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mgk Has Soundtracked The Best & Worst ‘times of my life’
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One of the greatest gifts that the universe bestowed upon mgk was his ability to impact and comfort many people through his honest storytelling, and his recent single ‘times of my life’ is the ultimate proof. After yearsssss of fans asking for this melancholic song from the Tickets To My Downfall studio sessions – which leaked after he took it off the tracklist – he revisited it with Travis Barker and some of his closest musical friends, who helped him create the triumphant lost americana last year. It feels like an amalgamation of so many of his different eras, between the seeming inclusion on the future deluxe edition of lost americana, its origins during the Tickets To My Downfall sessions, and the Hotel Diablo umbrella he holds in the music video.
In the days since ‘times of my life’ came out, I’ve seen fellow EST adopt this song into their lives in so many beautiful ways, from celebrating the fun memories they’ve made at concerts (partly fueled by the song appearing on the pre-show playlist at the lost americana Tour) to cherishing the time they got to spend with loved ones who have passed. And I know I speak for most mgk fans when I say that this release proves just how moving his music can be.
“I hope you are fine knowing you hold all my best times
And without you, I’m lying to myself saying that you’ll come find me…”Like so much of EST, mgk’s music found me when I needed it the most. He had pretty good timing because I heard ‘I Think I’m OKAY’ on the radio for the first time on a day that wound up flipping my life upside down. Hotel Diablo became a lifeline in the fallout from that day as I tried to figure out where I wanted to go and who I wanted to be. I didn’t necessarily relate to the specific stories or topics, but I admired how open Kells was about things that are very difficult to be open about. It’s like he knew that his own catharsis would be cathartic for others and pushed through to deliver that for the people who needed to hear an honest success story from a fellow underdog with the odds stacked against him.
Hotel Diablo doesn’t close with a happy ending, but ‘I Think I’m OKAY’ is the perfect conclusion. It sees Colson admitting, “I think something’s f**king wrong with me.” He knows that the power isn’t in pretending you’re fine, but knowing that just being “okay” is enough sometimes. Still standing after going through difficult, life-altering things like he describes throughout the album is a victory in itself. He owns up to his vices, destructive tendencies, and dissatisfaction with his life at the time in a way that’s refreshingly raw and real.
He spoke to Genius about the “it’s just my life and I can take it if I wanna” lyric, explaining that the darker meaning you might hear at first listen isn’t the full story, much like how there’s a whole life on the other side of whatever you’re facing at the moment.
I think a lot of people think it immediately means suicide, and I think it’s really just, like, ‘I can take back my life.’ Take your destiny into your own hands. You know, manifest what you want and make your life yours.
mgk to Genius
The Tickets To My Downfall era epitomized that idea, bringing mgk into the pop-punk spotlight after years of being a massive fan and integrating rock’s most distinctive elements into songs like ‘Save Me’ (featuring Avenged Sevenfold’s M. Shadows and Synyster Gates) and the Kellin Quinn-assisted ‘Swing Life Away.’ A few hours before he recorded ‘Save Me,’ as shown in the song’s music video, he told Slim, “I just don’t see stuff going very well.” Slim pushed, “So you wanna give up and quit? Sh*t on me, sh*t on everybody?” This is the album cycle where things started going very, very well for mgk and his rightful recognition as a music icon, holding his musical family and EST close to his heart in the midst of a massive rise.
With help from one of Colson’s musical heroes, Travis Barker, Tickets To My Downfall taught us how to dance through destruction and embrace the fun in life that coexists with what’s bringing us down. It was exactly what the world needed in the midst of the COVID pandemic, delivering nostalgia and pure joy to EST and pop-punk fans on a wider scale. In the process, it became mgk’s first #1 album on the Billboard 200 and has since gotten a 2x Platinum certification.
It felt like he had finally hit his stride and I was starting to find mine, too. I started blogging just a few months after Tickets To My Downfall came out and joined The Honey POP a little while later. He was embracing his lifelong love of pop-punk and I was embracing my lifelong love of immersive music and the artists behind it. He doubled down on it with mainstream sellout, a heavier sister album of sorts that also hit #1, and I kept exploring new content formats and topics, even writing an analytical review of the record for THP.
Where Tickets To My Downfall felt like a rebellious rave of sorts, mainstream sellout addressed similar topics and themes with a less playful attitude and a less shimmery sonic mood. mgk told Sunday TODAY, “I went and studied Tickets and I heard the bright sound that I had, and for this album, I just turned the lights off.” You can hear the shift from the very first track – ‘title track’ reveled in his infamy while “selling tickets to [his] downfall,” but ‘born with horns’ acknowledges “there’s no happy endings” and sees Kells taking a more honest, direct approach while describing his mental health struggles and qualms about the spotlight.
His openness about the ups and downs of being a polarizing figure in the music industry sparked a lot of thought about how artists are treated online, and even earned mgk his first-ever GRAMMY nomination in the Best Rock Album category. The man who wondered whether his hard work would ever truly pay off before recording ‘Save Me’ had officially broken through and created a thought-provoking project that demanded respect and recognition from his peers and the powers that be.
My own journey through the music industry eventually brought me to one of the coolest, most meaningful opportunities I’ve received to date: becoming a mod for mgk’s official Discord server! I wore my Tickets To My Downfall hoodie on launch day and watched as thousands of passionate fans joined in, excitedly connecting with each other and eventually Kells himself. The server felt, and still feels, like a place where EST can tune out the noise of traditional social media and the world around us to unite over what we love. It’s a reminder of how magical things can be when we come together for good, perfectly tying into the fandom name of Everyone Stands Together.
In July 2024, we came together to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Hotel Diablo with an interactive trivia puzzle throughout the server. And in one of the two most full-circle mgk moments in my life, I got to host a live Q&A with him for the puzzle winners and EST. Over 400 people who completed the puzzle got to listen in, while the fastest few to finish it were able to ask him their own questions. I talked to him about Hotel Diablo, we joked about the 32483498 nicknames he has, and he even took the time to thank me personally at the end of the event. It was such an honor to make my personal dream of interviewing him come true while sharing the moment with fans who love him just as much.
Hearing his excitement about crossing over into country with Jelly Roll on ‘Lonely Road’ (which hadn’t been officially announced yet) and seeing how much EST loved connecting with him on a deeper level had me reconsidering the possibilities of my own career in the music industry. And somehow, things made more sense to me than ever in an industry that’s constantly changing and shifting. It reminded me that there are truly no limits unless you put them on yourself or let the people trying to put them on you have the last word, something mgk has never let them do. Like our favorite rap-rock chameleon, you can try new things and take new paths and have fun with them even if they’re not what you initially imagined for yourself. In my case, it’s been expanding beyond blogging into music marketing and fandom engagement, wanting to “champion artists” like he said I do on the call and help them grow their bonds with fans, so more people can experience how powerful a kind, devoted fanbase like EST can be.
The second full-circle moment I’ve had with mgk came about a year and a half after the Q&A. After that formative day I mentioned earlier, when I heard ‘I Think I’m OKAY’ for the first time, anxiety became a really obstructive force in my life that separated me from some of the things I loved most. Colson’s music was right by my side through so much and the ultimate test of that was braving various fears to go see him live at the lost americana Tour. Anxiety is still something I regularly deal with, and I expect it will continue to be that way, but screaming all the lyrics to ‘I Think I’m OKAY’ with 12,000 other people made one of the most fragile parts of me feel like things could be okay again.
I don’t know who I’d be right now if mgk hadn’t stumbled into my life and music library. As I sit here recounting my favorite EST memories, wearing the same Tickets To My Downfall hoodie I wore the day the Discord server launched, it feels so surreal that just happening to hear a certain song on the radio six years ago has had such an impact on my life. But that’s part of the magic of mgk. You never know where his music will lead you, whether it’s through genres, through immersive lyrical stories, or through chapters and experiences that shape you.
To Colson and EST, some of the best times of my life were the ones when I was with you. Here’s to many more for all of us <3
What ‘times of [your] life’ did mgk help you through? Do you have any predictions for a possible deluxe edition of lost americana? Let us know in the comments below or hit us up on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter! You can also buzz on over to our Reddit community to chat with us.
Check out more sweet mgk content!
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Madison Murray
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Beth Morrison On Reshaping the Boundaries of Contemporary Opera
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The Prototype Festival brings together new works that reflect Beth Morrison Productions’s long-standing commitment to innovation in opera and music theater. © Douglas Mason After Beth Morrison earned her bachelor of music at Boston University and a master’s of music at Arizona State University, she moved to New York City with limelight ambitions. What she encountered were like-minded creatives grousing about the entertainment industry’s indifference, which she set out to remedy by earning an MFA in theater management/producing at Yale School of Drama. Returning to New York in 2005, she set up Beth Morrison Productions and resumed grumbling over industry indifference.
Since then, BMP has become the country’s premier hothouse for new opera, staging more than 50 productions, including Pulitzer Prize winners Angel’s Bone by Du Yun and Royce Vavrek and p r i s m by Ellen Reid and Roxie Perkins. A Grammy nominee, BMP has four titles nominated for 2026, including Adoration and Trade / Mary Motorhead. Starting tomorrow, the company celebrates its quarter-century anniversary with the 2026 Prototype Festival, which this year will mount six productions at venues in Brooklyn and Manhattan. “I’ve been working for this change,” Morrison tells Observer. “It’s why I got into what I do in the first place, to create this new kind of opera. And I think we’ve done that. We have 15+ seasons in our history showing that, and we’ve inspired others as well.”
Fans will find inspiration in the BMP: Songbook Concert and Celebration (Jan. 7-8), a performance pulling together their greatest hits, with 14 arias culled from the company’s storied history and sung by the original artists. (If you can’t make the show, pick up the album, a double-disc vinyl set featuring 60 arias. It goes well with the BMP Songbook Anthology, a 500-page coffee table book celebrating the company’s history.)
HILDEGARD is the brainchild of composer Sarah Kirkland Snider. Production photos by Angel Origgi Precipice takes to the boards Jan. 8-11, the story of a young woman’s struggle set against the epic backdrop of the mountainous West. Leaping from a tall cliff, she awakens mute in the wilderness, where she must fight to recover her voice. Set to Rima Fand’s folk-inspired score, Precipice incorporates sounds from nature, singers, string quintet, piano and mandolin.
Hildegard makes its New York City premiere Jan. 9-11 and 14. This must-see opera by the incomparable composer Sarah Kirkland Snider is named for the 12th-century German nun Hildegard of Bingen, a mystic, visionary, writer, composer, philosopher and medical practitioner. The world premiere in Los Angeles last November drew superlative reviews on both coasts. “I’m so proud of her,” Morrison said at the time. “It’s been totally a labor of love. She loves Hildegard so much, the historical figure, and she’s written such a beautiful piece.”
If you can’t make it to Brooklyn, try Times Square on Jan. 11 for The All Sing: Hwael-Rād (Whale-Road) and join the choir for this world premiere choral work bridging the gap between humanity and our ocean-dwelling friends. “It’s this goth-industrial music meets classical,” is how Morrison describes the world premiere piece by composer Jens Ibsen. “We’ll have music up on the website, and anyone can download it and learn it and come and sing with us.”
The New York premiere of the comedic post-rock opera What to Wear (Jan. 15-18) by Michael Gordon and the late avant-garde theater icon Richard Foreman draws from the latter’s original staging. A collaboration between BMP, BAM and Bang on a Can, this acerbic commentary on society’s superficiality features a cameo by St. Vincent. “Already we’re selling out and had to add a performance. It’s going to be the hardest ticket to find. It’s a huge lift because it’s raising a lot of money in a short period of time to get it done, and it’s a complicated production,” says Morrison. “It’s crazy and amazing, it reminds me of Einstein on the Beach. It’s a spectacular show, truly one to blow people’s minds.”
What to Wear by Michael Gordon opens January 15. © Douglas Mason On Jan. 16-17, submerge yourself in Art Bath, a cross-disciplinary experience highlighting female voices and genre-bending music and opera, theater, puppetry and visual art. Also not to be missed is Tiergarten on Jan. 16, a Weimar cabaret in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Carroll Street. Directed by Andrew Ousley, it explores historical moments of societal madness, featuring music by Handel, Verdi, Dean Martin, Max Richter, William Byrd, Brecht, Weill and songs from The Rocky Horror Picture Show in the form of opera, classical, jazz, ballet and burlesque.
Over the years, BMP has expanded to a staff of 14 and launched its Next Gen program fostering emerging opera composers. From it, one is offered a commission for an evening-length work as well as a world premiere production. BMP’s partnership with LA Opera has resulted in 17 shows in 10 years. The Prototype Festival has only been in existence for 15 years, relying mainly on the generosity of individual donors, including the Mellon Foundation, a major backer whose agreement with BMP runs out in 2028—something that has sent Morrison scrambling.
HILDEGARD had its world premiere in Los Angeles last November. Production photos by Angel Origgi “If we don’t replace it, what does that mean? What will the festival look like? That’s our challenge now. I’m someone who’s a very pragmatic dreamer. I’ve got a couple of big ideas that I’m working on right now to bring a lot of partners together to create something larger than ourselves, exploring opportunities,” she says, lamenting, like so many arts institutions, the loss of NEA money after 560 grants totaling over $27 million were cut last May.
“A lot of foundations have left the arts that were really holding it together or have changed their priority in how they fund the arts. And a lot of individual donors who have propped up the non-profit performing arts for decades are aging out. A lot are dying, and there isn’t anybody coming up and taking their place,” she says. “It’s not easy, but it’s never been easy. It’s harder than it’s ever been. We’re announcing thirteen commissions over the next five years. It’s a big campaign for us. We’ve never done a campaign like this before, but it’s exciting. There’s a lot of amazing work being done here that people should feel good about. We’re just trying to create a conversation about what opera can be in the 21st Century.”
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Jordan Riefe
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Choose Your ‘Internet Girl’ Persona Based On Your KATSEYE Bias
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The internet’s most popular girls of 2025 were 100% KATSEYE. With every new meme or stunning IG picture posted, Manon, Megan, Yoonchae, Sophia, Lara, and Daniela had everyone in a chokehold. Now, they’ve taken their it-girl status to a whole new level with their new single ‘Internet Girl’ where the girls are exploring their most famous internet moments while…eating zucchini?
Image Source: Courtesy of UMusic “You better take a screenshot”
#EAT_ZUCCHINI is going viral, and we’re half to blame. We can’t get enough of ‘Internet Girl!’ 2026 is the year for goofy, fun, and girly songs to come back, and clearly, KATSEYE knows what they’re doing. What does “eat zucchini” actually mean? We’re not sure, but we’re here for the veggie-lovin’ that’s going on! ‘Internet Girl’ is clearly the little sister of ‘Gnarly.’ A catchy beat, danceable moments, and questionable (but honestly amazing) lyrics. “10 out of 10, yes, not maybe!”
Stream KATSEYE’s ‘Internet Girl’ here.
With all iconic internet games, it’s time to choose your player.
Manon – The Street Style Model
If your KATSEYE bias is Manon, your ‘Internet Girl’ persona is the street style model. Your IG feed is filled with photos of you modeling the newest street styles, from baggy jeans to NYC caps and oversized black sunglasses. Your follower count is growing with each new post, and every designer is eager to get you in their newest collection. You go, girl!
Megan – The Gamer Girl
If your KATSEYE bias is Megan, your ‘Internet Girl’ persona is the gamer e-girl. You love to be online. Even more so, you love to connect with other people online through streaming, YouTube, and other online games. Being seen in public without your Nintendo Switch is a big no-no, and your style and personality match your gamer aesthetic—bright colors, chunky jewelry, and a great sense of humor. We need a friend like you!
Image Source: Rahul Bhatt Sophia – The Clean Girl
If your KATSEYE bias is Sophia, your ‘Internet Girl’ persona is the clean girl. Clean girl aesthetic was one of 2025’s biggest trends, and just like Sophia, you’re starting trends online. Your fans love seeing you promote healthy and motivating content, starting with an aesthetic morning and a 10-step skincare routine. Don’t forget the best part—Sophia would 100% be following you on TikTok! We all kind of wish we were you!
Daniela – The Balletcore
If your KATSEYE bias is Daniela, your ‘Internet Girl’ persona is all about balletcore. Much like the clean girl aesthetic, you bring a sense of softness and curiosity to your friend group. Black, pink, and white are your main color palette, and your style is the best kind of basic. Of course, just like our girl Daniela, you are the best dancer in the room and effortlessly capture everyone’s attention right away. How can we be your best friend!?
Image Source: Rahul Bhatt Yoonchae – The Party Animal
If your KATSEYE bias is Yoonchae (like us), your ‘Internet Girl’ persona is the party animal. The party does not start until you walk in! Your Pinterest moodboards are covered in sprinkles, disco balls, colorful string lights, and confetti. And honestly, your real life kind of looks like this, too. You are the glue that keeps all your friend groups together, and everyone is constantly fighting for you to be in their selfies. Obviously, you throw the best parties and know how to show it off on IG, too. Can we get an invite?
Lara – The World Traveler
If your KATSEYE bias is Lara, your ‘Internet Girl’ persona is the world traveler. You’re known for never being in one place for too long and have visited more countries in your life than anyone else you know. That passport is stamped! You’ve got thousands of followers on IG, and they all love keeping up with your aesthetic travels across the globe every time you post from a different time zone. Of course, you’re flying first class with a glass of champagne!
Image Source: Rahul Bhatt Which ‘Internet Girl’ persona did you get? Who is your KATSEYE bias? And, tell us your thoughts on KATSEYE’s new single, ‘Internet Girl,’ down in the comments or over on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
Looking for more content about Lara, Daniela, Yoonchae, Megan, Sophia, and Manon? Look no further!
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Alana
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Cher claims Sonny Bono burned her clothes in a jealous rage during troubled marriage
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Cher is opening up about how her late ex-husband Sonny Bono controlled her during their marriage and musical partnership.
On Monday’s episode of “Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard,” the 79-year-old singer reflected on her turbulent personal and professional relationship with Bono, with whom she rose to fame in the 1960s as the pop duo Sonny & Cher.
In 1962, the former couple first met in Los Angeles when Cher was 16 and Bono was a 27-year-old aspiring music producer. Bono, who was working with record producer Phil Spector at the time, became Cher’s mentor, manager and creative partner. The two formed Sonny & Cher in 1964 and they tied the knot during an unofficial wedding ceremony in Tijuana, Mexico, later that year.
CHER WINS YEARS-LONG LEGAL BATTLE OVER ROYALTIES WITH SONNY BONO’S WIDOW
“We had a lot of fun, and he was special in a way, and then it became very treacherous,” Cher recalled.
Cher opened up about her troubled marriage to the late Sonny Bono. (Jeff Hochberg/Getty Images)
In 1965, Sonny & Cher made their breakthrough with the success of their song “I Got You, Babe,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The duo, who officially married in 1969, went on to release scores of other hits with Bono handling songwriting, production and business, while Cher was the breakout star and the duo’s main draw.
Their success later expanded into television when they launched the variety show “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour,” which made them household names in the early 1970s.
While appearing on “Armchair Expert,” Cher explained that her relationship with Bono began to unravel at the height of their fame as he began to increasingly control her day-to-day decisions.
The former couple formed the iconic musical duo “Sonny & Cher.” (Harry Langdon/Getty Images)
“This is when now this kind of new side of Sonny comes out,” Shepard said.
“Yeah,” Cher agreed with a nod.
“Which is like incredibly controlling,” Shepard continued. “You have this huge success. There’s a lot of money. You’re not allowed to leave the house. You’re allowed to go shopping. That’s pretty much all you’re allowed to do, right?”
“Yes,” Cher said.
“And he’s cutting you off from friendships you have,” Shepard said. “Was it happening slowly? Was it more like you woke up one day and were like, ‘Oh, I don’t have a life’ or while it was happening, were you like, ‘What’s going on?’”
“It took a little while,” Cher admitted. “I couldn’t do anything.”
Cher recounted how she began learning to play tennis and would practice at a friend’s house. The “Believe” hitmaker recalled a harrowing incident that occurred after Bono discovered that she had been seen at her friend’s home during a party after playing tennis.
“I’m leaving, but she’s having a huge party. So there are people coming in,” she recalled. “And so Dennis, my friend, told Sonny that I was there, but lots of people were there and lots of men were there.”
“And he burned my clothes,” Cher said. “In the yard.”
Cher described Bono’s controlling behavior and recalled that he once burned her clothes in the yard during a fit of rage. (Getty Images)
Cher explained that her realization of how Bono was exerting excessive power over her life “came on kind of slowly.” The Grammy Award winner said that part of her difficulty with fully grasping the situation stemmed from the difference between how Bono treated her on the set of “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour” and his behavior at home.
“I was free on the show, and he was funny, and we got along,” Cher remembered. “It’s such a strange dichotomy because we would be laughing, and we’d be having the best time and then when we were at home, it was kind of more cut and dried.”
CHER WAS ‘SHOCKED’ WHEN SHE DISCOVERED LEGAL NAME DECADES AFTER BIRTH CERTIFICATE ERROR
Cher recalled that she also discovered that Bono was cheating on her during the rocky later years of their marriage. After Shepard remarked that Bono had “lots of other girlfriends,” Cher told him, “I didn’t know except the one.”
Shepard cited an incident that Cher wrote about in her 1998 memoir “The First Time,” in which she went to get a glass of water in the middle of the night and found another woman “putting her boots on” in the home the singer shared with Bono.
Cher told Shepard that she had no thoughts of leaving Bono at the time despite the shocking incident. She explained that she stayed in the relationship largely due to “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour.” However, she clarified that her reluctance to leave wasn’t because she was driven to preserve the show’s massive success.
“It wasn’t that, because I was so happy with the show. And he was so nice on the show. And so, at the show we would be having the best time, and we were more working than we were at home,” she said. “It was such a polar opposite, because on stage we had a blast. He let me have all the freedom that I wanted to, and then we came home.”
“The show kept us together a lot longer than we would have been anyway, because we had such a good time,” she continued. “He was so fun, and he was so funny, and we worked so well together.”
The two found success with their show “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour.” (CBS)
However, Cher recalled that she grew increasingly unhappy with their marriage and her lack of autonomy amid the power imbalance. In February 1974, they decided to divorce, and their show was canceled two months later.
CHER CELEBRATES 77TH BIRTHDAY ON SOCIAL MEDIA QUESTIONING AGE: ‘WHEN WILL I FEEL OLD?’
Shepard recalled that Cher only learned how little control she had over the money that she and Bono had earned during the divorce proceeding after Cher’s friend and music executive David Geffen asked to review her contract.
“It’s not until Geffen looks at this contract and says to you, ‘Do you realize 100% of this money goes to a company called Cher Inc. that is owned 95% by Sonny and 5% by his lawyer?’”
“0% for Cher?” Shepard’s co-host Monica Padman asked in disbelief.
“0%,” Shepard said.
“It was like born yesterday, because they would bring me a bunch of share enterprises contracts to sign and it was always like when I was getting ready to go on stage,” Cher said.
“Yeah, what are you going to do — read 20 pages of legalese?” Shepard said.
“And the next day, he said, ‘You’ve got to get out of this,’” Cher recalled of Geffen. “So I went to Sonny and I said, ‘I’ll stay with you if we’re partners. And he said no.’”
Sonny and Cher divorced in 1975. (Getty)
Shepard pointed out that over their time working together, they made some “serious, serious money.”
“And you didn’t walk with half of that is what you’re saying?” Shepard asked.
“I didn’t walk with any of it,” Cher said. “None of it.”
In 1975, Cher and Bono finalized their divorce, which was formally settled in a 1978 marriage settlement agreement.
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Cher learned that their finances were in poor shape during the divorce proceedings. (Gunter Zint/K & K Ulf Kruger OHG/Redferns)
During their divorce proceedings, Cher also learned that their finances were in poor shape, since much of the money had been spent, reinvested or lost in ventures managed by Bono.
Rather than receiving a cash payout, Cher was granted 50% of the publishing royalties from their work together.
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Although the divorce left Cher with limited immediate wealth, the royalty agreement proved to be valuable in the long-term, reportedly earning her tens of millions of dollars paid out gradually over decades.
The singer went on to enjoy a massively successful solo career. (Kevin Mazur)
After the split, Cher embarked on a far more successful solo career, while Bono moved away from music and later entered politics.
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In 1998, Bono died at the age of 62 in a skiing accident in Lake Tahoe, California. Bono and Cher were parents to their only child, Chaz Bono.
While appearing on “Armchair Expert,” Cher reflected on building her own fortune, admitting, “I have never had success with men and money.”
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Storied Bay Area music venue to reopen under new name, ownership
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Get ready for the next chapter in the history of one of the Bay Area music scene’s most storied addresses.
Best known for hosting Boz Scagg’s legendary Slim’s hotspot for decades, and then a more recent (and much shorter) stint as YOLO Nightclub, the venue located at 333 11th St. in San Francisco will now transform into the home of The Budda.
The venue’s name references East Bay rapper Budda Mack, who is backing the new club.
“San Francisco, Bay Area get ready for the opening of my night club in SF,”
Mack posted on Instagram. “January is about to be different. A new chapter is opening with THE BUDDA night club 333 11th street San Francisco CA — a new club bringing energy, culture, and unforgettable nights to the city.“This isn’t just another venue, it’s a movement. Lock in, stay tuned, and prepare yourself… THE BUDDA is coming.”
Mack is a successful independent hip-hop artist with more than 160,000 followers on YouTube and over 5,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. His best-known songs include “Twerk,” which has been viewed some 3.5 million times on YouTube alone, and “Get Ya Mind Right,” which also boosts more than a million views on YouTube.
It’s unclear at this point whether The Budda will be primarily a hip-hop venue or one that hosts different kinds of music.
The Budda takes over the spot that YOLO filled for some four years. The EDM/hip-hop club got its start right in 2021, right as COVID pandemic restrictions on live music venues began to ease up, and shuttered its doors in spring 2025.
YOLO, of course, followed the lengthy run of Slim’s, the Boz Scaggs-owned nightclub that opened in 1988 and went on to host such fantastic acts as the Throwing Muses, Jayhawks, Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, Foo Fighters, Hole and the Lemonheads over the years.
The club closed in March 18, 2020. That was right as the pandemic hit and led to pretty much all live music venues in the U.S. shutting down, although the decision to close Slim’s was reportedly made before the pandemic.
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Jim Harrington
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What to Stream: Kid Laroi, ‘The Pitt’ and ‘Tron: Ares’
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Returns to “The Pitt,” the Grid and music of Kid Laroi are some of the new television, films and music headed to a device near you
Returns to “The Pitt,” the Grid and music of Kid Laroi are some of the new television, films and music headed to a device near you.
The first week of January brings a pair of sophomore efforts: Laroi’s album “Before I Forget” and the second season of the Emmy-winning hospital drama “The Pitt.” This week’s streaming offerings, as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists, also include the return of “The Night Manager” after nearly a decade.
— Audiences can reenter the Grid when “Tron: Ares” hits Disney+ on Wednesday. The franchise’s third film stars Jared Leto, Greta Lee and Jodie Turner-Smith and features a return of Jeff Bridges. The 1982 original starred Bridges as a hacker who’s transported into a dangerous digital world and kicked off the cult franchise with then-state-of-the-art computer graphics and special effects. AP critic Mark Kennedy praised Leto and Lee’s performances and said despite being a movie that “bites off too much,” it was worth a watch. A bonus for music fans? The film’s Nine Inch Nails soundtrack with some throwbacks to the original film’s score.
— Grammy-nominated artist the Kid Laroi — a direct inheritor of Justin Bieber’s glossy R&B-informed pop — will release his sophomore album, “Before I Forget,” on Friday. Judging by the previously released singles, listeners can expect slow-burn breakup reflections (“A Perfect World”) and high-hat heavy tracks with lovelorn lyrics (“A Cold Play”). It’s frictionless listening to start the new year.
— AP Music Writer Maria Sherman
— In what counts as a quick turnaround these days in the world of prestige TV, “The Pitt” returns for its second season, and second day in the life of a frenetic Pittsburgh emergency room run by Noah Wyle’s beleaguered and beloved Dr. Robby. The first episode of Season 2 premieres Thursday on HBO Max at 9 p.m. Eastern. Expectations will be a lot higher this time. In the 10 months since Season 1 ended, “The Pitt” won the best drama Emmy along with four others, including best actor for Wyle and supporting actress for Katherine LaNasa, who will be returning despite her character vowing to quit after taking a punch. Ten months have also passed in the world of the show, which will again follow a single ER shift, this time on a July Fourth weekend.
— After a much, much longer absence, “The Night Manager” will return for a second season. It’s been nearly a decade since Tom Hiddleston’s hotel worker-turned-spy stalked a dirty arms dealer on the show based on a novel by John le Carré. It was meant to be a limited series for the BBC and AMC, but its creators are now bringing it back with a new and original story. This time, its airing on Prime Video in the U.S., beginning with a three-episode drop on Sunday.
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‘The best place to hear live music in San Francisco’ is closing down
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The Bottom of the Hill — once dubbed as “the best place to hear live music in San Francisco” by Rolling Stone magazine — is set to close its doors at the end of 2026.
The popular music venue, which booked early-career gigs by Green Day, Oasis, Alanis Morissette, The Strokes and other acts that would go on to headline major arenas and festivals, will host its last gig on New Year’s Eve, according to a post made on the Bottom of the Hill’s Facebook page.
“We make this announcement with great difficulty,” the post reads. “This legendary business will have lived to the ripe old age of 35, a long stretch in San Francisco for an independent rock ‘n’ roll venue of our size. It has been a wonderful trip, and we are full of stories and memories. We have hosted tens of thousands of musical artists and have been a community partner as well, holding numerous benefits, school recitals, weddings, birthdays, and memorials. Let’s have one more solid year of memories together and bid a fond farewell to a legendary venue.”
The closing will mark the end of one of the Bay Area’s marquee independent music venues — one of the very few that aren’t booked by a major concert promoter. Yet, thankfully, the club owners are giving people plenty of advance notice so that music fans from all around the Bay Area will have12 months to visit and bid farewell to the club, which has also hosted such great bands as the Throwing Muses, the Donnas, Queens of the Stone Age, Neutral Milk Hotel, the White Stripes and the Dandy Warhols since originally opening its doors at the corner of 17th and Missouri streets in the Potrero Hill district in 1991.
“We will curate one more year of great shows, enticing bands that make up our history to come back for one final play on our stage,” the Facebook post reads. “Let’s celebrate, for one more spin, how far we came, how many bands we hosted, how many amazing people we worked with.
“We want to thank the bands, their agents, managers, and roadies, for always bringing the most exciting shows to our intimate room, with the analog board at the helm. And most especially, we wish to thank our loyal customers who kept us in business for this long and told us, in so many ways, that we were doing things right.”
Increasing operating costs, shifts in the city’s demographics and the lingering impact of the pandemic — leading to more people staying at home — are reportedly among the reasons for the closing of the club, according to an interview with the Bottom of the Hill owners on coyotemedia.org. Overall, however, it also seems like the time was right for the owners to move on from the club.
“As the owners of Bottom of the Hill, we (Ramona Downey, Kathleen Owen, and Lynn Schwarz), are three women in different phases of our lives (and a sad RIP to Tim Benetti, our beloved fourth, whom we recently lost),” the Facebook post reads. “Part of what has made our partnership so functional and wonderful are the perspectives of three strong women from different generations and backgrounds. We come together on so many issues but also bring our own unique life experiences to this business.
“Together we have nurtured Bottom of the Hill over the decades — it’s our child. We include in our family the incredible staff who are the ones who keep our business on the map. Several of our team have been with us for well over a decade and some the whole time, making this decision to shutter extra difficult.
“We will miss you all so much after this one last star-studded year. 2026 is our big victory lap! Please come celebrate with us. Not with a whimper, but a bang!”
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Jim Harrington
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Billy Joel makes surprise comeback performance after brain condition forced show cancellations
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Billy Joel kicked off the new year with a surprise performance for thousands of fans.
On Friday, the 76-year-old Grammy Award winner took the stage for the first time since announcing his brain condition diagnosis in May, appearing at an amphitheater in Wellington, Florida, where the Billy Joel cover band Turnstiles was celebrating the city’s 30th birthday, according to The Palm Beach Post.
Joel, who was greeted with an enthusiastic crowd chanting his name, walked onto the stage with a cane and took a seat behind the piano.
“I wasn’t planning on working tonight,” Joel told the crowd according to a video posted online, before performing “We Didn’t Start the Fire” with the band, followed by “Big Shot.”
5 CELEBRITIES WHO WENT PUBLIC WITH ALARMING HEALTH DIAGNOSES IN 2025
Billy Joel gave a surprise performance months after revealing a brain condition diagnosis. (Bob Markey/YouTube)
In May, the five-time Grammy winner announced that he was canceling all his shows due to a brain disorder diagnosis, normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH).
“This condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance,” the announcement on Joel’s website said.
“Under his doctor’s instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period.”
“He is grateful for the support from fans during this time and looks forward to the day when he can once again take the stage.”
BILLY JOEL SPEAKS OUT ON ‘SCARY’ BRAIN DISORDER, DOESN’T WANT FANS TO WORRY
Joel concluded, “I’m sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding.”
In May, the five-time Grammy winner, announced that he was canceling all his shows due to a brain disorder diagnosis, normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Joel’s wife, Alexis Roderick Joel, shared a statement with Fox News Digital.
“Thank you for the outpouring of love and support. We are so grateful for the wonderful care and swift diagnosis we received. Bill is beloved by many, and to us, he is a father and husband who is at the center of our world. We are hopeful for his recovery. We look forward to seeing you all in the future,” she said.
NPH occurs when cerebrospinal fluid builds up inside the skull and presses on the brain. This condition is most likely to occur in people over age 65. Treatment involves surgery to implant a shunt to drain excess fluid from the inside of the skull, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
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Christie Brinkley sent love to her ex-husband, just days after the Grammy Award winner announced the devastating diagnosis.
Brinkley – who was married to Joel from 1985 to 1994 – took to social media to share her support and offer words of encouragement as Joel prepared to battle normal pressure hydrocephalus.
In July, Joel reassured his fans he was doing “okay” after the diagnosis. (Bruce Gilbert/Newsday RM via Getty Images)
“Dear Billy, the whole Brinkley gang is sending you lots of love and good wishes for a full and speedy recovery,” she wrote in the Instagram caption alongside a video of her and daughter Sailor Brinkley Cook dancing at one of Joel’s concerts. “I was looking for some cute photos of you and Alexa [Brinkley and Joel’s daughter] to send you, when I came across this clip from a recent concert. It made me laugh… but it also reminded me of all the joy you create, and all the sensational sing-alongs you’ve [led]. You turn an arena of strangers into a living room full of friends as we all sway in unison.”
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In July, Joel reassured his fans that he was “okay” following the diagnosis.
“I know a lot of people are worried about me and my health, but I’m okay,” Joel told People magazine. “What I have is something very few people know about, including me, no matter how much you try to research it. I’m doing my best to work with it and to recover from it.”
While he said the diagnosis was “disturbing,” he reassured fans not to be concerned about his health.
“It was scary, but I’m okay,” he said. “I just wanted to let people know, don’t worry about me being deathly ill or anything.”
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What can we expect for music in 2026? Here are a few predictions – National | Globalnews.ca
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The last 12 months in music were eventful, to say the least. We saw the against-all-odds successful Oasis reunion, the Sean Combs trial, and, of course, the rise of artificial intelligence and the fears of how it may impact the entirety of music going forward. What can we expect in 2026? I’ve got a few predictions — which, if I’m honest, are just guesses given the volatile and unpredictable nature of the music industry. Nevertheless, here we go.
U2 will return
Outside of their 40-date run at the Sphere in Las Vegas, U2 has been largely absent. The last album of new material was Songs of Experience in 2017, leaving fans instead with Songs of Surrender (a 2023 album of re-recordings) and How to Re-Assemble an Atomic Bomb (a 2024 collection of odds and ends accompanying the 20th anniversary re-release of How to Assemble an Atomic Bomb). Both were placeholders to keep fans occupied while drummer Larry Mullen Jr. dealt with some serious back and neck issues. Bono has given us a few updates along the way, saying the band was working on a back-to-basics rock album and that Mullen’s health was improving and he was almost ready to return to work full-time.
Right now, the runway is pretty clear for a new U2 album and world tour. Yes, Oasis is pretty much guaranteed to continue their reunion tour victory lap, and we’ll see more shows from Guns N’ Roses, Eagles, Bon Jovi, Iron Maiden, Aerosmith, Bruce Springsteen, Fleetwood Mac, Paul McCartney, and Pearl Jam have yet to make their intentions known. And the Rolling Stones have said they’ll be staying home because Keith Richards can’t commit to another round of shows.
Things are wide open for a return for U2. I wouldn’t be shocked if there was some kind of announcement in February, accompanied by a new single and then an album by summer.
Radiohead will return — maybe
To be fair, Radiohead has already returned with a short tour after a long hiatus. Might this mean more shows and — gasp! — a new album for the first time in a decade? They’re a sneaky bunch who love surprises. We’ll see.
![Click to play video: 'The influence of Radiohead’s music']()
AI will become an even greater concern
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File this one under “duh.” With the rise of generative AI platforms like Udio and Suno, and with two of the major labels settling lawsuits and working on licensing agreements, AI will loom even larger in music. While some will use the technology as a tool much in the same way we learned to deal with technological advances like the synthesizer, the drum machine and sampling, there will be many abuses and crimes, including plenty of streaming fraud.
![Click to play video: '‘We Will Rock You’ musical tackles AI with Queen’s biggest hits']()
Deezer, the Paris-based streamer, says its AI detection software has determined that as of November, almost 50,000 new AI songs are being uploaded to the platform each day, with plenty of tracks masquerading as material from flesh-and-blood artists. That is an increase from 10,000 per day in January 2025. Worse, Music Business Worldwide says 97 per cent of listeners can’t tell the difference between real and fake music. As one analyst put it, this kind of fraud and cybercrime has now been industrialized, with streaming fraud siphoning away at least US$1 billion annually.
There will be knock-on effects from this. Better AI detection. Demands to label songs and artists as AI-generated. More stringent curation standards for playlists and music discovery. And since AI artists can’t actually tour and perform live, their reach will be limited to online. Let’s hope that radio stays away from this music, too, although the taboo has already been broken by the success of the fake country artist Breaking Rust.
Rock will make a comeback
When Donald Trump was elected in 2016 and the Conservatives were struggling in the U.K., conditions were ripe for a rise in angry, aggressive music, something that we’ve traditionally seen when a Republican is in the White House and a Conservative lives at 10 Downing Street. But it never happened. Instead, we got a lot of sad mid-tempo bedroom pop from artists who complained of being stressed out (cf. Twenty One Pilots) and a bunch of 26-year-olds pining for the days when they were young. Then COVID-19 appeared, changing everything about society for two solid years.
Now, though, we have a second Trump administration that seems hell-bent on dismantling American life. The war in Ukraine shows no sign of ending and China is flexing its muscles around Taiwan. There’s talk of a bad recession. It’s a scary time, and it’s starting to be reflected in the type of music being made.
There’s plenty of anecdotal evidence that Gen Z is embracing rock, both in terms of classic acts and new ones, thanks to TikTok and Instagram. If you were at an Oasis show last year, you’ll have seen plenty of people who weren’t even born when Definitely Maybe came out in 1994. The Cure has found an audience with a brand new generation. There were an incredible number of young people at the limited number of AC/DC shows this year. New bands like the Beaches, Spiritbox, Ghost, Sleep Token and Turnstile are feeding into the demand.
Turns out Gen Zers love ’90s music as much as millennials and Gen Xers. They’re also discovering the rock of the early 2000s in droves, too, thanks to artists like Billie Eilish declaring her love of the Strokes. Mate this with Gen Zers tired of an all-digital world picking up real musical instruments again, and there’s hope for us rock and rollers. I wonder how enrolment is at those schools of rock that seem to be in every city.
Physical music will continue to be hot
Yes, vinyl outsold compact discs in Canada for the second year in a row, but don’t count them out. Young people — always the drivers of musical trends — are continuing to buy more music on physical formats. After a lifetime of dealing with music as an ephemeral and evanescent thing, many are discovering the wonders of ownership over access. Not only will vinyl records and CDs continue to sell, watch for more special collectible and limited-edition releases. Even owning a cassette without having anything to play it on is becoming a strong cultural statement.
A surprising number of people — upwards of 50 per cent — don’t even own a turntable. Vinyl represents a physical manifestation of what’s available on streaming platforms. This leaves the record (or CD) available for decorative display, allowing someone to point to a shelf full of records and say, “See? I love music so much that I have two metres of it on my wall!”
Slow listening
In the olden days, we listened to physical albums over and over again, hoping to like as many tracks as possible. We paid attention and didn’t skip something we judged unlikeable after five seconds. Physical media encourages slow listening. Who wants to get up and cross the room to move the tone arm on the turntable?
The continuing rise of lossless audio
For years, too many people thought the audio of MP3s was good enough. And to be fair, compressed music files were really the only option, given limited bandwidth, expensive data plans and small hard drives. Now, though, most of those problems are gone, opening the way to full-fidelity, and in some cases, better-than-CD quality, digital files. Even the streaming platforms have upped their bitrates to something that finally sounds like it did coming out of the studio.
An offshoot of that is the possible resurrection of wired headphones. Bluetooth headphones and earbuds are great, but Bluetooth doesn’t have the bandwidth to transmit lossless files like FLAC. If you want the full effect, you gotta plug in a set of cans.
The hot new sound? Afrobeat
The last couple of years have seen a tremendous rise in music from Latin artists and K-pop. Next up will be the spread of African superstars like Burna Boy, Davido, Tyla, WITCH, Tems and others. There will be a Bad Bunny-like breakthrough by someone, probably via TikTok or Instagram. Then look out.
We’ll see what happens. Let’s meet here in 12 months to see if I’m right or wrong.
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Seven BTS Songs To Get You Motivated For The New Year
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It’s about to be a new year, but we’ll be listening to BTS on repeat every year. Ahead of the clock hitting 00:00 (spoiler alert), we’ve compiled seven BTS songs you need to be adding to any motivation playlists you’re prepping for the new year!
‘RUN BTS’
Could we have started this list, or our playlists, any other way? No BTS track gets us as instantly high-energy as ‘RUN BTS.’ A celebratory-almost-diss-track, this song from 2022’s Proof almost single-handedly got us through BTS’s hiatus.
‘Paradise’
Yes, we want to be super hyped for the new year, but it’s also important to remember to take it slow sometimes! ‘Paradise’ is a BTS song close to every ARMY’s heart, with one of their most inspiring messages. Yes, ‘RUN BTS,’ but also, “We don’t run without knowing the destination, it’s alright to not have a dream.”
‘Permission to Dance’
Guess what our number one hope for next year is? Seeing BTS on a world tour. There’s absolutely nothing more motivating than a BTS boogie, or convinces us to save up our spending money more than the prospect of trying to get our hands on tickets.
’00:00′
If you press play on ’00:00′ at 11:58:37pm on December 31, you’ll end the year with V saying, “when the minute and second hand align, the world pauses for a moment,” and begin the new year with Jimin singing “And you’re gonna be happy.” We did it last year, and truly cannot recommend it enough!
‘D-Day’
If, somehow, your BTS motivation playlist isn’t getting you feeling hopeful enough for the new year yet, we’ve got more. In ‘D-DAY,’ AGUST D valiantly declares, “Future’s gonna be okay,” over and over again. What could give you more hype energy than that?
‘Yet To Come’
Where ‘RUN BTS’ is, you’ll find ‘Yet To Come,’ too! Sweetly declaring that, no matter how good or bad the past may have been, “the best moment is yet to come.”
‘Still Life (with Anderson .Paak)’
The seventh and final BTS track on our new year motivation playlist is another solo track! ‘Still Life,’ by RM and Anderson .Paak, is a great reminder that we all contain multitudes and can’t be reduced to any one thing. Celebrate those different sides of yourself as we go into the new year!
Which BTS songs will be on your 2026 playlists? Do you have a favorite BTS track for motivation? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
Wanna read more about BTS? We’ve got you covered.
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Barry Manilow Shares Hospital Bed Selfie and Update After Cancer Diagnosis
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Barry Manilow has offered an update on his health after being diagnosed with lung cancer.
The Grammy Award winner, 82, shared a photo of himself smiling as he lay in a hospital bed on Friday, January 2. Alongside the photo, Manilow assured his fans on Friday that he was feeling “better today.”
Manilow was showered with positive messages and well-wishes from his Instagram followers. Melanie Taylor, Manilow’s longtime backup singer, beamed “that’s my boss y’all” in the comments.
“He’s making it through the rain! Love you B,” Taylor went on.
Barry Manilow shares hospital bed selfie Courtesy Instagram / Barry ManilowGuns N’ Roses and The Cult alum Matt Sorum added, “Heal up Barry, much love.”
“Sending lots of love, Barry,” drag icon Coco Peru chimed in.
On December 22, Manilow went public with his lung cancer diagnosis and confirmed he would soon undergo surgery.
“As many of you know, I recently went through six weeks of bronchitis followed by a relapse of another five weeks. Even though I was over the bronchitis and back on stage at the Westgate Las Vegas, my wonderful doctor ordered an MRI just to make sure that everything was OK,” he shared via Instagram. “The MRI discovered a cancerous spot on my left lung that needs to be removed. It’s pure luck (and a great doctor) that it was found so early. That’s the good news.”
The “Can’t Smile Without You” singer explained that he needed to finish his annual Christmas concerts in December before scheduling a date to “have the spot removed.”
“The doctors do not believe it has spread, and I’m taking tests to confirm their diagnosis. So, that’s it. No chemo. No radiation. Just chicken soup and I Love Lucy reruns,” he wrote.
The singer-songwriter announced that he needed “a month to recover” post-op, so he was cancelling scheduled concerts in January. (Manilow had been set to headline gigs in Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Ohio this month.)
“I’m very sorry that you have to change your plans,” he wrote to fans. “Just like you, we were all looking forward to the January shows and hate having to move everything around.”
Looking ahead, Manilow said he intends to return to the stage for his Valentine’s Day weekend concerts at Westgate Las Vegas on February 12-14.
“Something tells me that February weekend is going to be one big party!” Manilow concluded. “I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year. And remember, if you have even the slightest symptom … get tested! I’ll see you at the Westgate Las Vegas for Valentine’s!”
Manilow has been open about his smoking habit over the years. He told The Evening Standard in 2012 that he’d “smoked for 30 years,” having originally started when he was only “9 years old.”
“Then I stopped about 15, 20 years ago,” he clarified at the time. “Then I just started in Las Vegas and the band and I went down to a little club and somebody offered me a cigarette. And I was back. Within a week I was back. Not on a pack a day, cause when I was really smoking I was on three packs a day — non filters. Oh yeah. I was a great smoker.”
More recently, Manilow switched to vaping. Prior to his recent lung cancer diagnosis, Manilow battled bronchial pneumonia, an oral tumor and was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma — a form of throat cancer — in 2020. (Manilow underwent surgery and vocal therapy after his 2020 throat cancer diagnosis and eventually made a full recovery.)
In 2019, Manilow admitted to the Daily Mirror that he was willing to accept the consequences after a lifetime of smoking.
“I’m fine, I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop. I’m very old, I should not be able to do this,” he said. “You saw me going up those stairs on stage — there’s 14 steps up and 14 down, you would think I should be in a wheelchair or something.”
Manilow is being supported throughout his lung cancer recovery by his husband, Garry Kief, whom he married in 2014 after more than 35 years together.
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Justin Harp
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Barry Manilow gives fans positive health update following his recent cancer diagnosis
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Barry Manilow gave fans an update on his health shortly after sharing his cancer diagnosis.
In an Instagram photo shared Friday, the 82-year-old singer was lying in a hospital bed in a green hospital gown with a smile on his face, captioning the post, “Better Today!”
Fans were happy to see the “Copacabana” singer was doing better, with many sending him love and positive wishes in the comments section.
“We love you Barry!! God is good! Can’t wait to see you again soon.”
Manilow gave his fans a health update, letting them know he is doing better. (Barry Manilow Instagram)
PINK HOSPITALIZED ON NEW YEAR’S EVE, RECOVERS FROM CHALLENGING 2025
“I’ve loved you Barry for 50 years! My heart skipped a beat when I heard you were sick,” another said. “So glad to see you are doing well and recuperating.”
Manilow first shared that a cancerous spot had been found on his lungs in an Instagram post shared in late December.
He explained that after suffering “through six weeks of bronchitis followed by a relapse of another five weeks,” his doctors ordered more tests out of an abundance of caution and found something more serious.
“Even though I was over the bronchitis and back on stage at the Westgate Las Vegas, my wonderful doctor ordered an MRI just to make sure that everything was OK. The MRI discovered a cancerous spot on my left lung that needs to be removed. It’s pure luck (and a great doctor) that it was found so early. That’s the good news.”
Manilow first shared his cancer diagnosis last month. (Mat Hayward/Getty Images)
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“The bad news is that now that the ‘Christmas A Gift of Love’ concerts are over, I’m going into surgery to have the spot removed,” he continued. “The doctors do not believe it has spread, and I’m taking tests to confirm the diagnosis. So, that’s it. No chemo. No radiation. Just chicken soup and ‘I Love Lucy’ reruns.”
He went on to apologize to all his fans who had already purchased tickets, telling them he was “looking forward to the January shows” as much as they were and that he “hate[s] having to move everything around.”
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Manilow is known for hits such as “I Write the Songs” and “Can’t Smile Without You,” but he told NBC News in April 2024 he didn’t think his biggest hit, “Copacabana,” would become what it did. He explained he and his co-producer at the time, Ron Duarte, “never thought it would ever get played on the radio.”
Manilow didn’t think his hit song “Copacabana” would go on to become as big as it did. (Ann Limongello/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images )
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“But we took it to a disco, when there were discos, and we asked the DJ to play it,” Manilow said. “And everybody ran to the dance floor and started to dance like they were back in the 1940s. They were dipping the girls and all because, you know, it’s ‘Copa.’ And, I said to Ron, ‘We may be onto something with this one.’ And then, it turned out to be the most popular song in my catalog.”
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BTS announces March comeback date, putting an end to a nearly four-year hiatus
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NEW YORK — They’re going to light up 2026 like dynamite: K-pop group BTS’ comeback has an official date.
According to a note shared to social media by the entertainment company BigHit Music, the mega popular group will return on March 20.
That’s after a nearly four-year hiatus, as all seven members of BTS — RM, Jin, Jimin, V, Suga, Jung Kook and j-hope — completed South Korea’s mandatory military service.
“March 20th comeback confirmed,” BigHit Music wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Rapper Suga was the last group member to be released — from his duties as a social service agent, an alternative to serving in the military that he reportedly chose due to a shoulder injury. That was in June 2025.
The six others, RM, V, Jimin, Jung Kook, Jin and j-hope, served in the army.
BTS tiered their enlistments, giving ample time for its members to focus on solo projects while the group was on a break.
Last summer, the group teased a world tour and announced that a new album would be released in the spring of 2026. At the time, they said they would begin working on the project in July 2025.
“Since it will be a group album, it will reflect each member’s thoughts and ideas,” they said in a statement. “We’re approaching the album with the same mindset we had when we first started.”
The 2026 album will mark their first since 2022’s anthology, “Proof,” their 2021 Japanese compilation album “BTS, the Best,” and their last studio album, “Be,” released in 2020.
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Things to do in Denver this weekend, Jan. 2-4
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By Cassidy Ritter, Special to Denverite
Happy New Year!
Ring in 2026 this weekend by attending a vision board party, intention-setting event or a Colorado Mammoth game.
This weekend is also your last chance to explore several holiday- and winter-themed events and exhibits, such as Magical Winter Nights at Denver Museum of Nature & Science and Zoo Lights.
Whatever you do, make it a great weekend!
(P.S.: Next week, Thursday, Jan. 8, the National Western Stock Show gets underway with a parade in downtown Denver near Union Station.)
Notes: Events with an * are taking place virtually or outdoors.
Friday, Jan. 2
Just for fun
Magical Winter Nights. Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. 4:15-9 p.m. Free (guests ages 2 and under), $19.95 (guests ages 3-18), $21.95 (guests ages 65 and older), $24.95 (adults). Discounted rates for members.
*Blossom of Lights. Denver Botanic Gardens – York Street, 1007 York St. 4:30-9 p.m. Free (children ages 2 and under), $20-$29 (members), $24-$33 (non-members).
Elitch Holidays (formerly Luminova Holidays). Elitch Gardens, 2000 Elitch Circle. 5-9 p.m. Free (children ages 2 and under), $20.26 (adults, when purchased online).
*Christmas in Color. Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison. 5-9:30 p.m. Starting at $34.99.
New Year’s Sound Bath. Dandy Lion Coffee Co., 5225 E. 38th Ave. 6-7:30 p.m. $33.85. Advance registration recommended.
*Trail of Lights. Denver Botanic Gardens – Chatfield Farms, 8500 W. Deer Creek Canyon Road. 5-8 p.m. Free (children ages 2 and under), $10-$12 (children ages 3-15), $16-$18 (ages 65 and older), $18-$20 (adults).
*Hudson Holidays. Hudson Gardens, 6115 S. Santa Fe Dr., Littleton. 5-9:30 p.m. Free (children ages 2 and under), $17.06 (ages 3-12), $20.26 (ages 65 and older), $22.40 (adults).
Kids and family
ICE! Featuring Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas – Last Day. Gaylord Rockies, 6700 N. Gaylord Rockies Blvd., Aurora. 9 a.m.-8:45 p.m. Starting at $31.
*Snow Days. Children’s Museum of Denver, 2121 Children’s Museum Dr. Opens at 9 a.m. Free (children under 1 year of age and members), $17.75 (1-year-olds and visitors ages 60 and older), $19.75 (ages 2-59). All ages.
*Zoo Lights. Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, 2300 Steele St. 4:30-8:30 p.m. Free (ages 2 and under), $19 (ages 3-15), $26 (ages 16 and older).
Comedy and theater
Emo Philips. Comedy Works Downtown, 1226 15th St. 6:30 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. $25-$30.
Eddie Ifft. Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village. 7:15 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. $25-$30.
Rotating Tap Comedy. River North Brewery – Blake Street Taproom, 3400 Blake St. 7:30-9:30 p.m. Free.
Secret Late Night Comedy Show and Free Pizza. Denver Comedy Underground, 675 22nd St. 7:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. $25 (in advance), $30 (at the door).
Art, culture, and media
Moments That Made US. History Colorado, 1200 Broadway. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (children ages 18 and under), $15 (adults).
The Honest Eye: Camille Pissarro’s Impressionism. Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (members and children age 18 and younger), $22-$27 (students, teachers, active military members, veterans, seniors ages 65 and older), $25-$30 (adults).
Perfectly Lost. Walker Fine Art, 300 W. 11th Ave., Unit A. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free.
Lumonics Immersed. Lumonics Light & Sound Gallery, 800 E. 73rd Ave., Unit 11. 8-10 p.m. $15-$25. Advance registration required.
Eat and drink
Blitzen’s at Shep’s. Omni Interlocken, 500 Interlocken Blvd., Broomfield. 11 a.m.-midnight. No cover.
Jingle Bao Rock. Bao Brewhouse, 1317 14th St. Noon-midnight. No cover.
Italian Regional Cooking: Tuscany. Cook Street, 43 W. 9th Ave. 6-9:30 p.m. $132 (per person). Advance registration required.
Grabados Y Gustación: Printmaking & Mezcal. Manos Sagrados, 9975 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora. 6-11 p.m. $8 (workshop only), $15 (workshop and tasting).
Chocolate & Wine Pairing Class. The Chocolate Therapist, 2560 W. Main St., Littleton. 6:30-7:30 p.m. $44.52. Advance registration required.
Music and nightlife
Laser Billie Eilish. Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Prices vary.
Paloma Rose: Tribute to Nina Simone. Dazzle at The Arts Complex, 1080 14th St. 6:30 p.m. Prices vary.
Worakls. Bluebird Theater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave. 9 p.m. $30.66-$39.94.
Sports and fitness
*Denver Nuggets at Cleveland Cavaliers. Watch on Altitude or Prime Video, or listen at 92.5 FM. 5:30 p.m.
*Ice Skating. Throughout the Denver metro, locations listed here. Times vary. Costs vary.
Saturday, Jan. 3
Just for fun
Coffee & Donuts for the Coworking-Curious. The Process, 1060 Bannock St., Suite 200. 8-10 a.m. Free.
Clock Tower Self-Guided Tours. Denver Clocktower, 1601 Arapahoe St. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free (children ages 5 and under), $8 (Historic Denver and Molly Brown House Museum members), $10 (general public).
Manifest your 2026 – Vision Board Party. West + Main Homes office, 2010 Youngfield St., Lakewood. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Advance registration required.
2026 Vision Boards. Hazel, 1581 S. Pearl St. 1-3 p.m. $33.85 (includes craft supplies and one cocktail).
Journal Workshop. Ember and Stitch, 918 W. Eights Ave. 1 p.m. $119.22.
Elitch Holidays (formerly Luminova Holidays). Elitch Gardens, 2000 Elitch Circle. 4-9 p.m. Free (children ages 2 and under), $20.26 (adults, when purchased online).
Magical Winter Nights. Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. 4:15-9 p.m. Free (guests ages 2 and under), $19.95 (guests ages 3-18), $21.95 (guests ages 65 and older), $24.95 (adults). Discounted rates for members.
*Zoo Lights. Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, 2300 Steele St. 4:30-8:30 p.m. Free (ages 2 and under), $19 (ages 3-15), $26 (ages 16 and older).
*Blossom of Lights. Denver Botanic Gardens – York Street, 1007 York St. 4:30-9 p.m. Free (children ages 2 and under), $20-$29 (members), $24-$33 (non-members).
*Christmas in Color. Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison. 5-9:30 p.m. Starting at $34.99.
*Hudson Holidays. Hudson Gardens, 6115 S. Santa Fe Dr., Littleton. 5-9:30 p.m. Free (children ages 2 and under), $17.06 (ages 3-12), $20.26 (ages 65 and older), $22.40 (adults).
*Trail of Lights. Denver Botanic Gardens – Chatfield Farms, 8500 W. Deer Creek Canyon Road. 5-8 p.m. Free (children ages 2 and under), $10-$12 (children ages 3-15), $16-$18 (ages 65 and older), $18-$20 (adults).
1/3 Look on the Flipside LIVE! with Ian Gibbs. Flipside Theatre, 502 Center Dr., Unit M, Superior. 7-9 p.m. $12.
Kids and family
*Snow Days. Children’s Museum of Denver, 2121 Children’s Museum Dr. Opens at 9 a.m. Free (children under 1 year of age and members), $17.75 (1-year-olds and visitors ages 60 and older), $19.75 (ages 2-59). All ages.
Brick Planet: A Magical Journey Made with LEGO Bricks. Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (guests ages 2 and under and members), $20.95 (guests ages 3-18), $22.95 (guests ages 65 and older), $25.95 (adults). (Learn more about the exhibit here.)
Arabic Stories & Language Hour. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Virginia Village Branch Library, 1500 Dahlia St. Free. Ideal for ages 12 and under, when accompanied by an adult.
Kids’ Matinee: The Playmakers, Snow White & The Dazzle Dwarves, An Interactive Event. Dazzle at The Arts Complex, 1080 14th St. Noon. $6.45. All ages.
Comedy and theater
Kibbles ‘N Bits: An Animal Rescue Comedy Show. Denver Comedy Underground, 675 22nd St. 4 p.m. $17.50 (in advance), $25 (at the door).
Eddie Ifft. Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village. 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. $25-$30.
Emo Philips. Comedy Works Downtown, 1226 15th St. 6 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. $25-$30.
Art, culture, and media
Moments That Made US. History Colorado, 1200 Broadway. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (children ages 18 and under), $15 (adults).
Perfectly Lost. Walker Fine Art, 300 W. 11th Ave., Unit A. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free.
Demo Artist: Miriam Dubinsky. Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway. Noon-3 p.m. Free (members and children age 18 and younger), $22-$27 (students, teachers, active military members, veterans, seniors ages 65 and older), $25-$30 (adults).
She Makes an Impression: Colorado Women Take a Look at Themselves – Artist Panel Discussion. D’art Gallery, 900 Santa Fe Dr. 1-3 p.m. No cover.
Lumonics Immersed. Lumonics Light & Sound Gallery, 800 E. 73rd Ave., Unit 11. 8-10 p.m. $15-$25. Advance registration required.
Eat and drink
Blitzen’s at Shep’s. Omni Interlocken, 500 Interlocken Blvd., Broomfield. 11 a.m.-midnight. No cover.
Anchors Aweigh – Off to the Next Dock Celebration. Dry Dock Brewing Co., 15120 E. Hampden Ave., Aurora. Noon-8 p.m. No cover.
Jingle Bao Rock. Bao Brewhouse, 1317 14th St. Noon-midnight. No cover.
French Regional Cooking: Provence. Cook Street, 43 W. 9th Ave. 6-9:30 p.m. $132 (per person). Advance registration required.
Chocolate & Wine Pairing Class. The Chocolate Therapist, 2560 W. Main St., Littleton. 6:30-7:30 p.m. $44.52. Advance registration required.
Music and nightlife
Dub Wub Wonky Bass January. River, 3759 Chestnut Place. 7 p.m.-2 a.m. $19.63.
Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony. Boettcher Concert Hall, 1000 14th St., Unit 15. 7:30 p.m. $19.20-$131.84.
Nora en Pure. Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St. 8 p.m. Prices vary.
Want more live music? Check out the Indie 102.3 concert calendar.
Sports and fitness
New Year’s Intention Setting: Morning Sound Healing & Slow Flow Yoga. Dairy Block, 1800 Wazee St., Suite 100. 9-11:30 a.m. Pay what you can. Advance registration recommended.
Coffee & Free Meditation Class. Kadampa Meditation Center Colorado, 4840 W. 29th Ave. 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free.
*Colorado Avalanche at Carolina Hurricanes. Watch on Altitude. 5 p.m.
Rochester Knighthawks at Colorado Mammoth. Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle. Watch on ESPN+. 7 p.m. Prices vary.
*Ice Skating. Throughout the Denver metro, locations listed here. Times vary. Costs vary.
Sunday, Jan. 4
Just for fun
Magical Winter Nights – Last Day. Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. 4:15-9 p.m. Free (guests ages 2 and under), $19.95 (guests ages 3-18), $21.95 (guests ages 65 and older), $24.95 (adults). Discounted rates for members.
*Zoo Lights. Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, 2300 Steele St. 4:30-8:30 p.m. Free (ages 2 and under), $19 (ages 3-15), $26 (ages 16 and older).
*Blossom of Lights. Denver Botanic Gardens – York Street, 1007 York St. 4:30-9 p.m. Free (children ages 2 and under), $20-$29 (members), $24-$33 (non-members).
*Trail of Lights. Denver Botanic Gardens – Chatfield Farms, 8500 W. Deer Creek Canyon Road. 5-8 p.m. Free (children ages 2 and under), $10-$12 (children ages 3-15), $16-$18 (ages 65 and older), $18-$20 (adults).
Elitch Holidays (formerly Luminova Holidays). Elitch Gardens, 2000 Elitch Circle. 5-9 p.m. Free (children ages 2 and under), $20.26 (adults, when purchased online).
*Hudson Holidays. Hudson Gardens, 6115 S. Santa Fe Dr., Littleton. 5-9:30 p.m. Free (children ages 2 and under), $17.06 (ages 3-12), $20.26 (ages 65 and older), $22.40 (adults).
Comedy and theater
Georgia Comstock and Friends. Comedy Works Downtown, 1226 15th St. 7 p.m. $14.
Art, culture, and media
Moments That Made US. History Colorado, 1200 Broadway. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (children ages 18 and under), $15 (adults).
The Honest Eye: Camille Pissarro’s Impressionism. Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (members and children age 18 and younger), $22-$27 (students, teachers, active military members, veterans, seniors ages 65 and older), $25-$30 (adults).
What We’ve Been Up To: Landscape – Last Day. Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (members and children age 18 and younger), $22-$27 (students, teachers, active military members, veterans, seniors ages 65 and older), $25-$30 (adults).
Eat and drink
Drag Queen Bingo Brunch. Denver Milk Market, 1800 Wazee St., Suite 100. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. No cover.
Blitzen’s at Shep’s. Omni Interlocken, 500 Interlocken Blvd., Broomfield. 11 a.m.-midnight. No cover.
Jingle Bao Rock – Last Day. Bao Brewhouse, 1317 14th St. Noon-midnight. No cover.
Date Night: Garlic Lover’s Feast. Stir to Learn, 3215 Zuni St. 5-8 p.m. $240 (for two). Advance registration required.
Music and nightlife
Laser Billie Eilish. Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. 4 p.m. Prices vary.
Neighborhood Music Jazz Jam. Stanley Marketplace, 2501 N. Dallas St., Aurora. 6-9 p.m. Free.
Sports and fitness
Rainforest Yoga. Butterfly Pavilion, 6252 W. 104th Ave., Westminster. 7:45 a.m. $12 (member), $15 (non-member). Advance registration required.
Mother–Daughter Bodyweight Bootcamp + Craft Class. Athleta, 3000 E. First Ave. 9:30-10:30 a.m. Free.
*Denver Nuggets at Brooklyn Nets. Watch on Altitude2, or listen at 950 AM. 1:30 p.m.
*Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos. Empower Field at Mile High, 1701 Bryant St. Watch on CBS. 2:25 p.m. Prices vary.
*Colorado Avalanche at Florida Panthers. Watch on Altitude. 3 p.m.
*Ice Skating. Throughout the Denver metro, locations listed here. Times vary. Costs vary.
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Jill Scott reveals her first album in 11 years, thanks fans for their patience
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Jill Scott will drop her sixth studio album, ‘To Whom It May Concern,’ on Feb. 13. The release, her first since 2015, features Tierra Whack, JID, Too $hort and Ab-Soul. The lead single, ‘Beautiful People,’ is out now.
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Will Smith sued for sexual harassment, accused of ‘deliberately grooming’ tour violinist
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Will Smith was accused of sexual harassment by Brian King Joseph in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles just before the new year, according to documents obtained by Fox News Digital.
Joseph, a professional violinist, alleges Smith was “deliberately grooming and priming Mr. Joseph for further sexual exploitation” in the complaint against the Academy Award-winning actor and associates with his Treyball Studios Management, Inc.
After his first performance with Smith in December 2024, the “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It” singer allegedly hired Joseph to join his “Based on a True Story: 2025 Tour.”
JADA PINKETT SMITH ALLEGEDLY HURLED DEATH THREATS AT HUSBAND’S EX-ASSOCIATE, FACES $3M LAWSUIT
Will Smith was accused of sexual harassment in a lawsuit filed Dec. 30. (Matt Winkelmeyer)
Joseph claimed their “relationship grew even closer” after Smith offered him a chance to play on several tracks of the rapper’s upcoming album.
“Smith and Plaintiff began spending additional time alone, with Smith even telling Plaintiff that ‘You and I have such a special connection, that I don’t have with anyone else,’ and other similar expressions indicating his closeness to Plaintiff,” documents state.
Joseph allegedly joined the first leg of the tour in March 2025 in Las Vegas, where he was provided a hotel room booked by Smith and his team. He claimed “no other individuals besides … the crew and hotel staff would have had access” to his personal room.
WILL SMITH ACCUSED OF USING AI TO CREATE FAKE CROWD IN CONCERT PERFORMANCE FOOTAGE
The violinist, who competed on “America’s Got Talent” in 2018, claimed to place his room key in his bag, which was left in a van responsible for transporting the cast and crew around. After a rehearsal at the venue, management allegedly spent hours retrieving the bag.
Brian King Joseph was a finalist on “America’s Got Talent” in 2018. (Trae Patton)
When Joseph returned to his hotel room later that evening, he claimed to have “discovered evidence suggesting that an unknown person had unlawfully entered the room.” Joseph subsequently called hotel security.
“The evidence included a handwritten note addressed to Plaintiff by name, which read ‘Brian, I’ll be back no later [sic] 5:30, just us (drawn heart), Stone F,’” the lawsuit states. “Among the remaining belongings were wipes, a beer bottle, a red backpack, a bottle of HIV medication with another individual’s name, an earring, and hospital discharge paperwork belonging to a person unbeknownst to Plaintiff.”
Joseph feared that an unknown individual would return to his room to engage in sexual acts, documents said, and he “immediately notified hotel security and representatives for Defendant, obtained photo documentation, requested a room change, and called the local non-emergency police line (311) to report the incident.”
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Days later, Joseph claims, Smith’s team began “blaming” him for the incident.
“Rather than being protected against further assault, and for attempting to understanding Plaintiff’s complaint, Plaintiff was shamed by Defendant and told that he was being terminated,” the complaint stated.
Will Smith initially found fame as a rapper before starring in “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” in the ’90s. (Isa Foltin/WireImage)
“When Plaintiff requested … further reasoning, Tim Miller, acting on behalf of Defendants, redirected the blame for the termination onto Plaintiff, replying, ‘I don’t know, you tell me, because everyone is telling me that what happened to you is a lie, nothing happened, and you made the whole thing up. So, tell me, why did you lie and make this up?’”
Joseph, at the request of Miller, compiled a timeline “to explain the traumatic series of events that occurred that evening.”
“However, following Plaintiff’s report and termination, Defendant hired another violinist to assume the same position on the tour,” documents stated. “This hiring strongly suggested that Defendant’s stated reason for the termination was pretextual.”
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“The facts strongly suggest that Defendant Willard Carroll Smith II was deliberately grooming and priming Mr. Joseph for further sexual exploitation. The sequence of events, Smith’s prior statements to Plaintiff, and the circumstances of the hotel intrusion all point to a pattern of predatory behavior rather than an isolated incident,” the lawsuit states.
Brian King Joseph allegedly suffered “severe emotional distress” after the incident. (Max Faulkner)
“Defendant’s actions caused Plaintiff severe emotional distress, economic loss, reputational harm, and other damages. Plaintiff was also harmed as a result of the stress of losing his job his health deteriorated causing major physiological damage. Plaintiff suffered from PTSD and other mental illness as a result of the termination.”
Representatives for Smith did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
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Joseph filed his complaint after a $3 million lawsuit was filed against Jada Pinkett Smith by a former associate, Bilaal Salaam.
Salaam claimed Jada approached him with physical threats of violence and demanded he sign a nondisclosure agreement while at a private gathering at a movie theater in Calabasas for her husband’s birthday in September 2021.
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Kelsea Ballerini, Chase Stokes commit to ‘breaking patterns’ in rekindled romance after ‘messy’ year
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Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes ended 2025 with a toast to love and each other.
Ballerini, 32, confirmed her rekindled romance with the 33-year-old actor on New Year’s Eve in a series of social media shares, three months after the couple decided to take time apart.
The “Cowboys Cry Too” singer admitted 2025 was “the most glittery, stress rash inducing year I’ve ever experienced” in a carousel of images posted on Instagram.
KELSEA BALLERINI TELLS HECKLER TO ‘F— OFF’ AFTER THEY SCREAMED HER EX’S NAME DURING CONCERT
Chase Stokes and Kelsea Ballerini confirmed their rekindled their romance in New Year’s Eve social media posts. (Unique Nicole/Getty Images for Netflix)
“I will always remember you,” she wrote.
KELSEA BALLERINI’S HAUNTING NEW SONG EXPOSES THE LONELINESS FEMINISM FORGOT
While the “Outer Banks” actor was missing from the post, Ballerini locked lips with Stokes as she reflected on the “messy year” and how she was now committed to breaking patterns.
Kelsea Ballerini kissed Chase Stokes in a photo shared on Instagram. (Kelsea Ballerini/Instagram)
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“Messy year for the heart, messy year for the outside coming in, messy year for the way it became an out of our hands portrayal of it,” she wrote.
“But what I’ll say, and all I really care to share indefinitely with my personal life anymore, is that I really love love.
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“I believe in it, I believe in him, and I believe in breaking patterns. Now go kiss your person and stop speculating.”
Stokes also reflected on lessons learned through the year and doubled down on committing to growth in 2026.
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“Something I’ve learned this year: don’t take advantage of the most beautiful things that in 33 years of life are fleeting,” he wrote. “Take accountability, learn from mistakes. Lean into love and say it often. 2026 my year of growth, my year of truth. Starting here, starting now. Happy new years.”
Chase Stokes and Kelsea Ballerini began dating in 2022. (Catherine Powell/Getty Images for MTV)
In another image shared on his stories, he wrote, “Crashed out so hard I shaved my head (again.) Time to be funny on social media now.”
Ballerini and Stokes split in September after nearly three years together.
The country singer’s rep confirmed the news to People magazine.
“They’re two adults who gave it their all and tried to do everything they could to make it work, but ultimately couldn’t. It happens,” a source close to the couple told the outlet.
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Ballerini was previously married to Morgan Evans for nearly five years before filing for divorce in 2022.
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Bad Bunny could make history at the 2026 Grammys. For Latino culture, he already has
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NEW YORK — The Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny has redefined what it means to be a global giant — and he may once again make history at the 2026 Grammy Awards.
The artist born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio is up for six awards at the Feb. 1 show, becoming the first Spanish-language artist to be nominated for album, song and record of the year simultaneously. His critically acclaimed album, “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” is only the second Spanish-language record to be nominated for album of the year. The first? Well, that also belonged to Bad Bunny, 2022’s “Un Verano Sin Ti.”
Win or lose, experts say Bad Bunny’s Grammy nominations mark a symbolic moment for Latinos. Just a week later, after all, he’ll headline the Super Bowl halftime show.
Vanessa Díaz, associate professor of Chicano and Latino studies at Loyola Marymount University and co-author of “P FKN R: How Bad Bunny Became the Global Voice of Puerto Rican Resistance,” says Bad Bunny’s nods extend beyond his own art and serve as a “very welcome recognition of Latin music that is growing.”
“Music from the Spanish-speaking Caribbean has been shaping global music tastes since the 19th century,” adds Albert Laguna, associate professor of ethnicity, race and migration and American studies at Yale. “Bad Bunny is another link in a much longer chain of the popularity of Caribbean music on a global stage.”
Much of this music — particularly Latin trap and reggaetón, the genres Bad Bunny got his start in and continues to use in his new work — has been historically criminalized in Puerto Rico, not unlike hip-hop in the United States. Reggaetón in particular, Díaz points out, “comes from the most marginalized communities in Puerto Rico. And so, the fact that Bad Bunny is receiving nominations in three main categories, and this is an artist who came up with trap … is the most groundbreaking thing about the entire situation.”
Petra Rivera-Rideau, associate professor of American studies at Wellesley College and co-author of “P FKN R,” says that element is particularly noteworthy because institutions often ignore marginalized genres — including at the Latin Grammys, a sister award show to the Grammys.
A victory in the major categories could have “profound, symbolic meaning,” she says. But with a caveat: “I’m interested to see if this is going to open doors for other people.” After all, Bad Bunny himself isn’t immune to the Recording Academy’s institutional biases: He already has three career Grammys, but all have been in música urbana categories — despite the fact that he is the most streamed artist on the planet.
Across “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” Bad Bunny and his producers weave traditional Puerto Rican folkloric styles into a hyper-contemporary context. Latin trap and reggaetón aren’t abandoned but fused with música jíbara, salsa, bomba, plena and even aguinaldo, a kind of Christmas music, in “Pitorro de Coco.” While Bad Bunny’s previous albums also fused different genres — including bossa nova, mambo, rock, merengue and more — this album’s melange was more homegrown.
Laguna sees “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” as a direct challenge to the prevailing “formula for global pop stardom,” which he describes as an artist making it locally, gaining traction and then “watering down” their sound into something commercial and palatable for a global audience.
“Bad Bunny went in the opposite direction. It’s his most Puerto Rican album ever,” says Laguna. He hopes it will communicate to other artists that they, too, can look to their ancestry and history for artmaking.
“There’s so much amazing Latin music that has been overlooked and that’s part of what is so beautiful about this moment,” says Díaz. “And that’s why it feels like a win for all Latinos.”
The timing of the album’s release and recognition, too, feels consequential. “The U.S. has a history of othering Latinos, othering the Spanish language. … We’re in a moment where that feels extremely acute,” she continues. “For a community that is being targeted on such a deep level, it is a little bit of light, a little bit of faith that we can still carve out our place here.”
Latinos and the Spanish-speaking community in the U.S. have grown increasingly wary amid growing anti-immigrant sentiment and raids, as President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and executive actions have vastly expanded who is eligible for deportation and routine hearings have turned into deportation traps for migrants.
In an interview with i-D Magazine earlier this year, Bad Bunny mentioned that concerns around the mass deportations of Latinos factored into his decision not to tour in the continental U.S. ( Hundreds of people have been detained in Puerto Rico itself since large-scale arrests began in late January.)
“The content of the lyrics — which are so steeped in the history of Puerto Rico, political histories, tourism and gentrification — there’s so much rich political and historical content,” Díaz adds. “This album is historic even without a Grammy win.”
But if Bad Bunny does win, Díaz says, it will be “akin to Halle Berry being the first Black woman to win an Oscar. That was a watershed moment. Or Rita Moreno being the first Latina to win.”
Beyond that, Laguna says the politics of the album are not exclusive to Puerto Rican or even Latino identity — “the lyrics on this album align with global struggles,” he says. Take, for example, “Lo que le pasó a Hawaii” (“What happened to Hawaii”), a rallying cry for cultural autonomy in an era of neocolonialization.
Rivera-Rideau says one of the reasons “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” has resonated is not just the political implications of using folkloric music in addition to música urbana, but its sound. The traditional genres are “a lot more digestible” to listeners who embrace the antiquated taboos surrounding Latin trap and scoff at reggaetón’s sexuality. As a result, the combination of sounds makes for an album that is “popular across generations,” she says.
But it only works because it is “musically really interesting. If it was just traditional music, and that’s only what people cared about, it wouldn’t have done as well as it did,” she explains. “Musically, it is super innovative and makes accessible a lot of these older genres that people in Puerto Rico listen to, but he’s been able to globalize these very local genres in a way that no one else has.”
That intergenerational appeal was a feature of Bad Bunny’s landmark Puerto Rican residency, with the age and global diversity of its audience.
“A lot of people feel like this is a tense moment, it’s a difficult moment. And here’s someone giving us a sonic language in which to narrate this complex present,” Laguna says. “There’s pleasure, in political critique, that the music makes possible in a beautiful way. And I think that’s very much welcomed.”
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The 68th Grammy Awards will be held Feb. 1, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The show will air on CBS and stream on Paramount+. For more coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/grammy-awards.
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Zach Bryan Confirms Marriage to Samantha Leonard on Instagram
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Zach Bryan has confirmed his marriage to Samantha Leonard.
Bryan, 29, took to Instagram on Wednesday, December 31, and shared a black-and-white photo of him carrying Leonard, 28, as she sported a strapless white bridal gown with a feathery hem. The happy couple smiled as Leonard held a wine glass.
“Tougher than the rest,” he captioned his post, which also included a video of him performing the Bruce Springsteen song with the same name at their wedding reception.
Earlier Wednesday, the country star was spotted holding Leonard in his arms after exchanging vows in Spain, multiple outlets reported. A video posted via Instagram showed the newlyweds laughing as they hopped into a convertible and drove off into the proverbial sunset.
The day before the wedding, Bryan shared a photo of him with his guy friends, adding a caption that cited lyrics from the Black Eyes Peas’ “I Gotta Feeling.” On December 29, Bryan posted a clip of him crooning a heartfelt song on the guitar that seemingly referenced his upcoming nuptials.
“I made a woman fall in love and made our young hearts cry,” he sang. “I’m on an aeroplane bound to Spain tonight.”
On Wednesday, Leonard posted a clip via her Instagram Stories in which she and Bryan touched down on an airplane.
The couple were first linked in August. That October, Bryan paid tribute to his new love via Instagram, writing, “From bull runs to all the bulls***, today is your birthday and I love you Samantha Marie. To the only woman who can hike six miles in Chanel flats, skydive over the alps and catch a bigger fish than me all in the same day. Hope your day was as graceful as you are.”
Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia is sharing more accusations about her ex, Zach Bryan, in the wake of their acrimonious split. The podcaster, 25, shared via TikTok on Friday, November 15, that the country singer had picked out an engagement ring for her before their relationship came crashing down. “Fun fact my biggest celeb crush tried to […]
Sparks flew between Bryan and Leonard one year after his not-so-amicable split with Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia, whom he dated from the summer of 2023 up to fall 2024.
“Brianna and me [sic] have broken up with each other and I respect and love her with every ounce of my heart. She has loved me unconditionally for a very long time and for that, I’ll always thank her,” Bryan said in a statement in October 2024. “I’ve had an incredibly hard year personally and struggled through some pretty severe things. I thought it would be beneficial for both of us to go our different ways. I am not perfect and never will be.”
LaPaglia, 26, has said that the breakup blindsided her and accused Bryan of being emotionally abusive. (Us Weekly reached out for comment at the time. Bryan hasn’t responded to the allegations.)
LaPaglia’s fans, meanwhile, have noted the physical resemblance between her and Leonard.
“Next question is [one] that I got a million times. ‘What do you think about Zach’s girlfriend looking exactly like you?’” LaPaglia said during an October episode of her “Plan Bri Uncut” podcast. “I think that is narcissism textbook 101, like, that’s what narcissists do. They just go and find another version of you to date.”
She continued, “People are like, ‘Are you creeped out? Are you mad? Are you flattered?’ I am flattered to be honest. I dyed my hair so that people [would] stop sending me every single picture that he posts of her, and I blocked him. I don’t wanna see this [and] I don’t want to indulge in anything that he does.”
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Erin Carlson
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