The Wait Is Over: Ariana Grande & Cynthia Erivo’s ‘Wicked’ Dolls Are Here — How to Pre-Order the Collection

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The most anticipated musical of the year has its own doll collection. The Wicked Barbie dolls inspired by Ariana Grande’s Glinda, Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba and Marissa Bode’s Nessarose landed online on Thursday (Aug. 13).

Billboard, has your look at the full Wicked collection, which is comprised of seven dolls, including singing Elphaba and Glinda dolls, and fashion dolls showcasing signature looks from Grande’s Glinda, Erivo’s Elphaba and Bode’s Nessarose.

Mattel’s Wicked dolls retail for $24.99 to $39.99 (for the Deluxe Elphaba Fashion Doll and Deluxe Glinda Fashion Doll). The dolls are available at Amazon, Walmart and Target in addition to Mattel Shop.

The Singing Elphaba Fashion Doll ($24.99) is available exclusively at Target. The retailer also carries other Wicked merch that fans can pre-order such as the Lego dormitory collectable and Emerald City collectible sets.

Grande and Erivo shared a sneak peek at the Wicked dolls on Instagram last week. “What a dream come true to be realized as Elphaba and Glinda in the form of Sweet Little dolls. Little Cynthia and Little Ari are pleased,” the Oscar-nominated actress wrote.

Mattel did a great job of capturing their likeness, down to the tiniest details — from wardrobe to hairstyles, makeup and even “baby hair,” as Erivo pointed out.

“It’s perfect,” Grande said while looking at the doll. “I love that it got my anxious eyebrows,” she joked.

Elphaba’s doll features long, black braids, the character’s signature green skin and a pointed hat. Grande’s dolls is dressed in pink with long, blonde hair. The deluxe doll comes with a crown and wand.

Wicked tells the origin stories of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and her unlikely friendship forged with Glinda the Good Witch. The blockbuster musical, directed by Jon Chu, hits theaters on Nov. 22.

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Nick Carter Countersues Dream Singer Melissa Schuman for $2.5 Million

Nick Carter has officially filed a countersuit against his sexual assault accuser, Dream singer Melissa Schuman, asking for $2.5 million in damages.

The complaint, filed in the Superior Court of California on July 26 and obtained by Billboard, denies her claims and alleges that Schuman “publicly acknowledges her dwindling career and thirst for internet relevance,” referring to a 2014 YouTube video of hers titled “I need to Become Important On the Internet.” He also claimed that Schuman and her father recruited other parties to defame him.

In August 2023, a judge denied an attempt to dismiss the countersuit, determining that Carter presented sufficient evidence for his defamation case to move forward. In a complaint filed a few months earlier, Schuman accused the pop singer of sexually assaulting her in 2003 when she was just 18 years old, while the two were starring in the teen horror movie The Hollow. Schuman alleged that Carter gave her drug-laced alcohol during a party, before taking her away from the group and repeatedly assaulting her despite clear statements that she did not consent.

Carter was hit with a similar lawsuit from Shannon “Shay” Ruth, a woman who says he raped her on a tour bus when she was 17 years old in 2001. Ruth had asked the judge to dismiss his defamation countersuit under Nevada’s so-called anti-SLAPP law — a statute designed to prevent lawsuits that are filed as retaliation against free speech. However, in March, a Nevada judge ruled that Carter could continue to sue both Ruth and Schuman for defamation over their accusations. Carter’s lawsuit claims the accusations are a “conspiracy” to “to harass, defame and extort” him. 

The rules come following a third sexual assault accusation towards Carter. In a complaint filed on August 28 in Las Vegas court, a Jane Doe accuser identified as “A.R.” claims that Carter sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions in 2003, when he was in his early 20s and she was just 15 years old, including several times on a yacht and once on a tour bus. The disturbing incident allegedly left her with sexually-transmitted diseases and other lasting effects.

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‘Aquí Mando Yo’ Takes Los Tigres del Norte Back to No. 1 on Regional Mexican Airplay: ‘We Feel Blessed & Proud’

Los Tigres del Norte are back in command on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay chart after two years as “Aquí Mando Yo” jumps 2-1 on the Aug. 17-dated list. The new win earns the group its 17th No. 1 and first since March 2022.

“As always, we want to give sincere thanks to our fans, as well as supporters at radio and media,” Jorge Hernández, frontman for Los Tigres del Norte, tells Billboard. “We feel blessed and proud for the opportunity to be a voice for our community through such a long career and that our music is still so strongly embraced to reach the top of the charts. It drives us to keep creating and playing live.”

“Aquí Mando Yo” was released May 31 as the title track of the five-song EP on RMS/Fonovisa/UMLE. The song, inspired by the Mexican American former professional wrestler Héctor Guerrero, and which translates to “I’m in command here,” takes the lead on Regional Mexican Airplay with a 23% increase in audience impressions, to 7.8 million, logged during the Aug.2-8 tracking week, according to Luminate.

That move makes Los Tigres del Norte the newest member of an elite club, among the five groups with at least 17 champs or more since Regional Mexican Airplay began in 1994. Plus, Los Tigres del Norte now tie with La Arrolladora Banda El Limón de René Camacho for the fifth-most, both acts with 17 rulers. Here are those winning members and their No. 1s:

25, Calibre 50
20, Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga
19, Intocable
18, Banda El Recodo de Cruz Lizárraga
17, La Arrolladora Banda El Limón de Rene Camacho
17, Los Tigres del Norte

Prior to “Aquí Mando Yo,” the norteño group led the ranking through “En Dónde Estabas” for two weeks in March 2022. Its first No. 1, however, dates back almost three decades, the eight-week champ “Golpes En El Corazón” in 1995.

Diving further into the radio ranks, “Aquí Mando Yo” also moves to No. 2 on the overall Latin Airplay chart for Los Tigres Del Norte’s highest ranking since 1997, when “El Mojado Acaudalado” ruled for two weeks in July 1997.

The latest chart feats for Los Tigres del Norte follow their recent resumed tour Aquí Mando Yo, which began August 3rd in El Paso, Texas, and will take the corridos group across over 50 performances throughout the U.S., Mexico, Latin America and Spain, in addition to their first show at Madison Square Garden set for May 2025.

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Mariah Carey Asks Judge to Drop ‘All I Want for Christmas’ Copyright Lawsuit

More than nine months after Mariah Carey was again sued for allegedly stealing her perennial holiday classic “All I Want for Christmas is You” from an earlier song, her attorneys have filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit by arguing that the songs share nothing but commonplace musical building blocks.

In November, songwriter Vince Vance (real name Andy Stone) filed a second lawsuit against Carey accusing her of copyright infringement, arguing that her 1994 smash “was a greater than 50% clone…in both lyric choice and chord expressions” of his 1989 song of the same name, which was performed by his group Vince Vance and the Valiants (a similar lawsuit Vance filed in 2022 was subsequently dropped without prejudice, meaning he was allowed to refile). He was joined in the November action by Troy Plaintiff, who claims to have co-written the song with Vance.

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But in documents filed in Los Angeles federal court on Monday (Aug. 12), attorneys for Carey and her co-defendants, including “All I Want” co-writer Walter Afanasieff, contend that Vance’s claims fail the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal’s “extrinsic test for substantial similarity in protectable expression” — essentially arguing that any similarities between the two songs are coincidental.

“Plaintiffs’ claimed similarities between Vance and Carey are unprotectable…because they are, among other things, fragmentary and commonplace building blocks of expression that Vance and Carey use differently in their overall different lyrics and music,” the filing reads.

In the November lawsuit, Vance and Powers argued that the two songs share a “unique linguistic structure” and musical elements that Carey allegedly copied for her mega-hit, which has reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 during the holiday season for five years running. They also claimed that despite how common it is today, the phrase “all I want for Christmas is you” was a “distinctive” one back when Vance and Powers’ song was released.

But Carey and her co-defendants argue that the plaintiffs “lack competent evidence that the songs share any protectable expression.” They add that reports produced by two musicologists Vance and Powers retained to bolster their case “list isolated, fragmentary similarities in Vance and Carey, while omitting differences and the context in which the claimed similarities occur,” making their conclusions “inherently subjective” and “irrelevant to the objective extrinsic test.”

“The claimed similarities are an unprotectable jumble of elements: a title and hook phrase used by many earlier Christmas songs, other commonplace words, phrases, and Christmas tropes like ‘Santa Claus’ and ‘mistletoe,’ and a few unprotectable pitches and chords randomly scattered throughout these completely different songs,” the lawyers write.

A representative for Vance and Powers did not immediately respond to Billboard’s request for comment.

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Bruno Mars Is Set to Open Intuit Dome in LA: Where to Get Last-Minute Tickets to His Sold-Out Shows

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Bruno Mars is set to take the stage for the grand opening of Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., on Thursday (Aug. 15).

The 15-time Grammy winner will perform back-to-back shows at the venue on Thursday and Friday. Tickets sold out months ago, but if you didn’t get a chance to snag yours, there’s still time to score passes.

Where can you find the cheapest concert tickets online? Vivid Seats, StubHub, TicketNetwork and Seat Geek offer tickets at affordable rates.

Keep reading for a rundown of ticket prices.

Bruno Mars Live: Where to Find the Cheapest Tickets

Securing a ticket to opening night at Intuit Dome doesn’t come cheap, but it’s worth it to be among the first fans to set foot in the massive venue. The cheapest prices that we’ve seen range from $372 at StubHub and $347 at TicketSmarter, which is relatively low compared to some of the other sites.

bruno mars tickets: Buy now at stubhub

Tickets at Vivid Seats, TicketNetwork and SeatGeek start at approximately $428, although most tickets are priced well over $500. At Ticketmaster, for example, prices start at $524 for Thursday’s show and more than $600 for Friday.

The more expensive seats can cost between $2,000 to more than $3,000.

bruno mars tickets: Buy Now at vivid seats

No matter where you sit, it feels nice to save money on concert tickets. Use code Billboard150 to save $150 off $300 at TicketNetwork (code: BILLBOARD300 saves you $300 off when you spend at least $1,000).

Intuit Dome, the Los Angeles Clippers’ home arena located blocks away from SoFi Stadium and the Kia Forum, offers an “intimate viewing experience,” with seats hovering over the floor so that fans get a closer, more “immersive” viewing experience. The 18,000-capacity Dome, which took nearly four years to build, has an 80,000-square-foot outdoor plaza with a 5,000-square-foot retail store, the largest outdoor LED screen in Los Angeles, plus three bars and restaurants.

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5 Top Highlights From Foo Fighters’ Los Angeles Stadium Show

Foo Fighters closed a two-date stand at Los Angeles’ BMO Stadium on Sunday night with a nearly three-hour set that would have threatened to blow the roof off the venue if it had one. 

From the high-octane opener “The Teacher” (which is typically part of the encore) to standard closer “Everlong,” Dave Grohl and bandmates showed why, 30 years in, they are one of the most enduring, beloved rock bands out there. A show of hands revealed that lots of fans had been at the Friday show as well, and the band went out of their way to shake up the setlist, swapping out six songs and making the second show three tunes longer. The concert ended just before 11 p.m. in a blaze of fireworks.  

While they have always rocked harder live than on record with an exhilarating passion, Foo Fighters have also blended their solid crunch with songs that were heavy on melody, which led to a night of sing-alongs on such fan favorites as “All My Life,” “Times Like These,” “My Hero,” “Learn to Fly” and “Best of You.”

Nearly three hours later, as the band got ready to finish the show with “Everlong,” Grohl reminded the audience that he didn’t like to say goodbye and that he and his bandmates would be back again. “Nobody’s packing this in anytime soon, just so you know,” he said, which drew a heavy cheer from the crowd. 

Below are five highlights from the concert. 

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Carrie Underwood Performs During Worship Service at Local Nashville Church

Since her breakthrough song “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” Carrie Underwood has been open about how her faith is an essential part of who she is.

On Sunday (Aug. 11), Underwood led a time of worship music, joining the worship team at Rolling Hills Community Church, a local congregation in Franklin, Tennessee. Underwood and the worship team performed the contemporary Christian worship group Bethel Worship’s “The Goodness of God.” The song, featuring Jenn Johnson, reached No. 15 on Billboard‘s Hot Christian Songs chart in 2020.

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The passionate worship song features lyrics including, “From the moment that I wake up until I lay my head/ Oh I will sing of the goodness of God/ All my life you have been faithful/ And all my life you have been so, so good.”

Of course, Underwood has included songs of faith throughout her career, including “Temporary Home” and the Grammy-winning 2014 song “Something in the Water.” In 2021, she released My Savior, an album of classic gospel hymns. The project featured artists including CeCe Winans on “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.”

“It’s been such a blessing to make music like this, inspirational music that is near and dear to my heart,” Underwood said of the album in a statement at the time. The album debuted atop both Billboard’s Top Country Albums and Top Christian Albums charts.

During her career thus far, Underwood has also appeared on Michael W. Smith’s 2014 The Spirit of Christmas album, on the song “All Is Well,” and included the original song “Sweet Baby Jesus” on her 2020 Christmas album My Gift. She also contributed harmony vocals to the song “Something Greater,” on CCM singer-songwriter Matthew West’s album All In.

Watch the performance below:

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JLab Earbuds With Charging Case Are On Sale Now for Just $20: Shop Now

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

With back-to-school season in full swing, you might want to consider investing in a pair of JLab Go Air Pop True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds. If you choose the Slate color, you can snag these earbuds for just $20.48 — down from the original price of $24.88. Keep in mind, the prices vary by color, and not every color is on sale.

Whether you’re hitting the gym, rushing to your next class or just navigating your day-to-day activities, these earbuds will stay securely in place even during intense workouts. If that’s not enough, these earbuds are sweat-resistant and come with a convenient charging case, so you can take them anywhere without the hassle of carrying a separate charger. With its compact charging case, it can last up to 32 hours. The charging case is not only practical, but it also makes it easy to store in your pocket or backpack.

Its sleek design, impressive battery life and sweat-resistant build make it a must-have for any student looking to enhance their daily routine with high-quality sound and convenience. You can find these wireless bluetooth earbuds at Amazon or Walmart.

If you’re shopping on Amazon, consider taking advantage of all Amazon Prime has to offer and sign up for a 30-day free trial, which also comes with access to Prime Video, Prime Gaming and Amazon Music. And to help make sure you get your purchases quickly, being a Prime member means you get fast, free shipping in two days or less with Prime Delivery. Want free shipping on Walmart items? Join Walmart+ for free for the first 30 days. The membership includes free shipping and free delivery from your local store, free Paramount+ and so much more!

JLab Earbuds With Charging Case On Sale for $20

JLab Go Air Pop True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds + Charging Case, Slate, Dual Connect, IPX4 Sweat Resistance, Bluetooth 5.1 Connection

$20.48 $24.88 18% off

Buy Now On Amazon

If you are still on the fence on whether or not to add these wireless earbuds to your cart, check out the reviews. One Amazon customer said, “These are the absolute best wireless earbuds you can buy. The battery life lasts what seems like a lifetime. I haven’t charged them but once for the entire month I’ve had them, and they’re still on full charge, and trust me, I listen to music for hours.”

Quality and sound is also essential when it comes to finding the best earbuds. A Walmart customer said, “I love everything about these wireless earbuds. The sound is loud and clear. My husband has the black and I got the blue. Get you a pair, trust me you’ll love them.”

For more product recommendations check out these bluetooth speakers, this viral mini karaoke machine with LED lights and best over-ear headphones for all music enthusiasts.

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Take the Stress Out of Getting Dressed: Here Are 9 Matching Sets to Shop for Summer & Fall

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

It’s hot out there — so hot that you might not feel like getting dressed. This is why matching sets are so convenient. Besides eliminating the stress of finding the right top to go with your bottoms, they’re versatile and incredibly cute.

Because summer has already proven to be a scorcher, and with Labor Day coming up soon and back-to-school season heating up, we searched online to find a collection of stylish and comfortable two-piece sets that you can throw on to keep cool when the temperature rises. From sporty and casual to chic and sophisticated, see below for a collection of two-piece sets that you can wear for summer and into fall.

Best Matching Sets for Women: Two-Piece Options for Summer, Fall

SAMPEEL Two Piece Sets for Women Summer Tshirt High Waist Shorts Matching Outfits

$17.99 $19.99 10% off

Buy Now at Amazon

Biker shorts and crop tops have been a staple in summer style for a few years now, and if you’re looking for a new set to add to your collection – this one is on sale at Amazon. It’s available in 18 different colors and sizes XS-XL. For more options, take a look at Target’s coordinating sets.

Best Matching Sets for Women: Two-Piece Options for Summer, Fall

Nike Sports Women’s Oversized French Terry Shrug + Oversized Open-Hem Pants

$75

(top) Buy Now at nike

$85

(pants) Buy Now at nike

A sporty set from Nike with style and functionality. You can mix and match Nike’s Oversized French Terry Low-Rise Open Hem Pants ($85) with different shirts from the brand, including the French Terry Shrug ($75). The pants are available in grey, brown and black, while the top comes in black and grey (sizes XS-XXL).

Best Matching Sets for Women: Two-Piece Options for Summer, Fall

Fantaslook 2 Piece Lounge Set

$27.99 $49.99 44% off

Buy Now at walmart

Easy, breezy and affordable. This casual lounge set is on sale for less than $30 at Walmart. It’s available in sizes S-2XL and seven colors including black, blue, brown, pink, mint green and purple.

Best Matching Sets for Women: Two-Piece Options for Summer, Fall

Free People Ellie Set

$78

Buy Now at free people

Coordinate in style with Free People’s stylish Ellie Set. The sleeveless top and skirt pairs with flats or heels — and if you’re into earth tones, the Ellie Set comes in seaweed (pictured), chocolate fondant and tangerine tango along with black and blue/grey.

Best Matching Sets for Women: Two-Piece Options for Summer, Fall

PRETTYGARDEN Women’s 2 Piece Summer Matching Sets Button Front V Neck Vest

$48.99

Buy Now at Amazon

Vests are back on the style map! This bestselling shorts set comes in several colors beyond basic black (including red, white, brown, green, brick red, dark green and pink). Craving more variety? You’ll find similar options at Zara and Reformation.

Best Matching Sets for Women: Two-Piece Options for Summer, Fall

Cielo Rib Knit Top & Skirt

$108

(top) Buy Now at revolve

$168

(skirt) Buy Now at revolve

Feeling the schoolgirl aesthetic? This Cielo set has a rib knit top ($108) that you can wear by itself or pair with an oversized blouse or jacket and mini pleated skirt ($168).

Best Matching Sets for Women: Two-Piece Options for Summer, Fall

kaimimei Women 2 Piece Pleated Pants Set Long Sleeve Button Shirt Blouse Top

$34.84 $40.99 15% off

Buy Now at Amazon

Another trendy two-piece from Amazon. The snazzy set is available in 35 different colors including solid colors such as pink, blue, green, beige, black, white, brown, red, yellow and a bunch of different prints. Get it on sale for 15% off at Amazon.

Best Matching Sets for Women: Two-Piece Options for Summer, Fall

Abercrombie & Fitch Poplin Off-the Shoulder Top + Maxi Skirt

$42.50 $50 15% off

Buy Now at a&f

$47.60 $56 15% off

Buy Now at a&f

You can’t go wrong with a matching skirt and top combo, but the puffy, off-the-shoulder top takes this look to another level (some might even call it “demure“). The Abercrombie & Fitch top and maxi skirt are sold separately, and available in blue floral, blue pattern and pink pattern and sizes ranging from XXS-XL (regular, petite and tall). This set is especially perfect for a semi-formal event like an outdoor wedding or party.

Best Matching Sets for Women: Two-Piece Options for Summer, Fall

ASOS Oversized Cropped Denim Jacket + Skirt

$46 $75 39% off

Buy Now at asos

$40 $61 34% off

Buy Now at asos

From oversized jeans to mini skirts, denim is back and bigger than ever. Channel the trend in this matching denim set from ASOS. The cropped jacket and skirt are sold separately, and it’s almost out of stock. In case it sells out, click here to shop other matching sets from ASOS.

For more style inspiration, check out our list of the best maxi dresses and women’s tops for school, work and more.

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2024 Olympics Closing Ceremony: Billie Eilish Brings ‘Birds of a Feather,’ Snoop Dogg & Dr. Dre Deliver ‘The Next Episode’ & More

Billie Eilish performed “Birds of a Feather,” Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre teamed up for “The Last Episode,” and the Red Hot Chili Peppers played “Can’t Stop” in highlights from the 2024 Summer Olympics Closing Ceremony Sunday night (Aug. 11) in Los Angeles, where the next Olympics will be held four years from now.

As the Olympic flame was extinguished during the closing events in Paris on Sunday, the featured musical performances from L.A. looked ahead to the games in California. With all three acts representing the state — Eilish is from Highland Park, Snoop and Dre are a cornerstone of West Coast rap, and the Chili Peppers formed in L.A. — the star-studded lineup on a beachside stage was a nod to the city hosting the 2028 Summer Olympics.

And in a nod to the Olympics in Hollywood, Tom Cruise pulled a stunt at the Paris festivities in which he descended from the top of the Stade de France to the “Mission Impossible” theme song.

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The closing ceremony in Paris featured a spectacular vocal performance from H.E.R., who performed the United States’ national anthem as part of the handover of the Olympics to L.A. for 2028.

French rockers Phoenix kept the party going with a live set in Paris, taking the stage with singles including 2009’s “Lisztomania” and “1901,” while French singer Yseult sang “My Way.”

The Red Hot Chili Peppers got the California vibes going with “Can’t Stop,” from the group’s 2002 album By the Way.

Also Stateside, Eilish sang a breezy “Birds of a Feather,” a single off of Hit Me Hard and Soft, accompanied by Finneas.

Snoop Dogg’s set had classic hits from the early 2000s like “Drop It Like It’s Hot” and “The Next Episode,” with special guest Dr. Dre.

Watch clips from the 2024 Olympics Closing Ceremony musical performances below.

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