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12 Jan 2024

Alesso Joins Lil Wayne & T-Pain As Michelob Ultra Super Bowl Party Performer

Alesso‘s caught a gig. The Swedish DJ and music producer is set to perform at Michelob Ultra’s Super Bowl party on Jan. 10 in Las Vegas, Billboard can exclusively report. The “Words” artist joins previously announced headliners Lil Wayne and T-Pain.

“I’m so excited to be a part of this legendary lineup of performers with Lil Wayne and T-Pain at the Michelob ULTRA Country Club in Las Vegas next month,” Alesso tells Billboard. “Michelob ULTRA always throws one of the biggest Super Bowl parties every year, so you won’t want to miss it.”

Billboard can also announce that the event will be hosted by soccer player Alex Morgan and former NFL quarterback Dan Marino. The shindig — called the Michelob Ultra Country Club — will be held at the Topgolf in Sin City, and goes from 7 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

The party will combine — what else! — golf, entertainment, and food and drinks. In addition to live performances by Alesso, Lil Wayne and T-Pain across two stages, the Country Club will feature an “all-star celebrity golf shoot-out,” giveaways and appearances by celebrities and athletes.

Super Bowl Party Coverage

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“We’re thrilled to bring the much-anticipated Michelob ULTRA Country Club to Topgolf Las Vegas during the biggest weekend of the year,” Ricardo Marques, Michelob ULTRA’s VP of marketing, previously said in a statement. “By combining the perfect setting with an incredible line-up of artists, hosts and special guest appearances, we’ll create what will truly be a unique experience that seamlessly blends being active with enjoyment, which is something only Michelob ULTRA could deliver.”

All-inclusive “Early Birdie” tickets to the event — which include food and beverages — are on sale now for $269 via Michelob Ultra’s website. Advance and regular tickets will go on sale “soon,” according to the website. VIP table service tickets are also available now, with prices ranging from $7,500 to $15,000.

While the teams for Super Bowl 2024 have not yet been determined, the halftime show performer has been set. Usher will headline the Super Bowl Halftime Show presented by Apple Music on Jan. 11 from Allegiant Stadium in Vegas.

“When I got the call, I was like, ‘Man, I’ve been working really hard my entire career,’” he told Extra in November of his upcoming gig for the big game. “The preparation didn’t start within the last two years of performing in Las Vegas. It really started 30 years ago, and my commitment to it and the journey that I’ve taken musically is why I think I’m given that moment.”

11 Jan 2024

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith Urges NFL Fans to ‘Show Some Respect’ for Taylor Swift at Travis Kelce’s Games

Stephen A. Smith isn’t playing when it comes to Taylor Swift. The sports analyst recently hit back at certain NFL fans who’ve complained about the pop star’s attendance at Travis Kelce‘s Kansas City Chiefs games, insisting that her presence may even have a “positive impact” on the tight end’s playing. 

“I have to take a moment to come to the defense of Taylor Swift,” a fired-up Smith said on ESPN’s First Take on Wednesday (Jan. 10). “Everybody’s sitting up there and acting like she’s some kind of impediment — excuse me, she did her job! That Eras Tour? Off the chain. Generated billions.”  

“She’s going to support her dude,” he continued. “To show up at a game and the cameras are on her — that ain’t her fault! And excuse me, by the way, she went to the games after the concerts. It’s not like she used the games to bump up the concerts. Oh no! Those kids were going to her concerts whether the NFL was promoting her or not!”  

Smith’s defense of Swift comes amid speculation that the “Anti-Hero” singer’s much-publicized visits to Arrowhead Stadium have been too distracting, be it for Kelce, his teammates or football fans. Earlier on in her relationship with Kelce, the NFL’s zoomed-in coverage of the star was a complaint among some viewers, and it was even the subject of a bombed joke from host Jo Koy at the Golden Globes Sunday (Jan. 7). 

“The big difference between the Golden Globes and the NFL? At the Golden Globes, we have fewer camera shots of Taylor Swift,” the comedian quipped as cameras cut to Swift, who reacted with a cold stare.  

It’s something that the 12-time Grammy winner herself addressed in her December Person of the Year cover story. “I’m just there to support Travis … I have no awareness of if I’m being shown too much and pissing off a few dads, Brads and Chads,” she told the publication. 

And for all intents and purposes, it seems like Smith agrees. “Taylor Swift is that girl,” he added. “Let’s show some respect. She probably is gonna have a positive impact on Travis Kelce’s performance, OK? I’m not trying to disrespect Taylor Swift.” 

