Mariah Carey‘s 1994 holiday hit “All I Want for Christmas Is You” has been a Christmastime earworm for nearly three decades now. To celebrate the season and the success, today (December 8), Mariah released a brand-new music video to accompany the 29-year-old song.
Consisting of footage from her current month-long Merry Christmas One and All! tour, the new “All I Want For Christmas Is You” video features Mariah’s bandmates, backup singers, dancers, and choreographers — but it also pays special tribute to her fans and how much they continue to love the track.
“The best thing about being on tour is getting to celebrate the holidays with my lambily!! To show my appreciation, here is a new video for ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You,’” Mariah tweeted at midnight. “I’m calling this one the ‘Festive Lambs Edition’!”
Who are the Lambs?
Since the ’90s, the Mariah Carey fandom has gone by the nickname The Lambily (a combination of “lambs” and “family”). Mariah often refers to her fans as lambs, making her their shepherd.
Who makes an appearance in the new video?
Not only are there a few celebrity cameos in the new “All I Want For Christmas Is You (Festive Lambs Edition)” video, but Mariah’s 12-year-old twins, Monroe and Moroccan, are also featured.
See if you can spot Miley Cyrus, Nicole Richie, and Mario Lopez in the audience footage.
Merry Christmas One and All! Tour
Mariah’s extra-festive 2023 tour has been going on since November 15 and continues through December 17, with the final performance taking place at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. During these shows, Mariah performs Christmas covers like “Joy to the World,” “Oh Santa!,” and “Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home).”
And of course, she closes the concerts with “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”
Mariah Carey reveals she’s looking forward to Christmas this year because “Last Year’s Wasn’t the Greatest”.
When the weather gets chilly and leaves start to hit the ground it only means one thing, Mariah is on the way. No one has dominated Christmas like Mariah Carey in recent years. At this point, Santa better watch out because she could be the face of the holiday soon. According to People, even with all the joy surrounding the holiday and dispite her involvement sometimes it isn’t always fun.
Last holiday season she was officially denied the title ‘Queen of Christmas’ by the Federal Trademark Board. Something that put a cloud over the 2022 holiday season for the singer.
“Years? What are years? I’m unfamiliar with them,” the 54-year-old vocalist joked in her digital cover story with People, adding that she prefers to live “Christmastime to Christmastime.”
“I’ve been looking forward to this Christmas for, like, the whole year,” she continued. “Since last year -because last year wasn’t the greatest. I’m thankful for them all, but it wasn’t my most fun version of Christmas ever.”
Even if the higher powers will not recognize her as the queen of Christmas rest assured we will. From her tour, Mattel Barbie Doll, and everything else Carey branded her presence is felt on the holiday.
In the profile, Mariah also dishes on her children Roc and Roe joining in on her holiday cheer.
“As they grow up and decide what to do with their lives, it’s really nice for me to be able to see them performing onstage.” Carey says she doesn’t want to speak too much for them, wanting to let Roc and Roe, as she calls them, be their own people. “I even like watching them getting ready, preparing to perform. Tonight, before I left the house, my son was practicing on something he’s doing for the show.” During the show Roc raps during “Here Comes Santa Claus,”and Roe sings with her mom on “Jesus Born on This Day.”
Carey at the very least just wants to enjoy the holiday season and provide cheer to everyone. Additionally, we all look forward to it and Christmas just wouldn’t feel the same without it.
Also, it’s really hard to be in a bad mood when you hear her voice during the holidays.
Thanksgiving 2023 was stuffed with good vibes, low vibrational plates, and hilarious shenanigans with a side of mess that took over social media ahead of our annual unwrapping of Queen of Christmas Mariah Carey.
“Drinking @whip_shots with a with a slice of Patti pies was EVERYTHING.. I can’t wait for Thanksgiving ❤️ Being with Ms Patti and her family was such a honor. The way she speaks with such gentleness, calmness, and grace is soooo soothing..
I kept asking her questions just to hear her talk and one hug from her was so warm it makes you just feel welcome and like you knew her forever! So charming and so sweet but at the same time you can tell she can get real Philly on ya ass if she needs to! 😂
Thank you so much @mspattilabelle you are everything and I’m coming over for dinner every chance I get!!!
From our homes to yours…”
The Queen of Thanksgiving had a timeee with the “Bongos” rapper who topped off Patti’s famous sweet potato pie with pumpkin-flavored Whipshots.
According to the press release, “Over the course of 7 sitcom-style episodes, Cardi and Patti head to the kitchen to put their tastebuds to the test as they mix and match Whipshots flavors with Patti’s Good Life desserts to discover the most delicious pairings.’
Was your Thanksgiving giving this year? How many low vibrational plates did you smash? Tell us down below and enjoy the funniest tweets from this year’s turkey day festivities on the flip.
Mariah Carey’s holiday anthem “All I Want for Christmas Is You” is already climbing the charts in anticipation of the holidays, as it does every year since its release in 1994. And now, you can belt it out with your very own Mariah Carey doll, just like you did with your Spice Girls dolls as a kid. (Or was that just me?)
On Friday, Mattel released its “Mariah Carey Barbie Doll, Holiday Celebration Collectible,” which is a decent representation of the singer with long, blonde hair, sparkly earrings, a replica of Carey’s silver butterfly ring, red, strappy heels, and a glittery red trumpet gown that hugs her curves.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime dream to have my own Barbie!” Carey said in a statement. “If I could go back and tell my little girl self that one day, I would have a Barbie made in my likeness, I think she would flip out! I hope all collectors and fans everywhere enjoy the holiday season and hopefully, the Mariah Barbie will be a wonderful addition to it!”
Mattel released the doll one day after the launch of Carey’s “Merry Christmas One and All Tour” and two days before she’s scheduled to perform her perennial Christmas hit at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards. Although the song was released nearly 30 years ago in 1994, this marks the first time the song has been performed at an awards show.
With American Thanksgiving, the retail carnage of Black Friday just a few days away (anyone got the over/under on how many people will be injured?), and the appearance of Santa Claus parades, it’s officially Christmas season.
That means for the next five weeks, holiday music will be blasting at every turn.
The creep actually began months ago. In late August, I dropped into my local Canadian Tire looking for some garden supplies. I couldn’t find what I wanted because the shelves were filled with Christmas decorations. When I got back to the home office, I saw that one of the digital music delivery services I use sent me Brenda Lee’s Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree. It was Aug. 28. It was followed a day or so later by several more Christmas songs.
The people of the Philippines take Christmas so seriously that they begin preparations Sept. 1. This included the first seasonal spins of Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas is You on radio stations in Manila and beyond, which seems a bit much, even for Mariah. “My personal preference is to wait until after Thanksgiving. But there’s no regulating festiveness!!!” She also posted “I’ll allow it for my Filipino lambs, though! I don’t make the rules!”
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But on Nov. 1, she broke her own rule with this video.
This is also the time of year when a not-insignificant number of radio stations switch to an all-Christmas format. This has been a thing since at least 1990 when 99.9 KEX/Phoenix toyed with the idea. But the biggest instigator was, believe it or not, the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Realizing that audiences needed cheering up, many stations across the U.S. went to an all-Christmas format early.
Gone were the old days of one-holiday song per hour, starting the first week of December, slowly ramping up until stations went all-in on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. At the stroke of midnight on Dec. 26, it was back to regular programming. Today, many stations believe that there’s no such thing as too much Christmas music. Even though audiences claim that they don’t need Christmas music until early November (23 per cent) or early December (20 per cent), they don’t seem to mind when radio stations get an early start.
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While some outlets have been known to make the change as early as September, it appears that WMGA-FM in Huntington, West Virginia, was first out of the gate in 2023, ditching their regular playlist for nothing but holiday fare on Oct. 19. WMXL-FM in Lexington, Kentucky, followed Oct. 31. Now they’re everywhere. (A 24/7/365 all-Christmas station once existed in Albany, New York, but it’s gone.)
Such programming is very smart. First, listeners seem to love the idea and tend to leave the radio on longer. Second, all stores and offices have to do to get Christmas rolling is turn on the radio. Ratings rocket upward —sometimes as much as 50 per cent — with the results appearing in January during the slowest time of the year for advertising. The holiday music ratings boost means substantial additional revenue through commercial sales when things can be very dead for competitors. It also sets things up for the following year as advertisers scramble to place ads during a high-ratings period. Many all-Christmas stations will sell all their commercial inventory for the following November/December by the end of the previous July.
All these stations draw from a pool of perhaps 350 tried-and-true songs. Of those, around 25 are considered to be “powers,” radio-speak for songs that audience research has determined are bullet-proof in their popularity. Radio programmers know that you can’t play these songs enough. The aforementioned Mariah Carey and Brenda Lee. There’s also Johnny Helms’ Jingle Bell Rock (1957), It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas (the Johnny Mathis version from 1986 is preferred), Burl Ives’ Holly Jolly Christmas (1964), Elvis and Blue Christmas (1964), virtually any version of Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer (but the Gene Autry rendition from 1949 seems the most timeless), and Felice Navidad, Jose Feliciano’s 1970 recording.
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Again, tradition rules. The late 1950s and early 1960s were some kind of golden era for non-religious Christmas songs. In addition to the songs I just mentioned, that era gave us The Christmas Song and Deck the Halls from Nat King Cole (both 1960); Sleigh Ride from The Ronettes (1963); Andy Williams’ The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (1963), and more Brenda Lee with Jingle Bell Rock (1964).
It’s hard to burn out a Christmas song. Yes, you may hear it a million times in the five weeks leading up to the big day, but then it goes back on the shelf for another 47 weeks. By the time the following season rolls around, we’re ready to hear them again. And with holiday songs, it doesn’t matter if they sound old. That’s actually part of their charm.
Another way to extend the appeal of a traditional Christmas song is to sprinkle in alternate versions. That’s why everyone from Michael Bublé to Josh Groban to Rob Halford of Judas Priest have all released albums featuring their versions of all-time classics. Rather than play just Bing Crosby’s 1943 recording of I’ll Be Home for Christmas, radio programmers can switch it up with versions by Scott Weiland, Pentatonix, Kelly Clarkson, Rascal Flatts, Camila Cabello, and a half-dozen others.
Then there are the artists who manage to create brand-new Christmas classics, although that’s exceedingly rare. Again, you need a song that will compete with decades of tradition. But it can be done. Paul McCartney dashed off Wonderful Christmastime during the sessions for the McCartney II album in 1979, playing every single instrument himself. George Michael hammered out Last Christmas in less than half an hour in 1986 after the melody came to him while watching TV one night. It took Mariah Carey and Walter Afanasieff just 15 minutes to come up with All I Want for Christmas is You in the summer of 1994.
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Streaming music platforms are changing the game, too. Rather than tune into an all-Christmas radio station, people have options with Spotify, Apple Music, and all the rest. This is where we find some decidedly non-traditional songs bubbling up as favourites, such as Santa Tell Me by Ariana Grande and Underneath the Tree by Kelly Clarkson. While the annual cheques for streams may not be as big as what artists and composers receive for radio airplay, these songs are proving to be rather evergreen, offering a nice revenue boost year after year.
So when should Christmas music end? Industry research says that the vast majority of people (60 per cent) are happy with seasonal stuff until New Year’s Eve. At 12:01 am Jan. 1, it needs to stop. Immediately. Another 17 per cent want it to stop at 12:01 am Dec. 26.
Me? I’m still suffering from working in a grocery store when I was in high school and university. Come Nov. 20, the store manager’s wife put on a 14-song 8-track on repeat. Through a nine-hour workday, I heard Holly Jolly Christmas no less than 10 times. The song still triggers unpleasant flashbacks.
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Alan Cross is a broadcaster with Q107 and 102.1 the Edge and a commentator for Global News.
Mariah Carey is in the air, every store is filled with things you need/want for the holidays and Black Friday ads pop up right after you mention something. Yes, it is the holiday season. Researchers believe there is proof that we are, in fact, happier around the holidays because we can get joyful just by looking at pictures depicting holiday themes. In an experiment, Denmark researcher Brad Haddock showed two groups of people — those who celebrate Christmas and those who don’t — images of holiday themes as they underwent a brain scan. The front of the brain lit up for those who celebrated Christmas as the holiday images flashed before their eyes, showing that there is a “holiday spirit network” in the brain. Kind of like our own international Hallmark channel With all this joy going on, Starbucks plays Scrooge again.
Eggnog is the most popular drink at Christmas, leading pumpkin spice, hot buttered rum and anything with peppermint. Yet Starbucks stripped their stores of the offer in 2021. The company who makes a living on coffee and sugary coffee drinks snatched a bit of joy from consumers during the holiday season. Customers were devastated, leaving no joy in Whoville.
The seasonal latte, which contained espresso, steamed eggnog, and ground nutmeg, pretty much tasted like Christmas in coffee cup. The brainchild of Dave Olsen of Seattle espresso bar Il Giornale, which later merged with Starbucks, debuted in 1986 (via Starbucks) and has been a fan favorite ever since. You could even just get eggnog – chilled or steamed. Now they are pushing drinks like Caramel Brulée (is it even a part of the season?), iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai or even Iced Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte. These do not even touch the popularity of egg nog.
Gen Z’s interest in the nostalgic aesthetic makes them a fan of eggnog along with Gen X and Boomers, which leaves the Starbuck’s decision baffling. Visiting several stores, the staff seems exasperated and annoyed at the question if they have it. As if it is an often asked request.
While culinary historians debate its exact lineage, most agree eggnog originated from the early medieval” British drink called posset, which was made with hot milk that was curdled with wine or ale and flavored with spices.
