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Tag: Music & Musicians

  • Willie Colón, legendary Nuyorican salsa icon, dead at 75

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    The legendary musician Willie Colón, one of the most iconic figures in salsa and the Nuyorican salsa movement, died Saturday at the age of 75, his family confirmed in a message posted on his social media accounts.

    “It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, and renowned musician, Willie Colón. He departed peacefully this morning, surrounded by his loving family,” the statement posted on Facebook reads.

    “Although we mourn his absence, we also rejoice in the eternal gift of his music and the cherished memories it created, which will live on forever,” his family added.

    The Puerto Rican artistic community had been asking for prayers for the singer-songwriter on Friday, as he was receiving medical attention for reported respiratory complications.

    A LIFE FILLED WITH ART AND MUSIC

    William Anthony Colón Román, a musician of Puerto Rican descent, was born on April 28, 1950, in the South Bronx of New York City. He was a poet, composer, arranger, performer, folklorist, trombonist, producer, and musical director.

    It was his grandmother Antonia (“Toña”) who instilled in him the seed of Puerto Rican identity and taught him to speak Spanish, a language that Willie’s own parents had lost on the streets of New York at a time when bilingualism wasn’t even a concept.

    At 16, he recorded his first album (“El Malo”) with Héctor Lavoe in 1967. Together, they formed one of the most important salsa duos on the Fania record label.

    Lavoe, in particular, provided him with the daring themes of the streets and gave him his first music lessons, as well as the irreverent attitude necessary to experiment with instrumentation and structure. His genius prevailed.

    Formal musical education began with the elementary school flute, which he secretly took home. Later, he discovered the bugle, an instrument he began to master as a hearing child at age 11. When he encountered the trumpet at 13, he began taking lessons, and his career began to take shape, as did the distinctive style and sound with which he would forge his path to history.

    In 1969, his “Che ché colé” was a pivotal moment in the Afro-Caribbean conquest of popular music in Latin America. Although some resisted accepting it, his famous Ghanaian song with a Puerto Rican bomba rhythm became a salsa classic.

    With Lavoe, Willie Colón’s orchestra popularized songs such as “Calle Luna, calle Sol”, “Abuelita”, “Ah, ah, oh, no”, “Ghana’e”, “El día de mi suerte”, “La murga” and “Juana Peña”, among others.

    In 1976, he challenged the established norms with his production of a ballet, “El baquiné de los angelitos negros,” which ushered in his symphonic salsa era. After his recording period with Lavoe, Willie decided to launch his own career as a singer, releasing albums such as “The Good, Bad and The Ugly” (1976) and “Solo” (1988).

    In 1977, he introduced Rubén Blades to the recording industry with the album “Metiendo mano” and collaborated together in the years to come.

    Willie Colón boasts an impressive discography with over 40 albums, earning him nine Gold Records and five Platinum Records. He sold more than eight million records worldwide, with 16 LPs to his credit, including collaborations with Lavoe, six with Blades, and four with Celia Cruz.

    In 1979, he launched his solo career. He was nominated eight times for Grammy Awards in the tropical music category. He also acted in film and television productions such as “Vigilante,” “The Last Fight,” “Salsa,” “Miami Vice,” and the telenovela “La Intrusa.”

    His record as an activist is equally impressive. Willie Colón is recognized for his sociopolitical activism as readily as his musical genius. His endorsement is coveted among New York politicians. His words on stages in the city’s Latino neighborhoods are as powerful as his music.

    He loved aviation, boxing, horseback riding, and computer programming. He was a fiercely self-taught man who, in addition to music, studied everything from physics to business administration on his own. Together with Julia Colón Craig, he fathered three of his four children.

    Willie Colón’s last performance in Puerto Rico was on August 9, 2025, in a sold-out concert in San Juan, with the Puerto Rico Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Ángel ‘Cucco’ Peña.

    *Editor’s Note: The National Foundation for Popular Culture of Puerto Rico (FNCP) collaborated on this publication. The FNCP is a non-profit organization that promotes the development of Puerto Rican popular culture through the study, promotion, and sponsorship of cultural events and the artists who present them.

    This article was first published in Spanish by our sister station Telemundo 47. To read the original article, click here.

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    Telemundo 47

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  • The biggest moments from the 68th Grammy Awards

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    An in memoriam segment that had the entire room on its feet. A famous director achieving EGOT status. And a whole lot of celebrities criticizing Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.

    The 68th Grammy Awards on Sunday, which comedian Trevor Noah helmed for the sixth and final time, were a long (a little over 3½ hours, to be exact) but memorable event.

    Here are our biggest takeaways from music’s biggest night.

    Artists speak out against ICE

    The awards show came just over one week after the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti at the hands of Customs and Border Patrol agents and weeks after the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer.

    Justin Bieber, Carole King, Teddy Swims, Joni Mitchell, Finneas, Billie Eilish, Samara Joy, Lachi and Kehlani were among the artists sporting “ICE OUT” pins.

    On the red carpet, artist Bon Iver said he wore a bright orange whistle on his lapel to honor “observers” in Minneapolis, who he said patrol the streets and blow their whistles when ICE is near, protecting their neighbors and communities.

    Kehlani criticized ICE on the red carpet and as she accepted her first award at the Premiere Ceremony.

    “Together we’re stronger in numbers to speak against all the injustice going on in the world right now,” she said. “So instead of letting it be just a couple few here and there, I hope everyone’s inspired to join together as a community of artists.”

    Gloria Estefan talked about the hundreds of children who “are in detention, in horrible conditions,” and encouraged viewers to stand up and vote.

    And while he was accepting his preshow award, an emotional Shaboozey thanked his immigrant mother for having worked multiple jobs to provide for him and his siblings.

    “Immigrants built this country, literally. So this is for them,” he said. “This is also for those who came to this country in search of better opportunities and to be part of a nation that promised freedom for all.”

    In her speech accepting the award for best new artist, Olivia Dean also gave a shoutout to immigrants (though she did not denounce ICE itself).

    “I just want to say I’m a granddaughter of an immigrant. I wouldn’t be here. … I’m a product of bravery, and I think those people deserve to be celebrated,” she said. “So yeah, we’re nothing without each other.”

    But perhaps the biggest statement came from Bad Bunny, who is headlining the Super Bowl next weekend. The Puerto Rican star did not tour in the U.S. for “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” because of immigration policies.

    “Before I say thanks to God, I gotta say: ICE Out,” he began his acceptance speech for best musica urbana album. “We’re not savage. We’re not animals. We’re not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans.

    “The hate get more powerful with more hate. The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love,” he continued. “We need to be different. If we fight, we have to do it with love. We don’t hate them, we love our people, we love our family, and that’s the way to do it. That’s the way to do it. With love.”

    Billie Eilish, known to get political at awards shows, took after Bad Bunny and used nearly her entire acceptance speech for song of the year to call out immigration legislation.

    “No one is illegal on stolen land,” Eilish said, later encouraging the room to “keep fighting and speaking up and protesting.”

    “Our voices really do matter,” she said, “and the people matter.”

    A first for K-pop

    They’re going up, up, up, it’s their moment.

    The fictional band from Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters” delivered a first for the K-pop genre.

    The animated blockbuster, produced by Sony Pictures Animation and released by Netflix in June, was nominated in several categories, including the coveted song of the year.

    “Golden,” a hit song from the film, snagged a win for best song written for visual media at the Premiere Ceremony.

    “Golden,” a track from the animated film, received three Grammy nominations, including song of the year. The song from the fictional band Huntr/x (in real life, Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami) was written by Ejae and Mark Sonnenblick.

    The film and its voice stars have been everywhere this awards season, and most recently the film snagged two Oscar noms. Last month, it won two Golden Globes, including best original song.

    A brand-new celebrity joins ‘EGOT’ club

    Hollywood legend Steven Spielberg just got added to the “EGOT” club.

    The accolade is for those who have won all four major awards — Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony — a feat that has been achieved by only 21 people.

    Spielberg produced the award-winning “Music by John Williams,” which won the Grammy for best music film.

    Though he was not onstage to accept the award, he was thanked by director Laurent Bouzereau, who accepted the award during the Premiere Ceremony.

    In a statement to People magazine, Spielberg thanked Grammy voters.

    “This acknowledgment is obviously deeply meaningful to me because it validates what I have known for over 50 years: John Williams’ influence on culture and music is immeasurable and his artistry and legacy is unrivaled,” he said. “I am proud to be associated with Laurent’s beautiful film.”

    AI top of mind for some artists

    Artificial intelligence has been in the backdrop of many awards shows and big Hollywood events since its prominence began exploding in recent years. Sunday night was no exception.

    Nick Waterhouse, a co-producer on Jon Batiste’s “Big Money,” accepted the award for best Americana album on Batiste’s behalf, reading a message from him onstage.

    “Jon says: Thank God real musicians and real people playing in the same room together is one of the oldest traditions in humanity and must be protected,” Waterhouse said.

    In what appeared to be a call to protect artists from AI, Waterhouse continued by calling “on [digital service providers], the Academy, corporations, the big money to protect our humanity in music right now.”

    Nate Smith, who won best alternative jazz album for “LIVE-ACTION,” also called on the Recording Academy to ensure AI is not a threat to artists.

    “This music is about playing together and human beings playing together. We are living in a time when human beings are not playing together and being featured playing together. … AI is kind of taking over, and I think it’s incumbent upon the Recording Academy and the recording industry to protect the rights of artists,” he said.

    Kendrick Lamar sets Grammy record

    Lamar became the rapper with the most Grammy wins ever. He now has 27 Grammys, breaking Jay-Z’s record of 25.

    “Hip-hop is gonna always be right here. We’re gonna be in these suits, we’re gonna be looking good, we’re gonna be having our folks with us, we’re gonna be having our culture with us,” Lamar said as he accepted his fourth Grammy of the evening. “So I appreciate y’all.”

    Lamar was the most-nominated artist at the Grammys this year, with nine nods.

    He also dominated last year’s Grammy Awards.

    Angela Yang, Nicole Acevedoand Saba Hamedy contributed.

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    Rebecca Cohen | NBC News

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  • The biggest moments from the 68th Grammy Awards

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    An in memoriam segment that had the entire room on its feet. A famous director achieving EGOT status. And a whole lot of celebrities criticizing Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.

    The 68th Grammy Awards on Sunday, which comedian Trevor Noah helmed for the sixth and final time, were a long (a little over 3½ hours, to be exact) but memorable event.

    Here are our biggest takeaways from music’s biggest night.

    Artists speak out against ICE

    Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish and more winners at the 2026 Grammy Awards spoke out against ICE amid heated backlash for the agency’s ongoing operations in multiple U.S. cities.

    The awards show came just over one week after the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti at the hands of Customs and Border Patrol agents and weeks after the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer.

    Justin Bieber, Carole King, Teddy Swims, Joni Mitchell, Finneas, Billie Eilish, Samara Joy, Lachi and Kehlani were among the artists sporting “ICE OUT” pins.

    On the red carpet, artist Bon Iver said he wore a bright orange whistle on his lapel to honor “observers” in Minneapolis, who he said patrol the streets and blow their whistles when ICE is near, protecting their neighbors and communities.

    Kehlani criticized ICE on the red carpet and as she accepted her first award at the Premiere Ceremony.

    “Together we’re stronger in numbers to speak against all the injustice going on in the world right now,” she said. “So instead of letting it be just a couple few here and there, I hope everyone’s inspired to join together as a community of artists.”

    Gloria Estefan talked about the hundreds of children who “are in detention, in horrible conditions,” and encouraged viewers to stand up and vote.

    And while he was accepting his preshow award, an emotional Shaboozey thanked his immigrant mother for having worked multiple jobs to provide for him and his siblings.

    “Immigrants built this country, literally. So this is for them,” he said. “This is also for those who came to this country in search of better opportunities and to be part of a nation that promised freedom for all.”

    In her speech accepting the award for best new artist, Olivia Dean also gave a shoutout to immigrants (though she did not denounce ICE itself).

    “I just want to say I’m a granddaughter of an immigrant. I wouldn’t be here. … I’m a product of bravery, and I think those people deserve to be celebrated,” she said. “So yeah, we’re nothing without each other.”

    But perhaps the biggest statement came from Bad Bunny, who is headlining the Super Bowl next weekend. The Puerto Rican star did not tour in the U.S. for “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” because of immigration policies.

    “Before I say thanks to God, I gotta say: ICE Out,” he began his acceptance speech for best musica urbana album. “We’re not savage. We’re not animals. We’re not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans.

    “The hate get more powerful with more hate. The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love,” he continued. “We need to be different. If we fight, we have to do it with love. We don’t hate them, we love our people, we love our family, and that’s the way to do it. That’s the way to do it. With love.”

    Billie Eilish, known to get political at awards shows, took after Bad Bunny and used nearly her entire acceptance speech for song of the year to call out immigration legislation.

    “No one is illegal on stolen land,” Eilish said, later encouraging the room to “keep fighting and speaking up and protesting.”

    “Our voices really do matter,” she said, “and the people matter.”

    A first for K-pop

    They’re going up, up, up, it’s their moment.

    The fictional band from Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters” delivered a first for the K-pop genre.

    The animated blockbuster, produced by Sony Pictures Animation and released by Netflix in June, was nominated in several categories, including the coveted song of the year.

    “Golden,” a hit song from the film, snagged a win for best song written for visual media at the Premiere Ceremony.

    “Golden,” a track from the animated film, received three Grammy nominations, including song of the year. The song from the fictional band Huntr/x (in real life, Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami) was written by Ejae and Mark Sonnenblick.

    The film and its voice stars have been everywhere this awards season, and most recently the film snagged two Oscar noms. Last month, it won two Golden Globes, including best original song.

    Trevor Noah is back at it. The comedian hosted the 68th Annual Grammy Awards for the sixth – and final – time. During his monologue, the 41-year-old threw shade at Nicki Minaj after the rapper aligned herself with and defended President Donald Trump.

    A brand-new celebrity joins ‘EGOT’ club

    Hollywood legend Steven Spielberg just got added to the “EGOT” club.

    The accolade is for those who have won all four major awards — Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony — a feat that has been achieved by only 21 people.

    Spielberg produced the award-winning “Music by John Williams,” which won the Grammy for best music film.

    Though he was not onstage to accept the award, he was thanked by director Laurent Bouzereau, who accepted the award during the Premiere Ceremony.

    In a statement to People magazine, Spielberg thanked Grammy voters.

    “This acknowledgment is obviously deeply meaningful to me because it validates what I have known for over 50 years: John Williams’ influence on culture and music is immeasurable and his artistry and legacy is unrivaled,” he said. “I am proud to be associated with Laurent’s beautiful film.”

    Grammys 2026: See the best looks from the red carpet

    AI top of mind for some artists

    Artificial intelligence has been in the backdrop of many awards shows and big Hollywood events since its prominence began exploding in recent years. Sunday night was no exception.

    Nick Waterhouse, a co-producer on Jon Batiste’s “Big Money,” accepted the award for best Americana album on Batiste’s behalf, reading a message from him onstage.

    “Jon says: Thank God real musicians and real people playing in the same room together is one of the oldest traditions in humanity and must be protected,” Waterhouse said.

    In what appeared to be a call to protect artists from AI, Waterhouse continued by calling “on [digital service providers], the Academy, corporations, the big money to protect our humanity in music right now.”

    Nate Smith, who won best alternative jazz album for “LIVE-ACTION,” also called on the Recording Academy to ensure AI is not a threat to artists.

    “This music is about playing together and human beings playing together. We are living in a time when human beings are not playing together and being featured playing together. … AI is kind of taking over, and I think it’s incumbent upon the Recording Academy and the recording industry to protect the rights of artists,” he said.

    Kendrick Lamar sets Grammy record

    Lamar became the rapper with the most Grammy wins ever. He now has 27 Grammys, breaking Jay-Z’s record of 25.

    “Hip-hop is gonna always be right here. We’re gonna be in these suits, we’re gonna be looking good, we’re gonna be having our folks with us, we’re gonna be having our culture with us,” Lamar said as he accepted his fourth Grammy of the evening. “So I appreciate y’all.”

    Lamar was the most-nominated artist at the Grammys this year, with nine nods.

    He also dominated last year’s Grammy Awards.

    Stars brought their fashion A-game to the 2026 Grammy Awards! Music’s biggest night kicked off on Feb. 1 with top artists hitting the red carpet in one jaw-dropping look after another.

    Angela Yang, Nicole Acevedoand Saba Hamedy contributed.

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    Rebecca Cohen | NBC News

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  • 2026 Grammy nominees: Full list and how to watch the Grammys

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    The 68th annual Grammy Awards will take place Sunday with a dramatically different tone than last year.

    The 2025 award show was completely reimagined and refocused to relief efforts following the devastating Los Angeles-area wildfires. In 2026, focus has been placed once again on the music, where Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Bad Bunny and more will go head-to-head.

    Comedian Trevor Noah will host for a sixth and final year and history could be made when some of the biggest names in music gather. Here’s some key things to know ahead of Sunday’s show at the Crypto.com Arena.

    How to watch the show and red carpet

    The main show will air live on CBS beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern on Feb. 1.

    The Grammys can also be watched through live TV streaming services that include CBS in their lineup, like Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV and FuboTV.

    Paramount+ premium plan subscribers will be able to stream the Grammys live; Paramount+ essential subscribers will have on-demand access the next day.

    The premiere ceremony will take place just ahead of the Grammys’ ceremony at 3:30 p.m. Eastern, 12:30 p.m. Pacific at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. It can be streamed at the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel and on live.GRAMMY.com.

    The Associated Press will stream a four-hour red carpet show with interviews and fashion footage. It will be streamed on YouTube and APNews.com ahead of the Grammys on Sunday.

    Who’s nominated at the 2025 Grammys

    Kendrick Lamar leads the 2026 Grammy Award nominations with nine. Lady Gaga, Jack Antonoff and Canadian record producer/songwriter Cirkut follow with seven nominations each.

    Sabrina Carpenter, Bad Bunny, Leon Thomas and Serban Ghenea all boast six nominations. Andrew Watt, Clipse, Doechii, Sounwave, SZA, Turnstile and Tyler, the Creator have five each.

    Who’s attending and performing at the Grammys

    Doechii, Harry Styles, Carole King, Chappell Roan, Charli xcx, Jeff Goldblum, Karol G, Lainey Wilson, Marcello Hernández, Nikki Glaser, Q-Tip, Queen Latifah and Teyana Taylor will present at the 2026 Grammys.

