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Trent Toney puts out fires for a living.
No, not like the IT support in your office. The 30-year-old from Hillsborough, Oregon, close to Portland, is a legit firefighter.
For his audition Tuesday night (July 11) on America’s Got Talent, Toney turned his hand to singing, songwriting and playing the keys.
His day job, however, was never far from the conversation. When Heidi Klum awkwardly asked why he didn’t present to the AGT nation in his firefighter outfit, he immediately put out that fire.
Toney told his backstory, specifically, his split from his wife Faith.
“I think we were immature,” he explained, “we were both made a lot of mistakes. But I don’t think getting married to her was one of them.”
Does he want her back? Oh yes, that fire still burns. “Yesterday,” he remarked. “I’m still in love with her.” He proved it by performing an original song, written for his ex.
Matters took a different route when, before Toney could sing a note, the crowd bayed for him to call her. Which the judges obliged, dialing up Facetime. Faith took her time to pick up, but when she did, Klum handled the conversation and placed the phone on the judges’ desk, facing the stage.
After stifling some sniffles, Toney got going at the electronic keyboard for a performance of “Always and Lately,” a ballad that would sit nicely on most AC radio playlists.
The crowd loved it, the judges loved it.
“I think you’re so handsome, so lovely, you have the best smile, and a beautiful voice,” remarked Klum.
“It was great, it was heartfelt, your voice is amazing you look amazing, it was the perfect audition,” added Sofia Vergara.
“I thought that was very brave, actually,” commented Simon Cowell. “I mean, to tell us all of that. I wouldn’t. I seriously wouldn’t. You know what, people I think are going to like you and I think you’ve got a really, really good voice. This is one of those auditions people are certainly going to about.”
Howie Mandel enthused, “You could feel the emotion in your voice, and I could tell just by looking at her and see how she was reacting to it, that was absolutely beautiful.”
It was four yeses from the judges.
Klum had the final word. As she congratulated the contestant with a hug, she quipped, “if this works out and you have a girl, it better be called Heide, okay.”
As for Faith, and whether the spark is still there, we’ll have to wait and see.
Watch below.
TOMORROW X TOGETHER‘s highly anticipated entrance into the music industry in 2019 generated immense interest from music fans as the latest addition to the esteemed roster of Big Hit Entertainment (now BIGHIT MUSIC), whose strong music history was laid by pop icons BTS, influential singer-songwriter Lee Hyun and ballad-focused boy band 2AM.
Meanwhile, a cornerstone of TXT’s musical story has been the array of worldwide collaborators including global hip-hop stars (Coi Leray, iann dior, pH-1, Woodie Gochild), rising singer-songwriters (Salem Ilese, Seori, Lilas Ikuta), punk-rock icons (ModSun), EDM heavy-hitters (Alan Walker) and more. With TXT’s prime-for-pop-crossover smash “Do It Like That” alongside the Jonas Brothers, fans saw how the process goes beyond music.
Ahead of the July 7 release of “Do It Like That,” the K-pop stars shared a series of teaser videos to piece together their biggest Top 40 moment yet. Amid the U.S. leg of TXT’s Act: Sweet Mirage world tour, the quintet jetted off to meet OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder in the studio. While the super-producer behind multiple Hot 100 No. 1s already pumped some mainstream magic into the track, adding TXT’s Republic Records label mates in the JoBros expanded the song’s appeal to a broader generation of boy-band fans for maximum pop appeal.
With nearly 20 million views on YouTube since its release, the song is beginning to connect worldwide in its quest to become—as TXT’s eldest member Yeonjun describes it—”the perfect summer track” for 2023.
TOMORROW X TOGETHER’s Yeonjun, Soobin, Beomgyu, Taehyun and HueningKai‘s took a moment to delve into the collaboration with Billboard to share behind-the-scenes anecdotes, aspirations for the song, who would make the best TXT/JoBros sub-unit and the latest message to their fans, affectionately known as MOAs.
Billboard: Tell us more about how TOMORROW X TOGETHER and the Jonas Brothers came together for “Do It Like That.” Have you ever previously connected with Jonas Brothers, or was anyone a longtime fan?
YEONJUN: It was our first time meeting Jonas Brothers for this collaboration and I had personally been a fan of their music growing up and even practiced with their music as a trainee, so it felt surreal to be working with them. “Do It Like That” seemed like the perfect summer track and when Jonas Brothers also expressed their interest in the single, we met up in the States during the U.S. leg of our world tour in May to make this collaboration happen.
TOMORROW X TOGETHER has collaborated with several artists, but we got to see you meet, interact and record fun content before the song release. What was the vibe like? Any fun stories from the day?
TAEHYUN: From recording the track to shooting content, this collaboration was such a fun project. Jonas Brothers were even cooler in person and their friendliness helped us work together in a chill environment.
BEOMGYU: Jonas Brothers were incredibly welcoming from the moment we met. They were just as enthusiastic as we were about shooting content, which we really appreciated.
YEONJUN: We gifted Jonas Brothers our most recent album The Name Chapter: TEMPTATION! We shot a lot of content together, and I remember being pleasantly surprised by how good they were at filming TikTok videos.
Do you want fans to look out for anything specific in the music video?
HUENINGKAI: Viewers will be able to see how much fun we had on the set if they pay attention to TOMORROW X TOGETHER and Jonas Brothers’ facial expressions and gestures within the music video!
Fans loved Jonas Brothers’ sharing “concept photos” in the style of TOMORROW X TOGETHER on social media. Did you enjoy?
HUENINGKAI: We thought their concept photos turned out really well and felt a sense of pride seeing the positive reactions from fans.
In what ways do TXT and Jonas Brothers have similarities, and in what ways are they different?
TAEHYUN: I’d say TOMORROW X TOGETHER and Jonas Brothers are both artists who have a jam-packed discography with quality music. We, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, are not related by blood like Jonas Brothers, but the five of us are a band of brothers too and a family nonetheless.
What are your personal and professional goals with this single?
SOOBIN: It would be amazing to achieve good results on the Billboard charts with “Do It Like That,” but more importantly we hope that this single acts as a window for more people to discover TOMORROW X TOGETHER and get to know us.
Sometimes K-pop groups split into “sub-units” for certain performances or albums. What would be the best combination if one member of TXT and Jonas Brothers formed a duo?
BEOMGYU: I think HUENINGKAI and Nick Jonas would make the perfect duo because their vocals complement each other very well.
TOMORROW X TOGETHER has a lot of big things coming up: Headlining Lollapalooza 2023, a Disney+ documentary, of course this new single. What’s your message to fans as you roll it all out?
SOOBIN: We can’t spoil too much, but including our new single, we have a lot of exciting plans coming up for the rest of the year beyond what you mentioned. It’s a busy time for us, but we’re thankful and working hard to put our best foot forward for the many opportunities to meet our MOA. As always, we would appreciate our MOAs’ excitement and support every step of the way!
Kevin Gates reacts to some of his most viral moments on social media, explains why he decided to re-release his mixtape ‘Luca Brasi’ after being released 10 years ago, talks about his new music, and more!
Kevin Gates
Y’all did all of this for me. Y’all shouldn’t have. My name is Kevin Gates. And this is Billboard News. I never thought I’d be on Billboard News. This is so cool.
Tetris Kelly
Welcome to Billboard News. I’m Tetris and I’m hanging out with my man, what’s going on Kevin Gates?
Kevin Gates
I’m excited.
Tetris Kelly
I’m excited to have you here. The funny part is as soon as you walked in today, I was like, I’ve wanted to ask you about this. So I’m happy to hear the feather’s the vibe. I’ve seen it in your music videos and on stage. Tell me the inspiration behind this look.
Kevin Gates
It’s not a look, and I’m gonna be honest with you. I wish I would have never walked this path.
Tetris Kelly
Why do you say that? Because I feel like it’s a whole vibe.
Kevin Gates
The responsibility that come with it. Wearing the feathers, like it’s me vibrating at the highest frequency possible and my feathers are very strong, but at the same time, they’re very delicate, just like life. So I gotta be conscious at all times. At some time. I want to turn up you know?
Tetris Kelly
You got a reminder.
Kevin Gates
I gotta always remember to be present and be in the moment. Be conscious.
Watch the full interview above!
We always knew Taylor Swift was a mastermind, but she really outdid herself with the music video for her Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) “From the Vault” track “I Can See You.”
Late Friday, Swift surprised Eras Tour concertgoers in Kansas City when she was joined onstage by the top-secret cast from the new visual: 2011 “Mean” video co-stars Joey King and Presley Cash (who were 12 and 14, respectively, when they acted in that clip) and Swift’s ex-boyfriend Taylor Lautner, the alleged inspiration behind Speak Now hit single “Back to December.” In the new video, directed and written by Swift, the trio conspires to rescue the music superstar from a (literal) vault, thereby reuniting all her Speak Now songs with their rightful owner.
Related
On the new Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, Katie & Keith are talking all about Swift’s latest re-recorded album, as well as “I Can See You,” its buzziest “From the Vault” track. Listen below:
Also on the show, we’ve got chart news on how there are new No. 1s on both the Billboard 200 albums and Billboard Hot 100 songs chart — and by two different artists! Plus, could Swift surpass a longstanding record held by Barbra Streisand next week on the Billboard 200 with Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)? We’ve got all the details in the podcast above. Also, Madonna shared her first message to fans since her hospitalization last month and also updated ticket-holders on the status of her postponed Celebration Tour, and we’re talking about all that too.