See Smith defend Swift below: 

10 Jan 2024

Kansas City Chiefs Tease Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce’s ‘Love Story’ During Postseason Recap

He’ll be the prince and she’ll be the princess! The Kansas City Chiefs made a reference to one of Taylor Swift’s most popular songs in a postseason recap shared to Instagram on Tuesday (Jan. 9), as the NFL team heads into the playoffs.

“Valentine’s Day is jealous of the ‘love story’ we have / Who could ever separate the end zone from Trav?” the narrator recites in the clip, referring to Travis Kelce, who is dating the “Anti-Hero” superstar. The clip also seems to make reference to Swift’s Fearless hit, “Love Story.” See the post here.

That’s not all. Elsewhere, in another recap, the NFL referred to Kelce as “Travis Swift Kelce” while boasting his “second-most yards for a tight end” achievement this year.

Swift and Kelce’s real life “Love Story” began back in July, when the football player tried to give a friendship bracelet to Swift during her Eras Tour stop in Kansas City. Since then, the singer has attended countless Chiefs football games and the duo have stepped out together on dates on multiple occasions.

“When you say a relationship is public, that means I’m going to see him do what he loves, we’re showing up for each other, other people are there and we don’t care,” Swift told TIME in December, marking her first public remarks of the relationship. “The opposite of that is you have to go to an extreme amount of effort to make sure no one knows that you’re seeing someone. And we’re just proud of each other.” 

10 Jan 2024

2024 ISU European Figure Skating Championships: How to Watch & Stream From Anywhere

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The 2024 European Figure Skating Championships launch at the Zalgiris Arena in Kaunas, Lithuania, on Wednesday (Jan. 10), featuring 167 figure skaters from around the globe.

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More than 30 hours of live coverage will broadcast and stream live accross NBC, E! and Peacock.

Defending champions and 2022 Olympians Adam Siao Him Fa and Anastasia Gubanova will compete in the men’s and women’s singles. Two-time Olympian and reigning world bronze medalist Loena Hendrickx is expected to compete in the women’s singles division. Olympians Charlène Guignard and Marco Fabbri will compete for their second, consecutive European title.

Olympic gold medalist Tara Lipinski, three-time U.S. champion Jonny Weir and sportscaster Terry Gannon will provide a live play-by-play of the 2024 ISU European Figure Skating Championships, which take place Jan. 10-14.

Keep reading for more details on how to watch and stream.

ISU European Figure Skating Championships: Schedule, Best Ways to Watch

The 2024 European Figure Skating Championships will include the men’s singles, women’s singles, pair skating and ice dance. Live coverage will be available to stream on Peacock as well as E! and NBC for select competitions.

Fans who don’t have access to cable or local channels can stream the competition on Peacock or a platform that offers live television such as Sling TV, DirecTV and Fubo.

Peacock is $5.99/month for the Premium plan and $11.99/month for the commercial-free, Premium Plus plan.

Looking for streaming deals? Subscribe to Peacock’s annual plan to save 17% off.

Aside from sports, Peacock features exclusive TV series and must-watch movies such as Poker Face, Dr. Death, The Holdovers, Extended Family, Ted and Love Island: Love Games along with Bravo favorites such as The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City and Vanderpump Rules.

Want a streaming plan with live TV? Peacock’s Premium Plus Plan offers live access to NBC, but if you’re interested in more channels, DirecTV offers a free trial for five days and you’re not tied to a contract, so you can cancel anytime.

DirecTV’s streaming packages come with 75-plus channels including NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, E!, Bravo, CNN, ESPN, A&E, AMC, BET, MTV, VH1, Food Network, FS1, FS2, Lifetime, Logo, Nickelodeon and Paramount Network. Save $25 for the first two months when you subscribe to Choice plan. The streaming package is discounted to $89.99/month (reg. $108.99/month) for a limited time.

Sling TV is another affordable choice, plans start at just $20 per month for a limited time.

If you’re streaming internationally, ExpressVPN lets you access several streaming platforms. Coverage of the figure skating competition will be available on Eurosport for viewers in Europe and SBS on Demand in Australia.

Day one of the ISU European Figure Skating Championships kicked off Wednesday with the pairs’ short program, which streamed on Peacock at 6 a.m. ET, followed by the men’s short program at 10:15 a.m.

The men’s short program will air on the E! network and stream on Peacock at 1 p.m. on Wednesday.

The women’s short program leads the list of programming for Thursday. The competition will stream live on Peacock at 6:15 a.m. An encore presentation of the event will air on E! at 11 a.m.

Thursday’s pairs’ free skate program is slated for noon and 1 p.m. on Peacock and will broadcast on E! at 1 p.m.

Rhythm dancing leads the pack for Friday, but you’ll have to get up early to catch the action. Coverage will begin streaming at 5 a.m. on Peacock. The men’s free program is slated for Friday at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Peacock. The program will air on E! at 1 p.m.

Saturday’s schedule will include the women’s free program, which will stream on Peacock at 6 a.m., followed by the free dance at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Peacock (the free dance will broadcast on E! at 1 p.m.). If you miss the women’s free program, NBC will air an encore presentation on Sunday at noon.

The exhibition gala will stream on Peacock on Sunday at 8:30 a.m.

See the full schedule below.

Wednesday, Jan. 10

  • Pairs’ short program – 6 a.m. ET on Peacock
  • Men’s short program – 10:15 a.m. ET on Peacock
  • Men’s short program – 1 p.m. ET on E!, Peacock

Thursday, Jan. 11

  • Women’s short program – 6:15 a.m. ET on Peacock
  • Women’s short program – 11 a.m. ET on E! (encore presentation)
  • Pairs’ free program – 12 p.m. ET on Peacock
  • Pairs’ free program – 1 p.m. ET on E!, Peacock

Friday, Jan. 12

  • Rhythm dance – 5 a.m. ET on Peacock
  • Men’s free program – 11 a.m. on Peacock
  • Men’s free program – 1 p.m. on E!, Peacock  

Saturday, Jan. 13

  • Women’s free program – 6 a.m. ET on Peacock
  • Free dance program – 11:30 a.m. ET on Peacock
  • Free dance program – 1 p.m. ET on E!, Peacock

Sunday, Jan. 14

  • Exhibition gala – 8:30 a.m. on Peacock
  • Women’s free program – 12 p.m. ET on NBC (encore presentation)

09 Jan 2024

Travis Kelce Reveals the Most Famous Person in His Phone … Besides Taylor Swift, Of Course

Millions of Taylor Swift fans and the entirety of Chiefs Kingdom pretty much know exactly who the most famous person in Travis Kelce‘s contact list is. Even so, the tight end laughed off a question about the biggest celebrity in his phone and revealed which person — besides his superstar girlfriend — fits the bill. 

In a video posted to the Kansas City Chiefs’ TikTok on Monday (Jan. 8), Kelce and a few of his teammates were asked to name the numbers of the most A-list stars they have saved on their phones. “You guys know the easy answer,” the Ohio native responded, heavily alluding to Swift. 

Kelce went on to reveal that, second to the “Anti-Hero” singer, the biggest star in his contacts is “JT, Justin Timberlake.” 

But in regards to whether the *NSYNC boy bander would pick up the phone if Kelce were to call right that second, the star said, “Not a chance.” “I appreciate you, Justin,” added the New Heights podcast host. “But he’s a busy man.” 

As famous as Timberlake is, it’s hard to compare with Swift’s current celebrity status, which, if anything, has only been elevated since she started dating Kelce. The pair struck up a romance over the summer, and the 12-time Grammy winner addressed their relationship for the first time in her December TIME Person of the Year cover story. 

“When you say a relationship is public, that means I’m going to see him do what he loves, we’re showing up for each other, other people are there and we don’t care,” she said in the interview. “The opposite of that is you have to go to an extreme amount of effort to make sure no one knows that you’re seeing someone. And we’re just proud of each other.”  

Kelce and the Chiefs are fresh off a very close victory (13-12) against the Los Angeles Chargers following Sunday’s (Jan. 7) game. That night, Swift attended the Golden Globes alongside her good friend Keleigh Sperry. 

See the Chiefs’ TikTok below:

04 Jan 2024

The Chainsmokers & Kygo to Headline ‘Sports Illustrated’ Super Bowl Party

Super Bowl weekend 2024 needs something just like this! The Chainsmokers and Kygo are set to headline Sports Illustrated‘s SI The Party on Feb. 10 at the Wynn Las Vegas’ XS Nightclub.

“Sports Illustrated hosts an amazing event for Big Game weekend every year. I remember playing their Super Bowl event with them a few years ago when the in Los Angeles and had the best time,” Kygo tells Billboard. “Can’t wait to be back in Vegas with Wynn, where I’ve played so many incredible shows over the years, for another memorable event.”

The Chainsmokers also headlined 2023’s The Party, alongside co-headliner Machine Gun Kelly. Another special guest for the 2024 event presented by Captain Morgan will be announced in the future.

The Party is produced by Authentic Entertainment and Medium Rare, and will feature not only musical performances by The Chainsmokers and Kygo, but also “immersive activations bringing an ultra-luxe, VIP experience to fans” who are in Sin City for the big game, according to the announcement. Tickets and VIP tables for the event are on sale now at SITheParty.com. Ticket prices for The Party begin at $99, and will increase as Feb. 10 draws closer.

Super Bowl LVIII will be taking place on Feb. 11 — the day after Sports Illustrated‘s The Party — just a few miles from the Wynn: at Allegiant Stadium, the home of the Las Vegas Raiders. Usher is set to be the Super Bowl Halftime Show performer. The two teams who’ll be facing off for the Vince Lombardi Trophy have not yet been determined; the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles for the win in 2023.

See the flyer for SI‘s The Party below:

sports illustrated the party

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03 Jan 2024

Travis Kelce Reflects on His ‘Fun’ New Year’s Eve

New Year’s Eve was a fairy tale for Travis Kelce. The Kansas City Chiefs tight end opened up briefly about how nice the last day of 2023 was for him in the Wednesday (Jan. 3) episode of New Heights, the podcast he cohosts with brother Jason Kelce.

While discussing the Chiefs’ big New Year’s Eve home game against the Cincinnati Bengals — which Taylor Swift attended to cheer on boyfriend Travis — Jason boasted about how his younger brother’s team not only clinched the AFC West title with its 25-17 win (the Chiefs’ eighth consecutive division title), but also earned its ninth consecutive playoff berth and ninth consecutive 10-plus win season.

“It was all around a fun game. The atmosphere was great on New Year’s Eve, a lot of Chiefs fans excited for this one,” said the tight end, who had Swift — wearing his black-and-white Chiefs jacket — supporting him in the stands. “It was a fun day, man.”

“How was having Mom there for that game?” the Eagles center asked. “Pretty good?”

“It was fun! Then we all got to celebrate New Year’s together! It was cool, man, to have all the friends and family,” said Travis, who has not only appeared on Billboard charts alongside Jason, but also topped two charts late last year with their holiday tune “Fairytale of Philadelphia.” “I think I had over 50, 55 people come in for this one. A good new year’s celebration with all the friends and fam.”

Though the player didn’t mention the 12-time Grammy winner by name during the latest podcast episode, the couple — who began dating over the summer — were spotted leaving Arrowhead Stadium together after the Chiefs’ victory. Later that day, during a New Year’s Eve party, the pair shared a sweet kiss, which was captured on video and shared on X.

Listen to Travis discuss his New Year’s Eve in the New Heights episode above.

02 Jan 2024

Michigan vs. Washington: How to Watch the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship

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The Michigan Wolverines will officially take on the Washington Huskies during the final game of the college football season for 2024. After some exciting semi-final matches during their respective New Year’s games, the top two teams will now face off against one another for the championship title. You can watch the game live on ESPN and ESPN+ on Monday (Jan. 8) starting at 7:30 p.m. ET.

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Michigan has previously won nine football championships, making this the third season in a row that the team has made it to College Football Playoff.

Both teams will head to Houston, TX, to the NRG Stadium where the championship game will take place for the first-time ever. With various travel deals going on, you might be able to snag last-minute tickets to watch the game live and in-person. Can’t make it this year? You’ll still be able to livestream the college national championship online at home.

Keep reading to see the streaming options available.

How to Watch Michigan vs. Washington

The college football championship game will be taking place at 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday (Jan. 8) on ESPN and ESPN+. If you have cable, you’ll be able to watch the game live on any channel that offers ESPN. Don’t have cable? You might be able to watch Michigan vs. Washington through a HD antenna like one here from Amazon.

ESPN+ is also the official streaming platform for ESPN and its affiliates, which will be streaming the game live. If you have a subscription already, just log into your account and you’ll gain access to the livestream for no additional cost.

New to ESPN+? The sports streaming platform doesn’t offer a free trial, but it does offer budget-friendly plans starting at just $10.99/month or you can save over 15% with an annual plan for $109.99/year. Click here to start your membership or the button below.

Along with having access to the live Michigan vs. Washington game, having a subscription will also grant you access to the entire ESPN+ library including other live sports such as NHL, NFL, NBA, MLB, soccer, UFC, PPV events as well as exclusive ESPN+ programs, documentary specials and originals such as Al Davis vs. The NFL, Vick, Be Like Water, Breakaway, Man in the Arena with Tom Brady, The Captain, More Than An Athlete with Michael Strahan and Our Time Baylor Basketball.

Looking for more affordable streaming options? You can also watch the through live TV streaming options like Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, DirecTV Stream and Fubo. Most of the streaming options come with free trials and promos for less than $80/month.

For less than $75, DirecTV Stream and Fubo both offer free trials as well as a mix of live TV channels including ESPN.

Hulu + Live TV will offer you the most content offerings with live TV channels and the entire Hulu library as well as a 30 day free trial.

Before you get comfy on the couch or jet off to the stadium, don’t forget to stock up on Michigan merch or Washington merch to show you pride and support for your team during the big game.

02 Jan 2024

Ciara Finds Out She’s Related to This New York Yankees Superstar

Sure, Ciara is married to NFL quarterback Russell Wilson, but she’s got some sporty DNA in her as well.

The “Level Up” singer took to Instagram on Tuesday (Jan. 2) to share a snippet of her upcoming episode of Finding Your Roots, in which she finds out that she’s distant cousins with former New York Yankees baseball player Derek Jeter.

“What in the world? You are kidding me. That’s crazy,” she says in the clip upon finding out, with a huge smile on her face. “The moment I learned @DerekJeter was my cousin! Crazy,” she captioned the snippet. “Thank you @drhenrylouisgates for such an incredible experience! This was a dream come true to learn about my family genealogy!”

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See Ciara’s post here.

PBS’ Finding Your Roots is hosted by educator Henry Louis Gates Jr., and features DNA diagnosticians analyzing genetic code, tracing bloodlines and occasionally debunking beliefs. The series also shows celebrities as they look through their ancestral histories, discover secrets and share their reactions with viewers. Over the course of 10 seasons, the show has featured everyone from Samuel L Jackson, LL Cool J, Questlove and Cyndi Lauper to Barbara Walters, Ben Affleck, Angela Bassett, Scarlett Johansson and more.

Ciara’s episode will also feature Alanis Morissette. The full episode will air on Tuesday (Jan. 2) at 9 p.m. ET on PBS.

02 Jan 2024

Snoop Dogg to Report on 2024 Olympics for NBC Primetime Show: ‘I Will Be Bringing That Snoop Style’

Snoop Dogg is trading in the LBC for Paris in 2024 … briefly, anyway. NBCUniversal has announced that the iconic rapper is joining its team to report on the Olympic Games this summer, and will be onsite to deliver “regular reports” on the Olympic Primetime Show beginning July 26. The announcement arrived during the New Year’s Eve Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings game.

“I grew up watching the Olympics and am thrilled to see the incredible athletes bring their A-game to Paris. It’s a celebration of skill, dedication, and the pursuit of greatness,” Snoop said in a statement. “We’re going to have some amazing competitions and, of course, I will be bringing that Snoop style to the mix. It’s going to be the most epic Olympics ever, so stay tuned, and keep it locked. Let’s elevate, celebrate, and make these games unforgettable, smoke the competition, and may the best shine like gold. Peace and Olympic LOVE, ya dig?”

The “Gin and Juice” rapper — who previously reported for NBC during the Tokyo Olympics four years ago — also shared a brief video teaser of him dancing in front of the Eiffel Tower. “New year mood. Paris 2024 Olympics. C u this summer ??✌?Official. ?? ? ? ?‍♀️,” he captioned his Instagram clip.

According to NBC, Snoop will be chatting about the Paris Games with NBC Olympics host Mike Tirico, offering up “his unique take on what’s happening in Paris.” He’ll also be checking out the landmarks, visiting with athletes and their friends and family, and of course, attending some of the competitions.

“Snoop is already an Olympic gold medal commentator, generating tens of millions of views for his highlights commentary on Peacock of the dressage competition during the Tokyo Olympics,” Molly Solomon — executive producer and president, NBC Olympics Production — said in a statement. “That performance alone has earned Snoop a job as our Special Correspondent in Paris. We don’t know what the heck is going to happen every day, but we know he will add his unique perspective to our re-imagined Olympic primetime show.”

The Paris Games are set to take place July 26 through Aug. 11. NBC and its streaming service, Peacock, will be providing coverage of the Olympics.

See Snoop and NBC Olympic’s teasers of the rapper’s coverage of this year’s Games below: