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Ever since its release in 2015, Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song” has become a musical representation of hope for anyone overcoming obstacles or struggling with tragedy.
As the wildfires in Los Angeles continue to devastate the city, Platten took the stage at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., on Monday (Jan. 13) to perform her hit before the playoff game between the LA Rams and the Minnesota Vikings. “It was such an emotional night. It was so much bigger than me and the song,” she tells Billboard of the moment, which served as a tribute to victims of the fires as well as first responders who are risking their lives to save their city.
Platten and her family are thankfully safe, and were able to return home after a precautionary evacuation. “My heart breaks,” she says. “We know friends who have lost their houses, friends whose schools have burned down. It’s horrifying, and it’s been a really scary experience.”
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During her “Fight Song” performance, Platten switched up the line in the song’s first verse — “I might only have one match/ But I can make an explosion” — to a fitting and more appropriate lyric given the circumstances: “We might have been knocked down/ But I know we’ll keep going.”
“I feel really incredibly grateful for the whole night,” she says. “We can do so many things with tragedy. We can mourn together, and we can cry together — but then there are also times to be strong together. What I felt on stage was, ‘May this song touch people like medicine, may this song be healing.’ I did feel feel a reverberation and an echo in the stadium of that hunger for hope in the midst of darkness. Sometimes music can do what words can’t.”
Platten hopes to continue her message of hope as she embarks on her Set Me Free tour, which kicks off on March 17 in Denver, Colo., and hits multiple cities including Los Angeles before wrapping on May 9 in Orlando, Fla. “It’s freedom, and it’s earned joy, not superficial way of celebration,” she says of the upcoming run of live shows. “It’s the kind of joy where you’ve been through some shit, and you’ve seen pain and you’ve seen tragedy, and you are choosing to stay strong and resilient. We’re all going to sing and dance, but we’re also going to cry and feel our feelings. Hopefully, the whole tour gives people permission to feel everything.”
Watch Platten perform “Fight Song” before the Rams and Vikings game below.
Taylor Swift is supporting the growing Kansas City Chiefs family. On Monday (Jan. 13), the team’s quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his wife Brittany announced the arrival of their third child, a daughter named Golden Raye Mahomes who was born on Jan. 12. The duo posted a joint black-and-white photo on Instagram of the new bundle […]
Add a new line to Colombian reggaetón star Ryan Castro’s resume: professional sports team owner.
Castro announced that through his company AWOO Team, he has acquired a significant equity stake in Paisas Basketball club, a professional team in his hometown of Medellín. The acquisition makes Castro the first Colombian music artist to own a stake in a basketball team, and also makes him one of only a handful of Colombian artists vested economically in sports.
“It’s another facet for us as entrepreneurs. Supporting sports, because the kids in the barrios have the same dreams as us, the artists,” said Castro, who rose to stardom from the slums of Medellín, tells Billboard.
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The Paisas, he adds (the term “Paisa” is slang for people from Medellín), are from his hometown, plus, “I love basketball. Every time I go to the U.S., I like to go to NBA games. So, it all came together and the opportunity arose to support a team from my city to continue growing the basketball movement, generate more activity and support young people who are into sports.”
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While basketball is not nearly as prominent as soccer in Colombia, it’s on the rise. Castro’s acquisition coincides with Paisas Basketball debut in the Basketball Champions League Americas (BCLA0, which includes top teams from across the continent). The team also competes in the Betplay professional league in Colombia under Venezuelan coach Daniel Seoane.
On his end, Castro is no stranger to sports.
Last year, he released “El Ritmo Que Nos Une,” the official anthem for Colombia’s national soccer team during Copa América. The video, which has been viewed more than 110 million times on YouTube, shows Castro hanging out and playing soccer with members of the Colombian squad.
However, Castro wasn’t actively looking to invest in sports. The opportunity came to him via a close associate who works actively with basketball and the NBA. “He told me this was a possibility and me and my team gathered all the information we could about Paisas,” says Castro.
