Music News
Police Investigating Death of Performer Donny Davis in Las Vegas
Las Vegas police are investigating the death of 43-year-old comedian and performer Donny Davis, who was found unresponsive after a night with several people at a luxury hotel on the Strip. Hotel security and Clark County paramedics discovered Davis after being summoned around 5:30 a.m. Tuesday to a Conrad hotel guest room in the Resorts World complex, according to a police report obtained Friday (Feb. 25). He was pronounced dead at a hospital. Davis was a 4-foot-2 actor who danced for several years in Britney Spears’ show in Las Vegas, toured with Joe Jonas, and was frequently seen with stars including Miley Cyrus and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. He also performed at a party bar called Beacher’s Madhouse and hosted private parties by celebrities includi...
Mick Jagger and Questlove Teaming Up for James Brown Doc Series on A&E
Mick Jagger and Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson are teaming up to produce a four-part documentary series on soul legend James Brown for the A&E Network. James Brown: Say it Loud is expected to premiere on the network next year. Brown, who died in 2006, would have been 90 in May 2023. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The Rolling Stones frontman described Brown as “a brilliant performer who inspired me from the beginning.” Questlove, leader of the Roots, is riding high from Summer of Soul (Or, When the Revolution Could Not be Televised), his Oscar-nominated documentary on a series of Harlem concerts described as the Black Woodstock. “The life of James Brown is significant not only to understand his immense musical impact, which inspires us and...
Silk Sonic Bring the Funk, Perform Entire Debut Album at Las Vegas Residency Launch
Launching the 25-date “An Evening With Silk Sonic” on Friday (Feb. 25), Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak staged a galactic funkship landing on the Las Vegas Strip, staking their disco ball into uncharted territory — a full-length live concert. As the Dolby Live Theater at Park MGM shook with the opening notes of “777” and out-of-this-world visuals, it felt impossible that Mars and .Paak had never done a show of this magnitude before as a duo. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news With the lyrics, “I’m ’bout to buy Las Vegas after this roll … come on, 7-7-7, let’s go,” the ruched red silk curtain raised on a night of funk, soul and R&B dance jams, powered by two musicians who first and foremost came to rock the party — Gucci and Bootsy included. A ne...
Joni James, Popular 1950s Singer Behind ‘Why Don’t You Believe Me?,’ Dies at 91
Joni James, the soul-bearing pop singer who had hits in the 1950s with “Why Don’t You Believe Me?,” “How Important Can It Be?” and a cover of Hank Williams’ “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” has died. She was 91. James died Sunday of natural causes in a hospital in West Palm Beach, Florida, her family announced. Explore Explore Joni James See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Signed by MGM Records, the waiflike Chicago native came out of the gate with “Why Don’t You Believe Me?,” which reached No. 1 on the three Billboard charts in late 1952 and stayed there for weeks. Her recordings of “Your Cheatin’ Heart” in 1953 and “How Important Can It Be?” in 1955 each made it to No. 2, and “Have You Heard?” climbed to No. 4 in 1953. She had other top 10 hits...
John Mayer Tests Positive for COVID-19 Again: ‘This One’s Got the Better of Me’
COVID-19 has derailed John Mayer‘s Sob Rock tour once again. The musician announced late on Thursday (Feb. 24) that additional members of his band have contracted coronavirus, including himself — for a second time. “More members of the band tested positive for Covid today, and I was one of them,” the “Wild Blue” singer shared in an Instagram post, explaining that the next four shows will be rescheduled once again. “This is a bummer for everyone in the band and crew, to say nothing of the question hanging over everyone’s head – mine included – as to how I tested positive on PCR twice in two months.” Explore Explore John Mayer See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news He added that while his first bout with COVID was “extremely mild,” he hasn’t been quite as fortu...
Michael Buble Confirms His Wife Luisana Lopilato Is Pregnant: ‘Ooops! We Did it Again’
The secret is out: Michael Buble and his wife Luisana Lopilato are expecting. Earlier this week, the Canadian crooner gave away the biggest possible hint with the music video for his new single, “I’ll Never Not Love You.” If you watched right to the end, you couldn’t fail to spot Lopilato’s baby bump. [embedded content] Buble confirmed the happy news with a wintery Instagram post, in which he was cuddling his wife’s expanding belly. “Ooops! We did it again… bebit@ en camino (baby on the way),” reads the caption. (Lopilato is Argentine and a native Spanish speaker.) Explore See latest videos, charts and news The pair are already parents to three kids Noah (eight), Elias (six), Vida (three). Buble has a busy few months ahead. “I’ll Never Not Love You” is the lead track from his forthcoming e...
Dave Grohl Has Been Reading Lips for 20 Years: ‘I’m F–king Deaf’
If you see Dave Grohl at a dinner party and want to talk to him, he probably can’t hear you. During his appearance on a recent episode of The Howard Stern Show, Foo Fighters frontman opened up about his hearing loss and how that impacts him both in his daily life and as a musician. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “I’m a rock musician, I’m f–king deaf,” he told the shock jock while discussing his tinnitus, a condition that causes hearing loss, ringing or other noises in your ear. “I can’t hear what you’re saying.” “If you were sitting next to me right here at dinner, I wouldn’t understand a f–king word you were saying to me the whole f–king time,” the rocker admitted. “There’s no way. In a crowded restaurant – that’s the worst.” Being in a loud ...
Mariah Carey Just Had a Very Relatable Mommy Moment With One of Dem Babies
Kids ask the darndest things, dahling. On Monday (Feb. 21), Mariah Carey shared the latest hilarious text exchange she had with one of Dem Babies. “The way my kids wait until the exact moment I get on a conference call to ask me these questions,” Mimi tweeted alongside a screenshot of a text conversation with one of her 10-year-old twins Moroccan and Monroe. The back and forth begins with one of the kids sweetly texting, “Mommy please can I wear nails with glue[?]” to which the singer naturally asks, “What kind of glue?” Explore See latest videos, charts and news “Nail glue,” the elementary schooler responds. But when Mariah sends back an absolute “No,” they only have one simple question: “Why.” (Our question, on the other hand, is what this secret conference call could’ve been about …) Th...
Kelly Clarkson Hits a Home Run With Her Bleachers’ Cover: Watch
In spite of the song title, it really doesn’t get any better than Kelly Clarkson‘s new performance of “I Wanna Get Better.” The Voice coach teamed up with her band Y’all to deliver a stunning version of Jack Antonoff’s Bleachers track on the Monday (Feb. 21) edition of “Kellyoke,” The Kelly Clarkson Show‘s hit cover series. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “I Wanna Get Better” is an exceptionally wordy anthem that changes pace multiple times, but Clarkson and her band didn’t miss a beat. Flashing blue lights were programmed to sync up with the song’s roaring drum pattern, turning the Kelly Clarkson Show stage into a high-energy alternative rock concert — which wouldn’t be complete without Clarkson’s signature, always impressive belt. The pe...
John Mayer Drummer Tests Positive for COVID-19, But Tour Will Go On
John Mayer‘s touring drummer has tested positive for COVID-19, the singer-songwriter revealed on social media Monday night (Feb. 21). “This afternoon, our drummer tested positive for COVID-19,” Mayer wrote around 7 p.m. ET. He then wished him a quick recovery and clarified that Monday night’s concert would go on as planned, though he didn’t say who will be filling in on drums. “Tonight’s concert @TheGarden will go on as scheduled, with a very special presentation. We all wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing you all at the show.” Explore See latest videos, charts and news Mayer is set to perform at New York City’s Madison Square Garden tonight, the second of two evenings at the venue, as part of his Sob Rock Tour, which runs through May. “It all feels deeper and more exciti...
Britney Spears Lands $15M Tell-All Book Deal: Report
Britney Spears is gearing up to tell her side of the story, according to reports of a $15M book deal that surfaced on Monday (Feb. 21). Page Six first reported the news of the alleged landmark deal, noting that publishing house Simon & Schuster won a bidding war for a tell-all memoir about the superstar’s career, life and relationship with her family. Variety also reported that the news had been confirmed with a “source close to Spears.” Representatives for Spears had not responded to Billboard‘s request for comment at publication time. Explore See latest videos, charts and news The reported book deal comes three months after the 13-year conservatorship that controlled Spears’ personal and professional life was ended by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge. In January, the pop star’s sis...
Sam Hunt’s Pregnant Wife Hannah Lee Fowler Files for Divorce, Citing Adultery: Report
Sam Hunt‘s pregnant wife, Hannah Lee Fowler, has reportedly filed for divorce after five years of marriage. Fowler alleges that the country music star, 37, is “guilty of inappropriate marital conduct” and “guilty of adultery,” according to court documents obtained by TMZ. Prior to the report, it was not publicly known that Hunt and Fowler, who married in April 2017, were expecting a child together. The legal docs, filed in Tennessee, reportedly reveal that Fowler is pregnant and due in May. Explore Explore Sam Hunt See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Billboard has reached out to Hunt’s representatives for comment. Fowler is asking for alimony, child support and primary custody of their forthcoming child, according to TMZ. “The husband is guilty of such cru...
