In a moment of vulnerability, Hailey Bieber is opening up about complications during her pregnancy with her and husband Justin Bieber’s son Jack Blues.

On Tuesday (March 3), Hailey Bieber sat down with her OBGYN Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi and Mary Alice Haney, co-hosts of the SHE MD podcast, for a candid conversation on her health and postpartum recovery. In the hourlong conversation, the trio talk about Bieber’s health history, what it was like building Rhode while being a mom, and the medical condition that put her pregnancy at higher risk of miscarriage.

Related

In a moment of candid honesty, Bieber revealed that Dr. Aliabadi diagnosed her with uterine septum prior to her pregnancy and that the doctor warned her that the condition may cause complications.

“I told her don’t get pregnant,” Dr. Aliabadi said.

“I’m not thinking about getting pregnant right now, so we’ll cross the bridge when we get there,” Bieber said of her response at the time. “And then, I magically got pregnant.” Hailey and Justin announced that Hailey was pregnant with their first child in May of 2024. The couple welcomed their now 16-month-old son just a few months later on Aug. 23, 2024. Although Hailey has previously opened up about complications she faced during pregnancy and childbirth, the podcast appearance was her first time speaking on uterine septum.

In the discussion on the condition, Dr. Aliabadi goes on to break down what exactly a uterine septum is. She explains that it is a genetic condition where a thin wall grows in the cavity of the uterus. The septum can range from mild to severe depending on it’s thickness. Bieber condition was considered moderate, which Dr. Aliabadi said comes with a higher risk of a miscarriage.

“The risk for her was about, maybe, 25 to 40 percent for miscarriage,” the doctor said of Bieber. “And a 10 to 20 percent risk of preterm delivery,” which Bieber said was their bigger concern.

Dr. Aliabadi recounts first telling Bieber of the risks to which the Rhode Founder responded, “I believe that everything’s gonna work out fine.” The doctor and Bieber explain that a moderate septum is not an immediate indication for the termination of a pregnancy; but it is important to be aware that those affected may be at a higher risk for certain things. Hailey was h

“It happened and it all worked out,” Hailey said. “And clearly my septum did what it needed to do.”

Watch the full podcast episode 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.

While Walmart has daily rollback deals online, one of the best ways to score a deeper discount at the department store is by signing up for Walmart+. And there’s no better time to do it, as the retailer is offering a 30-day free trial for new users looking to try out the variety of benefits included within the subscription.

While Walmart offers daily deals for everyone, a Walmart+ membership offers loads of benefits, exclusive perks and early access to sales before everyone else. The best part: you can currently sign up for Walmart+ for free with this free trial offer. That’s right, new users can get a 30-day day trial to Walmart+ without having to pay a single cent.

Walmart+ Membership 2026: Free Trial Offer, Discount, Streaming Perks

30-DAY FREE TRIAL

Walmart+ Membership


With Walmart+, members cans take advantage of a whole suite of exclusive perks, including access to new music and entertainment platforms. One of them is a free subscription to either Peacock or Paramount+. Users can choose between the two streaming services that lets you watch your favorite blockbuster movies, hit TV shows and live events online without cable. But whichever streaming service you pick, as part of Walmart+, you can switch after 90 days if you want — or just keep what you’ve got.

Use the free trial to get instant access to shop all the Walmart+ deals online. Ready to get started? We’ve rounded up a list of everything you need to know about Walmart+ — including how to subscribe for 50% off once your free trial is up. See below for more details.

How to Join Walmart+ for Free

Walmart+ is free for 30 days right now and then costs $98 for the annual membership (about $8.17/month) or $12.95 for the monthly membership after the month-long free trial is over.

What Is Walmart+?

Walmart+ is Walmart’s subscription program, that unlocks instant access to a load of benefits including shopping certain sales earlier than everyone else, special pricing and product releases. Walmart+ members also get a ton of freebies.

Walmart+ features member-only offers such as a whopping 50 cents/gallon off fuel at Exxon & Mobile stations, and up to 5% back in Walmart Cash on flights, hotels, car rentals and activities booked through Walmart+ Travel.

What can you get for free with Walmart+? Members can enjoy free shipping with no order minimum, so you won’t have to worry about adding things to your cart that you might not even need just to get free shipping.

The membership also includes free grocery delivery, contact-free checkout with mobile-scan and go, travel deals, free subscriptions to Paramount+ with Showtime, up to five months of free Apple Music and up to four months of free Apple Fitness. New perks include free pharmacy delivery too.

But wait, there’s more. Walmart+ members get free flat tire repair and other auto care and lots of other member benefits. Some of the limited-time offers available to Walmart+ members (as of this writing) include free access to eMeals, 25% off Turbo Tax (just in time for tax season), free online pet care through Pawp and 25% off Burger King (with a free whopper every three months).

Best Walmart+ Discounts, Promotions, Offers (2025)

The best Walmart+ deal right now is to take advantage of their 30-day free trial here.

If you’re interested in more discount options, there’s another way to join Walmart+ for less than $98. Customers currently on government assistance are eligible for this 50% off deal through this sign-up link, which brings the price down to $49.

The retail giant introduced its Walmart+ Assist discounted subscription pricing last year. The Walmart+ Assist discount is available to eligible new and existing Walmart+ members. Existing members who qualify for the price cut will receive a prorated refund and the discounted price will begin immediately, per Walmart.

College students and grad students can also save 50% off when they subscribe to Walmart+ Student at a discounted rate of $49/year (or $6.47/month after the free trial).

How else can you save on Walmart+? Subscribing to the Walmart+ annual plan saves you 37% versus paying monthly. You’ll pay a one-time rate of $98 (roughly $8/month) versus paying $12.95 when you go month to month.

$98 $155.40 37% off

walmart+ ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP

You can also give a Walmart+ membership as a birthday or holiday gift. A Walmart+ membership is perfect for shoppers who want access to special benefits such as free shipping and sweet deals.

How do you gift someone with a Walmart+ membership? Simply purchase a Walmart gift card, which can be used to cover the annual membership fee.

What’s next for Olympic Gold Medalist Alysa Liu? Probably more PinkPantheress.

Star skater Alysa Liu joined host Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live on Monday (March 2) to talk about the Winter Olympics, past skating program music choices and what tunes she hopes to skate to next. With her two medals in tow, the Olympian first told Cohen about her decision to skate to Donna Summer’s “MacArthur Park.”

Related

“I was recommended by someone to listen to that song,” Liu says. “Then I found a 16-minute suite version, and it took it to another level.”

Take it to another level, it did: Liu’s freestyle skate to Summer’s song brought her from third place in the competition to the gold in women’s individual figure skating. On top of winning with the track, Liu also helped boost it to the top of the Billboard’s Dance Digital Song Sales chart, giving Summer her fourth posthumous No. 1.

“MacArthur Park” isn’t the only track Liu’s skating helped chart: “Stateside” by PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson saw an 88% increase in streams the day after Liu used it for her closing gala performance. Meanwhile, Laufey’s “Promise” scored 1.3 million streams in the four days after Liu skated to it for her short program set.

Cohen and Liu continued the music conversation, with the skater sharing the top five songs she hopes to skate to next. The runner-ups were “Fire in My Heart” by Escape From New York, Billie Eilish‘s Billboard Hot 100 No. 12 hit “Chihiro,” Tchaikovsky’s classic “Swan Lake,” and “Star” by Mitski. Liu’s top choice was “Capable of Love,” another PinkPantheress track.

Liu then excitedly shared with Cohen that she heard from PinkPantheress after her “Stateside” performance saying, “She’s so nice.”

Liu famously returned to competitive skating this year after stepping away from the sport at 16 years old in 2022. When she decided to make her comeback, she gave her coach a list of conditions that must be met for her return. One of them was that she gets to choose her own music. It won’t be a surprise if we hear a few more PinkPantheress tracks at the 2030 Winter Olympics.

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.

There’s really nothing better than cozying up after a long, stressful day with a good book.

Are you into thrillers? How about a spicy romance to get you going? What about a horror that’ll get your blood pumping in a different way? We personally love music-themed reads. No matter what genre you love, reading books can be a therapeutic way to unwind and de-stress. Getting lost in a book is a sacred time for many. Letting yourself get immersed in a story, envisioning a world unlike your own, it’s all powerful stuff.

Related

If you have a book lover in your life who might have a birthday coming up, or you yourself are looking to elevate your book-reading experience, this list of goodies we’ve compiled is for you. We’ve included a slew of items from cozy socks, blue light glasses, reading journals and annotation kits that’ll make your reading experience feel more like a luxury. We’ve also included a few practical bits and bobs, like a funky bookshelf to display your favorite literary works and cute Kindle cases for digital readers. All our picks for bibliophiles can be shopped down below. While we’ve got our book-loving readers here, why not check out ShopBillboard’s list of reccomended musician books here.

Best Gifts for Bookworms From Cozy Robes to Clip-On Book Lights

Tofox 6 Pairs Fuzzy Socks For Women Soft Home Slipper Socks Fluffy Sleeping Socks

$9.99 $14.99 33% off

Buy Now On Amazon

If you’re looking to combat cold feet while snuggling up with a book, this set of six socks should do the trick. The set of socks are all pastel hues from pink to purple and everything in between.


Picture this. You’re cuddling up after a long day with your favorite book, and everything’s pretty much perfect, except for that annoying draft that keeps getting your toes ice cold. The solution? A cozy pair of socks, or pairs, from Amazon. This set is currently 33% off, just $9.99 for six pairs, and comes in pastel hues. The plush fabric these socks are made of keeps heat in and doesn’t shed. They’ll certainly keep the cold at bay while you read, plus you’ll look pretty cute too.

Best Gifts for Bookworms From Cozy Robes to Clip-On Book Lights

Gritin Rechargeable Book Light

$8.98 $14.99 40% off

Buy Now On Amazon

For those looking to read in the dark or in bed without annoying their significant other with a bedside lamp, this is for you. This rechargeable book light clips to your book, keeping a constant light source on your pages.


When I read in bed laying down in the dark, the last thing I want to do is turn on the abrasive overhead lights. This Gritin Rechargeable Book Light illuminates your pages in the dark, keeping a constant light on that can be adjusted so that it won’t disrupt your significant other if they’re trying to sleep beside you. The portable light clips to your book and can be manipulated and bent to angle your light source the way you want. If it dies, your light can be recharged for endless use.

Best Gifts for Bookworms From Cozy Robes to Clip-On Book Lights

PAJEO Reading Pillow for Sitting in Bed

This pillow can be set up everywhere you sit to read so you can support your neck and back. It also comes in a ton of cute colors beyond this cream-colored option.


For all my bed readers, you’ll know the pain of putting stress on your neck to read, tossing and turning to get the perfect comfy, cozy position. A bed pillow, like this one from Amazon, allows readers the ability to sit upright with support and cushion on their neck and back as they read. I can often be found craning over a good book, so my posture isn’t the best, but this pillow would certainly help. If you don’t read in your bed, you can also set the pillow up on an office chair or sofa for extra support anywhere you sit to read. This pillow also has a built-in side storage pocket to store your phone, charges for a tablet or a remote.

Best Gifts for Bookworms From Cozy Robes to Clip-On Book Lights

1.8lb Black Cat Stuffed Animals Plush Microwavable Heating Pad-14”

$25.99 $29.99 13% off

Buy Now On Amazon

While we like stuffed animals, they don’t hold a candle to this one that doubles as a heating pad. This plushie is 14 inches and is shaped like a cat.


14 inches of plushie cat goodness? What’s not to love? This stuffie from Amazon doubles as a heating pad, letting readers cozy on up while they’re burying their nose in a book. You can microwave this plushie to get it warm and place it on areas of stress like your back, tummy or neck. When you’re not using it, it just looks like a regular cat plush, unlike your usual bulky heating pad fair.

Best Gifts for Bookworms From Cozy Robes to Clip-On Book Lights

Ban.do Reading Kit Annotation Set

This Ban.do. annotation kit comes with everything readers might need to flag notes and jot down their thoughts without scribbling needlessly in the margins. The kit comes with sticky notes in various colors, a highlighter, a notepad, a pencil and a pen, among other things.


I like taking notes in my books as much as the next person, but scribbling all over them isn’t the best way to preserve your thoughts. It can look messy and unorganized, leaving your thoughts looking jumbled and silly. If you’d like your annotations to look a little more presentable, or you just want to show off at your next book club meeting, then this $29 Annotation Kit from Urban Outfitters gives you everything ambitious readers will need to achieve their annotation goals. The kit comes with colorful sticky notes in unique shapes like flowers, along with cute pens, highlighters and pencils.

Best Gifts for Bookworms From Cozy Robes to Clip-On Book Lights

Silas Retro-Modern 5-Tier Bookshelf

This modern bookshelf comes in three colorways and has five tiers to store all the books your heart desires. The shelf’s dimensions are 48″l x 15″w x 62″h.


Going pretty literal here, but if you love books, you’ll need a good bookshelf to display your beloved collection properly. This shelf from Urban Outfitters is a not-so-basic way of displaying your books, and it won’t break the bank either. Retailing for $429, this red bookshelf is extremely modern and has five tiers to hold all the books and trinkets you could want. The rounded edges throughout give the shelf that contemporary look that we love. If you’re not a fan of the red, this modern shelf also comes in green and a natural tan wood hue. For those interested, the dimensions of this bad boy are 48″l x 15″w x 62″h, with shelves just wide enough to hold a record player and hefty books but slim enough to sit flush against a wall.

Best Gifts for Bookworms From Cozy Robes to Clip-On Book Lights

Literary Clock

This clock also displays literary quotes taken from more than 13,000 classic novels over the past six centuries. The displayed quotes can be set to different languages from English and French to German or Spanish.


This digital clock from Uncommon Goods is a bibliophile’s dream because it tells time and displays some iconic book quotes taken from over 13,000 classic novels. Instead of showing traditional numbers on the digital screen, the book quotes will indicate moments of the day. For example, one quote displayed from Melissa McShane’s novel “The Book of Lies” reads, “I checked the time on my phone – 4:57. I should probably go to the bar,” indicating that the time is now 4:57p.m. In short, this clock is an innovative and playful way to keep readers punctual.

Best Gifts for Bookworms From Cozy Robes to Clip-On Book Lights

Literary Women Book Locket Necklace

These locket necklaces feature quote from famous novels and are shaped like those famous novels. These necklaces are unisex and attached to an 18 inch chain.


Handmade lockets with iconic book charms? What could be better than that? These lockets from Uncommon Goods feature three classic novels attached to 18 inch chains alongside famous quotes from said books. You’ve got a miniature of”Jane Eyre” with the quote “I would rather be happy than dignified,” “Pride and Prejudice” alongside the quote “To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love” and “Little Women” with the quote “Don’t try and make me grow up before my time.” Every book has a clasp that allows the wearer to open it up, revealing the quote inside.

Best Gifts for Bookworms From Cozy Robes to Clip-On Book Lights

Library Lovers Candle

A 7oz glass candle meant to smell like an old library. This nostalgic scent is great to light up for reading sessions.


Have you ever wished you could bottle that old book smell? Well, this candle comes pretty close. The Library Lovers Candle retails for $24 at Uncommon Goods and is scented like old paper, woodwork, cedar and a hint of vanilla. It’s sweet and woody, filling any room with that comforting old book scent we all love. The candle is 7 oz and burns for 50 to 60 hours according to Uncommon Goods.

Best Gifts for Bookworms From Cozy Robes to Clip-On Book Lights

Amazon Kindle Scribe (16GB)

This is an e-reader and digital notebook from Amazon with a display that allows you to write. The Scribe comes with a stylus (Basic or Premium) for taking notes, journaling and sketching.


If you’re someone who likes annotating your books but you’re more of a digital reader, the Amazon Kindle Scribe might be for you. It’s described as the world’s first e-reader and digital notebook and comes with a stylus that allows users to journal, sketch and annotate digital reading on the fly. It’s like a standard Kindle but with a drawing function. 

Best Gifts for Bookworms From Cozy Robes to Clip-On Book Lights

Nose in a Book Reading Journal

This is a stylish journal that allows you to take notes down about a book you’re reading.


Sometimes you have a lot of thoughts about a book you’re reading, but no way to write them down. Sure, you can annotate in the margins, but that doesn’t leave you a lot of room to write down everything you’re thinking. Enter this reading journal from Papier, a stylish little book that gives space to fully write down all your thoughts and feelings on books you’ve read. This would come in handy for book club meetings where you’ll need to discuss your opinions on the fly. You’ll be able to easily reference your thoughts on a book all in one place.

Best Gifts for Bookworms From Cozy Robes to Clip-On Book Lights

Make Your Own Stamped Bookmarks Kit

This make your own bookmark kit comes with six colorful bookmarks in unique shapes, three wooden stamping tools, three stamp sheets, a guide and a test swatch.


Some people absolutely hate dog-earring their pages. It can destroy the look of the book for some, although I find I don’t mind it so much. If you’re one of those people who would rather hold your place with a bookmark, you can make your own with this kit from Uncommon Goods. Retailing for $20, this kit comes with six colorful bookmarks in unique shapes, three wooden stamping tools, three stamp sheets, a guide and a test swatch. The goal is to stamp sayings, your name or phrases into these bookmarks with the tools provided, making these provided bookmarks your own.

Best Gifts for Bookworms From Cozy Robes to Clip-On Book Lights

Casely On the Dot Pink Polka Dot Kindle Case

This keeps your tablet/Kindle safe from harm if you’re prone to dropping things. It’s also extremely cute.


Notorious butterfinger? This Kindle/tablet case from Casely can protect your precious digital reading material from harm. The brand features a ton of protective cases in unique shades and patterns, although we really love this pink and black polka dot number. Each case comes with a built-in elastic hand strap that allows you to hold your tablet easily while you read.

Best Gifts for Bookworms From Cozy Robes to Clip-On Book Lights

Quince Australian Shearling Scuff Slipper

These slippers are slip-on and come with shearling trim to keep the wearer warm. The style comes in two colors, pecan and black.


I don’t know about you, but the best feeling of all is getting cozy and comfy to read. I usually get a little wine or tea, turn on the fire, maybe light a candle to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Once that’s all covered, I can cuddle up in fuzzy slippers like these from Quince before cracking open my book. This Australian Shearling model is a slip-on style with suede uppers and cozy shearling accents that insulate heat, keeping your piggies nice and warm while tapping into a mystery or your favorite romance novel. If this pecan hue isn’t your thing, these slippers also come in black.

Best Gifts for Bookworms From Cozy Robes to Clip-On Book Lights

Brooklinen Super-Plush Robe

This robe is made of 100% cotton that is super soft and dries quickly. Sizing ranges from XS to XXL.


While we’re on the cozy train, you can’t get more comfy than a striped robe like this one from Brooklinen. The $149 robe is made of plush, extremely soft and quick-drying premium 100% Aegean Turkish cotton. Sizing ranges from XS to XXL. This Super-Plush robe is just that, super plush and thick without feeling too heavy. We love the striped models, but the brand also has a ton of monochrome moments to choose from too. This is an ideal lounging post bath with a book robe that you probably won’t wanna take off. We don’t blame you.

Best Gifts for Bookworms From Cozy Robes to Clip-On Book Lights

We The Free Cute In This Cardi

This is a baggy cardigan with snap closures and wide pockets. We can envision this cardigan being a go-to for those looking to get cozy with a good book.


Nothing is more cozy than a cardigan. It’s the uniform of librarians everywhere and it’s easy to see why. Cardigans like this one from Free People are like being wrapped up in a blanket, but with sleeves and pockets. This cardigan comes in a cute forest green hue and has rustic-looking snap closures. If the green isn’t your thing, this cardigan comes in a slew of colors and a good range of size to fit most body types from XS to XL. With some cozy sweats, we’d like to think that this cardigan could be a part of the perfect book-reading attire.

Best Gifts for Bookworms From Cozy Robes to Clip-On Book Lights

Ceramic Jane Austen Mug, 13oz

This sweet ceramic mug was made for the Jane Austen fan in your life. This piece can be your designated tea mug for days spent cozied up with a book in your lap.


Jane Austen is a famed author beloved by just about everyone, even those who aren’t seasoned readers. Her works like “Sense and Sensibility,” “Emma,” “Pride & Prejudice” and more have endured as pop culture icons with stories and characters that still resonate to this day. With all that being said, this ceramic mug is for the Austen nerds looking to cozy up with coffee, tea or cocoa, reading her works with the appropriate drinkware.

Best Gifts for Bookworms From Cozy Robes to Clip-On Book Lights

‘Wuthering Heights’ By Emily Brontë Collector’s Edition

This copy of “Wuthering Heights” is a collectors edition with an artistic cover made for display purposes.


With the popularity of Emily Brontë’s “Wuthering Heights” reaching new heights thanks to the 2026 movie starring Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie, it might be time that you actually read the book just to see what all the hype is about. You can snag a collectors copy of Brontë’s work from Urban Outfitters for $18 with beautiful artwork on both the front and back. While this would make a great coffee table book for display, it’s also a great read, too.

Best Gifts for Bookworms From Cozy Robes to Clip-On Book Lights

L.L.Bean Boat and Tote Large in Mauve

This is a classic large tote from L.L. Bean with a wide opening to carry all your everyday items, including books. The tote is made of durable canvas.


If you’re planning on carrying a few books around with you, you’ll want to have a big everyday tote to do so. This L.L. Bean number is a pretty great option because it’s nice and large to carry multiple books at a time or your everyday essentials. The bag is also made of extremely durable canvas that can be easily spot-cleaned with mild detergent and warm water. The mauve accents add a nice touch, but if you don’t like the shade, Free People has a few other colorways of this tote to choose from.

Best Gifts for Bookworms From Cozy Robes to Clip-On Book Lights

Miyya Blue Light Glasses for Women & Men

$13.99 $19.99 30% off

Buy Now On Amazon

These blue light classes are for both men and women. The style protects the wearer from digital eye strain, great for those who read on a Kindle.


If you exclusively read on a tablet or Kindle, you’ll want to protect your eyes with blue light glasses like these from Amazon. The Miyya model is unisex and is currently 30% off, making these glasses just $13.99. Blue light lenses are said to protect the wearer from digital eye strain, filtering or blocking high-energy blue light emitted by digital screens. With these blue lights omitted, you’ll lessen your risk of headaches while reading.

Adam Levine finally got his country moment.

During Monday night’s Blind Auditions episode of The Voice, Hunter Jordan’s performance of Billy Currington’s “Let Me Down Easy” sparked a Triple Turn from Levine, Kelly Clarkson and John Legend — setting off one of the night’s most competitive coach battles.

For Levine, the stakes felt personal. The Maroon 5 frontman has long joked about his inability to land country artists on the show, and he leaned into that history in his pitch to Jordan.

Framing himself as the unexpected choice, Levine encouraged the singer to “break the mold” and resist the obvious country lane, arguing that his smooth, controlled power and effortless delivery signaled broader crossover potential.

Clarkson countered by pointing to her own country credentials and versatility across genres, while Legend emphasized the fluid boundaries between soul, R&B and country, highlighting his own collaborations within the format. But in the end, Jordan chose to “blaze a path” with Levine, handing him one of the night’s most significant wins and adding another Triple Turn artist to his team.

Jordan’s audition capped an episode that saw multiple coaches jockeying for position in the ongoing Triple Turn competition — a new Season 29 twist that rewards the coach who secures the most three-chair artists with a Super Steal advantage in the Battle Rounds.

Earlier in the night, JW Griffin opened with “Long Haired Country Boy,” earning a Triple Turn before ultimately joining Clarkson’s team.

Mike Steele also secured a Triple Turn with his rendition of Giveon’s “For Tonight,” choosing Legend after a debate over artistic identity versus predictability.

Other standout moments included Tia Durant’s soulful take on “Midnight Train to Georgia,” which landed her on Team Kelly, and Jaali Boyd’s performance of “No Air,” which prompted a two-chair battle between Clarkson and Levine before Boyd opted for Team Adam.

Legend added country singer Kendra Remedios as his sole chair turn of the night, while Adi Arora’s falsetto-heavy take on Bruno Mars’ “It Will Rain” further strengthened Team Legend’s roster. Levine rounded out his team additions with Bijou Belle and Moses G., both earning single-chair turns.

By the end of the episode, Clarkson maintained a strong presence in the Triple Turn race, while Levine’s acquisition of Jordan marked a strategic breakthrough in a genre that has historically eluded him on the show.

Nobody steps on stage quite like Mitski. Most performers greet their audience by either bounding enthusiastically into the spotlight, racing on anxiously or shuffling on inconspicuously. Mitski walks out to the microphone in long, even, deliberate strides, almost as if carried on conveyor belt. Other artists make their excitement, cockiness and/or nervousness to be on stage palpable, but Mitski arrives like she’s been summoned there. It’s not a particularly emotional action, it is merely where she is supposed to be.

It’s a fair first impression from an artist who has engaged in as much push-pull with the concept of pop stardom — and with a fanbase that both lavished her with pop star-level adoration and placed pop star-level demands on her even before she started legitimately achieving pop star-level popularity — as any artist of the past decade. Meanwhile, she has both leaned into and recoiled from her ballooning success at various points in recent years, often with counterintuitive results: When she took a self-care hiatus from performing at the turn of the decade (and then the world shut down anyway), she got bigger than ever on TikTok; when she released an album full of scorching synth-rock singles at the height of her virality, it faded from commercial view with surprising speed; when she followed that a couple years later with an album full of dusty Americana ballads, one of them became her first-ever Billboard Hot 100 crossover hit.

You can almost feel a decision being made, both while listening to Mitski’s excellent new album Nothing’s About to Happen to Me and watching Monday night’s (Mar. 2) transfixing kickoff to her six-night residency at New York multi-purpose cultural center The Shed, that the artist was done trying to figuring out how much to play into or run from audience expectations — she was just going to stride out there and do what she was meant to do. While the performance was not as theatrical or choreographed as some of her recent tours, Mitski’s stone-faced intensity, increasingly powerful voice and purposeful, composed movements still gave the performance a dramatic edge, both in terms of the emotional stakes and the one-way nature of the show. When she dropped the imaginary wall between audience and performer halfway through to finally acknowledge the crowd with a big, friendly “Hello, hiya!” it was more rattling than any of the set’s mini-strobefests.

But while Mitski was certainly not taking requests on Monday night — and left several of her biggest crowd-pleasers on the table, including “First Love/Late Spring,” “Your Best American Girl” and “Nobody,” though she still has five nights left to hit on ’em if she wants — it’s still hard to imagine the complaints anyone could have with such a fully invested and brilliantly considered performance. She has the presence, the catalog and the fanbase to be headlining Madison Square Garden right now, but she’s still likely better served playing for the same sized crowds spread over a week at a multi-purpose art space, where can better control the details of her delivery, and not feel overwhelmed either by the crowds or how larger-than-life herself she has to become to match them. In a venue like The Shed, it feels like artist and audience have found the best way to properly appreciate one another.

“I love you,” Mitski swore to the two thousand-plus fans in attendance after introducing the night’s final song. “I know you don’t believe me, but I do.”

Here are the five best moments from Mitski’s residency-opening performance.

Billboard VIP Pass

After taking his catalog to London’s Royal Albert Hall, New York’s Carnegie Hall and the Hollywood Bowl in sweeping orchestral form, Beck is bringing the symphonic reinterpretation of his music to Australia for the first time.

The Grammy-winning artist will perform five orchestral shows this May, including three nights at the Sydney Opera House with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and two performances at Melbourne’s Palais Theatre alongside Philharmonia Australia.

The concept leans into the cinematic undercurrent that has long threaded through Beck’s work. Albums such as Sea Change and Morning Phase — the latter of which won album of the year at the Grammy Awards — were already orchestral in spirit, layered with strings and expansive arrangements. In this setting, those songs are foregrounded differently, while earlier material from Odelay and Mutations has been reshaped to reveal melodic details often buried beneath the genre-hopping production that defined his 1990s output.

Since breaking through with “Loser” in 1994, Beck has moved fluidly between alternative rock, folk, electronic experimentation and chamber pop, earning multiple Billboard 200 top 10 albums and eight Grammy Awards across his career. The orchestral format underscores the compositional range behind that stylistic restlessness.

Beck last performed in Australia in 2023, appearing at Bluesfest and Harvest Rock alongside headline theatre dates. The 2026 performances mark a more curated, concept-driven return — one that aligns his catalog with venues historically reserved for classical and large-scale productions.

Presale tickets for Sydney Opera House Insiders members begin March 3, with additional presales on March 4. General on-sale begins March 5, with Sydney tickets available from 10 a.m. AEDT and Melbourne tickets from 11 a.m. AEDT.

Tour dates are below.

May 7 – Sydney Opera House, Sydney
May 8 – Sydney Opera House, Sydney
May 9 – Sydney Opera House, Sydney
May 12 – Palais Theatre, Melbourne
May 13 – Palais Theatre, Melbourne

Kesha is slamming President Trump for unauthorized use of her song “Blow” in a TikTok posted to the White House’s account last month.

In a Monday (March 2) Instagram Story and X post, Kesha accuses the administration of using her song to “incite violence and threaten war.” She goes on to say that she does not approve of her music “being used to promote violence of any kind” and that this is “the opposite of what I stand for.”

Related

Kesha’s post concludes by calling Trump a “criminal predator” and saying that this should not distract us from Trump being named in the Epstein Files more than a million times. (According to The New York Times, there were 38,000 mentions of Trump’s name in the public documents released in January related to late child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.)

Kesha is just the latest in a list of artists who have called out the White House and the Trump administration for unauthorized use of their music in promotional videos, social media posts and rallies.

In December, the White House quietly deleted an ICE video shared to X featuring Sabrina Carpenter’s song “Juno” after the pop star responded calling the video “evil and disgusting.” Carpenter then said to the administration to not involve her or her music “to benefit your inhumane agenda.”

This was not the end of the Carpenter-White House saga: Just days later, the White House doubled down with an edited video clipped from the Grammy winner’s Saturday Night Live promo. In the post, Carpenter appears to be saying “I think I might need to arrest someone for being too illegal,” however, the word “illegal” is clearly falsified. In the original promo, Carpenter says to SNL’s Marcello Hernandez that she’s arresting him for being too hot. Much like the ICE footage, the edited video has since been taken down as well.

Other artists who have fought back against the Trump administration using their music include Olivia Rodrigo, Celine Dion and Foo Fighters. SZA also called out the administration for their pattern of using popular music as a distraction, saying, “White House rage baiting artists for free promo is PEAK DARK,” in a December post to X.

At the time of publication, the White House has not removed the “Blow” TikTok — which has 1.8 million likes and nearly 17 thousand comments — nor responded to Kesha’s Instagram Story.

mgk and Megan Fox’s 11-month-old daughter is named Saga Blade — a name that is definitely cool enough to immortalize in ink forever.

In a post to Instagram, Berlin-based tattoo artist Zsofi Csepai shared photos and videos of new work she completed for the “Lonely Road” artist and his team. While his bandmates got things like an octopus and Lady Liberty smoking a cigarette, MGK got “SAGA” tattooed on his right hand in bold capital letters.

The new ink comes ahead of Saga Blade’s 1st birthday later this month. mgk and Fox welcomed their baby girl on March 27 of last year, just four months after the duo called off their two-year engagement and officially ended their four-year on-again-off-again relationship.

Though Saga is Fox and mgk’s first child together, the two both have children from past relationships. Fox has three sons — Noah, Bodhi and Journey — with ex-husband Brian Austin Green. Meanwhile, MGK has a 16-year-old daughter, Casie, with his ex Emma Cannon. Although they are no longer together, Fox and mgk have expressed that they dedicated to co-parenting their daughter. During a break in between legs of his Lost Americana tour in January, the musician shared a recap video to Instagram featuring a clip of his two daughters playing together.

As of a Feb. 15 stop in Italy, MGK is back on the Lost Americana Tour. He plays his next show on Tuesday (March 3) at Amsterdam’s Ziggo Dome before continuing across Europe and the U.S. through the summer, and concluding at the Summer Sonic musical festival in Tokyo.

Justin Timberlake is seeking a legal injunction to prevent a Hamptons police department from releasing officer bodycam footage from his DWI arrest two years ago.

The lawsuit, filed in a Long Island branch of New York state court on Monday (March 2), asks a judge to maintain the confidentiality of Sag Harbor Village Police Department footage from Timberlake’s June 2024 arrest on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. The singer ultimately pled guilty to a lesser impaired driving charge and was sentenced to 25 hours of community service.

Related

According to court papers, Sag Harbor police have been planning to grant an unnamed media outlet’s public records request and hand over eight hours of bodycam video from that night, including footage of Timberlake completing a field sobriety test and sitting in custody for the next several hours. His lawyers say this would be an “unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.”

“The footage at issue depicts petitioner in an acutely vulnerable state during a roadside encounter with law enforcement, capturing intimate details of petitioner’s physical appearance, demeanor, speech and conduct,” reads the petition. “Public dissemination of this footage would cause severe and irreparable harm to petitioner’s personal and professional reputation, subject petitioner to public ridicule and harassment, and serve no legitimate public interest in understanding the operations of government.”

While the police allegedly plan to redact certain parts of this footage, Timberlake’s lawyers claim to still be in the dark about what exactly will be made public. They want an immediate injunction blocking the release, or at least allowing them a chance to weigh in on redactions first.  

“Once the footage is released to the requestor(s) and disseminated online or through media, the disclosure cannot be undone,” the petition says. “Digital copies can be replicated indefinitely, beyond the court’s ability to retrieve or control, rendering any subsequent relief inadequate.”

A lawyer representing the Village of Sag Harbor, Vincent Toomey, said in a statement to Billboard that the municipality received a request for the video footage under New York’s Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) and “had indicated its intention to comply with the FOIL request by releasing some of the footage, with certain redactions, based upon personal privacy and law enforcement interference exemptions.”

Toomey said an initial court conference was held in the case on Monday afternoon before Judge Joseph Farneti, who held off on issuing any formal orders for the time being.

Reps for Timberlake did not immediately return a request for comment.


Billboard VIP Pass