It was thought that the use of “luxury” ingredients such as cream and alcohol would invite prosperity into the household for the coming year. In most households today, a cup of eggnog ushers in the good cheer of the holiday more so than any belief in impending wealth.
Starbucks recent announcement of their bringing back “fan favorites” provides all the joy of underwear and math workbooks as gifts under the tree. We hope their heart will grow 3X and bring back the yummy goodness.
It’s tiiiiiiimmmeee! Following Mariah Carey’s annual announcement, the holiday season has officially begun.
Whether you’re decking the halls or writing your Christmas list, we all know the best way to get into the festive spirit is by listening to some iconic Christmas tunes. From classic carols to merry pop, heartwarming country, and jingle bell jazz, we’ve picked out the 20 best Christmas albums (in no particular order) to help you start this year’s countdown to December 25!
No Christmas is complete without the queen of the holiday season herself, Mariah Carey! Released in 1994, this album is best known for the hit single “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” which went on to become one of the best-selling Christmas songs of all time. The album also features classics like “Silent Night” and “Joy To The World,” where Carey’s vocals bring a fresh touch to these memorable carols.
19. Taylor Swift – ‘The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection’
We’ll never forget Taylor Swift’s Christmas era! Consisting of six tracks, including two originals from Swift, The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection perfectly showcases the singer-songwriter’s incredible vocals and ingenious writing skills. This is truly the Christmas album of our “Wildest Dreams.”
18. Frank Sinatra – ‘A Jolly Christmas From Frank Sinatra’
The album may have been released 66 years ago, but A Jolly Christmas From Frank Sinatra never fails to put us in the festive mood. From “Jingle Bells” to “The First Noel,” Frank Sinatra’s smooth vocals are guaranteed to make you feel so warm and nostalgic. Whether you’re sipping a hot cocoa or tucking into a festive feast, this timeless classic is a staple of any good Christmas playlist!
17. Michael Bublé – ‘Christmas’
Considered a modern holiday classic, Michael Bublé’s Christmas album gives us a jazzy take on some of our all-time favorite festive bops. Having sold over 12 million copies worldwide, this album proved itself to be the perfect soundtrack for Christmas. Following its huge success, the album was re-released in 2012 and saw Bublé team up with artists like Shania Twain and Rod Stewart. Now, that’s what we call a dream team!
16. Elvis Presley – ‘Elvis’ Christmas Album’
Elvis’ Christmas Album was a huge success and has remained a Christmas staple for nearly 70 years. Songs like “Blue Christmas” allowed Elvis to merge his iconic rock ‘n’ roll sound with the cozy vibes of the holiday season, making it an instant Christmas classic for years to come.
15. Kelly Clarkson – ‘Wrapped In Red’
With powerful vocals and iconic Christmas anthems, Kelly Clarkson’sWrapped In Red is an essential listen. While Clarkson may be defined by her pop-rock sound, she drew inspiration from a variety of different genres to create the perfect holiday vibe for her first Christmas album. So, whether you like jazz, country, or soul, Wrapped In Red has something for everyone!
With a unique blend of country and pop, Kacey Musgraves brought an acoustic and modern feel to Christmas with her 2016 album A Very Kacey Christmas. Accompanied by artists such as Willie Nelson and Leon Bridges, Musgraves’ dreamy album is the only Christmas gift we need this year!
13. Stevie Wonder – ‘Someday At Christmas’
Looking for festive R&B songs? We’ve got you covered! Released as his first Christmas album, Stevie Wonder’s Someday At Christmas is a unique take on holiday music. Wonder’s soulful voice and beautiful melodies are the perfect treat for your ears this Christmas.
12. Bob Dylan – ‘Christmas In the Heart’
Releasing a Christmas album is probably the last thing you’d expect of folk legend Bob Dylan, but that’s exactly what he did back in 2009. His alternative takes on certain Christmas classics are perfect for anyone looking to break from the usual holiday traditions this year — with the single “Must Be Santa” being a particular standout with critics. And in the true spirit of Christmas, Dylan donated all his royalties from the album to many charities, such as the United Nations’ World Food Programme.
11. Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton – ‘Once Upon a Christmas’
Yes, that’s right — the “Islands In the Stream” duo joined forces once again, and this time it was in the name of Christmas! In songs like “A Christmas To Remember” and “With Bells On,” the famous match-made-in-heaven harmonies of Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton proved to be the perfect Christmas gift, with the album being certified platinum twice.
10. Nat King Cole – ‘The Magic of Christmas’
If it’s a nostalgic Christmas vibe you’re going for this year, then look no further than the best-selling Christmas album of the ’60s! Let tracks like “Joy To The World” and “Deck The Halls” fill your home with merriness, as you wish for a holiday season as smooth as Nat King Cole’s voice.
9. Vince Guaraldi Trio – ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’
Charlie Brown and Christmas music? Sign us up! Released in 1965, A Charlie Brown Christmas blends together the fun of our favorite characters from ‘Peanuts’ with the joyful sounds of Christmas music. It may have been released in 1965, but this jazzy little album is sure to warm your heart this festive season.
8. The Beach Boys – ‘The Beach Boys’ Christmas Album’
It’s time to take Christmas to the beach. On this album, the sun-kissed harmonies of The Beach Boys will have you exchanging snow for sand, sleighs for surfboards, and warm winter coats for swimsuits. But don’t be fooled — with original holiday-themed tracks like “Little Saint Nick” and “The Man With All The Toys,” this album is as Christmas as it gets!
7. Bing Crosby – ‘Merry Christmas’
With his version of “White Christmas” being the best-selling physical single of all time with over 50 million sales, we think it’s safe to crown Bing Crosby as the King of Christmas. This gift of an album doesn’t stop there with the classics though, as Crosby can also be heard crooning other holiday hits like “Jingle Bells” and “Santa Clause Is Coming To Town.”
6. Justin Bieber – ‘Under The Mistletoe’
Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” also makes an appearance on Justin Bieber’s first Christmas and second-ever album, Under The Mistletoe. The two singers turned the song into a duet and gave it more of an electric-pop flare. The festive music video, which has had over 222 million views to date, features both Carey and Bieber in a fun Christmas mall setting.
5. Emmylou Harris – ‘Light Of The Stable’
Released in 1979, Emmylou Harris’ Light Of The Stable takes traditional Christmas carols and turns them into country tunes. Harris’ angelic voice perfectly compliments the sounds of the festive season, transporting her listeners to the ultimate winter wonderland.
4. Sufjan Stevens – ‘Songs For Christmas’
A fun collection of holiday tunes, Songs For Christmas by Sufjan Stevens is the perfect soundtrack to all your festive activities. Made up of five separate EPs, Songs For Christmas is a wholly unique and interesting take on Christmas music. With original memorable songs like “That Was The Worst Christmas Ever!” and “Come On! Let’s Boogey To The Elf Dance!,” you’re sure to love this 42-track collection!
3. Ariana Grande – ‘Christmas Kisses’
Ariana Grande may be known for her unforgettable pop music, but did you know that she also makes incredible holiday music? Best known for the hit single “Santa Tell Me,” Christmas Kisses brings a touch of love and romance to the festive season, and is an absolute essential on any December playlist!
2. Ella Fitzgerald – ‘Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas’
With her signature vocals and impeccable jazz arrangements, Ella Fitzgerald’s Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas is a timeless classic. Fitzgerald brings a touch of personality and unique style to these iconic holiday tunes. This is best seen in her rendition of “Jingle Bells,” where she hilariously exclaims, “I’m just crazy about horses” at the end of the song. With Ella Fitzgerald, your Christmas is sure to be a swinging one!
1. John Legend – ‘A Legendary Christmas’
A John Legend holiday album has always been at the top of our Christmas list, so you can imagine how excited we were for the release of A Legendary Christmas back in 2018. Legend’s soulful vocals create a feeling of nostalgia and coziness that is just perfect for this time of year. We guarantee that you’ll be listening to this one for years to come!
Incoming! Nick Cannon’s kids have been making constant headlines this year (and the year before!). The Wild ‘N Out star keeps on making babies with his baby mamas and no one is stopping him.
So, why does he have so many children? In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, he candidly explained why he’s “blessed” with making his babies. “Think about it, you can’t be like, ‘No I’m done.’ Like what if God says, ‘No you not,’”I come from a big family, I have several siblings, being raised in an unorthodox family by my grandparents at times, I’ve experienced such a wide range of upbringing that I have such a love and passion for kids and family. I want a big family too,” he said. “The Lord has blessed me with what I asked, but ask and you shall receive.”
With more than 10 children, Nick is super supportive of all of his kids and their mothers. They get my full attention when I’m not working,” he told the outlet. “And that’s the beauty of it because it kind of keeps me out of trouble. It’s either work or playing with my kids.”
Here’s a breakdown of all of Nick Cannon‘s kids and their baby mamas.
Who are Nick Cannon’s kids? Read on for a list of all of his children.
Nick Cannon’s first set of kids was a pair of twins with ex-wife Mariah Carey. Monroe and Moroccan Scott were born on April 30, 2011 on their third wedding anniversary. “My wife just gave me the most incredible anniversary gift ever in life,” Nick tweeted at the time. “I won’t ever be able to top this!” Monroe was named after Mariah’s inspiration Marilyn Monroe, which Moroccan was named after the interior design where Nick proposed to Mariah. The couple split in 2014 and finalized their divorce in 2016 with joint custody of their children.
Golden Sagon Cannon
Birthday: February 22, 2017
Mom: Brittany Bell
Golden Sagon Cannon is Nick’s third child. He was born on February 22, 2017, to Nick’s ex-girlfriend Brittany Bell. Cannon told Power 106 hosts J Cruz and Krystal Bee that the twins were excited to have a younger sibling. “They’re super excited,” he said. “I’ve always wanted five kids. Just because my marriage was over didn’t mean I couldn’t continue my family.” He gushed about Brittany as a potential mother at the time. “I wanted it to be with someone who was solid, spiritual and had the same views,” he continued. “She’s been in my life. Our families grew up in the same projects together in San Diego. So, there’s a lot of substance there.”
Powerful Queen Cannon
Birthday: December 2020
Mom: Brittany Bell
Powerful Queen Cannon is Nick’s fourth child. She was born in December 2020, to Nick’s ex-girlfriend Brittany Bell. Brittany revealed to news to the world through Instagram “The best gift ever ♥️ we have been surprised with… A GIRL!!!!!,” she captioned the post. “👑Powerful Queen Cannon👑 came this week perfect timing for Christmas. So much more to share. All I can say is that Nick was my rock through the most intense yet empowering natural water birth. It was nothing but POWERFUL.
Zion Mixolydian and Zillion Heir Cannon
Birthday: June 14, 2021
Birthday: Abby de La Rosa
Zion Mixolydian and Zillion Heir Cannon are Nick’s second pair of twins. The duo were born on June 14, 2021. Their mother is professional DJ Abby de la Rosa. On the twins’ first birthday, the father, mother and twins celebrated at Disneyland. Abby captioned the post, praising Nick as a father. “The world can say what they want but you go ABOVE AND BEYOND for us and for that we’re forever grateful for you,” she wrote. “It’s not only my Birthing day but Yours too! We created magic @nickcannon and it shows ✨”
Zen Cannon
Birthday: June 23, 2021
Mom: Alyssa Scott
Zen Cannon was Nick’s seventh child who was born on June 23, 2021, to mother Alyssa Scott. Zen died in December 2021, after being diagnosed with brain cancer and a subsequent tumor.
Nick talked about how they found out the news on his daytime talk show The Nick Cannon Show. “I really wanted to take him to the doctor to get the breathing and sinus checked out,” he recalled. “So we thought it would be a routine process. And we went in just to check his sinuses, and they actually said his sinuses were pretty cool, but by the time we found out that, he had another condition. And I think it was called, if I’m not mistaken, fluid that was building up in his head, and that was the cause [of] his head starting to get big. When we found out it was more, they called it a malignant tumor in his head. Immediately, he had to have surgery. Brain surgery.” He then praised Alyssa for her hard work as a mother. “Alyssa was just the strongest woman I have ever seen,” he said during the time. “Never had an argument, never was angry. She was emotional when she needed to be but was always the best mom and continues to be the best mom possible [to her daughter from a previous relationship].”
In honor of their late son, Nick and Alyssa created Zen’s Light foundation with the goal of helping to find a cure for pediatric cancer.
Legendary Love Cannon
Birthday: July 2022
Mom: Bre Tiesi
Legendary Love Cannon is Nick Cannon’s eighth child. He was born in July 2022 and is his first child with model and Selling Sunset star Bre Tiesi. Cannon confirmed he was expecting baby No. 8 on an episode of The Nick Cannon Show in January earlier that year. “Everyone knows I have a lot of children. It’s never a competition. Each one is special,” he said.
In an interview with E! News Daily Pop, Tiesi opened up about her and Cannon’s relationship. “I just respect and love who he is so much as a person, that when I thought about, ‘Do I want my son to be this person? Look at your characteristics, look at your personality, look at how you treat people.’ That’s what is so much more important to me than anything. And he treats me amazing, so that’s all I look at.”
During the season debut of Selling Sunset’s seventh season, Tiesi shared about how she feels about her relationship with her son’s father, 16-month-old son Legendary with the former Wild N’ Out host. “I love Nick. I’m happy with my relationship, however that is, and like, if I date, I date,” she explained. When Emma Hernan asked whether Nick would mind if she dated other people, Tiesi responded simply, “I don’t know. Maybe.”
“Wait. You’ve got to be kidding me. That’s not fair,” Stause said. “I mean, I do what I want to do, but I still would never disrespect Nick. I just wouldn’t,’ Tiesi continued. “And even his situations and stuff, I’ve always been nothing but respectful of that. I know people don’t get it, and I don’t care that people don’t get it.”
“It’s kind of like a new age power position,” Stause added, which Tiesi agreed with. “You don’t need anything from anyone. Your child is obviously well taken care of. You’re not looking for, you know, any kind of hole to be filled. You’re fulfilling yourself.” “Well, maybe we could tell Chelsea that,” Tiesi quipped.
Onyx Ice Cole Cannon
Birthday: September 2022
Mom: LaNisha Cole
Onyx Ice Cole Cannon is Nick Cannon’s ninth child. The America’s Got Talent host posted on Instagram on September 15, 2022, that model LaNisha Cole gave birth to a healthy baby girl. He captioned the post, “Introducing ONYX ICE COLE CANNON… Once again Today I am in Awe of the Devine Feminine! God has given me and @MissLanishaCole the privilege of hosting an Angel here on earth. I vow to protect, provide, guide and love this child to the best of my abilities.” He continued, “Hopefully I can teach Onyx the same, to not let others shame or ridicule her with their outside opinions, because when they do they are only projecting their own harsh experiences, pain and social programming onto her unblemished beauty. As we all know I am not easily triggered and have quite tough skin and have always been an open book but not everyone in my family has that same level of strength. So I pray and ask others to please project all criticism and cynicism towards ME and not the loving and precious Mothers of my children.”
Rise Messiah Cannon
Birthday: September 2022
Mom: Brittany Bell
Nick Cannon and Brittany Bell welcomed their third child together, and tenth Rise Messiah Cannon together on September 30, 2022. This is the Wildin’ Out star’s tenth child. In a lengthy Instagram post, Cannon proudly announced the birth of his son Rise Messiah, “Probably the most difficult labor and delivery I have ever witnessed! 48 hours of excruciating pain and life risking danger to welcome 10 pounds of Love and joy named RISE MESSIAH CANNON.❤️🙏🏾”
Beautiful Day Cannon
Birthday: November 11, 2022
Mom: Abby de La Rosa
Abby de la Rosa confirmed she was expecting her third child with Nick Cannon in November 2022. 1 night with a Libra can turn into 3-4 years 😮💨 be careful,” to which she replied, “😂 damn! lol 1 night turned into 4 years and 3 kids real quick…I see no lies here smh. y’all be safe out there 😂,” she wrote on her Instagram Story at the time. Cannon’s birthday is October 8, which makes him a Libra. In an interview on the “Lovers and Friends” podcast in September 2022, Rosa responded to criticism over her and Cannon’s polyamorous relationship. “Being in a polyamorous relationship doesn’t mean you have low self-esteem or self-worth, she said. “I become hypersensitive when people attack me and my motherhood.”
Nick confirmed the birth of his eleventh child with Abby on his Instagram. On November 11, 2022, he posted “11/11/2022 A BEAUTIFUL DAY for “BEAUTIFUL ZEPPELIN CANNON” to arrive! Mommy @hiabbydelarosa you make it ALL look so easy and effortless but I am forever indebted to your tireless work of constant dedication, diligent effort and selfless love that you give to our children and myself. Beautiful is privileged to have such a Loving and Spiritually inclined Mother. Your resilience and strength doesn’t go unnoticed. Watching you smile through the world’s madness and my constant craziness is so impressive. Not a day goes by that I am not filled with gratitude for all your care, words of affirmation, kindness and inspiration. Thank you!! If I don’t say it enough! You are the definition of steadfast and virtuous and it is my continued duty to make you and our children feel valued and protected every single day! BEAUTIFUL ZEPPELIN aka BZC aka BIZZY B! Get ready because the world is yours! Daddy loves you!!”
Halo Marie Cannon
Birthday: December 14, 2022
Mom: Alyssa Scott
Nick Cannon and Alyssa Scott welcomed their second child together, a daughter named Halo Marie Cannon, on December 14, 2022. They announced the news in an Instagram video on December 29, 2022, of Alyssa’s pregnancy journey. “Our lives are forever changed ❤️Zen is in every breath I take. I know his spirit was with us in the room that morning,” Alyssa captioned the video. “I know he is watching down on us, he shows me signs everyday. I will hold onto this memory forever. I will remember the sound of Nicks voice saying “it’s a girl” and the look of everything we’ve been through flash across his face. I will remember the sound of her crying out with her first breath and feeling her heartbeat against mine. My sweet girl, I got my surprise!! We love you Halo Marie Cannon! 🤍
Nick and Alyssa confirmed they were expecting their second child together in November 2022. “a BLESSING 🤍” Alyssa captioned an Instagram photo of the time of her naked in a bath tub as Nick touched her baby bump. Nick and Alyssa’s first child, a son named Zen, was born on June 23, 2021. He died on December 5, 2021, from a brain tumor. He was 5 months old.
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Caroline Jones has already had a career that any music-lover would be envious of- a mentee of music titans Zac Brown Band and the late, great Jimmy Buffett…she has toured with mega-names in the industry like The Rolling Stones, The Eagles, and Carrie Underwood, and now performs alongside Zac Brown Band as a member.
Her music spans genres, seamlessly blending one another together into a melting pot of downright good music. Her voice is sweet, hard-hitting, and fine-tuned, add that together with her songwriting ability that has only gotten better from working with the best in the business, and her prowess in playing multiple instruments. All together, Caroline Jones is the whole package- creating a pop-country fusion with notes of bluegrass at just the right time.
When I sat down to talk to Caroline who sat outside her home in Nashville, she was humble- constantly talking about seeking ways to better her music, showing gratitude to those who have helped her get here (especially manager, producer, business partner Ric Wake, and smiling when thinking of her newest album: Homesite. You can listen to the album here:
Nashville is a big part of Jones’ story, the place where she felt the most connected to her newfound country music roots. It helped her grow, and gave her the support to pursue her career. On paper, it seems like Caroline Jones has accomplished just about everything…but there’s so much more potential to unlock for Jones, and she will tell you that.
Homesite is a thrilling addition to Jones’ already impressive repertoire, exhibiting her true vocal abilities to their finest. Check out our interview with Caroline below!
PD: Let’s start at the very beginning…you were trained classically in opera, how did you want to switch to country?
CJ: I grew up listening to a variety of genres when I was a kid. My father loved classic rock and R&B, my mother loved the divas of the 90’s- Whitney, Mariah, Barbara Streisand, Celine Dion…and like you said, I was trained classically in opera and jazz so it wasn’t until I was around 17 and went to the Nashville for the first time and I had started writing songs and making demos of them. My manager at the time in my teen years said, “You know, your music has a bit of a country flare to it, you’d really love Nashville.”
At his urging, I went down here and went to a show at Bluebird Cafe and I was hooked…like I’d found the missing piece to my artistry. I felt like I found my people and my community. There’s such a writer and musician-centered community, which is very unique in a commercial genre of music in this day-and-age where there’s so many other factors and distractions. That’s still the core of Nashville. Delved all the way back starting with Hank Williams as the outset of what we think of as the outset of country music and went from there and found love.
PD: You were touring schools across New England before Jimmy Buffett recognized you. Can you talk about how that all started?
CJ: I’ve just had a DIY spirit since I was young, you know? This was the early 2010’s when Ed Sheeran and Mumford & Sons and acoustic music was making a comeback over the very produced pop commerciality of the early 2000s. I just wanted to be part of that wave of singer-songwriters, that’s what really inspired me…so I knew I wanted to build a fanbase organically and get good at playing shows live.
I started playing in the Northeast, where I grew up, and then a few years later I met my manager and business partner, Ric Wake, and we made our first record, Barefeet. I got a couple of amazing opportunities to open up, starting with Zac Brown and Jimmy Buffett. I really owe the career that I have to those two taking me under their wing and taking me on tour.
PD: Let’s talk about your new album, Homesite, which you had complete creative control over. How did that change making an album for you?
CJ: I’ve been really lucky, I’ve been an independent artist for my whole career and owned all my masters…I’ve really been in the creative driver’s seat and I owe that all to my manager and producer Ric Wake. He believed in me from the beginning and respected what I did, he honored my vision and brought it to life, and brought a team in who felt the same way. That is not most artist’s experience, so I am very grateful to him…and moreso as time goes on because you see how rare it is.
This album is the next step in my creative evolution and, if anything, I opened up more on this album because we brought in a new creative producer, Brandon Hood. I co-wrote about 3-4 songs on the record, which is pretty rare for me…in my previous record I solo wrote most of the album with the exception of one song.
For me, that’s creative maturity. Now that I have a few years of experience and more of a platform, I still have a long way to go but now I get to work with the musicians, singers, and songwriters I respect.
PD: Can you give me your favorite tracks from the album?
CJ: Yeah! At the moment, they’re probably the title track, “Homesite”,I love the song “Serendipity” because I love blending country and pop, and I love “Lawless.” I’m a production nerd so those are probably my favorites…and I also love “By Way Of Sorrow”, it’s the only song I didn’t write on the record and it’s a cover and has Vince Gill on it, one of my all-time heroes. I think that song should be a bluegrass classic.
PD: Final question- what is the best piece of advice you’ve learned since touring with ZBB, Jimmy Buffett, The Rolling Stones, Faith Hill, Carrie Underwood, The Eagles, Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney…I could go on?
CJ:
Oh my gosh, so hard to distill down to one because you learn so much by osmosis…by the repetition by being around folks who are the most excellent in the world at their craft.
If I could share one thing I’ve learned and seen over and over, it’s important to remember when you’re performing in stadiums or you see people’s shining social feeds, or you go and perform to tens of thousands of people and see them living your dream…they still have their own mountains to climb.
The more I’ve been around really successful people, the more I see they still have this passion and drive and still have a need to create, and push themselves and evolve. That’s not something that ever goes away just because you’re rich and famous. It’s not that you’re at the top of the mountain and now you’re just plateauing. You’re still the same hungry artist with the same hungry soul with the drive that got you there.
I want people to know that, because I feel like they don’t. You see rich and famous and successful musicians and you think they’re rockstars who have it all figured out…but the truth is we’re all artists, we’re all seeking, we’re all trying to creatively challenge ourselves. In that way, we’re all on an equal playing field.
Over the weekend, a fan Twitter account shared data showing the singer’s holiday smash “All I Want for Christmas Is You” has already started its climb up the streaming charts.
Two years ago, Carey revealed that she prefers to start her Christmas celebrations after U.S. Thanksgiving in November each year, adding, “but there’s no regulating festiveness!”
Originally released in 1994, “All I Want for Christmas Is You” has become a perennial favourite over the years, becoming one of the few holiday songs since 1990 to become a standard.
The song first appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 2000 and continued to make frequent appearances on the chart in the 2010s.
In 2019, “All I Want for Christmas Is You” hit No. 1 on the Hot 100 for the first time, and has achieved the feat each year since.
James Donaldson aka Mr. Beast, one of the most popular YouTube stars in the world, is suing the virtual kitchen company he partnered with after fans complained about poor-quality food being delivered to their homes. Mr. Beast says that the company sacrificed quality control in order to expand as quickly as possible.
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In 2020, Mr. Beast partnered with Virtual Dining Concepts, a company that specializes in “ghost kitchen” restaurants that use other, established eateries—like Macaroni Grill or Brio Italian Garden—to produce branded items that are then sold via food delivery apps like Uber Eats or Door Dash. In December of 2020, Mr. Beast Burgers launched around the country and I was tricked into ordering one. (And then the same thing happened to the wonderful and forever great Mike Fahey.) The burger I ordered was pretty bland, not great, and too expensive for what I got in the end. But at least it was cooked and not raw beef slapped on a bun, which is what some fans seem to have received after placing their order for a Beast Burger.
As reported by Bloomberg, Mr. Beast has sued Virtual Dining, claiming in the lawsuit that his fans have been leaving negative reviews, calling the burgers “disgusting,” “revolting,” and “inedible.” In the lawsuit the influencer states that he complained about the issues but Virtual Dining Concepts didn’t seem to care.
Kotaku has contacted Virtual Dining Concepts about the lawsuit.
Mr. Beast and his legal team allege in the suit that Virtual Dining Concepts wasn’t concerned about quality issues or angry fans but instead was focused on rapidly expanding its company and using Mr. Beast Burgers as a way to pitch the idea to other famous actors and celebrities. Since the Beast Burger deal, Virtual Dining Concepts has created similar branded ghost kitchen offerings for NASCAR and Mariah Carey.
It’s also claimed by Mr. Beast that Virtual Dining Concepts used his image on social media without permission and even registered some trademarks related to his brand that were outside the scope of the contract. Mr. Beast is asking the court for the right to completely terminate the business deal.
Mariah Carey is finally hopping on TikTok’s latest dance trend. On July 19, Carey joined in on the viral “Touch My Body” challenge with her 12-year-old twins and glam squad. In a video posted on her TikTok and Instagram, Carey is seen wearing a denim crop top and cut-off jeans as her hairstylist and makeup artist touch up her hair and makeup. Then, her kids got in on the fun as they all started dancing along to Carey’s 2008 hit playing in the background. “Why not? Jumping on the trend of my own song lol,” she captioned the clip.
If you’ve been scrolling on the social media app the past few weeks, you’ve likely seen groups of friends, coworkers, and families dancing to the popular song. In fact, Carey’s twins with ex-husband Nick Cannon, Monroe and Moroccan, previously tried out the trend with their dad. On June 30, the father of 12 shared a silly TikTok video featuring the trio dancing to “Touch My Body.” “Only Right!! Shout out to Mommy!!! The Empress Queen of all Queens!” he wrote alongside the clip.
