Former President Donald Trump — and many of the world’s top brass that includes Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and LeBron James — made an appearance Sunday afternoon at Formula 1’s … Click to Continue »
Madonna wrapped her Celebration Tour with a massive free concert in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The Queen of Pop closed her global trek with a record-breaking show at Rio’s Copacabana Beach on Saturday (May 4), drawing more than 1.6 million fans to the majestic site.
Although Copacabana Beach has seen larger crowds during past New Year’s Eve events, Madonna’s free concert beats the previous record held by the Rolling Stones, who performed there in 2006, according to a news release from promoter Live Nation.
The 65-year-old pop superstar’s Rio show also surpasses her record attendance of 130,000 fans at Paris’ Parc des Sceaux in 1987, the Associated Press reports. Ahead of the Rio concert, dubbed the “Celebration in Rio,” Madonna’s website touted the free event as the “biggest gig yet” of her four-decade career.
During Saturday’s concert, which was broadcast locally on Brazilian television, Madonna performed numerous hits, including “Like a Virgin,” “Like a Prayer” and “Into the Groove.” She was joined onstage by special guests Anitta and Pabllo Vittar.
The Rio show was sponsored by Itaú bank and marked Madonna’s first show in Brazil since 2012. Tickets were made available to fans on a first-come first-serve basis on the day of the event.
Rio de Janeiro marked the last stop on Madonna’s Celebration Tour, which is projected to earn more than $225 million. The tour launched in London in October 2023 before visiting Canada, the U.S. and Mexico City.
Dua Lipa‘s Radical Optimism has topped this week’s new music poll that features artists in various genres of music.
Music fans voted in a poll published Friday (May 3) on Billboard, choosing the pop star’s third studio album as their favorite new music release of the past week.
The new set from Lipa brought in 35% of the vote on the poll, securing a notable edge ahead of new releases from Imagine Dragons featuring J Balvin (“Eyes Closed”), Kendrick Lamar (“6:16 in LA” and “Euphoria”), Willow (“Empathogen”), Kane Brown and Marshmello (“Miles on It”), and others.
Lipa’s 11-track Radical Optimism — her first proper album since 2020’s Future Nostalgia — features previously released singles “Houdini,” “Training Season” and “Illusion.”
“[Releasing the album] feels good. It feels for lack of a better word — radically optimistic,” she previously told Billboard, before explaining the idea behind the album cover, which features the singer floating in a wide open ocean facing a shark fin. “Throughout the whole record, there’s this idea of chaos happening around and me trying to push through it in a way that feels authentic and honest to me.”
The British artist also pulled double duty as host and music guest during Saturday Night Live on May 4, where she performed Radical Optimism tracks “Illusion” and “Happy For You.”
Trailing behind Radical Optimism on this week’s poll is the “other” category, with nearly 23% of the vote. Placing third is Imagine Dragons featuring J Balvin’s “Eyes Closed,” which brought in 21% of the vote.
See the final results of this week’s poll below. Check out Billboard‘s Friday Music Guide to catch up with more must-hear releases from this week.
Dua Lipa was all about positivity during her Saturday Night Live monologue.
The 28-year-old pop star — who pulled double duty as host and musical guest during SNL on May 4 — opened the show with a monologue that explained why her just-third studio album is titled Radical Optimism.
“A lot of people ask me what Radical Optimism means,” the “Levitating” singer told the Studio 8H crowd, which included her parents. “To me, it’s like looking on the bright side of any situation. Here, I’ll show you.”
From there, Lipa called on various members of the audience to share a problem in their lives. One man stood up and revealed that his wife left him because he accidentally called her mom while sharing an intimate moment.
“Well, on the bright side, now you’ll have more time to spend with your mom,” the British artist said. “See, Radical Optimism.”
Next, SNL cast member Bowen Yang stood up to share that his doctor ordered him to stop drinking alcohol.
“Well, on the bright side, there’s always poppers,” Lipa replied, referencing the recreational drug. “See, you can put a positive spin on anything.”
The singer ran into a snag when calling on MAGA hat-wearing South Dakota Republican governor Kristi Noem (played by Heidi Gardner), who has received criticism for shooting her puppy.
“No, no no, sorry, I can’t help,” Lipa immediately replied after Gardner’s Noem introduced herself.
Saturday’s SNL marks Lipa’s third time appearing as musical guest on the long-running sketch comedy show and her first time hosting. She was previously a musical guest in 2018 and 2020.
During the May 4 episode, she performed Radical Optimism tracks “Illusion” and “Happy For You.”
Following Saturday’s episode, season 49 will wrap up with two new episodes: May 11, with former SNL star Maya Rudolph hosting for a third time and Vampire Weekend as musical guest for a fourth time, and May 18 with Jake Gyllenhaal hosting a third time and Sabrina Carpenter making her musical-guest debut.
Watch Dua Lipa’s SNL monologue below. For those without cable, the broadcast streams on Peacock, which you can sign up for at the link here. Having a Peacock account also gives fans access to previous SNL episodes.
Morgan Wallen‘s Nashville bar will soon be open for business, according to the “Last Night” hitmaker. During his headlining set at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium on Saturday (May 4), the country music star revealed that his Morgan Wallen’s This Bar & Tennessee Kitchen will open on Memorial Day weekend.
“It’s over off fourth avenue just beside the Ryman [Auditorium], and it’s going to be opening Memorial Day weekend, so I hope I see y’all there,” Wallen told the crowd at one point.
The official Instagram page for the bar and restaurant also shared video of Wallen making the announcement. See below.
Wallen’s Nissan Stadium show marked his last of three consecutive sold-out concerts at the stadium over the weekend, as part of his One Night at a Time World Tour.
Knoxville-area native Wallen’s six-story This Bar & Tennessee Kitchen is set to include three live music stages, as well as an open-air rooftop. For the venue, Wallen teamed with TC Restaurant Group, known for other downtown Nashville celebrity bars, including FGL House, Jason Aldean’s Kitchen + Rooftop Bar, Miranda Lambert’s Casa Rosa and Luke Bryan’s Luke’s 32 Bridge Food+Drink.
Each floor of the venue will highlight memorabilia and photos from Wallen’s life and career thus far, while the menu will be curated by Wallen with chef Tomasz Wosiak, VP of culinary development for TC Restaurant Group. The menu will feature not only some of Wallen’s mother’s recipes, but also various bar bites and Southern-flared favorites.
“I sing about finding myself in ‘This Bar,’ and now it’s coming to life. This venue will hold true to everything I love and is inspired by my fans and the way they have embraced me and my music,” Wallen said in a statement when the bar and restaurant was first announced. “We’re designing a menu around some of my family favorites, so it brings a piece of East Tennessee to Music City. I hope This Bar is a place you’ll want to find yourself in and make memories with your friends and family and celebrate the way country music has brought us all together.”
Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department holds steady at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 (dated May 11) in its second week, earning 439,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in the week ending May 2 (down 83%), according to Luminate. It arrived atop the chart a week ago with a massive 2.61 million units.
Though the set declines by 83%, it still logs the biggest second-week, by units, for any album since Adele’s 25 tallied 1.162 million units in its second week (Dec. 12, 2015-dated chart, down from its 3.482 million in its opening week).
Also in the top 10 of the new Billboard 200, PARTYNEXTDOOR debuts at No. 10 with PARTYNEXTDOOR 4 (P4).
The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units, compiled by Luminate. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album. The new May 11, 2024-dated chart will be posted in full on Billboard‘s website on May 7. For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.
Of The Tortured Poets Department’s second-week unit sum of 439,000, SEA units comprise 330,000 (down 52%, equaling 428.54 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs), traditional album sales comprise 107,000 (down 94%) and TEA units comprise 2,000 (down 82%).
The rest of the top four titles on the Billboard 200 comprises former No. 1s. Morgan Wallen’s One Thing at a Time rises 4-2 (69,000 equivalent album units; up 8%), Future and Metro Boomin’s We Don’t Trust You falls 2-3 (61,000; down 11%) and Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter dips 3-4 (52,000; down 21%). Noah Kahan’s Stick Season rounds out the top five, stepping 7-5 (41,000; down 10%).
Wallen’s chart-topping Dangerous: The Double Album climbs 11-6 (its highest rank since it was No. 5 on the July 29, 2023, chart) with 40,000 equivalent album units (up 9%). Benson Boone’s Fireworks & Rollerblades glides 8-7 (40,000; down 1%), Future and Metro Boomin’s former leader We Still Don’t Trust You falls 6-8 (39,000; down 28%) and SZA’s chart-topping SOS is steady at No. 9 (nearly 39,000; down 1%).
Closing out the top 10 of the new Billboard 200 is PARTYNEXTDOOR and the arrival of his PARTYNEXTDOOR 4 (P4) at No. 10. It launches with 37,000 equivalent album units earned. Of that sum, SEA units comprise 34,000 (equaling 45.94 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs), album sales comprise 3,000 and TEA units comprise a negligible sum. PARTYNEXTDOOR4 marks the third top 10-charting set for the singer/songwriter and producer, following PARTYMOBILE (No. 8 in 2020) and PARTYNEXTDOOR 3 (P3) (No. 3 in 2016).
Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings. Luminate reviews and authenticates data. In partnership with Billboard, data deemed suspicious or unverifiable is removed, using established criteria, before final chart calculations are made and published.
Miami man hoarded child sex abuse videos and messaged underage girls, police say. Officers have confiscated his illegal collection and put him behind bars. After more than a year-and-a-half investigation, … Click to Continue »
Two varieties of Planters nuts that went to Publix and Dollar Tree stores have been recalled because they might be contaminated with listeria. Hormel Foods Sales’ recall announcement admitted the … Click to Continue »
Usher is sharing his frustration over the cancellation of the Lovers & Friends Festival 2024 in Las Vegas.
