Pop
Page: 318
Katy Perry is ready to close the door on American Idol, and open another chapter in her music career.
Idol will premiere on ABC this Sunday (Feb. 18), marking the TV talent show’s 22nd overall season. It’ll be Perry’s seventh and final season as a judge.
Perry broke the news when she stopped by Jimmy Kimmel Live on Monday night (Feb. 12). “I love the show so much,” she tells the host, “but I want to go see the world and maybe bring new music.”
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
The “Firework” singer has been a judge on alongside Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan since it was revived by ABC in 2018.
“I think this will probably be my last show, my last season for Idol,” she continues. “I love Idol so much. It’s connected me with the heart of America, but I feel like I need to go out and feel that pulse to my own beat.”
Perry is buzzed about visiting Brazil this September to perform at the Rock In Rio festival. “It’s really exciting. It’s a big deal,” she says of her spot on the bill.
By leaving her regular gig on Idol, “let’s just say I’m creating space for my new wingspan.”
Perry can spread those wings far and wide. Last year, Litmus Music, a catalog rights company backed by private-equity giant Carlyle Group LP, said it acquired the rights in five studio albums released for Capitol Records, including her Grammy-nominated Teenage Dream.
Sources told Billboard that Litmus paid $225 million for Perry’s stake in the master recording royalties and music publishing rights to her five albums released between 2008 and 2020 — One of the Boys, Teenage Dream, PRISM, Witness and Smile.
Perry remains the first woman and only second artist ever (after Michael Jackson) to send five songs from the same album to the summit of the Hot 100, which she did with 2010’s Teenage Dream (“California Gurls,” “Firework,” “E.T.,” “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)” and “Teenage Dream”).
2020’s Smile peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 chart, and is Perry’s last full-length studio album.
During her late-night TV stint, Perry also discusses Usher’s Super Bowl performance (“he was awesome”), singing at King Charles’ Coronation, and lodging at Windsor Castle (her mother tagged along. “That’s like the best gift you could ever give your mom”).
Watch the full interview below.
[embedded content]
Turns out, Rod Stewart is not an Ed Sheeran fan. In a new interview with The Times, the 79-year-old star revealed which young artists he believed would stand the test of time. “You mean like ‘Maggie May’? Songs that will be played in 50 years?” Stewart asked, before continuing, “I like whatshisname. Oh f—ing great, Rod. Well done. […]
Taylor Swift is the soundtrack to her own love story. Following the Kansas City Chiefs’ hard-earned Super Bowl victory against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday (Feb. 11), she and Travis Kelce attended an afterparty together and danced along to two of the pop star’s hits: “Love Story” and “You Belong With Me.” In a […]
Mere seconds after starring alongside Emmy-winning actor Tony Hale in a hilarious Verizon commercial during Super Bowl 2024, Beyoncé has finally revealed the second act of the three-act project she announced back in 2022. On Sunday (Feb. 11), the “Cuff It” singer posted a mysterious teaser to her official Instagram page. In the video, an […]
Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton‘s “Purple Irises” tops this week’s new music poll. Music fans voted in a poll published Friday (Feb. 9) on Billboard, choosing the couple’s duet as their favorite new music release of the past week. “Purple Irises” brought in more than 64% of the vote, and beat out new music from 2024 Super […]
Verizon is just like Beyoncé‘s soul: You can’t break it. After days of rumors that the 42-year-old superstar would be leading the company’s Super Bowl 2024 commercial Sunday (Feb. 11), she finally hit TV screens during the game’s third quarter on a mission to disrupt the world’s cell service — and even hinted at new […]
Cardi B is all for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s happiness.
Ahead of the 2024 Super Bowl, where the Kansas City Chiefs would play the San Francisco 49ers, the rapper talked to The Hollywood Reporter on the set of her NYX Professional Makeup commercial scheduled to air during the big game. The spot marks her third Super Bowl commercial, following a Pepsi ad in 2019 and a McDonald’s ad in 2023.
While chatting about the Super Bowl, the topic turned to Swift — who made headlines for her journey from her Tokyo Eras Tour shows to Las Vegas for the game. The pop star arrived to Allegiant Stadium in time to cheer on Kelce and the Chiefs, with her mother and friends including Ice Spice and Blake Lively by her side.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
“I think it’s cute,” Cardi said of Swift dating tight end Kelce, and the public support she gives him. “She looks so happy.”
She added, “I feel like she’s really private with her relationships, so I really feel like she likes him a lot because she’s like, ‘I don’t give a f—. I’m going to kiss him. I’m going to touch him. I’m going to kiss him! Yeah, I’m here. Yeah, I’m taking a jet to see my man.’”
Cardi stars in NYX’s new ad, which has the rapper advertising the brand’s “Duck Face” lip product, which she says will deliver “bigger” and “plumper” results. The spot airing during the Super Bowl is shortened and shows a QR code directing viewers to watch an extended, 60-second version.
Although the “Bongos” star admitted she’s not a huge football fan herself, she said she loved that the idea behind the Super Bowl commercial poked fun at men.
Plus, she was looking forward to Usher‘s halftime show performance.
“I’m not going to say [it’s way overdue] because everything is always on great timing. He came right on time and I’m so excited. He has come back stronger than ever and boom,” she said. “My choreographer has worked with Usher before and he said that he is very strict [and] takes his routine seriously, and that’s why I feel like his shows are so amazing.”
Elsewhere in the conversation, Cardi B said: “In the future, I would like to do a Super Bowl.”
Post Malone shook off his pre-game jitters and delivered a rousing performance of “America the Beautiful” ahead of Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday (Feb. 11). With a guitar in tow, Posty showcased his range, hitting myriad high notes.
