Matthew Sweet Says He ‘May Never Play Guitar Again’ Following Stroke

Close to two months after suffering a debilitating stroke while on tour in Toronto, alt-rock singer-songwriter Matthew Sweet has given fans an update into his current condition.

News of Sweet’s condition was confirmed longtime manager, Russell Carter, in a statement on Oct. 22, which noted that the musician faced “a long, difficult road to recovery” and weeks of around-the-clock care followed by months of rehabilitation.

“Matthew has always been intensely focused and tenacious in all of his endeavors, not only in his recording career, but in all of his artistic and intellectual pursuits,” Carter shared.

“I am confident that his signature determination will serve him well as he focuses now on recovery to good health.”

In the wake of his stroke, a GoFundMe campaign was launched in order to cover Sweet’s medical expenses. Having initially set a goal of $250,000, more than 8,700 donations have seen a total of over $500,000 raised so far, with the goal having been updated to $750,000.

On Saturday, Dec. 7, Sweet himself shared an update via the GoFundMe page, recollecting the circumstances of his stroke and sharing his gratitude with all the donors thus far.

“I was colder than I’ve ever been and an icy sweat came from every pore,” Sweet recalled. “Then I heard a deafening white noise in both my ears growing, and growing and growing in volume, and my eyes started to scramble like eggs in a pan.

“’Call me an ambulance’ I called out to Evan who was just checking us in to the Toronto hotel after a ten hour drive from Baltimore. Then I was in an ambulance and I heard a man yell, ‘Sir you’ve had a stroke.’ I didn’t know what it meant. It seemed unreal as much of my life has.”

In his post, Sweet recalled having to spend ten days in Toronto before receiving clearance to fly back to the U.S. to continue his care. “The only way they would let me travel back to the states was with a medical crew, on an airplane and straight into a rehabilitation hospital,” he wrote. “The cost of all these things was already astronomical. What is mankind doing? To not make these things available as part of our culture everywhere.”

Furthering his care at the Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska, Sweet says he was not only exposed to the importance of carers and those who work at facilities such as this, but that he was also given the Madonna Spirit Award upon his discharge in early December.

Most notably, Sweet also took the time to reflect upon his future as a creative individual, recognizing that his condition has seen him come to terms with many changes moving forward, but an enduring appetite to continue creating.

“I’ve lived through the day where I realized I may never play guitar again, I’ve lived through the day where I realized I may never draw a straight line again or enjoy the pasttime that developed over just the last year of my life, painting with fountain pens and coloring with dip pens and ink,” he explained.

“I understand now what it means to need to reinvent oneself, when the self you knew before is gone, you have no other choice, you either quit or you keep going and so I feel I must keep going, and I feel a great burden to do so with such incredible support that you, many of whom I do not know, have given me. I must just say thank you to you for giving me this help.

“This hope I cannot feel whether I could have had on my own,” Sweet concluded. “I will try to make music. I will try to. I will try to make art. I will try to express myself, because that is all I have ever known and all that has ever brought me joy, throughout a life filled with more sadness than anyone could know what to do with, than any of us know what to do with, and that’s life. May you all today find a glimmer of hope and love and a future to strive toward the way you have helped me find it, every one of you.”

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Jay-Z Accused In Civil Lawsuit of Raping 13-Year Old Girl With Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs

Jay-Z (Sean Carter) was accused in a civil lawsuit filed Sunday of raping a 13-year-old girl in 2000 alongside Sean “Diddy” Combs — allegations that he immediately called a “blackmail attempt” filed by a “fraud” lawyer.

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In a complaint filed in New York federal court, the unnamed Jane Doe alleges Combs and Carter drugged and assaulted her during an after-party following the MTV Video Music Awards. The case came as an updated version of an earlier lawsuit that had previously named only Combs.

The allegations were filed by Tony Buzbee, a Texas attorney who has filed a slew of lawsuits against Combs in recent months and has warned that he reps dozens more alleged victims. Earlier this month, Buzbee was sued for extortion by an unnamed celebrity who claimed he was threatening to unleash “wildly false horrific allegations” linked to Diddy if the anonymous bigwig didn’t pay up.

In a response statement on Sunday evening, Carter strongly denied the allegations and called the lawsuit a “blackmail attempt” aimed at securing a settlement. He called Buzbee a “fraud,” a “deplorable human” and an “ambulance chaser in a cheap suit.”

“You have made a terrible error in judgement thinking that all ‘celebrities’ are the same,” Carter said. “I’m not from your world. I’m a young man who made it out of the project of Brooklyn. We don’t play these types of games. We have very strict codes and honor. We protect children, you seem to exploit people for personal gain. Only your network of conspiracy theorists … will believe the idiotic claims you have levied against me that, if not for the seriousness surrounding harm to kids, would be laughable.”

“I look forward to showing you just how different I am,” Carter ended the statement.

Combs has faced a flood of abuse accusations over the past year, starting with civil lawsuits and followed by a bombshell federal indictment in September, in which prosecutors allege he ran a sprawling criminal operation for years aimed at satisfying his need for “sexual gratification.”

Weeks after the indictment, Buzbee joined the fray by holding a press conference in which he claimed to represent 120 individuals who had been victimized by Combs and threatened a flood of litigation. He has since filed more than a dozen such lawsuits, all on behalf of unnamed Doe plaintiffs.

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In the new case, Buzbee calls Jay-Z a “longtime friend and collaborator” of Combs. He claims that after the alleged victim was driven to the afterparty and forced to sign a non-disclosure agreement, she was given a drink that made her feel “woozy” and “lightheaded.” When she went into a bedroom to lie down, Buzbee claims she was assaulted by the two stars.

“Another celebrity stood by and watched as Combs and Carter took turns assaulting the minor,” the lawsuit reads. “Many others were present at the afterparty, but did nothing to stop the assault.”

In his response statement, Jay-Z questioned why allegations that were “so heinous in nature” had not been filed as a criminal case: “Whomever would commit such a crime against a minor should be locked away, would you not agree?” He also vowed to never settle with Buzbee, saying he would “expose you for the fraud you are in a VERY public fashion.”

“My only heartbreak is for my family,” Carter said. “My wife and I will have to sit our children down, one of whom is at the age where her friends will surely see the press and ask questions about the nature of these claims, and explain the cruelty and greed of people. I mourn yet another loss of innocence.”

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Taylor Swift’s ‘TTPD’ Returns to No. 1 on Billboard 200 for 16th Week After Physical Release of ‘Anthology’ Edition

Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department returns to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart for a 16th nonconsecutive week, as the set vaults 8-1 on the chart dated Dec. 14, following the first physical release of the album’s deluxe Anthology edition, exclusively at Target in the U.S. The set earned 405,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in the week ending Dec. 5 — up 839% — according to Luminate, largely driven by physical album sales. It’s the biggest week for any album since Poets’ second week, when it tallied 439,000 units.

TTPD was initially released on April 19 as a standard 16-song digital download album, as well as an in array of 17-song physical configurations. Two hours after the album dropped, Swift issued an expanded 31-song edition of the album, dubbed The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology, which added 15 additional songs. However, the Anthology edition was only available as a digital download and streaming set until Nov. 29, when its CD and vinyl editions became available for purchase exclusively through Target. The Target CD and vinyl additionally boasted four bonus acoustic tracks (which were previously released in other alternative versions of the album).

The announcement of Poets’ return to No. 1 comes on the same day (Dec. 8) that Swift closes her globe-trotting, stadium-filling The Eras Tour in Vancouver, after 149 dates. The retrospective trek launched in March 2023 and visited 21 countries across five continents.

Also in the top 10 of the new Billboard 200, Juice WRLD’s The Party Never Ends debuts at No. 4, securing the late rapper his sixth top five-charting set. Plus, the top 10 is getting festive, as the region welcomes its first holiday titles this season: Michael Bublé’s former No. 1 Christmas jingles 12-7 and Bing Crosby’s new compilation Ultimate Christmas dashes 18-9. With the latter, Crosby claims his first top 10 album in nearly 64 years.

The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units, compiled by Luminate. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album. The new Dec. 14, 2024-dated chart will be posted in full on Billboard‘s website on Tuesday (Dec. 10). For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.

