Lizzo Surprises Her Mom With a New Car for Christmas

Lizzo is keeping the holiday magic alive for her family this year.

“Got my mommy a brand new Audi for Xmas,” Lizzo wrote ahead of Christmas on Instagram Sunday night (Dec. 20).

“I remember crying in my car when my daddy passed, no job no money nowhere to live, wishing I could one day provide for my family,” she added. “I couldnt do it for my dad so ima make sure I spoil Mama. Happy holidays y’all.”

In a clip of the special moment when her mom first saw the incredible gift — which Lizzo caught on camera and shared with her fans — she can be heard saying, “Merry Christmas, Mommy! Open your eyes.”

“You see these things on television and you never expect this to happen to yourself,” her mother, who seemed overcome with emotion, said in disbelief.

Watch the sweet holiday surprise on Instagram.

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Indie Venues Get $15B in New COVID Relief Bill

Federal funding to help independent venues hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic has been included in a $900 billion bipartisan aid package following days of negotiations between leaders of both the Democratic and Republican parties in Congress.

While the specifics of the bill have not yet been announced, the aid package does include “$15 billion in dedicated funding for live venues, independent movie theaters, and cultural institutions,” according to an email from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), as well as a $300 per week unemployment insurance enhancement for the millions of Americans out of work during the pandemic, including nearly 100,000 live music professionals.

“We’re thrilled that Congress has heard the call of shuttered independent venues across the country and provided us a crucial lifeline by including the Save Our Stages Act in the COVID-19 Relief Bill,” says Dayna Frank, owner and chief executive of First Avenue Productions and board president of the National Independent Venue Association. “We’re also incredibly grateful that this bill provides Pandemic Unemployment Assistance which will help the millions of people who lost their jobs through no fault of their own during this economic crisis. We urge swift passage of this legislation, which will assist those in the greatest need and ensure the music lives on for generations to come.”

The legislative text for the bill is expected to he released late Sunday night or early Monday, followed by a vote in both the House and the Senate on Monday.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

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Taylor Swift Sets Record as ‘Evermore’ Blasts to No. 1 In U.K.

Taylor Swift is the queen of the U.K. charts, as Evermore (EMI) bows at No. 1 on the U.K. albums survey and three tracks from it crack the national Top 20.

Evermore gives Swift a second leader in the same year, following Folklore, which ruled the Official U.K. Albums Chart for three weeks in August.

It’s her sixth career leader in the territory, a feat bettered or equaled by only three other female artists: Madonna (with 12), Kylie Minogue (eight) and Barbra Streisand (six).

Evermore also gives Swift a spot in the record books. According to the Official Chart Company, the U.S. singer has achieved her six No. 1s in just eight years, a record time among female artists, eclipsing the 11 years it took Madonna to reach the same tally, between 1997 and 2008.

Also, it’s the fastest sprint to six No. 1s since Robbie Williams and Westlife managed that haul between 2000 – 2006.

She’s Swift by name, a swift chart-topper by nature.

It’s that time of year, and the top end of the albums tally is dominated by Christmas-themed records, including Michael Ball and Alfie Boe’s Together At Christmas (Decca), which dips 2-3; Michael Buble’s Christmas, up 7-4; and Andrea Bocelli’s Believe (Decca), up 10-5.

Further down the list are new LPs from Kid Cudi (Man On The Moon III – The Chosen new at No. 26 via Republic Records), British ’90s rockers James (Live In Extraordinary Times at No. 31 via Nothing But Love Music), Welsh soprano Katherine Jenkins (Christmas Spectacular at No. 36 via Decca) and Australian electronic act Avalanches (We Will Always Love You at No. 39 via EMI).

Meanwhile, Mariah Carey rules the Official U.K. Singles Chart for a second consecutive week with “All I Want For Christmas Is You” (Columbia), ahead of Wham’s ‘80s classic “Last Christmas” (RCA), which has logged 70 weeks on the list and never lifted higher than its current position of No. 2.

Just 3,600 chart sales separate the top two tracks. Carey’s 1994 release is both the most downloaded and streamed song of the week, with more than 10 million plays across audio and video streaming platforms, the OCC reports.

Next up is Swift’s Evermore release “Willow,” new at No. 3, while album tracks “Champagne Problems” (No. 15) and “No Body No Crime” featuring Haim (No. 19) give the pop artist a trio of fast starters.

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The Best Fan Reactions to Taylor Swift’s ‘Evermore’ Hitting No. 1 on the Billboard 200

Taylor Swift’s Evermore is sitting comfortably atop the Billboard 200 albums chart, and long story short: fans are having a good time.

Evermore is Swift’s eighth No. 1 album. It follows Folklore topping the chart in August, which makes Swift the first woman to see two No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 in 2020. And with Swift at Nos. 1 (Evermore) and 3 (Folklore) on the Billboard 200 this week, she’s the first woman to have two albums concurrently in the top three dating back to 1963.

The triumphant news of another No. 1 for the songstress on Sunday (Dec. 20) had some fans studying Swift-approved numerology.

“Cheers Swifties, cause #evermore by @taylorswift13 just arrived at N°1 on the #Billboard200 Albums Chart!! Exactly 4 months & 18 days after its sister #folklore NOT to forget that, 4+1+8=13,” a fan tweeted. “Y’all catch my drift.”

Several posted celebratory (and entertaining) compilations of clips of Swift matching the caption “me when I’m the music industry.”

“no one is really doing it like you,” a fan complimented Swift upon seeing the report of Evermore’s debut.

Still, many Swifties are holding out for what would be the best reaction of all: one from the artist herself.

“current mood: waiting for taylor swift to quote that tweet with a cute gif,” one fan tweeted.

The ball is in your court, Taylor.

In the meantime, see some of the best fan reactions to Evermore’s Billboard 200 debut below.

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Ed Sheeran Teases He Has ‘A Christmas Present’ on the Way

It should be a happy holiday for Ed Sheeran fans this year.

Sheeran left a mysterious teaser on Instagram on Sunday (Dec. 20), hinting that he’s got something up his sleeves.

“11am GMT tomorrow. A Christmas present,” he captioned colorful artwork posted on his feed. Sheeran also uploaded a super short clip on Instagram Stories that shows him with a guitar in hand, leading people to believe his gift could be new music.

Prior to this announcement, Sheeran has been relatively quiet on social media. His last update on his official Instagram account was the September announcement of the birth of his baby girl.

“A quick message from me as I have some personal news that I wanted to share with you,” Sheeran had written at the time. “Last week, with the help of an amazing delivery team, Cherry gave birth to our beautiful and healthy daughter – Lyra Antarctica Seaborn Sheeran. We are completely in love with her. Both mum and baby are doing amazing and we are on cloud nine over here. We hope that you can respect our privacy at this time. Lots of love and I’ll see you when it’s time to come back.”

See Sheeran’s latest post on Instagram and check back in soon to find out what the surprise is.

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‘Like a movie set.’ Group of drivers do donuts on South Beach street, frustrating police

Miami Beach artist Havi Schanz posted a video to Twitter early Saturday morning of what appears to be cars doing donuts at the intersection of South Pointe Drive and Washington … Click to Continue »
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Weekend Miami Beach car burglary spree ends with four arrested with guns, drugs, cops say

Miami Beach police officers put a stop to a short-lived car burglary spree Saturday night. Just after 8 p.m., police tweeted about their night bust that not only put four … Click to Continue »
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Tori Kelly & JoJo Soar Through ‘(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman’ Duet at Global Citizen Prize 2020

Tori Kelly and JoJo unleashed a powerful cover of “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” for Global Citizen Prize 2020.

The pair fed off of one another’s vocal talent as they brought their rendition of the classic, originally recorded by soul legend Aretha Franklin, to the stage together at the event hosted by John Legend. Global Citizen Prize 2020 was broadcast on NBC on Saturday night (Dec. 19).

Kelly and JoJo’s “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” cover can also be heard on the new eight-song compilation Stand Up, benefiting Global Citizen. Stand Up is available now on all major streaming services.

At Global Citizen Prize 2020, Elton John was was one of several inspiring leaders to be recognized. John was honored as Global Citizen artist of the year for his work fighting the HIV/AIDS crisis, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic, with his Elton John AIDS Foundation.

John Legend and Carrie Underwood, Legend and Common, Gwen Stefani and Alessia Cara also appeared with live performances during the uplifting special.

Watch the “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” performance below.

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Taylor Swift & Paul McCartney Show Support for Each Other’s New Albums in an Adorable Way

Paul McCartney and Taylor Swift coordinated the release dates for their new albums to avoid overlap, and now they’ve offered fans another glimpse at their sweet friendship.

“Congratulations to my friend @TaylorSwift13 (and her boots) on her wonderful ‘#evermore’ album charting at #1 in the UK this week and no doubt US on Sunday,” the Beatles legend tweeted on Saturday (Dec. 19), predicting a good week for Swift. He shared a clip of himself helping Swift pull off one of her boots, captured by daughter Mary McCartney.

“Everyone stream/buy McCartney III because it’s excellent but also because Paul is the kind of friend who steps in to help you when your boot is stuck,” Swift replied later in the day. “If not for him, it would still be on there.”

McCartney and Paul recently appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone, which featured an interview between the two musicians in which they bonded over writing music, favorite words, working on albums at home and keeping busy during the pandemic lockdown.

Check out the cute visual the pair shared on Saturday, and their tweets, below.

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John Legend Delivers ‘Hallelujah’ With Carrie Underwood, ‘Glory’ With Common for Global Citizen Prize

John Legend showed off his many talents at Global Citizen Prize 2020, appearing as host and performing twice.

Legend joined Carrie Underwood for the beautiful holiday duet “Hallelujah,” the closing performance of the night, “in honor of the better days to come.” In an earlier segment, he was joined by Common for an inspiring live take of “Glory,” a moving tribute to Black Lives Matter that was accompanied by a choir coming in via a screen.

Global Citizen Prize 2020, which aired Saturday night (Dec. 19) on NBC at 8 p.m. ET, honored several awe-inspiring leaders. In the music world, Elton John was recognized as the Global Citizen artist of the year for his tireless efforts combating the HIV/AIDS crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic with his Elton John AIDS Foundation.

Gwen Stefani, Alessia Cara and JoJo with Tori Kelly also performed during the special event.

Watch Legend’s performances below.

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