Shortly after organizers announced on Friday night (May 3) that the one-day music festival was called off due to dangerous weather conditions, the R&B icon shared a message with fans who were headed to the Las Vegas Festival Grounds to watch him headline on Saturday.
“Mannn… I’m just as disappointed as you are. We were getting ready to turn up and celebrate today,” Usher wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “I have to follow the orders of city officials and the National Weather Service for everyone’s protection and stand strong in my belief that everything happens for a reason.”
He added, “I’m sorry we won’t get to see each other today, but know that I am always working on something to express my heartfelt gratitude for each and every one of you who continue to support me. I’ll see you soon.”
Usher was set to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his classic album Confessions during the festival on Saturday. The star-studded lineup also included headliners Janet Jackson and Backstreet Boys, along with performances by Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg, Gwen Stefani, Nas, Alicia Keys, and many others.
Less than 15 hours before the festival was scheduled to begin, organizers shared a message on social media explaining that the outdoor event was being called off because of a high wind warning issued by the National Weather Service.
“The National Weather Service has now issued a High Wind Warning, including dangerous 30-35 mph sustained winds with gusts potentially more than 60 mph,” organizers wrote. “Following advice from the National Weather Service and in consultation with local public officials, we must make the safest decision for our fans, artists, and staff, and cancel tomorrow’s Lovers & Friends Festival.”
They added, “This was an incredibly heartbreaking decision to make as we are aware that fans have traveled from all over the world to enjoy this incredible lineup of superstars and have been looking forward to this event for several months. We’ve worked hard to create an amazing event for you, and we are just as disappointed as you are.”
Fans who purchased their tickets directly through Front Gate Tickets will receive a refund within 30 days, organizers said.
See Usher’s Lovers & Friends statement on X below.
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.
Walker Hayes wants to bring his “laid back” style to fans and has partnered with JCPenny to do just that. The Grammy-nominated artist and the clothing brand have teamed up to create a limited-edition clothing collection that launched online Saturday (May 4).
Titled Walker Hayes for JCPenney, the exclusive clothing line infuses the “Fancy Like” singer’s simple yet fashionable style with affordable prices to make it accessible for any and all fans. There are 25 styles to shop through including layering pieces and shackets as well as everyday T-shirts and linen bottoms.
Each piece will be available in sizes small to 4XLT and three lengths: short, regular and tall. Prices range from $20-$89, but for a limited time you can get an additional 30% off during JCPenny’s Friends & Family sale when you use the code BESTIES at checkout.
You can shop the collection on JCPenney.com now and ShopBillboard has rounded up some of the best Hayes-approved styles below for you to add to your cart.
Twill Camo Men’s Shirt Jacket
This camo shacket is ready to keep you comfortable while providing a casual, relaxed style that can be paired with joggers or jeans. The fabric uses a twill material and comes designed with two front pockets for storing small essentials.
Duck Buck Logo Mens Trucker Hat
Top off your outfits with a simple trucker hat featuring Hayes’ “duck buck” logo. The accessory can be worn rain or shine thanks to its moisture-wicking fabric that is made from 100% polyester material for extra coziness.
Modern Fit Graphic T-Shirt
Bring a statement-making logo to your T-shirt collection with this graphic tee. The design comes in a neutral navy blue shade to help the graphic really pop with a stretchy polyester and spandex mix material you won’t want to take off.
Linen Men’s Regular Fit Suit Pants
These linen pants provide breathability and style using a trendy khaki shade that’s versatile enough to pair with T-shirts or button-downs. The pants come with a drawstring waistband that you can tighten or loosen to your liking. The linen is lightweight and great for summer barbecues and beach hangs alike.
Lightweight Denim Jacket
A denim jacket is a classic coat that your wardrobe needs. Not only does the denim material provide light coverage, you can also wear it with a variety of looks — and, the style comes with four pockets for storage options that don’t sacrifice trendiness.
French Terry Men’s T-Shirt
Need an everyday top? Hayes likes this navy T-shirt made from a French terry material that’s soft and stretchy for a casual yet relaxed fit. You can wear it year-round thanks to its ability to be layered under jackets or worn alone. Think of it like a short-sleeved sweatshirt that will quickly become a go-to in your wardrobe.
Hayes says he was excited to partner with the clothing brand as it allowed him to show off his own laidback country style while creating something affordable and accessible for fans to enjoy.
“From long nights on tour to family days that go from day to night with no slowing down, my personal style is classic and comfortable,” said Hayes in a press statement. “When I started working on this collection with JCPenney, I wanted to make sure it captured my personal style and would be affordable to fans. Plus, I wanted guys like me to be confident picking out what to wear, no matter where they may be going, and I’m excited we were able to capture just that.”
For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best men’s sneaker deals, men’s shorts and men’s watches sales.
