Music News
Who Won Every Season of ‘America’s Got Talent’?
NBC’s America’s Got Talent is wrapping up its 17th season next week, and Billboard is looking back at the 16 talented winners who made history on the series so far. Created by former American Idol judge, X Factor mastermind and Syco Entertainment founder Simon Cowell, the global talent competition premiered in the U.S. on NBC in 2006. The idea was to find the best talent of any age in the country — whether they specialized in singing, dancing, performing magic tricks, acting as a ventriloquist or even training dogs to do tricks — and then have them headline a show on the Las Vegas Strip on top of winning a $1 million cash prize. The show is currently hosted by Terry Crews and features Cowell, Heidi Klum, Sofia Vergara and Howie Mandel as the judges, who recruit viewers’ help to crown the m...
Marshmello Is Remixing ‘Monday Night Football’ Theme Song as ESPN’s NFL Music Curator
ESPN has enlisted Marshmello ahead of the 2022-23 NFL season to remix the classic Monday Night Football theme song. The helmeted DJ will release the first-ever remix of the “Heavy Action” theme song on Monday night’s (Sept. 12) NFL broadcast across ESPN, ABC, ESPN2 and ESPN+, during the season opener between the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks at 8 p.m. ET. “Working with ESPN is a dream come true as Monday Night Football and the NFL have been a part of my life ever since I can remember,” Marshmello said in a statement. “Having the opportunity to put my own spin on an iconic song that NFL fans everywhere recognize was an amazing opportunity.” Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Kevin Wilson, creative music director for ESPN, added, “Our ...
Gigi Hadid Thinks Her & Zayn’s Daughter Khai Is a ‘Genius’: ‘It Just Gets More and More Fun’
Gigi Hadid opens up about her 2-year-old daughter Khai in a preview of a new interview with Sunday Today. “I mean, I think she’s a genius,” the model said in her chat with Willie Geist for Today’s Sunday Sitdown, which is set to air in full this weekend. “But I think that’s what everyone says about their kid. It’s so much fun. The more that she talks, and understands, and remembers, it just gets more and more fun. And she’s a blessing.” She went on to add that her daughter with Zayn is “so mobile, so early in the morning. So mobile — jumping off things. Very brave. Which is great but, you know… We’re practicing doing dangerous things carefully. That’s what I’m gonna go for.” Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Gigi and Zayn welcomed their daughter ...
Nanpa Basico, Las Villa & More: What’s Your Favorite New Latin Music Release? Vote!
This week, our First Stream Latin roundup — which is a compilation of the best new Latin songs, albums and videos recommended by the Billboard Latin editors — is powered by a handful of new songs by Snow Tha Product, Las Villa, María Becerra, India and also Nanpa Básico’s new album. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Home to 14 tracks, Nanpa’s Hecho M13RD4 features wide-ranging collaborations with Adriel Favela, Ryan Castro, Santa Fe Klan, Gera MX and more. The set is a collection of experimental and innovative music with personal feelings weaved into each song. The album acknowledges that state of feeling broken inside after a heartbreak. It takes you to the highest and darkest paths of love, powered by strings, keyboards and horns. There’s ...
How The Weeknd Brought ‘After Hours’ to Grisly Life With New Universal Studios Horror Maze
In the music video for “Heartless,” The Weeknd inadvisably licks a toad inside a dark Vegas hotel room and begins transforming, Wolf Man-like, into an amphibian creature. Now, nearly three years after the clip’s debut, fans can experience the full scope of the pop star’s mutation – only they have to visit Universal Studios Hollywood to see it. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news In a highlight of “The Weeknd: After Hours Nightmare” – a new fright maze at the Los Angeles theme park’s popular Halloween Horror Nights attraction – we watch as the singer’s After Hours character endures an extension of that briefly glimpsed metamorphosis, culminating in the monstrous reveal of a giant, red-jacketed man-toad bursting from an aperture in the wall. ...
Lil’ Kim Denies 50 Cent’s Claim She Slammed Nicki Minaj’s Son on ‘Plan B’ Remix: ‘Kids Are Off Limits!!!’
The Queen Bee is clapping back. On Thursday (Sept. 8), Lil’ Kim addressed allegations started by 50 Cent that she had taken aim at Nicki Minaj‘s young son on her new “Plan B” remix with Megan Thee Stallion. “I never said a word about anyone’s child…” the rapper wrote on her Instagram Stories. “Please feel free to listen to the song where we were clearly talking about an EX. To try and twist my words to have an excuse to take digs at my child is disgusting. I’m one of the most disrespected legends in the game but what you will not do is come for MY CHILD.” Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news A couple slides later, Lil’ Kim went on the offensive against the Super Bowl LVI halftime show performer, whom she blamed for fueling the gossip to begin with. ...
YDE Shares the Inspiration Behind ‘People Can Change,’ ‘Send Help’ EP & More
YDE‘s debut EP, Send Help, finally arrived on Friday (Sept. 9), three years after it was written. Ahead of its release, the former Nickelodeon star spoke Billboard News‘ Tetris Kelly about the EP’s touching single “People Can Change,” how the collection came to be, and working with pop powerhouse Justin Tranter. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “This one was really meaningful for me because when I wrote it, it was the moment where I realized that I’m human ad you’re human, and we’re all human and that is the thing that’s going to bring us to light,” the 19-year-old said of “People Can Change,” noting that it was inspired by 2019 Amazon rainforest fires. “I remember coming into the studio and there was this feeling of hopelessness, but at...
Fairchild Photo Exhibit Features Vintage Shots of Musical Luminaries, From Grace Jones to Debbie Harry
On Friday (Sept. 9), the morning of the first official day of New York Fashion Week, which runs through Sept. 14, the Fairchild Fashion Museum launched its first New York City exhibition, curated by Women’s Wear Daily, Footwear News and Beauty Inc. (Billboard shares a parent company, Penske Media Corporation, with those brands.) Entitled “A Matter of Style,” the exhibition is a two-day pop-up event taking place Sept. 9-10 at AG Studios on 52 Walker Street. Among the dozens of photographs from the Fairchild archives on display are pictures spotlighting several musical luminaries who helped shape and define New York fashion over the decades. There’s a fantastic candid shot of Liza Minnelli speaking with Bianca Jagger during an event at the legendary Studio 54 hosted by fashion trend-setter H...
John Legend’s All-Star Album ‘Legend’ Has Arrived: Stream It Now
John Legend brings out all the legends on his eighth and latest album — the double-disc Legend. Executive produced by the EGOT winner along with OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder, Legend features collaborations with Rick Ross, Muni Long, Jazmine Sullivan, Jada Kingdom, Rapsody, Ledisi, Jhene Aiko, Ty Dolla $ign and others. Ahead of its release, via Republic Records, the soul man described the recording as being “suffused with an unapologetic spirit of sensuality and joy, informed by the full vulnerability of pain, praise and healing.” Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Until this point, he continued, “I’ve never used an aspect of my name as the title of an album.” “I had to earn that, to live up to it by delivering in the performance and the music...
Elton John Dedicates ‘Don’t Let The Sun Go Down on Me’ to Queen Elizabeth II
Elton John has paid a musical tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and remembered the “bloody hard” work she contributed over the course of her long reign. Speaking to the audience Thursday night (Sept. 8) at his final show in Toronto, the Rocket Man reflected on the late monarch, who died Thursday (Sept. 8) at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, aged 96. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “She was an inspiring presence to be around,” he said, as images of the late royal lit up the big screens either side of the stage. “She led the country through some of our greatest and darkest moments with grace and decency and genuine caring, and warmth.” In February of this year, the Queen became the first British monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, marking 70...
Paul McCartney, Adele, Bono & More Musicians and Music Execs Honored by Queen Elizabeth II
During Queen Elizabeth II’s more than 70-year reign, dozens of major music industry names were honored under the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, the order of chivalry designed to reward British individuals who have contributed to the arts and sciences, charity and public service in the U.K. This has included both famous and behind-the-scenes players in the industry, ranging from Elton John to Universal Music Group chairman Lucian Grainge. The five classes of the Order of the British Empire, in descending order of importance, are: Knight and Dame Grand Cross (GBE), Knight and Dame Commander (KBE and DBE, respectively), Commander (CBE), Officer (OBE) and Member (MBE). Not all music luminaries who have been offered these titles have accepted them. David Bowie famously turned down ...
Queen Elizabeth II With Spice Girls, Lady Gaga, Ed Sheeran & More Musicians
Queen Elizabeth II welcomed many famous faces into her royal presence over her lifetime, always kindly shaking hands as she received celebrities at various concerts, celebrations in her honor and more during her 70-year-plus reign. Over the years, the monarch — who died Thursday (Sept. 8) at age 96 — greeted musicians including Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Liza Minnelli to Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, Ed Sheeran and more. Elton John, who shared a heartfelt message following the queen’s death, was one superstar who met Queen Elizabeth many times over, and even received the distinction of being knighted by her in 1998, just one year after the death of his close friend Princess Diana. Other musicians who received CBE, MBE or OBE honors from Her Royal Majesty include all four members of The Beatl...
