It’s midyear season at Billboard, with our 50 best albums and 50 best songs of the year so far going live earlier this week. Now that we’re about halfway through the 2025 calendar, it also seemed like a good time to look back on the year so far in pop stardom — who’s excelled, who’s disappointed, who’s been surprisingly invisible and who could still come back in a big way to define 2025 by year’s end.

On this week’s Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by the three Billboard staffers (Kyle Denis, Meghan Mahar and Jason Lipshutz) who appeared back in January to participate in our first-ever Greatest Pop Stars Fantasy Draft, where the four of us each drafted our own teams of pop stars who we thought would go on to define 2025. In this episode, we each revisit our rosters, and size up how each of our pop stars has done so far — and also talk about who’s leading the 2025 race in general, and predict some artists who might still enter the discussion before year’s end.

Along the way, of course, we ask all the most important questions about the first six months in 2025 pop stardom: Why does 2025 still feel so much like an extension of 2024? Does the success of “Nokia” excuse drafting Drake over Kendrick Lamar? Where is Harry Styles? Did Bruno Mars secretly release his best song in a decade with a one-minute baile funk one-off no one seems to know about? Is Sabrina Carpenter coming back to run s–t? Is Cardi B? And perhaps most importantly — where does Benson Boone fit into all of this?

Check it out above, and subscribe to the Greatest Pop Stars podcast on Apple Music or Spotify (or wherever you get your podcasts) for weekly discussions every Thursday about all things related to pop stardom!

And as we say in every one of these GPS podcast posts — if you have the time and money to spare, please consider donating to any of these causes in the fight for trans rights:

Transgender Law Center

Trans Lifeline

Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe

Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on 5Calls.org.

Scotty McCreery has posted five Billboard Country Airplay chart-toppers during his career, including a streak of signature hits such as “Damn Strait” and “In Between.” But now, he’s gearing up to shine a spotlight on many of the hits, and album cuts, that have inspired him.

On Thursday (June 26), McCreery was announced as the host of a new monthly show on SiriusXM’s Prime Country (Channel 58), which highlights country music of the 1980s and 1990s. Prime Country With Scotty McCreery will premiere Saturday, July 5 at 3 p.m. ET, with new episodes premiering the first Saturday of every month at 3 p.m. ET on Prime Country. Each show will also be rebroadcast on the channel several times throughout the month.

“I love country music from every decade, but the country music of the ’80s and ’90s is probably my favorite era of music. I’m excited to put a spotlight on the songs and performers I grew up listening to that helped shape the artist I am today,” McCreery tells Billboard in a statement.

He notes that the debut episode will feature music from artists including Garth Brooks, George Strait, Randy Travis, Kathy Mattea, Patty Loveless, Keith Whitley, Ronnie Milsap and John Anderson.

“Each song is handpicked by me,” he says. “I’ll be sharing stories of how an artist influenced me or how I met them or something we may have experienced together on the road or backstage at an awards show or the Opry.”

Even when McCreery made his career debut on American Idol (he won the talent competition’s 10th season), his allegiance to ’80s and ’90s country music was clear in his performances of songs such as Travis Tritt’s “Can I Trust You With My Heart” and Strait’s “I Cross My Heart.” His three-week Country Airplay No. 1 hit “Damn Strait” also nods to the Country Music Hall of Famer.

McCreery was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry in April 2024, when he was ushered into Opry membership by fellow country music hitmaker Josh Turner. McCreery is using his new show to highlight his passion for the Grand Ole Opry and its essential contributions to country music’s history and present-day global influence.

“Every month I’ll also be sharing a live Opry performance that was recorded on that legendary stage during the ‘80s or ‘90s. My first episode will feature Joe Diffie performing ‘Pick Up Man’ on the Opry stage from Oct. 18, 1997,” McCreery previews.

Of course, McCreery fans can also hear a few songs from McCreery himself. “You’ll also hear one or two of my songs on the show because – hey! It’s my show! I’m hoping in the future to occasionally have guest artists join me for some conversation as well. I’m really pumped to be able to do this and I appreciate SiriusXM offering me this opportunity. I hope people tune in and enjoy it!”

Singer-songwriter Blake Whiten has signed with Enchntmnt/Warner Records, Billboard can reveal.

The South Carolina native is celebrating the signing by making his major label debut single release with “Made For Goodbyes.”

Whiten launched his career by putting out cover performances on social media, with his version of Morgan Wallen’s “I Guess” earning over 9 million TikTok views. From there, he began releasing his own music, including the independent releases “Rollin’ Stone” and “Breakin’ My Heart.” He’s also a co-writer on Bailey Zimmerman’s 2024 song “Holding On,” which cracked the top 40 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.

Earlier this year, Whiten released his EP Six Mile and the single “Carolina,” both a nod to his hometown of Six Mile in South Carolina. He performed during CMA Fest and opened shows for Waylon Wyatt. This September, he’ll rise from opening act to headliner on his first U.S. tour.

“I’m just a small town boy from Six Mile who picked up a guitar and started writing my own story,” Whiten said in a statement. “Now I’m a part of the amazing Warner Records family and one step closer to playing the music I love on the biggest stages.  This is just the beginning, let’s make some noise!”  

Aaron Bay-Schuck, co-chairman & CEO, Warner Records, said in a statement, “Blake Whiten is a prime example of the type of artist we pride ourselves on signing at Warner Records. He possesses raw talent, distinct vocals, real musicianship and an impeccable knack for storytelling. We couldn’t be happier to welcome him to the Warner family and look forward to working closely with Enchntmnt to set Blake up for a long-lasting career.”

“Blake Whiten is the kind of artist who reminds you why you get into this business in the first place.  We’re proud to stand beside him and partner with Warner Records, a team that shares our vision and belief in true artist development.  This isn’t just about music, it’s about legacy, and we’re just getting started” added Enchntmnt’s team of Reid Daroff, Benny “Brisk” Negrin and Alix Negrin.

Throughout her decade-plus music career, Selena Gomez has worked with quite a few big names. But there’s one very “Popular” singer that the Only Murders in the Building star says she wants to collaborate with next.

In a new video for Complex, Gomez sat down with Latin superstar Karol G to discuss their GOATs (that’s “greatest of all times,” for the uninitiated), from the GOAT parties they’ve been to, the GOAT meals they’ve eaten and more. In one question, the pair were asked to name the “GOAT artist you’ve collaborated with” — but when Gomez insisted she didn’t “want to insult anyone,” Karol flipped the script and asked her to name the artist she most wants to collaborate with.

After taking a moment to deliberate, Gomez came up with her answer: Ariana Grande. “I don’t know, she’s … I love her era.”

It’s far from the first time Gomez has shown love to the Wicked star. Back in May, Gomez shared a post on her Instagram Stories praising the “Yes, And?” singer for her camaraderie throughout their careers. “I’m reminded that women can always be supportive of each other,” she wrote. “I love you, Ari.” Grande, meanwhile, sang Gomez’s praises during their respective awards season campaigns, saying, “I really love watching this moment happen for Selena. I know how hard she’s worked and how long she’s waited.”

Elsewhere in their interview, Gomez and Karol G also had a lively conversation about the “GOAT bad b—h anthem,” with the Emilia Perez actress initially at a loss, because “there’s so many bad b—hes.” Gomez ultimately picked Destiny’s Child’s “Bills Bills Bills,” while Karol selected Ciara’s “Like a Boy.”

Watch Selena Gomez and Karol G’s full discussion above.

After nearly a decade together, Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom have split, People magazine has confirmed. TMZ and Us Weekly also reported on the end of their engagement, citing unnamed sources.

Billboard has reached out to their reps for comment.

The news comes after weeks of reports that their relationship was struggling. But as recently as mid May, the Grammy-nominated singer gave no indication that there was any trouble in their romance. She even playfully called out a fan at one of her concert dates in Nevada, joking, “If you keep DMing my man, I’m going to have you removed. Seriously, get your own life — I’m his wife,” before launching into her 143 single “I’m His, He’s Mine.”

Perry first confirmed she and the British actor were dating in a May 2016 Instagram post featuring a photo of the two together. Months later in August, their Italian vacation went viral when paparazzi snapped photos of the two paddleboarding together — but Bloom was in the nude.

Their relationship wasn’t without some trouble at the beginning. After a few months together, rumors surfaced that November they had split already. Their reps later confirmed in a March 2017 statement that the two stars were going their separate ways. But after five months apart, Bloom and Perry were spotted snuggling at an Ed Sheeran concert. The singer confirmed to Entertainment Tonight in April 2018 that the two had indeed reignited their romance.

Then on Feb. 15, 2019, the two teased their engagement with an Instagram photo of Perry holding up her ring finger, which sported a stunning ruby and diamond ring. She confirmed later that month on Jimmy Kimmel Live! that the two were indeed engaged.

The following month, the pop star dropped the music video for “Never Worn White,” which offered some big news about the couple’s life together — she showed off a baby bump, revealing that they were expecting their first child together. Daughter Daisy Dove was born in August 2020.

Bloom and Perry never married.