Morgan Wallen is set to bring his own music festival to the beaches of Gulf Shores, Ala., next year, when the 15-time Billboard Music Awards winner launches his three-day Sand in My Boots Festival running May 16-18, 2025. Wallen has teamed with AEG Presents (producers of Stagecoach, California’s Country Music Festival and Hangout Music Festival) and the Hangout Festival to hold his event at the same site that hosts the annual Hangout Festival.

The full talent lineup and ticketing details for Wallen’s Sand in My Boots Festival will be revealed in coming weeks, but the lineup will be multi-genre and will feature some of the country star’s closest friends, favorite artists and musicians he has always wanted to perform with. The festival shares its name with Wallen’s 2022 No. 1 Billboard Country Airplay hit.

Stacy Vee, executive vp of Goldenvoice and Producer of Stagecoach, said in a statement, “Creating a Festival with Morgan has been a dream come true … and some of the most fun I have ever had booking a show! I can’t wait for fans to come and experience one of the most eclectic and electric lineups and on-site experiences the world has ever seen.”

AEG Presents and Hangout Festival Producer Reeves Price added, “The opportunity to bring Morgan’s world to life on the beach in Gulf Shores is something very special. The fact that it coincides with the 15th anniversary of the Hangout Festival only makes it more special. We can’t wait to see everyone back on the beach in May.”

The upcoming Sand in My Boots festival isn’t the only festival Wallen has had a hand in spearheading recently. Earlier this year, he and Eric Church teamed up to launch and curate the Field & Stream Music Festival, which had been slated for Oct. 4-6 in Winnsboro, S.C., with a lineup to include Church, Lainey Wilson and ZZ Top. However, the inaugural festival had to be postponed due to the widespread damage of Hurricane Helene. The Field & Stream Music Festival is part of Wallen and Church’s acquisition of the outdoor lifestyle brand Field & Stream, announced earlier this year.

Kendrick Lamar already has 17 Grammys to his name, and he could add several more if “Not Like Us” dominates next month’s Grammy nominations announcement (Nov. 8).

A strong contender for both record and song of the year, the Billboard Hot 100-topping diss track is also a frontrunner in the rap field categories of best rap song and best rap performance. Should “Not Like Us” take home the gold in both of those categories, it would become the fifth Lamar track to pull off the feat following “I” (2015), “Alright” (2016), “Humble” (2018), and “The Heart Part 5” (2023).

As can be the case across genres, there has been a fair amount of overlap between performance and songwriting categories in the rap field over the years. Since the best rap performance category was introduced in 2012 – several more specific categories were condensed in a major rehaul of the ceremony — eight songs have triumphed both there and in best rap song, which was introduced in 2004. In addition to Lamar’s victories, the other winners include Jay-Z & Kanye West‘s “N—as in Paris” (2013), Macklemore & Ryan Lewis‘ “Thrift Shop” (2014), Megan Thee Stallion & Beyoncé‘s “Savage” (2021) and Killer Mike, Future, André 3000 and Eryn Allen Kane‘s “Scientists & Engineers” (2024).

Before the categories were restructured, two best rap song winners — Jay-Z, Rihanna and West’s “Run This Town” (2010) and Jay-Z & Alicia Keys‘ “Empire State of Mind” (2011) — also won best rap/sung performance (now called best melodic rap performance). In 2004, Eminem‘s “Lose Yourself” won best rap song — making him the inaugural winner in that category — and best male rap solo performance.

But what tracks could block “Not Like Us” from a rap field sweep? Let’s break down the leading contenders in both categories.

Best Rap Song

First, there’s the question of “Like That.” If Lamar’s Hot 100-topping collaboration with Future & Metro Boomin wins both best rap song and best rap performance, Lamar would still earn his fifth double-whammy. In the event that both “Not Like Us” and “Like That” earn nods in best rap song, Lamar would increase his tally to 10 career nods in this category — the fourth most of all time. A nod for “Like That” would earn Future his fourth nomination in this category and Metro Boomin his first.

Two non-Lamar Hot 100 chart-toppers could also earn nods here: Megan Thee Stallion’s “Hiss” and Ye & Ty Dolla $ign‘s “Carnival.” Megan remains the first and only female rapper to win this category, and a nod for “Hiss” would be her first nomination in this category for a solo song. Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) has the most wins in the history of this category (7); a nod for “Carnival” here would be his seventeenth — the most of all time — and Ty Dolla $ign’s first. “Carnival” could also earn career-first Grammy nods for Don Toliver and Playboi Carti, who are credited songwriters and featured artists on the track.

Carti is also in contention by way of Travis Scott‘s “FE!N,” which reached No. 5 on the Hot 100 in 2023. The duo performed the track at the 2024 Grammy telecast, where its parent album, the Billboard 200-topping Utopia lost best rap album to Killer Mike’s Michael. Between his globe-trotting Circus Maximus Tour and a historic re-release of his decade-old Days Before Rodeo mixtape, Travis has remained a consistent presence this year. Killer Mike, on the other hand, could bookend his 2024 victory in this category with “Humble Me.”

Two other massive 2024 Hot 100 hits — Jack Harlow‘s “Lovin On Me” (No. 1) and Tommy Richman‘s “Million Dollar Baby” (No. 2) — are also very strong contenders. Richman is looking for his first Grammy nod, while Harlow is looking to earn his second nod in this category following “Churchill Downs” (with Drake) in 2023.

There are also a number of other notable Hot 100 hits that are in contention, including: Sexyy Red‘s “Get It Sexy” (No. 20), Nicki Minaj‘s “FTCU” (No. 15), GloRilla‘s “Yeah Glo” (No. 28), Flo Milli‘s “Never Lose Me” (No. 15), Doja Cat‘s “Demons” (No. 46), Lil Baby & Central Cee‘s “Band4Band” (No. 18), Cardi B‘s “Enough” (No. 9) and 21 Savage‘s “Redrum” (No. 5). Both Lil Baby and Cardi B are seeking their second nominations in this category, while Minaj and Doja are each aiming for their third. 21 Savage, who won this category alongside J. Cole for “A Lot” in 2020, is looking to earn his fourth nomination in this category. Out of these contenders, Hot Girl Summer tourmates Megan Thee Stallion and GloRilla are likely the strongest contenders, but both have a more favorable history in best rap performance.

As always, there are also a few dark horses for which to keep an eye out. Rapsody, a previous nominee in this category for “Sassy” back in 2018, could pull off a nomination for “Asteroids,” while ScHoolboy Q could earn his first nod in this category with “Thank God 4 Me.” Eminem is the inaugural winner of this category, and he’s since added four additional nominations. “Tobey” (with Big Sean and BabyTron) could earn Slim Shady his first best rap song nod since 2019, when his Joyner Lucas-assisted “Lucky You” earned a nomination. Lucas is also in contention with his Jelly Roll duet, “Best for Me,” which earned a nod for best video for good at the MTV Video Music Awards last month. Finally, Common could earn his second nomination in this category with “When the Sun Shines Again” (with Pete Rock and Posdnuos).

Our Fearless Forecast

So, which five songs have the best chance to be nominated in this Grammy category? The rap field is always unpredictable, but here goes nothing: “Not Like Us” (Kendrick Lamar), “Lovin On Me” (Jack Harlow), “Like That” (Future, Metro Boomin & Lamar), “Asteroids” (Rapsody) and “Carnival” (Ye, Ty Dolla $ign, Don Toliver & Playboi Carti)

Best Rap Performance

Given the history of overlap between best rap song and best rap performance, most of the aforementioned songs are also contenders in this category. Some other Hot 100 hits to keep an eye on include Bryson Tiller‘s “Whatever She Wants” (No. 19), Eminem’s “Houdini” (No. 2) and Megan Thee Stallion and Yuki Chiba‘s “Mamushi” (No. 36). A nod in this category would be the first for Tiller and Chiba. Also in contention here with “Hiss,” Megan is looking to add to her two previous nominations in this category. Eminem has earned 12 career nods across rap performance categories; he has won best rap solo performance three times in addition to one triumph in best male rap solo performance and two wins in best rap performance by a duo or group.

Other strong contenders include Doechii‘s “Nissan Altima,” Latto‘s “S/O to Me,” LL Cool J & Eminem’s “Murdergram Deux,” Big Sean‘s “Yes” and ScHoolboy Q’s “Blueslides.”

Our Fearless Forecast

So, which five songs have the best chance to be nominated in this category? I predict: “Not Like Us” (Kendrick Lamar), “HISS” (Megan Thee Stallion), “Like That” (Future, Metro Boomin & Lamar), “Murdergram Deux” (LL Cool J & Eminem) and “Yeah Glo” (GloRilla)

Cat Cohen, known for her unique blend of comedy and music, releases her new single, “Blame It On The Moon” via the Atlantic Music Group today (Oct. 17). It’s the second song from her debut holiday album, Overdressed, which drops on Nov. 15. (Pre-save it here).

In conjunction with the release, Cohen — who currently stars on the popular Hulu series, Only Murders in the Building and hosts her cult-favorite podcast Seek Treatment with Pat Regan — asked Billboard to premiere a performance video of “Blame It on the Moon,” from her new comedy special, Come for Me, which is also out today on Live Nation’s Veeps streaming service. Watch the video here:

“Foe years I have been blaming my problems on astrology,” says Cohen — who adds that with the help of David Dabbon, who served as the music director and piano player on Come For Me, and producer Couros Sheibani, “we brought to life ‘Blame It on the Moon,’ a song for anyone who wants to shirk responsibility and instead blame any inconvenience on the moon, the stars, the tides, anything but one’s own poor decision making skills.”

Overdressed will feature 10 original tracks showcasing Cohen’s wit and musical talent while offering a fresh perspective on life’s chaotic moments. She wrote all of the songs on the album and produced the entire record in London with Couros (Zayn, Bebe Rexha). The lead single from the album, “can u send me that??” arrived earlier this month. Cohen’s Veeps special, Come for Me, also features songs from Overdressed.

Liam Payne‘s family has spoken out after the former One Direction member’s death on Wednesday (Oct. 16.

“We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul,” the statement shared with the BBC on Thursday (Oct. 17) said. “We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time.”

Police in Argentina confirmed that the 31-year-old died after falling from the third story of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires, which resulted in “extremely serious injuries.” According to the Associated Press, police rushed to the hotel shortly after 5 p.m. local time, after a manager called law enforcement to report that an “aggressive man” was “destroying the entire room.”

Tributes to the singer-songwriter began immediately after news of his death. “RIP Liam… I can’t believe this is real… absolutely heartbreaking,” producer Zedd tweeted, while rapper Flavor Flav wrote on X that the 31-year-old died “much too young.”

Payne was a member of pop group One Direction alongside Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson. The group formed in 2010 on the U.K.’s The X Factor, and disbanded in 2015. During the boy band’s time together, they charted six top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 — including “What Makes You Beautiful” (No. 4) and “Best Song Ever” (No. 2) — as well as four No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200.

Payne is survived by his 7-year-old son Bear, whom he shares with ex-partner Cheryl Cole.

On Saturday (Oct. 19), A Tribe Called Quest will join the ranks of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame during the 2024 induction ceremony in Cleveland. And for a group who rose to prominence as part of the Native Tongues collective, which valued communal creativity over winner-takes-all competition, it’s fitting that they won’t be alone.

The surviving members of the group (Q-Tip, Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Jarobi White; Phife Dawg died in 2016 at age 45) will be joined in their performance by Busta Rhymes, The Roots, Queen Latifah, De La Soul, Common and Spliff Star.

Rhymes’ inclusion is a no-brainer: Busta’s chest-rattling verse on Tribe’s 1992 Billboard Hot 100 hit “Scenario” helped launch his career. Similarly, Q-Tip and Phife Dawg’s appearance on De La Soul’s 1989 posse cut “Buddy (Native Tongues Remix)” helped boost their pre-debut album profile. Also featured on that classic remix? Queen Latifah, a key force in the Native Tongues collective.

Aside from ATCQ being a clear inspiration for The Roots’ thoughtful, Afrocentric rhymes and jazz-inflected rhythms, drummer Questlove chose his name as an homage to the trailblazing group — plus, Q-Tip guested on their 1996 album Illadelph Halflife. Tip also featured on Common’s 1997 album One Day It’ll All Make Sense, and Common returned the favor on a track from the Abstract’s shelved 2004 album, Open. As for Spliff Star, he’s known as one of hip-hop’s most energetic hype men and has performed “Scenario” onstage with Rhymes and Q-Tip. Got all that?

A Tribe Called Quest enters the Rock Hall on its third nomination. Along with Mary J. Blige, Cher, Dave Matthews Band, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Kool & the Gang and Ozzy Osbourne, they make up the Rock Hall’s Class of 2024 in the performers category.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s 2024 ceremony will stream live on Disney+ on Oct. 19 starting at 7 p.m. ET. An edited primetime special featuring highlights will broadcast on ABC on Jan. 1, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET.