Pop

16 Dec 2024

Benny Blanco Reveals Behind-The-Scenes Video of Elaborate Selena Gomez Proposal

Benny Blanco has already established a reputation as a thoughtful boyfriend with a sweet, creative streak. But in behind-the-scenes video the producer shared over the weekend of his elaborate proposal to girlfriend Selena Gomez, Blanco showed the lengths he’s willing to go to create a truly special moment.

Cookbook author Blanco has gone on the record in the past about making sure that Gomez, 32, has all her favorite foods when they dine together and based on a Dec. 11 Instagram video posted by the singer, Benny popped the question to her while on a romantic Taco Bell picnic.

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But according to E! News, in footage Blanco, 36, shared to his Instagram Story and TikTok over the weekend, the proposal actually went down on a Hollywood soundstage made up to look like a park. In the clips, Gomez is smiling broadly as she clinks champagne glasses with Blanco on artificial grass, with movie lights and production equipment visible in the background.

Blanco popped the question with a marquise-cut diamond ring worth an estimated $225,000. Gomez revealed the good news on Dec. 11 in an Instagram carousel featuring her engagement ring and the caption, “forever begins now.” Blanco responded in the comments, “Hey wait… that’s my wife.”

The couple began dating in December 2023, years after their first collaborating professionally on the 2019 track “I Can’t Get Enough” with Tainy and J Balvin. Gomez got tons of well-wishes from her friends over the good news, including longtime pal Taylor Swift, who wrote in the comments on the engagement post, “yes I will be the flower girl.” Among the other A-list pals offering good wishes in comments were Cardi B, Jennifer Aniston, Lily Collins, Gordon Ramsay, Suki Waterhouse, Gwyneth Paltrow, Julia Michaels and more.

16 Dec 2024

Lady Gaga Recalls Being a ‘Headbanging’ Extra in an AC/DC Video: ‘There’s Only One Move That I Can Do’

Lady Gaga has one mode: all-in. That’s the lesson Little Monsters learned (again) over the weekend when Mother Monster hopped in the car with Zane Lowe for a surprise A Carpool Karaoke Christmas special — which also featured Dua Lipa and Chappell Roan — and talked about the time she was told to dial it back as a music video extra.

While regaling a surprised Lowe with the spicy lyrics to her 2008 single “Christmas Tree,” Gaga also shared a clip of her late grandmother singing AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell,” in a tribute to her granny’s loud, proud love of music. Gaga and Lowe both cracked up at the footage of Gaga’s nana shouting out the lyrics from a living room chair, with Gaga urging, “Get it, grandma!”

After the singer got emotional talking about the lessons she learned from her grandma, Lowe stepped out of the SUV to fetch her a special Christmas gift. That present, was, of course, AC/DC singer Brian Johnson. The pair then shouted out a duet on “Highway to Hell” with Johnson impressed by Gaga’s powerful pipes.

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After an appropriate amount of rocking, Gaga recalled that she was an extra in a 2000 AC/DC music video. “You wanna hear something funny? I was in the ‘Stiff Upper Lip’ video,” Gaga told an incredulous Johnson. “I was 17 and I was an extra in the back.”

The best part? Gaga said she was headbanging, as one does when listening to AC/DC, before she was told to cut it out. “I was headbanging and they were like, ‘hmmm. Don’t head bang, we want it to be modern.’ And I was like, ‘no, there’s only one more that I can do.’”

The bit ended with car fanatic and weekend racer Johnson joking “I don’t have a license!” You can check out the full episode of Apple TV+ now.

Check out a fan screen grab of Gaga’s “Stiff Upper Lip” cameo below.

15 Dec 2024

‘SNL’: ‘Weekend Update’ Parodies Sabrina Carpenter, Questions Why There Are No Gay Rumors About Her

Weekend Update had SNL‘s Jane Wickline singing a comedic song as Sabrina Carpenter Saturday night (Dec. 14) — one that named pop stars like Taylor Swift and Harry Styles, both of whom the internet has no problem gossiping about when it comes to sexuality. Carpenter apparently hasn’t been a big part of that particular rumor mill. In the sketch, Wickline portrays the “Taste” singer as feeling left out.

“A lot of people on the internet like to start these juicy rumors about whether pop stars are gay, and this is a new song that I, Sabrina Carpenter, wrote called ‘When Will Even One Person Do That About Me?’” the SNL cast member explained ahead of performing a parody based on what Carpenter might think of it all.

Of course, the song sounded nothing like an actual Carpenter hit. “I can’t look or sound like her. She’s completely perfect,” Wickline said, but added, “For the purposes of this song, I am her.”

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“Taylor Swift sings about a crush on her best friend/ And you all cry ‘lesbian’ because she didn’t phrase it ‘my boy best friend,’” she sang in front of a keyboard.

“In a music video, I make out with Jenna Ortega/ No one doubts me at all when I say this is a metaphor for one of my ex-boyfriends/ And that is all it was, but no one ever wondered,” Wickline’s Carpenter said. In the next verse she pointed out that making out with her female co-star in “Taste” merely resulted in online chatter like “I heard this song is about Shawn Mendes.”

“Help me/ Just tell me where I’m doing wrong/ Why am I the only straight pop star/ Taken at their word?/ It’s lonely/ I do gay stuff and you don’t get mad/ I just want the same treatment/ I want to have mystique/ Why don’t you think I’m either bi or pretending that I might be/ I’m not bi or pretending, but why does no one think I’m lying/ I just want you to think I might have secrets,” she sang.

Wickline went on to remind everyone that Carpenter also locked lips with a female alien during the MTV Video Music Awards stage in September, while performing a medley of her hits.

“I also made out with a girl alien at the VMAs/ Nothing!” she lamented in her song.

Carpenter hasn’t commented on the bit.

Watch the “Weekend Update” that pokes fun at Carpenter in the clip below. Elsewhere during the Chris Rock-hosted episode, musical guest Gracie Abrams played “That’s So True” and “I Love You, I’m Sorry.”

15 Dec 2024

Taylor Swift’s ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ Logs 17th Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200

Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department notches a 17th week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart (dated Dec. 21), as the set holds atop the list after rushing back to No. 1 a week ago after its deluxe Anthology edition was released on CD and vinyl exclusively at Target. In the tracking week ending Dec. 12, the album earned 240,000 equivalent album units (down 41%) in the U.S., according to Luminate, with over 80% of that sum driven by physical album sales.

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Also in the top 10 of the new Billboard 200 chart, ROSÉ’s debut solo album rosie bows at No. 3, TWICE’s Strategy enters at No. 4 and Sabrina Carpenter’s holiday set Fruitcake reenters the chart at No. 10 for its first week in the top 10, after its wide physical release.

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The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units, compiled by Luminate. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album. The new Dec. 21, 2024-dated chart will be posted in full on Billboard‘s website on Tuesday (Dec. 17). For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.

Of The Tortured Poets Department’s 240,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending Dec. 12, traditional album sales comprise 201,000 (down 45%, it holds at No. 1 on Top Album Sales for a 10th nonconsecutive week), SEA units comprise 39,000 (up 6%; equaling 51.04 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs; it falls 9-10 on Top Streaming Albums) and TEA units comprise a negligible sum (up 27%).

TTPD was initially released on April 19 as a standard 16-song digital download album, as well as in an array of 17-song physical configurations. Two hours after the album dropped, Swift issued an expanded 31-song edition of the album, dubbed The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology, which added 15 additional songs. However, the Anthology edition was only available as a digital download and streaming set until Nov. 29, when its CD and vinyl editions became available for purchase exclusively through Target. The Target CD and vinyl additionally boast four bonus acoustic tracks (which were previously released in other alternative versions of the album).

Since the Billboard 200 began publishing on a regular, weekly basis in March 1956, Poets is only the 18th album to have spent at least 17 weeks at No. 1, of more than 1,200 leaders. The last album to spend at least 17 weeks at No. 1 was Morgan Wallen’s One Thing at a Time, which logged 19 nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 between March 2023 and this March. The last album by a woman to spend at least 17 weeks at No. 1 prior to Poets was Adele’s 21, which earned 24 nonconsecutive weeks on top in 2011-12.

Kendrick Lamar’s former leader GNX is a non-mover at No. 2 on the latest Billboard 200 with 125,000 equivalent album units earned (down 24%). It remains at No. 1 on Top Streaming Albums for a third straight week.

ROSÉ’s solo debut album, rosie, launches at No. 3 with 102,000 equivalent album units earned. Pop group BLACKPINK, of which she is a member, has logged a pair of top 10s, including the chart-topping BORN PINK in 2022.

