Cher arguably stole the show when she mistakenly announced that Record of the Year at the 2026 Grammy Awards was won by the late R&B musician Luther Vandross.
The musical icon, 79, slipped up after Kendrick Lamar and SZA were in fact awarded the prestigious title on Sunday, February 1, for their collaboration “Luther,” a track that samples Vandross’ 1982 duet with Cheryl Lynn, “If This World Were Mine.”
The hilarious mistake occurred when Cher attempted to announce Lamar, 38, and SZA, 36, while reading the envelope she’d been given by Grammys organizers. Amid her excitement, Cher announced Vandross, who died in 2005 at the age of 54 after an illustrious career in the music business, before correcting herself.
“No! Kendrick Lamar!” Cher yelled as Lamar and SZA awkwardly made their way to the stage inside Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena to collect their award.
Lamar gracefully acknowledged the late musician during his speech, telling the crowd, “This is what music is about: Luther Vandross.” The audience in turn erupted with laughter.
Lamar spoke further about Vandross, who won eight Grammy Awards of his own throughout his musical career. “This is special for me. I gotta take my time. It’s one of my favorite artists of all time,” Lamar said. “They granted us the privilege to do our version of it. When we got that clearance, I promise you, we damn near all dropped a tear.”
Keep scrolling for everything you need to know about Vandross’ achievements and legacy.
Who Is Luther Vandross?
Luther VandrossKevin Winter/Getty Images
Vandross was an R&B and soul singer, renowned for his romantic lyricism, who was born in New York City and sold over 40 million records globally. He was inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2021, and his debut solo album, 1981’s Never Too Much, was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in February 2025.
Among his most acclaimed songs include “Never Too Much,” sharing the name of his debut album, “Here and Now,” released in 1989, and “Dance With My Father,” which was the title track of his final album and won a Grammy for Song of the Year in 2004.
How Did Luther Vandross Die?
According to an obituary posted by Seattle’s Noble & Kelsey Funeral Home Inc. in 2005, Vandross had suffered from “poor health since April 16, 2003, when he suffered a debilitating stroke while at home in Manhattan.” The obituary also detailed that Vandross had been “battling with weight problems for years” and suffered from diabetes and hypertension.
Who Is Luther Vandross’ Family?
Vandross was never known to publicly marry anybody, as confirmed via the obituary. He is survived by “his two sisters and brother.” The online tribute also pointed out his “ability to capture and create romantic moments and further enhance them with his silky voice, [which] made his songs natural choices for millions of weddings around the world.”
Who Did Luther Vandross Inspire Through His Musical Contributions?
Luther Vandross and Patti LaBelle in 2000Steve W Grayson/Online USA
Besides Lamar and SZA, Vandross was publicly admired by a string of modern-day heavyweights. He collaborated with Beyoncé on the 2003 duet “The Closer I Get to You”, Mariah Carey on the 1994 song “Endless Love” and Janet Jackson on the 1992 track “The Best Things in Life Are Free,” among other stars.
He also provided backing vocals for musicians including Roberta Flack, Bette Midler, David Bowie, Carly Simon, Donna Summer, Ringo Starr and Barbra Streisand.
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During a 1987 interview with American Bandstand, Vandross said that his career was influenced by three singers: “Dionne [Warwick], Aretha [Franklin] and Diana [Ross] were always my favorite singers.”
Vandross eventually got to work with Ross, 81, and even performed on stage with her in 2000 during Ross’ Return to Love Tour.
What Else Was Luther Vandross Known For?
The late musician’s talents knew no bounds as he also provided vocals for commercial jingles throughout his career. His recordings featured in advertisements for brands including Mountain Dew, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Juicy Fruit, Burger King and NBC.
Will Smith is being sued by professional violinist Brian King Joseph, who is accusing the actor and his company of sexual harassment and wrongful temination.
In the lawsuit, which was filed in a Los Angeles court on Tuesday, December 30 and obtained by Us Weekly on Thursday, January 1, the complaint names Smith and Treyball Studios Management as defendants.
The legal documents accuse Smith, 57, of “predatory behavior” and “deliberately grooming and priming Mr. Joseph for further sexual exploitation” during Smith’s Based on a True Story: 2025 tour.
According to the civil complaint, the America’s Got Talent alum was invited in November 2024 to join the rapper on the tour, which kicked off its first leg in Las Vegas in March 2025.
Jada Pinkett Smith is facing a lawsuit from a former colleague who claims she physically threatened him in 2021. In a $3 million lawsuit filed on November 7 and obtained by Us Weekly, Bilaal Salaam (a.k.a. Brother Bilaal) alleged that Pinkett Smith, 54, confronted him in the lobby of Regency Calabasas Commons movie theater in […]
Joseph claims he returned to his Las Vegas hotel room, which was booked by Smith’s company, to find some had “unlawfully” entered the room. In the room, he allegedly discovered wipes, a beer bottle, a bottle of HIV medication with another individual’s name, and hospital discharge paperwork belonging to another person.
There was also allegedly a note in the room that read, “Brian, I’ll be back no later [sic] 5:30, just us (drawn heart), Stone F,” which the musician claims he interpreted as a message that “an unknown individual would soon return to his room to engage in sexual acts” with him.
Joseph also claims that members of management were the “only individuals with access to [his] room.” He said tour management had lost his bag, which had his room key, during the trip to Vegas.
Will Smith(Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images)
Following the incident, Joseph said he reported the situation to hotel security as well as tour management. Joseph claims that management accused him of lying, “shamed” him and blamed him for the incident.
The violinist’s employment was terminated days after the incident, with Joseph alleging that he was told by management that they were “moving in a different direction.” He alleged that he was quickly replaced by another violinist in the same position, disputing this claim.
The suit also claims that due to being fired, Joseph suffered from PTSD and economic loss. He is suing for retaliation, wrongful termination and sexual harassment, and asking that damages be determined by a jury.
Per the legal documents, Joseph further alleges that Smith was “grooming and priming” him “for further sexual exploitation” since their first meeting in November 2024. He claims they “began spending additional time alone” after meeting and prior to the tour kicking off. Joseph alleges that Smith at one point commented, “You and I have such a special connection, that I don’t have with anyone else.”
Us Weekly has reached out to representatives for Smith and Joseph for comment.
Will Smith is distancing himself from Sean “Diddy” Combs. “The world we’re in right now is really hard for y’all to discern what’s real and what’s true,” Smith, 56, said during a Thursday, December 12, show in San Diego, per footage obtained by TMZ. “I haven’t addressed any of this publicly, but I just wanted […]
The album also contained new tracks such as “Beautiful Scars,” which Smith opened up about during a radio interview in January 2025.
“The idea of ‘Beautiful Scars’ is just one of the things that really popped through for me as such a value to recognize that a difficulty, an adversity, a challenge, an obstacle is hard and painful in the moment but what you’re going through can turn out to be the greatest thing that has ever happened,” Smith told radio host Enrique Santos during an iHeartRadio Live event on January 29, 2025. “What starts out as an adversity can turn into a beautiful stepping stone.”
Eminem enjoyed the support of his family when he made a surprise appearance at an NFL Thanksgiving game.
The rapper, 53, joined The White Stripes’ Jack White on stage for a halftime performance as the Detroit Lions faced off against the Green Bay Packers in Detroit, Michigan on Thursday, November 27.
Eminem’s daughter Hailie Jade McClintock, 29, took to Instagram to share a sweet clip of herself holding her 8-month-old son Elliot while they watched the unannounced performance from the stands.
In the cute clip, Hailie is seen holding Elliot, whom she shares with her husband Evan McClintock, as they face towards the football field with a sea of Detroit supporters dressed in blue pack the stadium around them. Elliot is wearing noise-reducing headphones in the post as he supports his grandfather from the crowd.
“Happy thanksgiving 💕” the “Just a Little Shady” podcaster captioned the post.
Hailie also shared a family photo via her Instagram Story, sharing a snap of herself, her husband and their baby posing for the holiday. Baby Elliot’s face was obscured in both posts.
During the halftime performance at the football game, rocker White, 50, introduced Eminem to the stage and performed “That’s How I’m Feeling.” The pair stepped things up a notch with a joint performance of “Hello Operator” before moving on to a remix of the rapper’s hit track “‘Til I Collapse.”
With the help of her dad, Hailie Jade announced she was pregnant in October 2024 in one of Eminem’s music videos for his song “Temporary.”
At the end of the video, Hailie Jade is seen gifting Eminem a Detroit Lions jersey that read “Grandpa” on the back.
Hailie Jade and Evan McClintock and their son Elliot.(Photo courtesy of Hailie Jade McClintock/Instagram)
The music clip also featured snippets of Hailie and Evan’s wedding. The couple, who had been together for eight years before walking down the aisle, tied the knot in May 2024.
“Waking up a wife this week,” Hailie wrote on Instagram at the time, sharing photos from the nuptials. “We couldn’t have asked for a better, more beautiful weekend celebration. So so many happy tears were shed, laughs & smiles were had, & so much love was felt. Evan and I are feeling so grateful for all of the family & friends that traveled to support us and be a part of this new chapter of our lives as husband & wife.”
Although one typically assumes they’ll become a grandparent later in life, some lucky few get the rare chance to be young grandmas and grandpas — celebrities included. Stars like Whoopi Goldberg, Jim Carrey and Mick Jagger all became grandparents before the age of 55. In August 2025, former Bachelorette Emily Maynard learned she would earn […]
As well as featuring her pregnancy reveal, “Temporary” is an emotional song for Hailie. The track is written as a message from Eminem to his daughter, encouraging her to move on and be happy when he eventually dies in the future.
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Speaking on her podcast, “Just a Little Shady” in August 2024, Hailie admitted that watching the music videos and listening to the lyrics for some of Eminem’s songs, including “Temporary” make her emotional.
“I watched it in entirety and I don’t think I can do it again. I definitely cry every time I hear it at all,” she said at the time. “Between that and ‘Temporary’… I audibly sobbed I think for both songs but especially ‘Temporary.’”
Eminem shares Hailie with ex-wife Kimberly Anne Scott. He is also the father to daughters Alaina, 32, and Stevie, 23.
Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter’s friendship has come a long way over the years. Before the pair became the besties they are today, Carpenter was a longtime fan of Swift. Prior to dropping tracks like “Nonsense” and “Espresso,” Carpenter posted covers of Swift’s songs on her YouTube page, including “Picture to Burn” and “White Horse.” […]
For her part, Carpenter kept warm in a camel trenchcoat and opted for a black handbag and matching black heels to complete her look.
Earlier that day, the 2026 Grammy nominations were announced, with Carpenter getting the nod for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Album of the Year, Best Music Video, Best Pop Vocal Album, and Best Pop Solo Performance. (Swift was ineligible for nominations due to The Life of a Showgirl dropping outside the eligible period for next year’s Grammys.)
Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter.(Photo by Aeon/GC Images)
Swift has had a busy social week. As well as grabbing dinner on Friday with Carpenter, Swift was spotted on multiple date nights in the city with her fiance Travis Kelce.
Swift’s outing with Carpenter isn’t the first time Swift has been spotted with A-lister friends at The Corner Store.
According to its website, the venue has a “smart elegant” dress code. The American restaurant’s menu offers upscale dishes such as lobster and caviar rolls, filet mignon, steak frites and oysters du jour.
Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter.(Photo by XNY/Star Max/GC Images)
Swift and Carpenter have been frequent collaborators musically over the past few years, with the Girl Meets World alum even appearing on the title track of Swift’s recently released 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl.
The “Espresso” singer also appeared on stage during several legs, including Australia and South America, of Swift’s mammoth Eras tour, which ran from March 2023 to December 2024.
In August 2024, Carpenter gushed about her close connection to Swift during an interview with Variety and shared just how impressed she is by Swift’s work ethic.
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“Well, Taylor is a rock star! She’s just such a gangster with all of it. No matter what people are saying, everything that I’ve ever seen her tackle, she’s done so with grace,” Carpenter told the outlet. “The posts about me having to ‘ask for her permission’ — no. She’s one of my best, best friends, and we grab dinner or text and catch up like you would with your best friend.”
Carpenter added that she knows Swift has her back when it comes to navigating the music industry.
“It’s so cool for me to get a perspective on this whole process from her and the community of artists that I feel I’m close to — to get advice from them on stuff that you can’t just ask the internet,” she added. “We’re always playing each other our [music], and whenever I start to think, ‘Maybe I’ll get on Twitter and say something about this,’ I’m always like, ‘Maybe I’ll write a song instead.’”
Taking to Instagram on Friday, October 31, Nicole, 33, shared a post showing off her Halloween outfit for 2025.
In the post, the influencer showed she had dressed up as Toni Braxton for the holiday, specifically recreating the singer’s look from her “He Wasn’t Man Enough” music video.
It was the song choice that sent her followers into a tail spin, with several interpreting it as a subtle dig at Kelce, 36. (Nicole and Kelce dated from 2017 to 2022.)
Joe Scarnici/Getty Images Travis Kelce and Kayla Nicole went through several relationship ups and downs before splitting for good in 2022. The exes dated on and off for five years after Nicole kicked things off by sending him an Instagram DM in 2017. “He had been following me and insta-flirting for a few months,” she […]
“The shade is real 😂” wrote one follower. Another added, “This is how you have the last laugh.. ☺️👏🏽👏🏽”
Another follower wrote, “Somebody gon check on TayTay? 🥴”
The song, which was released in 2000, was a hit for Braxton, who won a Grammy the following year for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for the track.
“Listen, girl / Who do you think I am? / Don’t you know that he was my man? / But I chose to let him go / So why do you act like I still care about him?” part of the song’s lyrics read.
In other parts of the song, the lyrics continued, “What you thinkin’? / Stop blamin’ me / He wasn’t man enough for me / If you don’t know, now here’s the chance / I’ve already had your man.”
Kayla Nicole.(Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images)
Swifties have previously theorized that The Life of a Show Girl’s new song “Opalite” is subtly shading Nicole with its lyrics.
“You couldn’t understand it / Why you felt alone / You were in it for real / She was in her phone / You were just a pose,” Swift, 35, sings on the track. “And don’t we try to love love / And give it all we got / You finally left the table / And what a simple thought / You’re starving ’til you’re not.”
Some fans believe Swift is subtly referencing Nicole, with many pointing to a resurfaced social media clip of Kelce and Nicole interacting at dinner during their relationship.
“Oh, my God. Get off your phone,” Kelce said in one resurfaced clip. “Get off your phone. … You’re not even drinking your wine anymore, can we go?”
Travis Kelce has game on and off the field — and his dating history proves it. The NFL star’s love connection with Taylor Swift isn’t actually the first time he’s made headlines for his love life. Kelce starred on a dating show titled Catching Kelce dating show in 2016, which featured 50 women (one from each […]
Nicole has also recently been accused of subtly taking a jab at Swift following the singer’s 12th studio album release, which featured “Opalite” among its track list.
The album dropped on October 3. Just one day later, the influencer shared a cryptic post via her Instagram Stories.
Nicole shared a throwback clip of Eva Marcille’sAmerica’s Next Top Model audition from cycle 3 in 2004.
“How do you compare yourself to other girls out there?” host Tyra Banks asked Marcille, now 40, in the footage.
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Marcille quickly responded, “I don’t compare myself to other girls. I’m Eva. I’m no comparison to anyone else.”
Although Nicole did not explain the post or offer up any additional context at the time, some Swifties believed it may have been her way of addressing the song.
There’s nothing like a celebrity endorsement to boost a restaurant’s exclusivity and generate word-of-mouth buzz.
Take New York City’s The Corner Store, for example, where visits fromBlake Lively, Taylor Swift and more A-listers shortly after their opening in fall 2024 made this SoHo spot one of the hardest reservations to get in the city.
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However, this is not to say that the buzz is unwarranted.
“Shockingly, The Corner Store is actually a NYC hot spot that lives up to the hype. Not only are the vibes immaculate, thanks to its cozy feel but the food is delicious,” said Us Weeky Editors after attending Thomas Doherty’s Glenlivet Tartan launch event at the famed eatery in December 2024. “Whoever thought to put caviar on top of a lobster roll should win an award because we refuse to stop talking about it.”
Keep scrolling for a complete guide to the best celeb-approved restaurants around the world:
Brandy Norwood and Monica Arnold’s Saturday, October 18, The Boy Is Mine Tour concert came to a screeching halt.
The two singers were in the middle of performing one of their duets on Saturday when Brandy, 46, suddenly walked offstage, according to social media footage.
“Wait, what? We’re all in shock,” one fan wrote via X. “How come Brandy left the stage halfway through the #theboyisminetour? No one knows what happened, but Monica had to close the concert alone and they didn’t sing ‘The Boy is Mine.’ She was [also] having audio problems.”
Neither Brandy nor Monica, 44, have publicly addressed the situation. Us Weekly reached out to reps for both stars for comment.
Monica and Brandy are hitting the road together nearly three decades after dropping their iconic duet “The Boy Is Mine.” The singers announced in June that they were coheadlining their first tour together. The tour is named after the pair’s hit song, “The Boy Is Mine,” which was released in 1998 and went on to […]
Brandy and Monica, known for their hit 1998 duet “The Boy Is Mine,” kicked off their joint tour earlier this month.
“This Moment 🖤These Times 🖤Our Music,” Brandy and Monica captioned a joint Instagram post on Friday, October 17. “We are proud of us and pray each night you all are proud of us as well. #BiggerThanMusic.”
The dynamic duo announced their coheadlining tour in June, revealing via social media that they would be performing across 27 cities in the United States from October to December.
“Monica and I coming together again isn’t just about the music — it’s about honoring where we came from and how far we’ve both come,” Brandy said in a statement at the time. “‘The Boy Is Mine’ was a defining chapter in R&B, and to share the stage all these years later is bigger than a reunion — it’s a celebration of growth, sisterhood and the love our fans have given us from day one.”
Holy nostalgia! Brandy and Monica gifted fans something they never knew they needed. The R&B icons joined forces for a TikTok duet on Thursday, February 18, recreating the intro of their 1998 hit “The Boy is Mine.” The brief video featured the pair lip-synching their parts, beginning with Brandy asking, “Excuse me, can I please […]
Monica echoed her fellow performer’s sentiments in her own statement.
“This tour is a celebration of our history, our impact, and the fans who have grown with us,” she wrote in a press release. “Brandy and I have been on our own unique journeys, and coming back together in this way is a reminder of the power of respect, strength and real music. We’re giving the people what they’ve been asking for, and doing it with grace, love and purpose. God’s timing perfectly aligned us.”
Monica later told Essence earlier this month that the Boy Is Mine Tour was a work of “divine timing.”
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“Stepping into this tour feels like a full-circle moment,” Brandy added to the outlet. “It’s a chance to honor where we’ve come from, to celebrate the people who’ve supported us from the very beginning, and to share the stage in a way that feels fresh, powerful and deeply connected to who we are now. It’s emotional, it’s inspiring and it reminds me that music really is timeless.”
She continued, “When we’re together, it creates a sense of balance and support that allows me to be fully present. Sharing that bond with her goes beyond the music — it reflects a mutual respect and understanding that’s been built over years of experiences.”
The Boy Is Mine Tour will also feature special performances from guests Kelly Rowland, Muni Long and Jamal Roberts.
Speaking to Complexin an interview published on Thursday, October 9, the rapper gushed over his newborn daughter, Rocki Irish Mayers, who he welcomed on September 13 with Rihanna.
“My daughter. That’s my favorite thing I created this year,” Rocky, 37, told the outlet. “Shout out to Rocki Irish, man.”
The couple, who also share RZA, 3, and Riot, 2, announced the new arrival on September 24 via an Instagram post.
Rihanna made her first public appearance since giving birth to her and ASAP Rocky’s newborn daughter, Rocki Irish Mayers. Rihanna and Rocky, both 37, were spotted riding in a black, open-top convertible around the streets of Los Angeles on Friday, October 3. (Rocky turned 37 on Friday.) While Rocky looked dapper in a brown suit […]
“Rocki Irish Mayers Sept 13 2025 🎀” Rihanna, 37, wrote alongside a photo of herself cradling her baby.
While Rocky and Rihanna never publicly revealed they were expecting a girl this time around, “Purple Swag” singer spoke about hoping for a daughter after previously welcoming two sons.
“I hope it’s a girl. I really do. We’re praying for a girl,” Rocky told Elle in a profile published in September. “Our first time, we wanted to know the sex of the baby. The second time, we didn’t want to know. Third time, we don’t want to know until, you know.”
He added, “I feel like it’s going to be a girl. This pregnancy is so different from the other two. You can tell from the experience. I hope it’s a baby girl, man. I need that.”
Rihanna and ASAP Rocky.(Photo by Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures)
Meanwhile, Rihanna has previously praised Rocky for his parenting skills in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar in February.
The “Umbrella” singer told the outlet that the “greatest thing” about her partner “is seeing him be a dad.”
She joked her only frustration with Rocky when he is performing dad duties is how much the couple’s sons adore him.
“I’m annoyed because my sons sometimes just live for him more than they live for me,” she said. “And I’m like, ‘Did you know who cooked you? Do you know who pushed you out?’ And they love him, but when I see it, oh, it’s the best.”
Rihanna has also spoken candidly about how being a parent has transformed her life.
“It’s everything. You really don’t remember life before, that’s the craziest thing ever,” she told British Vogue in 2023. “You literally try to remember it — and there are photos of my life before — but the feeling, the desires, the things that you enjoy, everything, you just don’t identify with it because you don’t even allow yourself mentally to get that far, because … it doesn’t matter.”
For his part, Rocky has been outspoken with praise for Rihanna and complimented her for the positive effect she’s had on his life.
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“[The relationship] is going great,” the “Purple Swag” singer said. “I don’t think there’s a more perfect person because when the schedules are hectic, she’s very understanding of that. And when the schedule’s freed up, that’s when you get to spend [the] most time together. It’s all understanding and compatibility.”
Rocky echoed the sentiment in an interview with GQ in 2021 when he referred to the star as “The One.”
“So much better when you got The One,” he gushed to the outlet. “She amounts to probably, like, a million of the other ones. … I think when you know, you know. She’s The One.”
Selena Gomez is officially married to Benny Blanco after more than one year of dating — and the couple have a lot in common.
Gomez revealed via Instagram on September 27, 2025 ,that she tied the knot with the record producer in Santa Barbara, California. Us Weekly exclusively learned that some of the couple’s closest friends — including Gomez’ Only Murders in the Building costars Steve Martin and Martin Short, Paris Hilton and Ashley Park — were in attendance for two days of festivities.
Just like Gomez, 32, Blanco, 36, has a string of hit songs to his name including Kesha’s “Tik Tok” and Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream,” making him and the Golden Globe nominee a match made in musical heaven.
“Forever begins now,” Gomez captioned an Instagram post on Wednesday, December 11, that showed off her engagement ring. Blanco celebrated the milestone moment, writing in the comments section, “Hey wait… that’s my wife.”
Gomez first confirmed her relationship with Blanco in December 2023, revealing that they had been together for “six months.”
Selena Gomez’s high-profile relationships have made headlines over the years, from her off-and-on romance with Justin Bieber to her brief relationship with The Weeknd. “I’m the kind of girl that loves tremendously big. I just have always been that girl,” Gomez told Miami’s Power 96.5 FM in May 2017. “I will give my heart and […]
“He is my absolute everything in my heart,” she wrote in an Instagram comment at the time. “He [has] been the best thing that’s ever happened to me. The end. … He’s still better than anyone I’ve been with. Facts.”
Now, as they get set to walk down the aisle and become one of Hollywood’s next power couples, here’s what you need to know about Benny Blanco:
He Was Mentored by Dr. Luke
Blanco was mentored by prolific pop music producer Dr. Luke, who has produced hits for the likes of Katy Perry, Kesha, Kelly Clarkson, Pink and Britney Spears. With Luke, Blanco coproduced and cowrote Perry’s hit song “Teenage Dream” and Kesha’s “Tik Tok.”
Blanco has worked with A-listers including Ed Sheeran, Katy Perry, Kesha, Britney Spears, Rihanna and Kanye West. Blanco’s résumé also includes tracks with two of Gomez’s exes: Justin Bieber and The Weeknd.
Blanco and Gomez first crossed paths in 2015, collaborating on her songs “Same Old Love” and “Kill Em With Kindness.” After reuniting on “I Can’t Get Enough” four years later, Blanco worked with Gomez again in 2023. He assisted in the production of her pop music return, “Single Soon.”
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
He Originally Wanted to Be a Rapper
Born Benjamin Joseph Levin, Blanco always wanted to be involved in the music industry and initially had his sights set on being a rapper. He told The New York Times in 2018 that he later switched to production when he realized “no one cares what a chubby Jewish kid from Virginia thinks.”
“I wouldn’t consider myself anything. I think I’m a loser,” Blanco confessed of his career to NME in April 2021. “I don’t think there’s any world where I’d say, ‘Yeah, man, I’m a hitmaker.’ I’m the guy who comes in and tries to approach music from a place of true feeling and emotion and really giving it my all because if I’m not, then what am I doing in life?”
Blanco explained that he tries to make music that “doesn’t sound like what’s being played” on the radio but instead fits each individual artist.
He Ran 2 Record Labels
In addition to producing and writing songs, Blanco was the head of two record labels under the Interscope Records banner. His labels, Mad Love Records and Friends Keep Secrets, were once home to Tory Lanez, Cashmere Cat and Jessie Ware.
“Benny Blanco, he works in really amazing short bursts. I’d be like this militant [person] — ‘We should be really in the studio because it’s 12 o’clock?!’ He’d be like, ‘Chiiiiilll, let’s go to the shop,’” Ware said of working with Blanco in a 2014 interview with Grantland. “I was getting frustrated, and then I realize this is the way he worked, and it made him work much more brilliantly.”
Earlier this year, Blanco released his own cookbook, Open Wide: A Cookbook for Friends, in which he shares some of his favorite recipes and how to throw a killer dinner party.
The book even has Gomez’s stamp of approval. “So proud of @itsbennyblanco – Open Wide is out now!!” she shared via Instagram in May.
Courtesy of Selena Gomez/Instagram
He’s Been Open About His Mental Health
During an interview with Howard Stern in May, Blanco opened up about his struggles with anxiety. “I kept it to myself. I was like, ‘Of course, the room spins when you’re about to take a test when you’re 12,’” he said.
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“I started doing [cognitive behavioral therapy]. It was very important to me to get this toolbox. Whenever I was having anxious thoughts, I could reach into this little toolbox and help myself get over it. I’ve helped so many artists and people do that,” he continued.
“I struggle with anxiety, I struggle with impostor syndrome, I struggle with all these things,” he added.
Blanco’s wife has also been open about her mental health struggles, including in her Apple TV+ documentary, Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me.
Lana Del Rey and husband Jeremy Dufrene are celebrating their one-year wedding anniversary by sharing previously unseen photos of their special day.
The “Summertime Sadness” singer, 40, and the alligator tour guide, 50, both shared posts via Instagram on Friday, September 26, to commemorate one year passing since they tied the knot.
Del Rey shared a carousel of images, including pictures that featured the bride and groom in wedding attire posing and kissing on an airboat. (The couple exchanged vows in the Louisiana bayou where Dufrene runs his alligator swamp tours.)
Among the photos was one showing their wedding guests, including Jack Antonoff and Margaret Qualley, cheering on the newlyweds at what appeared to be the reception.
Another photo showed a perfume bottle etched with the words “Love on the bayou” as well as the date of the couple’s nuptials. Their wedding cake was also featured in one of the shots.
Del Rey also shared a video via her Instagram Story that showed her walking down the aisle as a bride.
While Del Rey did not caption her carousel of photos, Dufrene sent well wishes to his wife on his own post, which contained similar images.
“Just want to wish my precious bride a Happy 1st year Anniversary. A lifetime of love and happy tears to go ❤️,” Dufrene wrote.
Del Rey and Dufrene married in a small wedding in Des Allemands, Louisiana, on September 26, 2024. Del Rey’s father, Robert Grant, walked her down the aisle. Her mother, Patricia Ann Hill, sister Caroline Grant and brother Charlie Hill-Grant all attended the ceremony, per pictures obtained by DailyMail.com at the time.
The couple was first linked in May 2024 when the “Born to Die” singer tagged Dufrene in an Instagram post describing him as “my guy.”
Months later, rumors of a romance heated up when the Del Rey and Dufrene were spotted holding hands at the Leeds Festival in the U.K. in August, where Del Rey performed.
However, the couple appear to have known each other as far back as 2019. At the time, Del Rey posted a picture of herself attending one of Dufrene’s wildlife tours via Facebook.
While Del Rey has been relatively tight-lipped about her romance with Dufrene over the years, she has spoken more broadly about relationships in previous interviews.
Long before Lana Del Rey reportedly married alligator tour guide Jeremy Dufrene in September 2024, the singer-songwriter had been candid about her romantic past. “It’s been beautiful, but it’s been confusing because when … things don’t end in a traditional way,” Del Rey told Rolling Stone in July 2014. “You don’t have that traditional relationship […]
Speaking with Rolling Stone in July 2014, Del Rey – who has previously been linked to Barrie-James O’Neill, Francesco Carrozzini, G-Eazy, Sean Larkin and Clayton Johnson – admitted that she thrives in intense relationships.
“It’s been beautiful, but it’s been confusing because when that’s your prerogative, things don’t end in a traditional way,” Del Rey told the outlet at the time. “You don’t have that traditional relationship where maybe you go out with couples at night, or you do normal things. It’s more of an extension of the creative process.””
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She added at the time, “There’s high-impact events that happen, or big adventures, or big fallouts. So it’s inspiring, and it’s not grounding, but it’s what I need to keep going.”
In the profile, Del Rey explained that she was “really looking for an equal” and wasn’t afraid of an age-gap romance.
“I sort of have an affinity for really good, strong, self-assured people,” she said. “I would say I haven’t met them as much in people who are in their 20s. So for me, I have nothing in common necessarily with somebody who’s in their 20s — yet. That I know of, thus far.”
While Rihanna and ASAP Rocky started as music collaborators, their connection blossomed into something more.
ASAP confirmed in a May 2021 interview with GQ that he was dating Rihanna and called her “The One.” One month earlier, a source told Us Weekly that the pair were spotted “holding hands and laughing” during a night out in Los Angeles.
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“It’s obvious they’re a couple and also are each other’s best friend,” the insider added. “They kid around a lot [and] laugh a lot. They have private date nights together a lot and have a blast hanging out together.”
Since turning from friends to lovers, the couple have faced their fair share of highs and lows, from expanding their family to ASAP’s 2022 arrest in Los Angeles. ASAP and Rihanna welcomed their first child, son RZA , in May 2022 and their second baby, son Riot, in August 2023.
Keep scrolling to take a look back at Rihanna and ASAP’s complete relationship timeline:
Sean “Diddy” Combs had been under investigation for at least a year after being accused of sexual assault by multiple people.
The rapper and music mogul made headlines in November 2023 after his ex-girlfriend Cassieaccused him of sexual abuse in a bombshell lawsuit. She accused Diddy of beating her, forcing her to take drugs and have sex with male prostitutes on camera. She alleged that the incidents took place at Diddy’s homes across the U.S.
In the lawsuit, Cassie also claimed that Diddy threatened to blow upKid Cudi’s car after she had moved on with him following their 2018 split. (Cassie has been married to Alex Fine since 2019.)
Diddy’s lawyer Ben Brafman denied the accusations on his behalf at the time, stating that Cassie’s lawsuit was “riddled with baseless and outrageous lies, aiming to tarnish Mr. Combs’ reputation and [is] seeking a payday.”
Paras Griffin/Getty Images While Sean “Diddy” Combs has fervently denied ex-girlfriend Cassie’s rape and assault allegations, multiple women have come forward with similar claims of alleged misconduct by the music mogul. Us Weekly confirmed in November 2023 that Cassie (real name Casandra Ventura) filed a lawsuit against Diddy, accusing him of rape and repeated physical […]
The case was settled just one day after Cassie’s filing. “I have decided to resolve this matter amicably on terms that I have some level of control,” she told Us Weekly in a statement through her attorney Douglas Wigdor. “I want to thank my family, fans and lawyers for their unwavering support.”
In a statement of his own, Diddy said: “We have decided to resolve this matter amicably. I wish Cassie and her family all the best. Love.”
Scroll down for a timeline of Diddy’s sexual assault legal troubles:
November 2023
Following Cassie’s case settlement, a 2004 New York Magazine interview with Kimora Lee Simmons resurfaced, in which she claimed that Diddy “threatened to hit her” while she was pregnant. The interview noted that Diddy “eventually got down on his knees in public to apologize.” (Kimora is a mother to five kids, whom she shares with multiple partners. Diddy did not address her comments at the time.))
Diddy was soon hit with another lawsuit from a woman named Joi Dickerson-Neal. In court docs obtained by Us filed on November 23, Dickerson-Neal claimed that the musician “drugged, sexually assaulted and abused” her when she was a college student in 1991 and was a victim of “revenge porn” Diddy created and released. Diddy’s spokesperson called the lawsuit a “money grab” in a statement to CNN.
Hahn-Marechal-Nebinger/ABAC/Startraks
December 2023
An anonymous woman, dubbed Jane Doe, filed a lawsuit against the music mogul claiming she was sex-trafficked and gang-raped by Diddy and other men when she was 17 years old in 2008. She allegedly flew out to meet him in New York City and was given “copious amounts of drugs and alcohol” before the men forced themselves on her, according to court docs obtained by Us.
Diddy declared that “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH,” in a statement to Us at the time, adding, “For the last couple of weeks, I have sat silently and watched people try to assassinate my character, destroy my reputation and my legacy. Sickening allegations have been made against me by individuals looking for a quick payday. Let me be absolutely clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged. I will fight for my name, my family and for the truth.”
February 2024
Diddy once again denied any wrongdoing after being accused of sexual assault in another lawsuit, this one filed by music producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones. Jones alleged that during his time living and traveling with Diddy from September 2022 to November 2023, he witnessed and recorded Diddy and his staff “engaging in serious illegal activity.” Jones claimed he was sexually assaulted by Diddy in more than one of the rapper’s homes, as well as on a yacht rented by Diddy.
Diddy called Jones — who was seeking $30 million in damages — “a liar” in a statement through his attorney Shawn Holley. “We have overwhelming, indisputable proof that his claims are complete lies. We will address these outlandish allegations in court and take all appropriate action against those who make them,” Holley added.
Fernando Lucena/Startraks
March 2024
Diddy’s Los Angeles and Miami homes were raided in connection with a federal sex trafficking investigation by Homeland Security. Diddy was not present at his homes at the time of the raids but was later found boarding a private jet at a Miami airport. Two of his sons were reportedly detained in the raid on his L.A. property but were released without charges.
“Yesterday, there was a gross overuse of military-level force as search warrants were executed at Mr. Combs’ residences,” Diddy’s attorney Aaron Dyer said in a statement to Us, denying that any of his family members had been arrested. “There is no excuse for the excessive show of force and hostility exhibited by authorities or the way his children and employees were treated.”
Following the raids, it was revealed that Diddy’s eldest son, Justin Combs, was named in an amended complaint filed by Jones. In the court docs, obtained by Us, the phrase “sex trafficking” was mentioned 50 times. Reps for Justin said in a statement that he “categorically denies these absurd allegations,” per NBC News.
Years before two of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ homes were raided in connection to a federal sex trafficking investigation, there was conversation about what went on at the rapper’s residences. After the March 2024 raid made headlines, a clip resurfaced of Usher recalling his experience living with Diddy as a teenager. “I got a chance to […]
April 2024
Diddy’s youngest son, Christian “King” Combs, was accused of sexually assaulting a woman who worked on a yacht Diddy chartered for a 2022 trip in a Los Angeles County Superior Court lawsuit. The woman, Grace O’Marcaigh, also accused King of sexual harassment and emotional distress and Diddy for aiding and abetting.
Diddy’s attorney Dyer slammed the lawsuit in a statement to Us. “We have not seen this woman’s claim but I’m sure we can expect the same kind of manufactured lies … just as we saw in Rodney Jones’ lawsuit — which has yet to be served.”
Later that month, news broke that Diddy’s alleged drug mule, Brendan Paul, was arrested for cocaine and marijuana possession. Paul was later charged with one felony count of drug possession. (Paul avoided jail time but was ordered to enter a six-month drug diversion program the following month.)
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and Cassie.ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images
May 2024
Less than a week after Diddy filed a motion to dismiss Jane Doe’s December 2023 lawsuit against him, CNN released security footage from 2016 allegedly showing Diddy physically assaulting Cassie in a now-closed Los Angeles hotel. In the clip, Diddy was shown allegedly hitting and kicking Cassie, as well as throwing an object at her.
The Los Angeles District Attorney’s office explained in a statement that Diddy could not be charged for the security footage “as the conduct would have occurred beyond the timeline where a crime of assault can be prosecuted.”
Diddy addressed the footage in an Instagram video, telling fans, “My behavior on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I’m disgusted.” Though he didn’t mention Cassie by name, he captioned the post, “I’m sorry.”
A member of Cassie’s legal team, Meredith Firetog, criticized Diddy’s apology video in a statement to Us. “When Cassie and multiple other women came forward, he denied everything and suggested that his victims were looking for a payday,” she said. “That he was only compelled to ‘apologize’ once his repeated denials were proven false shows his pathetic desperation, and no one will be swayed by his disingenuous words.”
Cassie addressed the security video in a lengthy social media statement, writing, “Thank you to everyone that has taken the time to take this matter seriously. My only ask is that EVERYONE open you hear to believing victims the first time. It takes a lot of heart to tell the truth out of a situation that you were powerless in.”
Some companies appear to be distancing themselves from Sean “Diddy” Combs as the rapper continues to face sexual assault allegations. In recent months, multiple women have come forward to share allegations of misconduct by the music mogul. One individual who filed a lawsuit was his ex-girlfriend Cassie. (The exes dated on and off from 2007 […]
May 2024
Diddy continued to face more allegations after a woman named April Lampros accused him of drugging and sexually assaulting her several times in a new lawsuit. The alleged abuse took place after she met Diddy in NYC in 1995 during her time as a student at the Fashion Institute of Technology.
Lampros’ lawsuit alleged that she was once forced by Diddy to have sex with his late ex-girlfriend, Kim Porter, as he watched and that the music mogul recorded one of their sexual encounters without her knowledge.
Diddy moved to dismiss Lampros’ case in August 2024, arguing that some of her claims were time barred and did not apply to New York allowing previous sex offenses to be prosecuted. Lampros filed a cross-motion one month later, asking for permission to add additional details to her case regarding the alleged time barred claims.
Diddy was also accused of sexual assault by model Crystal McKinney for an alleged incident that took place in 2003. In her lawsuit, McKinney claimed that Diddy forced her to perform oral sex despite denying his advancement and that she was subsequently blackballed from the modeling industry. (Diddy’s team did not respond to Us’ request for comment for either lawsuit at the time.)
McKinney, Dickerson-Neal and Jane Doe came forward about their experiences in a Rolling Stone report. “It isn’t about money,” Dickerson-Neal told the outlet of their respective lawsuits against Diddy. “It’s about making sure the world sees that this man who rose to the level of an ‘icon’ is actually sick and has left so many victims in [the wake of his] unpunished disgusting behavior for years.”
PA Images/INSTARimages
August 2024
Adria Englishfiled a criminal complaint against Diddy after accusing him of sex trafficking her from 2004 to 2009 in a July 2024 lawsuit.
“Ms. English is very excited and cautiously optimistic about her journey to justice starting with the filing of her civil lawsuit on July 3, 2024, and now with the filing of a criminal complaint with the Miami Beach Police Department,” Ariel E. Mitchell told Us in a statement. “Ms. English hopes to file an additional criminal complaint in New York but has been precluded to this point as New York requires an individual to be in person in order to file a criminal complaint.”
Diddy’s attorney Jonathan Davis called English’s accusations “baseless” in a statement to Entertainment Weekly one month prior, adding, “No matter how many lawsuits are filed, it won’t change the fact that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted or sex trafficked anyone. We live in a world where anyone can file a lawsuit for any reason and without any proof. Fortunately, a fair and impartial judicial process exists to find the truth and Mr. Combs is confident he will prevail against these and other baseless claims in court.”
In addition to being a rapper and entrepreneur, Diddy is the proud dad to seven children. The rapper started his family in 1993 when he and fashion designer Misa Hylton welcomed a baby boy. Diddy later moved on with model Kim Porter. The twosome had an on-again, off-again relationship from 1994 to 2007, during which […]
September 2024
Former Danity Kane member Dawn Richardfiled a lawsuit against Diddy accusing him of sexual abuse, manipulation and terrorizing her. She also alleged that she witnessed Diddy abuse Cassie and Porter in front of her, and claimed Diddy promised to advance her singing career if she gave into his sexual demands following her time on MTV’s Making The Band.
Another of Diddy’s attorneys Erica Wolff noted that he was “shocked and disappointed” by the lawsuit in a statement at the time. “It’s unfortunate that Ms. Richard has cast their 20-year friendship aside to try and get money from him, but Mr. Combs is confidently standing on truth and looks forward to proving that in court,” she added.
Later that month, Diddy was ordered to pay a $100 million default judgment for a civil lawsuit filed by a Michigan inmate who accused him of sexual assault. The default judgment was ordered after Diddy failed to appear in a virtual hearing. Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith accused the rapper of drugging and sexually assaulting him at a 1997 party in Detroit. Diddy proceeded to challenge the ruling by filing an emergency motion to vacate the default judgment. He also filed to dissolve a preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order.
With authorities apparently armed with necessary evidence to move forward, Diddy was arrested in NYC on September 16 after a grand jury indicted him on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. The indictment accuses Diddy of abusing and threatening women to “to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation and conceal his conduct,” with some incidents dating back to 2009, according to new documents.
Sean “Diddy” Combs was indicted on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering on Tuesday, September 17, following his arrest one day prior. The indictment, unsealed on Tuesday, accuses the music mogul, 54, of abusing, threatening and coercing women for years “to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation and conceal his conduct.” Some of the […]
“To do so, Combs relied on the employees, resources and influence of the multifaceted business empire that he led and controlled — creating a criminal enterprise whose members and associates engaged in, and attempted to engage in, among other crimes, sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice,” the indictment stated.
Diddy plead not guilty to the sex trafficking and racketeering charges at the time.
“We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” his attorney Marc Agnifilo told Us in a statement.
He added: “He is an imperfect person, but he is not a criminal. … Please reserve your judgment until you have all the facts. These are the acts of an innocent man with nothing to hide, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court.”
Diddy pleaded not guilty to charges before he was denied bail and remanded to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn until his trial. Multiple reports surfaced that Diddy was subsequently placed on suicide watch.
Diddy’s lawyer, however, denied the reports in a statement to Us. According to Agnifilo, it is standard protocol for “new, high-profile inmates,” but Diddy is “not at all suicidal” and is “strong, healthy, confident and focused on his defense.”
Later that month, The New York Times obtained a new court letter that laid out Diddy’s alleged plan to blow up a car. While the letter did not identify the targeted person, the details aligned with claims laid out by Cassiein her November 2023 lawsuit against Diddy. She alleged that Diddy had been “angry” when she started dating Kid Cudi after one of their splits and threatened to firebomb the rapper’s vehicle in retaliation. (Diddy did not specifically address the firebomb allegations at the time but issued a broad statement denying all of Cassie’s claims.)
“In the early morning hours of December 22, 2011, the defendant [Diddy] and a co-conspirator kidnapped an individual at gunpoint to facilitate breaking into and entering the residence of another,” the court documents read. “Multiple witnesses would testify at trial to the events surrounding the kidnapping and break-in, the latter of which is corroborated by police reports and other records.”
According to the letter, Diddy’s “co-conspirators” allegedly “set fire” to the car “by slicing open the car’s convertible top and dropping a Molotov cocktail inside the interior.”
“Police and fire department records extensively document the arson and conclude that the fire was intentionally set,” the letter continues.
December 2024
Diddy and Jay-Z were accused of raping a 13-year-old girl in 2000, as detailed in a civil lawsuit that was originally filed against Diddy alone in October and refiled to add Jay-Z’s name on December 8.
The accuser, who remained anonymous and was only identified as “Jane Doe,” claimed the assault occurred at an after party for the MTV Music Video Awards.
Jay-Z said in a statement to Us on December 8 that he denied the allegations lodged against him. “My lawyer received a blackmail attempt, called a demand letter, from a ‘lawyer’ named Tony Buzbee. What he had calculated was the nature of these allegations and the public scrutiny would make me want to settle,” Jay-Z wrote at the time. “No sir, it had the opposite effect! It made me want to expose you for the fraud you are in a VERY public fashion. So no, I will not give you ONE RED PENNY!!”
January 2025
Defense attorneys for Diddy claimed in a January 14 court filing that videos of sexual activity between Diddy, Cassie and male prostitutes “confirm Mr. Combs’s innocence,” per ABC News. The attorneys alleged in court papers that the clips show sexual activity among “consenting adults.”
There are nine videos of Combs’ “freak offs” that are available for defense attorneys to view. They are allegedly asking judges for electric copies.
“Contrary to what the government has led this Court and the public to believe, the so-called ‘Freak Offs’ were private sexual activity between fully consenting adults in a long-term relationship,” defense attorneys Marc Agnifilo and TenyGeragos said.
The defense said that the videos between Diddy and Cassie “unambiguously show that the person alleged in the indictment to be ‘Victim-1’ not only consented but thoroughly enjoyed herself.”
“At bottom, this case is about whether Victim-I was or was not a willing participant in her private sex life with Mr. Combs. The videos confirm that she plainly was,” the defense said.
On January 22, Diddy filed a $50 million defamation lawsuit against one of his accusers, Courtney Burgess, and Burgess’ attorney, Ariel Mitchell, along with NewsNation. The suit came after Burgess previously claimed to have footage of Diddy’s “freak offs.” He also appeared on NewsNation’s Banfield alongside Mitchell in November 2024 to discuss the allegations against Diddy.
Two additional suits were filed against Diddy on February 4. Two women accused the music mogul of forcing them into “group sex” and alleged that he directed a club promoter to rape one of them in the late ’80s and ’90s. That same day, Diddy was sued by another John Doe who claimed the rapper drugged and assaulted him in 2015.
Diddy subsequently sued Peacock for $100 million over alleged “defamatory statements” made in the Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy documentary.
On February 28, Rolling Stone obtained court documents in which a former I Want to Work for Diddy reality show contestant accused Diddy of sexual misconduct.
March 2025
A superseding indictment filed on March 6 included new claims regarding forced labor through “physical force, psychological harm, financial harm, and reputational harm, and/or threats of the same” and an allegation that Diddy made one employee “engage in sex acts.”
On March 26, another John Doe filed a suit alleging that Diddy sexually assaulted him in either 2022 or 2023 while on the set of a commercial. USA Today obtained the complaint, alleging that the anonymous man “struck up a conversation” with Diddy. The musician allegedly invited the man, who was a “photographer/production assistant,” into his trailer and demanded oral sex.
Allegedly, after Combs invited Doe into his trailer, he demanded Doe perform oral sex on him and promised to “make your career take off.” Doe called the alleged incident “blatant sexual quid-pro-quo.” Diddy’s team denied the allegation in a statement to the newspaper.
April 2025
TMZ reported that another accuser — a man, Joseph Manzaro — filed a sex trafficking lawsuit against Diddy, alleging he was sexually assaulted by the rapper.
Manzaro reportedly claimed in the filing that he was drugged and brought to one of Diddy’s parties in Florida, where multiple A-Listers were in attendance, including Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Lebron James, Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan and more. At the alleged event, Manzaro claimed the music mogul allegedly strapped a penis mask to his face and paraded him around.
Gloria, Emilio and Jay-Z have denied being at the event. Beyoncé and James have yet to address the lawsuit claims. Us reached out to both at the time. (Monzaro filed an amendment on April 11 which removed Beyoncé and Jay-Z as witnesses from the legal complaint.)
Diddy’s legal team also denied the allegations.
“This complaint demonstrates the depraved lengths plaintiffs will travel to garner headlines in pursuit of a payday,” read a statement to TMZ. “No sane person reading this complaint could credit this story. Mr. Combs looks forward to having his day in court where these lies — and the perverse motives of those who told them — will be revealed.”
On April 4, federal prosecutors added two additional charges to the indictment against Diddy. He was charged with one additional count of sex trafficking and one additional count of transportation to engage in prostitution relating to a person identified as Victim-2. The conduct in the new charges allegedly occurred between 2021 and 2024.
He now faces a total of five federal charges after he was previously charged with racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution related to three victims and one count of sex trafficking related to a person known as Victim-1.
“These are not new allegations or new accusers. These are the same individuals, former long-term girlfriends, who were involved in consensual relationships,” Diddy’s legal team told Us Weekly in a statement. “This was their private sex life, defined by consent, not coercion.”
On April 18, Diddy’s request to push back the start date of his trial by two months was denied by judge Arun Subramanian. The trial will go ahead as planned on May 5, the same day as the Met Gala. It was reported days later that Cassie would testify against him under her own name, as opposed to Victim-1.
In a motion filed in April, the prosecution stated that “Victim-1” would not be testifying anonymously. “She is prepared to testify under her own name,” the filing stated. “Victim-2, Victim-3 and Victim-4 have asked that their identities not be revealed to the press or the public.” Us reached out to Cassie and Diddy’s legal teams for comment at the time.
With the trial set to start in May, prosecutors filed a motion on April 27 to prevent Diddy’s lawyers from including testimony from a psychiatrist that suggests Diddy was not mentally capable of committing these crimes due to drugs and alcohol.
Prosecutors wrote in their objection, “If a defendant intends to introduce expert evidence relating to ‘a mental disease or defect or any other mental condition of the defendant bearing on . . . the issue of guilt,’ he must provide notice to the Government.”
July 2025
A New York jury found Diddy guilty of two charges of transportation to engage in prostitution after a two-month trial. He was acquitted of three subsequent charges, including two counts of sex trafficking and one count of racketeering conspiracy. A judge denied Diddy bail, remanding him to jail until his sentencing.
September 2025
Deonte Nash, a former stylist for Diddy who testified against him during his sex trafficking trial, filed a lawsuit accusing the disgraced mogul of sexual battery, human trafficking and false imprisonment while he was in his employ.
“Nash personally experienced sexual, physical, mental and emotional abuse at the hands of Defendants during his 10-year employment,” read the lawsuit, per CBS News. The stylist allegedly experienced “forced tests of loyalty and manipulation, sexual harassment and sexual assaults, physical violence and manhandling, labor trafficking, threats of harm and threats of death.”
Nash, who began working for Diddy in 2008 when he was 21, said the alleged abuse caused him to resign in 2018 but claimed his former boss’ team “continued to threaten” him.
“After enduring years of abuse, I finally found the courage during the criminal trial, and I am now ready to take action,” Nash said in a statement. “Sean Combs has never taken accountability for the years of harm he inflicted on me and so many others.”
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During the trial, Nash testified that he witnessed Diddy threatening Cassie and being physically violent toward her.
Diddy denied the allegations in Nash’s lawsuit in a statement to Us via his legal team. “Mr. Nash is another opportunist looking to profit off his proximity to celebrity. This complaint is riddled with falsehoods and stands in stark contrast to the record that has already been established in court,” the statement read. “Mr. Combs has dedicated his life and career to uplifting artists, creating opportunities and building one of the most influential cultural enterprises in the world. Mr. Nash’s tabloid-style accusations are insulting not only to Mr. Combs, but also to the countless individuals who worked honorably and professionally within his companies. In court, the truth will prevail, as it did in his criminal trial: that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted anyone — adult or minor, man or woman. Mr. Combs looks forward to clearing his name again in a court of law where truth matters.”
Love is decidedly not embarrassing for Olivia Rodrigoand her boyfriend, Louis Partridge.
Rodrigo and Partridge were first linked in fall 2023 when they were spotted packing on the PDA in the actor’s native London.
“Dating probably shouldn’t be done in the public eye,” Partridge told British Vogue in a March 2024 profile. “There’s enough going on between two people. You don’t need the voices of thousands of others in your head. I think she’s got it a lot worse than I have. I can be a bit of a normal person. She’s got tons and tons of eyes on her case.”
He added, “If there’s a load of people nattering in a room about you, you can choose to put your ear to the door to hear what they say or not. I think you’re probably better off not letting curiosity get the better of you.”
Olivia Rodrigo earned the title of breakup anthem queen after the 2021 release of her debut album, Sour — but who served as the songstress’ inspiration? From Disney costars to music producers, take a look at the “Good 4 U” artist’s past romances. Ethan Wacker Before making it big and topping the charts, Rodrigo was […]
Five months later, the pop star and Partridge made their red carpet debut at the Venice International Film Festival premiere of his Apple TV+ series Disclaimer.
Keep scrolling for the pair’s complete relationship timeline:
October 2023
Rodrigo and Partridge were first spotted together in London in October. Two months later, Partridge jetted across the pond to New York City to attend her Jingle Ball concert and Saturday Night Live return.
January 2023
Courtesy of Olivia Rodrigo/Instagram
Rodrigo’s fans were convinced that she subtly soft-launched their relationship in a January photo dump on Instagram. In a post captioned “These days🌼🌼🌼,” Rodrigo included a photo of herself playing darts. According to the scoreboard, “OR” was competing against “LP.”
March 2024
Up until this point, Rodrigo hadn’t outright confirmed whether she was dating the actor. After dropping sophomore album Guts, fans theorized that the song “So American” was about Partridge.
“And he laughs at all my jokes / And he says I’m so American / Oh God, it’s just not fair of him / To make me feel this much,” Rodrigo sings. “I’d go anywhere he goes / And he says I’m so American /Oh God, I’m gonna marry him / If he keeps this s— up.”
Partridge also declined to address whether he is Rodrigo’s muse, telling Elle the following October, “Not my song, not my place. So, I wouldn’t know.”
Around the same time, eagle-eyed fans kept noticing Partridge attending U.S. shows on Rodrigo’s Guts tour.
August 2024
Eric Charbonneau/Apple TV+ via Getty Images
Rodrigo and Partridge made their official red carpet debut at the Venice International Film Festival premiere of Disclaimer. The outing was also their official Instagram debut with Partridge sharing PDA pics on his Instagram Story.
November 2024
After Rodrigo wrapped her Guts tour, she reunited with Partridge at the November 3 soccer match between U.K. teams Manchester United FC and Chelsea FC. In footage shared via social media, the Disney Channel alum sported a dainty “L” necklace in honor of Partridge’s first name.
February 2025
Johnny Nunez/Getty Images
Rodrigo walked the 2025 Grammys red carpet solo but was joined by Partridge inside the awards ceremony. The two looked loved up while smiling for photos at their Crypto.com Arena table.
June 2025
Rodrigo performed at London’s Hyde Park on June 27, where she teased her affinity for the country.
“As luck would have it, I really love English boys,” Rodrigo said, introducing “So American,” per concert footage shared via social media. “In particular, one English boy. I wrote this song at a time, where I was really, really crushing on [him]. We were getting to know each other, getting to know all of our various cultural differences like, ‘Oh, wow, you drive on the other side of the road’ or ‘You call every dessert a pudding.’ I was just so fascinated by all the differences.”
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Partridge was spotted watching the concert from a perch in the crowd.
September 2025
In a Varietyprofile, Partridge was asked about being known as “Mr. Olivia Rodrigo.”
“I can handle that,” he told the outlet. “I’m very happy, and I think she is too, so all is good in our world.”
But while the event’s best and worst moments kept fans glued to their TV screens on Sunday, September 7, a night full of untelevised moments were seen firsthand only by Us Weekly.
From famous faces unveiling killer dance moves away from the cameras inside New York City’s UBS Arena, to the musical performance that scored the night’s most rambunctious applause, non-stop behind-the-scenes action kept Us on the edge of its seat all night.
As for the event’s most decorated artist, Lady Gaga, she offered brief-but-sweet interactions with a select few, while Ariana Grande, who came out with three of her own Moon Person trophies, made time for almost everybody in the room.
The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards celebrates the year’s biggest artists and music videos, so of course they also delivered bold and unforgettable fashion moments. Some of Hollywood’s favorites attended the star-studded affair, which took place at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, on Sunday, September 7. From Sabrina Carpenter and Taylor Swift to […]
Elsewhere, surprising friendships came to light, awkward run-ins couldn’t be avoided and Mariah Carey finally took home the statue she’d long been waiting for.
Scroll down for more 2025 VMAs action exclusively caught by Us.
Lady Gaga Arrived Late
Ariana Grande and Lady GagaKevin Mazur/Getty Images for MTV
The Artist of the Year recipient was unable to attend the entire ceremony due to a conflicting Mayhem Ball concert date at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Gaga arrived after LL Cool J’s opening monologue and quickly took her place in the front row next to Ariana after giving her a hug.
Ariana Grande Fangirled Over Lola Young
While Ariana walked away from the night with the Video of the Year, Best Pop and Best Longform Video trophies, she was also an avid supporter of her industry peers. Us spotted the “Brighter Days Ahead” singer offering Lola Young a standing ovation after her performance.
Stars Took Their Time Catching Up With Each Other
Sabrina Carpenter and Ariana GrandeJohn Shearer/Getty Images for MTV
Us saw plenty of star-powered interaction throughout the night, including FKA Twigs chatting to KATSEYE, Ariana and fashion stylist Law Roach leaving their seats together and rapper Sexyy Red hugging Jersey Shore’s DJ Pauly D. Ariana made sure she chatted to several industry friends including Carey after she presented her with the Michael Jackson Vanguard Award, Sabrina Carpenter, Tate McCrae and Too Much star Megan Stalter, whom she hugged.
Ricky Martin’s Performance Rocked the House
Ricky Martin’s performanceJohnny Nunez/Getty Images for MTV
The “Livin’ la Vida Loca” star, who arrived on stage in a box, brought the house down with Tyla, Frankie Grande, his half-sister Ariana, KATSEYE, FKA Twigs and other artists jumping out of their seats to dance. Speaking of standout musical acts, Busta Rhymes also raised energy levels and got everyone standing.
A Technical Glitch Made KATSEYE’s Award Awkward
Ice Spice and LattoJohnny Nunez/Getty Images for MTV
Ice Spice and Latto didn’t read ‘KATSEYE’ while presenting the Push Performance of the Year award. Music began playing as the presenters were about to open the winner’s envelope. An awkward pause was felt before KATSEYE suddenly got on the stage.
Mariah Carey Appeared Uncomfortable
Mariah CareyKevin Mazur/Getty Images for MTV
The musical icon appeared to walk very slowly throughout the venue. She also looked to be quite stiff-like at times.
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Frankie Grande Loved Alex Warren’s Performance
Seen jamming to Alex Warren’s “Ordinary,” Frankie was the only person in his section to stand during the performance. He also raised his hands in the air as he enjoyed that particular track.
Ed Sheeran Failed to Attract Many Cheers
When Ed Sheeran’s “Sapphire” was announced in the category of Best Pop, hardly anybody was heard cheering compared to other category announcements.
Sabrina Carpenter Dropped the F-Bomb
Sabrina CarpenterKevin Mazur/Getty Images for MTV
During her acceptance speech for Album of the Year, Carpenter expressed her passion for the queer community with a surprising expletive. “This world, as we all know, can be so full of criticism and discrimination and negativity,” she said. “So to get to be part of something that can bring light, make you smile, make you dance, and make you feel like the world is your f***ing oyster. I’m so grateful to do that.”
Zach Bryan at the 2023 Academy of Country Music AwardsCasey Flanigan/imageSPACE/Shutterstock
Rising artist Zach Bryan‘s swoon-worthy songwriting has fans curious about the real-life love stories that inspired them.
Bryan’s career took off after the 2022 release of his album American Heartbreak, his first record with a major label. He previously dropped DeAnn and Elisabeth in 2019 and 2020, respectively, later solidifying his place in the industry with the viral success of his Grammy-nominated single, “Something in the Orange.”
With a strong base of dedicated fans, Bryan has gone from performing for a small TikTok audience to filling stadiums. His personal life, however, has remained relatively under wraps — until he sparked a romance with a Barstool Sports personality in 2023.
Scroll down to learn more about Bryan’s love life through the years — including his whirlwind marriage:
Rose Madden
The former spouses tied the knot in July 2020, but their marriage didn’t last long. By July 2021, the twosome had called it quits.
At the time, Madden returned to social media after a noticeable absence — and wiped all pics with Bryan from her feed. “She’s ba—ack ;-),” she captioned a solo photo.
Deb Peifer
Deb PeiferCourtesy of Deb Peifer/Instagram
Following his split from Madden, the songwriter moved on with Peifer. The pair frequently gave fans glimpses of their life together — and their dog — before Bryan announced their breakup in May 2023.
“For transparency and with respect I am letting everyone know Debra and me went our separate ways about a week and a half ago. Things are mutual between us, we’re leaving with plenty memories and good times,” he tweeted. “I beg so much that everyone respects her and my privacy through a hard time.”
Brianna LaPaglia
Brianna “Chickenfry” LapagliaCourtesy of Brianna Lapaglia/Instagram
The Barstool Sports personality made a surprise appearance on stage during one of Bryan’s New York City concerts in June 2023 — and dating rumors were sparked soon after. The pair initially crossed paths earlier that year at the 2023 ACM Awards weeks before Bryan announced his split from Peifer.
LaPaglia — a.k.a. Brianna Chickenfry — addressed the duo’s relationship on her “PlanBri Uncut” podcast in July 2023. “It’s fun, it’s casual, and yeah, I just wanted to address it because the whole internet is freaking the f—k out and people are doing s—t,” she said, confirming that she was seeing Bryan. “And yeah, that’s really it. Just hanging out, having some fun.”
Throughout the summer, the pair spent more time with each other, including in Bryan’s native Oklahoma. Following his September 2023 arrest for “obstruction of investigation,” LaPaglia seemingly poked fun at her boyfriend’s controversy by sharing Britney Spears‘ “Criminal” via her Instagram Story.
After a year of dating, Bryan announced via his Instagram Story that he and LaPaglia were done. “Brianna and me have broken up with each other and I respect and love her with every ounce of my heart,” he wrote in October 2024. “She has loved me unconditionally for a very long time and for that I’ll always thank her.”
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The “I Remember Everything” singer noted that he’s had “an incredibly hard year personally and struggled through some pretty severe things,” which contributed to the split.
“I thought it would be beneficial for both of us to go our different ways. I am not perfect and never will be,” he continued. “With everything I am and to anyone I let down, I am sorry. I try my best in everything. I failed people that love me and mostly myself.”
Samantha Leonard
Courtesy of Samantha Leonard/ Instagram
Leonard confirmed her romance with Bryan in August 2025, sharing loved-up Instagram photos from a joint boat trip.
The pop princess, 26, is wittier than ever on Man’s Best Friend (released Friday, August 29), turning her hookups and heartbreaks into LOL-worthy one-liners.
Carpenter roasts her ex-boyfriends and former flings throughout the unapologetic 12-track album, which features the same bawdy lyricism that became her signature on 2022’s Emails I Can’t Send and 2024’s Short n’ Sweet.
“The album is not for any pearl-clutchers,” she told Gayle King in a CBS Mornings interview airing Friday. “But I also think that even pearl-clutchers can listen to an album like that in their own solitude and find something that makes them smirk and chuckle to themselves.”
Sabrina Carpenter’s latest studio album, Man’s Best Friend, has sparked plenty of conversation on both sides, but the singer isn’t letting it get her down. “It’s always so funny to me when people complain,” she said in her Rolling Stone cover story published in May 2025, specifically referring to the backlash over her provocative Short […]
Carpenter announced Man’s Best Friend in June, immediately causing a stir with cover art showing the former Disney star on her hands and knees while a man grabs her hair. The polarizing photo led one X user to wonder whether Carpenter has “a personality outside of sex,” to which the “Espresso” singer clapped back, “Girl yes and it is goooooood.”
Carpenter subsequently revealed an alternate cover in which she is seen wearing a gown at a black-tie event. She joked that the new image was “approved by God.”
Carpenter is just as much of a comedian on the album itself. Read the 10 funniest lyrics from Man’s Best Friend below.
Sabrina CarpenterMatt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
“Manchild”
On the country-influenced lead single, Carpenter asks an immature ex in her best caveman-speak, “Why so sexy if so dumb? / And how survive the Earth so long?”
“Tears”
Carpenter pushes the envelope in the chorus of the album’s second single: “I get wet at the thought of you / Being a responsible guy / Treating me like you’re supposed to do / Tears run down my thighs.”
“My Man on Willpower”
“He’s busy, he’s working, he doesn’t have time for me,” Carpenter laments of a lover who’s lost interest in her. “My slutty pajamas not tempting him in the least.”
“We Almost Broke Up Again Last Night”
Carpenter chronicles a turbulent romance on its last legs, singing, “You say we’re driftin’ apart / I said, ‘Yeah, I f***in’ know’ / Big deal, we’ve been here before / And we’ll be here tomorrow.”
Sabrina Carpenter isn’t afraid to strip down. Carpenter, 26, showed off her birthday suit while posing on the cover of Rolling Stone on Thursday, June 12. The singer went completely naked for the photoshoot, covering her body with extra-long, Rapunzel-like locks. Instead of rocking her signature bouncy curls, Carpenter opted for wavy tresses, which cascaded […]
“Never Getting Laid”
Carpenter is a voodoo vixen as she wishes “abstinence” — and then some — on a past partner: “I just hope you get agoraphobia someday.”
“When Did You Get Hot?”
When Carpenter runs into “a sexy man” she once knew to be “an ugly kid,” she tells him, “Congratulations on your new improvements / I bet your light rod’s, like, bigger than Zeus’s.”
“Go Go Juice”
Carpenter finds herself reaching for her phone during a night out, admitting, “I’m just drinking to call someone / Ain’t nobody safe when I’m a little bit drunk.”
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“Don’t Worry I’ll Make You Worry”
“You think that I’m gonna f*** with your head / Well, you’re absolutely right,” Carpenter warns a new love interest.
“House Tour”
While inviting a guy over for a late-night rendezvous, Carpenter informs him, “I spent a little fortune on the waxed floors / We can be a little reckless ’cause it’s insured.”
“Goodbye”
Carpenter is so fed up with her beau on the album’s closer that she bids him farewell in multiple languages: “Sayonara, adiós / You’re not bilingual, but you should know goodbye.” Later, she doubles down, “Arrivederci, au revoir / Forgive my French, but f*** you, ta-ta.”
Maren Morrisis speaking out after she was allegedly groped during a recent meet-and-greet with her fans.
“Hi y’all. Tonight’s show was so fun, but someone grabbed my ass during [the] meet-and-greet before the show,” Morris, 35, wrote via her Instagram Stories on Friday, August 22, without identifying the individual. “I’m going to continue them because one person shouldn’t ruin it for everyone.”
Morris further offered fans helpful tips if they purchase a meet-and-greet package in the future.
“Please know I’m there to connect, share, hug [and] all the things,” she wrote. “But, please don’t override someone’s personal space. Love you.”
UPDATE 7/12/24 One month after debuting the track at Red Rocks, Morris officially released “I Hope I Never Fall in Love.” “‘I Hope I Never Fall in Love’ is the afterglow of a s-tshow. It’s a bittersweet heartbreaker because I’m in self-protection mode but still want to feel things. So throwing parties, going home with […]
Morris has been performing her Dreamsicle Tour this summer, stopping in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Friday.
“Grand Rapids, MI, Thank you for a beautiful garden venue, a perfect sunset and for selling the damn show out,” she wrote via Instagram several hours later. “We can’t wait to come back.”
“It’s actually, to me, what happens after divorce,” the musician told The Cut of her musical inspiration. “I’m not documenting what happened during the relationship. I’m documenting the grief, anger, and sadness that follows, and the vulnerability of putting yourself back out there again … of reconnecting with your female friends and yourself.”
Morris split from then-husband Ryan Hurd in 2023 after five years of marriage. The two country singers finalized their divorce in 2024, agreeing to share joint custody of 5-year-old son Hayes.
“We’re over a year out now … [and] we get along now and have moved past a lot of it,” Morris said on Chelsea Handler’s “Dear Chelsea” podcast in June. “We’re neighbors, and I’m just so fortunate that we have put our son above each other’s s***, and it’s better for the two of us if we’re getting along.”
Maren Morris is opening up about her divorce from Ryan Hurd. The singer, 35, addressed the end of her marriage to Hurd, 38, on the Thursday, June 19, edition of the “Therapuss” podcast. “In Nashville, you know I’ve been divorced for a little over a year now,” Morris said. “It’s a small town and we’re […]
She continued, “I’m lucky that we love each other so much still. We have the highest respect, but also there is that devastation that two people [who] love each other that much can’t make it work in the real world. It’s always going to be multifaceted. We have the highest respect, but also there is that devastation that two people [who] love each other that much can’t make it work in the real world. It’s always going to be multifaceted.”
Morris, who publicly came out as bisexual after their divorce, further stressed that she and Hurd, 38, are “great coparents.”
“We’ve let each other go in that romantic sense, even though we still have so much love and history,” Morris added. “The person you marry is not the person you divorce, and … just the hardest part is knowing that it’s not the same.”
The Voice is in the midst of filming their 28th season, but behind the scenes the cast and crew are mourning the death of producer and talent manager Brandon Blackstock.
“It’s been tough,” Carson Daly — who hosts the reality competition series — told Us Weekly exclusively at the opening night of Broadway’s Jeff Ross: Take a Banana for the Ride in New York City on Monday, August 18. “We all knew Brandon well, and we are a family.”
Us confirmed on August 7 that Blackstock died at the age of 48 after battling malignant melanoma for three years. He was previously married to Kelly Clarkson from 2013 to 2022, and they shared two children, River Rose, 11 and Remington, 9.
Blackstock was also the stepson of Reba McEntire, who was married to his father, music manager Narvel Blackstock, from 1989 to 2015.
Reba McEntire and Brandon Blackstock’s dad, Narvel Blackstock, split a decade ago, but the country superstar was still there for the family in the months leading up to Brandon’s death. “Reba has spent more time with the Blackstock crew in the past year than in years prior,” an insider exclusively tells Us Weekly, adding that […]
McEntire, 70, is currently a coach on season 28 of The Voice, alongside Michael Bublé, Niall Horan and Snoop Dogg.
“I was working with [Reba] last week, everything was fresh, so we’ve just been sending our prayers and support to them,” Daly told Us. “It’s a terrible situation.”
Daly’s wife, Siri Pinter, added: “The Voice has always been a huge family-first atmosphere. Our kids were even raised there.”
Daly and Pinter, 44, share four children: Jackson, 16, Etta, 12, London, 10, and Goldie, 5.
Carson Daly and Siri PinterValerie Terranova/WireImage
“It’s really no different than what you would do for your family members,” Daly concluded. “You let them know you’re there, you’re praying for them [and] you’re giving them space at the same time.”
Blackstock is survived by his parents, his siblings, his four children and his grandchildren. Blackstock shared Savannah, 23, and Seth, 18, with first wife Melissa Ashworth, in addition to his two children with Clarkson, 43.
Brandon Blackstock quietly hung out with his former stepmother, Reba McEntire, less than five months before his death. Brandon and his half-brother, Shelby Blackstock, reunited with McEntire, 70, and her boyfriend, Rex Linn, at RodeoHouston in March. “Family time, the @rodeohouston and corn dogs,” Shelby, 35, wrote via Instagram on March 5. “We had a […]
“It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away. Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years,” a rep for Blackstock’s family told Us in a statement at the time, confirming his death. “He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family. We thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time.”
Following his death, Blackstock’s loved ones gathered in Montana — where he relocated after his divorce from Clarkson was finalized — to celebrate his life.
“Brandon’s closest friends and family gathered over the weekend for a few days to celebrate his life in the place he loved most. It was very private,” a source exclusively told Us on Tuesday, August 19, of the event. “His partner, Brittney [Marie Jones], his family and his closest friends spent time at his home sharing memories of Brandon and remembering how much he meant to them.”
Iconic composer and songwriterQuincy Joneshas died. He was 91.
Jones died Sunday night at his home in Bel Air in Los Angeles, his publicist Arnold Robinson said, per multiple outlets including The Hollywood Reporter and the Associated Press.
“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing. And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him,” Jones’ family said in a statement.
Jones was born in March 1933 in Chicago but later moved with his family to Bremerton, Washington. After playing the trumpet and piano throughout high school, Jones went on to attend Seattle University before transferring to the Berklee College of Music. The musician later dropped out of college to serve as a trumpeter, arranger and pianist with Lionel Hampton.
After returning to New York following a tour in Europe in the late ‘50s, Jones composed and arranged pop hits for singers such as Count Basie, Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughan and Aretha Franklin. In the ‘70s, Jones founded Qwest Productions, later producing albums for Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson and more. In 1982, Jones produced Jackson’s Thriller record — the best-selling album in history.
Hollywood mourned many celebrities in 2024. Speed Racer star Christian Oliver (born Christian Klepser) died at the age of 51 during a fatal plane crash on January 5. Oliver was traveling home from a Caribbean vacation with his two daughters — Madita and Annik, whom he shared with wife Jessica Klepser — on January 4. […]
“Musically, we knew we had ‘it’ with Thriller. To this day I can hear artists trying to replicate its sonic power,” Jones said in an interview with the Library of Congress in June 2016. “It’s no accident that more than three decades later no matter where I go in the world, in every club, like clockwork at the witching hour you hear ‘Billie Jean,’ ‘Beat It,’ ‘Wanna Be Starting Something,’ and ‘Thriller.’ In every language on the planet, from prison yards in Thailand to Thrilltheworld.com, Thriller is still giving people ‘goosebumps.’ It’s pretty astounding and very satisfying as an artist.”
In addition to his work on pop records, Jones also had a wildly successful career as a composer for film and television. He made his breakthrough as a composer for Sidney Lumet’s 1964 film The Pawnbroker. Following the success of the movie, Jones was in constant demand and worked on several films including 1966’s Walk, Don’t Run, 1970’s The Out-of-Towners and 1972’s The Getaway. In addition to film, he also composed theme music for hit television shows of the period, including Sanford and Son, The Bill Cosby Show and the critically-acclaimed mini-series Roots.
Jones made his debut as a film producer in 1985’s The Color Purple for which he received an Oscar nomination for his score. In the ‘90s, Jones founded the Quincy Jones Entertainment company which produced popular TV shows such as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and MADtv.
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Throughout his decades-spanning career in music, Jones received numerous accolades for his achievements — including 28 Grammy Awards, the Grammy Legend Award, an Emmy Award, a Tony award, and seven Academy Award nominations. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.
While Jones’ contributions to the music industry are unparalleled, the artist’s personal life also made headlines over the years. He was married three times and had seven children with five different women. In 1957, Jones married Jeri Caldwell and welcomed daughter Jolie. After calling it quits in 1966, Jones had a brief affair with Carol Reynolds, who gave birth to daughter Rachel in 1963. Jones married Ulla Andersson from 1967 to 1974. During their marriage the twosome welcomed daughter Martina in 1966 and son Quincy in 1968 (he also went on to become a music producer). One day after his divorce from Andersson, Quincy wed actress Peggy Lipton, with whom he welcomed daughters Kidada and actress Rashida Jones in 1974 and 1976, respectively. The couple divorced in 1990. Quincy later dated actress Nastassja Kinski from 1991 to 1995, with whom he welcomed daughter Kenya in 1993.
Scott Borchetta and Taylor SwiftLarry Busacca/Getty Images for NARAS
Scott Borchetta is taking a walk down memory lane while recalling crossing paths with Taylor Swift.
“It was 20 years ago today… a Beatles reference may not be too far off the mark… 😊,” Borchetta, 62, wrote via Instagram on Saturday, November 2. “Today marks the 20th anniversary of my first meeting with Taylor. A day that changed both of our lives.”
Alongside the message, the Big Machine Label Group CEO uploaded a pic of a teenage Swift, now 34, sitting in front of a microphone inside a crowded room.
“This photo was taken two nights later at the Bluebird Cafe,” his caption continued. “You see the back of my head, bottom left, T, and then Andrea across the room…”
The bad blood between Taylor Swift and Scooter Braun has inspired song lyrics, forced celebrities to take sides and incurred the wrath of Swifties. The drama came to a head in June 2019 when it was announced that Braun’s media company, Ithaca Holdings, had acquired Scott Borchetta’s Big Machine Label Group for $300 million. Through […]
Borchetta concluded, “Always proud of the art and the work she did while we were together… and just as proud of her now. Keep crushing it… xx.”
Borchetta and Swift’s history dates back years. After the Eras Tour performer announced via Instagram in November 2018 that she had found a “new home” at Republic Records, she thanked Borchetta. “I’m so excited,” she wrote. “I can’t wait to show you what I’m making next.”
As part of the deal, Scooter Braun acquired Big Machine and Swift’s back catalog of master recordings. Swift took to Tumblr in 2019 to call out Braun, 43, and Borchetta.
“Never in my worst nightmares did I imagine the buyer would be Scooter. Any time Scott Borchetta has heard the words ‘Scooter Braun’ escape my lips, it was when I was either crying or trying not to,” she wrote. “He knew what he was doing; they both did. Controlling a woman who didn’t want to be associated with them. In perpetuity. That means forever.”
Borchetta fired back in a June 2019 post on the label’s website titled “So, It’s Time For Some Truth.” In the upload, he claimed to have “personally texted Taylor … to inform her prior to the story [of Braun’s acquisition] breaking … so she could hear it directly from me.” He alleged that Swift “had every chance in the world to own not just her master recordings, but every video, photograph, everything associated to her career,” yet she still “chose to leave” Big Machine.
Taylor Swift’s team has responded to the Discovery+ docuseries Taylor Swift vs. Scooter Braun: Bad Blood, which explores the pop star’s feud with record executive Scooter Braun. “None of these men will ever be able to take anything away from Taylor’s legacy as a songwriter, singer, director, philanthropist and advocate for artists’ rights,” a statement […]
Swift’s lawyer Donald Passman denied in a July 2019 statement that Brochetta gave her “an opportunity to purchase her masters, or the label, outright with a check.”
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The following month, Swift announced her plans to rerecord her discography and release them as “Taylor’s Version.” (She has since dropped Fearless, Red, Speak Now and 1989. Swift has yet to re-release Reputation and her self-titled debut.)
Swift went on to claim that Borchetta and Braun denied her the right to perform her old tracks at the 2019 American Music Awards and use her tunes in her Netflix documentary, Miss Americana. Big Machine denied the allegations.
The following year, Borchetta seemed motivated to put the past behind them. When asked whether he was still “rooting” for Swift, he told Billboard in 2020, “Of course. I mean, I’m always gonna root for her. She’s brilliant and we’ve had a historic run.”
