Special Agent Jose Perez, a decorated veteran law enforcement officer, died Saturday after being hospitalized due to a “catastrophic” crash in early August. In the early hours of August 3, … Click to Continue »
A sweet moment between Selena Gomez and her sister Gracie was captured on camera at one of Olivia Rodrigo‘s concerts.
The singer and Only Murders in the Building star posted the clip from the show on TikTok Friday night (Aug. 19).
“I just can’t imagine how you could be so OK now that I’m gone,” the sisters sang to each other before leaning in for a heartfelt hug at one of Rodrigo’s Sour Tour stops.
In the cute “Drivers License” sing-along video, Gomez even sported some official Olivia Rodrigo tour merch: a Sour Tour bucket hat.
Rodrigo’s tour wrapped in July, and she was recently seen back in the studio with producer Dan Nigro, whom she worked with on her breakthrough debut album. The pair posed for a selfie, with Nigro holding a guitar — hinting that perhaps there’s something new in the works.
Meanwhile, Gomez recently teased that a new collaboration with REMA is “coming soon.”
Watch her clip with her little sister on TikTok here, and in the post shared by fans on Twitter below.
— v (@ViralMaterials) August 20, 2022
Another Britney Spears dance video arrived this weekend, straight from the studio to Instagram.
Spears rocked high heels and red lingerie for the clip while dancing to Portugal. The Man‘s 2017 hit “Feel It Still” — with plenty of attitude and hair flips.
“Just playing around in the studio!!!” she playfully captioned her dance video on Saturday (Aug. 20).
Many fans were simply delighted to see the clip, while others suggested in the comments that they’d already seen this dance video — or a similar one — in the past.
Either way, new music from Spears is on the horizon: Aug. 26 brings “Hold Me Closer,” the pop star and Elton John‘s revamp of the 1972 classic “Tiny Dancer.” “Hold Me Closer” will be Spears’ official return to music since her 13-year conservatorship ended.
Watch Spears’ “Feel It Still” dance routine below.
With 10 years of perspective, one can confidentially say that the timing for launching America’s biggest K-pop festival couldn’t have been better.
In the summer of 2012, K-pop was breaking into the American vernacular thanks to the massively viral success of PSY‘s “Gangnam Style.” The inescapable horsey-dance hit entered the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time in September. It would spend seven consecutive weeks at the No. 2 position, coinciding with performances at the MTV Video Music Awards, the Ellen DeGeneres Show, Saturday Night Live and the American Music Awards.
While “Gangnam Style” was rocketing up the charts, KCON was announced as a first-of-its-kind convention/festival hybrid that looked to honor all things Korean-pop culture. Taking place at the now-shuttered Verizon Amphitheater in Irvine, Calif., on Oct. 13, 2012, KCON brought six K-pop acts to U.S. audiences (boy bands NU’EST, B.A.P, EXO-M and VIXX, solo star G.NA and headlining girl group 4Minute).
Dubbed by Billboard as “the mecca of K-pop” in 2012, the first KCON brought a reported 10,000 fans and set off what became an annual, ever-growing and evolving tradition in the California area. As the festival moved to multiple days and bigger venues in Los Angeles, K-pop itself continued to grow and develop in significant ways in the States. Chart-topping artists like BTS, Girls’ Generation, Monsta X, TWICE, SEVENTEEN, LOONA, NCT 127, ITZY and dozens more have all performed at the festival at various points in their careers — making the KCON stage a near right of passage for K-pop promotions in the U.S.
This weekend will see more than 16 artists perform at the Crypto.com Arena, including Stray Kids, ATEEZ, ENHYPEN, NCT DREAM, Kep1er, STAYC, TO1 and more for KCON 2022 Los Angeles. Before another set of sure-to-be historical moments return to the KCON stage, take a moment to reflect on the first decade of the festival in California with the 10 greatest moments from its history so far.
Maureen McGovern announced in an emotional message on social media that she’s been diagnosed with a rare form of dementia.
The 73-year-old singer, best known for her Oscar-winning song “The Morning After,” took to her Facebook page on Friday (Aug. 19) to share the sad news with her fans.
“I’ve been diagnosed with posterior cortical atrophy with symptoms of Alzheimer’s and/or dementia,” McGovern says in a sentimental video clip after recounting her career highlights.
“What I do, or what I am still able to accomplish, has changed,” she continues. “I can no longer travel or perform in live concerts. In fact, I can no longer drive — how’s that for a kick in the butt?”
The Mayo Clinic describes posterior cortical atrophy as a “degenerative brain and nervous system (neurological) syndrome that results in difficulty with eyesight and processing visual information.” Common signs and symptoms include hallucinations, anxiety, confusion, and changes in behavior and personality.
McGovern also shared a transcript of the nearly seven-minute Facebook video on her official website.
The songstress won an Academy Award in 1972 for her song “The Morning After” from the The Poseidon Adventure. The track spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 the following year. She was also nominated for best new artist at the 16th annual Grammy Awards in 1974.
In her announcement, McGovern noted that the diagnosis “is not going to keep me from living my life” and that her “passion for music, for singing, remains profoundly robust.” The singer also plans to bring more awareness to music therapy.
“We are all patients and caregivers at some time in our lives,” McGovern says, noting that she has spent time performing hospitals, hospices, women’s prison, senior facilities and schools. “I have experienced how music and the arts free our spirits and opens our hearts to our common humanity.”
Watch McGovern’s announcement on Facebook here.
From career milestones and new music releases to major announcements and more, Billboard editors highlight the latest news buzz in Latin music every week. Here’s what happened in the Latin music world this week.
Karol G Makes History
Puerto Rican hitmaker Bad Bunny leads the list of finalists for the 2022 Billboard Latin Music Awards, with a staggering 23 nods across 13 categories. Following Bad Bunny is Colombian star Karol G with 15 entries in 11 categories, a record number of nods for a female artist. (The old record was held jointly by Jenni Rivera, who had 12 nods in 2014, and Shakira, who had 12 in 2018.)
Farruko secures 11 entries, competing for artist of the year, Hot Latin Song of the year with “Pepas,” and Top Latin Album of the year with La 167. The 29th annual Billboard Latin Music Awards — set to take place Sept. 29 at the Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Fla. — will broadcast live on Telemundo and simultaneously on the Spanish entertainment cable network Universo and throughout Latin America and the Caribbean on Telemundo Internacional.
See the complete list of finalists here.
Romeo Santos’ New Album Is Coming
To officially get ready for a new season of Formula Vol. 3, the King of Bachata, Romeo Santos, revealed the release date of his new album with a 14-second teaser on social media. The video featured a crown spinning at the guitar’s sound of what could be his next single as his voice says: “You don’t forget Romeo! Y yo, ni te recuerdo (And me, I don’t even remember you).” The caption of the Instagram post read, “9.1.2022 FV3,” the date for the album’s release.
The album comes eight years since Santos released Vol. 2 in 2014. Following the LP’s release, it became the best-selling Latin album to move 100,000 copies in the first week, making it the best debut for a Latin album since teen pop group RBD’s “Celestial” in 2006. Since the last Formula album in 2014, Santos has released Golden (2017) and Utopia (2019).
More Talent Confirmed For 2022 Latin Music Week
Billboard unveiled today (Aug. 16) a list of additional talent set to take part at this year’s Latin Music Week in Miami, which will take place Sept. 26-30 at the Faena Forum.
New additions to the roster range from leading musicians to notable muralists, and includes Chris Chill, Dannylux, Dimelo Flow, Eladio Carrion, Elena Rose, Foreign Teck, Justin Quiles, Kuinvi, Lili Zetina, Mariah Angeliq, Subelo Neo, Tini, Tokischa, and Ugly Primo.
The new set of artists join an already announced star-studded lineup that includes Grupo Firme, Chayanne, Ivy Queen, Maluma, Romeo Santos, Camilo, Nicky Jam, Eslabon Armado, Bizarrap, Blessd, Luis R. Conriquez, Ovy on the Drums, Kunno, and The Rivera Family.
More participants will be announced in the weeks leading up to the 2022 Latin Music Week. Registration is now open at BillboardLatinMusicWeek.com.
Camilo & Grupo Firme Release New Collab
Camilo and Grupo Firme released a new banda anthem that, at its core, is a heartbreak song. Powered by traditional banda instruments such as the tuba and accordion, “Alaska” is the Colombian artist and the Mexican group’s first joint effort.
The track — which really thrives on a play on words à la Camilo — arrived alongside a music video directed by singer-songwriter Evaluna (also Camilo’s wife). In it, Evaluna becomes the designated driver to Camilo and the Firme crew as they sing their sorrows away while taking more than a few tequila shots.
Anuel AA Sneakers
Calling all Anuel AA fans! The Puerto Rican hitmaker has announced his collaboration with footwear and apparel company Reebok. Foot Locker is launching the official debut of rapper’s Reebok’s sneaker collaboration, “The Sky Above the Street,” which will feature two signature Reebok models: the Classic Leather and Pump Omni Zone 2 in red and black colorways – “inspired by the sun-faded vibrant urban neighborhoods and outdoor courts of Puerto Rico and celebrates the beauty of the community and its people,” according to a press release.
Anuel will be donating to the local non-profit organization SER De Puerto Rico, supporting the organization’s mission uplifting people with disabilities. The collection launches Aug. 26 at 10 a.m. ET exclusively at Foot Locker.
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