Music News
Jared Leto, Fall Out Boy & More: 7 Things You Didn’t See Backstage at iHeart ALTer EGO 2023
The iHeart ALTer EGO 2023 show descended upon L.A.’s Kia Forum over the weekend, and Billboard was backstage to bring you every exclusive moment. In-between sets by Fall Out Boy, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Phoenix and Jack White, Billboard social media coordinator Lucy Blonstein chatted up the likes of Jared Leto, CHVRCHES and more on Saturday night. Below, we’ve rounded up seven moments you have to see from backstage. Leto revealed backstage that out of all the bands on the lineup, he’d want to collaborate with Muse if his band, 30 Second to Mars, ever got the chance. “Because we’ve toured together before, we love them. Great guys, and I think we’d be an interesting, interesting pairing,” he said, standing in front of a giant portrait of Katy Perry. “Yeah, Muse.” Billboard was also on the gro...
C.J. Harris, ‘American Idol’ Alum, Dies at 31
C.J. Harris, a singer who competed on the 2014 season of American Idol, died Sunday at age 31. The Jasper, Alabama, native was reportedly rushed to a local hospital after suffering a medical emergency, according to Variety, and the Walker County Coroner’s Office later confirmed his death. However, no other details, including cause of death, were given as of press time. Harris competed on season 13 of the singing competition, initially auditioning for judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr. in Salt Lake City with a rendition of The Allman Brothers Band’s “Soulshine.” After making it through the Hollywood round, the hopeful was voted a Wild Card by the public in the semifinals and earned his way into the live shows with a soulful performance of Sam Cooke’s “Bring It On Home ...
Rihanna Ushers In ‘Heartbreaker Szn’ for Savage X Fenty Valentine’s Day Drop With Steamy New Pics
Rihanna gave fans a red-hot preview of Savage X Fenty’s upcoming Valentine’s Day collection on Sunday. “Heartbreaker szn,” the superstar captioned one round of photos, which feature her posing in a lacy black bodysuit in a neon-lit room of pinks, blues, purples and reds. In another series of photos, she wears an orange and purple, psychedelic print set while perched on top of a glass table, her long black hair trailing down to her backside accented by a stream of tiny braids. “#savageXfentySPORT V-DAY drop,” she teased, hinting that the latest line will be available by mid-February. The new Valentine’s-themed pieces aren’t the only looks RiRi has been readying as of late, either. Earlier this month, the “Needed Me” singer modeled her limited-edition Savage X Game Day collection in anticipa...
Dua Lipa Spends ‘24hrs in Madrid,’ Including a Meet-Up With Director Pedro Almodóvar
Dua Lipa took to social media on Sunday to share the day she spent traveling in the city of Madrid, Spain. The superstar’s whirlwind trip to the Spanish capital included a visit with none other than director Pedro Almodóvar. “24hrs in Madrid,” she captioned a carousel of snapshots on Instagram that included a selfie taken with the filmmaker, in which both she and Almodóvar are grinning from ear to ear. “Pedroooooo,” one fan gushed in the comments section while another wrote, “Puma for Pedro…too cute” using two orange hearts and two raised-hands emojis. The slideshow also featured shots of the “Cold Heart” singer posing theatrically on an outdoor deck wearing a head-to-toe leather ensemble, chunky gold jewelry and platform heels as well as a second, menswear-inspired outfit made up of a lon...
Amy Grant Slams Homophobic Backlash Over LGBTQ+ Niece’s Wedding: ‘I Love Those Brides’
An aunt and an ally. Amy Grant shut down trolls criticizing her decision to host her LGBTQ+ niece’s wedding on Monday (Jan. 16). “I never chase any of those rabbits down the rabbit hole,” the Christian pop singer said to People of outcry from homophobic critics on social media. “I love my family, I love those brides. They’re wonderful, our family is better, and you should be able to be who you are with your family, and be loved by them.” Grant also revealed that her niece’s nuptials took place at the very same place she and Vince Gill were married back in 2000. “I own a farm that I bought back in the ’90s and they were just looking for a beautiful place to get married,” she said. “So, she and Sam got married on the same hillside where Vince and I got married.” “Honestly, from a faith persp...
Jennifer Lopez Dishes About ‘Emotional Transition’ of Blending Families With Ben Affleck
Jennifer Lopez opened up about blending families with Ben Affleck in a new interview on Monday (Jan. 16). Appearing on the Today show to promote her upcoming rom-com Shotgun Wedding with Josh Duhamel, the superstar said, “We moved in together, the kids moved in together. So it’s been, like, a really kind of emotional transition. But at the same time, like, all your dreams coming true and it’s just been a phenomenal year. Like, my best year, I think, since my kids were born.” J.Lo shares 14-year-old twins Max and Emme with ex-husband Marc Antony while Affleck’s three children — Violet, 18; Seraphina, 14, and Samuel, nearly 11 — come from his 10-year marriage to Jennifer Garner, which ended in 2015. During the sit-down, Lopez revealed that her kids have recently become acquainted with her ba...
Yukihiro Takahashi, Yellow Magic Orchestra Co-Founder, Dies at 70
Legendary Japanese drummer, YMO co-founder and music producer Yukihiro Takahashi passed away Jan. 11 at 5:59 a.m. Japan time. He was 70. According to an announcement from his management, Takahashi had been diagnosed with a brain tumor in the summer of 2020, and had been in and out of hospital repeatedly after surgery while undergoing rehabilitation. The pioneering musician had been recuperating at home since November, but his condition deteriorated at the end of the year and he passed away from aspiration pneumonia associated with his brain disease. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Takahashi was born in Tokyo in 1952. He began his career as a studio musician in high school, and after playing in Sadistic Mika Band, he formed Yellow Magic ...
Maude Apatow to Make Her Off-Broadway Debut in ‘Little Shop of Horrors’
Maude Apatow is taking her talents from the small screen to Off-Broadway. The Euphoria actress will be making her New York stage debut in Michael Mayer’s Little Shop of Horrors revival. She will be appearing in the production from Feb. 7 to April 2 as Audrey, taking over the role from Tony Away winner Lena Hall. Mayer said in a news release, “I have long admired the emotional intelligence and vulnerability Maude has displayed on television and in film. She’s a natural fit for Audrey.” Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news He continued, “It delighted me to learn that, as a child, Little Shop was her gateway into her lifelong love of performing, and that this show gets to be her professional stage debut. We’re...
7 Highlights From L.A. Concert Saluting A&M Records Co-Founder Jerry Moss
A&M Records has long been admired for being an artist-oriented label. That point was made again and again at “Live at the Music Center: Concert Celebrating A&M Records Co-Founder Jerry Moss,” held on Saturday (Jan. 14) at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. The show was hosted by David Foster and featured live performances by longtime A&M artists Herb Alpert, Amy Grant and Peter Frampton, as well as Dionne Warwick, among others. The point about A&M’s artist focus was made most vividly in a videotaped recollection from former A&M executive Jim Guerinot, who recalled looking at an A&M artist’s declining sales fortunes and going to Moss with a blunt question. “Why are we even putting out this artist’s 13th record, when it will likely lose money?” he asked. In his tell...
Fans Choose Miley Cyrus‘ ’Flowers’ as This Week’s Favorite New Music
Miley Cyrus‘ new single “Flowers” has topped this week’s new music poll. Music fans voted in a poll published Friday (Jan. 13) on Billboard, choosing Cyrus’ uplifting track as their favorite new music release of the past week. “Flowers” brought in more than 59% of the vote, beating out new music from Bizarrap and Shakira, Sam Smith and more. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The dance-ready, midtempo pop track is the first taste of Cyrus’ upcoming album Endless Summer Vacation, and it’s all about being more than comfortable on her own — and in her own skin — after a breakup. “I can buy myself flowers, write my name in the sand/ Talk to myself for hours, yeah, some things you don’t understand/ But I can take myself dancing, yeah/ I ca...
Chrissy Teigen Gives Birth, Welcomes New Baby With John Legend
Happy new year indeed! Chrissy Teigen gave birth and welcomed a new child with John Legend on Friday (Jan. 13), a rep confirms to Billboard. The singer-songwriter announced the happy news during a private concert that evening, People was first to report. “What a blessed day,” Legend told attendees, according to the publication. The 12-time Grammy winner also said that though he had spent a lot of time at the hospital and hadn’t gotten much sleep ahead of the event, he felt “energized” after the baby’s birth. Some who attended the private performance also shared the news of the baby’s birth on Twitter. “@johnlegend just told us he had a baby this morning #congratulations,” wrote one. The couple have not yet shared any additional details about their newborn. The joyous arrival of Legend and ...
Maren Morris Addresses Country Music’s Treatment of LGBTQ+ Community on ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’: ‘I’m Sorry’
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. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “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 show...