Of the 102,000 equivalent album units earned by rosie in its opening week, album sales comprise 70,000 (it debuts at No. 3 on Top Album Sales), SEA units comprise 31,000 (equaling 43.85 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs; it debuts at No. 17 on Top Streaming Albums) and TEA units comprise 1,000. The set’s first-week sales were bolstered by its availability across more than 15 physical variants of the album across CD and vinyl editions, many including collectible ephemera (some randomized).

The album was led by the single “APT.” with Bruno Mars, which debuted and peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. It debuted and peaked at No. 2 on the Streaming Songs chart, and has reached the top 30 on Pop Airplay, Adult Pop Airplay and the all-format Radio Songs charts.

TWICE captures its sixth total and consecutive top 10-charting set on the Billboard 200 as STRATEGY debuts at No. 4 with 88,000 equivalent album units earned. It’s the second top 10 for the group in 2024, following their first chart-topper, With YOU-th (March 9-dated chart). Of the new set’s first-week units, album sales comprise 81,000 (it debuts at No. 2 on Top Album Sales), SEA units comprise 6,500 (equaling 8.86 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs) and TEA units comprise less than 500 units. The album’s first-week sales were aided by its availability across more than 15 CD and vinyl editions, all inclusive of collectible paper ephemera (some randomized).

Sabrina Carpenter’s chart-topping Short n’ Sweet is steady at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 (75,000 equivalent album units earned; up 10%); the Wicked film soundtrack falls 3-6 (74,000; down 31%); Michael Bublé’s former leader Christmas is a non-mover at No. 7 (62,000; up 10%); Bing Crosby’s Ultimate Christmas hits a new peak, rising 9-8 (56,000; up 13%); and Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft slips 6-9 (56,000; down 6%).

Carpenter captures a second album in the top 10, and the second top 10 of her career, as her holiday effort Fruitcake re-enters the chart at No. 10 (a new peak) following its wide physical release on CD, vinyl and cassette on Dec. 6. In the tracking week ending Dec. 12, Fruitcake earned 54,000 equivalent album units (up 1,040%), with album sales comprising 39,000 (up 27,326%; it debuts at No. 4 on Top Album Sales) and SEA units comprising 15,000 (up 210%, equaling 19.65 million on-demand official streams of set’s songs).

Fruitcake was initially released in November 2023 as a digital download album for purchase and through streaming services. It had a limited vinyl release, exclusively through Carpenter’s official webstore in December 2023. On Dec. 6, the album became widely available on CD, cassette and three vinyl variants (including one exclusive to Target).

Carpenter is the sixth artist in 2024 to have at least two albums in the top 10 at the same time. Previously this year, Zach Bryan, Future, Metro Boomin, Taylor Swift and Morgan Wallen all notched multiple projects in the top 10 concurrently.

Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings. Luminate reviews and authenticates data. In partnership with Billboard, data deemed suspicious or unverifiable is removed, using established criteria, before final chart calculations are made and published.

15 Dec 2024

Gracie Abrams Makes ‘SNL’ Debut With Performances of ‘That’s So True’ & ‘I Love You, I’m Sorry’: Watch

Gracie Abrams made her first-ever appearance on Saturday Night Live.

During the Dec. 14 episode hosted by Chris Rock, the 25-year-old pop star performed two tracks from her sophomore album The Secret of Us and its deluxe edition, both released in 2024.

Setting a cozy, intimate scene with a candlelit backdrop, a crackling fireplace and soft Christmas lights, Abrams opened with “That’s So True,” a bonus track from the deluxe version. The song, which hit No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in November, was delivered with passion as Abrams — dressed in a white shirt and matching bowtie — was accompanied by her backing band.

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Later in the show, Abrams returned to perform “I Love You, I’m Sorry,” a lilting track that peaked at No. 19 on the Hot 100 in October. For the second performance, she switched to a long black gown, while her band members sported black-and-white tuxedos.

Her SNL debut caps an extraordinary year for Abrams, who wrapped up her run opening for Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour on Dec. 6. She is also nominated for best pop/duo group performance at the 2025 Grammy Awards for her collaboration with Swift on the song “Us.”

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Last week, Abrams announced a new set of North American tour dates for 2025 in support of The Secret of Us deluxe edition. The six-date tour will take her through Canada, the U.S. and Mexico starting July 24 in Boston and ending Aug. 26 in Mexico City. The dates follow her previously announced European and Asian legs in the spring of 2025.

Abrams previously toured North America this fall in support of the original The Secret of Us album, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 after its June release.

SNL is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary season, which began in September and will culminate in a special weekend and live primetime event on Feb. 16. So far this season, Charli XCX has pulled double duty as both host and musical guest, while other notable hosts like Ariana Grande, John Mulaney, and Bill Burr have shared the spotlight with musical guests including Billie Eilish, Mk.gee, Chappell Roan and Jelly Roll.

Watch Abrams’ SNL performances below. For those without cable, the broadcast streams on Peacock, which you can sign up for at the link here. Having a Peacock account also gives fans access to previous SNL episodes.

14 Dec 2024

Billie Eilish Struck in Face by Necklace While Performing ‘What Was I Made For?’ in Arizona

Billie Eilish was struck in the face by an object during a recent stop on her Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour.

While performing at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Ariz., on Friday (Dec. 13), the 22-year-old pop star was struck by what appeared to be a necklace thrown by an overzealous fan. The incident occurred while Eilish was sitting cross-legged on stage, delivering an emotional rendition of the Barbie movie soundtrack ballad “What Was I Made For?”

Fan-captured footage shows Eilish flinching as the necklace strikes her face. But she handled the situation like a pro, continuing to sing the chart-topping track before tossing the piece of jewelry aside with mild frustration.

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Eilish has spoken out before about fans throwing objects onstage. During the Barbie movie’s world premiere in July 2023, she acknowledged the impulse behind such actions but emphasized that it’s not acceptable.

“I’ve been getting hit on stage with things for, like, literally six years. I don’t know why this is new,” Eilish told The Hollywood Reporter. “People just get excited, and it can be dangerous.”

She explained that most of the objects thrown are smartphones, often aimed at capturing a selfie with the artist. “It’s absolutely infuriating when you’re up there. I have mixed feelings about it, because when you’re up there, it blows,” the artist said. “But you know it’s out of love, and they’re just trying to give you something. You’re in a vulnerable position, but I’ve been getting hit with stuff for years.”

Friday’s Arizona incident is part of a troubling trend of fans throwing objects at performers, which has been on the rise in recent months. Several high-profile artists — including Zach Bryan, Wiz Khalifa, Morgan Wallen and Nicki Minaj — have been struck by random objects during their shows.

In June 2023, P!nk was left shocked when a fan threw their mother’s ashes onto the stage during a performance at BST Hyde Park in London. Similarly, Cardi B had water thrown at her during a concert in August 2023, and Bebe Rexha was hit with a phone in June 2023, resulting in injury.

Harry Styles and Kid Cudi have also faced similar disruptions. Styles was hit in the eye by a Skittle during a 2022 show in Los Angeles, while Kid Cudi cut his Rolling Loud set short after fans threw bottles at him.

Meanwhile, Eilish is preparing to wrap up the North American leg of her Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour, which began in late September. After taking a break on Dec. 21 following five nights at Los Angeles’ Kia Forum, the singer will embark on a series of dates in Europe and Australia starting in February.

14 Dec 2024

Taylor Swift’s Birthday Gift to Fans: A Quiet Release of These Behind-the-Scenes Videos

If you know, you know. Taylor Swift didn’t post anything on her social media accounts on Friday, Dec. 13, her 35th birthday. But her official team online, known as Taylor Nation, used its social media accounts to point fans in the direction of a new section on Swift’s website that’s dedicated to archiving material across eras.

Fans can navigate the TS Eras Archive by clicking a picture of Swift on the photo banner from the era they’d like to explore. There, they can discover behind-the-scenes clips from the music video shoots for “Anti-Hero,” “Karma,” “Fortnight” and more, all newly uploaded to YouTube as of Dec. 13. The BTS videos can also be found by going directly to Swift’s YouTube page and sorting videos by “latest.”

“I have been the architect of my own chaos that I currently live in,” a silver statue version of Swift, as seen in the video still above, quips in the “Karma” clip. “I have no idea how many hundreds of showers it’s gonna take to get this off.”

A recurring theme in these clips is that Swift’s hands-on work, personality and style as a director are highlighted. Besides being the obvious star of each of the music videos here, she also directed them. Swift counts 10 directorial credits — 9 music videos and one short (All Too Well: The Short Film) — for projects released thus far, with a plan to shift to features. In December 2022, it was announced Swift will make her debut as a feature film director with Searchlight Pictures. The as-yet-unnamed film will be based on a script that’s a Swift original.

Many (if not all?) of the behind-the-scenes videos from Friday’s drop were played at stadiums on The Eras Tour ahead of Swift taking the stage for her 3.5-hour concert. The volume and excitement there made it difficult to pay close attention to all the little details in the clips, but now they can be watched at any time, and as many times as you’d like to see them, from the comfort of home.

Swift’s massive Eras Tour wrapped in Vancouver on Dec. 8, just before she was named the big winner at the 2024 Billboard Music Awards on Dec. 12 — with 10 new wins, she’s become the most-awarded artist in the show’s history. “This is the nicest early birthday present you could have given me,” she said in her acceptance speech video, noting her fans’ support of the music is the reason for her being honored.

Billboard editors were on site at Vancouver’s BC Place to review the final weekend of The Eras Tour. Find Billboard‘s thoughts on night one, night two and night three, and relive the complete list of surprise songs Swift played throughout her Eras journey.

Watch all of Swift’s just-released behind-the-scenes clips, from the sets of “Karma,” “Fortnight,” “Bejeweled,” “Anti-Hero” and “Cardigan,” below.

“Karma” (Feat. Ice Spice) (Behind the Scenes)

“Fortnight” (Behind the Scenes With Post Malone, Ethan Hawke & Josh Charles)

“Bejeweled” (Behind the Scenes With Laura Dern)

“Bejeweled” (Behind the Scenes With Jack Antonoff, HAIM & Pat McGrath)

“Bejeweled” (Behind the Scenes With Dita Von Teese)

“Anti-Hero” (Behind the Scenes With Mike Birbiglia, John Early & Mary Elizabeth Ellis)

“Cardigan” (Behind the Scenes – Forest & Ocean)

“Anti-Hero” (Behind the Scenes with the Ghosts In the Room)

13 Dec 2024

Myles Smith’s ‘Stargazing’ Shoots to No. 1 on Rock & Alternative Airplay Chart

Myles Smith’s “Stargazing” caps a triumphant 27-week trip to No. 1 on Billboard’s Rock & Alternative Airplay chart, rising a spot on the tally dated Dec. 21.

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“Stargazing” reigns with 4.7 million audience impressions, up 15%, on alternative, adult alternative and mainstream rock reporting stations in the week ending Dec. 12, according to Luminate.

The song wraps the lengthiest rise to No. 1 by a solo male, and ties for the fifth-longest overall, since Rock & Alternative Airplay began in June 2009.

Longest Rises to No. 1, Rock & Alternative Airplay:
33 weeks, “Out of My League,” Fitz and the Tantrums (reached No. 1 in 2013)
30, “First, “Cold War Kids (2015)
29, “Running Up That Hill,” Meg Myers (2020)
29, “Trampoline,” SHAED (2019)
27, “Stargazing,” Myles Smith (2024)
27, “All My Favorite Songs,” Weezer (2021)
26, “Way Down We Go,” KALEO (2016)
24, “Broken,” lovelytheband (2018)
24, “Tighten Up,” The Black Keys (2010)

“Stargazing” is Smith’s first Rock & Alternative Airplay ruler, earned with the British singer-songwriter’s first entry on the ranking. He’s the third act to score an initial leader on the chart this year, following The Offspring (“Make It All Right”), Hozier (“Too Sweet”) and Pearl Jam (“Dark Matter”). He’s the first to achieve the feat with a maiden hit since Giovannie & the Hired Guns, with “Ramon Ayala,” in 2022. Before Smith, Alice Merton last achieved the feat among soloists as a lead act, with “No Roots” in 2018.