    Performers include Justin Bieber, Clipse, Pharrell Williams, Sabrina Carpenter Bruno Mars, Rosé, Tyler, the Creator, Lady Gaga and all eight of the this year’s best new artist nominees: Leon Thomas, Olivia Dean, global girl group Katseye, The Marías, Addison Rae, sombr, Alex Warren and Lola Young.

    Reba McEntire, Brandy Clark and Lukas Nelson will take the stage for the in memoriam. Ms. Lauryn Hill will pay tribute to D’Angelo and Roberta Flack. Post Malone, Andrew Watt, Chad Smith, Duff McKagan and Slash will honor Ozzy Osbourne.

    ___

    For more coverage of this year’s Grammy Awards, visit: www.apnews.com/GrammyAwards

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    Maria Sherman | The Associated Press

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  • BTS announces world tour dates, set to return to SoFi in September. Here’s what to know

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    K-pop megastars BTS announced its upcoming world tour dates Tuesday as the group is set to return to California in May and September.

    The announcement was made on Weverse, a K-pop community platform, with each member’s handwritten name noted on the poster for the 2026 BTS world tour in North America and Europe. 

    The first California stop will be Stanford in Northern California on May 16 and May 17. Then the group will head to Las Vegas and other cities in Europe and other parts of the U.S. before returning to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood for shows on Sep.1, Sep.2, Sep. 5 and Sep. 6.

    When the world’s biggest boy band performed at SoFi Stadium in 2021, daily rates at nearby hotels jumped by nearly three times as visitors from around the world came to Southern California.

    When the group performed nearly five years ago, all four shows in Inglewood were sold out, with the band reportedly making over $33 million for the four-night concert.

    Here are the tour dates in the United States:

    • Tampa: April 25-26
    • El Paso: May 2-3
    • Stanford: May 16-17
    • Las Vegas: May 23-24, May 27
    • East Lutherford: Aug. 1-2
    • Foxborough: Aug. 5-6
    • Baltimore: Aug. 10-11
    • Arlington: Aug. 15-16
    • Chicago: Aug. 27-28
    • Los Angeles: Sep. 1-2, Sep. 5-6

    When tickets go on sale

    • Presale for LA shows on Sep. 1-2: From 3 p.m. to 9:59 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 22
    • Presale for LA shows on Sep. 3-4: From 3 p.m. to 9:59 p.m., Friday, Jan. 23
    • General sale for all LA shows: From 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24

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    Helen Jeong

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  • BTS announces March comeback date, putting an end to a nearly 4-year hiatus

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    They’re going to light up 2026 like dynamite: K-pop group BTS‘ comeback has an official date.

    According to a note shared to social media by the entertainment company BigHit Music, the mega popular group will return on March 20.

    That’s after a nearly four-year hiatus, as all seven members of BTS — RM, Jin, Jimin, V, Suga, Jung Kook and j-hope — completed South Korea’s mandatory military service.

    “March 20th comeback confirmed,” BigHit Music wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

    Rapper Suga was the last group member to be released — from his duties as a social service agent, an alternative to serving in the military that he reportedly chose due to a shoulder injury. That was in June 2025.

    The six others, RM, V, Jimin, Jung Kook, Jin and j-hope, served in the army.

    BTS tiered their enlistments, giving ample time for its members to focus on solo projects while the group was on a break.

    Last summer, the group teased a world tour and announced that a new album would be released in the spring of 2026. At the time, they said they would begin working on the project in July 2025.

    “Since it will be a group album, it will reflect each member’s thoughts and ideas,” they said in a statement. “We’re approaching the album with the same mindset we had when we first started.”

    The 2026 album will mark their first since 2022’s anthology, “Proof,” their 2021 Japanese compilation album “BTS, the Best,” and their last studio album, “Be,” released in 2020.

    BTS and Jimmy Fallon challenge each other to a series of mini tournament-style games while they ride the New York City subway.

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    Maria Sherman | The Associated Press

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  • Kennedy Center criticizes musician who canceled performance after Trump name added to building

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    The president of the Kennedy Center on Friday fiercely criticized a musician’s sudden decision to cancel a Christmas Eve performance at the venue days after the White House announced that President Donald Trump‘s name would be added to the facility.

    “Your decision to withdraw at the last moment — explicitly in response to the Center’s recent renaming, which honors President Trump’s extraordinary efforts to save this national treasure — is classic intolerance and very costly to a non-profit Arts institution,” the venue’s president, Richard Grenell, wrote in a letter to musician Chuck Redd that was shared with The Associated Press.

    In the letter, Grenell said he would seek $1 million in damages “for this political stunt.”

    Redd did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    A drummer and vibraphone player, Redd has presided over holiday “Jazz Jams” at the Kennedy Center since 2006, succeeding bassist William “Keter” Betts. In an email Wednesday to The Associated Press, Redd said he pulled out of the concert in the wake of the renaming.

    “When I saw the name change on the Kennedy Center website and then hours later on the building, I chose to cancel our concert,” Redd said. He added Wednesday that the event has been a “very popular holiday tradition” and that he often featured at least one student musician.

    “One of the many reasons that it was very sad to have had to cancel,” he told the AP.

    President Donald Trump’s name was drilled into the side of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Friday less than a day after Trump’s self-appointed board gave its approval to a Trump Kennedy Center name change. News4’s Dominique Moody got reaction from artists who performed at KenCen.

    President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, and Congress passed a law the following year naming the center as a living memorial to him.

    Grenell is a Trump ally whom the president chose to head the Kennedy Center after he forced out the previous leadership. According to the White House, Trump’s handpicked board approved the renaming, which scholars have said violates the law. Kennedy niece Kerry Kennedy has vowed to remove Trump’s name from the building once he leaves office, and former House historian Ray Smock is among those who say any changes would have to be approved by Congress.

    The law explicitly prohibits the board of trustees from making the center into a memorial to anyone else, and from putting another person’s name on the building’s exterior.

    Associated Press writer Hillel Italie in New York contributed to this report.

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    Steven Sloan | The Associated Press

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  • Ruby Ibarra talks culture, new music and motherhood

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    Ruby Ibarra, the East Bay’s Filipina rapper, singer and songwriter, will be releasing new music later this year after winning this year’s national NPR Tiny Desk Contest and going on a summer tour.

    NBC Bay Area’s Gia Vang sat down with Ibarra at her home and got a more personal look at her life as a mother, daughter and artist.

    Inside her home is a room-turned-recording studio. It’s where Ibarra writes and records her music, including “Bakunawa,” a dragon in Philippine mythology.

    The song crowned Ibarra and her all-Filipino band the winner of NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest out of more than 7,500 submissions. This summer, the group hit the road on a 10-city tour that included a stop in Petaluma.

    “For us to also deliver my music and my stories authentically and show up as ourselves was just a dream come true,” Ibarra said. “One of the goals going into the tour was to share my story with people that might not be familiar with what the Filipino American experience is, what immigrant people might experience.”

    Ibarra honors her family and heritage, rapping in Bisaya on “Bakunawa.” The song also has another special meaning for her.

    “A lot of people actually don’t know, but underneath that Bisaya spoken word is my daughter’s heartbeat,” she said.

    Ibarra is working on new music she expects to release this year that collaborates with other Filipino American artists. It’s being released through Bolo Music Group, an independent record label she co-founded in 2023.

    “We’re trying to build a foundation and a safe space for Filipino American artists to pursue the arts and to also, I think, be able to find a pipeline to start a music career, a creative career,” she said. “I continue to make music that’s 100% honest and 100% me.”

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    Gia Vang, Christine Ni and Jeremy Carroll

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  • Limp Bizkit bassist Sam Rivers dies at 48

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    Limp Bizkit bass player Sam Rivers has died, the band announced Saturday. He was 48.

    “Today we lost our brother. Our bandmate. Our heartbeat,” read a eulogy posted to the group’s Instagram on Saturday paired with a picture of Rivers performing. “Sam Rivers wasn’t just our bass player — he was pure magic. The pulse beneath every song, the calm in the chaos, the soul in the sound.”

    Rivers’ cause of death is not clear at this time.

    Limp Bizkit is an American nu-metal band that formed in Florida in the mid-1990s. Rivers co-founded the group with lead singer Fred Durst. Drummer John Otto and guitarist Wes Borland joined soon after.

    The group is known for its blend of heavy metal, hip-hop and other forms of alternative rock. Durst’s angry singing delivery and Borland’s costumes, which include masks and paint, also set the band apart from others.

    The group went on hiatus in 2006 and got back together in 2009, but Rivers left in 2015 for health reasons, Variety reported.

    “I got liver disease from excessive drinking … I had to leave Limp Bizkit in 2015 because I felt so horrible, and a few months after that I realized I had to change everything because I had really bad liver disease,” Rivers told music journalist Jon Wiederhorn, according to Variety. “I quit drinking and did everything the doctors told me. I got treatment for the alcohol and got a liver transplant, which was a perfect match.”

    Rivers joined the band again in 2018, according to the outlet.

    “He was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of human,” his eulogy — signed by Durst, Borland, Otto and DJ Lethal — read. “A true legend of legends. And his spirit will live forever in every groove, every stage, every memory.”