Beyond investing in the team, partnering with Castro also gives the Paisas the opportunity to leverage the musician’s platform as a popular Colombian artists with millions of followers on social media (4.5 million on Instagram alone). Plus, he says, “Taking into my account my life story, also take that message of empowerment, of working for your dreams to other kids. That’s the intention. Many kids dream of basketball and sports as a way to get ahead and have a better life, and my story is similar, but with music. So it’s about also taking that motivation, and, as a businessman, I want to venture into sports.”
Castro is set to officially announce his partnership Tuesday (Jan. 14) at a press conference in Medellín. At the same time, he’s releasing his first single of the year, “Ni x el Putxs,” featuring Colombian trap star Kris R.
Castro’s music is distributed by Sony Latin via his company AWOO Corp. He also has a strategic partnership and label services deal with WK Records with Leo Arango as his manager.
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The Los Angeles Rams take on the Minnesota Vikings tonight as the NFL Wild Card playoffs wrap up with a must-win Monday Night game.
The game was set to be played at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, but with the ongoing wildfires in the region, both teams decided to move the NFC Wild Card matchup to State Farm Stadium in Arizona.
Sports fans will be tuning in to see which team heads to the NFC Divisional Round game against the Philadelphia Eagles; music fans, meantime, also have a reason to tune in, as Rachel Platten will perform at the game. The singer will perform the national anthem, and take the field to sing her hit single, “Fight Song.”
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Want to watch the Rams vs. Vikings Wild Card game? Here’s what you need to know.
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How to Watch Rams vs. Vikings Football Game
The Rams vs. Vikings game takes place tonight, Monday, January 13 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. The football game will air live on ABC, so you can watch the Rams vs. Vikings on TV through your local ABC affiliate.
How to Stream Rams vs. Vikings Football Game Online
Don’t have cable? You can stream the Rams vs. Vikings game online through DirecTV Stream, which gets you a live feed of ABC that you can watch from your phone, laptop, tablet or TV. DirecTV Stream lets you watch live TV over the internet without needing cable. Try them out with this five-day free trial and use it to livestream the Rams vs. Vikings online free.
Another way to watch the Rams vs. Vikings game online is through Fubo, which offers a free trial and free DVR for you to stream the game from home. Grab a seven-day free trial here and use it to watch tonight’s NFC Wild Card game online free without cable. You can also use the free DVR to record the game to watch a replay back on-demand.
The Vikings are the current favorites for tonight’s matchup. The two teams last met on October 24 in the regular season, where Los Angeles defeated Minnesota 30–20.
Frances Tiafoe still can’t believe he’s famous enough to be in the same rooms as people like Taylor Swift, much less taking shots with the pop star.
But on the Jan. 7 episode of The Pivot Podcast, the tennis pro revealed that he and Swift did exactly that when their paths crossed recently. While recalling moments where he’s felt amazed by his own celebrity status, Tiafoe reflected, “I’ve said it in real time, whoever I’m with, like, ‘Yo, I’m out here taking shots with Taylor Swift.’”
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“Granted, I gotta keep it a buck, we’re here on The Pivot — I’m a Beyoncé guy,” the athlete continued. “But at the moment I’m like, ‘Man, this is crazy. She’s the biggest star out here.’”
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The podcast comes about two months after Tiafoe hung out with Swift and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, following the football team’s victory against the Denver Broncos in November. At the time, the tennis player’s girlfriend, fellow athlete Ayan Broomfield, shared a selfie featuring both couples on Instagram, showing Kelce grinning wide as the “Anti-Hero” singer made a kissy face.
“Then Travis and [Patrick] Mahomes, they were like, ‘Yo, we gotta have you in [Kansas City],’” Tiafoe added of meeting the Chiefs players on The Pivot. “Them saying that is wild to me, that they would roll out the red carpet for me. It’s crazy because playing tennis and being able to reach that many people, and people want to meet me and hang out and actually do stuff … it’s why you do what you do.”
Swift and the New Heights podcaster have previously proven themselves to be tennis fans, attending the 2024 U.S. Open in September alongside Patrick and Brittany Mahomes. The outing sparked one viral moment for the 14-time Grammy winner and Kelce as the couple goofed off together singing along to “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” by The Darkness as it came on the stadium speakers in Queens.
Watch Tiafoe recall partying with Swift and meeting Kelce below.
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Source: Nike / NIke
The legacy of Kobe Bryant continues to live on as Nike is set to commemorate the memory of the NBA legend with a new collection that’s poised to be a must-have for any hardcore Black Mamba fan.
Source: Nike / NIke
Earlier this week, Nike announced that they would be kicking off 2025 with a new Year of the Mamba collection that will consist of some classic Kobe Bryant Nike silhouettes in new color ways along with matching apparel. Front and center in the new collection are the Kobe 5 Protro “Year of Mamba,” Kobe VI Protro “Sail” and of course the Kobe 9 Elite High Protro “Masterpiece.” Each model will be remixed and laced with some new and vibrant colors that’s sure to stand out among color ways of the past.
Aside from the standout sneakers, the collection will also feature matching jackets, tees, crew necks, and, of course, sweatpants to round out the entire capsule collection.
“This collection is an introduction to the Year of the Mamba — and, for our younger athletes, a deeper education on Mamba Mentality and the tenacity Kobe brought to the game,” said Bronson Yim, Product Line Manager, Kobe footwear. in a statement. “With this capsule, we’re not extending athletes a year of good luck. We’re not saying, ‘Have a good year.’ We’re challenging athletes to have a tough year, proving to themselves that they can channel Mamba Mentality to unlock their goals.”
The Kobe 5 Protro Year of Mamba will be dropping today (Jan. 9) on Nike.com and select retailers while the The Kobe 9 Elite High Protro “Masterpiece” will release Feb. 8 followed by the The Kobe VI Protro “Sail” on Feb. 13.
Check out the spot for the upcoming Year of the Mamba collection and more detailed photos of the kicks and apparel in the gallery. And let us know if you’ll be trying to cop any of the pieces in the comments section below.
1. New Kobe Bryant ‘Year Of The Mamba’ Collection
Source:NIke
Kobe 9 Elite High Protro “Masterpiece” new kobe bryant ‘year of the mamba’ collection
2. New Kobe Bryant ‘Year Of The Mamba’ Collection
Source:NIke
Kobe VI Protro “Sail” new kobe bryant ‘year of the mamba’ collection
3. New Kobe Bryant ‘Year Of The Mamba’ Collection
Source:NIke
Kobe 5 Protro “Year of Mamba” new kobe bryant ‘year of the mamba’ collection
4. New Kobe Bryant ‘Year Of The Mamba’ Collection
Source:NIke
Kobe 5 Protro “Year of Mamba” University Red new kobe bryant ‘year of the mamba’ collection
5. New Kobe Bryant ‘Year Of The Mamba’ Collection
Source:NIke
Kobe 5 Protro “Year of Mamba” Eggplant new kobe bryant ‘year of the mamba’ collection
6. New Kobe Bryant ‘Year Of The Mamba’ Collection
Source:NIke
Kobe 5 Protro “Year of Mamba” Eggplant new kobe bryant ‘year of the mamba’ collection
7. New Kobe Bryant ‘Year Of The Mamba’ Collection
Source:NIke
New Kobe Bryant ‘Year Of The Mamba’ Collection new kobe bryant ‘year of the mamba’ collection
8. New Kobe Bryant ‘Year Of The Mamba’ Collection
Source:NIke
New Kobe Bryant ‘Year Of The Mamba’ Collection new kobe bryant ‘year of the mamba’ collection
9. New Kobe Bryant ‘Year Of The Mamba’ Collection
Source:NIke
New Kobe Bryant ‘Year Of The Mamba’ Collection new kobe bryant ‘year of the mamba’ collection
10. New Kobe Bryant ‘Year Of The Mamba’ Collection
Source:NIke
New Kobe Bryant ‘Year Of The Mamba’ Collection new kobe bryant ‘year of the mamba’ collection
11. New Kobe Bryant ‘Year Of The Mamba’ Collection
Source:NIke
New Kobe Bryant ‘Year Of The Mamba’ Collection new kobe bryant ‘year of the mamba’ collection
12. New Kobe Bryant ‘Year Of The Mamba’ Collection
Source:NIke
New Kobe Bryant ‘Year Of The Mamba’ Collection new kobe bryant ‘year of the mamba’ collection
13. New Kobe Bryant ‘Year Of The Mamba’ Collection
Source:NIke
New Kobe Bryant ‘Year Of The Mamba’ Collection new kobe bryant ‘year of the mamba’ collection
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The Orange Bowl, which is also the Playoff (CFP) semifinal, features two NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision powerhouses looking to advance to the big CFP National Championship game. But first, the Fighting Irish and the Nittany Lions battle each other for a chance to win it all.
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The No. 7-ranked Notre Dame (13-1) take on the No. 6-ranked Penn State (13-2) at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., on Thursday, Jan. 9.
When Does Notre Dame vs. Penn State Start?
The Notre Dame vs. Penn State game broadcasts live, with kickoff at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT. The game airs on ESPN.
Where to Watch Notre Dame vs. Penn State for Free
For cord-cutters, there are a few ways to watch Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Penn State Nittany Lions — especially if you want to watch for free. DirecTV Stream has a five-day free trial, while other streaming services — such as Hulu + Live TV — also offer a free trial so you can watch ESPN for free.
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Keep reading for more details on how to watch the Notre Dame-Penn State game with DirecTV Stream and Hulu + Live TV.
How to Watch Notre Dame vs. Penn State With DirecTV Stream
A subscription to DirecTV Stream — which comes with ESPN for Notre Dame vs. Penn State — gets you access to live TV, local and cable channels, starting at $74.99 per month. The service even offers a five-day free trial to watch for free if you sign up now.
You can watch local networks such as NBC, ABC, Fox, and PBS, while you can also watch many cable networks, including FS1, Lifetime, FX, AMC, A&E, Bravo, BET, MTV, Paramount Network, Cartoon Network, VH1, Fuse, CNN, Food Network, CNBC and many others.
How to Watch Notre Dame vs. Penn State With Hulu + Live TV
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Penn State Nittany Lions game on ESPN is available to watch with Hulu + Live TV too. Prices for the cable alternative start at $82.99 per month, while each plan comes with Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+ at no additional cost.
Hulu + Live TV might be best for those who want all of these streaming services together in one bundle. It also features many other networks, including ABC, Hallmark Channel, BET, CMT, Disney Channel, NBC, Fox Sports and more.
Who Is Performing During Notre Dame vs. Penn State Halftime Show?
While the Band of the Fighting Irish and the Penn State Blue Band marching bands are in attendance at the Orange Bowl, Academy of Country Music Award-winner Nate Smith is set to headline the 2025 Capital One Halftime Show. Additionally, recording artists Lauren Alaina, Fitz and The Tantrums, Walker Hayes, Gavin DeGraw, Flo Rida and Andy Grammer are also scheduled to perform.
How to Buy Notre Dame vs. Penn State Tickets Online
Want to attend the Notre Dame-Penn State game in person? There are still last-minute tickets to the Orange Bowl game available via Vivid Seats (get $20 off purchases of $200 and over with code BB2024), SeatGeek (your first purchases can get $10 off ticket order $250 and with code BILLBOARD10), StubHub and GameTime (score $20 off ticket orders of $150 and over with code SAVE20). Prices vary depending on the city and seats available.
Moreover, you can save $150 off when you spend $500 with promo code BILLBOARD150, or $300 off when you spend $1,000 with promo code BILLBOARD300 at TicketNetwork.com.
Starting at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT, Orange Bowl 2025: Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Penn State Nittany Lions broadcasts on ESPN. It’s also available to livestream on DirecTV Stream for free on Thursday, Jan. 9.
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The Detroit Lions are looking to make history this year and capture their first Super Bowl with the NFL Playoffs right around the corner. And there was plenty of star power and Lions royalty in the building to cheer on the team, as Eminem, Flavor Flav and more were spotted at Ford Field during the […]
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Love is dead, long live love. Rapper Cordae and pro tennis player Naomi Osaka have reportedly broken up.
Naomi Osaka shares she is no longer in a relationship with Cordae:
“No bad blood at all, he’s a great person and an awesome dad. Honestly really glad our paths because my daughter is my biggest blessing and I was able to grow a lot from our experiences together ❤️” pic.twitter.com/dpJYyL1BXH
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) January 6, 2025
Osaka took to the 2025 platform of choice for official announcements, Instagram, to let the world know that she is living single.
“Hi everyone, just want to say that Cordae and I are no longer in a relationship.” said Osaka on her IG Story. “No bad blood at all, he’s a great person and an awesome dad, Honestly really glad our paths crossed because my daughter is my biggest blessing and I was able to grow a lot from our experiences together.”
The now ex-couple started dating way back in 2019, and welcomed a baby, a girl named Shai, in 2023.
Recently, Osaka was forced to retire from Auckland Classic due to an injury. which put her participation in the forthcoming Australian Open in jeopardy. As for Cordae, he dropped his thired proper album, The Crossroads, last November.
This story is developing.
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The Rose Bowl has been “The Granddaddy of Them All” in for more than 120 years, while the game is also the College Football Playoff quarterfinal with two NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision powerhouses.
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The No. 6-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes (11-2) take on the No. 1-ranked Oregon Ducks (13-0) at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California on Wednesday, Jan. 1.
When Does Ohio State vs. Oregon Start?
The Ohio State vs. Oregon game broadcasts live, with kickoff at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT. The game airs on ESPN.
Where to Watch Ohio State vs. Oregon for Free
For cord-cutters, there are a few ways to watch Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Oregon Ducks, if you don’t have cable — especially if you want to watch for free. DirecTV Stream has a five-day free trial, while other streaming services — such as Hulu + Live TV — also offers a free trial, so you can watch ESPN for free.
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Keep reading for more details on how to watch the Ohio State-Oregon game with DirecTV Stream and Hulu + Live TV.
How to Watch Ohio State vs. Oregon with DirecTV Stream
A subscription to DirecTV Stream — which comes with ESPN for Ohio State vs. Oregon — gets you access to live TV, local and cable channels, starting at $74.99 per month. The service even offers a five-day free trial to watch for free, if you sign up now.
You can watch local networks such as NBC, ABC, Fox, and PBS, while you can also watch many cable networks, including FS1, Lifetime, FX, AMC, A&E, Bravo, BET, MTV, Paramount Network, Cartoon Network, VH1, Fuse, CNN, Food Network, CNBC and many others.
How to Watch Ohio State vs. Oregon with Hulu + Live TV
The Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Oregon Ducks game on ESPN is available to watch with Hulu + Live TV too. Prices for the cable alternative start at $82.99 per month, while each plan comes with Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+ at no additional cost.
Hulu + Live TV might be best for those who want all of these streaming services together in one bundle. It also features many other networks, including ABC, Hallmark Channel, BET, CMT, Disney Channel, NBC, Fox Sports and more.
Who Is Performing During Ohio State vs. Oregon Halftime Show
Since it’s a college football game, the Ohio State University Marching Band and Oregon Marching Band are both likely set to perform at halftime of the Rose Bowl game.
How to Buy Ohio State vs. Oregon Tickets Online
Want to attend the Ohio State-Oregon game in person? There are still last-minute tickets to the Rose Bowl game available via Vivid Seats (get $20 off purchases of $200 and over with code BB2024), SeatGeek (your first purchases can get $10 off ticket order $250 and with code BILLBOARD10), StubHub and GameTime (score $20 off ticket orders of $150 and over with code SAVE20). Prices vary depending on the city and seats available.
Moreover, you can save $150 off when you spend $500 with promo code BILLBOARD150, or $300 off when you spend $1,000 with promo code BILLBOARD300 at TicketNetwork.com.
Starting at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT, Rose Bowl 2025: Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Oregon Ducks broadcasts on ESPN, while it’s also available to livestream on DirecTV Stream for free on Wednesday, Jan. 1.
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