Pride
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Throughout the storied history of RuPaul’s Drag Race, many mini and maxi challenges have come and gone. Between queens making puppets and variety/talent shows, there are few challenges that have remained essentially the same since their inception … except for the Snatch Game.
Since its debut back in season 2, Snatch Game — Drag Race‘s celebrity impersonation challenge lampooning the classic game show Match Game — has become one of the most beloved challenges on the show. Usually seen as a turning point in the competition, Snatch Game is one of the few challenges every queen can expect to see in their time on the show.
Now, only four episodes into its run, season 15 is launching its 14 remaining contestants into the iconic competition. On Friday’s new episode (Jan. 20), the queens will be split into two groups to face-off with their celebrity impressions, all aiming for the same goal — to make RuPaul laugh.
Along with being one of Drag Race’s most iconic challenges, Snatch Game is also one of the most difficult. Speaking to Billboard, two-time Snatch Game winner Jinkx Monsoon explained that the challenge is more than meets the eye. “Snatch Game is very hard,” she said. “It feels like it’s a test of your impersonation skills, but it’s simultaneously a test of your comedic skills and improv skills.”
With the challenge’s history of providing plenty of hilarious (and cringe-worthy) portrayals of iconic musical artists, Billboard decided to look back on every Snatch Game in the show’s herstory and rank each musical impersonation. From the Great Beyoncé Curse to spot-on performances as Adele, Cher and Britney Spears, check out all of our findings below.
In 1910’s The Vagabond, the French writer Colette claimed, “The only real things are the dance, the light, freedom, music.” If that’s the case, then there are few pop catalogs more in touch with reality than Madonna’s.
The Queen of Pop kicked 2023 off right by announcing the Celebration Tour, a global trek honoring her four decades of culture-changing hits.
Needless to say, she has a lot of material to choose from — with 12 No. 1s, 38 top 10 hits and 57 titles on the Billboard Hot 100, Madonna is an all-time pop GOAT. And considering her most recent tour (the excellent, intimate Madame X Tour from 2019-2020) was primarily focused on the album of the same name she was supporting, there’s quite a number of beloved classics that Madge hasn’t performed live in several years.
That seems set to change with the Celebration Tour, which promises to be a career-retrospective run of songs from the pop icon, whose self-titled debut introduced the world to a new game-changing superstar back in 1983. And since we’re looking at 40 years of Madonna, we decided to round up 40 songs we would love to hear the Material Goddess perform live.
Now, we’re not saying we want every one of these songs performed in full at every tour stop — a 40-song setlist is less a concert and more of a marathon. Some we’d like to hear in part, perhaps as a segue or in a medley; others we could imagine M performing as a surprise treat on select tour dates. But this is our wish list.
The White Lotus star Theo James joined Watch What Happens Live last week, where he expressed interest in playing George Michael if a biopic were ever in the works.
“Oh yeah, I would love that, he’s an icon,” he said. “He’s a lot of Greek, and I’m a lot of Greek. Put that Greek together, and you get falafel.”
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However, when The Advocate shared the news to Instagram, Adam Lambert criticized the thought. “Yay another straight man playing a gay icon,” the singer commented, along with an eye roll emoji. The comment was seemingly in reference to other biopics about gay stars played by straight men, such as Rami Malek playing Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody and Taron Egerton playing Elton John in Rocketman.
However, despite reports of a biopic surrounding the late Wham! frontman, the George Michael estate put to rumors to rest in a statement. “To all of George’s Lovelies, fans and lovers of his music, a story has been published stating that George Michael’s family has endorsed a so called ‘biopic’ about his life,” read the note from George Michael Entertainment. “On behalf of George’s family and GME we want to make it clear that there is no truth whatsoever in this story, we know nothing about this project and will not be endorsing it in any way.”
Jonathan Knight looked back on his coming out journey in a new conversation with Lance Bass on Monday (Jan 16).
Speaking on the latest episode of the *NSYNC member’s podcast, Lance Bass Presents: Frosted Tips, the New Kids on the Block singer explained that his manager knew he was gay at the time, but instructed him to stay closeted for the sake of the boy band. “He pulled me aside and was like, ‘If anybody finds out, your career is over. The New Kids’ career is over. My career is over,’” he recalled. “It was just so much pressure.
“Looking back, that was a lot of pressure to put on somebody who’s just trying to figure out the world themselves,” the ’80s heartthrob went on. “As it went along, the stress built up and built up and built up.”
