Travis Scott spread the holiday cheer in his hometown on Tuesday (Dec. 22).

The rapper’s Cactus Jack Foundation teamed up with the City of Houston and Mayor Sylvestor Turner to launch their first-ever Holiday Toy Drive event at Sunnyside Park. The group presented 2000 toys from Mattel and other brands to students and faculty across three local elementary schools, plus Houston residents. The contactless, drive-up event also offered produce, Christmas trees, comforters, blankets, clothing and PPE gear.

Kylie Jenner took to her Instagram Stories to share a photo of the duo’s masked-up two-year-old daughter Stormi at the event. “Big girl supporting her daddy @ his Xmas food and toy drive,” she captioned the adorable photo.

Back in November, Scott launched his new Cactus Jack Foundation, which aims to provide educational and creative resources for the next generation of youth.

The Killers fueled the rumor mill on Tuesday (Dec. 22) when they shared a cryptic post (with no caption) that looks like a track list for an upcoming album.

The 11-song list comes just a few months after the band unveiled their sixth LP, Imploding the Mirage, in August.

“I’m not writing a quarantine album or anything like that,” frontman Brandon Flowers told NME over the summer following Imploding the Mirage’s release. “You kind of just start hitting your stride when you’re finishing a record. You’re writing lyrics, you’re mixing everything, you’re in it – then you go on tour. It’s interesting to not be going on tour and having any of that stuff taking up my brain. I just went right back to the piano. I was already exercising my songwriting muscles so a lot of it came very quickly.”

When asked if another project is on the way, he replied, “Oh yeah, there will be another album. I’m excited. It might be better than this one.”

Joe Galante was head of RCA’s Nashville division in the ’80s when K.T. Oslin, who died earlier this week at 78, signed with the label. He shares some of his favorite memories of working with the trailblazing artist. 

Harold Shedd had produced K.T. Oslin’s record and he came in and played three songs in the old days when we had cassettes. He didn’t have a picture. Traditionally you have the bio and picture. He had a paragraph about her.

We set up a lunch at Maude’s Courtyard. I remember walking in with [fellow executives] Phran [Schwartz] and Mark Wright. I remember thinking when I saw K.T., “Holy sh*t. This is not an ingenue, this is a woman.” Within the first couple of minutes, it was just love. I really did fall in love. That personality was so disarming, probably because of all the time she’d spent on touring companies and Broadway. She’d worked her ass off to get that meeting. This was her last chance and it was fortunate for both of us. She was 43 when we signed her.

We got her a place to live. Phran helped with her wardrobe and got her signature 3/4-length glove thing going. We got her hair cut. She hadn’t had the funds to do that. At her heart she was a folk hippie.

She went on tour with Clint Black. She would sing and tell stories and that was the essence of who she was: the stories. She had a wicked sense of humor. At any moment you’d end up peeing you pants and if you were drinking, it got even funnier. She’d lived life. She’d attempted love on several occasions and never really found the right guy. She built a family around her. We were always together around holidays.

We were at KNIX (in Phoenix) and doing a show in town. “’80’s Ladies’ was 4:45 long and people didn’t like anything over 3:30 and the [sing-song] tag at the end drove radio guys crazy, but it was an important part of the song. We were sitting on the bus and Buck Owens, who owned KNIX, got on the bus. He said, “I love the song. I love the show.” He turned to the KNIX PD and said, “Are we getting great response on this record?” And K.T. said, “You’re not playing it.” He said, “K.T., I promise you it will be on by the end of the day.” And it was and it just kept building from there.

In 1988, she became the first-ever female songwriter winner in the category at the CMA Awards for “80’s Ladies.” I think her comment was “I appreciate this award. It signifies that you think I have a brain.” To her, those songs were novels in four minutes and I give her credit in so many ways. She didn’t have kids but part of “80’s Ladies” is channeling that experience and looking at kids you’ve birthed and seeing you in them. She was an observer in life. I would have been thrilled if she’d continued to write in these times because I think what she would have said would have been important. She didn’t care about blowback.

She’d remind me she wasn’t a 22-year old chippie. Most new artists say “if you want me to stand on the street corner and sing, I’ll do it.” She’d say ‘nope.’

We had our annual party on the General Jackson boat during Country Radio Seminar. It was always an acoustic show. That was part of the drama of the show. It was intimate. K.T. was working on the second album. K.T. was furious about the show. She said, “I’m coming out on the piano and I haven’t had to do that in years. Godd**mit, I’ll do one song.” She comes out, the room goes crazy. She sings the first verse of “Hold Me,” then says “You’re going to have to listen for it later down the road for the rest of it” and walks off. Everybody wanted to know what was in the chorus, but she didn’t do it for that. She did it to say to me, “I did it, that’s it… I’ve paid my dues.”

Don’t get me wrong, she shined anytime she was on stage. She had the training. She was in the same class with people like Dolly and Reba. They were entertainers, there’s a narrative they’re portraying in their stage and songs. She was great for the format, and great for artists who were that age.

She had that setback when you’re no longer relevant in the format, but you’re still relevant. She played The Franklin (Tenn.) Theater five or six years ago. Shane McAnally and Brandy Clark came. She just felt so important and grateful that here was this young talent that were rising stars and they cared about her. It was about their love for what she did.

Even when she was at the [retirement and assisted living facility] The Trace, she’d bring out her boom box and sing for the residents. That was her thing, she wanted to keep entertaining. She needed stimulation. She had a remarkable memory and she’d have more details than I did. K.T. was a little different, that’s what made her stand out. She will be remembered for the music for countless decades, but she also had a spirit that made you smile. I don’t know anyone who ever met her that if you bring up their time with her, they don’t smile. I think about her and I smile.

– As told to Melinda Newman

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Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” made its annual return on Dec. 14 to the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, this year launching at No. 1. The accomplishment continues the 1994 hit’s reign as one of the most cherished modern festive hits.

Sure, those in holiday spirit know every lyric, jingle bell and harmonizing vocal, but did you know “All I Want For Christmas Is You” has become more than just a song? Over the past 26 years, Carey expanded the jolly melody into a range of Christmas content, from books to films.

We’ve rounded up all the things “All I Want For Christmas Is You” has turned into. See them below.

Children’s Book

The song’s lyrics brings the holiday spirit to readers of all ages in an adorable picture book about a young girl’s Christmas wish for a new puppy. The yuletide book features a special letter from Carey plus sweet illustrations by Colleen Madden of family, friends, presents and of course, Santa Claus.

All I Want For Christmas Is You is available in Kindle, hardcover and paperback versions here.

Animated Movie

The adorable film based on the book finds Carey narrating the sweet tale of little Mariah’s Christmas wish for a furry friend.

It’s available for rent and purchase here.

Coloring Book

The 8.5″ x 11″ coloring book features a series of festive, fun illustrations from the All I Want For Christmas Is You film that can be colored in with pencils, pens, crayons, markers or paints without bleed-through.

The coloring book is available here.

 

Back in June, as the Black Lives Matter movement spread across the United States, Lady Antebellum announced that the’ve officially shortened their name to Lady A.

Band mates Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood explained the origins of their decision to use “Antebellum” — which references the pre-Civil War era in the American South — in their moniker at the time. “When we set out together almost 14 years ago, we named our band after the Southern ‘Antebellum’ style home where we took our first photos,” they wrote in a statement. “As musicians, it reminded us of all the music born in the South that influenced us…Southern rock, blues, R&B, gospel and of course country. But we are regretful and embarrassed to say that we did not take into account the associations that weigh down this word…which includes slavery.”

On Monday (Dec. 21), the trio joined Tamron Hall for their first TV conversation since the name change. “The heart of our decision still rings true today as much as it did back in June when we made this announcement,” Scott explained. “I mean we want our music, and our live shows and, you know, anything that we’re a part of, for everyone to feel welcome and invited. And we realized, you know, over the summer I think not touring and watching just this movement happen that is so needed in this country and around the world, we started to see what our part was, what part of our first steps and making a difference could be. And so our name changing was the first step…but you never know how things are going to happen and we never saw that coming.”

The band faced criticism following their decision, not only for choosing a name that a veteran blues singer was using for years, but also for waiting until 12 years after their debut album to make the switch. “I think the word to me that resonates most this year has been blind-spot. And I think I am so guilty of…I didn’t think about it,” Kelly explained. “You know, we came up with the name thinking about the Antebellum home…I don’t know it’s so naive now looking back, but I think, as we’ve grown up, we all have kids now. I mean why now? Well, we’re a lot older, we look at the world a lot different. You know we’re trying to leave the world a little bit better too for our kids and the next generation. And we want to be a part of change. We knew this was going to be difficult. We knew we were going to alienate a lot of fans, you know we didn’t see some of these other things coming, but it hasn’t changed how we’ve tried. We’re trying to resolve this issue with Anita and we’re really trying to be a light out there for everybody. And we know it’s going to be tough, it’s a very divisive issue, but it shouldn’t be a divisive issue, it’s just about love.”

Watch the interview below.