Pop
Billboard’s Greatest Pop Stars of 2021: No. 3 — Adele
For this year’s update of our ongoing Greatest Pop Star by Year project, Billboard is counting down our staff picks for the top 10 pop stars of 2021 for the rest of this week. At No. 3, we remember the year in Adele — a long-dormant pop titan who returned late in the year and proved herself still one of the industry’s mightiest forces. Explore Explore Adele See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news If you had Adele on your mind back in January, maybe you were celebrating the 10-year anniversary of her blockbuster 21 album (alongside the singer) – or maybe you were still pondering why she decided to host Saturday Night Live in fall 2020 without anything to promote. After all, it had been more than five years since the world had heard a musical peep from the...
Here’s What Mariah Carey Had to Say About a Verzuz Battle With Beyonce
The fans want to know: Who would Mariah Carey be willing to do a Verzuz battle against? Though the list of potential opponents that are able to hold a candle to her 19 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits, six Billboard 200 No. 1 albums and five Grammy Awards is short, there’s one singer who Carey is against entertaining speculations of possible Verzuz battle. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news In an interview with E! published Wednesday (Dec. 15), Carey was asked if she would ever challenge Beyoncé to a Verzuz battle. “I love Beyoncé and I admire her so much as a performer, for what she’s done for the world and everything else, so I ain’t answering that question,” she said. “I’ll be disrespecting myself and I’m not going to do that, because it’...
Ed Sheeran & Elton John Bring ‘Christmas’ Cheer to Hot 100, Holiday & Adult Contemporary Charts
Ed Sheeran and Elton John‘s “Merry Christmas” debuts on multiple Billboard charts dated Dec. 18. The carol, which the British stars co-wrote, drew 4.9 million all-format radio audience impressions and 4.6 million U.S. streams and sold 11,800 in the week ending Dec. 9, according to MRC Data, following its Dec. 3 release. The single launches at No. 2 on Holiday Digital Song Sales, No. 4 on Digital Song Sales, No. 10 on Billboard Global Excl. U.S., No. 20 on the Billboard Global 200 and No. 72 on the Billboard Hot 100. John earns his 70th career Hot 100 hit, becoming the 23rd artist to reach the mark since the list originated in August 1958. It’s his third of 2021, after he hadn’t appeared on the chart since 2000 until this August. The song follows this year’s “Cold Heart (Pnau Remix),” with ...
Fred Armisen, Mark Hamill, Ringo Starr, Jon Hamm & More Cameo in First-Ever Video For George Harrison’s ‘My Sweet Lord’
As part of the ongoing 50th anniversary celebration of late Beatle George Harrison‘s landmark triple-disc 1970 solo album All Things Must Pass, director Lance Bangs gathered a group of more than 40 actors, musicians and comedians to film the first-ever video for one of the collection’s most beloved songs, “My Sweet Lord.” Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The cameo-stuffed seven-minute clip — executive produced by Harrison’s son, musician Dhani Harrison — finds metaphysical special agents Fred Armisen and Vanessa Bayer searching high and low for… something. Tasked by Star Wars icon Mark Hamill with finding “something out there,” the pair of psychic detectives set off on a search across Los Angeles that has them bumping into dozens of familiar fac...
Billie Eilish Began Watching Porn at 11, Says It “Destroyed My Brain”
Billie Eilish’s song “Male Fantasy” opens with the pop star trying to “Distract myself with pornography,” though the footage is so disturbing that the verse ends with her declaring, “I’m going back to therapy.” Those lyrics are based in her real experiences, she recently revealed on The Howard Stern Show, noting that she “started watching porn when I was like 11,” which she said, “Destroyed my brain.” “As a woman, I think porn is a disgrace,” she told Stern. “I used to watch a lot of porn, to be honest.” She said she was drawn to X-rated material in order to feel like “one of the guys.” Eilish remembered looking at a lot of “abusive” videos, which she believes contributed to her recurring issues with sleep paralysis and night terrors. “I think it really destroyed my brain and I f...
Watch Kelly Clarkson Send a Holiday Kiss-Off With ‘Merry Christmas Baby’
Kelly Clarkson delved into her own Christmas songbook on The Kelly Clarkson Show on Tuesday (Dec. 14) with a performance of “Merry Christmas Baby.” Dressed in a sparkling gray gown, the pop singer powered through the opening track of her new holiday album, When Christmas Comes Around…, which she co-wrote with Aben Eubanks. “You’ll wake up all alone and/ Wonder why I’m not home/ And I’ll let my phone ring/ A dose of your kind of love and/ I’ll let my absence show you/ What I got you for Christmas/ Is losing me/ Merry Christmas, baby,” she belted on the chorus while flanked by a trio of back-up singers and her talk show’s house band, Y’all. The track is just one of five original Christmas tracks penned by the American Idol champ on the new LP, including lead single “Christmas Isn’t Canceled ...
Chelsea Cutler on the Commodification of Mental Illness
Listen via: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Pandora | Stitcher | Google | Pocket Casts | Radio Public | RSS Singer-songwriter Chelsea Cutler talks depression and the public perception of mental illness on the latest episode of Going There with Dr. Mike. Related Video The When I Close My Eyes musician describes how she can feel a pervasive sense of fatigue, and often can lack a deeper sense of satisfaction or fulfillment in her life. As a response, she describes craving what she calls “emotional neutrality,” essentially being able to remove emotions from decision making. Many who struggle with mental illnesses such as mood or anxiety disorders often feel like their depression or anxiety heavily influences their ...
Every Time BTS Has Set a Guinness World Record
With the help of their ARMY, BTS are known for their record-breaking achievements, including on Billboard‘s very own charts. The guys are regulars in the Guinness Book of World Records, including member V’s recent double achievement as the fastest to reach both 1 million and 10 million followers on Instagram when he launched his individual account on Dec. 6. Below, find the full list of BTS’ Guinness World Record achievements. Explore Explore BTS See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news First K-pop group to reach No. 1 on Billboard 200 BTS released their third studio album, Love Yourself: Tear, on May 18, 2018. The album debuted in the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 in the week ending May 24 and appearing on the list dated June 2. With the release o...
Lady Gaga Reveals She ‘Absolutely’ Took Bradley Cooper’s Advice for ‘House of Gucci’ Role
Lady Gaga‘s friendship with Bradley Cooper is still going strong. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly‘s The Awardist podcast on Monday (Dec. 13), the superstar opened up about how the A-lister’s support ultimately led her to her current starring role in Ridley Scott’s House of Gucci. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “Bradley Cooper believed in me for the role of Ally Maine in A Star Is Born, and the way that he empowered me to take helm of that character … it really was the success of our artistic collaboration, I think, that landed me where I am now,” Gaga said during the phone interview. “Absolutely,” she added when asked if she had consulted her one-time co-star and director before tackling the part of Patrizia Gucci. “You know, I’ve c...
Big Time Rush Unveil ‘Call It Like I See It,’ First Single in Eight Years
Big Time Rush are back in a big way. On Monday (Dec. 13), the boy band released “Call It Like I See It,” their first single in eight years. On the sunny track, the quartet — who got their start on their eponymous Nickelodeon sitcom from 2009 to 2013 — croon over horn blasts and shimmery synths. “Pull up on you, that’s an intro/ Just can’t help it when you look like that/ Spinning like a disco/ Make me wanna make a demo track,” Logan Henderson sings on the opening verse before Carlos PenaVega jumps in to croon, “Got me feelin’ like I’m retro/ Leave ya friends in the friend zone, right?/ You can meet me in the end zone, right?/ Let’s keep it simple, baby.” Explore See latest videos, charts and news In an interview with People, the pop group opened up about what it was like getting back into ...
Taylor Swift Rings in Her Birthday With Alana Haim: ‘I’M FEELIN 32’
As all die-hard Swifties know, Thursday (Dec. 13) is Taylor Swift‘s birthday, and the superstar took to social media to celebrate — set to the tune of a fan-favorite Red single. The “I Bet You Think About Me” songstress rang in her 32nd birthday with a dual party alongside bestie Alana Haim. “*Don’t say it, don’t say it OKAY I’m saying it:* I’M FEELIN 32. And Alana is feeling 30. Don’t worry we tested everyone! Thank you so much for the birthday wishes, I love you all so much,” she captioned a pair of snaps from the party, showing off her and the littlest Haim’s matching birthday cakes adorned with photos of them as kids. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news According to the candid shots, the bash was also attended by Booksmart actress Diana Silvers...
10 K-Pop Acts That Dominated 2021
The 2021 edition of our Annual Report continues with a spotlight on some of the best and brightest acts in K-pop. As the year winds down, stay tuned for more awards, lists, and articles about the best music, film, and TV of 2021. You can find it all in one place here. 2021 was another major year for K-pop. What was once a niche corner of the music industry has transformed into a formidable sub-genre in recent years, in part because of its depth and diversity of sound. There’s something for everyone under the K-pop umbrella — the catch-all label refers to South Korean groups (boy and girl alike) and soloists who incorporate a mix of standard-raising production, choreography, and packaging. The music itself pulls from so many different sounds that listeners drawn to rap are able to debate sp...