Ultimately, Knight was forced out of the closet in 2009 after a former boyfriend sold photos of himself with the star to The National Enquirer. At the time, he felt forced to address his identity publicly, saying, “I didn’t want to. I was just living my life … it wasn’t something I was hiding. But then it was like, ‘No, you have to make a statement. You have to clear the air.’ And that whole process was horrible.”
During his chat with Bass and guest co-host Joey Fatone, Knight also shared his struggle to have kids with husband Harley Rodriguez, revealing that the couple spent five years trying to start a family. “It just didn’t happen for us,” he told his fellow boy banders. “Going through the process, like, ‘Today’s the day the eggs are being [transferred], you’re so excited, and you’re so happy. And then, you know, a week later it’s like, ‘No, you’re back to square one.’”
Listen to Knight’s full interview on Lance Bass Presents: Frosted Tips below.
After breaking through to mainstream success in 2021, UK indie star Arlo Parks is ready to follow through with her new project.
On Wednesday (Jan. 18), Parks officially announced the impending release of her sophomore studio album My Soft Machine. Due out May 26 via Transgressive Records, the new LP promises to be a more expansive look at Parks’ life, with songs dedicated to both telling the truth of her lived experience while coloring them through her own artistic expression.
“This record is life through my lens, through my body,” Parks said in a statement regarding My Soft Machine. “The mid-20s anxiety, the substance abuse of friends around me, the viscera of being in love for the first time, navigating PTSD and grief and self sabotage and joy, moving through worlds with wonder and sensitivity — what it’s like to be trapped in this particular body.”
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To celebrate the announcement, Parks is also giving fans a taste of what’s to come with the album’s first single. “Weightless” stands out immediately from Parks’ slowed down, groove-focused tracks of the past — outfitted with a frenetic beat and heavy-synth production, the track marks a new sonic direction for the star while keeping her lyrical acuity intact. “You crush under the pressure/ But you won’t change, no, you won’t change,” she croons on the track’s pre-chorus. “I don’t wanna wait for you.”
The new album follow’s Parks’ debut LP, 2021’s Collapsed in Sunbeams. Following critical raves for her album, Parks ended up earning two Grammy nominations — Best New Artist and Best Alternative Music Album — for her work on the project, while also winning best new artist at the Brit Awards and the Mercury Prize in the UK.
Pre-order My Soft Machine here and watch the official video for “Weightless” above.
With awards season officially in full swing, GLAAD is ready to celebrate the LGBTQ artists who thrived throughout 2022.
On Wednesday (Jan. 18), GLAAD announced the nominees for the 2023 GLAAD Media Awards. Set to take place on March 30, 2023, at Los Angeles’ Beverly Hilton as well as May the 13, 2023, at New York City’s Hilton Midtown, the annual awards presentation aims to shine a spotlight on the creatives who helped push narratives about the LGBTQ community forward throughout 2022.
In the awards show’s main music category for outstanding music artist, 10 queer artists received recognition for their 2022 albums, including Demi Lovato, Kim Petras, Anitta, Fletcher, Hayley Kiyoko, MUNA, Betty Who, Honey Dijon, Orville Peck and Rina Sawayama.
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Additionally, in the category for outstanding breakthrough music artist — which celebrates newer acts that gained mainstream attention in 2022 — another 10 queer artists earned nominations, including Steve Lacy, Dove Cameron, Omar Apollo, Doechii, Renee Rapp, Brooke Eden, Dreamer Isioma, Ethel Cain, Isaac Dunbar and Jordy.
In a statement released alongside the nominations, GLAAD’s CEO and president Sarah Kate Ellis condemned the continued attacks against the community, noting the continued importance of LGBTQ stories being told. “With violence, harmful legislation, false rhetoric and other attacks on the LGBTQ community continuing to escalate, it’s more crucial than ever that our community remains visible and included in the stories that the world sees,” she wrote. “This year we have more nominees than ever before to represent immensely impactful projects that entertain, educate, and grow acceptance of LGBTQ people.”