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    Mirna Alsharif and Austin Mullen | NBC News

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  • Bad Bunny Super Bowl halftime spotlights Latin pride, clashes with Trump

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    The selection of Bad Bunny to headline the Super Bowl halftime show is about more than music.

    The move signals a cultural spotlight for Latin identity at America’s most-watched television event. It also raises fresh questions about how much space there will be for his trademark symbolism and social commentary — including his past criticism of President Donald Trump — given the NFL’s history of keeping performances tightly managed.

    Here are some things to know about the selection.

    How the show comes together

    The halftime show is a collaboration between the NFL, Roc Nation and Apple Music.

    Roc Nation, Jay-Z’s entertainment company, has curated performers since 2019 and returns alongside veteran producer Jesse Collins. Apple Music distributes the performance, while the NFL ultimately controls the stage, broadcast and branding.

    Artists don’t get a paycheck for performing. However, their payoff is global exposure. That imbalance gives the league leverage, though history shows that high-powered stars sometimes defy the league’s guardrails.

    A stage with boundaries

    The NFL has a track record of pushing back when artists get political. However, some performers don’t always comply.

    • In 2020, the league asked Jennifer Lopez to cut a segment featuring children in cages, a critique of U.S. immigration policies. She refused.
    • In 2022, it was reported that Dr. Dre and Eminem were both advised not to kneel or reference police, but they went forward.
    • Rapper M.I.A. flashed a middle finger during Madonna’s set, earning a hefty fine in 2012. She and the NFL ultimately reached a settlement ending their multimillion dollar dispute a couple years later.

    Why Bad Bunny matters

    While Bad Bunny is a known hitmaker, he’s also an artist who ties his music to Puerto Rican identity, colonial politics and immigrant struggles. His Super Bowl announcement included a pointed dedication: “This is for my people, my culture, and our history.”

    That alone sets the stage for a performance that could carry layered meanings far beyond spectacle.

    In his career, Bad Bunny has become one of the world’s most streamed artists with albums such as “Un Verano Sin Ti,” an all-Spanish-language record.

    The 31-year-old artist born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio has won three Grammys and 12 Latin Grammys. He has become a global ambassador for Latin music, starred in films such as “Bullet Train,” “Caught Stealing” and “Happy Gilmore 2,” and collaborated with top fashion houses. He enters November’s Latin Grammys as the leading nominee with 12, dethroning producer and songwriter Édgar Barrera.

    Bad Bunny v. Trump

    Bad Bunny has been vocal in his opposition to Trump and his policies. In the final weeks of the 2024 campaign, he backed former Vice President Kamala Harris after a comedian at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally mocked Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage.”

    Days later, Bad Bunny posted a video showcasing Puerto Rico’s beaches and artists, captioned simply: “garbage.”

    Since Trump took office, Bad Bunny’s criticism hasn’t slowed. This year, he shared an Instagram video appearing to show immigration agents making arrests in Puerto Rico, with the voice behind the camera cursing the agents.

    On July 4, he released the video for “NUEVAYoL”, featuring a Trump-like voice apologizing to immigrants: “This country is nothing without the immigrants.”

    Bad Bunny also shifted his touring strategy. The first nine nights of his 31-show Puerto Rico residency were reserved for island residents, and he skipped U.S. tour stops.

    “There was the issue of—like, (expletive) ICE could be outside,” he told i-D magazine. He’s since taken his tour to Latin America, Europe, Asia and Australia.

    But on Sunday, before Bad Bunny made the Super Bowl announcement, he said: “I’ve been thinking about it these days, and after discussing it with my team, I think I’ll do just one date in the United States.”

    Bad Bunny is one of the world’s most popular musical acts. Here’s five things to know about the Puerto Rican singer.

    A divided reaction

    The halftime announcement has already drawn split responses. California Gov. Gavin Newsom cheered the booking, writing on X: “California is excited to welcome you to Super Bowl LX.”

    Some Make America Great Again-aligned influencers were quick to push back.

    Ryan Fournier, chair of Students for Trump, said “whoever picks these people should be fired.”

    Conservative podcaster Benny Johnson called Bad Bunny a “massive Trump hater” and “anti-ICE activist,” and criticized that he doesn’t have songs in English.

    Bad Bunny has long shrugged off such critiques. Asked by The New York Times earlier this year how he felt about fans who don’t understand his lyrics, he sang into the microphone: “I don’t care.”

    Trump’s attention on sports and culture

    Trump has a long history of inserting politics into sports. He’s pushed for the late Pete Rose’s Hall of Fame induction, threatened to block Washington’s new stadium deal if the team didn’t restore its old name, and frequently used sporting events as political platforms.

    The moves are part of his broader efforts to shape the country’s cultural mood, weighing in on entertainers and companies alike. He blasted late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, whose show briefly faced suspension after the Trump administration signaled potential repercussions following remarks in the wake of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination.

    He also revived his long-running feud with Rosie O’Donnell, saying earlier this year that he was considering “taking away” her U.S. citizenship after she criticized his proposed spending cuts.

    And just last month, Trump inserted himself into the backlash over Cracker Barrel’s new logo, posting on Truth Social that the company should stick with its old design. When the chain reversed course, he celebrated the decision as a personal victory.

    What’s at stake

    For Bad Bunny, the halftime show is the ultimate stage to showcase his music, heritage and global influence. For the NFL and Apple Music, it’s a balancing act: deliver a spectacle that celebrates diversity without igniting controversy that scares off advertisers.

    If Bad Bunny leans strictly into spectacle, the moment could be historic for Latin music. If he threads in political symbolism, it could become one of the most dissected halftime performances in Super Bowl history.

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    Jonathan Landrum Jr. and Adriana Gomez Licon | Associated Press

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  • Carrie Underwood pays tribute to ‘Jesus, Take the Wheel’ writer Brett James after plane crash death

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    Carrie Underwood is mourning the death of her longtime friend and collaborator Brett James. 

    The Grammy-winning songwriter was among three people who died Sept. 18 after a small plane crashed near Franklin, North Carolina.

    James wrote a number of Underwood’s hit songs like “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” which earned him his first Grammy win, “Flat On the Floor” and “Cowboy Casanova,” among others. 

    Sharing photos of them together, Underwood called his death “unfathomable.” On Instagram on Sept. 19, she wrote that the loss is “too great to put into words,” before reflecting on their time together. 

    “Brett was the epitome of ‘cool.’ I see him in my mind riding up to my cabins to write on his motorcycle… his hair somehow perfectly coiffed despite being under a helmet for however long,” Underwood wrote. “I always loved hearing him sing ‘Cowboy Casanova’ because a sassy girl anthem should’ve sounded ridiculous coming from a macho dude like him, but somehow, he even made that cool.” 

    The “American Idol” winner described his as a “good guy.” She recalled one time when he had already written 75% of a song for her but insisted that they split the credit. 

    “We filled in the blanks and added a little melody and I told him after that I didn’t feel right splitting the credit evenly when he did most of the work. He wouldn’t have it,” she wrote. “He insisted that everything be equal. He was just that kind of guy.”

    Underwood wrote that James “loved the Lord” and remembered singing with James at church. She added that her favorite songs to sing that they created together were the ones they wrote about Jesus “because the thoughts and feelings behind them are so genuine and pure.” 

    “I won’t ever sing one note of them again without thinking of him. Brett’s passing is leaving a hole in all of us that I fear won’t ever go away,” Underwood wrote. “It will forever be a reminder that this life is but a moment…we have to make the most of each day we’re given here on earth.”

    She concluded her message by acknowledging that each day is a gift and asking for prayers for James’ family, friends and “all of us that were blessed enough to know Brett. Love you, man. I’ll see you again someday.”

    In a statement to NBC News, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol said that it responded to a plane crash around 3 p.m. on Sept. 18. Upon arrival, all three people, identified as Brett James Cornelius, the artist’s full name, Melody Carole and Meryl Maxwell Wilson, were pronounced dead at the scene. 

    Upon news of his death, the music industry and those who worked with James have expressed their condolences on social media. 

    Kathie Lee Gifford, who co-wrote “He Saw Jesus” with James and dedicated it to late husband Frank Gifford, paid tribute on X, writing, “He lit a fire in my heart again for music and we wrote many songs together, including the song we wrote about my husband Frank’s death, HE SAW JESUS.”

    “It comforts me to know that that’s exactly what happened to Brett as well, the moment he left this earth for the glory of eternal life,” Gifford said.

    Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Bobby Bones and many others also honored the late songwriter.

    This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

    Brett James, songwriter of the Grammy-award winning song “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” died in a plane crash in North Carolina.

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    Liz Calvario | TODAY

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  • See the complete list of finalists for the 2025 Latin Billboard Awards

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    Telemundo and Billboard announced the finalists for the 2025 Billboard Latin Music Awards Wednesday.

    Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny leads the pack with 27 nominations, setting a historic record for the awards.

    He is followed by Mexican regional music group Fuerza Regida with 15 and Puerto Rican icon Rauw Alejandro with 14.

    Colombian superstar Karol G tops the list of female artists with 10 nominations, tying with emerging Mexican regional music sensation Tito Double P with 10, while his cousin, Peso Pluma, received nine.

    Bad Bunny is one of the world’s most popular musical acts. Here’s five things to know about the Puerto Rican singer.