Of The Tortured Poets Department’s 405,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending Dec. 5, traditional album sales comprise 368,000 (up 4,377%; it surges 17-1 on Top Album Sales for a ninth nonconsecutive week on top), SEA units comprise 37,000 (up 6%; equaling 48.19 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs; it holds at No. 9 on Top Streaming Albums) and TEA units comprise a negligible sum (down 21%).

Of TTPD’s 368,000 album sales for the week, vinyl sales comprise 191,000 (up 3,284%) and CD sales comprise 177,000 (up 7,738%), largely driven by sales from the exclusive editions sold at Target. (Digital download and cassette sales comprise a negligible sum for the week.)

Poets spent its first 12 weeks on the Billboard 200 at No. 1 (charts dated May 4-July 20), fell to No. 4 for two weeks, returned to No. 1 for three more weeks (Aug. 10-Aug. 24 charts) and then departed the top slot until the latest chart.

With a 16th week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, The Tortured Poets Department now solely has the third-most weeks at No. 1 among albums by women (since the list began publishing on a regular, weekly basis in March 1956). It steps past Carole King’s Tapestry, which registered 15 weeks at No. 1 in 1971. Only Adele’s 21 (24 weeks in 2011-12) and the Whitney Houston-led soundtrack to The Bodyguard (20 weeks in 1992-93) have more weeks at No. 1 among women.

The last album to spend at least 16 weeks at No. 1 was Morgan Wallen’s One Thing at a Time, which logged 19 nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 between March 2023 and this March. The last album by a woman to spend at least 16 weeks at No. 1 was Adele’s 21, which earned 24 nonconsecutive weeks on top in 2011-12.

With Poets — Swift’s longest-leading album on the Billboard 200 — she adds her 85th career week at No. 1 on the chart, extending her record among soloists. (Elvis Presley has the second-most among soloists, with 67.) The total encompasses her 14 No. 1 albums. (She’s tied with Jay-Z for the most No. 1s among soloists.)

Kendrick Lamar’s GNX falls 1-2 on the Billboard 200 in its second week with 165,000 equivalent album units earned (down 48%). The Wicked film soundtrack dips 2-3 in its second frame, with 108,000 units earned (down 22%).

The late Juice WRLD collects his sixth top five (and top 10) charting effort — the entirety of his charting releases — as The Party Never Ends debuts at No. 4. The set bows with 86,000 equivalent album units earned. Of that sum, SEA units comprise 84,000 (equaling 123.43 million on-demand official streams of the set’s tracks; it debuts at No. 2 on Top Streaming Albums), album sales comprise 2,000 and TEA units comprise a negligible sum.

The new album was preceded by the Billboard Hot 100 chart hit “AGATS2 (Insecure)” (with Nicki Minaj), which reached No. 68 on the Nov. 30-dated chart. On the Hot Rap Songs chart, it debuted and peaked at No. 11.

The Party Never Ends is the third posthumously released charting effort for Juice WRLD, who died on Dec. 8, 2019. Since his passing, he’s notched Billboard 200 entries with Legends Never Die (two weeks at No. 1 in 2020), Fighting Demons (No. 2 in 2021) and now The Party Never Ends.

Sabrina Carpenter’s chart-topping Short n’ Sweet falls 3-5 on the Billboard 200 with 68,000 equivalent album units earned (down 1%), while Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft slips 5-6 with 59,000 units (though up 18%).

Bublé’s chart-topping Christmas returns to the Billboard 200’s top 10, jumping 12-7 with 56,000 equivalent album units earned (up 53%). The set, first released in 2011, spent five weeks at No. 1 in December 2011 and early January 2012 and has returned to the top 10 in every following holiday season. In the latest tracking week, of its 56,000 units, SEA units comprise 48,000 (up 59%; equaling 63.79 million on-demand official streams of its songs; it climbs 13-5 on Top Streaming Albums), album sales comprise 8,000 (up 23%; it falls 27-30 on Top Album Sales) and TEA units comprise a negligible sum.

Chappell Roan’s The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess rises 10-8 on the Billboard 200 with 52,000 equivalent album units earned (up 23%).

The legendary Crosby is back in the top 10 on the Billboard 200 for the first time in nearly 64 years, as his new holiday compilation Ultimate Christmas climbs 18-9. The set earned 50,000 equivalent album units in the week ending Dec. 5 (up 59%). Of that sum, SEA units comprise 46,000 (up 62%; equaling 61.37 million on-demand official streams of the set’s tracks; it jumps 16-6 on Top Streaming Albums).

Crosby, who died in 1977, was last in the top 10 on the Billboard 200 with his classic Merry Christmas album, which ranked at No. 9 on the Dec. 31, 1960-dated chart. It had previously spent a week at No. 1 on Jan. 6, 1958-dated chart.

Merry Christmas became the second holiday album to top the Billboard 200, following its launch as a regularly published weekly chart in March 1956. Elvis Presley’s Elvis Christmas Album was the first chart-topping holiday set, as it topped the chart for three weeks in December 1957, moved aside for Crosby for a week and then returned to No. 1 for one more week in January 1958.

Ultimate Christmas is available as 14-song standard album, an expanded 28-song edition, and a deluxe 58-song version. All versions of the album contain such classic Holiday 100-charting tunes from Crosby as “White Christmas” (featuring The Ken Darby Singers and John Scott Trotter and His Orchestra), “It’s Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas,” “Do You Hear What I Hear?,” “Mele Kalikimaka” (with The Andrews Sisters) and “Silent Night” (featuring John Scott Trotter and His Orchestra and Max Terr’s Mixed Chorus).

Rounding out the top 10 of the latest Billboard 200 is Tyler, The Creator’s chart-topping CHROMAKOPIA, falling 4-10 with 49,000 equivalent album units earned (down 19%).

Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings. Luminate reviews and authenticates data. In partnership with Billboard, data deemed suspicious or unverifiable is removed, using established criteria, before final chart calculations are made and published.

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Selena Gomez Receives Apology From Eugenio Derbez After ‘Emilia Pérez’ Criticism Backlash

Eugenio Derbez is walking back his harsh comments about Selena Gomez‘s performance in the Netflix musical movie Emilia Pérez.

During a recent appearance on the Hablando de Cine podcast, the Mexican actor and comedian criticized Gomez’s attempt at speaking Spanish in the film, calling her performance “indefensible.”

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Gomez, who plays Jessi del Monte in the Jacques Audiard-directed film, speaks Spanish in the movie but is not fluent in the language.

“Selena is indefensible,” Derbez said in a clip from the podcast, which was shared on TikTok. “I was there [watching the movie] with people, and every time a scene came [with her in it], we looked at each other and said, ‘Wow, what is this?’”

Derbez agreed with Hablando de Cine host Gaby Meza, who suggested that Gomez struggled to add nuance to her performance because Spanish isn’t her first language and she didn’t fully understand what she was saying.

Gomez responded to the criticism in the comments section of the TikTok post. “I understand where you are coming from. I’m sorry I did the best I could with the time I was given,” the Only Murders in the Building actress wrote. “Doesn’t take away from how much work and heart I put into this movie.”

The Grammy-nominated singer and actress also addressed Derbez’s comments directly: “Also, do not ever say my fans are the problem standing up, as you say, for me.”

The CODA star later posted an apology to Gomez in a letter posted to TikTok. “I truly apologize for my careless comments — they are indefensible and go against everything I stand for,” Derbez wrote. “As Latinos, we should always support one another. There’s no excuse. I was wrong, and I deeply admire your career and your kind heart.”

Emilia Pérez tells the story of cartel boss Manitas del Monte (played by Sofía Gascón), who retires from the business to undergo gender reassignment surgery and become the titular character. The film’s plot is further defined by musical numbers that blend rock, pop and rap, all sung in Spanish, capturing the transformation of its central characters. The film also stars Zoe Saldaña.

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Fans Select V of BTS & Bing Crosby’s ‘White Christmas’ as This Week’s Top New Music in All-Genre Poll

BTS‘ V and the late Bing Crosby‘s duet version of “White Christmas” has topped this week’s new music poll, which highlights releases from artists across a variety of genres.

Music fans voted in a poll published Friday (Dec. 6) on Billboard, naming the new rendition of the holiday classic their favorite new music release of the past week.

“White Christmas” secured nearly 51% of the vote, outpacing new releases from ROSÉ (rosie), TWICE (Strategy), Bad Bunny (“EL CLÚB”), Khalid and Normani (“Personal”), and more.

In the festive collaboration, V and Crosby trade lines, harmonizing on the iconic lyrics: “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas/ With every Christmas card I write/ May your days be merry and bright/ And may all your Christmases be white.”

“I’m so grateful to have had the chance to be featured in a song with my all-time favorite jazz artist, Bing Crosby,” V previously said of the track in a statement. “I grew up listening to his song ‘It’s Been a Long, Long Time’ countless times a day, and I feel incredibly fortunate and honored to have sung along on ‘White Christmas’ with the voice of someone I consider an idol.”

“Being a huge fan of his, I sang with the utmost sincerity and admiration for him,” continued the superstar, who previously covered “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.” “I hope many people enjoy it as much as I enjoyed singing it. Lastly, I wish a lovely holiday season to everyone listening to the song.”

Crosby passed away in 1977. His daughter, Mary Crosby, expressed her excitement about her father’s new posthumous collaboration, saying, “As a family, we are thrilled to have V and Dad singing together on this ultimate Christmas song. Their voices blend beautifully, capturing the holiday spirit in the best possible way.”

The Christmas classic, written by Irving Berlin in just 18 minutes, remains the best-selling song of all time, with over 50 million copies sold worldwide, according to Guinness World Records. “White Christmas” also won the Oscar for best original song in the 1942 musical Holiday Inn and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1974.

Trailing closely behind V and Crosby in this week’s poll is BLACKPINK’s ROSÉ, whose debut solo album, rosie, garnered almost 48% of the vote. The 12 tracks on the set include the hit single “APT.” with Bruno Mars, which has held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Global 200 for six consecutive weeks, as well as “Number One Girl.”

Check out the full results of this week’s poll below and head to Billboard‘s Friday Music Guide for more must-hear releases.

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‘SNL’ Spoofs Timothée Chalamet on Red Carpet at Bob Dylan Biopic Premiere: Watch

Saturday Night Live is taking a playful jab at Timothée Chalamet at the premiere of his upcoming film A Complete Unknown.

In a sketch during the Dec. 7 episode, hosted by Paul Mescal, SNL cast member Heidi Gardner plays a fictional BuzzFeed reporter on the red carpet for the debut of the new Bob Dylan biopic, which stars Chalamet as the legendary folk musician. The sketch opens with Chalamet (played by Chloe Fineman) admitting he had a “Brat summer,” a reference to the Charli XCX-inspired trend.

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“Oh, man, it was crazy. Nuts,” Fineman’s Chalamet says.

As the two continue their conversation, Dylan (portrayed by SNL’s James Austin Johnson) strolls up and is asked if he too had a Brat summer. “What?” the iconic musician replies. “A Brat summer,” Gardner’s reporter repeats. “Did you have a Brat summer?” Dylan, clearly thinking about food, mistakes the question, thinking he’s being asked about bratwurst.

“All this sausage talk has awoken my hunger,” Johnson’s Dylan says, in the artist’s signature gravelly voice. “I hear there’s a hot bar at the end of this, so if you’ll excuse me.”

The red carpet conversation continues as Bruce Springsteen (played by Andrew Dismukes) joins the group. “Baby, I was born to watch this movie,” the Boss declares. When Dylan asks if Springsteen hit the hot bar, Dismukes’ Springsteen responds, “Sure did, Bob. The vibes might be small but the flavor’s big.”

Next up, U2 frontman Bono (played by Gladiator II star Paul Mescal) steps in. When asked about his own Brat summer, Bono answers, “I didn’t have a Brat summer. Could not possibly. Because of the sweltering heat brought on by climate change. We must act now.” Mescal’s Bono continues, “I just saw a documentary about the devastating effects of global warming. It was called Hot Frosty,” referencing a new holiday Netflix movie.

A Complete Unknown, which hits theaters on Christmas Day, also stars Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro and Edward Norton. The biographical drama is inspired by Elijah Wald’s 2015 book Dylan Goes Electric. Director James Mangold has revealed that Dylan himself gave feedback on the script.

Fans first spotted Chalamet filming in New York earlier this year. Mangold confirmed that Chalamet will do his own singing in the film, and to prepare, the actor sifted through 12 hours of unreleased Dylan tracks sent to him by the musician’s longtime manager and producer Jeff Rosen.

The SNL episode also featured breakout country star Shaboozey, who made his debut as musical guest on the long-running sketch comedy show, performing his 19-week Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” alongside his new ballad “Good News.”

Watch SNL‘s “A Complete Unknown Red Carpet” sketch below. For those without cable, the broadcast streams on Peacock, which you can sign up for at the link here. Having a Peacock account also gives fans access to previous SNL episodes.

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Taylor Swift’s 8 Best Moments as the Last Eras Tour Weekend Begins in Vancouver

How will The Eras Tour end?

Here on Dec. 6, 2024, on a Friday night in Vancouver — home of Taylor Swift‘s final three Eras shows (Nos. 150-152, for those counting) — we’re among about 60,000 kindred spirits at BC Place.

“You and I, we’re about to go on a little adventure,” Swift, in a bedazzled blue-and-gold Lover bodysuit, teases the crowd. “That adventure is gonna span 18 years of music, and we’re gonna be doing this one era at a time. How does that sound to you, Vancouver?”

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Professional camera setups and operators scurrying behind the star on stage indicate this event is being professionally filmed. The Jumbotron is up and running high above the middle of the floor. It’s showing a feed focused on just Swift, so those further back or in upper levels can see her framed in a closeup and take in the full stage spectacle. Some ticket buyers are out only $16 CAD for late-release “no view” seats that turn out to be better than imagined, with slight glimpses at the Eras diamond or end stage, plus screens to watch.

There’s someone sobbing behind me. There’s happiness and sadness in the air being at this concert and knowing this is it.

Swift seems to feel that way, too, with a gaze that glistens when she pauses to take in the crowd for an extended moment post-“Champagne Problems.” She’s used the word “dreamscape” to describe the era of Folklore and Evermore, and in recent captions on Instagram posts and her tour book. From her perspective tonight, that’s got to be how it feels: surreal, even 630 days since The Eras Tour’s debut.

These were the best moments from the first of three dates in Vancouver, the beginning of the end (of Swift’s Eras Tour), from someone who can compare seeing the tour in 2023 vs. 2024.

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Sabrina Carpenter & Chappell Roan Cover Wham!’s ‘Last Christmas’ in Holiday Special

Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan teamed up for a holiday classic.

In her new Netflix holiday special A Nonsense Christmas, which premiered on Friday (Dec. 6), the 25-year-old pop star invited special guest Roan for a festive duet of Wham!’s “Last Christmas.”

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Set in a scene evoking the aftermath of a lively holiday house party, complete with empty wine bottles and red cups scattered across the floor, the two friends performed the 1984 hit while reading the lyrics karaoke-style on a vintage TV. Carpenter wore a velvety green dress, while Roan sported a cozy winter coat. Watch a clip of the nostalgic here

Wham!’s “Last Christmas,” written and produced by the duo’s George Michael, peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2023.

Carpenter’s first-ever Christmas TV special also featured a host of surprise guests, including Tyla for a rendition of “This Christmas,” Shania Twain for a duet of “Santa Baby” and Kali Uchis, who joined Carpenter for a performance of “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.”

The “Espresso” singer’s A Nonsense Christmas is a holiday variety show blending musical performances with comedic cameos. Carpenter also showcased songs from her 2023 seasonal EP, Fruitcake.

“The holidays have always been so special to me,” she said in a statement leading up to the special. “I am excited to bring my take to a classic holiday variety show — infusing my love of music and comedy to make something that is uniquely me.”

Ahead of the show, Carpenter released a spicy new remix of her fan-favorite track “Nonsense” from her Emails I Can’t Send album. In the festive remix, she puts a flirty twist on the lyrics: “Think I only want you under my mistletoe/ I might change your contact to ’Has a huge North Pole’/ You said you like my stockings better on the floor/ Boy, I’ve been a bad girl, I guess I’m getting coal,” she sings in the opening verse, later noting in the chorus that “Lookin’ at you got me thinkin’ Christmas.”

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Best Moments From Feid’s Spectacular Homecoming Concert at Medellín’s Estadio Atanasio Girardot

You could understand if Feid were to get nervous or emotional at his first-ever headlining concert at his hometown stadium in Medellín on Friday (Dec. 6). Only a select few local artists have headlined Estadio Atanasio Girardot on their own. 

And in the case of Ferxxo, who spent years waiting for his big break while Medellín peers J Balvin, Karol G and Maluma became Latin household names, it was a moment that seemed like it may never come.

But there would be no tearful reflecting or nervous slip-ups in front of the crowd of around 70,000 on this night. Ferxxo (real name: Salomón Villada Hoyos) was his usual fun-loving self from the moment he emerged from the towering scaffold-like structure in the center of the stadium, just like producer Sky Rompiendo predicted backstage before the show.

“I bet he’s not nervous,” Sky (real name: Alejandro Ramírez Suárez) told Billboard. “He’s like an athlete. It’s like LeBron on the Lakers. He’s focused no matter the stage. I’m more emotional [than he is]. We were 14 when we first started doing music together. I’ve seen his struggle and development through the years. This is a really big moment for him.”

Sky was one of several artists who came out to support Feid at the first of his three sold-out concerts at the stadium. Feid’s all-but-confirmed girlfriend Karol G was backstage before the show shaking hands and wearing a pink version of Feid’s trademark black vest while fellow reggaeton star Becky G played air hockey in the game room.

None of the three artists appeared on stage (at least not that night), but the FERXXOCALIPSIS tour homecoming show wasn’t exactly lacking in star power. Here are some of the highlights from the spectacle that was night one.

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Barry Keoghan Deletes His Instagram Account After Split With Sabrina Carpenter

UPDATE: On Saturday (Dec. 7) afternoon, Keoghan issued a lengthy statement on X (formerly Twitter) explaining why he deleted his Instagram account. “I deactivated my account because I can no longer let this stuff distract me from my family and work,” he wrote. Read the full statement on X here.

Barry Keoghan appears to be stepping away from Instagram following his high-profile breakup with Sabrina Carpenter.

On Saturday (Dec. 7) morning, the 32-year-old actor’s Instagram account displayed an error message reading: “Sorry, this page isn’t available.”

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The night before, Keoghan had shared a series of steamy gym selfies on his Instagram Story, showing off his physique in a dark green tank top, according to TMZ. He also posted a couple of shots with blonde hair, presumably from the set of his upcoming film Crime 101. However, hours after these posts, his Instagram account was deactivated.

Despite his Instagram deactivation, Keoghan hasn’t deleted all of his social media accounts. His X (formerly Twitter) account remains active, though he hasn’t posted there since late November.

The Irish actor’s decision to leave Instagram comes just days after news broke of his split from Carpenter, 25. A source told People on Dec. 3 that the couple, who had been together for about a year, decided to take a break due to their busy careers.

“They are both young and career-focused, so they’ve decided to take a break,” the source explained.

The pair first sparked dating rumors in late 2023 before making their public debut at the Vanity Fair Oscars afterparty in March. Keoghan also appeared alongside Carpenter in the music video for her Billboard Hot 100 chart-topping single “Please Please Please,” featured on her album Short n’ Sweet.

Following the album’s release in late August, fans speculated that several tracks, including the sultry “Bed Chem,” were inspired by Keoghan. In the song, Carpenter sings: “I was in a sheer dress the day that we met/ We were both in a rush, we talked for a sec/ Who’s the cute boy with the white jacket and the thick accent? … Who’s the cute guy with the wide, blue eyes?”

Just last month, Keoghan was asked about his relationship with Carpenter during an appearance on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When asked directly if he was dating her, Keoghan laughed and responded, “Oh, I knew you’d do this,” before adding, “Listen, all I’m going to say is I’m incredibly blessed. Such a strong, independent lady who’s massively talented and yeah. Pretty special.”

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