Music News
Here’s Why H.E.R. Is Going by Her Real Name to Promote ‘Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration’
H.E.R. officially wants you to call her by her name. The singer, who was born Gabriella Wilson, appeared on Good Morning America Wednesday (Dec. 7) to discuss how it feels to be starring as Belle in ABC’s Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration, and why the project has since led her to go by her birth name. Host Michael Strahan introduced the singer, kicking off the interview by using her legal name, and inquired about her decision to go by that. “I’ve been re-finding my voice. Now I’m not wearing glasses. I can’t be acting and wearing glasses, so I think it’s time for people to really get to know the person behind H.E.R.,” the singer explained. “H.E.R. is me, but at the same time it’s a new chapter of my life, and I think I’m really finding that connection and I’m allowing people to see ...
Michael Bublé on Finding a Whole New Appreciation for His ‘Christmas’ Album: ‘Can You Imagine How Lucky I Feel?’
The Billboard charts are getting ever more festive in the march to Christmas. On the Billboard Hot 100 songs and Billboard 200 albums charts (both dated Dec. 10), the lists are looking very merry and bright. On the Hot 100, Mariah Carey’s evergreen chart-topper “All I Want for Christmas Is You” vaults to No. 2 and Michael Bublé’s former No. 1 album Christmas jingles up the Billboard 200 into the top five. Christmas was released in 2011 and spent five weeks atop the list late that year and in early 2012 and has returned to the top 10 in every subsequent holiday season. Speaking of Bublé, earlier this year on the Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, he joined hosts Katie and Keith to discuss his then-new album Higher (a recent Grammy Award nominee for best traditional pop vocal album). Well, the late...
Shania Twain Swaps Her Brad Pitt Lyric for a New Heartthrob at 2022 People’s Choice Awards
Shania Twain proved just what makes her a Music Icon when she accepted that prize and performed a medley of her hits at Tuesday’s (Dec. 6) People’s Choice Awards. One of the highlights of her performance — which included her breakthrough 1995 Billboard Hot 100 hit “Any Man of Mine,” her crossover late-’90s pop smashes “That Don’t Impress Me Much” and “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!,” and her latest single “Waking Up Dreaming” — is when the pink-haired singer swapped the famous spoken-word “Brad Pitt” line from “Impress” for a fellow Canadian star. “OK, so you’re Ryan Reynolds!” she said sassily as the cameras cut to the surprised Deadpool star, who was on hand to accept the People’s Icon award later in the evening. Reynolds mouthed, “Oh my God, me?!” from the audience. In addition to the perfor...
What Is Your Favorite Latin Collaboration of November 2022? Vote!
In a blink of an eye, November has come to an end, and the Billboard Latin editorial team has compiled a list of the best Latin collaborations that dropped last month — but which is your favorite? Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Including eight tracks that were either on the weekly First Stream Latin roundup or featured by Billboard, this month’s fan poll includes Grupo Firme and Joss Favela’s cumbia sonidera “La Bailadora,” Pablo Alborán and María Becerra’s heartfelt pop flamenco “Amigos,” Paulo Londra and Feid’s much-needed joint “A Veces,” and even the 2022 World Cup anthem “Tukoh Taka” by Nicki Minaj, Maluma and Myriam Fares, to name a few. In October, Juan Gabriel and Anahí’s “Dejame Vivir” won the fan poll with a whopping 94 percent...
BamBam Joins Sunmi & Pink Sweat$ as Headliners at the Philippines’ Wavy Baby Music Festival: Exclusive
BamBam is heading to the Philippines to lead a lineup of international acts for the forthcoming Wavy Baby Music Festival next month. Billboard can exclusively reveal that the Thai-born singer-rapper joins fellow K-pop star Sunmi, as well as R&B singer Pink Sweat$, as the final headliner for Careless Music’s Wavy Baby Music Festival taking place at the North Reclamation Area of Mandaue City of the Philippines’ province of Cebu. BamBam joining as a headliner makes the musician trio somewhat of a family affair as BamBam and Sunmi are both signed under Korean management label Abyss Company, while Sweat$ produced and co-wrote Bam’s latest single “Slo Mo.” Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Careless Music’s Wavy Baby Festival is the brainchi...
Here’s What SZA Had to Say When a Fan Asked for a Hayley Williams Collab
SZA is giving fans little crumbs regarding her relationship with Paramore‘s Hayley Williams. With the R&B singer’s forthcoming album S.O.S. arriving this Friday (Dec. 9), SZA fans wanted to know: When will they see her collaborate with the Paramore frontwoman? “@sza Hayley Williams x SZA collab when???” one fan demanded to know. Instead of giving an update, SZA replied in a Tuesday (Dec. 6) tweet, “I talk to her more than you’d think lol.” Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The fan question arrives after SZA shared the 23-song track list for S.O.S. on Dec. 5. The LP includes several features, including Don Toliver on “Used,” Phoebe Bridgers on “Ghost in the Machine,” Travis Scott on “Open Arms” and the late&n...
Metallica Warn Fans About Crypto Cons Tied to New Album: ‘These Are Scams’
Metallica warned fans on Monday (Dec. 5) that crypto scammers are trying to capitalize on the exciting news of their new album single and tour by posting fake giveaway offers. “In the wake of last week’s exciting news of our new song, new album, and new tour, unfortunately the ugly side of social media made an appearance. Many of you have let us know about YouTube channels and live streams, as well as websites, claiming to offer Metallica Crypto giveaways in conjunction with last week’s announcement,” they wrote. Last week, the long-running metal legends announced the release date for their 12th studio album, 72 Seasons (April 14, 2023), as well as blitzing new single, “Lux Æterna” and dates for their massive 2023 world tour. “Let’s be as clear as possible. These are scams,” the band conti...
Sacha Baron Cohen’s Borat Roasts Kanye West at Kennedy Center Honors: ‘He’s Too Antisemitic Even For Us’
There is nothing funny about Kanye West‘s repeated amplification of antisemitic tropes and hate speech over the past month. In a series of interviews and media appearances, the artist who now goes by Ye has made a series of comments denigrating the Jewish people, culminating last week with an appearance on conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ show in which Ye stated “I like Hitler.” But if there is one person who has the unique ability to transform hate into hilarity, it is Sacha Baron Cohen. The acclaimed comedian — who is Jewish — appeared at this weekend’s Kennedy Center Honors in the guise of his belovedly profane, offensive-to-everyone dopey journalist character Borat Sagdiyev to pay tribute to honorees U2. Kazakhstan’s least reliable source of news took the stage and expressed genuine con...
Judd Family Files Notice to Dismiss Lawsuit Over Naomi Judd Death Records
The family of country singer Naomi Judd on Monday filed a notice to voluntarily dismiss a lawsuit that sought to block journalists from accessing the police investigation records surrounding her death. Judd died on April 30 at her home in Tennessee at the age of 76. Her daughter Ashley has previously said that her mother killed herself, and the family said she was lost to “the disease of mental illness.” Judd’s family filed a petition in Williamson County Chancery Court in August seeking to seal the report of the death investigation. The petition said the records contained video and audio interviews with relatives in the immediate aftermath of Judd’s death. Releasing such details would inflict “significant trauma and irreparable harm” on the family, ...
How to Watch Liam Gallagher’s ‘Knebworth 22’ Concert Documentary for Free
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. Liam Gallagher’s Knebworth 22 documentary will premiere on Paramount+ on Tuesday (Dec. 6). The film chronicles Gallagher’s return to England’s Knebworth Park more than two decades after Oasis played the venue in 1996. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news In June, the former Oasis frontman performed back-to-back, sold-out shows in front of 170,000 fans at Knebworth Park. The concert film was initially released in theaters on Nov. 17 before making its way to Paramount+. “I’m still in shock that I got to pla...
Jim Stewart, Founder of Stax Records, Dies at 92
Jim Stewart, the founder of Stax Records, the iconic Memphis, TN label that launched the careers of Otis Redding, Carla Thomas, the Bar-Kays and many others, and shaped the sound of soul music, died Monday (Dec. 5) at the age of 92. Stax Records (formerly Satellite) was founded in 1957 by sibling Stewart and Estelle Axton, and would go on to trigger the “Soul Explosion,” a movement that rumbles on to this day. Born July 29, 1930, in Middletown, TN, Stewart relocated to Memphis as a young man. He served for two years in the armed forces, then tried his hand at music. Playing in a band wasn’t his strong suit, but Stewart would forge a home and career with music. An allrounder, he was a producer and engineer in the studio, a record label executive, a promotions man on the go, and, importantly...
Man Who Shot Lady Gaga’s Dog Walker Sentenced to 21 Years in Prison
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The man who shot Lady Gaga’s dog walker and stole her French bulldogs last year took a plea deal and was sentenced to 21 years in prison on Monday (Dec. 5), officials said. The Lady Gaga connection was a coincidence, authorities have said. The motive was the value of the French bulldogs, a breed that can run into the thousands of dollars, and detectives do not believe the thieves knew the dogs belonged to the musician. James Howard Jackson, one of three men and two accomplices who participated in the violent robbery, pleaded no contest to one count of attempted murder, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Jackson and others drove around Hollywood, the city of West Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley on Feb. 24, 2021 “looking for French bulldo...
