Pop

02 Oct 2023

BTS’ Suga Begins South Korean Military Service: ‘See You All in 2025!’

BTS‘ Suga is in the army. The K-pop superstar recently became the latest member of the group to begin mandatory South Korean military service and before taking off he shared a touching note with ARMY.

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“I was able to come this far thanks to you. And the time has come. I will faithfully complete my duty and come back,” Suga wrote in a message to fans on Weverse, according to the Yonhap News Agency. “Be careful of the chilly autumn weather. Stay healthy and see you all in 2025.”

The news agency also noted that unlike bandmates Jin and J-Hope, Suga has reportedly been ruled unfit for combat duty for undisclosed reasons and will instead serve as a social service agent; BIGHIT Music previously announced that Suga was slated to report for duty on Sept. 22.

In a note to fans before Suga’s report for duty, BIGHIT explained, “There will not be any official events taking place on the day he starts his service or on the day he enters the training camp. We kindly ask fans to refrain from visiting SUGA at his workplace during the period of his service. Please convey your warm regards and encouragement in your hearts only… We ask for your continued love and support for SUGA until he completes his service and returns. Our company will also strive to provide all the support he needs during this time.”

BIGHIT first revealed in October 2022 that BTS — Suga, RM, V, Jin, Jung Kook, J-Hope and Jimin — would not be able to perform together as a group until 2025 due to their mandated military service. Jin was first to enlist, followed by J-Hope and now Suga.

BIGHIT recently announced that it had renewed contracts with all seven members. “The members who are currently serving in the military will have completed their military duty by the start of the renewed exclusive contract period in 2025,” the company said in a statement.

01 Oct 2023

Taylor Swift Fans React to ‘Cornelia St.’ Sign Televised During Chiefs-Jets Game

Taylor Swift fans were not amused by NBC Sunday night (Oct. 1). Mid-game — when the Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets were tied 20-20 — the camera once again made its way to Swift, who was there with a group of celeb friends to support her rumored romantic partner, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Swift has provided some wildly fun reactions to the Chiefs’ touchdowns this weekend and last, and seemed to be enjoying herself Sunday. But at this point of the game, she looked stressed.

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Cue a shot of … the “Cornelia St.” sign? “Cornelia Street” is subjectively one of Swift’s saddest songs, which she penned about the time she rented a place on New York City’s Cornelia Street, and how she was “so terrified of if you ever walk away, I’d never walk Cornelia Street again.”

“And I hope I never lose you, hope it never ends/ I’d never walk Cornelia Street again,” Swift sings in the chorus. “That’s the kind of heartbreak time could never mend. I’d never walk Cornelia Street again.”

“Cornelia Street,” which appears on 2019’s Lover, is widely assumed to be inspired by the early days of her long-term relationship with ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn. Swift dated the actor for six years before parting ways earlier this year, with sources noting that “the relationship had just run its course.”

Now that she’s being linked to Travis Kelce — regularly showing up at his games to cheer him on, and hanging out with his mom — seeing a random shot of the actual “Cornelia St.” sign before a commercial break Sunday night startled fans.

“What’s up with the cut to Cornelia st,” one tweeted with the “dead” emoji.

Another fan pointed out in a tweet: “BRO WHY DID THEY JUST SHOW CORNELIA ST????!? READ THE ROOM.”

“THEY DID NOT JUST SHOW TAYLOR AND THEN CORNELIA ST I CANT,” another wrote, while someone else said, “NOT CORNELIA ST I FEEL SICK.”

“Showing Cornelia St wasn’t the Easter egg they thought it was,” another added.

“That dissolve transition to the Cornelia St sign is VILE,” one fan tweeted.

See Swifties’ reactions to this curious choice below.

01 Oct 2023

Taylor Swift Arrives at Chiefs-Jets Game to Watch Travis Kelce With Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds & More

Taylor Swift is in her Sunday Night Football era. Swift arrived to watch Travis Kelce — tight end and Swift’s rumored beau — and the Kansas City Chiefs face off against the New York Jets Sunday (Oct. 1).

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Swift’s night at the game marks the second public appearance/football date where the 1989 hitmaker showed support for the Chiefs’ No. 87.

Swift’s guests at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Sunday included plenty of star power: The pop icon was accompanied by friends Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds. She was seen hugging Sabrina Carpenter as she entered the stadium. Hugh Jackman was also spotted. (Swift and Lively were also photographed arriving together at a dinner in New York City the night before.)

Taylor Swift Blake Lively Ryan Reynolds

Taylor Swift, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds look on prior to the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on October 1, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey

Dustin Satloff/Getty Images

“Welcome to New York, it’s been waiting for you,” the official NFL account tweeted to Swift on X before the game began, sharing a clip of her greeting others at the stadium. They continued to share clips of Swift enjoying herself throughout the night, and caught her reaction to a touchdown.

Last Sunday (Sept. 24) in Kansas City, Swift also showed up for Kelce, going wild when he scored a touchdown. “Let’s f—ing go!” she was seen on camera calling out as she cheered alongside Mama Kelce; Fox Sports‘ coverage cut to Swift frequently that night. Travis and Taylor were seen leaving Arrowhead Stadium and riding off together in a getaway car, according to photos acquired by TMZ, and they attended an afterparty.

NBC used Swift’s “Welcome to New York” in a TV commercial earlier this week to promote the Chiefs’ vs. Jets game.

01 Oct 2023

Britney Spears Criticizes Police After Welfare Check Over Fake Knives Dance

Britney Spears is lashing out at police for conducting a welfare check after she shared a video of herself dancing at home with knives.

“Is it a joke in the news again with welfare checks??? Come on America … we cooler than that, right ??? The officers came to my home and said they would not leave until they spoke to me as people do 4 minute performances with them,” the pop star, 41, wrote on Instagram Saturday (Sept. 30).

Last week, Spears worried fans when she posted a clip on Instagram of herself dancing with what appeared to be two large kitchen knives. The concern prompted authorities to perform a wellness check on the singer, according to the Los Angeles Times. She later explained that the knives were fake and rented from a prop shop in L.A.

“I am getting an apology. I’ve been bullied in my home for so long now…ITS ENOUGH! Don’t talk about it, come on, let’s DO !!!” Spears continued.

The “Piece of Me” singer’s message, which featured a photo of a ballerina balancing on a pair of knives, also took aim at her mom, Lynne Spears.

“As my mom does the silent treatment when paps ask questions about her own daughter as if I’m in the wrong…nope it’s an old game. People need to be responsible for their actions!” she wrote.

Spears concluded her post, writing, “It’s about power for cops.”

See Spears’ post on Instagram below.

30 Sep 2023

Travis Kelce & Chiefs Trade Friendship Bracelets on TikTok Like They’re at a Taylor Swift Concert: Watch

The Kansas City Chiefs took part in a Swiftie-approved pre-game day activity this weekend: handing out friendship bracelets to each other. Amid all the chatter about tight end Travis Kelce’s possible romance with Taylor Swift, the Chiefs’ TikTok seemingly gave a nod toward where the maybe-couple’s courtship began on Saturday (Sept. 30).

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“We’re all BFFs over here,” a caption on the Chiefs’ TikTok account says in the new friendship bracelet-themed post. The caption was topped off with the emoji that shows a smiling face surrounded by hearts.

In the TikTok clip, Kelce reacts to a bunch of friendship bracelets by throwing his head back and laughing before accepting one that spells out “Killa Trav.” “I know what these are all about,” he says, looking right at the camera.

Kelce has said that he tried to meet Swift and give her a friendship bracelet with his phone number when he saw her perform in Kansas City on The Eras Tour this summer, but it didn’t work out. “I was a little butt-hurt I didn’t get to hand her one of the bracelets I made for her,” he admitted in an episode of his New Heights podcast, which he records with his brother Jason.

The New Heights podcast’s TikTok account left this comment on the Chief’s post on Saturday: “Nothing better than a good friendship bracelet.”

Fans of both the Chiefs and Swift seemed to enjoy the reference to The Eras Tour on TikTok, with some even noticing Travis Kelce doing a hand movement in the clip that’s similar to one of the pop star’s dance moves. “not the bejeweled hands,” one person commented with the crying-face emoji. “I love him.”

Last weekend, Swift, who was seated beside Kelce’s mother in a suite, very visibly cheered on the Chiefs during their game against the Chicago Bears, and left the stadium with Travis. She’s rumored to be attending the Chiefs-Jets game on Sunday (Oct. 1).

In a new NBC television commercial, Swift’s “Welcome to New York” is used as background pump-up music for clips promoting the Chiefs’ game against the New York Jets. Kelce is featured heavily throughout, and the official Sunday Night Football account tweeted that the clip was “Taylor Made for Sunday Night.” According to an NFL blog post, Swift’s team reportedly declined Fox Sports‘ request to use her music during the actual game last Sunday, “in conjunction with speculations on or about her private/personal/dating life.”

The Eras Tour friendship bracelet trend stems from a lyric from Swift’s Midnights track “You’re On Your Own, Kid”: “Make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it.” Swifties took that thought to heart and made trading friendship bracelets a fun part of their concert experience.

Check out the Chiefs’ good-natured TikTok clip involving friendship bracelets here.

30 Sep 2023

P!nk Reschedules Texas Concert Due to Illness: ‘I Am So Disappointed’

P!nk‘s Summer Carnival Tour hasn’t quite gone as planned in Texas. She had to kick out a concertgoer for making her show his platform to protest circumcision earlier this week in San Antonio, and on Friday (Sept. 29) she had to call off her concert in the Dallas area on doctor’s orders.

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“Hi everyone. I’m very sorry to report that I have come down with a bad sinus infection, and the doctor advised me not to perform tonight. I am so disappointed,” P!nk wrote in a message on Instagram hours before that night’s show scheduled at Arlington’s Globe Life Field.

She added, “You know I do everything in my power to never miss a show.”

While some fans left comments of regret about traveling in for the concert, others were understanding that the singer’s health comes first. Fortunately, P!nk already has plans in place to make up for the canceled show.

“I will be rescheduling tonight’s show at Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX for Sunday November 26th of this year. All tickets will be honored, and it will be a phenomenal show. I hope to see you then, and again, am so deeply sorry for any inconvenience this has caused. It is never my intention. Sending you all love,” said P!nk.

Following the postponed concert date, P!nk is next scheduled to play a show in San Diego on Oct. 3.

See the statement she posted below.

30 Sep 2023

Olivia Rodrigo Performs ‘If It Makes You Happy’ With Sheryl Crow, Debuts ‘Lacy’ & ‘Making the Bed’ Live

Six years before Olivia Rodrigo was born, Sheryl Crow‘s “If It Makes You Happy” was charting in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. Decades later, the hit singer-songwriters got together at Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe for a duet of Crow’s ’90s hit.

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“pinch me! sang one of my favorite songs of all time with the greatest of all time @sherylcrow !!!! what an honor!!!!” Rodrigo wrote on Instagram, where she shared a photo with Crow and a video of their “If It Makes You Happy” performance, on Friday night (Sept. 29).

“Funnest day ever with the amazingly brilliant @oliviarodrigo! What a talent!! And the loveliest young woman!” Crow said, sharing Rodrigo’s post on her Instagram page.

A video shows the pair harmonizing on the chorus: “If it makes you happy/ It can’t be that bad/ If it makes you happy/ Then why the hell are you so sad?”

Rodrigo, guitar in hand, also performed the Guts ballad “Lacy” live for the first time during her appearance at the Bluebird Cafe, as well as the album’s lead single “Vampire” on piano. She also debuted “Making the Bed” (also from Guts) live on piano.

Crow and Rodrigo connected last year at Billboard‘s 2022 Women in Music event, where Rodrigo was presented Woman of the Year by Crow, who praised the example Rodrigo is setting for her generation of artists. “When I came up, women were struggling to be the architects of their own careers,” she said. “So when I see someone like our Woman of the Year Olivia Rodrigo having such incredible success at such an early age, I am blown away.”

“I am such a massive fan of you and your songwriting,” Rodrigo gushed at the time. She noted, “It’s not always easy being a young woman in the music industry, but I’ve found so much strength from the female songwriters who have come before me and paved the way and opened doors for so many young women like me.”

See clips from Rodrigo’s Bluebird Cafe set below.

30 Sep 2023

Donald Trump Shares His Thoughts in on Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce Rumored Romance

Donald Trump is giving his two cents on the rumored romance between Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.

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 on Friday (Sept. 29).

Last weekend, Swift made waves when she attended the Chiefs’ football game against the Chicago Bears in light of her rumored romance with Kelce.

The NFL star’s ongoing courting of the “Anti-Hero” singer began in July, when he tried (and failed) to hand her a friendship bracelet with his phone number on it during her Eras tour stop in Kansas City. He then invited Swift to a football game, which she accepted on Sept. 24, when she shocked football fans and Swifties alike after cheering on the tight end from Kelce’s suite alongside his mom, Donna, as the team beat the Bears.

The pair also left the stadium together, as seen in a clip sports reporter Jarrett Payton shared on X. Kelce and Swift were then spotted riding off together in his convertible, according to photos acquired by TMZ.

NBC also used Swift’s “Welcome to New York” in a TV commercial promoting the Chiefs’ game against the New York Jets on Sunday (Oct. 1). The singer is rumored to be attending the game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

30 Sep 2023

Britney Spears Says She’s Taking Her Divorce From Sam Asghari ‘One Day at a Time’

Britney Spears is trying to stay positive following her divorce.

On Friday night (Sept. 29), the 41-year-old pop superstar took to Instagram to share a lengthy message of gratitude in which she reflects on her split from Sam Asghari.

