Month: May 2023

Is Taylor Swift‘s reference to the Eagles in “Gold Rush” about the band, or is it about the football team?

At Eras Tour night one of three at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field on Friday (May 12), Swift officially answered that burning question.

Swift addressed the audience as she was getting set up to begin her acoustic segment of the show, where she performs two surprise songs at each concert date. First up: Evermore‘s “Gold Rush” made its live debut.

“There was sort of a, I don’t know how large the debate was, but I did see the debate about how a lyric that says ‘with my Eagles T-shirt hanging from the door’ … I saw some people wondering if it was the band Eagles or the team the Eagles,” she said to the crowd at the Linc, the home stadium of the Philadelphia Eagles.

“And I love the band the Eagles,” Swift noted, “but guys, like come on. I’m from Philly. Of course it’s the team.” Loud applause from the locals ensued.

Swift spent her childhood years in Pennsylvania before her family moved to Nashville so she could pursue a career in country music as a young teen. She lived in Reading and Wyomissing, both more than an hour from Philadelphia, but close enough to consider Philly her hometown show.

Hear her Eagles explanation in the concert clip below. For the other surprise song of the night, Swift brought back Red era song “Come Back… Be Here,” which opener Phoebe Bridgers requested.

Taylor Swift spotted some special guests in the crowd during her Eras Tour concert in Philadelphia on Friday (May 12).

While performing “All Too Well at Philly’s Lincoln Financial Field, the 33-year-old pop superstar paused to give a sweet shout-out to Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds’ daughters James, 8, and Inez, 6.

“Hi James, hi Nezzy!” Swift appears to mouth during the Red track, as seen in a fan-captured video on Twitter.

After the concert, her first of two in Philadelphia, Swift was spotted exiting the stage with Lively and her kids. In another fan-captured clip, the smiling songstress is seen holding hands with James and waving to fans, while Lively holds Inez.

Lively and Reynolds also share 3-year-old daughter Betty and welcomed fourth child earlier this year.

In late April, Swift enjoyed a girls night out in New York City with longtime friends Lively, Gigi Hadid and the HAIM sisters.

Lively and Swift are longtime friends whose paths have also crossed professionally. Swift used the names of Lively and Reynolds’ children (James, Inez and Betty) in her 2020 song “Betty” after featuring James on the introducing her 2017 track “Gorgeous.” Lively also directed the singer’s “I Bet You Think About Me” music video from 2021.

See Swift’s onstage shout-out to Lively and Reynolds’ daughters below.

As a result of an ongoing strike by the Writers Guild of America, the 2023 Tony Awards won’t be broadcast on CBS and stream on Paramount+ on June 11 as planned.

On Friday (May 12), the WGA denied a request for a waiver to allow for the Tony Awards to proceed as planned. The Hollywood Reporter was first to report the news.

The Tony Awards Management Committee — which is comprised of eight representatives of the Broadway League, including president Charlotte St. Martin, and eight representatives of the American Theater Wing, including president Heather Hitchens — has set an emergency meeting for Monday morning to determine the best path forward. The options include sticking with the June 11 date and pivot to a non-televised presentation of the awards or postpone the ceremony until the strike comes to an end and the show can be televised.

The 76th Annual Tony Awards were set to be held for the first time at the United Palace in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City. This would have been only the sixth time since 1997 that the show has not been held at its usual home, Radio City Music Hall in midtown Manhattan. Oscar winner Ariana DeBose was set to host the ceremony for a second year in a row.

This is the second time in the past three years that external events have thrown the Tony Awards timetable into chaos. The show that was originally scheduled to air in June 2020 didn’t finally air or stream until September 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And then, CBS opted to air a celebration of Broadway titled Broadway’s Back. The regular, annual Tony show was relegated to pre-show status and streamed on Paramount+.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, a script for the Tony Awards was completed before May 2, when the WGA declared a strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, of which CBS and Paramount+ are member companies. But without a waiver from the WGA granting special dispensation for the show, guild members would almost certainly show up to picket outside the Tonys’ new venue. And prominent members of the Broadway community — including Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda — have said they will not cross a picket line in order to attend.

The Tonys are a vital promotional tool for the Broadway industry — more than the Oscars, Emmys and Grammys are in their industries. Many in the comparatively small but fiercely loyal theatre-going audience decide what shows to see by watching the Tonys.

In addition, the Tony Awards has been regarded as one of the classiest and most entertaining awards shows since its first nationwide TV broadcast on ABC in 1967. (CBS has aired the show since 1978.) If the show doesn’t air this year, it would be a loss both for the Broadway community and for Broadway fans.

In 2005, Ednita Nazario sang for the first time at Coliseo de Puerto Rico. Beyond selling 15,000 tickets, the moment was memorable because Coliseo had only opened its doors the year before and Nazario –perhaps Puerto Rico’s most beloved female singer — had been instrumental in lobbying for its construction. That night, she became the first woman to sing at the venue, affectionately known as “El Choli.”

Today, nearly 20 years later, Nazario holds the record as the woman with most shows at the fabled venue. After her sold-out performances of her “La Reina” (The Queen) shows on Saturday (May 13) and Sunday (May 14), she’ll also become the artist with most sold-out shows after Wisin & Yandel.