The multi-hyphenate was among a starry lineup that included pregame performers Reba McEntire and Andra Day. The country icon tackled the national anthem, while Day sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
Before his performance, Posty touched on his nervousness in an interview with Apple Music’s Nadeska Alexis. “Nerve-racking. I’m very nervous, but excited. I’m excited. It’s just fun and super-epic to be able to go out and sing a song so many beautiful artists have sang before. I’m just gonna do my best, just do my best, and give it what I got,” he said.
Posty revealed how his dad helped calm his anxiety leading up to his rendition. “My dad told me, ‘You’ll never make everybody happy, so just be yourself and do your best at everything you do.’ Do it your way and do it with love,” Malone said.
After Malone, McEntire and Day, Usher will be tonight’s grand musical show, as he was named the halftime performer. Following the likes of Beyonce, Dr. Dre and Bruno Mars, to name a few, Usher will look to cement his place in history as one of the more memorable performers in modern history.
“It will definitely be an event,” he told Billboard of his halftime set. “There are special guests. And I’ve considered new songs. But you know, it’s 12 to 15 minutes. So it’s really hard to determine what moment matters more than others, especially with a new song. But there’s the dance, the wardrobe, the lighting, how long you stay in a song, the fact that the audience may sing along … It’s a lot. So I’m trying my hardest not to overthink it.
Watch Post Malone’s take on “America the Beautiful” above.
Taylor Swift‘s widely talked about arrival to the 2024 Super Bowl from Toyko is here. Baby, let the games begin!
On Sunday (Feb. 11), Swift was shown getting to Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium — where the Kansas City Chiefs will play the San Francisco 49ers — via a video from CBS. She was joined by friends including “Karma” partner Ice Spice, actress Blake Lively and stylist/designer Ashley Avignone, and Swift’s mother, Andrea.
There to support boyfriend and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, Swift paired a red Chiefs bomber jacket (WEAR by Erin Andrews) and her signature red lip with black jeans and a black tank top, and accessorized her sweet Super Bowl look with an “87” necklace and football purse, and heart earrings; 87 is Travis’ jersey number.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Swift was game-ready with her hair pulled back in a cute ponytail styled with a small braid.
In another clip shared by fans on social media, the pop star was spotted in a suite hugging Travis’ brother, Jason Kelce, who also took a moment to introduce himself to Ice Spice.
Swift rushed from the Tokyo Dome to a private jet at Haneda Airport right after her Feb. 10 show, the Associated Press reported on Saturday. At her Tokyo concerts, Travis Kelce jerseys and hats were spotted among the crowd’s Eras-inspired fashion.
At a press conference on Monday, Travis gushed over his girlfriend’s recent Grammys night, where she took home two awards and surprised viewers with the announcement of a new album, The Tortured Poets Department.
“She’s unbelievable,” Travis gushed. “She’s re-writing the history books herself, and I told her I’d have to hold up my end of the bargain and come home with some hardware too.”
While Swift cheers on Kelce from the sidelines, another musical guest will be taking the stage for the Super Bowl Halftime Show presented by Apple Music: R&B icon Usher.
See Swift’s arrival to the 2024 Super Bowl below.
Donald Trump is sharing his thoughts on who Taylor Swift should support in the upcoming 2024 presidential election.
The former commander-in-chief took to Truth Social ahead of Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday (Feb. 11) to express his arguments about why the pop superstar should support him as he potentially faces off against Joe Biden for president this November.
“I signed and was responsible for the Music Modernization Act for Taylor Swift and all other Musical Artists,” Trump began his post. “Joe Biden didn’t do anything for Taylor, and never will. There’s no way she could endorse Crooked Joe Biden, the worst and most corrupt President in the History of our Country, and be disloyal to the man who made her so much money.”
In 2018, then-President Trump signed into law the MMA, which alters the way songwriters and music publishers are paid certain royalties.
“The Music Modernization Act closes loopholes in our digital royalties laws to ensure that songwriters, artists and producers receive fair payment for licensing of music,” Trump said at the time of signing. “I’ve been reading about this for many years and never thought I’d be involved in it, but I got involved in it. They were treated very unfairly. They’re not going to be treated unfairly anymore.”
In his Truth Social post on Sunday, Trump also offered some complimentary words for Swift’s boyfriend, Travis Kelce, who’s facing off against the San Francisco 49ers at the 2024 Super Bowl at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium.
“Besides that, I like her boyfriend, Travis, even though he may be a Liberal, and probably can’t stand me!”
In October 2020, Swift revealed through Twitter (now X) that she would be voting for Biden for president in the U.S. general election. At the time, the singer-songwriter also expressed her opposition of Trump, including his comments on Black Lives Matter protestors in Minnesota and his handling of funding for the U.S. Postal Service.
“The change we need most is to elect a president who recognizes that people of color deserve to feel safe and represented, that women deserve the right to choose what happens to their bodies, and that the LGBTQIA+ community deserves to be acknowledged and included,” Swift told V Magazine for the publication’s “The Thought Leaders Issue.”
“Everyone deserves a government that takes global health risks seriously and puts the lives of its people first. The only way we can begin to make things better is to choose leaders who are willing to face these issues and find ways to work through them.”
Earlier this year, Trump offered his thoughts on Swift and Kelce’s rumored romance. During an interview with the Daily Caller, the former president was asked for his take on the possible romance between the pop superstar and Kansas City Chiefs tight end.
“I wish the best for both of them. I hope they enjoy their life, maybe together, maybe not — most likely not,” Trump said during the sit-down, which was published Sept. 29.