“I’m in such a beautiful location !!! l’m so lucky to have amazing friends !!! Positive affirmations are important to me at the moment !!!” Spears wrote alongside snapshots of herself cozying up with longtime friend and manager Cade Hudson, whom she was recently spotted vacationing with in Mexico.

The “Piece of Me” singer also touched on the difficulties of looking back on her past while writing her forthcoming memoir, The Woman In Me.

“I say this because I’m going through a divorce and having to reflect my past in a book was … let’s just say not easy !!!” she wrote. “I’m just saying !!! But I take one day at a time learning to breathe !!! Self love is so unbelievably important !!! I woke up and just cried because I felt grateful to be in such a beautiful place !!!”

Asghari, 29, filed for divorce from the pop star in mid-August. The former couple met in 2016 and tied the knot in a star-studded wedding ceremony in June 2022.

In her post, Spears also opened up about her presence on social media and using photo editing apps like Facetune.

“Then I thought about my relation between my life and Instagram at the moment !!! Let’s get this straight !!! It’s addicting … but in my personal opinion the moment you start to take yourself too seriously is when people quit !!!” she wrote. “Hey I’m not promoting FaceTune for the rest of my life but seriously when I have days of depression I look and see the new apps and it makes me feel silly !!! I’m like wow this is cool !!! I see things in a brighter way and so what if it’s enhanced !!!”

The singer added, “I’m just trying to understand people that say they don’t participate in it !!! Yet they’re on complete defense for some reason making accusations and downplaying it by saying all pictures are fake and are all retouched !!! Nothing is real … honestly who f—ing cares !!! If you’re so entitled and perfect why should you even care if someone is experimenting with apps on their phone ??? Why even mention it ??? If you’re so much better than that ??? But are you ??? Come on !!! I love my best friend !!!”

Earlier in the week, Spears worried fans when she posted a video of herself dancing with what appeared to be two large kitchen knives. The concern prompted authorities to perform a wellness check on the singer, according to the Los Angeles Times. Spears later took to Instagram to address the situation.

“I know I spooked everyone with the last post, but these are fake knives that my team rented from Hand Prop shop in LA. These are not real knives. No one needs to worry or call the police,” she wrote on Friday (Sept. 29). “I’m trying to imitate one of my favorite performers Shakira … a performance I was inspired by !!! Cheers to us bad girls who aren’t afraid to push boundaries and take risks!”

See Spears’ post on Instagram below.

29 Sep 2023

Ed Sheeran Says There Will Be No Singles or Music Videos for ‘Autumn Variations’

Ed Sheeran‘s latest project, Autumn Variations, is finally here. The album — released on Friday (Sept. 29) — marks a few firsts for the English pop star, notably with it being his first independent release on his own Gingerbread Man Records, and the lack of promotional singles or music videos for the project.

“Each record before I’ve done, like, all the big going in and doing all these radio interviews, and going on the late-night shows, and doing, doing all this stuff. And this record, there’s not even a single for it. There’s not, there’s not a music video. I’m just putting it out,” Sheeran said of his new strategy in an interview with CBS Mornings that aired the day the set dropped.

The 32-year-old shared that his motivations for forgoing the typical album release model stems from being a big-budget pop star for most of his career. “I wanna put out an independent record,” he explained. “And also, like, I’ve had 12, 13 years of the, being a pop star, and having the pressure of it has to sell this week one, you have to have this hit single, you have to have this. And part of me goes, ‘Why?’”

Sheeran further stated that going the independent route alleviates him of the typical major-label pressure. Of the music industry, the “Magical” singer noted that “everything has to be the biggest and best every time, and then better the next time. I think that’s part of the independent thing, that takes away the pressure. There are no expectations because there’s no company. You have to live with it. You have to be like, ‘I don’t care what people think.’”

Autumn Variations also marks Sheeran’s first record to evoke the feeling of a specific season, inspired in part by the cozy days he’s spent at home with wife Cherry Seaborn and their two daughters. “Me and Cherry cook a lot and we always put on the same sort of records, Norah Jones’ Come Away With Me or Jack Johnson’s In Between Dreams,” he recalled. “I was always like, ‘I don’t have a record like this, that’s just one producer, one mood, one feel.’ So that was very much wanting to go in and create an autumnal feeling or 14 stories about my friends.”

He also revealed that he is still grieving the loss of his best friend, Jamal Edwards. “I don’t know if you ever do [heal]. I think it’s weird to suddenly be like, ‘Cool, I’m fine. I’m not sad about my friend who died anymore.’ It’s definitely not something I think I want to be fixed. I think grief is something that lives with you forever, and some days its worse than others. I think it’s quite respectful to be sad when I think about him,” he said of his late pal, who inspired his Subtract single “Eyes Closed.”

Watch Sheeran’s full interview with CBS Mornings in the video above.