Taylor Swift may not have been on the ice at all during the 2026 Winter Olympics, but gold medalist Alysa Liu thinks the pop star had a hand in securing Team USA’s victory.
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At the iHeartRadio Music Awards on Thursday (March 26), the competitive figure skater presented the pop star with the 2026 artist of the year award. While up on stage, Liu called Swift the “GOAT of music.”
“She lent her voice and music by narrating a video introducing me and the other ‘Blade Angels,’” she continued of Swift, who attended the ceremony alongside fiancé Travis Kelce. “I gotta say, I think that’s why we won.”
The 14-time Grammy winner then went up to accept the award, which was one of seven total prizes she took home Thursday night. “First of all, to receive this award from Alysa,” she began her speech. “You brought me so much happiness and everyone else so much happiness with your performances.”
Swift was a big supporter of Team USA this year indeed, wishing the Olympians good luck in a self-filmed video that aired during the opening ceremony in early February. Less than two weeks later, she narrated the commercial for Liu and the other figure-skating team members.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to introduce you to Amber [Glenn], Alysa and Isabeau [Levito], three American showgirls on ice who will capture your heart with their stories,” Swift said in the promo video, adding of Liu, “She walked away from skating when she was 16, but then came back on her own terms. Joy fuels her now. Every jump, a celebration. Every performance, a testament to the beauty of knowing yourself.”
Months prior, the singer lent her Billboard Hot 100-topping Life of a Showgirl hit “The Fate of Ophelia” to an ad for the Winter Olympics.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2026-03-27 17:21:512026-03-27 17:21:51Gold Medalist Alysa Liu Explains the Reason She Thinks Taylor Swift Is ‘Why We Won’ at the Olympics
Lou Gramm is adamant that he’ll be “hanging up the microphone at the end of the year.” But the original Foreigner frontman is making some noise before he does that.
On Friday (March 27), Gramm releases what he says will be a third and final solo album; Released is a self-produced collection of 10 songs from his vaults, which were in various stages of completion before they were worked on for this set. He’ll be doing dates with his own band to support it as well as some special guest appearances with Foreigner. And then, he says, he’ll be a juke box hero no more.
“I do mean it, yes,” Gramm — who will nevertheless join Foreigner as a special guest on the Rock Legends Cruise XIV next February — tells Billboard via Zoom from his home in Bradenton, Fla. “I’ll miss it. I’ve got a lot more things that I’m wanting to do, such as playing with my cars and be a full-time dad to my kids. I’ve been doing this for a long time. I wanted to put out one last solo album for myself, one that I’m thrilled with. This is it.”
Gramm, 75 — who joined Foreigner during its formation in 1976 after a tenure with the band Black Sheep — says Released came from realizations that “it’s been a while since I put out anything,” and also, “I had some gems sitting in the vault.” Everything, he says, was intended for his solo albums — Ready or Not in 1987 and Long Hard Look in 1989 — or for the lone 1991 album by Shadow King, the group he formed with post-Dio/pre-Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell and Black Sheep mate Bruce Turgon, who’d been part of the solo albums and played with Foreigner during the ‘90s. Turgon also co-wrote nine of the tracks on Released with Gramm.
“These (songs) weren’t on the album because they weren’t good enough,” says Gramm, whose son Matthew Gramm served as Released‘s associate producer. “A lot of it was because we had a timeline to turn in 10 songs for an album, and some of those really good ideas I had weren’t quite finished. But years later I went back and listened to the songs that there three-quarters finished or whatever, and there were some awesome songs.”
Gramm says the tracks on Released fell into two categories: those that were “mostly complete” and others that were “rough.” Of the former, “Heart and Soul,” “Lightning Strikes” and “World Gets Around” hail from the Long Hard Look sessions, while “Young Love,” “Walk the Walk” and “Time Heals the Pain” came after that and before the Shadow King album. Meanwhile, “Long Gone” and “Deeper Side of Love” “were written sometime during the first two albums and forgotten,” and both needed more work, including new instrumentation and vocals.
The track “Long Hard Look” was “a complete concept,” but Gramm “decided to retrack much of the song.” And “True Blue Love” was on the Long Hard Look album but is recast on Released in a stripped-down, “unplugged” arrangement featuring just his voice and keyboards.
“We mostly kept the basis of the songs,” says Gramm. “I think my songs always have great guitar progressions in the intro, in the choruses. It’s very exciting to perform against guitar chords that are very uplifting like that.” Gramm did record at least some new vocals for nearly every track — and, he adds, didn’t have any trouble blending with the younger version of himself.
“For the last 15 or so years I’ve been taking care of my voice — no drugs, no alcohol,” he says. “I take vocal lessons once a week from a great guy who lives in New York City and did opera, so he’s doing scales with me and showing me how to control my breath, how to stand when I’m singing and stuff. So I bring something to these (older) songs now, although I still hear soulfulness in those recordings.”
The Released songs aren’t the only material to come from Gramm’s past, however. Foreigner has also been digging into its vaults, releasing two songs so far: “Turning Back the Time,” an unreleased 1996 track, for the 2024 compilation of the same name; and the outtake “Fool If You Love Him” for last year’s reissue of the 1981’s 4 album. Band founder Mick Jones, who stopped touring in 2022 due to Parkinson’s disease, and manager Phil Carson have said more will be coming. Gramm confirms there’s quite a bit more where those songs came from, including a batch of nine tunes he and Jones began writing during the early 2000s.
“I think Mick is not in a place to sit down and listen through hours and hours to find a good song…but there’s stuff there,” says Gramm, who left Foreigner acrimoniously in 2003 but patched things up with Jones a decade ago and began taking part in reunion shows during 2017 and has been making special guest appearances with the band during the past couple of years. (The two were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame during 2013.) Gramm even foresees a potential collaboration between Foreigner’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame-inducted members and the current lineup on some of those records.
“The (recordings) would need some finishing up, some lead guitar, to go from a drum machine to some real drums, but the vocal and guitar performances are great,” Gramm says. “We could build off those and have the new Foreigner guys fill in the rest of the parts, or maybe even have Dennis (Elliott) on drums and Rick (Wills) on bass and Al (Greenwood) play keyboards, then let the new Foreigner guys fill in the spaces there. That could be a good juxtaposition.”
Released‘s release comes on the heels of Gramm’s performances on the 70s Rock & Romance Cruise. He’ll be announcing shows with his own band soon, and he’ll appear with Foreigner on “select” dates during its upcoming Double Trouble Double Vision Tour with Lynyrd Skynyrd this summer in addition to next year’s Rock Legends Cruise.
“I really like singing with those guys,” Gramm notes. “They’re a very good band. They’re very particular about how the songs are played, they’re good performers and they’re good ball-busters off stage. I hope they go as long as they want to…and I’m glad to do (shows) with them. It was sad the way Mick and my relationship ended back in (2003); it never sat right with me to be dissociated from Foreigner. So it’s good to be able to do what I do with them, and then do shows with my band and finish up on a high note this year.”
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Music from FX newcomer Love Story dominates Billboard‘s Top TV Songs chart, powered by Tunefind (a Songtradr company), for February 2026, occupying the top four and seven of the top 10.
Rankings for the Top TV Songs chart are based on song and show data provided by Tunefind and ranked using a formula blending that data with sales and streaming information tracked by Luminate during the corresponding period of February 2026.
Love Story, created by Ryan Murphy and Brian Falchuk and part of the American Story franchise (perhaps most known for its multiseason American Horror Story series), premiered with three episodes at once on Feb. 12 on FX and via its FX on Hulu partnership. Its premiere season tackles the relationship between John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy.
The top song from the series appeared in the third episode: Mazzy Star‘s “Fade Into You,” which bows at No. 1 on Top TV Songs on the strength of 18.6 million official on-demand U.S. streams and 2,000 downloads sold in February 2026, according to Luminate. The rock band’s signature song peaked at No. 44 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1994 and reached No. 3 on Alternative Airplay.
In fact, each of the songs from Love Story that make Top TV Songs are from the 1990s, coinciding with the Kennedys’ romance and eventual marriage. The Cranberries‘ “Linger” follows at No. 2 (1.7 million streams, 2,000 downloads), while Sixpence None the Richer‘s “Kiss Me” (No. 3; 1.2 million streams, 1,000 downloads) and Jeff Buckley‘s “Lover, You Should’ve Come Over” (No. 4; 1.8 million streams) round out the top four.
The series is likely to remain a contender on the chart for the March 2026 edition as well, with the final four episodes of the first season airing that month.
A pair of songs from HBO’s Industry also make the ranking, with Alphaville‘s “Forever Young” (No. 5; 7.6 million streams, 2,000 downloads) the top-performing non-Love Story song of the month. Peacock’s newly premiered series The ‘Burbs rounds out the shows with representation on the February 2026 list.
See the full top 10 below.
Rank, Song, Artist, Show (Network)
“Fade Into You,” Mazzy Star, Love Story (FX)
“Linger,” The Cranberries, Love Story (FX)
“Kiss Me,” Sixpence None the Richer, Love Story (FX)
“Lover, You Should’ve Come Over,” Jeff Buckley, Love Story (FX)
“Forever Young,” Alphaville, Industry (HBO)
“Anxiety,” Doechii, The ‘Burbs (Peacock)
“It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over,” Lenny Kravitz, Love Story (FX)
“Eyes Without a Face,” Billy Idol, Industry (HBO)
“Set Adrift on Memory Bliss,” P.M. Dawn, Love Story (FX)
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2026-03-27 16:21:252026-03-27 16:21:25‘Love Story’ Premieres With Top Four on February 2026 Top TV Songs Chart
The diaspora has always been one of the Caribbean’s greatest strengths. From the Windrush Generation to the fearless immigrants who helped establish historic districts like Brooklyn’s Little Caribbean, West Indian people have been transforming and reinvigorating global culture across music, dance, food and fashion for countless decades. And that reverence for family and lineage manifests in Leigh-Anne, the history-making Little Mix alumna who looked to the core of her identity to reclaim her power and craft a splashy solo debut in the genre-traversing My Ego Told Me To.
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Born and raised in England’s High Wycombe, Leigh-Anne grew up in a Jamaican-Bajan household, chowing down on dishes like ackee and saltfish and gungo pea stew as she soaked up her family’s kaleidoscopic soundtrack. While her mother was partial to Alanis Morissette and Pure Swing CDs, her father went deep on reggae, and her two older sisters gravitated towards jungle and garage, as well as ‘00s R&B of the B2K/Jagged Edge/Brandy variety. But it was the one-two punch of Rihanna’s ascent and Alexis Jordan’s breakthrough that opened up Leigh-Anne’s worldview of what a Black Caribbean pop star could look and sound like.
“I remember going to my first X Factor UK audition and saying that I wanted to be the female Justin Bieber,” she reflects with a laugh. “I used to watch Alexis Jordan, and I saw myself in her as this really cute Black pop girl. I basically mirrored her look for my audition. I wanted to be a pop artist, so I’ve [blended] those influences with everything I listened to growing up.”
Alongside her Little Mix bandmates — JADE, Perrie and former member Jesy Nelson — Leigh-Anne won The X Factor UK, earned three Brit Awards and scored 19 top 10 singles in the U.K. (including five No. 1s). That kind of success immediately placed those ladies in the pop music history books and presumably prepared them for instantly successful solo careers. But as it happens, no one is immune to label woes, especially Black women fighting to express their singular, diasporic vision to suits who don’t — and might never — get it.
After Warner Records forced her to make countless versions of “Most Wanted” instead of her preferred Valiant-assisted rendition, Leigh-Anne parted ways with her label, quickly pursuing an independent partnership with Virgin Music Group to ensure a solo debut that arrived on her own terms.
My Ego Told Me To — a personal manifesto of reclamation and independence rooted in samples of Denise Belfon’s soca classic “Work” and nods to Sister Nancy’s timeless “Bam Bam” — arrived last month (Feb. 20) to a historic chart debut buoyed by Leigh-Anne’s relentless belief in herself and her music. Not only did she top the U.K. Official Independent Albums chart, but Leigh-Anne also became the first Black British girl group member to reach the top three on the U.K Official Albums chart with her debut solo album. The only two Black girl group members to accomplish that feat? Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland.
Now with the numbers to back up her steadfast bets on herself, Leigh-Anne is formulating the next stage of her debut solo era — including how to continue bridging her sizzling record with both new audiences and the islands from which she draws so much inspiration.
Below, Billboard’s Caribbean Rookie of the Month for March chats about the years-long making of her debut album, her journey as an independent artist and the unending influence of her family and heritage.
When did My Ego Told Me To begin to take shape?
I’ve been making this album for four years. My first [writing] camp was right after Little Mix decided to go on a break. I took a little bit of time, and then I went to Tulum, Mexico, and had a camp with Khris Riddick-Tynes and Leon Thomas, which was my first ever time making music on my own. I always wanted to create something that sounds like mine, but also incorporates R&B, reggae, dancehall, and all the different genres that I love.
Then I had a camp in Jamaica, where we made some of the best music, and it felt like the album was shaping up. When I got back, I was still working on the album, and the label decided they wanted “Don’t Say Love” as my first single. Great track, but it was so far away from what I was creating in Jamaica. They wanted something easily marketable or more of an overnight hit. I wanted to listen to them, but ultimately my gut was saying something different. That’s when the disconnect started happening.
Within the next year, I went independent, but that freedom to do what I want to do is the best feeling ever. I am right where I’m meant to be.
How did those writing camps compare to your Little Mix days? Did the physical change in location impact the way you created?
We stayed in Portland [Parish] at a place called Geejam in the mountains. Khis Riddick was there, so were Tayla Parx, Dyo and Abby Keen. I felt even freer in Jamaica. Coming out of Little Mix and writing on my own and exploring myself was a really incredible time.
Who did you look to as influences while putting this record together?
I made a playlist that had Janet Jackson’s All for You, Kehlani’s “Nights Like This,” Beres Hammond, lovers’ rock, Gyptian, etc. I incorporated all those sounds to ultimately have a Leigh-Anne sound.
“Dead and Gone” is such a statement. What was that recording session like?
That was the first moment where I was like, “I’ve unlocked something here.” We put together the most random tracks — Rihanna’s “Man Down” and Kelis & André 3000’s “Millionaire” — and managed to get “Dead and Gone.” I just wanted to experiment. Owen Cutts and Clarence Coffee Jr. were the dream team. There were no limits, and we made this at a time when I wanted to block the label noise out. Even the way I was singing felt like my attitude and boldness were coming back. That’s what this whole era is about: bringing back my younger self and her fearlessness.
What are some nods to your heritage on My Ego Told Me To people may have missed or not even realized yet?
Obviously, collaborating with Valiant and Rvssian; Valiant added that extra essence “Most Wanted” needed. There were so many different versions of that song. Rvssian suggested we put Valiant on it, so we called him, and he wrote his verse on FaceTime right then and there. Immediately, I was like, “This is the version.” I really, really want to shoot a video in Jamaica.
I’ve always had this dream of performing the album in my granddad’s back garden and doing an interview series there, like how Miley [Cyrus] did her Backyard Sessions. I’d love to have my granddad and grandma walking around, cooking and doing their everyday things. They were on the “You Are a Star” interlude as well; they’re a huge part of me.
What specific label feedback about “Most Wanted” proved the final straw for you?
The fact that they made me do 20 different versions of this song was enough. To make any artist do that… it’s just not how you create. And then when I played them the version with Valiant on it, they just did not get it. They wanted something that would fit more comfortably in the pop space. They weren’t seeing the vision, and I knew I wasn’t going to be able to make an album that I love with them. Being in a group and compromising for so long without being able to show my full self — I wasn’t about to be controlled anymore. As cheesy as it sounds, I needed to be free. And it’s not easy being independent! There are more obstacles, but I would choose this over anything, any day.
Where does your resilience come from?
My mum. My husband tells me how inspiring I am all the time because I don’t give up, and it’s like… I could never. I don’t have that in me. My mum is so strong and can do everything on her own, so I’m inspired by her. I’ve watched my two older sisters raise kids on their own. I have an amazing family of women around me. And I have kids myself! I have little girls I’m raising, and I want them to look up to their mum and see a strong fighter.
There was a call where my manager told me, “I’ve sent [the label] the music, and they said they don’t think it’s going to do what [you] think it’s going to do.” That was their response to “Dead and Gone,” “Revival,” “Goodbye Goodmorning” and all these other amazing tracks. I didn’t even hesitate; I literally said, “Alright, we’re going.” I believe in myself, and I believe in this music.
What are some of the harshest realities of indie life?
There’s such a massive team at a major label. With an indie, everyone has to work harder because it’s smaller. There’s also not as much budget. Everything takes a little longer as well. I’m in a weird place: I’m starting again, but I’m also not.
You sang Rihanna’s “Only Girl” in an early X Factor UK audition. Was she an inspiration for blending your pop and Caribbean sides?
Rihanna is the queen of everything, and I love how she’s had eras so she’s constantly evolving. The way that she introduced a Caribbean sound to a mainstream audience was incredible. Of course, she is the blueprint for me, and I really look up to her. She is my favorite artist of all time. And one thing I feel me and Riri might have in common is that we’re good A&Rs for ourselves. I sequenced this tracklist myself!
Have you ever jumped Carnival?
Yes! I’ve been going to Carnival since I was old enough to go on my own. It’s somewhere I could immerse myself in the culture and have the best food and the best time.
Did you speak Patois growing up?
I’m so bad. My granddad has a very thick accent, so it’s only now that I can really understand him. When I was younger, sometimes I would just nod. [Laughs]. And my dad’s Patois is terrible. He tries all the time, especially when we’re out and about in Jamaica, and I’d be like, “Dad, stop, they know we’re tourists!” I remember struggling to understand my cousins as well, but I’ve definitely gotten better. My husband likes to give me Patois lessons too.
The same week you dropped your album, Manon announced a hiatus from KATSEYE. What’s it been like watching this age-old story of the sole Black girl group member getting sidelined? Have you been able to speak to Manon?
It does feel like a vicious cycle. The more I think about it, the more I want to go into a dark hole. It’s exhausting. We have to look out for each other. I remember when I was in Little Mix feeling less than, feeling like I didn’t have as many fans as the other girls, and feeling like I had to work 10 times harder. I still do. But I can’t let that fester, for the sake of my mental health. I did reach out to Manon — how could I not? It’s like seeing history repeat itself again and again. When is it going to stop?
Knowing that I made history as the first Black British girl group member to make the top three in the U.K. [with a debut solo album] was crazy to me. It’s only ever been Kelly [Rowland], Beyoncé and me. The fact that Mel B didn’t? What?!
How did you react to debuting at No. 3 on the U.K. charts?
And getting a No. 1 album on the Independent Albums chart! I got a No. 1 trophy! It’s mad because that was on my vision board. I was with my sister when I found out, and we both cried. [As we were rolling out the album], I remember her saying, “Leigh-Anne, I just want you to be prepared that we might not get a top 10, but it doesn’t matter. You’ve worked so hard, the album’s amazing; I just need you to be prepared that it might not happen.”
I was like, “Okay.” But I wanted this. We fought for that top three spot, so to get it feels so freaking sweet. And I did it as an independent artist with music that’s very different from what people are used to hearing from me
Are there any tour plans?
The stage is where I belong. I love performing. I don’t even care how small the venues are; I just want to be in the States.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2026-03-27 16:12:132026-03-27 16:12:13Here’s How Leigh-Anne Made History by Listening to Her ‘Ego’: ‘I Believe in Myself, And I Believe in This Music’
Swift reigned as the night’s biggest winner — taking home seven of her nine nominations, including her third consecutive artist of the year trophy — while making her awards show debut with fiancé Travis Kelce. Everyone wanted to snap a picture with the “Fate of Ophelia” singer in between commercial breaks at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre, from new-school female country stars Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson to Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu.
The athlete didn’t miss her opportunity to link up with fellow Oakland native, Grammy-winning R&B singer Kehlani, who delivered her first awards show performance of her Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit “Folded” (No. 6) at the show. Kehlani also made sure to snap a pic with history-making country star Shaboozey, who snagged his own front-row photo with Ludacris, the night’s host.
Luda was honored with the landmark award, one of four non-voting categories at the 2026 ceremony. Other honorees included “Ordinary” singer Alex Warren (breakthrough award) and heartland rock icon John Mellencamp (icon award). Cyrus, who snapped an adorable behind-the-scenes picture with mom Tish, received the innovator award, coinciding with this week’s 20th anniversary of Hannah Montana. Wilson, who once held a job as a Hannah Montana impersonator, presented Cyrus with the award, which has previously been won by Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and Alicia Keys. After soaking up a rousing, minute-long standing ovation, Cyrus delivered a heartfelt speech dedicated to the fans who made both her and Hannah music and cultural icons.
Sombr, who won best new alternative artist and alternative album of the year (I Barely Know Her), posed for a sweet flick with Bryce Glenn, the photographer who shot the cover for his debut studio album. RAYE, who shared a sweet moment with Swift during her “Where Is My Husband!” performance, also posed for a photo backstage, flashing a dazzling style ahead of the release of her second studio album, This Music May Contain Hope, which dropped right after the awards ceremony concluded in the early morning hours of Friday (March 27).
Take a peek behind the scenes of the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards with Billboard’s photo gallery.
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Belly Gang Kushington (born Victor Thomas) has gone from jail cells to getting flowers from J. Cole and Drake, along with hopping on FaceTime with NBA star Kevin Durant.
Born in Atlanta, BGK’s mother left at birth, and he was raised by his dad, along with his great aunt and her daughter. Seeing his uncles and father partaking in trap activities, Kushington immersed himself in the trap boom of the 2000s and the street tales of ATL legends like T.I.,Jeezy and Gucci Mane. “That’s what I thought was cool,” he tells Billboard during a trip to NYC earlier in March.
Kushington followed in his family’s footsteps, which led to legal trouble and a handful of jail stints, the last of which came in 2023. “I got so used to jail that I knew something was wrong then,” he quips. “I’m getting locked up and I know everybody on the cell block. This s–t’s just regular.”
The Atlanta rapper promised to leave the pen behind for good and take his rapping career seriously, as he also has a son to provide for. BGK took on the adopted stagename from a nickname given to him based on having “kush by the ton,” and putting on weight.
Kushington began to gain traction in Atlanta by freestyling to the beats from some of his favorite songs, and caught the eye of ATL-based label Love Renaissance, which is home to 6LACK and Summer Walker. He ended up signing to LVRN in late 2024.
He brought his relentless hustler mentality to rap and hit the gas pedal full-throttle for 2025. With traces of the trap titans that paved the way, Kushington’s motivational raps filled his trapper-friendly The Streets Is Yours debut project, which arrived last March.
His rise was accelerated by a few viral moments increasing his exposure along the way, including selling his $100 white tees packaged like cocaine bricks, rapping in the middle of a shutdown expressway, and having Druski release a skit loosely based on his biracial image.
Kushington continued to build momentum when he recruited fellow ATLien YKNIECE for the “Friend Do” remix in September, which became a breakthrough club hit into the fall, toppingBillboard‘s strip club chart for three months, and remaining at No. 2 in February.
With a taste of success in his system, BGK’s looking to elevate and make his presence felt even more in 2026, as he’s preparing an album, which he expects to arrive before the summertime.
Check out the rest of our interview with Billboard Hip-Hop’s Rookie of the Month for March, who touches on an upcoming collaboration with BigXthaPlug, plans for ’26 and rubbing elbows with Drake and J. Cole.
You’ve been all over the place this past year, just non-stop working.
I can’t believe we did that much — tour and all type of s—t, shows, songs and videos. I be looking at the videos sometimes like, “That s—t only eight months ago? That s—t had to have been three years ago!” Every hustler plans for it to work, but this still feels like the beginning. I don’t even count the wins, just coming to work every day.
You’re buzzing in Atlanta — do you feel it everywhere else across the country as well?
We can’t go nowhere [without being recognized]. I think it’s how I look. There’s so many reasons why people walk up [to me]. Some people dead-a– think I’m the white tee guy. Some think I’m the guy on the expressway. The majority of people say I’m the “Friend Do” guy or “Popeyes” guy, then like real music fans. But I can tell there are some people asking for a picture who don’t know where they know me from. We’ll be in L.A. or up here in New York and they’ll ask for a picture and really be like, “I remember him.” That showed me my face got more reach.
It’s getting to the point now, at certain places they ripping my clothes and s–t at shows, it’s getting crazy. I’m happy for all of it. I take every picture, bruh. I just feel like I’m blessed and I could make their whole day. My manager told me the other day, “Bro, you asked for this.” I’m like, “Damn, he’s right.”
You’ve been one of the most in-demand featured artists. Feels like we’re getting something every other week. How do you decide which tracks you want to hop on?
I don’t got one way of deciding. The Bally Baby “Hustlin Mf” was one of them ones I actually listened to in the car. I get in the car, feeling good, that’s what I put on. I started rap by rapping on just other folks’ s–t freestyling. I was about to do that and get back into my bag and then I’m like, “Hold on, bro, I’m him now. I could just be like, ‘Ay, bro, I’ma get on this s–t.’” The Dess [Dior collaboration] came when they actually sent it to me and I actually liked it. I caught a flow instantly. When I can do a verse in 10 minutes, I know. I sent it back.
The Montana [700 collab] was more so real n—a, recognize real n—a. We know what I’m putting down and I know what they putting down in Dallas. I gotta f–k with them. They hit me to kick it at the studio. I gotta link with n—as who putting it down likewise. There ain’t a lot of us anymore. If I feel it’s reason to get on this song, I’m getting on it.
BigXthaPlug hit me up. When I heard the song, I’m like, “This s–t is so hard!” I know he strategically was like, “I want Kush on there.” I had to do that. The beat was so hard and what he was saying was so crazy, I gotta go in.
So the inbox has to be flooded with feature requests right now.
Yeah, inbox is flooded. I wasn’t doing features at all. YKNIECE and YTB Fatt were the only features I did. Inbox been flooded with money, but I just feel like I’m not here to make money off collabing. I think being strategic about it or going off a natural feeling makes more sense. It makes more sense to link with somebody or put art together than pay for something. If you gotta pay for it, I don’t even need to be doing it.
Who’s on your potential feature list you’d want on a track?
I don’t sit around like, “I want this person on a feature.” Obviously, I’m a businessman and I’d take a Drake or Travis Scott feature. Maybe like a 2Pac verse or an Adele hook. That’s dream s–t. We can go downstairs and there’s a n—a playing the violin — a homeless man — and that could be so hard [that] I want a feature.
The “Friend Do (Remix)” was No. 1 for three months on our strip club chart. Did you feel that when you were out in Atlanta?
I was on tour when it first took off. I had to get home. The day we got home, I went to Candyland that night and we previewed YKNIECE’s verse and s–t went crazy.
What’s the plan for you album-wise for the rest of the year?
I’m working on an album right now. Soon as it’s together, it’s dropping. Probably in the next couple of months. Probably gonna drop again after that. Every dope boy got elevation, but a good artist don’t ever leave what got them there. That’s a thin line between trying to show elevation and you gotta think my life’s different now. If I’m rapping the same way about my life and memories, it’s going to go hand-in-hand. I don’t got a title for the album yet. We got a lot of songs with a lot of people.
Do you feel any more pressure to deliver now that you’ve made it in a way and got some spotlight on you?
Nah, if anything, just new fans and different types of supporters. I got 12-year-olds rocking with my music. If anything, I really shouldn’t introduce them to Fentanyl. No other pressure other than that.
Is that something you’re conscious about when creating?
I think people could feel that. I always refer back to an interview with Pharrell and he was talking about how you could feel the energy and the confidence in a song. I could have the same delivery, but you could feel that confidence.
I think that’s what makes you special in a way. It would be so hard for me to remain motivated and do this again and continue to chase success.
I always been a person that [feels like] someone’s chasing me and I gotta keep running. My music is motivational, because I’m motivated by everything in front of me. I’m meeting new people and it shows me how broke I am today. I ain’t nowhere near comfortable.
How was linking with J. Cole in Atlanta?
We just went to support, and he was like, “Shoutout Belly Gang.” He came over there, “Ay, boy, you going crazy, don’t change nothing. Keep that s–t just like that, I’m watching. I’m a fan.” That was crazy, because I didn’t think J. Cole knew who I was. Especially from a conscious artist. I’m kinda street, but vulnerable too. I don’t think he was necessarily saying sonically, but keeping that s–t 100 like you been doing. It’s always good getting flowers from people who made it that big. I know I’m doing something right.
How was seeing Drake in Houston at Area 29?
His team had seen me post-I was out there. Like, “Pull up, The Boy wanna meet you.” I pull up and out the gate, he gave me my flowers. His first words were, “Is that Belly Gang?” I didn’t know they know who I was. He actually told Area 29 to give me rest of the money he had in there, too. Walked in the club, he got a mic set up right there where they dance at. I don’t understand how he records on it. I guess he makes the club be quiet.
You were on tour with Lil Wayne last year as well. How was hitting the road?
I ain’t gonna lie, I can even see in my peers that tour really broke me in as a performing artist. My manager was kinda worried that my performance wasn’t moving as fast as the buzz was going. Now my performance is in front of the buzz. I controlled the crowd. I’m really comfortable and feel like I’m in this [office] right here. Doing 17,000 people every night and I ain’t have no hit or nothing out. I had to win them over back then. Now it’s like clockwork. First show I was really nervous. Just did the songs and I had a script. By the last show, I was going out there and winging it and those were the best shows.
Your mom left at birth and you reconnected with her at 23 for the first time?
I met her for the first time at 23. I might have been an infant or something [before that]. I just wasn’t feeling it, bruh. Not my type of person. I ain’t sitting around longing for a momma. Why am I gonna bring on these problems? Family is hard enough as it is, I don’t need more of that s–t.
Have there been family members popping out since the fame?
I was talking to Jelly Roll one time, and I had asked him for his number, because we were on email. He was like, “I ain’t got no number, I just work on the email.” He was like, “Bro, I don’t want anyone reaching me like that.” I was like, “What the hell?” Now I understand. I’m the highlight of everybody’s day in my family and I’m already working 24/7. You got the bills and people get mad.
What’s your goal for the rest of the year?
I just want to continue to be able to work every day. I don’t really got no money goals, no number goals. I just want to learn how to be happy. I’m still learning how to be free and a regular citizen. I still think people are watching me. This s–t is bliss for me right now.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2026-03-27 16:07:252026-03-27 16:07:25Belly Gang Kushington Is Bringing the Motivation Back to Atlanta Rap: ‘This S–t Is Bliss for Me Right Now’
BTS is taking its ARIRANG World Tour to Latin America in October, and on Friday (March 27), finally revealed the venues for the Latin American leg of its ambitious, 80-plus-show trek. The world tour is set to kick off April 9 in South Korea’s Goyang Stadium, and runs until 2027 with shows in Australia, Hong Kong and the Philippines.
Co-promoted by Live Nation, band members RM, Jin, Suga, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook are set to start the Latin America leg on Oct. 2 at the El Campín Stadium in Bogotá, Colombia.
They will then head to Lima’s San Marcos Stadium, Chile’s Estadio Nacional and Buenos Aires’ Único de La Plata Stadium; they will perform two back-to-back shows in each country. In Brazil, they will perform three back-to-back shows at the Estádio do MorumBIS on Oct. 28, 30 and 31.
This also marks the first time that BTS will perform in Bogotá and Buenos Aires. The LATAM stint includes three-previously announced dates in Mexico, where BTS will perform at the Estadio GNP Seguros (formerly known as Foro Sol) on May 7, 9 and 10.
The highly anticipated 2026-2027 tour — in support of the group’s ARIRANG album, which marks the first full-length release since 2020’s Be that topped the Billboard 200 — will span 34 regions, and will feature an immersive 360-degree, in-the-round stage design.
With this tour, BTS makes its grand touring comeback since headlining its PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE tour in 2021 and 2022.
Tickets for the LATAM dates will be available on April 7 via ARMY membership presale. General tickets will go on sale on April 10. For more information, visit BTS’ tour website. Here are all the LATAM dates:
May 7 — Mexico City, Mexico @ Estadio GNP Seguros
May 9 — Mexico City, Mexico @ Estadio GNP Seguros
May 10 — Mexico City, Mexico @ Estadio GNP Seguros
Oct. 2 — Bogotá, Colombia @ Estadio El Campín
Oct. 3 — Bogotá, Colombia @ Estadio El Campín
Oct. 9 — Lima, Peru @ Estadio San Marcos
Oct. 10 — Lima, PeruE @ Estadio San Marcos
Oct. 16 — Santiago, Chile @ Estadio Nacional
Oct. 17 — Santiago, Chile @ Estadio Nacional
Oct. 23 — Buenos Aires, Argentina @ Estadio Único de La Plata
Oct. 24 — Buenos Aires, Argentina @ Estadio Único de La Plata
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2026-03-27 16:07:252026-03-27 16:07:25BTS Reveals Where Exactly They’ll Be Playing Its Latin America Tour Dates
Megan Thee Stallion just changed the trajectory of one dog’s life after finding out that he was hours away from being euthanized.
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In a video posted Friday (March 27) on Instagram, the rapper showed off her new canine friend and revealed that she’d rescued him from a kill shelter, which she says she didn’t know was a real thing. “I was yesterday years old when I found out that there’s a such thing as a kill shelter, and they are putting down dogs when they can not find them a home,” she told followers.
“That is insane. They were going to put him down yesterday,” Meg continued, sounding shocked. “And I said, ‘No, wait. Just give him to me. I’ll take him.’”
The hip-hop star is already a dog mom to French bulldog Foe, about whom she said in the video, “I don’t know how Foe is going to feel about this.” But overall, she’s happy with how her family — which also includes Maine Coon kitty 9 and pup Dos — has grown. “Meet my new rescue son TYGER,” she captioned the clip.
The update comes just a few days after Meg made her Broadway debut in Moulin Rouge!, becoming the first woman to take on the historically male character of Zidler. On Tuesday (March 24), she posted a video of her first-ever curtain call and wrote, “So grateful for this incredible cast & crew & everyone who worked so hard to make opening night a success!! HOTTIES IM ON BROADWAY!!”
The Houston Hottie hasn’t dropped an album since 2024, when Megan reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200. Last year, she unleashed singles “Whenever” and “Lover Girl,” with the latter peaking in the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2026-03-27 15:51:182026-03-27 15:51:18Megan Thee Stallion Adopts Dog on Euthanasia List After Learning Kill Shelters Exist: ‘That Is Insane’
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Pop the champagne. The “hot girl coach” is trying her hand at Broadway with a stint on the cast of Moulin Rouge! The Musical.
The “Lover Girl” rapper is trading stadiums for the famed Al Hirschfeld Theatre in New York, making her Broadway debut as Zidler, the owner of the Moulin Rouge nightclub in the show. The musician’s stint on the musical will run eight weeks from March 24 to May 17. The “stunt” casting has proven extremely popular with fans and Broadway enthusiasts.
According to a report from StubHub, as reported on by TicketNews, there has been a dramatic surge in ticket demand for Megan’s stint in the show, bringing with it a wave of theater first-timers. The rapper’s casting drove more ticket sales for Moulin Rouge! The Musical in just 27 days than the production recorded during the same period last year.
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Upon the casting announcement in Feb., ticket sales increased by 3.4x overnight, a striking spike in sales. Well, when opening night came around, ticket sales increased once more, leading to the highest-selling non-holiday sales day ever for Moulin Rouge! The Musical on the ticketing platform.
The casting choice for the record-breaking production is an interesting one, given that the character Zidler is often played by a male or a male-presenting person. Megan marks the first female-presenting person to play the role in the show’s lengthy history. Prior to the rapper stepping in, the role was performed by RuPaul’s Drag Race alum and winner Bob The Drag Queen.
If you’re looking to see Megan take the Broadway stage for the very first time, we’ve gathered all the deetz below, including a few promo codes to help you get the best pricing possible.
Where to Buy Tickets to Megan Thee Stallion’s Stint at Moulin Rouge on Broadway
As a reminder, Megan’s stint on the musical will run from March 24 to May 17 so you’ll want to search for tickets within that timeframe. As you can imagine, pricing for tickets does goes up around Megan’s time on the production.
Ticketmaster often has a ton of tickets for Megan’s stint on Moulin Rouge, but pricing can be a bit expensive. It is worth keeping your eyes peeled for deals or even added dates. Thus far, we’ve seen some ticketing for $209 and up depending on the day you choose. That being said, the site has a ton of seats available now so you can pick your favorite without fear of competition for the moment.
While the site is expensive, it is usually the official source for tickets, so you’re usually guaranteed to get authenticated tickets. The ticketing service offers a Fan Guarantee, which allows for cancellations, refunds or exchanges within 24 hours of booking, subject to certain exclusions.
StubHub has prices as low as $160 for specific dates. To get the best bang for your buck, we recommend browsing through the timeframe of Megan’s eight-week stint to see which days have more affordable options. While searching for tickets on third-party sites can be a bit scary, StubHub makes buying tickets easy and painless with its FanProtect Guarantee. This initiative protects fan’s purchases by ensuring valid tickets or your money back. Plus, if your event is canceled and not rescheduled, you will receive a credit worth 120% of the amount you paid for the impacted event, or the option of a cash refund.
Ample seating is currently available for Megan’s stint on the musical for March with fair pricing as low as $69 on specific days of the week on TodayTix. The site offers prospective buyers a full look at the seating map as it relates to the stage, giving you a better idea of where your chosen seating might be. The site has a buyer guarantee that tickets purchased through the site are authentic and provide valid entry to the event described on the ticket. If the ticket you receive from the site is not the same one as purchased through the site, then TodayTix will provide you with a comparable or better ticket or provide a full refund including any fees.
Vivid Seats has some of the most affordable seating we’ve seen beyond TodayTix with some shows featuring seats starting at just $98. Right now, you can use promo code BB30 to snag $30 off of your purchase. The ticketing service offers a 100% Buyer Guarantee that vows your transaction will be secure, that your tickets will be delivered before your event and that those tickets will be valid and authentic.
SeatGeek is another great option, especially for those looking to save some cash on their Broadway tickets. Depending on the night you see Megan perform, tickets have been landing at around $69 and higher. The further ahead you look, the lower the price. Right now, you can use promo code BILLBOARD10 at checkout to receive $10 off. The ticketing service features a Buyer Guarantee that ensures smooth ticket purchases every time. The site also offers you venue options based on your location, giving you the closest venue to you.
More savings for Broadway tickets on us, this time with TicketNetwork. You can use code BILLBOARD300 at checkout to save $300 off orders of $1,000, and BILLBOARD150 to save $150 off orders of $500. If you don’t have the money to buy your tickets just yet, you can also buy the tickets on the website now and pay later with help from Affirm, giving you flexible spending options on top of our code. Plus, the website includes all-in pricing that lets you see exactly what you’ll be paying upfront (fees included).
Pricing on Gametime is also pretty great, especially given how in demand the musical is since adding Megan on to the cast. Gametime has a ton of seating options and fair pricing starting at $88 for some days. Gametime guarantees the lowest prices, event cancellation protection, job loss assurance and on-time ticket delivery for a smooth ticket-buying experience every time, no matter the occasion.
More On Moulin Rouge! The Musical
An even more impressive statistic came from the demographic of ticket buyers who flocked in large numbers to see Megan’s performance. According to StubHub, 79% of ticket buyers for Megan’s show had never purchased a Broadway ticket on StubHub. For existing users, 75% were concertgoers and 50% were sports fans, a fascinating split. This data is a powerful reminder of Megan’s reach and speaks to the success of “stunt” casting when done correctly.
The goal is to introduce new demographics to the world of theater, reaching those who have likely never even seen a Broadway musical, let alone connected with the music. Similar casting choices have been made in the past, with directors tapping big names to play roles. Famous “stunt” casting choices have included the likes of Daniel Radcliffe, model Ashley Graham, Bob the Drag Queen, Wayne Brady, Jinkx Monsoon and Lea Michele, among others.
The Broadway production is directed by Tony Award winner Alex Timbers and features music supervision, orchestrations, and arrangements by Tony Award winner Justin Levine. Levine was nominated for a Grammy as a co-producer of the show’s cast album. The album debuted at #1 on Billboard‘s Cast Albums chart in Sept. 2019 and was released digitally on Aug. 30, 2019, followed by a physical release. The Broadway production is based on a 2001 film of the same name by American film director Baz Luhrmann.
“Stepping onto the Broadway stage and joining the Moulin Rouge! The Musical team is an absolute honor,” Megan said in a statement. “I’ve always believed in pushing myself creatively and theater is definitely a new opportunity that I’m excited to embrace. Broadway demands a different level of discipline, preparation and storytelling, but I’m up for the challenge and can’t wait for the Hotties to see a new side of me.” It was recently announced that Moulin Rouge! The Musical would be closing on July 26, 2026, after a seven-year run. That’s a total of 2,289 performances.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2026-03-27 15:47:162026-03-27 15:47:16Megan Thee Stallion is Driving Record-Breaking Sales for Broadway Debut in ‘Moulin Rouge! The Musical’ – Here’s Where to Get Tickets
Out today (March 27) Fcukers’ debut album Ö is an accomplishment not only because its stylish, interesting and fun, but because for awhile it wasn’t clear if and when it would be made at all.
The New York dance-rock duo — Shanny Wise and Jackson Walker Lewis — released their debut EP Baggy$$ in 2024, with the project making them instant critical darlings and one of the buzziest new acts of the post-Brat dance scene. Songs like “Bon Bon” and “Homie Don’t Shake” put forth a sound merging electronics beats, guitar, flecks of disco and singer Shanny Wise’s helium voice, with project putting Fcukers squarely in the holy lineage of indie sleaze and DFA Records.
Amid the EP’s September 2024 release, Fcukers played taste-making festival including Portola and Pitchfork London, collecting fans including Billie Eilish and James Murphy. In February 2025 they were announced as the support act for Tame Impala‘s global 2025/26 Deadbeat Tour. The time was very much right to make a debut album, but the pressure to do so also was stifling.
“We didn’t expect to be touring for a year off an EP,” says Lewis. “It was this unexpected success, so then it almost felt like the debut album had the pressure of a debut, but also [the expectations] of a sophomore album. Usually with a debut, nobody knows what your vibe is yet, but we had established a vibe. So it was like, ‘Where do we take this?’
“I was feeling a lot of pressure,” Lewis continues. “There were a lot of people in my ear saying like, ‘Whatever you do, it has to be good.’ I hit a wall where I was like, ‘I can’t do this.’ I went to the label and was like, ‘No deadlines. You might not get any music this year. I’m not in [a] great spot.’”
Kismet intervened when Wise and Lewis were in Los Angeles around the time of their Coachella debut last April. Their manager had set up a meeting with lauded L.A. producer Kenneth Blume, long known as Kenny Beats. Blume had recently finished work on Geese’s debut Getting Killed, although that project wasn’t yet out. “So he wasn’t top of dome [for] everyone,” says Lewis.
He was barely top of dome for Fcukers. “We were on the way to something else,” Wise says of their first meeting with Blume. “We were literally just going to stop by for a coffee.” But the other afternoon plans were scrapped when Blume and Fcukers came up with two new songs during that first meeting, a breakthrough that effectively dissolved the pressure paralysis they’d been feeling. They cleared their schedule for the rest of the week and posted up at Blume’s studio.
“We ended up working with him for two weeks straight, and in that time wrote and recorded most of the album,” says Wise. While they’d brought two previously existing song ideas to these sessions, everything else was made from scratch. A key difference maker was their faith in Blume’s dexterity as a producer, which “freed us up to really just focus on writing and allowed us to do it so much faster,” says Wise. “It wasn’t like, ‘Does the kick drum sound good?’ We knew it was going to sound f–king great.”
The three artists got into an 11-hour workday rhythm that “was literally on some crazy,” says Wise. “We’d wake up, get coffee at nine, drive to his studio, work until 8:00 p.m., go to sleep and do the same thing again the next day.” They made three songs a day during the first week, using the second week to refine and narrow down the ideas, by which point the 11-track album was essentially done. Inspired by Prince’s symbol era, and deciding that “every word under the sun has been used for album titles,” they called the project Ö.
With additional production by Dylan Brady of 100 gecs, the album is out today on Ninja Tune, an insitution Lewis calls “one of the few labels out there that could really straddle a project that’s both a band and electronic.”
Before forming as Fcukers, Wise and Lewis, both 28, were each in myriad New York bands, with Lewis also DJing around town while working in bars. Members of the same social scene, they were formally introduced by a mutual friend, and together found a shared interest in shifting their creative focus to electronic music.
“I was DJing in New York a lot, and remember one of the first times I played Le Bain,” says Lewis. “I was like, ‘Okay, this is what it feels like to play a packed club.’ I was spinning vinyl and really into ’90s house and other dance music — so when Shanny and I met it wasn’t like a grand aspiration, but more thinking that it would be fun to make music like the music I was DJing.”
“I didn’t listen to any house music before I met Jackson,” adds Wise, “so I feel like we’re always coming at it from different sides in a cool way. Because I didn’t have any preconceived notion of what house music is, or how I should sing and sound. I think that maybe adds something cool to it.”
While both of them were adept with multiple instruments and each knew how to use a DAW, “When we first met Shanny was like, ‘Do you know how to make electronic music?’ and I was like, ‘No, but we can figure it out,” says Lewis. Ultimately, they locked in on a sound that mashes up genres and eras, bringing together trap, drum & bass, garage, R&B, rock and elements of the Y2K era artists they grew up with, like Nelly, Lily Allen, Outkast and Dizzee Rascal.
Fcukers will be presenting this hybrid sound to audiences during a 42-date tour extending from April 2 to September 20, with the run including headlining shows in North America and England, festival dates at Bonnaroo and Barcelona’s Primavera Sound, opening slots for six Rüfüs Du Sol shows in the U.S., and even a gig opening for Harry Styles this July 17-18 in São Paulo. Presenting music from an album they weren’t sure they could even make adds a special sort of thrill to experiences they’re already finding to be life-defining.
“We recently did three sold out nights in London and the crowds were crazy, singing all the words,” says Wise. “I got chills. I’ve toured a lot in other bands and have never felt that type of connection before. It’s sometimes easy to not realize growth as it’s happening little by little, but then there are those moments where it’s like, ‘Whoa, what the hell.’”
“We’ve made it way farther than I ever thought we would in my wildest dreams,” echoes Lewis. “Anything that happens beyond this is a bonus.”
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2026-03-27 15:47:162026-03-27 15:47:16Today, Fcukers Releases a Debut Album the Duo Wasn’t Sure It’d Make