Along the way to its Rock & Alternative Airplay coronation, “Stargazing” led the Alternative Airplay chart in September. (It ranks at No. 5 on the latest tally.) It also leads Adult Pop Airplay for a second week, following a week atop Pop Airplay. It becomes just the eighth song to have hit No. 1 on Rock & Alternative Airplay, Alternative Airplay, Adult Pop Airplay and Pop Airplay, joining Hozier’s “Too Sweet” earlier in 2024, Panic! at the Disco’s “High Hopes” (2018-19), Portugal. The Man’s “Feel It Still” (2017), Twenty One Pilots’ “Stressed Out” (2015-16), Lorde’s “Royals” (2013), fun.’s “We Are Young,” featuring Janelle Monáe (2012) and Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used To Know,” featuring Kimbra (2012).

“Stargazing,” which also reached No. 4 on Adult Alternative Airplay, ranked at No. 3 on the most recently published Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart (dated Dec. 14, reflecting the Nov. 29-Dec. 5 tracking week), with 53.4 million audience impressions across all radio formats, 6.3 million official U.S. streams and 1,000 sold.

“Stargazing” is on Smith’s EP A Minute…, which debuted at its No. 25 high on the Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart dated Nov. 23.

All Billboard charts dated Dec. 21 will update on Billboard.com Tuesday, Dec. 17.

13 Dec 2024

Taylor Swift’s Band & Dancers Share Loving Birthday Messages for the Star’s 35th Birthday

Taylor Swift is officially 35 years old, and her Eras Tour crew is celebrating her birthday on Friday (Dec. 13).

Her fan-favorite backup dancer, Kam Saunders, shared his final Eras “Bejeweled” solo via Instagram, and in the video, he and Swift share an adorable hug before he repeatedly tells the star, “I love you!” In the caption, he wrote, “I hope that today you experience tenfold the love you put out! To me, to the cast and crew, to your friends and family, and to your fans! Happy f—ing birthday, gorgeous!”

It’s been yet another landmark year for Swift, who wrapped her 149-show Eras Tour earlier this month. The trek grossed more than $2 billion in 2023-2024. She also didn’t slow down on music releases in 2024, unveiling her Billboard 200 chart-topping album The Tortured Poets Department and its expanded Anthology. The album led her to claim the top 14 spots on the Hot 100.

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She notched one more accomplishment leading up to her birthday on Thursday night (Dec. 12), winning 10 Billboard Music Awards for Top Artist, Top Female Artist, Top Billboard 200 Artist, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Hot 100 Songwriter, Top Streaming Songs Artist, Top Radio Songs Artist, Top Billboard Global 200 Artist, Top Billboard Global (Excl. U.S.) Artist and Top Billboard 200 Album — raising her all-time wins to a record-breaking 49, surpassing her tie with Drake and making her the most celebrated artist in BBMA history.

Click the links and check out more birthday messages to Swift from dancers Nat Peterson, Kamilah Marshall and Jan Ravnik; backup singer Melanie Nyema and bass player Amos Heller.

13 Dec 2024

Robbie Williams Addresses Rumors About His Sexuality, Saying He ‘Wants to Be Gay,’ But Isn’t

Robbie Williams thinks he’s exhibited a lot of “Patience” around rumors of his sexuality — but in a new interview with The Guardian, the Take That singer is setting the record straight.

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Speaking to the outlet about his forthcoming biopic Better Man — in which he is portrayed by a CGI chimpanzee — the singer looked back on his 2005 lawsuit against a tabloid claiming that he was gay, saying that he mostly felt “sad” about the allegations simply because they weren’t true, not due to any internal fear of being perceived as gay.

“I’ve done everything but suck a c–k. Honestly, you’ve never met somebody that wants to be gay as much as me,” he said. “You want to be an ally while at the same time protecting your own authenticity and your own life.”

Using a football metaphor, Williams continued breaking down exactly why the rumors “annoyed” him. “I’m a Port Vale fan, and it’s like somebody going, ‘Well you’re a Liverpool fan,’” he said. “When somebody says you’re a Liverpool fan a hundred times it’s like, ‘I’m not a f–king Liverpool fan. Why do people think I’m a Liverpool fan?!’”

Elsewhere in the interview, Williams broke down the new biopic, addressing the very simple reason why he decided to have himself portrayed as a chimp (“Let’s face it, a Robbie Williams biopic without the monkey is way less appealing, or intriguing,” he said) and added that his former Take That bandmate Gary Harlow took umbrage with his portrayal in an early script of the film. “He phoned me up and he’s like, ‘Rob, read the script, I come off worse than Darth Vader in the first Star Wars,’” Williams recalled. “It was problematic for him.”