Legendary Sister Act Singer Revealed on ‘The Masked Singer’: Watch

It’s not every day a three-time Grammy Award winner is sent home on The Masked Singer. But that happened Wednesday night (Oct. 13), when Cupcake got tossed.

The latest episode of Fox’s unlikely hit returned to Group B, and its lineup of Banana Split, Queen of Hearts, Mallard and Cupcake, who tackled Bruno Mars’ “Finesse”.

There was another surprise when the Wildcard entry Caterpillar made an appearance, wearing what organizers are calling the “the longest costume in Masked history.”

Sadly, for Cupcake, the end has come and the mask came off.

Nicole Scherzinger guessed right, pointing out the singer was none other than Ruth Pointer of the Pointer Sisters, the ‘80s hitmakers behind “Jump” (For My Love), “I’m So Excited,” “Slow Hand” and more.

Ruth Pointer can’t be too disappointed. Across their career, the Pointer Sisters bagged 26 Billboard Hot 100 entries, including seven Top 10 appearances. They’ve snagged three Grammys from 10 nominations.

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Looking Ahead: A Release Calendar for Upcoming Albums

With more and more music released each year, it’s a near-impossible task to keep track of everything that’s coming. From pop to hip-hop to alternative to K-pop to country, the choices made available feel endless — not to mention vinyl, re-releases and collectible editions.

Below, check out Billboard’s running calendar of upcoming releases to make sure you’re in the know; check back often for updates to our schedule of albums to look forward to each week.

Oct. 15
Coldplay, Music of the Spheres
Finneas, Optimist
Toby Keith, Peso in My Pocket
Young Thug, Punk
Dos Santos, City of Mirrors
Zac Brown Band, The Comeback
Kelly Clarkson, When Christmas Comes Around…
PinkPantheress, To Hell With It
Remi Wolf, Juno
Santana, Blessings and Miracles
Tom Morello, The Atlas Underground Fire

Oct. 22
Duran Duran, Future Past
Elton John, The Lockdown Sessions
Honne, Let’s just Say the World Ended a Week From Now, What Would You Do?
Lana Del Rey, Blue Banisters
My Morning Jacket, My Morning Jacket
Rufus Du Sol, Surrender
Seventeen, Attacca
Wale, Folarin 2

Oct. 29
Ed Sheeran, =
The War on Drugs, I Don’t Live Here Anymore
Sam Evian, Time to Melt
Bad Wolves, Dear Monsters
Black Veil Brides, The Phantom Tomorrow
Mastodon, Hushed and Grim
They Might Be Giants, Book
Tori Amos, Ocean to Ocean

Nov. 5
ABBA, Voyage
Aimee Mann, Queens of the Summer Hotel
Bullet for My Valentine, Bullet for My Valentine
Diana Ross, Thank You
James Arthur, It’ll All Make Sense in the End
Radiohead, Kid Amnesia
Snail Mail, Valentine
Steve Perry, The Season
Summer Walker, Still Over It

Nov. 10
Tomorrow x Together, Chaotic Wonderland

Nov. 12
Courtney Barnett, Things Take Time, Take Time
Little Mix, Between Us
Taylor Swift, Red (Taylor’s Version)
Silk Sonic, An Evening With Silk Sonic
Aesop Rock & Blockhead, Garbology
Damon Albarn, The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows
Eric Clapton, The Lady in the Balcony: Lockdown Sessions
Gov’t Mule, Heavy Load Blues
Idles, Crawler
Jason Aldean, Macon
Little Mix, Between Us
Rod Stewart, The Tears of Hercules
Twice, Formula of Love: O+T=<3

Nov. 19
Adele, 30
Angel Haze, Girl With a Gun
Brian Wilson, At My Piano
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Raise the Roof

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Foster the People Drummer Mark Pontius Exits the Band

On Wednesday (Oct. 13), Foster the People drummer Mark Pontius announced that he was leaving the band after 11 years. The news was posted on the band’s socials as “A statement from Mark Pontius.”

“I’ve struggled with finding the words to begin this announcement so I guess I’ll just rip off the band-aid and say that I’ve decided to leave the band I helped start 11 years ago, Foster the People,” Pontius began the note. “As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of our first record Torches, I’ve been flooded with memories of our sudden success, achieving all of my career aspirations in a few short years and the beautiful moments spent with my brothers in the band. What a privilege it all was, I’m eternally grateful for all of it.

“I’ve grown up a lot since we started out, and in the couple of years since our last live show, my whole life has changed in every way,” he continued. “I’ve had a lot of time to myself to reflect on what truly matters.”

In the note, the father of a 2-year-old daughter told fans that he hopes to spend his time “watching my child grow up” now that he’s “checked everything off my career bucket list.”

“I will miss Mark, Isom and Sean, they are my family forever and I’m sure we will work together again one day,” he said of his Foster bandmates, adding, “As for me, I’ve got a few ideas for the future but I’m just going to take it one day at a time for now.”

The band formed in 2009 in Los Angeles and released their debut album Torches in 2011. The album included the band’s breakthrough 2010 hit “Pumped Up Kicks,” which was a top five hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Alternative Airplay chart. A 10th-anniversary edition of their debut album, titled Torches X, is due Nov. 12.

Read Pontius’ full note below:

I’ve struggled with finding the words to begin this announcement so I guess I’ll just rip off the band-aid and say that I’ve decided to leave the band I helped start 11 years ago, Foster the People.

As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of our first record Torches, I’ve been flooded with memories of our sudden success, achieving all of my career aspirations in a few short years and the beautiful moments spent with my brothers in the band. What a privilege it all was, I’m eternally grateful for all of it.

I’ve grown up a lot since we started out, and in the couple of years since our last live show, my whole life has changed in every way. I’ve had a lot of time to myself to reflect on what truly matters. Among those things, I became a father to a now 2 year old daughter who has really changed the way I feel about living my life on tour. I find myself drawn to things closer to home. I’ve seen the world (a couple of times) and I really checked everything off my career bucket list. Now my aspirations are more about hanging out there in nature and watching my child grow up.

These last 2 years have been about closing out huge chapters in my life and after a lot of back and forth, I’ve accepted that I’m ready for this one to close as well. I’m saying goodbye and moving on as of today.

I will miss Mark, Isom and Sean, they are my family forever and I’m sure we will work together again one day. As for me, I’ve got a few ideas for the future but I’m just going to take it one day at a time for now.

Thank you to everyone who supported the band over the years, I love you.

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Dolly Parton Wins the Red-Flag Meme With This ‘Jolene’ Tweet

Even though it only started on Monday, Twitter’s red-flag meme — where people are posting questionable opinions and quotes followed by a series of red-flag emojis in warning — has already taken over the social media site, with everyone from politicians to brands co-opting the trend.

But everyone can pack up their flags and go home, because Dolly Parton has offered up the best red-flag tweet yet.

On Wednesday (Oct. 13), the legendary singer/songwriter tweeted, “When her beauty is beyond compare with flaming locks of auburn hair,” followed by three red-flag emojis.

The line is pulled straight from Parton’s 1973 Hot Country Songs No. 1 song “Jolene,” in which she begs another woman not to steal her man “just because you can.” So yeah, Jolene’s infamous beauty is, indeed, a red flag.

The song has taken on new life thanks to a series of high-profile cover versions, with Lil Nas X most recently tackling the country classic last month in the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge. Parton even co-signed Nas’ take on the song, tweeting, “I was so excited when someone told me that Lil Nas X had done my song #Jolene. I had to find it and listen to it immediately…and it’s really good,” she wrote while sharing LNX’s performance video. “Of course, I love him anyway. I was surprised and I’m honored and flattered. I hope he does good for both of us. Thank you @LilNasX.”

Find more “Jolene” covers — and vote for your favorite — here.

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Surprise in Haiti over State Dept. appointment of Kenneth Merten as chargé d’affaires

Secretary of State Antony Blinken appointed Kenneth Merten, the former U.S. ambassador to Haiti during the country’s devastating 2010 earthquake, as chargé d’affaires in Port-au-Prince on Tuesday, catching Haitian civil … Click to Continue »
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Veteran Miami cop in charge of field ops named interim chief after Acevedo suspension

Miami’s interim police chief spent the past three years in charge of the department’s uniform division and crime prevention teams. He oversaw SWAT, Homeland Security and the bomb squad. He … Click to Continue »
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Thousands of gallons of sewage seep into Little Maule Lake in NE Dade. Avoid the water

Little Maule Lake is experiencing yet another sewage leak in its waters — this time about 10,000 gallons of wastewater have seeped into the lake from a broken pipe. Authorities … Click to Continue »
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No chicken in the nuggets? Burger King just rolled out a new plant-based item in Miami

Burger King has a new twist to one of its classic meals: chicken nuggets, without the chicken. The Miami-based fast-food chain’s newest menu item comes after the success the company … Click to Continue »
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Bay Area woman charged with hosting secret teen parties filled with booze and sex

LOS GATOS, Calif. — A South Bay woman has been charged with hosting a series of illegal parties for her son and his friends at which investigators say she supplied … Click to Continue »
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All-Star ‘The Metallica Blacklist’ Tribute Hits Top 10 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales Chart

The Metallica Blacklist compilation — the all-star tribute to Metallica’s self-titled 1991 album — hits the top 10 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart (dated Oct. 16), selling 8,000 copies in the U.S. in the week ending Oct. 7, according to MRC Data.

It’s actually the second week on the list for the 53-track album, which was previously only available to purchase as a download. It spent one week on the list dated Sept. 25 at No. 73. The physical editions of the album, on CD and vinyl LP, were released Oct. 1. Among the artists on The Metallica Blacklist: Phoebe Bridgers, Miley Cyrus, Ghost, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Darius Rucker, Chris Stapleton, Weezer and Volbeat.

The Metallica Blacklist also soars to No. 1 on the Compilation Albums chart for the first time, while also hitting new highs on Top Rock Albums (No. 12), Hard Rock Albums (No. 4) and the Billboard 200 (No. 103).

Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart ranks the top-selling albums of the week based only on traditional album sales. The chart’s history dates back to May 25, 1991, the first week Billboard began tabulating charts with electronically monitored piece count information from SoundScan, now MRC Data. Pure album sales were the measurement solely utilized by the Billboard 200 albums chart through the list dated Dec. 6, 2014, after which that chart switched to a methodology that blends album sales with track equivalent album units and streaming equivalent album units. For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram.

Of The Metallica Blacklist’s sales of 8,000 in the latest tracking week, physical album sales comprise effectively all of that sum. The CD edition sold about 6,300 copies while the vinyl LP edition sold nearly 1,400 copies. In Metallica’s official webstore, the four-CD set retails for $29.98 while the seven-LP vinyl collection sells for $159.98.

 

Also on the new Top Album Sales chart, Taylor Swift’s Fearless (Taylor’s Version) swoops back in, re-entering at No. 1 with 146,000 sold (up 15,807%). It’s the second nonconsecutive week at No. 1 for the album, which debuted atop the list dated April 24. The album surges back onto the list following its signed CD and vinyl LP release on Oct. 1.

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga’s Love for Sale starts at No. 2 with 38,000 copies sold – the largest sales week for a jazz album in nearly three years. The last jazz set to sell more in a single week was Michael Bublé’s Love, in its second week of release, on the Dec. 8, 2018 chart, when it sold 56,000 copies.

Love for Sale also launches at No. 1 on both the overall Jazz Albums chart, as well as the Traditional Jazz Albums list. On the latter, its Bennett’s 15th No. 1 – breaking him out of a tie with Harry Connick, Jr. for the most No. 1s in the history of the chart.

Brandi Carlile captures her fourth top 10 on Top Album Sales, as her latest release, In These Silent Days, bows at No. 3 with 32,000 sold. It also begins at No. 1 on Top Rock Albums, Americana/Folk Albums and Tastemaker Albums. The latter ranks the top-selling albums of the week at independent and small chain record stores.

Meek Mill’s Expensive Pain debuts at No. 4 on Top Album Sales (10,000 sold) while a pair of former No. 1s are next up on the list, as NCT 127’s Sticker: The 3rd Album falls 2-5 (9,000; down 37%) and Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour is a non-mover at No. 6 (8,000; down 6%).

Billie Eilish’s former No. 1 Happier Than Ever is also stationary at No. 8 (7,500 sold; up 6%), Neil Young’s new archival release Carnegie Hall 1970 debuts at No. 9 (just over 7,000) and Metallica’s self-titled album falls 5-10 (7,000; down 20%).

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