Billboard spoke with Nazario about what it means to return to Coliseo and what has happened there throughout her 21 shows.

How do you feel?

“I’m almost speechless, super excited and I can’t believe it. Who could imagine 21 shows was possible? It feels like the first time. It’s one of the things that’s most struck me about my job. The longer I do it, the nerves, the adrenaline, the fast-beating heart, the butterflies in my stomach, they’re a constant.”

What is your most requested song?

“The one that always has to be there, that they’ll request even if I’ve sung for three hours, is ‘Quiero que me hagas el amor (I want you to make love to me).’ It’s an iconic song in my repertoire that I’ll never be able to remove from my rundown. I tried it once and was very sorry. It’s the most expected song. Always.”  

The song you most enjoy singing?

“That one. Without a doubt. It’s like an escape valve. It’s a license for free expression, passion, emotion, that takes me on my own trip. I love it, I lie down, I give it my all, I let go. And it’s such a beautiful moment because I see the faces of the audience, and they also go on their own trip, because it’s a very personal, very intimate song.”

I read once that chefs always include their favorite dishes in the menu, sometimes surreptitiously. Think lobster at a steakhouse. Which of your songs is like that?

“I always do that, even in my albums. There are songs I include because, independent of whether they fit or not, they are the lobsters in my steakhouse. In my shows, there’s several song s that are cathartic. Obviously, the show overall is meant to serve the audience, and give them what they want. But in this one, I added a couple of lobsters. There’s one moment that has a message that needs to be there. And the other is a super fun song called ‘Cansada de estar cansada (Tired of Being Tired).’ It’s a really fun rock ‘n’ roll I wrote several years ago, but is still relevant today.”

Tell me about your first Coliseo?

“It was the ‘Apasionada’ show in 2005 and I was so nervous because it was my first time there. Coliseo is very personal to me because I was part of a group of people who lobbied for its construction. At the time, Puerto Rico didn’t have a venue like that, and I lobbied hard with businessmen and other people to have it built. It was definitely a historic moment, as a woman, as a Puerto Rican artist. Selling out that venue three consecutive nights is something I don’t take for granted.”

Memorable moments?

“When the bed comes down from the ceiling during ‘Quiero que me hagas el amor.’ That’s an iconic moment. So much so that we have a memorabilia exhibit at the entrance of this show, and the original bed is there. Another moment was when Ricky Martin showed up as a surprise guest. Or the first time I invited reggaetón artist, which wasn’t done at the time. I brought Héctor el Father and Ivy Queen in an amazing duet. Also, the time I had Luis Angel, the father of my daughter, and she also came onstage. He wrote some of my most iconic songs, and sang them with me. Those are unforgettable moments.”

Worst moment?

“There was a show where I had to fly over the audience while sitting on a swing. And for some reason, the swing started to spin around. It got tangled high above and formed a sort of braid. So I was spinning around like a crazy person over people’s heads, and I wasn’t tied to anything. I was terrified. But I think the adrenaline helped me and I just kept on singing.”

After so many shows, what will be different this time?

“We’re doing a kind of recap of iconic moments of those past 19 shows. And we’ve chosen specific songs from each of those shows, although obviously, I’ll include new material. The concept of ‘La Reina’ comes from having been called ‘The Queen of El Choli.’ But i gave it a twist, because I think we carry our kingdoms within. All human beings are monarchs of their own castles, and that castle is what you carry inside: Your mind and your spirit. And we can all reign over our own lives while we’re here. So, it will be like a reunion of monarchs where we all are kings and Queens. We built a central runway that takes me to the middle of the audience so I can see them up close. And obviously, the songs are those that have really resonated with them. And, yes, we’ll have special surprises.”

How will you celebrate?

“After the first show, I’ll go to sleep. After the second one, we have an after party with the team and my daughter will also be there. She flew in this week. I also told everyone on staff to bring their moms, because we’ll be working Mother’s Day. It will be a special night.”

An 18-year-old man who was charged in the 2020 fatal shooting of rising Brooklyn rapper Pop Smoke admitted to killing him during a home-invasion robbery at a Hollywood Hills home in juvenile court Friday (May 12), according to City News Service.

The man, who was 15 at the time of the crime, admitted to a first-degree murder charge stemming from the Feb. 19, 2020, killing of Pop Smoke (real name Bashar Barakah Jackson). He also admitted to a home-invasion robbery charge as well as an allegation that he personally and intentionally discharged a firearm during the crime.

He is expected to be held in a state juvenile facility until he turns 25.

City News Service reported that during the hearing, L.A. County Superior Court Judge J. Christopher Smith told the 18-year-old man and his 19-year-old co-defendant, the latter of whom admitted to a juvenile court petition charging him with home-invasion robbery, “That man lost his life over no good reason. … You have no right to take somebody’s life. You have no right to take somebody’s property.”

The 19-year-old man and a third, 20-year-old man, who pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and another count of home-invasion robbery during an April 6, 2023-dated hearing, could both remain in juvenile custody until they turn 25. The names of all three men are not being publicly released because of their ages at the time of the crime.