Carey and Cannon recently celebrated their twins’ 12th birthday in April. In an Instagram post highlighting Monroe and Moroccan, the singer wished her “favorite people on the planet” a happy birthday, sweetly adding that they’ll “always be my babies.”
Check out Carey’s hilarious “Touch My Body” TikTok video above.
Look, you probably saw the show and noticed it straight anyway regardless, but just in case you didn’t, here are a bunch of people all making the same joke: that Rihanna’s halftime performance at the Super Bowl tonight looked just like a Smash Bros. stage.
To be fair, it’s not really a joke. More a case of just stating the clearly obvious. All that was missing some some backup dancer getting punched into space.
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In case you want to read more about the performance itself—one of the all-time great Super Bowl halftime shows—The AV Club have some coverage you can check out:
As a musician, Rihanna’s greatest strength—the thing that most sets her apart from her peers—has always been her catalog. Other artists may be better singers or dancers, but, besides Mariah Carey, no living artist has more number-one hits than Rihanna. It makes sense that Team Rih would try to cram as many of these songs into her 13-minute Super Bowl Halftime Show set as possible—unfortunately, the trip down memory lane came at the expense of other kinds of showmanship.
Rihanna opened the set high above the field, standing on one of many eye-popping floating stages, powering through her anthemic “Bitch Better Have My Money.” This was easily the best moment of her performance, and the stage stunned visually. Plenty of other artists have recently taken to the sky during their time at the Super Bowl, but none used the space in such a deliberate way. Rih flashed a smirk with all the cockiness we’ve come to expect from someone who’s dubbed herself “Bad Girl Riri”—a welcome reminder of what we’ve missed in the past seven years without a Rihanna album.
It’s Christmas time, which means Mariah Carey has fully unthawed from her cryogenic chamber to wreak havoc with her inescapable yuletide anthem. And since “All I Want For Christmas Is You” only has a few more days to be played ad nauseam in the world’s doctor’s offices and grocery stores, we might as well steer into the skid.
Enter bass music star Crankdat, who has released the dubstep remix you didn’t know you needed. His electrifying rendition of the Christmas classic is the rum to your eggnog.
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The track is part of the fourth installation of his annual “Crankmas” series, wherein he ties a bow on the year by releasing a mix comprising unreleased music and his favorite tracks and edits.
“Crankmas Vol. 4” features a slew of IDs from Crankdat as well as tracks from his bass music contemporaries, like Ray Volpe, MARAUDA and Knock2, among many others. Take a listen to the full mix below.
Mariah Carey made the 2022 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade a family affair.
Carey closed out the annual event with a performance of her iconic holiday hit “All I Want for Christmas is You” and she was joined by some special guests.
Her twins with ex-husband Nick Cannon, Monroe and Moroccan, danced behind their mom while she sang.
The 11-year-olds emerged from a pair of gift boxes to dance and sing along with the famed lyrics.
“Happy Thanksgiving!!!,” the caption on a collection of photos and videos read. “Grateful and so proud of my beautiful kids Roc and Roe, grateful for the lambily [her fans are known as ‘Lambs’] and for the precious moments in life. Now it’s reaaaallly time!!!”
That last line was acknowledgment that it’s officially Christmas season, which is not only what the singer is often associated with, but also one of Carey’s favorites.
“I create my own Christmas moment. I mean, Santa Claus visits us. He comes with his reindeer. I am not exaggerating—this is the truth,” she told the publication.
“Darling, look, I know a lot of the time people are like, ‘Oh, yay! Look at her! She’s, like, so festive and such a Christmas girl,’ or whatever,” Carey said. “But, really, Christmas makes me happy.”
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office denied Mariah Carey’s application to trademark the moniker “Queen of Christmas,” which the singer hoped to use as branding for various products, after other artists who also claimed the title opposed it. What do you think?
“Maybe writing a song about Christmas would strengthen her case.”
Adele Howe, Nemesis Designator
“That’s a title that can only be conferred by the Pope.”
“CBS Mornings” co-host Gayle King sits down with singer-songwriter Mariah Carey to discuss the release of her first picture book, “The Christmas Princess.”
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In a social media post shared earlier this week, Abby De La Rosa, the DJ and former radio personality with whom Cannon already shares twins, seemingly confirmed the news with a subtle comment on her Instagram story.
Responding to a post by the account @libras.society, which warned that “1 night with a Libra can turn into 3-4 years,” De La Rosa wrote, “lol 1 night turned into 4 years and 3 kids real quick…I see no lies here smh.”
Cannon and De La Rosa welcomed twins, Zion Mixolydian and Zillion Heir, in June 2021. Although she announced her pregnancy on social media months ago, De La Rosa did not reveal the father’s name nor did she address public speculation about Cannon’s involvement. The television host, born Oct. 8, 1980, is a Libra.
De La Rosa’s social media post came about a week after Alyssa Scott shared her own pregnancy announcement post on Instagram and confirmed that she and Cannon are expecting.
“a BLESSING,” Scott captioned the photo, which showed her and Cannon together in a bathtub. This is their second baby, after the two welcomed a son, Zen, around the time his twins were born last year. Zen died from brain cancer at just 5 months old.
Cannon’s eldest children, twins Morocco and Monroe, whom he shares with singer Mariah Carey, were born in 2011. His family has continued to grow since then.
In 2017, Cannon and Brittney Bell welcomed a son, Golden “Sagon,” and had a daughter, Powerful Queen, three years later. After his three children born last year came Legendary, Cannon’s son with Bre Tiesi, who was born this past January.
Then, in August, Cannon announced that he and Bell were expecting their third child together. He welcomed a baby with photographer LaNisha Cole, named Onyx, several weeks later. And, a couple of weeks after that, Cannon revealed that Bell had given birth to their daughter, Rise Messiah Cannon.
Award-winning singer-songwriter Mariah Carey recently sold out an upcoming show at Madison Square Garden. But she remembers times when she wasn’t quite as popular.
Her debut picture book, “The Christmas Princess,” features the theme of bullying, which she said was important because it was part of her childhood reality.
“And because I did not fit in with one specific group … because I wasn’t taught how to understand that I actually was okay to just be me,” Carey told CBS News.
The book, released November 1, begins with a letter to her younger self, who she calls “a wonderful, one-of-a-kind wonder.”
“I know you may not feel that way right now because you don’t have a ‘normal’ name like Katie or Julie,” the letter in the book reads, “and most people don’t even know how to pronounce Mariah (though it’s not even that hard).”
“I know a lot of people put you down because of your clothes, your house, and your hair, and try to make you feel ‘other.’”
“But I want to tell you this truth: no matter what things look like now, you are worthy and deserving of all the attention, love, protections, care, conditioner, and fancy dresses in the whole wide world,” it reads.
She added in the letter that “multitudes of people” will some day know her name and that little girls will actually be named after her, referencing times in her past when “Mariah” was mispronounced.
“You’d have a substitute teacher and they would come in, and they were taking attendance and everybody’s name was easy to pronounce, and mine was always a drama and I dreaded [it,]” she said. “It was that dreadful moment.”
The entertainer, dubbed by some as “the Queen of Christmas,” is returning to Madison Square Garden on December 13 and 16 this year for her newly announced show, “Merry Christmas to All.” The first night of the show sold out in an hour.
“I do need to take it in,” she said. “I’m doing a new couple of sections, things fans have been asking for that I haven’t performed yet.”
The show will be featured in another Christmas special titled “Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas to All” that will exclusively air on CBS on December 20.
Carey says Christmas time is “absolutely” her favorite of the year, and that her 11-year-old twins’ Monroe and Moroccan enjoy the holiday as well.
“They love it, too,” she said. “And they love, you know, the other times of the year that I try to make fun things happen. It’s all about me giving them what I really wanted, which was just to do all the things that the other kids got to do. So, I just want them to know that it’s special.”
Carey was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020. She says writing music is “the greater gift.”
“I see myself as a songwriter first,” she said. “…Because it’s like hearing music and then being able to articulate it and create that. And I also love writing and being able to use it as a personal form of healing and expression.”
The author and musician over the years has also added another title to her career: “diva.”
“I thought it just meant fabulous,” she said, adding that she feels indifferent to the name.
“I understand it in the way it’s said, you know, in the context of what it is,” she said. “But if they’re like ‘diva Mariah Carey.’ I’m like, ‘Alright, whatever, yeah, great. That’s me,” she said.
LOS ANGELES — Lionel Richie soared. Pat Benatar roared. Duran Duran stumbled but stayed sophisticated. Eminem was Eminem.
The four acts found very different ways to celebrate on Saturday night, but all can now forever say they’re Rock & Roll Hall of Famers. So are Carly Simon, Eurythmics, Harry Belafonte, Judas Priest and Dolly Parton, who gave the honor an enthusiastic embrace after temporarily turning it down.
The first act inducted at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles after a memorable speech from a shaven-headed Robert Downey Jr., Duran Duran took the stage and launched into their 1981 breakthrough hit “Girls on Film.”
The shrieking crowd was there for it, but the music wasn’t. The band was all but inaudible other than singer Simon Le Bon, whose vocals were essentially acapella.
It was a fun if inauspicious beginning to a mostly slick and often triumphant show.
“The wonderful spontaneous world of rock ‘n’ roll!” the 64-year-old Le Bon shouted as the band stopped for a do-over.
They kicked back in at full volume, playing a set that included “Hungry Like the Wolf” and “Ordinary World,” quickly snapping back into what Downey called their essential quality: “CSF — cool, sophisticated fun.”
Lionel Richie brought both chill and warmth to the room hours later, opening his set with a spare rendition of his ballad “Hello” that seemed to make him nearly break down from the weight of the moment.
“His songs are the soundtrack of my life, your life, everyone’s life,” Lenny Kravitz said in inducting Richie.
After “Hello,” Richie breezed into his 1977 hit with the Commodores, “Easy.” The vibe went from smooth to triumphant when Foo Fighters front man Dave Grohl made a surprise appearance to play a guitar solo and swap vocals with Richie. That led into a singalong, celebratory rendition of 1983’s “All Night Long” that brought the night’s biggest reaction.
In his acceptance speech, Richie lashed out at those during his career who accused him of straying too far from his Black roots.
“Rock & Roll is not a color,” he said. “It is a feeling. It is a vibe. And if we let that vibe come through, this room will grow and grow and grow.”
Eurythmics took the stage next with a soulful, danceable rendition of 1986’s “Missionary Man.”
“Well I was born an original sinner, I was born from original sin,” singer Annie Lennox belted, bringing the audience clapping and to its feet four hours into the show. It was followed by a rousing rendition of their best-known hit, “Sweet Dreams.”
Moments later her musical partner, Dave Stewart, called Lennox “one of the greatest performers, singers and songwriters of all time.”
“Thank you, Dave, for this great adventure,” a tearful Lennox said.
As he has been throughout his career, Eminem was the outlier. He was the only hip-hop artist among the inductees, the only one whose heyday came after the 1980s, and he brought an edge to the evening that was otherwise missing outside of the heavy metal stylings of Judas Priest.
He also took the guest star game to another level. After opening briefly with 1999’s “My Name Is,” he brought on Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler to sing the chorus of “Dream On” for 2003’s “Sing for the Moment,” which samples the Aerosmith classic. Then he brought on Ed Sheeran to sing his part on the 2017 Eminem jam “River” as rain fell on the stage.
“I’m probably not supposed to actually be here tonight for a couple of reasons,” Eminem, wearing a black hoodie, said as he accepted the honor. “One, I know, is that I’m a rapper and this is the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.”
He’s only the 10th hip-hop artist among well over 300 members of the Hall of Fame.
He was inducted by his producer and mentor Dr. Dre, whom he credited with saving his life.
But hitmakers of the 1980s defined the night.
“Pat always reached into the deepest part of herself and came roaring out of the speakers,” Sheryl Crowe said in her speech inducting Benatar.
Benatar, inducted along with her longtime musical partner and husband Neil Giraldo, took the stage with him and displayed that power moments later.
“We are young!” the 69-year-old sang, her long, gray hair flowing as she soared through a version of 1983’s “Love is a Battlefield.”
Inductees absent from the ceremony included Duran Duran guitarist Andy Taylor, who is four years into a fight with advanced prostate cancer, the 95-year-old Belafonte and Simon, who lost sisters Joanna Simon and Lucy Simon, both also singers, to cancer on back-to-back days.
Carly Simon was a first-time nominee this year more than 25 years after becoming eligible. Olivia Rodrigo, 60 years Simon’s junior and by far the youngest performer of the night, then took the stage to sing Simon’s signature song, “You’re So Vain.”
Janet Jackson appeared in a black suit with a massive pile of hair atop her head, remaking the cover of her breakthrough album “Control,” as she inducted the two men who made that and many other records with her, writer-producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.
When the nominees were announced in May, Parton “respectfully” declined, saying it didn’t seem suitable for her to take a spot as a country-to-the-core artist. She was convinced otherwise, and ended up the headliner Saturday night.
“I’m a rock star now!” she shouted as she accepted the honor. “This is a very, very, very special night.”
Parton said she would have to retroactively earn her spot.
She disappeared and emerged moments later decked out in black leather with an electric guitar and broke into a song she wrote just for the occasion.
“I‘ve been rockin’ rockin’ rockin’ rockin’ since the day I was born,” she sang, “and I’ll be rockin’ to the day I’m gone.”
She closed the night leading an all-star jam of her fellow inductees on her country classic “Jolene.” Le Bon, Benatar and even Judas Priest singer Rob Halford took a verse.
“We got a star-studded stage up here,” Parton said. “I feel like a hillbilly in the city.”
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