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07 Nov 2023

Magic Johnson Says the NFL Is ‘Very Happy’ About Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce’s Relationship

Magic Johnson is loving his role as a co-owner of the Washington Commanders — especially since the NFL has gotten a healthy dose of Taylor Swift lately amid her budding relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.

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While appearing as a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live this week, the beloved former basketball player had a sweet response when host Kimmel noted: “By the way, get one of those Commanders to date Taylor Swift. It seems like you make so much money.”

Johnson replied, “Exactly, well the NFL is very happy about that whole situation.”

Kelce’s ongoing courting of Swift began back in July, when he tried (and failed) to hand her a friendship bracelet with his phone number on it during her Eras tour stop in Kansas City. He then invited her to a football game, which she accepted on Sept. 24, when Swift shocked football fans and Swifties alike when she spent the day cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs’ tight end from Kelce’s suite alongside his mom, Donna, as the team played the Chicago Bears (and won).

Swift has since been to a number of games to cheer on Kelce, and it has positively affected the business of the NFL. Since their rumored romance began, Fanatics reported a 400% increase in Kelce’s jersey sales and Stubhub reported a threefold increase in Chiefs ticket searches, among other statistics.

Watch Magic Johnson’s full interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live below.

06 Nov 2023

Machine Gun Kelly Reacts to Backlash Over Viral Formula 1 Interview: ‘My Anxiety Has Won’

Machine Gun Kelly attended his first Formula 1 event with the Brazilian Grand Prix over the weekend, but the “Bloody Valentine” rocker came under fire on social media following an awkward interaction with Sky Sports reporter, Martin Brundle.

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In the short grid-walk interview, MGK is visibly uncomfortable as he seemingly struggles to hear Brundle over the sounds of the crowd and racetrack. When Brundle asked what’s currently going on in his career, the musician simply replied, “I don’t think about my career.”

After a series of awkward questions and responses, MGK eventually asks Brundle to play air piano to accompany his air guitar. When Brundle confused, Kelly gave the camera a thumbs down and left the interview, to which Brundle joked that he won’t be making the rocker’s Christmas card list this year.

The tense interview was met by mixed reactions online, with fans calling out MGK for being rude to Brundle and having the “worst” vibe. “My vibe is ‘the worst’ how?” Machine Gun Kelly responded on Twitter on Sunday (Nov. 5). “Because someone put a microphone in my face essentially forcing me to do a random interview when I was just trying to enjoy an event? Because car engines were so loud I couldn’t hear him? Please tell me more about why I’m the worst.”

He followed up by asking another Twitter user why they “posted this pointless video” of the interview. The “I Think I’m Okay” star concluded his thoughts with an insight into how he’s doing mentally. “My anxiety has won. I hate being in public,” he wrote. See below.

03 Nov 2023

Here’s How Travis Kelce Reacted When Asked if He’s ‘In Love’ With Taylor Swift

Travis Kelce is respecting his relationship with Taylor Swift by keeping matters private.

The Kansas City Chiefs tight end was out in Germany this week and spoke to the media to preview the Chiefs’ Sunday international game against the Miami Dolphins. When he was asked for an update on his relationship with the “Blank Space” singer, Kelce replied, “The latest status is I got to see her last week. That’s the latest status right there.”

The reporter then asked if the NFL star is “in love,” to which Kelce replied, “I’m going to keep my personal relationship personal.”

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While Swift and Kelce have not publicly confirmed the official status of their budding romance, the “Anti-Hero” singer and the athlete were seen interlocking fingers once again as they left Chiefs vs. Chargers game two weeks ago. Earlier in the day, Kelce assisted the Chiefs in defeating Los Angeles 31-17 at Arrowhead Stadium, which Swift watched from a private box suite with Brittany Mahomes, wife of KC quarterback Patrick Mahomes, all while wearing a No. 87 friendship bracelet. The game marked the fourth Chiefs match attended by the 12-time Grammy winner this season.

Swift was also spotted giving Kelce a kiss on the cheek in an Instagram photo posted by wide receiver Mecole Hardman’s girlfriend Chiarah Gordon on Monday (Oct. 23), adding fuel to the fire of relationship rumors between the two superstars.

03 Nov 2023

Jason Kelce & Philadelphia Eagles Teammates Put Their Spin on ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’

The Philadelphia Eagles are getting into the holiday spirit!

The NFL team’s Jason Kelce, Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson teamed up this year for their second festive album, A Philly Special Christmas Special, which features a freshly dropped rendition of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”

The album is out December 1, and features collaborations with Patti LaBelle and Jason’s brother, Travis Kelce, who has been making headlines in recent months due to his blossoming rumored relationship with Taylor Swift. In a new episode of the Kelce brothers’ New Heights podcast, Travis revealed that he lent his voice to a duet with Jason for the album, but he hasn’t listened to the final version yet. “Dude I do not want to hear myself sing like that. I’ve got more of the rock voice,” the Kansas City Chiefs tight end admitted.

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The 1994 hit has long been a Christmas staple, but “All I Want for Christmas” never hit No. 1 until 2019 and has since ranked as the most popular holiday song of all time on the Billboard Holiday 100. Carey is slated to hit the road for her 13-date Merry Christmas One and All! tour on Nov. 15 in Highland, CA and ride her sleigh across North American until a Dec. 17 gig at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Listen to the Eagles trio’s take on Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” below.

03 Nov 2023

LL Cool J & The Roots Reimagine ‘Mama Said Knock You Out’ for NBA In-Season Tournament Anthem

As the NBA season embarks on its inaugural In-Season Tournament Friday (Nov. 3), the league tapped two rap cornerstones to form a triumphant anthem: LL Cool J and The Roots combine two of their classic efforts — “Mama Said Knock You Out” and “Here I Come,” respectively — to create the official anthem. The video finds LL and legendary Roots members Questlove and Black Thought joining forces to fuse their hits to create a memorable mash-up to kick off the In-Season Tournament.

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Thought first leads the way by chanting the hook from the group’s “Here I Come” before LL takes centerstage to recite his striking verse from his Grammy-winning song. Instead of rapping inside a boxing ring like in his classic video, LL performs on the In-Season Tournament stage alongside the NBA Cup, the trophy given to the winning team.

LL Cool J and The Roots

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According to the NBA’s press release, the anthem “will serve as the musical backdrop for the stages of the In-Season Tournament, starting with Group Play involving all 30 teams and progressing through the single-elimination Knockout Rounds, culminating in the Championship.”

“I’ve been a fan of the NBA ever since I can remember, and it’s a real honor to have my record serving as the anthem for this monumental moment,” said LL in the release. “I’m excited to see the energy of the song translate to the play on the court during the NBA In-Season Tournament.”

Earlier this summer, LL and The Roots shared the stage for The F.O.R.C.E. Tour.

Check out their mash-up above.

02 Nov 2023

Calvin Harris Set to Headline Post-Race Performances at 2024 Pegasus World Cup

Calvin Harris has been tapped as the featured entertainer for the 2024 Pegasus World Cup. One of the premier equestrian events in the world, Pegasus brings together thoroughbred racing with music and entertainment for a day-long, festival-style experience.

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This year’s event takes place Saturday, January 27 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida and Harris will hit the stage shorty after the day’s races are complete, performing at Gulfstream’s track-side Carousel Club. Other performers include DJ Tyson O’Brien, and TikTok star and DJ Xandra Pohl, with more to be announced later.

Though he was a headliner at Coachella back in April, Harris has spent most of the year performing in Europe, so Pegasus will mark the DJ’s first major North American appearance in almost nine months (Harris does have a Vegas date at XS Nightclub later this month). Tickets for the 2024 Pegasus World Cup Presented by Baccarat are now on sale at Ticketmaster.com. Prices start at $175 and go up to $1,619. VIP tickets, that get you entry into the Carousel Club to see Harris start at $400.

Pegasus owners The Stronach Group and 1/ST partnered with Palm Tree Crew to curate the entertainment for this year’s event. The music and events collective, founded by Kygo and his manager Myles Shear, also helped to curate the lineup for last year’s edition, bringing out One Republic, Chantal Jeffries and Kygo himself (with a Joe Jonas cameo) for the post-race concert.

In addition to the performances, the 2024 Pegasus World Cup will feature an exclusive viewing area of the horse race for guests of title sponsor Baccarat. Dubbed the “Baccarat Garden at Carousel Club,” the space will include a private bar with drinks served in Baccarat glassware. Baccarat is also the Official Trophy Purveyor for Pegasus, and their crystal “Pegase Horse in Black,” valued at $47,000, will be presented to the Pegasus World Cup Invitational winner.

The exclusive “Flamingo Room,” meantime is a — literally — elevated experience, with Groot Hospitality hotspots Gekkō, Komodo, Papi Steak, Swan, and Casadonna providing food for the day while guests take in the races from a bird’s eye view. Performers in the Flamingo Room will include Harlem-based bandleader and jazz singer Dandy Wellington. Groot Hospitality founder Dave Grutman owns a number of restaurants that are fixtures on the Miami scene, but says he chose “venues [that will] complement the high-energy and lively atmosphere of the race.”

“The Pegasus World Cup continues to redefine the experience of Thoroughbred horse racing by collaborating with partners who exemplify innovation and excellence,” says Belinda Stronach, Chairwoman, Chief Executive Officer and President, 1/ST. “Baccarat, Palm Tree Crew and Groot Hospitality, each leaders in luxury, lifestyle, entertainment, and hospitality, bring unique elements that fuse with 1/ST’s world-class Thoroughbred racing and wagering to create an electric event that is truly Miami!”

“Palm Tree Crew is thrilled to partner with Belinda Stronach and the 1/ST team for the second straight year for the Pegasus World Cup,” said Myles Shear, Co-Founder of Palm Tree Crew. “We are excited to bring our brand, people, vibe, and energy to make the Pegasus the premier luxury sporting and lifestyle event in South Florida.”

/Karina S.N. Serio/ ZHORSERACING, horse, horse racing, thoroughbred, gulfstream, gulfstream park, pegasus, pegasus world cup January 28, 2023: Art Collector #6, ridden by jockey Junior Alvarado, wins the Pegasus World Cup Invitational during Pegasus World Cup Day at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Karina S.N. Serio/Eclipse Sportswire/CSM /Karina S.N. Serio/ ZHORSERACING, horse, horse racing, thoroughbred, gulfstream, gulfstream park, pegasus, pegasus world cup January 28, 2023: Art Collector #6, ridden by jockey Junior Alvarado, wins the Pegasus World Cup Invitational during Pegasus World Cup Day at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Karina S.N. Serio/Eclipse Sportswire/CSM

Karina S.N. Serio/Eclipse Sportswire/Cal Sport Media

Of course at its core, Pegasus is a horse race, but not just any horse race. The 2024 Pegasus World Cup is one of the most prestigious and lucrative events in thoroughbred racing, with this year’s edition featuring the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational (GI); the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Championship Turf Invitational (GI); and the Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitational (GIII) with a purse of $500,000.

30 Oct 2023

Jack Harlow to Perform at Detroit Lions Thanksgiving Day Classic Halftime Show

What’s poppin’ for Thanksgiving this year? Jack Harlow’s halftime show performance.

The rapper will be taking the stage at the halftime show during Detroit Lions’ 84th annual Thanksgiving Day Classic on November 23 against the Green Bay Packers. Country music duo The War And Treaty will also be there to perform the national anthem.

For those looking to tune in, the game will be nationally televised on Fox starting at 12:30 p.m. ET. For those without cable, Fox is available with an HD antenna or join a streamer like DirecTV Stream, YouTube TV or FuboTV to stream for free (Fox is available on Vidgo and Sling TV in select areas).

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It’s been a big year for Harlow, who released his first No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Rap Albums chart with his third studio album, Jackman., which was released back in April. He first appeared on the list with his Sweet Action EP, which peaked at No. 13 in July 2020. His full-length debut, That’s What They All Say, debuted and peaked at No. 2 in December 2020, as did his sophomore LP, Come Home the Kids Miss You, in May 2022.

Last month, the 25-year-old rapper was named songwriter of the year at the 2023 SESAC Music Awards, marking the third year in a row that Harlow has been awarded the honor. “First Class,” which was his first unaccompanied No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, took song of the year.

25 Oct 2023

H.E.R. to Open 2023 World Series With National Anthem Performance

After performing “America the Beautiful” at the Super Bowl in 2021, Grammy-winning R&B star H.E.R. is set to add another massive sporting event to her résumé. Via a press release on Wednesday (Oct. 25), Major League Baseball announced that the “Focus” singer will sing the national anthem ahead of Game 1 of the 2023 World Series.

H.E.R. will perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” on Friday at the showdown between the American League champion Texas Rangers and the National League champion Arizona Diamondbacks. Pearle Peterson, the 2023 Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National Youth Talent Performer, will perform the anthem the following day (Saturday) ahead of Game 2.

The news of H.E.R.’s World Series performance comes in the midst of yet another exciting year for the acclaimed multi-hyphenate. Earlier this month (Oct. 2), she performed alongside surprise guest Selena Gomez at Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres World Tour stop in Pasadena, California. H.E.R. served as the primary support act for the band’s sprawling, record-breaking tour. A few weeks later (Oct. 17), the “Damage” singer surprised a sold-out crowd at New York City’s Madison Square Garden when she joined Daniel Caesar onstage for a heartfelt rendition of their Grammy-winning duet “Best Part.”

Currently, H.E.R. is gearing up for the release of The Color Purple. The film adaptation of the Broadway musical will arrive in theatres on Christmas Day (Dec. 25), with direction from Blitz Bazawule and production credits from Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Scott Sanders and Quincy Jones. The Color Purple is also set to star Halle Bailey, Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson, Ciara, Aunjanue Ellis, Colman Domingo, Danielle Brooks and Phylicia Pearl Mpasi. H.E.R.’s silver-screen debut comes two years after she won her first Academy Award for best original song (“Fight for You,” Judas and the Black Messiah, 2021).

H.E.R. has earned nine entries on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking as high as No. 24 with her featured turn on Jhené Aiko’s “B.S.” On the Billboard 200, the “Slide” singer has charted seven titles, including the No. 6-peaking Back of My Mind — her highest-charting entry on the ranking to date.

25 Oct 2023

Rob Gronkowski Says There’s ‘Too Much’ Taylor Swift in NFL Broadcasts

The NFL has become NFL (Taylor’s Version) in the past month, as Taylor Swift continues to make appearances at Kansas City Chiefs games to cheer on her rumored boyfriend, Travis Kelce.

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As Swift continues to take the NFL world by storm, Kay Adams discussed her strong presence at sports games with former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski on Wednesday (Oct. 25) on her daily morning show, FanDuel TV’s Up & Adams.

While Adams said that she loves seeing Swift throughout the NFL game broadcasts, Gronkowski disagreed. “Bye bye bye, it’s just a little bit too much,” he replied. “We want more football.”

Despite Gronkowski’s thoughts, Swift has seemingly become a good luck charm for Kelce, as recent statistics aired by CBS Sports Sunday (Oct. 22) at the Chiefs vs. Chargers game show that the Kansas City tight end plays significantly better when his new love interest is in attendance. 

According to the network, Kelce averages 99 receiving yards at games attended by the 12-time Grammy winner, who has so far been spotted at four Chiefs matches. When she’s not there, the athlete’s average dips to just 46.5 yards.

Swift also recently got praise from the Kelce’s father, Ed Kelce, who raved that she’s a “very, very sweet, very charming, down-to-earth young woman.” “She gets up to go get a drink or something and she starts picking up empty bottles, cans, plates that are scattered around,” the patriarch added of the singer. “I don’t think she got the diva memo.”

25 Oct 2023

12 Musicians Who Have Cheered on Their Athlete Partners From the Stands

When artists are not busy working on music, promoting new projects or taking their concert experiences on the road, one way for them to kick back and relax is through watching sporting events — basketball, football, soccer and everything in between — and some of them are doing it live and in person to support their significant others.

Taylor Swift is one such musician. The pop super star, who is dating Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce,  first started attending games in September 2023 and has frequented multiple matches at Arrowhead Stadium since.

Swift, however, isn’t the only pop star who has made supporting her partner courtside or from the stands a regular thing. Ciara is a fan of football as well, and has been spotted at NFL games cheering on her husband, Russell Wilson, quarterback for the Denver Broncos. Shakira, while she was still dating Spanish soccer star Gerard Piqué (the pair ended their relationship in early 2023), was often spotted in the stands, sometimes taking their sons Milan and Sasha to watch their dad play.

From Carrie Underwood to Enrique Iglesias and more, Billboard takes a look at musicians who have supported their athlete partners at sporting events.