Only one of the four men who were charged in the killing of Pop Smoke, Corey Walker, is being charged in adult court because he was 19 at the time of the crime and is now 22. City News Service reports he is awaiting a pretrial hearing scheduled for June 16 in L.A. on murder, robbery and burglary charges.

Lil Nas X showed up to Jack Harlow‘s premiere for White Men Can’t Jump on Thursday sporting a T-shirt specially dedicated to his pal.

Emblazoned with the “They Don’t Love It” rapper’s name in bold, white letters, the black tee featured an image of Harlow as well. But that wasn’t all: On the graphic, Harlow is actually wearing a similar tee with Lil Nas X’s name and likeness on it at the 2022 BET Awards — potentially opening up an endless cosmic cycle of Jack wearing Montero wearing Jack wearing Montero and on and on.

For his part, Harlow got a kick out of his “Industry Baby” collaborator’s outfit of choice, gamely posing with an ear-to-ear grin on his face and his arm draped around Lil Nas X’s shoulders on the red carpet. He also shared a pic of Lil Nas X’s cheeky T-shirt to his Instagram Story.

Earlier this month, Harlow unveiled his third studio album Jackman. as somewhat of a surprise, with the studio set landing at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 and also earning the Kentucky native his first Top Rap Albums chart-topper (chart dated May 14).

A few days prior, Lil Nas X hit the carpet for the 2023 Met Gala in almost nothing except a copious amount of silver body makeup and a glittering, jeweled face mask in a skin-baring homage to Karl Lagerfeld’s beloved pet cat Choupette. Inside the star-studded gala, he then draped himself in faux fur to take selfies with everyone from Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton to Billie Eilish, Bad Bunny, Doja Cat and, yes, Harlow himself, who opted to wear a tailored navy suit.

Jason Isbell jumped on social media Friday afternoon (May 12) to defend Janelle Monáe and the buzzy music video for her new single “Lipstick Lover.”

“Wait there are people who DON’T like Janelle’s video?” the country singer tweeted. “Seriously I don’t know wtf you people want if it isn’t that.”

In a follow-up tweet, he doubled down, writing, “There are some things we all just agree [are] awesome so we can go about our business. Like gold, diamonds, Outkast, this video.”

While some trolls bemoaned the sensual nature of Monáe’s visual — on which she lustily intones, “I like lipstick on my neck/ Leave a sticky-icky in a place I won’t forget/ I like lipstick on my neck/ Baby I’m obsessed, get me undressed” — plenty of fans sided with Isbell in the video’s comments on YouTube. For example, one wrote, “This felt very for the female gaze, and I absolutely loved it! Everything about it feels like summer’s coming!” while another praised, “I love how she highlights natural beauty!! All shapes, colors, and sizes!”

“Lipstick Lover” is the latest highlight from the queer R&B star’s forthcoming album The Age of Pleasure, which is set to drop June 9 via Bad Boy and Atlantic Records and will also contain the summery, Seun Kuti and Egypt 80-assisted lead single “Float.”

Meanwhile, Isbell recently shared his HBO documentary Running With Our Eyes Closed with fans and used his platform to both speak out against Tennessee’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws and support commonsense gun safety legislation.

Read Isbell’s glowing opinion of Monáe’s “Lipstick Lover” video below.

Kimberly Perry’s first single as a solo artist, “If I Die Young Pt. 2,” bounds onto Billboard’s Country Airplay chart, dated May 20, at No. 31.

The song, on RECORDS/Columbia/RECORDS Nashville, drew 4 million in audience from May 5, its release day, through May 11, according to Luminate. While it did not receive a standard premiere from any of the large radio chains, RECORDS Nashville executive vice president of promotion and commercial strategy Josh Easler notes that select focus stations played the single multiple times its first day.

“Pt. 2” is the sequel to “If I Die Young,” The Band Perry’s first of four Country Airplay No. 1s, which led for a week in 2010. The original also crossed over, spending three weeks at No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

The trio consisted of Perry siblings Kimberly, Neil and Reid. In March, the act announced its separation, with the members set to concentrate on individual projects.

“Pt. 2” is the first single from Perry’s five-song EP BLOOM, due June 9. She co-penned it – updating the original’s lyrics with the benefit of more than a decade’s hindsight – with Nicolle Galyon and Jimmy Robbins. Perry also co-wrote the other four tracks on BLOOM. She recently signed with RECORDS Nashville.

“The moment I heard ‘If I Die Young Pt. 2,’ I knew we wanted to be part of Kimberly’s solo project,” Easler tells Billboard. “She’s a true artist, a phenomenal songwriter, and her voice has been missing from country music. It’s been amazing to see the excitement from our partners at radio, DSPs and others. This is just the beginning.”

‘Last’ Still First

Meanwhile, Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night” tops Country Airplay for a second week, up 13% to 33.4 million in audience. The song is the fifth of his nine No. 1s to reign for multiple weeks.

As previously reported, the track became the first to top Country Airplay and the multi-metric all-genre Billboard Hot 100 simultaneously.