. Most recently, Junior H released his new album, $ad Boyz 4 Life II, on Oct. 6. A sequel to $ad Boyz 4 Life, which peaked at No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Album. The new album is just as moody and personal with songs powered by prickly requintos and brassy instruments such as a trombone, a trumpet or tuba.  

Throughout his short but fruitful career, Junior H has scored three No. 1 albums on the Regional Mexican Airplay chart. He’s also entered five songs on the Hot 100 this year alone. All are collaborations with fellow música mexicana hitmakers such as Peso Pluma, Gabito Ballesteros and Oscar Maydon.  

Junior H continues his trek in New York with a show at Kings Theatre in Brooklyn on May 15. He’ll then make stops Texas cities such as El Paso, San Antonio and Irving before wrapping up Dec. 2 in Hidalgo.

14 Oct 2023

Gloria Estefan & Daughter Emily Announce New Musical & More Uplifting Moments in Latin Music

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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The Estefans’ New Musical

Gloria Estefan announced that she will be penning the music and lyrics for an upcoming original musical alongside her daughter, Emily Estefan. In a recent Instagram post, the award-winning Cuban-American artist said she will be the music supervisor of the forthcoming “Five Notes,” a musical inspired by Paraguay’s Orquesta De Reciclados De Cateura, and which is written by Karen Zacarías and directed by Michael Greif. Based on the “Landfill Harmonic” documentary, “ this is a story that celebrates the power of music, resilience and community,” reads Estefan’s post. Dramaturg Ken Cerniglia and Alex Lacamoire will also form part of the project. 

Britney Meets Los Colombianos

To everyone’s surprise, Britney Spears was spotted hanging out with two of Colombia’s biggest acts, J Balvin and Maluma, this week. The latter shared a photo on his Instagram account, where Spears and Balvin are hugging tight and he’s off to the side with an annoyed smirk. “Who’s like me when it comes to love?” he jokes in the caption. Also joking about their encounter, Spears shared a recap reel on her account, and wrote: “Quick trip to NY…I had no idea who these boys were at this restaurant.” Not much has been said about the meet-up (could a collaboration be in the works?) but check out the photo below:  

A Charro at The Capitol

This week, Alejandro Fernandez visited The U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. to receive a House Resolution recognition by Representative Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC). “Yesterday was one of those days that stay in memory. Not only for the pride of walking dressed as a charro through one of the most important buildings in the world, but for receiving this recognition from the hands of my Latin brothers,” the Mexican artist expressed on his Instagram. “Generations of struggle, growth, and love culminate in one of the greatest honors of my life.” 

Honored for his contributions to Mexican music and Latino culture, as well as humanitarian, Barragán expressed in a statement: “Alejandro not only creates music that millions of people enjoy across the globe, but he’s using his platform and robust following to empower the Latino community through his artistic talents. He’s also been a strong advocate of our continued work to establish the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino on the National Mall. The CHC applauds Alejandro for his lifetime commitment to uplift Latino culture through music, and I look forward to his continued support of our efforts to serve Latinos across the country.

Bad Bunny’s Back!

In true Bad Bunny fashion, the artist surprised fans with a new album, Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va A Pasar Mañana, this week. Marking his seventh studio set, following the historic Un Verano Sin Ti, the Puerto Rican act unleashed a 22-track LP that, for the most part, goes back to his trap essence. He also reeled in some of his longtime collaborators such as Arcangel, Mora, and Ñengo Flow, as well as Feid and Young Miko, to name a few. Unlike Un Verano that showcased lyrics of being in love and summer beach days in Puerto Rico, Nadie Sabe is about his priorities, his growth, his wins, and his downfalls. 

“I hope you can enjoy this album that I did with a lot of work,” he expressed on his WhatsApp Channel to his over 16 million followers. “All my projects have been done with lots of love for you, but this album, specifically, is 100% for you like no other.” See Billboard’s ranked list of all the songs on Nadie Sabe, here.

The Karol G Scholarships 

As part of its “Becas Con Cora” initiative, Karol G’s “Con Cora” Foundation announced the launch of its new program, “Becas Con Cora en Educación Superior” (“Con Cora Scholarships in Higher Education”), to empower the talented female leaders of today and tomorrow. Through the EAFIT Medellín University, the scholarships “will cover 100% of the beneficiaries’ university tuition for the duration of the undergraduate program, in accordance with the requirements established in the scholarship regulations,” according to a press release. The application period is already open and runs until Nov. 19. Though there’s no nationality restriction, applicants must be residents of Valle de Aburrá in Colombia and demonstrate having a social mission. For more information, visit here.