Check out the full list of nominations for the 2023 GLAAD Media Awards below:
Outstanding Music Artist
Anitta, Versions of Me (Warner Records)
Betty Who, BIG! (BMG)
Demi Lovato, HOLY FVCK (Island Records)
FLETCHER, Girl of My Dreams (Capitol Records)
Hayley Kiyoko, PANORAMA (Atlantic Records)
Honey Dijon, Black Girl Magic (Classic Music Company)
Kim Petras, Slut Pop (Republic Records)
MUNA, MUNA (Saddest Factory Records)
Orville Peck, Bronco (Columbia Records)
Rina Sawayama, Hold the Girl (Dirty Hit)
Outstanding Breakthrough Music Artist
Brooke Eden (BBR Music Group)
Doechii (Capitol Records)
Dove Cameron (Columbia Records)
Dreamer Isioma (AWAL Recordings)
Ethel Cain (Daughters of Cain Records)
Isaac Dunbar (RCA Records)
Jordy (300 Entertainment, Elektra Records)
Omar Apollo (Warner Records)
Renee Rapp (Interscope Records)
Steve Lacy (RCA Records)
Outstanding Film – Wide Release
A Man Called Otto (Sony Pictures)
Bodies Bodies Bodies (A24)
Bros (Universal Pictures)
Everything Everywhere All at Once (A24)
Lightyear (Pixar)
Nope (Universal Pictures)
Scream (Paramount Pictures)
Spoiler Alert (Focus Features)
Strange World (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
Tár (Focus Features)
Outstanding Film – Streaming or TV
Anything’s Possible (Prime Video)
B-Boy Blues (BET)
A Christmas to Treasure (Lifetime)
Crush (Hulu)
Do Revenge (Netflix)
The Fallout (HBO Max)
Fire Island (Hulu)
The Holiday Sitter (Hallmark)
Three Months (Paramount+)
Wildhood (Hulu)
Outstanding Film – Limited Release
Anaïs in Love (Magnolia Pictures)
Benediction (Roadside Attractions)
Death and Bowling (Wolfe Releasing)
Firebird (Roadside Attractions)
Girl Picture (Strand Releasing)
The Inspection (A24)
My Policeman (Prime Video)
Neptune Frost (Kino Lorber)
The Swimmer (Strand Releasing)
Wendell & Wild (Netflix)
Outstanding Documentary
All the Beauty and the Bloodshed (HBO)
The Andy Warhol Diaries (Netflix)
The Book of Queer (Discovery+)
Framing Agnes (Kino Lorber)
Mama’s Boy (HBO)
Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back (STARZ)
Mormon No More (Hulu)
Queer for Fear (Shudder)
Sirens (Oscilloscope)
Stay on Board: The Leo Baker Story (Netflix)
Outstanding Comedy Series
Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Derry Girls (Netflix)
Hacks (HBO Max)
Harley Quinn (HBO Max)
Love, Victor (Hulu)
Never Have I Ever (Netflix)
Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
Sex Lives of College Girls (HBO Max)
Sort Of (HBO Max)
What We Do in the Shadows (FX)
Outstanding Drama Series
9-1-1: Lone Star (Fox)
Chucky (Syfy)
Good Trouble (Freeform)
Gossip Girl (HBO Max)
Grey’s Anatomy (ABC)
The L Word: Generation Q (Showtime)
P-Valley (STARZ)
September Mornings (Prime Video)
Star Trek: Discovery (Paramount Plus)
The Umbrella Academy (Netflix)
Outstanding New TV Series
A League of Their Own (Prime Video)
Heartbreak High (Netflix)
High School (Amazon Freevee)
Interview with the Vampire (AMC)
Our Flag Means Death (HBO Max)
Queer as Folk (Peacock)
The Rookie: Feds (ABC)
The Sandman (Netflix)
Somebody Somewhere (HBO)
Willow (Disney+)
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series
American Horror Story: NYC (FX)
The Ignorant Angels (Hulu)
The Best Man: The Final Chapters (Peacock)
Welcome to Chippendales (Hulu)
The White Lotus (HBO)
Outstanding Reality Program
Bargain Block (HGTV)
The Come Up (Freeform)
Family Karma (Bravo)
Generation Drag (Discovery+)
Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness (Netflix)
Mathis Family Matters (E!)
The Real World Homecoming: New Orleans (Paramount+)
Southern Hospitality (Bravo)
Trixie Motel (Discovery+)
We’re Here (HBO)
Outstanding Reality Program – Competition
The Big Brunch (HBO Max)
Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
Legendary (HBO Max)
Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls (Prime Video)
RuPaul’s Drag Race (VH1)
So You Think You Can Dance (FOX)
Top Chef (Bravo)
Upcycle Nation (Fuse)
The Voice (NBC)
Worst Cooks in America (Food Network)
Outstanding Children’s Programming
“Adoptasaurus Rex” Dino Ranch (Disney Junior)
“Family Picnic” Sesame Street (HBO Max)
Firebuds (Disney Junior)
“The Mint Gala” Strawberry Shortcake: Berry in the Big City (Netflix)
Pinecone & Pony (Apple TV+)
Outstanding Kids & Family Programming – Animated
Amphibia (Disney Channel)
Battle Kitty (Netflix)
Big Nate (Nickelodeon)
Craig of the Creek (Cartoon Network)
Dead End: Paranormal Park (Netflix)
The Dragon Prince (Netflix)
Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous (Netflix)
The Owl House (Disney Channel)
The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (Disney+)
Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo! (Cartoon Network)
Outstanding Kids & Family Programming – Live Action
Better Nate Than Ever (Disney+)
First Day (Hulu)
Heartstopper (Netflix)
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (Disney+)
Monster High: The Movie (Nickelodeon, Paramount+)
Power Rangers: Dino Fury (Netflix)
Raven’s Home (Disney Channel)
Rebel Cheer Squad: A Get Even Series (Netflix)
Trevor: The Musical (Disney+)Zombies 3 (Disney+)
Outstanding Broadway Production
& Juliet
Ain’t No Mo
Kimberly Akimbo
A Strange Loop
Take Me Out
Outstanding Video Game
Apex Legends (Respawn Entertainment/Electronic Arts)
Desta: The Memories Between (ustwo games)
Haven (The Game Bakers)
I Was a Teenage Exocolonist (Northway Games/Finji)
Need for Speed: Unbound (Criterion Games/Electronic Arts)
SIGNALIS (rose-engine/Humble Games)
The Quarry (Supermassive Games/2K Games)
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands (Gearbox Software/2K Games)
World of Warcraft: Dragonflight (Blizzard Entertainment)
Wylde Flowers (Studio Drydock)
Outstanding Comic Book
I Hate This Place, by Kyle Starks, Artyom Topilin, Lee Loughridge, Pat Brosseau (Image Comics)
Immortal X-Men, by Kieron Gillen, Lucas Werneck, Michele Bandini, David Curiel, Dijjo Lima, Clayton Cowles (Marvel Comics)
New Mutants, by Vita Ayala, Danny Lore, Charlie Jane Anders, Danilo Beyruth, Rod Reis, Jan Duursema, Guillermo Sanna, Alex Lins, Alberto Alburquerque, Ro Stein, Ted Brandt, Dan Brown, Ruth Redmond, Carlos Lopez, Tamra Bonvillain, Travis Lanham (Marvel Comics)
The Nice House on the Lake, by James Tynion IV, Alvaro Martinez Bueno, Jordie Bellaire, Andworld Design (DC Comics)
Poison Ivy, by G. Willow Wilson, Marcio Takara, Atagun Ilhan, Brian Level, Stefano Gaudiano, Jay Leisten, Arif Prianto, Ivan Plascencia, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou (DC Comics)
Sins of the Black Flamingo, by Andrew Wheeler, Travis Moore, Tamra Bonvillain, Aditya Bidikar (Image Comics)
Star Wars: Doctor Aphra, by Alyssa Wong, Minkyu Jung, Natacha Bustos, Rachelle Rosenberg, Joe Caramagna (Marvel Comics)
Superman: Son of Kal-El, by Tom Taylor, Nicole Maines, John Timms, Cian Tormey, Raul Fernandez, Bruno Redondo, Wade Von Grawbadger, Adriano Lucas, Clayton Henry, Ruairi Coleman, Scott Hanna, Hi-Fi Color, Federico Blee, Wes Abbott, Matt Herms, Marcelo Maiolo, Romulo Fajardo, Jr., Dave Sharpe, Bruno Redondo (DC Comics)
Tim Drake: Robin, by Meghan Fitzmartin, Riley Rossmo, Lee Loughridge, Tom Napolitano, Rob Leigh (DC Comics)
Wynd: The Throne in the Sky, by James Tynion IV, Michael Dialynas, Andworld Design (BOOM! Studios)
Outstanding Original Graphic Novel/Anthology
Chef’s Kiss, by Jarrett Melendez, Danica Brine, Hank Jones, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou (Oni Press)
Coven, by Jennifer Dugan, Kit Seaton (Putnam)
DC Pride 2022 (DC Comics) [anthology]
Doughnuts and Doom, by Balazs Lorinczi (Top Shelf Productions)
Fine: A Comic About Gender, by Rhea Ewing (W.W. Norton & Company)
Galaxy: The Prettiest Star, by Jadzia Axelrod, Jess Taylor (DC Comics)
Heartstopper Volume 4, by Alice Oseman (Graphix)
Magical Boy, by The Kao (Graphix)
Marvel’s Voices: Pride #1 (Marvel Comics) [anthology]
Young Men in Love (A Wave Blue World) [anthology]
Outstanding Variety or Talk Show Episode
“David Archuleta” The Jennifer Hudson Show (syndicated)
“Don’t Say Gay” The Amber Ruffin Show (Peacock)
“Here I Am” Tamron Hall (ABC)
“Jackie Goldschneider & Danny Pellegrino” Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen (Bravo)
“JoJo Siwa Celebrates Her Golden Birthday” The View (ABC)
“LGBTQ Trailblazers” If We’re Being Honest with Laverne Cox (E!)
“Spirit Day” The Kelly Clarkson Show (NBCUniversal Syndication Studios)
“Transgender Rights II” Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
“Virtel It Like It Is: Gay Velma Drives GOP Mad” Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC)
“The War Over Gender” The Problem with Jon Stewart (Apple TV+)
Outstanding TV Journalism Segment
“Critics Say New School Policies In Florida Ostracize LGBTQ Students” PBS Newshour (PBS)
“A History That Never Should Have Been: Julius’ Bar” PIX11 Morning News (WPIX-TV [New York])
“How Psychiatrist ‘Dr. Anonymous’ Impacted The Fight For Gay Rights” Sunday TODAY (NBC)
“HIV in the Deep South” In Real Life (Scripps News)
“Inside The Effort To Ban Conversion Therapy” (NBC News NOW)
“Introducing Nora J.S. Reichardt” (WOI/KCWI-TV [Des Moines])
“Life As A Trans Soldier” VICE News Tonight (VICE)
“Man Who Helped Stop The Club Q Shooter: ‘I’m Just A Normal Guy’” Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN)
“The Show Must Go On – Pride Events Targeted” Nightline (ABC)
“The Struggle Of Coming Out In A Religious Family” Good Morning America (ABC)
Outstanding TV Journalism – Long-Form
“Dear Noah: Pages from a Family Diary” (NBC News NOW)
“Families of Trans Kids Are Seeking Sanctuary” VICE News Tonight (VICE)
“NY1 Celebrates Pride: The New Generation” (Spectrum News NY1)
“Our America: Who I’m Meant To Be” (ABC Localish)
“PRIDE | To Be Seen” Soul of a Nation (ABC)
“Pride And Backlash” (NBC News NOW)
“Pride of Stage and Screen” (MSNBC)
“This Is Football” Beyond Limits (CBS)
“Unapologetic: A Conversation on Pride” (MSG Network)
“VIRAL: A World Without AIDS” (ABC News Live)
Outstanding Live TV Journalism – Segment or Special
“25 News: Celebrating Our Pride” (KXXV-TV [Waco])
“Chris Hayes on the Right-Wing War on LGBTQ Existence” All In with Chris Hayes (MSNBC)
“Don Lemon on the Anti-LGBTQ Congressman Who Attended His Gay Son’s Wedding” CNN Tonight with Don Lemon (CNN)
“GMA Out Loud: A Live Proposal in Times Square” Good Morning America (ABC)
“Joy-Ann Reid Interviews Will Larkins On Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill” The Reid Out (MSNBC)
“The Last Thing Before We Go: Stephanie Ruhle Talks Spirit Day” The 11th Hour (MSNBC)
“Out Loud: ABC News Celebrates Pride” (ABC News Live)
“Reggie Aqui Interviews Doctor and Mpox Patient on His Experience” (KGO-TV [San Francisco])
“Robin Roberts Interviews Zander Moricz on His Censored Graduation Speech” Good Morning America (ABC)
“Symone Sanders-Townsend Interviews Colorado Springs Shooting Survivor Michael Anderson” SYMONE (MSNBC)
Outstanding Print Article
“Activists Face An Avalanche Of Anti-Transgender Bills” by Casey Parks (The Washington Post)
“After Threats From Extremist Groups, LGBTQ Activists Rally In Support Of The Center” by Desiree Stennet (Orlando Sentinel)
“A Country Music Comeback: Ty Herndon Knows He Should be Dead” by Jason Sheeler (People)
“EXPLAINER: Pronouns, Nonbinary People and the Club Q Attack” by Jeff McMillan with Jesse Bedayn, Jim Mustian, Colleen Slevin, Jake Bleiberg, Lindsey Tanner (Associated Press)
“‘King Richard’ Star Aunjanue Ellis Speaks Her Truth About Being Bisexual: ‘I Am Queer – This Is Who I Am’” by Angelique Jackson (Variety)
“Niecy Nash And Wife Jessica Are Sure Betts” by Demetria L. Lucas (Essence)
“Pediatricians Who Serve Trans Youth Face Increasing Harassment. Lifesaving Care Could Be on the Line” by Madeleine Carlisle (TIME)
“Pride And Prejudice And Fire Island” by E. Alex Jung (New York Magazine)
“Take My Wheelchair,’ Club Q Victim Tells Nurse Upon Leaving 22-Day Hospital Stay” by Carol McKinley and Tina Siegfried (The Gazette [Colorado Springs])
“Will Russia Bring Its War On LGBTQ People To Ukraine?” by Kate Linthicum (Los Angeles Times)
Outstanding Magazine Overall Coverage
The Advocate
Metro Weekly
OUT
People
Variety
Outstanding Online Journalism Article
“A 25-Year-Old Got In A Taxi Outside An N.Y.C. Gay Bar. He Was Dead An Hour Later” by Jay Valle (NBCNews.com)
“Alabama Is Trying to Raise the Legal Driving Age for Trans People to 19” by Nico Lang (TheDailyBeast.com)
“Does Providing Prep, A Drug That Prevents H.I.V., Clash With Christian Beliefs? An Overview Of Church Teaching” by Michael J. O’Loughlin (AmericaMagazine.org)
“The Fear And Loathing Some People Show Sports Pride Events Brings Fear And Pain To This Fan” by Karleigh Webb (Outsports.com)
“‘I See Myself In Her’: Brittney Griner’s Russia Trial Resonates With Queer Black Women And Nonbinary People” by Orion Rummler (the19th.org)
“My Experience As A Target Of Kiwi Farms Speaks To A Scary Truth About Internet Culture” by Katelyn Burns (MSNBC.com)
“The New York Times, The Atlantic, More Keep Publishing Transphobia. Why?” by Lexi McMenamin (TeenVogue.com)
“School Board Meetings Are the New Frontline for LGBTQ+ Rights” by Colleen Hamilton (them.us)
“There Is No Legitimate ‘Debate’ Over Gender-Affirming Healthcare” by Kit O’Connell (TexasObserver.org)
“What’s So Scary About A Transgender Child?” by Emily St. James (Vox.com)
Outstanding Online Journalism – Video or Multimedia
“+TALK: Sex, Dating & Disclosure” by Karl Schmid (PlusLifeMedia.com)
“Deaths In The Family” (Insider.com)
“Florida’s So-Called ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill Explained” (TampaBay.com)
“How Is the Gay Rodeo Different?” by Jordon Jones (PBS.org)
“How Medicine’s Fixation on the Sex Binary Harms Intersex People” (ScientificAmerican.com)
“How New Anti-LGBTQ Laws Echo An Infamous Conservative Activist’s Campaign From 1977” by John Avlon (CNN.com)
“Lawmakers Say Trans Athlete Bans Are About Protecting Women’s Sports …” by Julie Kleigman (SI.com)
“Logo’s Trans Youth Town Hall” by Raquel Willis (LogoTV.com)
“The Stonewall Generation Has Found Their Voice with Leslie Jordan & Donald M. Bell” (LGBTQNation.com)
“White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre Opens Up About Brittney Griner’s Release” by Tracy E. Gilchrist (AdvocateChannel.com)
Outstanding Blog
Charlotte’s Web Thoughts
Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters
Mombian
My Fabulous Disease
The Reckoning
Outstanding Podcast
The Bald and the Beautiful with Trixie Mattel and Katya Zamo (Studio71)
In The Deep: Stories that Shape Us (iHeartMedia)
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang (iHeartMedia/Big Money Players)
Life Out Loud with LZ Granderson (ABC News)
LGBTQ&A (Jeffrey Masters, The Advocate)
PRIDECAST (iHeartMedia)
Sibling Rivalry (Studio71)
TransLash Podcast with Imara Jones (TransLash Media)
V Interesting (Lemonada Media)
Yass Jesus! (Audity)
Special Recognition
Alejandra Caraballo
Drag Story Hour
“Rothaniel” (HBO)
“The Lesbian Bar Project”
#Letters4TransKids
Sam Smith’s tour in support of his forthcoming fourth studio album, Gloria (via Capitol), will have a 2023 swing Down Under.
The superstar British singer and songwriter adds arena dates in five cities, kicking off Oct. 28 at Adelaide Entertainment Centre in South Australia.
Produced by Frontier Touring, the Australasian leg of GLORIA the tour travels to Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne; Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney; Brisbane Entertainment Centre; and skips the Tasman for a concert Nov. 11 at Spark Arena, Auckland.
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Smith made something of a reconnaissance trip to Adelaide last week, the first stop on their next tour to these parts. South Australia Tourism hosted the “Unholy” singer for a winter sun escape, during which Smith cuddled a koala, met with local media and performed a one-off exclusive winery show at d’Arenberg Cube, at McLaren Vale.
“It’s so good to be back after so long,” they told the gathering of 300 VIPs and competition winners, after opening with “Stay With Me.” “Are you pissed yet?” Adelaide, the so-called City of Churches, they enthused, is “so beautiful. I can’t believe it. It’s like Italy. It’s stunning.”
Australia and NZ will cap a full run of dates across the U.K., Europe and North America, slated to start April 23 at Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield, England.
Work has begun on the marathon that awaits.
“I start rehearsals in March,” Smith tells Billboard. “I’m starting to prep now, really. I’m starting to watch what I eat, what I’m drinking, starting to move my body more, train my voice, just getting ready for the year ahead.”
On this occasion, “I’m not doing as many gigs this time as last time, when I hit nearly 130 gigs. That was really intense. We’re doing a little less, keeping an eye on my mind and my body.”
With Gloria, which is due out Jan. 27, Smith is four albums deep into a career that has yielded four Grammys, three BRITs, a Golden Globe, one Oscar, some 50 billion multi-platform streams, and a coveted James Bond theme.
Smith knows what to expect from the road ahead. “I think I’ll always feel fatigued after a tour, it’s an intense job. The jetlag and the adrenaline crash you go through every night when you walk off stage, it’s very intense. I plan my breaks, so it’s not going to be impossible. It’s just about getting used to jetlag. Every time I do it, I know how to look after myself more and more.”
Gloria, the followup to 2020’s Love Goes, features the previously-released singles “Love Me More,” “Gimme” and the Kim Petras-assisted hit “Unholy,” which logged a single week atop the Billboard Hot 100 last October. “Unholy” is nominated for best song at the 2023 Brit Awards.
Smith’s three studio albums all crashed the top 5 on the Billboard 200, with 2017’s The Thrill of It All hitting No. 1.
Maren Morris got emotional as she fulfilled a “decade-long dream” of serving as a guest judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race.
The country star appeared on Friday’s (Jan. 13) episode of the series and that night tweeted: “I’ve done some cool s—. #DragRace is rivaling it all. Getting my jacket framed next to my Grammy. It is DONE.”
In a post-episode Untucked clip, Morris was teary-eyed as she spoke from her heart to the room.
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“Coming from country music and its relationship with LGBTQ+ members, I just want to say I’m sorry,” Morris said. “And I love you guys for making me feel like a brave voice in country music. So I just thank you guys so much for inspiring me.”
“I’m gonna cry,” she admitted.
In August, Morris showed her allyship when she called out the “unapologetically conservative” wife of Jason Aldean, Brittany, who spread hurtful anti-trans misinformation on her Instagram account. When Brittany called gender-affirming care for minors “one of the worst evils,” Morris and Cassadee Pope jumped in with comments, with Morris calling Aldean “Insurrection Barbie” and telling her to “not be a scumbag human.”
When Fox News’ Tucker Carlson called Morris a “lunatic” for her comments, the singer created T-shirts that read “lunatic country music person,” and later donated more than $100,000 worth of proceeds to GLAAD’s Transgender Media Program and Trans Lifeline.
In November, Morris spoke out against Candace Cameron Bure for her plans to“keep traditional marriage at the core” of content on her new network, Great American Family. Morris commented “Make DJ Gay Again,” a reference to Bure’s most famous role as Full House‘s DJ Tanner.
“We love an ally! So grateful @marenmorris stopped by #Untucked to support our Queens with this heartfelt message,” the official Rupaul’s Drag Race Instagram account posted on Saturday (Jan. 14).
Watch Morris’ Untucked clip below.
As you continue to work on those New Year’s resolutions, why not soundtrack them with some fabulous new tunes from your favorite queer artists? Billboard Pride is proud to present the latest edition of First Out, our weekly roundup of some of the best new music releases from LGBTQ artists.
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From Sam Smith’s sexed-up new single to Vagabon’s infectious new track, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below:
Sam Smith feat. Koffee & Jessie Reyez, “Gimme”
Innuendo is cool and all, but Sam Smith is ready to be a bit more overt with their latest track. “Gimme,” the latest offering from the singer’s forthcoming album Gloria, is a sensual, tropical slow-burn that will make you want to move your hips from the moment you press play. The wordplay on display in the new track marks new territory for the “Unholy” star, as they croon about voyeurism, taking things slow, and playfully requesting that “I need you to come … closer.” They’re joined by Jessie Reyez, offering an instantly hypnotic hook, and Koffee, whose verse gives us a new flavor with the same saucy message.
Vagabon, “Carpenter”
Growing up means taking accountability, and Vagabon is doing exactly that on her delectable new track. “Carpenter,” singer Laetitia Tamko’s first new music in three years, sees her at her most grown, taking accountability for the mistakes of her youth and giving herself permission to move on. The production, meanwhile, refuses to be pinned down, as Tamko and Rostam Batmanglij craft a pitch-perfect vibe through a truly delicious, bass-driven melody that, mixed with a scattered drum beat, makes for one of the most infectious tracks of Vagabon’s career.
May-A, “Sweat You Out My System“
May-A’s ready for a new chapter, and “Sweat You Out My System” is the perfect palette cleanser for her. The new, pop/rock-meets-semi-rap track brilliantly recontextualizes the indie-pop stylings fans have grown accustomed to from the Australian phenom. Where old songs tended to step back, May-A now leans all the way in with punchy guitars and blown-out drums. Her lyricism remains top-shelf, as she lets her ex know that she’s done, singing, “Now I’m itching in my skin because I can’t forget the feeling/ And I’m living in the sin of what I cannot ignore, before.”
Dreamer Isioma, “F–k Tha World”
Rebuking the cosmic reality of our existence has never sounded quite so fun. Dreamer Isioma’s undulating new track “F–k That World” may participate in the nihilism that its title suggests lyrically (“It’s all gonna blow up anyway,” they aptly point out), but it lets you enjoy the ride towards oblivion all the same, courtesy of some very groovy production on their part. If you’re not in the mood to be told how everything’s going to turn out fine, but you still want to enjoy your weekend, then “F–k That World” is required listening.
Xiu Xiu, “Maybae Baeby”
The word “haunting” sometimes gets thrown around to describe certain styles of song — so Xiu Xiu wants to make sure that you know what “haunting” actually sounds like. “Maybae Baeby,” the new single from the experimental indie act, is a fascinating study in the macabre — designed to unsettle rather than be “understood,” this disquieting song never lets go of your throat. As you listen to the trembling, cacophonous bass that permeates the track and the jumbled voices trying to communicate with you, don’t be surprised if you start to feel that spine-tingling dread that comes with any good horror movie. That’s the point.
Mya Byrne, “It Don’t Fade”
In need of a pick-me-up? Mya Byrne is here to help — “It Don’t Fade,” Byrne’s new track, is a ray of light at a time where things can often feel a bit dark. The flaring guitar licks and simple drum pattern give this song a steadiness and ease that feels almost as soothing as the gorgeous alto tones of Byrne’s voice, as she asks that you look for the silver linings where you can. In short, “It Don’t Fade” is exactly the “just keep going” anthem we could all use right now.
Check out all of our picks on Billboard’s Queer Jams of the Week playlist below:
When it comes to getting what they want, Sam Smith isn’t relying on euphemisms anymore.
On Wednesday (Jan. 11), Smith unveiled their latest single “Gimme,” featuring Jamaican reggae-rap star Koffee, and Canadian R&B singer Jessie Reyez. Bouncing with a dancehall flair, the track lays the lusty vibes on thick before Smith can even deliver such saucy lines like “Your eyes on my dun, dun-dun-dun/ I need you to come … closer.”
Reyez shines on the already-addictive chorus, and Koffee’s rapid-fire reggae verse gives the song a jolt of extra life, allowing Smith to shoot their otherworldly voice into the stratosphere on the final chorus. “Voyeurs are watching us/ Giving me such a rush,” the star sings alongside Reyez. “When I’m crazy and drunk on love/ Gimme what I want.”
In a statement released alongside the new single, Smith called the new song “filth,” saying that they wanted to be able to represent their sexual perspective on a track. “I’m a sexual person, I like sex. It’s something I’m teaching myself to not be ashamed of,” Smith said. “Me and Jessie were basically drunk, drinking whisky in Jamaica, two in the morning, running around absolutely wasted, like two girlfriends having a laugh.”
“Gimme,” like its chart-topping predecesor “Unholy,” comes on the heels of a push for the song on TikTok, where Smith shared a few snippets of the track. Eventually, fans began to create their own dances to the track, specifically timed to Reyez’s hypnotic “gimme gimme gimme” refrain as they shook their booties on camera.
The new song is latest off of Smith’s forthcoming new album, Gloria. Due out Jan. 27 via Capitol Records, the new album promises to be a new take on Smith’s well-established sound. “It feels like emotional, sexual and spiritual liberation,” Smith said of Gloria in a statement. “It was beautiful, with this album, to sing freely again. Oddly, it feels like my first-ever record. And it feels like a coming of age.”
Check out Sam Smith’s “Gimme,” featuring Koffee & Jessie Reyez below: