Kim Kardashian Shares Backstage Wedding Dress Photo from Kanye West’s ‘Donda’ Listening Event in Chicago

Kim Kardashian is giving a behind-the-scenes glimpse at her stunning wedding dress from Kanye West’s Donda album listening event in Chicago.

On Thursday (Aug. 26), the reality TV star and entrepreneur made an unexpected appearance at the third mass listening party for West’s still-unreleased Donda project, strutting onto Chicago’s Soldier Field in the beautiful bridal gown she wore at the former couple’s 2014 wedding in Italy.

Kardashian, who filed for divorce from the rapper and fashion mogul earlier this year, took to social media early Saturday to share gallery of photos from the Windy City listening event, including a backstage snapshot of herself sitting alongside Ye in the head-turning white dress from Balenciaga’s Haute Couture collection.

In a second photo, Kardashian is seen from afar donning the gown as she dramatically recreates her nuptials in front of thousands at Soldier Field. The final image is a candid shot of West and Kardashian, both clad in black leather, hanging out in the venue’s locker room with their 5-year-old son, Saint.

West’s Donda listening party in his hometown of Chicago was filled with other surprises and strange scenes, including bizarre onstage appearances by DaBaby and Marilyn Manson. The “Rockstar” rapper has been under fire for making homophobic and misogynistic comments at a Miami festival in July, while the shock-rocker has been accused of sexually assaulting and emotionally abusing multiple women. At one point in the show, West also set himself on fire.

While Yeezy fans have clamored online over the superstar collaborations he’s cooked up with Jay-Z, The Weeknd and Lil Baby, Roddy Ricch, and more, Donda — his 10th album — has not been given an official release date. The project was slated to arrive after both previous listening events, but never materialized on streaming services.

See photos of Kardashian’s wedding dress at Chicago’s Donda listening event below.

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Los Bukis ‘Sing to Love’ at L.A.’s SoFi Stadium: 5 Best Moments From Reunion Concert

Romanticism is the essence of Los Bukis’ songs, so it was no surprise that their over two-hour set would be an ode to love. “Those who still believe in love, raise your hand,” the group instructed a roaring Los Angeles crowd that waited more than 25 years to see the Mexican superstar ensemble back together onstage. “Tonight, let’s sing to love.”

And so they did in a sing along with their fans that kicked off their comeback tour, aptly titled Una Historia Contada (A History in Song), at L.A.’s newly-opened SoFi Stadium on Friday (Aug. 27). Los Bukis, who became the first Latin band to sell out the 70,000-seat stadium, wasted no time after jumping onstage 45 minutes past their 8 p.m. start time (they made up for time singing past 11 p.m.) singing back-to-back classics that have not only soundtracked our parents’ generation, but now ours too.

“What a joy, hermanitos (little brothers),” said lead singer and songwriter Marco Antonio Solís, who, like his bandmates, wore a red outfit styled with a black bedazzled bomber jacket with the Los Bukis logo printed on the back. “Imagine not playing with them for 25 years. I’m thankful to God for making this happen. All of our hearts beat as one today.”

The last time Los Bukis played in L.A. was in 1995 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in front of 60,000 fans. To make up for lost time, they sang standout hits such as “Quiéreme,” “Necesito Una Compañera,” “Como Fui a Enamorarme De Ti,” “Tu Carcel” and “Acepto Mi Derrota.”

“What a beautiful reunion with my bandmates and with you all,” Solís said. Los Bukis — who have sent 32 entries onto Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs, starting with 1987’s No. 9-peaking “Este Adiós” — return to SoFi Stadium on Saturday (Aug. 28) and will continue their tour in Chicago; San Antonio; Oakland, Calif.; and Arlington, Texas.

Here are five best moments from Los Bukis’ first sold-out show at SoFi Stadium from their Una Historia Contada tour.

