‘The Voice’ Unveils Season 19 Top 9: Who Scored the Instant Save?

The Voice’s season 19 live shows are in full swing, and with a batch of wildly talented singers, the competition is tight.

The Top 9 were revealed on Tuesday night’s (Dec. 1) episode, made up of the highest-voted artist on each team, one coach save on each team and one “Instant Save” from the remaining contestants.

From Kelly Clarkson’s team, America chose Desz, while Clarkson saved Cami Clune. Carter Rubin was voted into the Top 9 from Gwen Stefani’s team, and the “Hollaback Girl” chose Ben Allen for her save. On Team Blake Shelton, Ian Flanigan got the votes and Jim Ranger was saved, and on John Legend’s team, America chose John Holiday and Legend kept Tamara Jade.

Next came the nail-biting Instant Save. Team Kelly’s Tanner Gomes, Team Gwen’s Payge Turner, Team Blake’s Worth the Wait and Team Legend’s Bailey Rae all competed for the final Top 9 spot.

…and America chose Bailey Rae! The 18-year-old country singer took to Twitter to celebrate, writing, “Y’ALL!!!!!!! i can’t even believe this!! THANK YOU so much to @NBCTheVoice, @johnlegend and all of YOU for voting me through as the instant save winner!! i am beyond blessed!!!”

See below.

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These 12 Songs Got Grammy Nominations for Record of the Year But Didn’t Crack the Billboard Hot 100

Many were surprised when Black Pumas’ “Colors” received a Grammy nomination for record of the year. The rootsy ballad has yet to reach the Billboard Hot 100.

But “Colors” is far from the first track that didn’t make Billboard’s flagship songs chart to receive a nomination in the Grammys’ marquee category. It’s the 12th in Grammy history; the ninth since the Recording Academy installed a Nominations Review Committee in 1995 to determine the final nominees in the Big Four categories, including record of the year.

As these numbers suggest, that committee has made it easier for non-hits to receive record of the year nominations. According to the Academy, tracks have to rank among the top 20 vote-getters among rank-and-file voting members to be considered by the committee. That committee, presumably, boosted some of these post-1995 tracks the rest of the way to the top five (or top eight in the past three years), which would make them record of the year nominees.

Bon Iver has two of the 12 record of the year nominees that failed to crack the Hot 100. That’s either a sign that the Nominations Review Committee really loves the band or that pop radio is really cool to them. Or both.

Here are the 12 singles or tracks that received Grammy nominations for record of the year but didn’t crack the Hot 100. They’re listed in chronological order:

Barbra Streisand, “Happy Days Are Here Again” (1963)

This was the great star’s first signature song. The track, which was introduced in 1929, was very familiar as a rousing song of celebration. The audacity of performing the song as a dramatic ballad signaled, at the very start of her career, that Streisand was an artist of great imagination. It was featured on her eponymous debut album, which reached No. 8 on the Billboard 200 and won two Grammys: album of the year and best vocal performance, female.

Neil Young, “Harvest Moon” (1993)

No other singles received record of the year nominations without reaching the Hot 100 for 30 years, until this gentle, soothing lullaby by Neil Young. “Harvest Moon,” which was also nominated for song of the year, was the title track of Young’s 19th studio album. Linda Ronstadt sang background vocals. The project harkened back to Young’s classic 1972 album, Harvest, his only solo album to top the Billboard 200. Harvest didn’t receive a single nomination back in the day, but two decades later, a lot of raised-on-rock musicians who had been Grammy holdouts were now voting members.

Mary Chapin Carpenter, “He Thinks He’ll Keep Her” (1994)

This spunky track with a feminist storyline was inspired by a blatantly sexist TV commercial of the ‘70s, in which a man points to his wife’s many attributes and decides, “My wife…I think I’ll keep her.” (That wouldn’t fly today — in a TV ad or in real life.) This song was drawn from Carpenter’s fourth album, Come On Come On, which was released in 1992. This was the song’s only Grammy nomination.

U2, “Walk On” (2001)

This tender rock ballad, which was like a salve in the wake of the national trauma that 9/11 represented, won record of the year and was nominated for best rock song. It was drawn from the band’s 10th studio album All That You Can’t Leave Behind, which reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200. The album won a Grammy for best rock album and was nominated for album of the year. The band opened the Grammy telecast in February 2002 by performing this song. (Note how U2 slyly embedded the album title into the lyrics to this song.)

Ray Charles with Norah Jones, “Here We Go Again” (2004)

Charles dusted his 1967 solo hit with an assist from Jones (and from Billy Preston, who plays the gospel-edged organ solo). This poignant ballad won Grammys for record of the year and best pop collaboration with vocals. It was from Charles’ final studio album, Genius Loves Company, which won album of the year and best pop vocal album. That album reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 following the Grammys, becoming Charles’ first chart leader since his 1962 classic Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music.

Robert Plant/Alison Krauss, “Please Read the Letter” (2008)
Plant first recorded this song on a 1982 album with Jimmy Page. He re-recorded it with Krauss on their 2007 album, Raising Sand. The rustic project reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and won Grammys for album of the year and best contemporary folk/Americana album.

Bon Iver, “Holocene” (2011)

This ethereal ballad is from the band’s eponymous sophomore album, which reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and won a Grammy for best alternative music album.

D’Angelo and the Vanguard, “Really Love” (2015)

This adventurous soul ballad won a Grammy for best R&B song. It was drawn from D’Angelo’s third album, Black Messiah, which reached No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and won a Grammy for best R&B album.

Brandi Carlile, “The Joke” (2018)

This richly emotional ballad won Grammys for best American roots performance and best American roots song and was also nominated for song of the year. It’s from the singer’s sixth album, By the Way, I Forgive You, which reached No. 5 on the Billboard 200. It won a Grammy for best Americana album and was nominated for album of the year. Carlisle performed the song on the Grammy telecast in 2019.

Bon Iver, “Hey, Ma” (2019)

This is from the band’s fourth album I,I, which was nominated for both album of the year and best alternative music album.

H.E.R., “Hard Place” (2019)

H.E.R. introduced this tender R&B ballad on the Grammy telecast in February 2019. It went on to receive Grammy nominations for record and song of the year the following year. It’s from H.E.R.’s compilation album I Used to Know Her, which was nominated for album of the year.

Black Pumas, “Colors” (2020)

This rootsy ballad, which builds on the music tradition of such artists as Curtis Mayfield, is also nominated for best American roots performance. It’s taken from the deluxe edition of the duo’s eponymous debut album, which is nominated for album of the year.

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Justin Townes Earle Cause of Death Revealed

Three months since the unexpected death of singer-songwriter Justin Townes Earle, his cause of death has been revealed.

A report from the Tennessee Department of Health revealed on Tuesday (Dec. 1) that Earle died of an accidental “acute combined drug toxicity,” according to Rolling Stone.

His team also shared the update on Facebook, writing “Next to alcohol and cocaine the autopsy report revealed traces of fentanyl indicating that that usage of fentanyl laced cocaine resulted in an overdose.”

“Even though Justin was very outspoken and concerned about the opioid epidemic and the dangers of the ‘legal’ drugs fed by the pharmaceutical companies, he became the victim of a deadly dose of fentanyl,” the post continued. “Illicit drugs laced with fentanyl are causing an enormous rise in overdoses, turning cocaine usage into an even deadlier habit. It only takes a few salt sized granules of fentanyl to cause an overdose. And in most cases, happens so fast that intervention likely could not reverse it.”

“Addiction is a disease and there are many avenues and treatments to become and stay free from alcohol and drug usage,” the post concluded with a message to those who are struggling. “If you or a loved one are struggling with substance addiction please know that you’re not alone and reach out for help. Don’t lose hope.”

See it here.

Earle, the son of Steve Earle, died in August at the age of 38. “It is with tremendous sadness that we inform you of the passing of our son, husband, father and friend Justin,” a statement on his Facebook page read. “So many of you have relied on his music and lyrics over the years and we hope that his music will continue to guide you on your journeys. You will be missed dearly Justin.”

Earle is survived by his wife and daughter.

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Nick Jonas Celebrates 2 Years of Marriage to ‘Inspiring & Beautiful’ Priyanka Chopra

Happy anniversary Nick and Priyanka Chopra Jonas!

The couple celebrated two years of marriage on Tuesday (Dec. 1) with swoon-worthy Instagram posts. “Two years married to the most wonderful, inspiring and beautiful woman,” the Jonas Brother wrote alongside a stunning photo from their gorgeous floral-encrusted wedding ceremony. “Happy anniversary @priyankachopra I love you.”

See the post here.

Priyanka shared the sentiment on her page, with a photo of the duo holding hands while walking down the street. “Happy 2 year anniversary to the love of my life,” she captioned the snap. “Always by my side. My strength. My weakness. My all. I love you.”

The happy couple tied the knot on December 1, 2018, with a Western ceremony officiated by the groom’s father, Paul Kevin Jonas, Sr., in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. A traditional hindu ceremony followed the next day. Joe Jonas and Kevin Jonas stood by little brother Nick’s side as his groomsmen.

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How Does Dua Lipa’s Studio 2054 Livestream Concert Compare to a Real Live Show?

When Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia album was released in March, concerts were being canceled as the pandemic surged, so the pop star was only able to piece together remote TV performances here and an occasional music video there — and forget about her dance-floor-ready music being played by DJs at now-shuttered nightclubs.

Eight months later and we’re still not out of the weeds, but Dua Lipa was able to stage her Studio 2054 livestream on Friday night — the grand-scale concert experience that her sophomore album deserved — and it beamed into fans’ homes around the world.

On the new episode of Billboard’s Pop Shop Podcast, Katie & Keith talk about what it was like to watch a concert after months without live music, and how it compared to a real concertgoing experience. Did it feel like a live show as opposed to a long-form music video? Did the special guests (Miley Cyrus, Kylie Minogue, Elton John and more) live up to the hype? And whose livestream concert do we want to see next?

Listen to that and more below. And if you missed the concert, tickets are still available for the livestream through Sunday night at live-now.com.

Also on the show, we talk about the fallout from last week’s 2021 Grammy nominations, including The Weeknd blasting the Recording Academy after receiving zero nods. Plus, we’ve got news about BTS taking over the top slots on both the Billboard 200 albums chart and the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, and the top 10 arrival of Shawn Mendes and Justin Bieber’s single “Monster” on the Hot 100.

The Billboard Pop Shop Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things pop on Billboard’s weekly charts. You can always count on a lively discussion about the latest pop news, fun chart stats and stories, new music, and guest interviews with music stars and folks from the world of pop. Casual pop fans and chart junkies can hear Billboard’s deputy editor, digital, Katie Atkinson and senior director of charts Keith Caulfield every week on the podcast, which can be streamed on Billboard.com or downloaded in Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast provider. (Click here to listen to the previous edition of the show on Billboard.com.)  

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Cuba shuts down dialogue, blames the U.S. for protesting artists who demand more freedoms

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One killed, one injured in shooting near Opa-locka auto body shop, cops say

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Watch BTS Perform ‘Santa Claus Is Coming to Town’ on ‘Disney Holiday Singalong’

Time to get in the holiday spirit — with a little help from BTS!

The K-pop superstars performed on Monday night’s (Nov. 30) The Disney Holiday Singalong, where they delivered a jolly rendition of “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.”

In the performance, BTS wear cozy sweaters, blazers and ties and sing the festive classic amid a golden winter wonderland.

Hosted by Ryan Seacrest, The Disney Holiday Singalong also featured performances from Andrea Bocelli, Michael Bublé, Ciara, Chloe x Halle, Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert, Julianne Hough, Adam Lambert, Leslie Odom Jr., Katy Perry, P!nk and Kerry Washington.

If you missed the special on Monday night, viewers can also watch on Hulu.

Watch BTS perform “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” below.

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This *NSYNC Hit Gets a Moody Cover From Payge Turner on ‘The Voice’

Who knew *NSYNC could be so haunting?

Team Gwen member Payge Turner took the stage on Monday night’s (Nov. 30) episode of The Voice, where she delivered a breathtaking, evocative cover of “It’s Gonna Be Me.”

Complete with a sparkling suit and a guitar, host Carson Daly noted that the performance “felt like a James Bond opening sequence.”

Coach Gwen Stefani, who gave Turner’s performance a standing ovation, couldn’t have agreed more. “Wow Payge, you make me look so cool!” she told the contestant. “I mean, honestly, from a distance I was seeing Prince standing there. Being able to see you with the guitar and outfit and just your whole vibe, I thought you did a really great job of being able to make the song your own, but also be familiar at the same time. You didn’t go too far. It was so you, and so cool and so beautiful. I’m so proud to be your coach.”

Watch the performance below.

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7 Best Moments From ‘The Disney Holiday Singalong,’ From BTS to Adam Lambert

In April and May, ABC delivered a pair of Disney Family Singalongs to entertain and unite families quarantining at home due to the ongoing pandemic. Now, the series has returned, and this time, it’s holiday-themed. On Monday night (Nov. 30), Ryan Seacrest — wearing a green Mickey Mouse sweater — hosted The Disney Holiday Singalong from a comfy-looking leather chair with a fire simmering in the background.

The hourlong special included performances by music’s biggest stars, from this week’s Hot 100 chart-toppers BTS to Katy Perry to P!nk and many more. After an animated introduction that transformed viewers’ television screens from black-and-white to high-definition color while showing vintage Mickey Mouse clips, Seacrest shared simple instructions: “Gather the family around the tree, put a log on the fire, and get ready to sing your heart out … ’tis the season for The Disney Holiday Singalong.“

Michael Bublé kicked off the show surrounded by his family while singing “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” while previews of what was to come appeared on the ornaments hanging on the tree behind him. Next up, “Hollywood’s hottest couple” Kermit and Miss Piggy delivered a vocal warm-up of sorts that ended in Piggy’s soaring notes cracking the camera lens. But Seacrest made it clear you don’t have to have a perfect voice to join in on the fun: “We’re celebrating all the holidays,” he said. “Wherever you are in the world” — from South Korea to Italy to Los Angeles — “this singalong is for you.”

Here are seven highlights from the holiday special:

Chloe x Halle: “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?”

“It’s time for one of life’s great questions: Do you want to build a snowman?” asked Seacrest before introducing a “pair of talented sisters, just like [Frozen’s] heroines.” For Chloe x Halle’s performance, the sisters once again transformed their backyard to create a stunning at-home set overflowing with decorated trees and even some light snow falling from the sky. Plus, their performance wouldn’t be complete with their own version of Olaf. And as the sisters belted out beautifully chilling harmonies, they wrapped a scarf around their snowball friend.

BTS: “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town”

Joining the singalong from Seoul, the K-pop superstars introduced the Christmas classic by channeling the man himself, chuckling “ho ho ho” as they walked onto the present-filled set dressed in cozy sweaters and scarves. Halfway through, RM gave his best Santa impression while asking viewers: “What do you wish for this Christmas? BTS!” He later delivered a sky-high note before the group wished everyone a happy holiday.

Ciara: “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”

Following a heart-warming performance from P!nk and her 9-year-old daughter Willow, Seacrest teased Ciara’s clip by telling fans the show was going “from one talented mother to another.” He then joked that her kids, Future and Sienna, were trying to take his job as they introduced their mom’s song of choice. And that wasn’t all they did — they also joined in on the fun, dancing and singing along with their mom. While Ciara and Sienna wore matching vintage ’50s varsity jackets, Future sported a leather jacket and aviators to drive home the vintage-inspired visual.

Disney on Broadway: “Let It Go”

While the Disney on Broadway cast members have participated in the previous two Disney Singalongs, this one was particularly special: It was their first time performing onstage — and together — since Broadway’s shutdown in the spring. The members joined forces at Times Square’s New Amsterdam Theatre for the Frozen hit, and when they sang the line “We’re never going back … the past is in the past,” it hit unintentionally hard.

Leslie Odom Jr.: “What’s This?”

The Hamilton star delivered an impassioned and incredibly speedy delivery of The Nightmare Before Christmas track, mirroring Jack Skellington’s movements from the film that played behind him. Prior to his performance, Odom admitted to Seacrest he was a bit nervous, but after he was seen smiling in front of the at-home green screen — and standing next to a Jack Skellington-inspired snowman — it was clear he knew he nailed it.

Katy Perry: “I’ll Be Home for Christmas / Cozy Little Christmas”

Seacrest said it best when he introduced Katy Perry’s performance by saying she “put her heart and soul — as we’ve come to expect” into her clip, “really going the extra mile” (for those who don’t remember, Perry dressed as Mrs. Jumbo for her last Disney Singalong performance). And somehow, even that was an understatement. Perry started her performance of not one but two Christmas songs strapped atop a moving vehicle because, of course, she was dressed as a Christmas tree. After fighting to be taken down, Perry the tree was then shown inside a family’s home all dressed up with ornaments and lights while being fed pie in between verses. As Seacrest said: “I’ve never been more moved by a singing tree.”

Adam Lambert: “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”

Adam Lambert had the highly sought-after closing slot, which appeared just before the legendary Andrea Bocelli wrapped the special as at-home fan videos aired. But to no one’s surprise, Lambert over-delivered by adopting the less-is-more strategy, opting for gorgeous sky-high notes rather than costumes or green screens. Seated in his backyard, he performed what Seacrest said was “Minnie Mouse’s personal favorite” and balanced soft, tender moments with unparalleled vocal strength.

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