The Billboard Pop Shop Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things pop on Billboard‘s weekly charts. You can always count on a lively discussion about the latest pop news, fun chart stats and stories, new music, and guest interviews with music stars and folks from the world of pop. Casual pop fans and chart junkies can hear Billboard‘s executive digital director, West Coast, Katie Atkinson and Billboard’s managing director, charts and data operations, Keith Caulfield every week on the podcast, which can be streamed on Billboard.com or downloaded in Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast provider. (Click here to listen to the previous edition of the show on Billboard.com.)
Miguel’s 2010 hit, “Sure Thing,” got a second life thanks to TikTok, as a sped-up version of the track went viral.
12 years after its release, the track hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Pop Airplay chart (dated May 27). An R&B/hip-hop radio hit in its original run, “Sure Thing” crowned the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, as well as R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, for a week in May 2011.
If you need a guide to follow along with Miguel’s “Sure Thing,” find the lyrics below:
Love you like a brother
Treat you like a friend
Respect you like a lover
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
You could bet that, never gotta sweat that (oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
You could bet that, never gotta sweat that (yeah, yeah, yeah)
You could bet that, never gotta sweat that
You could bet that, never gotta sweat that (yeah)
Treat you like a friend
Respect you like a lover
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
You could bet that, never gotta sweat that (oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
You could bet that, never gotta sweat that (yeah, yeah, yeah)
You could bet that, never gotta sweat that
You could bet that, never gotta sweat that (yeah)
If you be the cash
I’ll be the rubber band
You be the match
I will be a fuse, boom
Painter, baby, you could be the muse
I’m the reporter, baby, you could be the news
‘Cause you’re the cigarette and I’m the smoker
We raise a bet ’cause you’re the joker
Checked off, you are the chalk
And I can be the blackboard
You can be the talk
And I can be the walk, yeah
Even when the sky comes falling
Even when the sun don’t shine
I got faith in you and I
So put your pretty little hand in mine
Even when we’re down to the wire, babe
Even when it’s do or die
We could do it, baby, simple and plain
‘Cause this love is a sure thing
You could bet that, never gotta sweat that (yeah, yeah, yeah)
You could bet that, never gotta sweat that
You could bet that, never gotta sweat that
You could bet that, never gotta sweat that
You could be the lover, I’ll be the fighter, babe
If I’m the blunt (uh), you could be the lighter, babe
Fire it up
Writer, baby, you could be the quote, yeah (uh)
If I’m the lyric, baby, you could be the note (uh), record that
Saint I’m a sinner (uh), prize I’m a winner (uh)
And it’s you, what did I do to deserve that?
Paper, baby, I’ll be the pen
Say that I’m the one ’cause you are a ten
Real and not pretend
Even when the sky comes falling (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Even when the sun don’t shine (yeah)
I got faith in you and I
So put your pretty little hand in mine
Even when we’re (you could bet that, never gotta sweat that)
Down to the wire, baby
Even when it’s do or die (you could bet that, never gotta sweat that)
(You could bet that, never gotta sweat that)
We could do it baby, simple and plain
(You could bet that, never gotta sweat that)
‘Cause this love is a sure thing
Uh, now rock with me, baby
Let me hold you in my arms
Talk with me babe, yeah, yeah
Uh, now rock with me baby
Let me hold you in my arms
Talk with me babe, yeah, yeah
This love between you and I is simple as pie, baby
Yeah, it’s such a sure thing (it’s such a sure thing)
Oh, it such a sure thing (it’s such a sure thing)
Even when (you could bet that, never gotta sweat that)
The sky comes falling
Even when (you could bet that, never gotta sweat that)
The sun don’t shine
(You could bet that, never gotta sweat that)
I got faith in you and I
So put your pretty little hand in mine (you could bet that, never gotta sweat that)
Even when (you could bet that, never gotta sweat that)
We’re down to the wire, babe
Even when (you could bet that, never gotta sweat that)
It’s do or die (you could bet that, never gotta sweat that)
We could do it, baby, simple and plain
(You could bet that, never gotta sweat that)
‘Cause this love is a sure thing
Love you like a brother (you could bet that, never gotta sweat that)
Treat you like a friend (you could bet that, never gotta sweat that)
Respect you like a lover (you could bet that, never gotta sweat that)
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Lyrics licensed & provided by LyricFind
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Nathan Perez, Miguel Jontel Pimentel
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