    When are the 2025 Billboard Latin Music Awards?

    The longest-running and most prestigious Latin music awards show, produced by Telemundo and MBS Special Events, will air live on Telemundo on Thursday, Oct. 23, at 8 p.m. ET from the James L. Knight Center in Miami.

    The event will also stream on the Telemundo app, Peacock and across Latin America and the Caribbean on Telemundo Internacional, reaching millions of Spanish-speaking viewers in more than 22 countries.

    Tickets for the event will go on sale soon.

    This year, awards will be handed out in 49 categories, covering the most important genres in Latin music, such as Latin pop, tropical music, Latin rhythm and Mexican regional music.

    In addition, Billboard will honor select artists with prestigious special awards, which will be announced soon.

    Bad Bunny dominated the finalists list with 27 nominations, competing in major categories such as Artist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year and Best Latin Album of the Year for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” among others.

    Additionally, three of his hits — “Baile Inolvidable,” “DTMF,” and “Nuevayol” — earned five nominations each, including Latin Song of the Year, Sales Song of the Year and Streaming Song of the Year.

    Fuerza Regida, the powerhouse California-based Mexican regional act, followed with 15 nominations, including Artist of the Year, Global 200 Latin Artist of the Year and Best Mexican Regional Album of the Year for “111XPANTIA.”

    Their hit “Tu Boda” with Óscar Maydon earned four nominations, including Latin Song of the Year, Vocal Event, and Mexican Regional Song of the Year.

    Shakira is opening up about her experience as an immigrant living in the United States under President Donald Trump’s new immigration policies. In an interview with the BBC published on June 12, the Colombian singer candidly revealed what it feels like for her to be an immigrant under the Trump administration. “It means living in constant fear,” she said.

    Two more songs — “Me Jalo” with Grupo Frontera and “Por esos Ojos” — are also finalists for Mexican Regional Song of the Year.

    Rauw Alejandro, one of today’s most influential Latin artists, competes for 14 awards, including Artist of the Year, Tour of the Year and Best Latin Album of the Year for “Cosa Nuestra.”

    His viral single “Khe?”, with Romeo Santos, is up for multiple prizes: Latin Song of the Year, Vocal Event, Latin Airplay Song of the Year and Latin Rhythm Song of the Year.

    Global superstar Karol G stands out among female artists with 10 nominations.

    Her viral hit “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” earned five nominations, while she is also a finalist for Global 200 Latin Artist of the Year, Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Female Artist and Best Latin Rhythm Album of the Year for “Tropicoqueta.”

    Karol G talks about her impressive recent accomplishments, pretending to be her own manager in order to get booked and the inspiration behind her album Tropicoqueta.

    Debut artist Tito Double P also received 10 nominations, including Artist of the Year, Global 200 Latin Artist of the Year and Best Latin Album of the Year for “Incómodo,” which also competes for Best Mexican Regional Album of the Year. His collaboration with his cousin Peso Pluma, “Dos Días,” is a finalist for Latin Song of the Year, Vocal Event and Mexican Regional Song of the Year.

    Peso Pluma, with nine nominations, is competing in categories such as Artist of the Year, Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Male Artist with multiple album awards for “Éxodo.”

    Other artists with multiple nominations include: Netón Vega (8), Grupo Frontera (7), Shakira (6), Óscar Maydon and Romeo Santos (5), Clave Especial and Kapo (4), Aventura, Danny Ocean and Julión Álvarez y Su Norteño Banda (3).

    Other finalists with two nominations include Benny Blanco, Cazzu, Floy Mennor, Ivan Cornejo, Junior H, Kali Uchis, Manuel Turizo, Natti Natasha, Prince Royce, Roberto “La Paciencia,” Selena Gomez, Las Marías and Xavi.

    In total, more than 70 artists were recognized this year, highlighting the unprecedented global impact of Latin music. The complete list of finalists is available at Telemundo.com, the official website of the Billboard Latin Music Awards.

    The Billboard Latin Music Awards are the only awards show that recognizes the most popular albums, songs, and performers in Latin music, based on Billboard’s weekly charts.

    Finalists — and eventual winners — reflect the performance of new recordings on Billboard’s album and song charts during the period between Sept. 14, 2024, and Sept. 6, 2025.

    Decisions are based on fans’ key interactions with music, including streaming, album and digital song sales, radio airplay, and touring, tracked by Billboard and its data partner, Luminate.

    To stay up to date with the latest news and exclusive content about the Billboard Latin Music Awards, follow the event on social media and join the excitement with #PremiosBillboard2025:

    The awards serve as the grand finale of Billboard Latin Music Week, held in Miami from Oct. 20 to 24, 2025.

    The must-attend industry event, Latin Music Week, offers exclusive performances, one-of-a-kind conversations, workshops, showcases, and unique fan experiences, culminating with the Billboard Latin Music Awards.

    Discover more and register at billboardlatinmusicweek.com.

    List of finalists for the 2025 Billboard Latin Music Awards

    Artist of the Year:

    • Bad Bunny
    • Fuerza Regida
    • Peso Pluma
    • Rauw Alejandro
    • Tito Double P

    Artist of the Year, New:

    • Aleman
    • Clave Especial
    • FloyyMenor
    • Kapo
    • Netón Vega

    Tour of the Year:

    • Aventura
    • Chayanne
    • Luis Miguel
    • Rauw Alejandro
    • Shakira

    Crossover Artist of the Year:

    • Ayra Starr
    • benny blanco
    • Bruno Mars
    • ROSE
    • Rvssian
    • Ty Dolla $ign

    Global 200 Latin Artist of the Year:

    • Bad Bunny
    • Fuerza Regida
    • Karol G
    • Netón Vega
    • Tito Double P

    Global 200 Latin Song of the Year:

    • Bad Bunny, “Baile Inolvidable”
    • Bad Bunny, “DTMF”
    • Bad Bunny, “Nuevayol”
    • Karol G, “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”
    • Óscar Maydon & Fuerza Regida, “Tu Boda”

    Hot Latin Song of the Year:

    • Bad Bunny, “Baile Inolvidable”
    • Bad Bunny, “DTMF”
    • Bad Bunny, “EOO”
    • Bad Bunny, “Nuevayol”
    • Óscar Maydon & Fuerza Regida, “Tu Boda”

    Hot  Latin Song of the Year, Vocal Event:

    • Fuerza Regida & Grupo Frontera, “Me Jalo”
    • Óscar Maydon & Fuerza Regida, “Tu Boda”
    • Rauw Alejandro & Bad Bunny, “Qué Pasaría…”
    • Rauw Alejandro & Romeo Santos, “Khe?”
    • Tito Double P & Peso Pluma, “Dos Días”

    Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Male:

    • Bad Bunny
    • Netón Vega
    • Peso Pluma
    • Rauw Alejandro
    • Tito Double P

    Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Female:

    • Karol G
    • Selena Gomez
    • Shakira
    • Yailin La Más Viral
    • Young Miko

    Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:

    • Clave Especial
    • Fuerza Regida
    • Grupo Frontera
    • Julión Álvarez y Su Norteño Banda
    • The Marias

    Hot Latin Songs Label of the Year:

    • Double P
    • Interscope Capitol Labels Group
    • Rimas
    • Sony Music Latin
    • Warner Latina

    Latin Airplay Song of the Year:

    • Fuerza Regida & Grupo Frontera, “Me Jalo”
    • Karol G, “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”
    • Natti Natasha, “Desde Hoy”
    • Rauw Alejandro & Romeo Santos, “Khe?”
    • Shakira, “Soltera”

    Latin Airplay Label of the Year:

    • Interscope Capitol Labels Group
    • Rimas
    • Sony Music Latin
    • Universal Music Latin Entertainment
    • Warner Latina

    Sales Song of the Year:

    • Bad Bunny, “Baile Inolvidable”
    • Bad Bunny, “DTMF”
    • Bad Bunny, “Nuevayol”
    • Karol G, “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”
    • Xavi & Manuel Turizo, “En Privado”

    Streaming Song of the Year:

    • Bad Bunny, “Baile Inolvidable”
    • Bad Bunny, “DTMF”
    • Bad Bunny, “Nuevayol”
    • Karol G, “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”
    • Óscar Maydon & Fuerza Regida, “Tu Boda”

    Top Latin Album of the Year:

    • Bad Bunny, Debí Tirar Más Fotos
    • Netón Vega, Mi Vida Mi Muerte
    • Peso Pluma, Éxodo
    • Rauw Alejandro, Cosa Nuestra
    • Tito Double P, Incómodo

    Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Male:

    • Bad Bunny
    • Junior H
    • Peso Pluma
    • Rauw Alejandro
    • Tito Double P

    Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Female:

    • Becky G
    • Cazzu
    • Kali Uchis
    • Karol G
    • Shakira

    Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:

    • Aventura
    • Clave Especial
    • Fuerza Regida
    • Grupo Frontera
    • Julión Álvarez y Su Norteño Banda

    Top Latin Albums Label of the Year:

    • Double P
    • Interscope Capitol Labels Group
    • Rimas
    • Sony Music Latin
    • Universal Music Latin Entertainment

    Latin Pop Artist of the Year, Solo:

    • Danny Ocean
    • Enrique Iglesias
    • Kali Uchis
    • Luis Fonsi
    • Shakira

    Latin Pop Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:

    • Ha*Ash
    • Jesse & Joy
    • Maná
    • Morat
    • Sin Bandera

    Latin Pop Song of the Year:

    • Danny Ocean & Kapo, “Imagínate”
    • Maluma, “Cosas Pendientes”
    • Rauw Alejandro, “Carita Linda”
    • Selena Gomez, benny blanco & The Marias, “Ojos Tristes”
    • Shakira, “Soltera”

    Latin Pop Airplay Label of the Year:

    • AP Global
    • Interscope Capitol Labels Group
    • Sony Music Latin
    • Universal Music Latin Entertainment
    • Warner Latina

    Top Latin Pop Album of the Year:

    • Cazzu, Latinaje
    • Danny Ocean, Babylon Club
    • Kapo, Por Si Alguien Nos Escucha
    • Latin Mafia, Todos Los Días Todo El Día
    • Quevedo, Buenas Noches

    Top Latin Pop Albums Label of the Year:

    • Insterscope Capitol Labels Group
    • Sony Music Latin
    • Universal Music Enterprises
    • Universal Music Latin Entertainment
    • Warner Latina

    Tropical Artist of the Year, Solo:

    • Elvis Crespo
    • Jerry Rivera
    • Marc Anthony
    • Prince Royce
    • Romeo Santos

    Tropical Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:

    • Aventura
    • Chino & Nacho
    • Grupo Niche
    • La Sonora Dinamita
    • Monchy & Alexandra

    Tropical Song of the Year:

    • Bad Bunny, “Baile Inolvidable”
    • Grupo Frontera & Romeo Santos, “Ángel”
    • Karol G, “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”
    • Rauw Alejandro, “Tú Con Él”
    • Xavi & Manuel Turizo, “En Privado”

    Tropical Airplay Label of the Year:

    • Grupo Frontera
    • Insterscope Capitol Labels Group
    • Rimas
    • Sony Music Latin
    • Warner Latina

    Top Tropical Album of the Year:

    • Grupo Kual? Dinastía Pedraza, Los Reyes De La Cumbia Sonidera: En México
    • Los Hermanos Rosario, Grandes Éxitos
    • Natti Natasha, En Amargue
    • Prince Royce, Eterno
    • Rubby Pérez, Rubby Pérez ¡Grandes Éxitos!

    Top Tropical Albums Label of the Year:

    • Discos Fuentes
    • Sony Music Latin
    • The Orchard
    • Universal Music Enterprises
    • Universal Music Latin Entertainment

    Latin Rhythm Artist of the Year, Solo:

    • Bad Bunny
    • Feid
    • Kapo
    • Karol G
    • Rauw Alejandro

    Latin Rhythm Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:

    • Alexis & Fido
    • Baby Rasta & Gringo
    • J-King & Maximan
    • Jowell & Randy
    • Mambo Kingz

    Latin Rhythm Song of the Year:

    • Bad Bunny, “DTMF”
    • Bad Bunny, “EOO”
    • Bad Bunny, “Nuevayol”
    • Rauw Alejandro & Bad Bunny, “Qué Pasaría…”
    • Rauw Alejandro & Romeo Santos, “Khe?”

    Latin Rhythm Airplay Label of the Year:

    • Interscope Capitol Labels Group
    • Rimas
    • Sony Music Latin
    • Universal Music Latin Entertainment
    • Warner Latina

    Top Latin Rhythm Album of the Year:

    • Bad Bunny, Debí Tirar Más Fotos
    • FloyyMenor, El Comienzo
    • Karol G, Tropicoqueta
    • Omar Courtz, Primera Musa
    • Rauw Alejandro, Cosa Nuestra

    Top Latin Rhythm Albums Label of the Year:

    • Interscope Capitol Labels Group
    • Rimas
    • Sony Music Latin
    • United Masters
    • Universal Music Latin Entertainment

    Songwriter of the Year:

    • Armenta
    • Bad Bunny
    • Jorsshh
    • Netón Vega
    • Roberto “La Paciencia”

    Publisher of the Year:

    • Downtown DMP Songs,BMI
    • Josa Publishing,BMI
    • Sony Latin Music Publishing,LLC,BMI
    • Street Mob Publishing,BMI
    • Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp,BMI

    Publishing Corporation of the Year:

    • Downtown Music Publishing
    • Rimas Entertainment
    • Sony Music Publishing
    • Universal Music
    • Warner Chappell Music

    Producer of the Year:

    • Ernesto “Neto” Fernández
    • JOP
    • MAG
    • Roberto “La Paciencia”
    • Tito Double P

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    Telemundo Digital

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  • Chappell Roan debuts new country-inspired song on ‘SNL’

    Chappell Roan debuts new country-inspired song on ‘SNL’

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    Chappell Roan did not go unnoticed in this week’s episode of “Saturday Night Live.”

    The musician debuted a new single with a country music sound to it.

    The track, titled “The Giver,” has not even been released on music platforms yet.

    “All you country boys saying you know how to treat a woman right. Well, only a woman knows how to treat a woman right,” Roan said at one point during the performance.

    The new song came during Roan’s second performance of the night, with “Pink Pony Club” being her first song of the night.

    This week’s episode of “SNL” also featured an appearance by Vice President Kamala Harris in the cold open and Pete Davidson. In fact, Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia even made a surprise appearance in a hilarious sketch where contestants tried to guess his name.

    John Mulaney served as host.

    Next week, in the first post-election episode of “SNL,” comedian Bill Burr is set to host alongside Mk.Gee.

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    Brendan Brightman

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  • Taylor Swift releasing Eras Tour book

    Taylor Swift releasing Eras Tour book

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    Fresh off a night out in the Bronx, Taylor Swift announced her foray into a new venture early Tuesday.

    This time, she’s an author. Swift will release a new book commemorating her historic Eras Tour, a first for her career, as she prepares to kick off the final leg of her tour this week.

    The artist says it will feature her own personal reflections, behind-the-scenes photos and “all the magical memories you guys brought every single night.”

    And that’s not all. In addition to the book, she announced “The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology” will be available on vinyl and CD at Target starting Nov. 29.

    “Good Morning America” had the announcement. Teasing it earlier, fans had likely been hoping for a new album release date. They thought they had some Easter Eggs to that effect on a date night with Travis Kelce over the weekend.

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    NBC New York Staff

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  • Kris Kristofferson, singer-songwriter and actor, dies at 88

    Kris Kristofferson, singer-songwriter and actor, dies at 88

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    Kris Kristofferson, a Rhodes scholar with a deft writing style and rough charisma who became a country music superstar and A-list Hollywood actor, has died.

    Kristofferson died at his home on Maui, Hawaii on Saturday, family spokeswoman Ebie McFarland said in an email. He was 88.

    McFarland said Kristofferson died peacefully, surrounded by his family. No cause was given. He was 88.

    Starting in the late 1960s, the Brownsville, Texas native wrote such country and rock ‘n’ roll standards as “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down,” “Help Me Make it Through the Night,” “For the Good Times” and “Me and Bobby McGee.” Kristofferson was a singer himself, but many of his songs were best known as performed by others, whether Ray Price crooning “For the Good Times” or Janis Joplin belting out “Me and Bobby McGee.”

    He starred opposite Ellen Burstyn in director Martin Scorsese’s 1974 film “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore,” starred opposite Barbra Streisand in the 1976 “A Star Is Born,” and acted alongside Wesley Snipes in Marvel’s “Blade” in 1998.

    Kristofferson, who could recite William Blake from memory, wove intricate folk music lyrics about loneliness and tender romance into popular country music. With his long hair and bell-bottomed slacks and counterculture songs influenced by Bob Dylan, he represented a new breed of country songwriters along with such peers as Willie Nelson, John Prine and Tom T. Hall.

    “There’s no better songwriter alive than Kris Kristofferson,” Nelson said at a 2009 BMI award ceremony for Kristofferson. “Everything he writes is a standard and we’re all just going to have to live with that.”

    Kristofferson retired from performing and recording in 2021, making only occasional guest appearances on stage, including a performance with Cash’s daughter Rosanne at Nelson’s 90th birthday celebration at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles in 2023. The two sang “Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again),” a song that was a hit for Kristofferson and a longtime live staple for Nelson, another great interpreter of his work.

    Nelson and Kristofferson would join forces with Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings to create the country supergroup “The Highwaymen” starting in the mid-1980s.

    Kristofferson was a Golden Gloves boxer, rugby star and football player in college; received a master’s degree in English from Merton College at the University of Oxford in England; and flew helicopters as a captain in the U.S. Army but turned down an appointment to teach at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, to pursue songwriting in Nashville. Hoping to break into the industry, he worked as a part-time janitor at Columbia Records’ Music Row studio in 1966 when Dylan recorded tracks for the seminal “Blonde on Blonde” double album.

    At times, the legend of Kristofferson was larger than real life. Cash liked to tell a mostly exaggerated story of how Kristofferson landed a helicopter on Cash’s lawn to give him a tape of “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down” with a beer in one hand. Over the years in interviews, Kristofferson said with all respect to Cash, while he did land a helicopter at Cash’s house, the Man in Black wasn’t even home at the time, the demo tape was a song that no one ever actually cut and he certainly couldn’t fly a helicopter holding a beer.

    In a 2006 interview with The Associated Press, he said he might not have had a career without Cash.

    “Shaking his hand when I was still in the Army backstage at the Grand Ole Opry was the moment I’d decided I’d come back,” Kristofferson said. “It was electric. He kind of took me under his wing before he cut any of my songs. He cut my first record that was record of the year. He put me on stage the first time.”

    One of his most recorded songs, “Me and Bobby McGee,” was written based on a recommendation from Monument Records founder Fred Foster. Foster had a song title in his head called “Me and Bobby McKee,” named after a female secretary in his building. Kristofferson said in an interview in the magazine, “Performing Songwriter,” that he was inspired to write the lyrics about a man and woman on the road together after watching the Frederico Fellini film, “La Strada.”

    Joplin, who had a close relationship with Kristofferson, changed the lyrics to make Bobby McGee a man and cut her version just days before she died in 1970 from a drug overdose. The recording became a posthumous No. 1 hit for Joplin.

    Hits that Kristofferson recorded include “Watch Closely Now,” “Desperados Waiting for a Train,” “A Song I’d Like to Sing” and “Jesus Was a Capricorn.”

    In 1973, he married fellow songwriter Rita Coolidge and together they had a successful duet career that earned them two Grammy awards. They divorced in 1980.

    The formation of the Highwaymen, with Nelson, Cash and Jennings, was another pivotal point in his career as a performer.

    “I think I was different from the other guys in that I came in it as a fan of all of them,” Kristofferson told the AP in 2005. “I had a respect for them when I was still in the Army. When I went to Nashville they were like major heroes of mine because they were people who took the music seriously. To be not only recorded by them but to be friends with them and to work side by side was just a little unreal. It was like seeing your face on Mount Rushmore.”

    As 2023 comes to an end, Access Hollywood is remembering the stars who died this year, including Tina Turner, Lisa Marie Presley, Angus Cloud and more.

    The group put out just three albums between 1985 and 1995. Jennings died in 2002 and Cash died a year later. Kristofferson said in 2005 that there was some talk about reforming the group with other artists, such as George Jones or Hank Williams Jr., but Kristofferson said it wouldn’t have been the same.

    “When I look back now — I know I hear Willie say it was the best time of his life,” Kristofferson said in 2005. “For me, I wish I was more aware how short of a time it would be. It was several years, but it was still like the blink of an eye. I wish I would have cherished each moment.”

    Among the four, only Nelson is now alive.

    Kristofferson’s sharp-tongued political lyrics sometimes hurt his popularity, especially in the late 1980s. His 1989 album, “Third World Warrior” was focused on Central America and what United States policy had wrought there, but critics and fans weren’t excited about the overtly political songs.

    He said during a 1995 interview with the AP he remembered a woman complaining about one of the songs that began with killing babies in the name of freedom.

    “And I said, ‘Well, what made you mad — the fact that I was saying it or the fact that we’re doing it? To me, they were getting mad at me ’cause I was telling them what was going on.”

    As the son of an Air Force General, he enlisted in the Army in the 1960s because it was expected of him.

    “I was in ROTC in college, and it was just taken for granted in my family that I’d do my service,” he said in a 2006 AP interview. “From my background and the generation I came up in, honor and serving your country were just taken for granted. So, later, when you come to question some of the things being done in your name, it was particularly painful.”

    Hollywood may have saved his music career. He still got exposure through his film and television appearances even when he couldn’t afford to tour with a full band.

    Kristofferson’s first role was in Dennis Hopper’s “The Last Movie,” in 1971.

    He had a fondness for Westerns, and would use his gravelly voice to play attractive, stoic leading men. He was Burstyn’s ruggedly handsome love interest in “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore” and a tragic rock star in a rocky relationship with Streisand in “A Star Is Born,” a role echoed by Bradley Cooper in the 2018 remake.

    He was the young title outlaw in director Sam Peckinpah’s 1973 “Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid,” a truck driver for the same director in 1978’s “Convoy,” and a corrupt sheriff in director John Sayles’ 1996, “Lone Star.” He also starred in one of Hollywood biggest financial flops, “Heaven’s Gate,” a 1980 Western that ran tens of millions of dollars over budget.

    And in a rare appearance in a superhero movie, he played the mentor of Snipes’ vampire hunter in “Blade.”

    He described in a 2006 AP interview how he got his first acting gigs when he performed in Los Angeles.

    “It just happened that my first professional gig was at the Troubadour in L.A. opening for Linda Rondstadt,” Kristofferson said. “Robert Hilburn (Los Angeles Times music critic) wrote a fantastic review and the concert was held over for a week,” Kristofferson said. “There were a bunch of movie people coming in there, and I started getting film offers with no experience. Of course, I had no experience performing either.”

    ___

    Hall reported from Nashville. AP National Writer Hillel Italie contributed to this report.

    ___

    This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Rosanne Cash.

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    The Associated Press

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  • Billy Joel breaks down his ‘Piano Man’ lyrics about ‘real estate novelist’ Paul

    Billy Joel breaks down his ‘Piano Man’ lyrics about ‘real estate novelist’ Paul

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    Billy Joel knows all about an increasingly popular fan theory that suggests two of his “Piano Man” song characters are gay. And, the Grammy winner understands why fans think that.

    In the song, originally released in 1973, Joel sings from the point of a view of piano player in a bar telling stories about the bar’s patrons.

    Though it would eventually become Joel’s trademark song, “Piano Man” has never been a conventional pop hit, as Joel explained to Sunday TODAY’s Willie Geist in the August 18 episode of “Sunday Sitdown.”

    “At the time, was totally shocked that (Joel’s record company) wanted to put it out as a single. It’s in 6:8 time, which is a waltz. It’s a long song. And the topic is a bit depressing,” said Joel.

    “It didn’t go gold or anything, when it came out. But it got a lot of airplay,” he added.

    In the song’s third verse, listeners meet Paul, a “real estate novelist” who “never had time for a wife.” Paul sits at the bar talking to Davy, who’s “still in the Navy and probably will be for life.”

    “I do have to ask you, what exactly is a real estate novelist?” Willie wondered.

    “It’s a guy who’s a real estate broker who’s trying to write the great American novel. So I made him a real estate novelist,” Joel replied, laughing.

    When Willie suggested Paul never “found time” for a wife because he was busy working on his book, Joel brought up the speculation about the characters being gay.

    “Well, there’s this new theory out there now, that it’s actually about a gay bar,” said Joel.

    “I was reading this, and I said, ‘Oh, I see how that could be.’ Paul is talking to Davy, who’s in the Navy, you know,” continued Joel, who began singing the Village People’s 1979 disco hit “In the Navy,” which was embraced as an anthem by the LGTBQ community.

    Billy Joel is back. The iconic singer, songwriter is debuting his first song in 30 years at the 2024 Grammy Awards.

    “So, yeah, there’s a whole theory about it. He doesn’t have time for a wife,” he added.

    Joel went on to say the he never intended for Paul, Davy or any of the other characters in “Piano Man” to be gay.

    “I never considered that, but I see it now,” he said, adding, “It’s very funny, actually.”

    Joel, who ended his popular Madison Square Garden residency on July 25th, revealed elsewhere during the interview that he sometimes relies on the audience for help with lyrics, especially on his peppy, lyrically dense 1989 hit “We Didn’t Start the Fire.”

    “You mess up one lyric in that, it’s a train wreck. So you’ve gotta, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang,” he told Willie, snapping his fingers.

    “You gotta know all the lyrics. And I look down. And there’s always somebody who knows all the words. And I’m following them,” he added, laughing.

    Joel also touched on his latest single, “Turn the Lights Back On,” released earlier this year. The song, written by musician Freddy Wexler and recorded by Joel, marked the first time Joel has released new music in years.

    Joel’s previous single, “All My Life,” arrived in 2007, and his last full-length studio album of new material, the classical music collection “Fantasies & Delusions,” was released in 2001.

    With the recent release of Joel’s “Turn the Lights Back On,” some fans have wondered if the new song could be an era of new music from the singer.

    “Did (releasing a new song) inspire me to want to write more stuff? Not particularly, no,” Joel said.

    “Writing, to me, is torment. I don’t want to do that, anymore,” he added, laughing.

    Joel explained that he preferred to write music for himself these days rather than struggling to craft perfect pop hits. “I’d like to write music. I don’t like to write songs, so much, because it’s really, really hard to write a good song, really hard,” he said.

    This article first appeared on TODAY.com. Read more from TODAY here:

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    Gina Vivinetto | TODAY

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  • ‘An opportunity that feels right’: Countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo to take reins of Opera Philadelphia

    ‘An opportunity that feels right’: Countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo to take reins of Opera Philadelphia

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    What to Know

    • Anthony Roth Costanzo was hired Thursday as general director and president of Opera Philadelphia.
    • Costanzo will continue his career as a leading countertenor while taking over an ambitious company dealing with post-pandemic economic challenges.
    • Opera Philadelphia for 2024-25 dropped its well-regarded season-opening festival, which began in 2017, and lowered next season’s budget to $10 million — of which $1,275,000 is projected to come from ticket revenue. There will be just three mainstage productions.

    Anthony Roth Costanzo was hired Thursday as general director and president of Opera Philadelphia and will continue his career as a leading countertenor while taking over an ambitious company dealing with post-pandemic economic challenges.

    “Even though I’m an opera singer, it’s my job to ensure the health of this art form I love,” he said in an interview this week. “And the other side of the coin is that I’m frustrated by opera and its inability to always innovate in the ways I think can help it grow. So, it’s something I have been building a skill set for for a long time, and I have been waiting for an opportunity that feels right.”

    Constanzo, who turns 42 on May 8, will start work on June 1 and replace David Devan, who is retiring after 13 seasons in charge. Music director Corrado Rovaris has a contract through 2026-27.

    Opera Philadelphia for 2024-25 dropped its well-regarded season-opening festival, which began in 2017, and lowered next season’s budget to $10 million — of which $1,275,000 is projected to come from ticket revenue. There will be just three mainstage productions, starting with the U.S. premiere of Missy Mazzoli’s “The Listeners” on Sept. 25.

    “They kept this season lean, which gives me some room to move around if I’m successful in bringing more resources,” Constanzo said. “I really feel like some of the future vision that we can build on at Opera Philadelphia is the idea of strategic partnerships and collaborations that help us pool resources and expand our wings beyond the world of opera.”

    Costanzo raised the funding for “Glass Handel,” an art installation at Philadelphia’s Barnes Foundation as part of the O18 festival that featured the music of Philip Glass and George Frideric Handel. It included videos, live painting and dance.

    “I put together the idea and the creative team, and then I built the budget,” he said in an interview this week. “I remember even driving the truck, the U-Haul truck with the sets in it.”

    Board chairman Stephen K. Klasko said 42 people applied for the position. Costanzo impressed with “his optimism and charisma.”

    “His ability to have raised a lot of contributor revenue for his programs was pretty incredible,” Klasko said. “We have to build new audiences that are excited about what we’re doing that aren’t necessarily coming out to see `Madame Butterfly.‘”

    Costanzo appeared this year in a new production of Thomas Adès’ “The Exterminating Angel” at the Paris Opéra, headlines Gluck’s “Orfeo ed Eurydice” at the Metropolitan Opera starting May 16 and is in the world premiere of Gregory Spears’ “The Righteous” at the Santa Fe Opera starting July 13.

    Holding an administrative role while singing is rare but not unprecedented. Soprano Beverly Sills became general director of New York City Opera in 1979 and continued singing for the next year.

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    Ronald Blum

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  • Mandisa, ‘American Idol’ singer and Grammy winner, dies at 47

    Mandisa, ‘American Idol’ singer and Grammy winner, dies at 47

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    Grammy-winning singer Mandisa, who rose to fame on season five of “American Idol,” has died, her representative said Friday. She was 47.

    “We can confirm that yesterday Mandisa was found in her home deceased,” her representative said in a statement to NBC News. “At this time we do not know the cause of death or any further details.”

    “We ask for your prayers for her family and close knit circle of friends during this incredibly difficult time,” the statement concluded.

    She was found dead in her Nashville home, according to The Tennessean.

    A post on the artist’s Facebook page said early Friday: “Mandisa was a voice of encouragement and truth to people facing life’s challenges all around the world. She wrote this song for a dear friend who had passed in 2017.”

    “Her own words say it best. I’m already home / You’ve got to lay it down / ‘cause Jesus holds me now— / And I am not alone.”

    The singer, whose full name is Mandisa Lynn Hundley, shot to stardom after placing ninth on “American Idol.” She went on to win a Grammy for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album in 2014 for her album “Overcomer.”

    Originally from Sacramento, California, Mandisa grew up singing in church and studied vocal performance at American River College, and continued her studies at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, according to her record label artist bio. After college, she worked as a session and backup vocalists for artists including Shania Twain and Trisha Yearwood before going on “American Idol.”

    In 2017, the singer told “Good Morning America” that she fell into a deep depression in 2014 and almost took her own life following the death of her close friend, Lakisha Mitchell, who had breast cancer. 

    “It got pretty bad — to the point where if I had not gotten off that road I would not be sitting here today,” Mandisa said. “I was this close to listening to that voice that told me, ‘You can be with Jesus right now, Mandisa. All you have to do is take your life.’”

    “It almost happened. But God is what I say. He saved my life quite literally,” she added. 

    She revealed that in her dark state, she resorted to emotional eating and isolation. 

    “(Emotional eating) is what I have done my entire life,” she explained. “After losing over 120 pounds, which I talked about my first time here, I gained it all back and 75 more. I sunk into the deepest depression of my life after Kisha died.”

    She said her friends ultimately intervened and she got help.

    Mandisa had released six studio albums, the last being 2017’s “Out of the Dark.” 

    This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

    This article first appeared on NBCNews.com. Read more from NBC News here:

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    Marlene Lenthang | NBC News

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  • Pennsylvania-based wedding band Jellyroll sues country star Jelly Roll over name

    Pennsylvania-based wedding band Jellyroll sues country star Jelly Roll over name

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    It’s a court battle of Jellyroll vs. Jelly Roll. Let us explain.

    A popular Delaware County wedding band is suing country music star Jelly Roll.

    The band Jellyroll (no space) has an issue with the name of Grammy-nominated singer Jelly Roll (space).

    Now the band is suing the singer in a lawsuit filed in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on April 8, 2024.

    The band has been singing at local and national venues dating as far back as 1980 and band leader Kurt Titchenell trademarked its name in 2010, according to the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

    Jason Bradley DeFord started using the Jelly Roll nickname at gigs around the time of 2010, according to the lawsuit. In March DeFord applied for the “Jelly Roll” trademark for use on clothing, according to a pending trademark.

    In the suit, the band contends the singer’s recent fame is confusing people and is also pushing them lower down in Google searches.

    “Prior to the Defendant’s recent rise in notoriety, a search of the name of Jellyroll on most search engines, and particularly Google, returned references to the Plaintiff,” the suit states. “Now, any such search on Google returns multiple references to Defendant, perhaps as many as 18-20 references before any reference to Plaintiff’s entertainment dance band known as Jellyroll® can be found.”

    The band, through an attorney, asked the country singer to stop using the name with a late February cease-and-desist letter.

    The lawsuit came about after Jelly Roll’s nationwide tour was announced earlier this year, including a stop at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Oct. 2, 2024, according to the suit, which exhibits an advertisement for the concert on WMMR’s website.

    Lawyers for both Jelly Roll and Jellyroll didn’t comment as of Tuesday.

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    Dan Stamm and NBC10 Staff

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  • Bruce Springsteen returns to the stage after health issues postponed his 2023 world tour

    Bruce Springsteen returns to the stage after health issues postponed his 2023 world tour

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    Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band returned to the stage Tuesday evening at the Footprint Center in Phoenix in a triumphant reboot of the Boss’ postponed 2023 world tour.

    In September Springsteen, 74, announced his tour would be delayed until 2024, citing doctor’s advice as he recovered from peptic ulcer disease.

    “The Boss” arrived on stage to an audience chorus of “Bruuuuce!” Wearing dark jeans and a rolled up red plaid flannel shirt, he had the energy of a man half his age. His signature “One, two, three, four” was the only thing that separated most songs, showing no signs of his illness from the previous year. Once he shouted, “Good evening, Arizona” the show was off and running.

    Springsteen spoke to the crowd briefly about his illness prior to playing his final song “I’ll See You In My Dreams” solo on stage. “Phoenix, first I want to apologize if there was any discomfort because we had to move the show last time. . . . I hope we didn’t inconvenience you too much.”

    The 29-song show came in just under three hours, but “The Boss” hardly broke a sweat while showing off a strong voice, all the while dancing, tearing into guitar solos, playing the harmonica and even ripping his shirt open near the end of the show.

    Bruce Springsteen talks about his new album “Letter to You,” the first song he ever learned how to play and his early beginnings as a musician.

    On stage with Springsteen was the legendary E Street Band which features drummer Max Weinberg, bassist Garry Tallent, keyboardists Roy Bittan and Charlie Giordano, guitarists Stevie Van Zandt and Nils Lofgren, saxophonist Jake Clemons — nephew of original and still missed sax man Clarence Clemons who died in 2011 — guitarist and violin player Soozie Tyrell, a full horn and brass section and four backup vocalists. The only missing member of the band was Springsteen’s wife, singer and guitarist Patti Scialfa.

    Springsteen performed most of the hits in his vast collection, minus “Born In The U.S.A.,” but he added covers “Nightshift” by the Commodores, “Because The Night” by Patti Smith Group, and a surprise: “Twist and Shout” by The Beatles. Fans went wild for “No Surrender,” “Born To Run,” “Rosalita,” “Dancing In The Dark,” “Glory Days” and “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out” that left the rocker grinning from ear-to-ear as he conducted fans singing along like his own chorus.

    This year has been particularly challenging for Springsteen. In addition to his health issues, in January his mother, Adele Ann Springsteen, a fan favorite who could frequently be seen dancing at his shows, died. She was 98.

    Two days after her death, Springsteen performed at the 2024 MusiCares Person of the Year event, which honored Jon Bon Jovi for his musical achievements and philanthropic efforts.

    The 2024 edition of the tour kicked off in Phoenix and ends Nov. 22 in Vancouver, Canada. It hits 17 countries across 52 dates, including a special performance on Sept. 15 where Springsteen will headline the Sea.Hear.Now Festival in his hometown of Asbury Park, New Jersey.

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    Ross D. Franklin | The Associated Press

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