A family affair

From the parking lot to inside the venue, everywhere you looked there was a family taking a selfie as they waited for Los Bukis to perform. One family of four (mom and dad, plus their two daughters) drove down from the San Luis Obispo, Calif. area, a three-hour drive on a good day with no traffic, for the “unmissable” concert. “Initially it was just my parents who were coming to the concert, but then we got FOMO and decided to take the trip with them,” the eldest daughter says. That’s the magic of Los Bukis, their ability to bring multigenerational families together. The best part was watching those families enjoy the concert together and dance to whatever song was next, at times locked in each other’s arms.

Our dream set list

Ahead of the concert, Billboard got a sneak peek of the set list, which included songs such as “Tus Mentiras” and “Y Ahora Te Vas.” But even with that first look, we weren’t prepared for the emotional rollercoaster. Los Bukis kicked off with “Mi Fantasia” to warm up the crowd that was already on their feet after greeting the band — comprising brothers Roberto and José Guadarrama, Marco’s younger brother, José Javier Solís, Pedro Sánchez and Eusebio Cortéz. Fans never got to sit back again as the hits kept coming. From cumbias to rancheras and, of course, breakup ballads, Los Bukis serenaded them with “El Celoso,” “Tu Ingratitud,” “Viva El Amor,” “Morenita,” “Me Volví A Acordar De Ti,” “Este Adiós” and “Yo Te Necesito.”

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Father and daughter moment

It was also a family affair for Solís, who shared a sweet moment with daughter Beatriz Adriana Solís. “We’re going to a sing a song that was inspired by a person that actually happens to be here tonight,” he said, looking out to find Beatriz among the crowd. “I wrote this for you and I’m so happy you are here.” He went on to sing “Chiquilla Bonita,” a love letter to a little girl that’s inspired nothing but love.

A blast from the past

As if taking fans down memory lanes via lyrics wasn’t enough, Los Bukis’ epic old music videos were projected on a giant screen with a side-to-side frame that gave us a “then and now” effect. “Wow, that seems like forever ago,” some fans would whisper. While others acknowledged that Solís hasn’t aged much. “He looks exactly the same … still handsome,” they added.

Why it wasn’t the first time Los Bukis’ music was played at SoFi Stadium

Toward the end of the show, Solís shared something he had heard from staff at SoFi Stadium. While Los Bukis had never played at SoFi Stadium before, he said it wasn’t the first time their music was being played at the venue. “I heard that most of the construction workers who helped build the stadium were from Mexico or Central America, and that they’d play our music while working. So, sending you all a big hug.” But this time around, their music wouldn’t be coming from a radio. It would be live, Los Bukis together after 25 years, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

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Supplemental Shuttered Venue Grant Program Now Underway

The Plans for supplemental funding is underway for the. On Friday (Aug. 27), the Small Business Administration began sending out invitations for entities to apply for additional federal funding from the $16 billion allocated for music venues, promoters, talent agencies and more.

These supplemental grants will be available for anyone who received an initial grant and are able to show a 70% loss when comparing 2021’s first-quarter revenues to the same in 2019. Supplemental award applicants can choose to apply for any amount up to 50% of their original grant amount, with a $10 million cap of the initial and supplemental awards combined.

“The SBA has awarded approximately $9 billion in crucial relief to approximately 11,500 performing arts venues and other related businesses so they can continue to anchor our neighborhoods and define our communities. We know many of these businesses still need assistance to fully recover from the unanticipated expenses and debt caused by the pandemic,” SBA Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program director Matthew Stevens said in a release. “These supplemental grants will go to the hardest-hit Shuttered Venue Operators Grant awardees to ensure they can get back on their feet and get back to the business of driving our nation’s economy.”

The supplemental awards also allow SVOG recipients to extend the time to use their grant funds for expenses accrued through June 30, 2022 and lengthen their budget period to 18 months from the initial grant’s disbursement date.

If sufficient funding is not available for all eligible entities to receive a supplemental award, priority will be given to applicants who have illustrated the greatest revenue loss in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the first quarter in 2019. With $9 billion of the $16.2 billion for the grants awarded, roughly $7 billion remains for supplemental grants. If applicants are only allowed to receive 50% of their initial award, then as much as $2.5 billion could remain after supplemental grants are completed.

Applicants should check their program portal and follow instructions to accept or decline the supplemental grant. The SBA will be reviewing entities’ first quarter revenue for 2021 to decide on who receives funding. The SBA says those invited to apply for supplemental grants can expect awards to begin rolling out within two weeks.

Since the Shuttered Venue Operators Grants program was signed into law in December, independent venues, movie theaters and more live event businesses have struggled to bring in substantial revenue for the majority of 2021. Of the more than 17,600 applications submitted for the SVOG, just over 4,100 were declined. About 13% or just over 1,300 applications are still under review by the SBA.

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Los Bukis’ 25-Year Reunion Tour: Here Are 7 Chart Hits in the First Show’s Setlist

Los Bukis took fans by surprise after their Una Historia Cantada stadium tour 2021 reunion was announced the week leading up to Father’s Day. It’s been 25 years since the famed Mexican band’s last show in Guadalajara, the same year of its last top 10 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart.

Los Bukis have sent 32 entries onto Hot Latin Songs (which began in October 1986), starting with 1987’s No. 9-peaking “Este Adiós.” Nine years later, the seven-member ensemble captured its last top 10 to-date on the survey, “Por Amor A Mi Pueblo,” a No. 5 hit.

As a full-on solo act, the group’s Marco Antonio Solís has scored 10 No. 1s starting in July 1996, following “Una Mujer Como Tu,” billed with Los Bukis, a six-week leader in 1995. He most recently led as featured on Enrique Iglesias’ “El Perdedor” for a week in February 2014. (Los Bukis boast five No. 1s, including “Mujer.”)

The Una Historia Cantada tour crosses off another milestone for Los Bukis, as Friday’s (Aug. 27) first date sold out within minutes, as reported by Live Nation, also making the act the first Latin band to sell out the 70,000-seat SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. A second show, also sold out, is set for Saturday (Aug. 28).

Seven more shows are scheduled: Sept. 4 and 5 at Soldier Field in Chicago (sold out); Sept. 15 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas; Sept. 18 at NRG Stadium in Houston; Sept. 25 at the Alamodome in San Antonio; and Oct. 1 and 2 at RingCentral Coliseum in Oakland (sold out).

Notably, most ticket buyers for the first two concerts were among 25-35 years old, according to Live Nation, a relatively youthful range given the band’s 1975 formation by Solís and his cousin Joel. Some purchasers posted sweet reactions on TikTok of their surprised parents receiving tickets to the shows.

The “Mexican Beatles,” as dubbed by Los Bukis enthusiasts, stretch across generations thanks to their collection of hits that bring together love songs and breakup ballads, regional Mexican tunes and other surprises as relatable now as decades ago, all translating to the band’s trademark feel-good mindset.

Spoiler alert: Ahead of the tour’s launch, here is a look at seven hits confirmed to be part of the first reunion show, six of which landed atop Hot Latin Songs or secured a spot within the multi-metric tally’s top 10.

“Tú Cárcel”: Peaked at No. 3 on July, 18, 1987

“Me Volví a Acordar De Ti”: Peaked at No. 26 on Sept. 19, 1987

“Y Ahora Te Vas”: Peaked at No. 1 on April 23, 1988

“Tus Mentiras”: Peaked at No. 10 on Sept. 3, 1988

“A Donde Vayas”: Peaked at No. 2 on Sept. 23, 1989

“Cómo Fui a Enamorarme de Ti”: Peaked at No. 1, for five weeks, beginning Dec. 9, 1989

“Mi Mayor Necesidad”: Peaked at No. 1, for four weeks, on March 21, 1992

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My First Show Back: Resound Presents’ Graham Williams on Texas’ Summer Concert Boom

For the first time in 15 months, live music is returning nationwide after the global coronavirus pandemic ravaged the industry. Billboard’s “My First Show Back” is a series dedicated to sharing stories from throughout the touring ecosystem about what’s happening now, what has been forever altered and what will never change.

In this installment, concert promoter Graham Williams discusses having to shut down his former company, Margin Walker Presents, due to the pandemic, and rebuilding as Resound Presents. Williams tells Billboard about resurrecting his business just before the Delta variant of COVID arrived to threaten concert schedules. 

Our first shows back weren’t normal ticketed shows. They were sponsored events. Texas Lottery does an annual series of free concerts and it was sponsored by them. It was rapper Wale, and he did Houston, Dallas and Austin. Two of them were 1,000-1,200 capacity rooms and the one in Austin was about 2,000. That same weekend we had a show in Austin with rapper Ramirez, and then about a week or two later we had a series of shows in San Antonio.

With the Wale shows, it was the last weekend of July. Things were just picking up, and then a week and a half, two weeks later, when we had our next round of shows, things got more intense with the COVID numbers. We had to pay more attention to things surrounding that.   

In May, the first shows I went to just check out — at the beginning it was weird, but by the end of the show it felt normal. It felt like every other show. At this point, I was assuming everyone was vaccinated and the Delta variant hadn’t really popped up yet. People weren’t wearing masks. Everyone was like, “We got the vaccine. Everything’s fixed.” People were just so anxious to get back to some form of normalcy, but since then I would say there’s a lot more masking.   

[The last time I promoted a show] was early March 2020. It’s a little different here, because in early March we don’t have a lot of shows because SXSW sort of rents out all the clubs. We worked with SXSW and some of the events that happened that week. Then SXSW, shockingly, was cancelled. Looking back it makes sense, but at the time we were all surprised.  

We kept Margin Walkers going through the summer, and we started talking about [shutting down permanently] when it was clear this wasn’t going to be a matter of days, weeks or months. So we announced [we were closing] in early December.  

We had always hoped that we would get back to some version of what we did before. We’re good at it. We’ve been doing it forever. Some folks, it’s in their DNA. We didn’t want to come back prematurely and wanted to wait until it was safe. We started talking and working on Resound in spring. I called the Margin Walkers staff. We talked to everybody who worked here. We knew we were going to scale down a little bit. Half [of the former staff] was excited to come back and couldn’t wait. The other half got new careers. Some of them still love music and the music business but had been wanting to do something different for a while. One guy got a job in high-end collectible trading cards. Someone went to work with some huge Twitch, YouTube sensation guy. Someone else got a job completely out of entertainment doing spreadsheets and project management and she loves it. People found these new roles.  

[Resound Presents] now has 75 shows on sale, and we have a bunch more we’re about to announce. We will have about 100 live shows in the next month or so. It feels just like it always did, except better and more organized. I think everybody is hoping that nothing weird happens. That’s where we are right now.  

It was weird. It felt good to be back at it, but the [COVID] numbers were just starting to creep up and there were a lot of unvaccinated folks starting to get sick. We were really pushing for masks, masks, masks. They weren’t mandated, but you could push it. None of the shows were at capacity wall-to-wall, but they were packed. Usually 5% to 10% of people don’t show up to shows, but it was a bit more [than that]. 

In early to mid-August is when people started saying, “Let’s start enforcing something. Let’s say you either have to have the vaccination or proof of the negative test to come in.” That’s something artists have been pushing for, and I don’t want to speak for anyone else, but promoters and clubs were all set for it as well.   

Any shows we have done with the new requirements, we’ve seen a handful of refund requests. We offer a small 48-hour window to request a refund. I want to say that for a 1,000-person show, about 30 people got refunded and another one was about 10 people. And more people scooped up those tickets. We saw an uptick in sales that blew past the refunds. There were more people interested in going because of the new rules.

As told to Taylor Mims.

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