There’s a real Fugees feel to Global Citizen’s return to Brazil next month, as Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean lead the lineup for an exclusive concert.

The Fugees co-founders are reuniting for the 30th anniversary of the hip-hop outfit’s seminal album The Score, for a free, ticketed event Saturday, June 6, on Ipanema Beach. The special show is the culmination of Global Citizen’s first-ever Rio Nature & Climate Week, hosted by Instituto Natureza e Clima Brasil, The City of Rio de Janeiro, Re:wild and Global Citizen.

The Score arrived in February 1996 and served as the Fugees’ second and final album. Powered by standout tracks such as “Ready or Not,” “Killing Me Softly,” “Fu-Gee-La” and “No Woman, No Cry,” the collection debuted atop the Billboard 200 and won best rap album at the Grammy Awards in 1997. By October 1997, the album was six-times platinum certified by the RIAA.

“We can’t think of a better way to celebrate 30 years of The Score than taking action to make the world a better place, together with the beautiful people of Rio de Janeiro,” explains Wyclef Jean, who also serves as Global Citizen ambassador. Third Fugees member Pras Michel won’t be there; last month he began a 14-year sentence tied to his April 2023 conviction on 10 counts, including money laundering, conspiracy to defraud the U.S., witness tampering and illegal foreign lobbying.

Global Citizen Live: Rio de Janeiro will also feature YG Marley and Zion Marley, and is co-headlined by Latin Grammy Award-winning homegrown artist Ludmilla, who will perform cuts from her 2025 album Fragmentos.

“It’s very special to be part of Global Citizen Live: Rio, in my city,” comments Ludmilla. “Music has this power to connect everyone, and this is a chance to use that to talk about what really matters, which is our world and the future of the next generations. I’m excited to bring this Brazilian energy to the stage and to the beach, to celebrate and, at the same time, create a real impact.”

Giovanna Ewbank and Bruno Gagliasso will host the show, which will feature further commitments toward Global Citizen’s campaign goals, a statement explains.

Earlier, on Thursday, June 4, Global Citizen will launch its third Brazilian summit, the goal of which is to drive action on the world’s most urgent challenges, including access to clean energy, children’s education, food security, global health and more.

That action summit will be the third edition take place in Brazil, following Global Citizen NOW: Rio de Janeiro in 2024, and Global Citizen NOW: Amazônia in Belém in 2025, and will roll out at Casa Firjan in Botafogo.

Free tickets to Global Citizen Live: Rio de Janeiro can be earned by taking action on the Global Citizen app or by sending a WhatsApp message to +55 (11) 4040-7099, or volunteering in the local community. Visit globalcitizen.org for more.

One of country music’s most compelling, neo-traditional new vocalists grew up 45 minutes north of hip-hop hotbed Atlanta.

Woodstock, Georgia-born Kenny Whitmire grew up hearing the rock and country sounds his pastor and musician father would play around the house, while also soaking in the rap music flowing through his school’s football locker room. By high school, Whitmire was lured by the sounds of some of country music’s most revered artists.

“I was just so blown away by the vocal,” Whitmire says. “What draws me in first is someone’s voice. In my opinion, you can’t beat Vince Gill, Keith Whitley and Merle Haggard singing. I was pretty much caught from the get-go on that stuff.”

Whitmire is signed to label MCA, home to artists including Gill, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, and Carrie Underwood.

Like his influences, Whitmire brings his own warm, burnished voice to his breakthrough hit “I Gave Her The Moon,” which he wrote with Lynn Hutton and Cam Newby. The tender song about giving a lover all he had only to find it was not enough has impacted fans and artists including pop singer-songwriter Charlie Puth, who covered the song on social media. Whitmire has followed with “Thought Twice About Loving You,” “Me Being Me” and “You’re Getting Colder.”

As a songwriter, Whitmire has also penned cuts for artists including Austin Snell (“Some Things Just Stick”) and Colin Stough (“White Trash”). This year, he’s spending time on the road, opening for artists including Tracy Lawrence, Billy Currington and Ian Munsick.

On June 12, fans will hear a deeper well of his musical offerings with the EP Fool in a King Size Bed, including the title track he wrote with Kat Higgins and Rhett Akins.

“Rhett is a huge inspiration for me, and it’s been cool to continue working with him,” Whitmire says. “I actually just left the room from writing with him again today. I’m excited about that song and I’m hopeful that it will touch a lot of people. But I’ve also got some up-tempo stuff finally coming out. I’ve been putting out a bunch of ballads, so I’m excited to show off another side to my artistry.”

Billboard spoke with Whitmire about his growing career, his songwriting dream collabs and more.

You played the Ryman Auditorium for the first time earlier this year when you performed as part of the MCA luncheon during Country Radio Seminar. What was the vibe like backstage?

It was cool. It was crowded back there. I did get to meet Vince Gill briefly, and that was a dream in and of itself. He’s one of my biggest heroes in the world, so that was cool to meet him and watch him play.

Who are your dream songwriting collaborators?

Vince is obviously a dream. A lot of my songwriting heroes have unfortunately passed. Don Schlitz, who just passed away, was another hero of mine. Wyatt McCubbin would be a dream writer, but I’ve been fortunate to get in the room with so many people. My publishing team at River House [Whitmire is signed for publishing with Sony Music Publishing/River House Publishing] has really killed it with getting me in writing rooms with the coolest people. I’ve been super fortunate.

When did you get into making music?

I picked up guitar in seventh grade. I sang a lot in the church my father pastored. When I started gigging around doing the country stuff, he played bass for me a lot back home, which was a blast, and it helped me because he would never let me pay him. I did one semester of college right out of high school and it wasn’t for me. I begged my parents to let me take a semester off to focus on music solely. They let me do it…I promised I would go back and then I moved to Nashville instead.

When you moved to town, one of your first gigs was playing guitar for Austin Snell. How did that happen?

He started taking off with “Excuse The Mess” and everything he was doing, and he wanted me to tag along with him and be a guitar player and sing harmonies. I just kind of got thrown into the deep end and had to learn along the way.

You and several artists have been leaning toward music that feel inspired by country music of the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s. Why do you feel fans are gravitating toward those sounds at this moment?

It’s really just that country music has kind of been, I guess, starved is the best word I can think of, of that sound. There’s music for everybody these days, and it’s brought so many new fans into the country community, but it’s been a while since the real traditional country stuff has been around. There was a reason it was so big in the ‘80s and ‘90s, because it’s cool and it’s fun and people love it. So, I think it’s just about that time for that sound to come back around for a little bit, however long it is. I hope it stays around for a while.

What is the first album you remember falling in love with?

I think the first CD I ever bought was Jason Aldean’s My Kinda Party. Aldean was all over the radio when I was growing up, for sure.

When you are not doing music, what are your hobbies?

I guess the typical hunting and fishing. Music is 99% of my life these days, but either wetting a line or being out in the woods or hanging out with my dogs and my wife at the house.

What kind of dogs do you have?

I’ve got an almost 11-year-old silver lab. I’ve got a seven-year-old white Husky and I’ve got a one-year-old bloodhound.

When is the last time you went hunting or fishing?

I’ve had a few hours off here and there. There’s a place called Montgomery Bell State Park, it’s got a few little ponds out there that I get to spend an hour or two every now and then, but I’m usually a little too busy for anything else.

What’s your favorite podcast right now?

Love Theo Von. Anything that comedians are doing, like 2 Bears, 1 Cave.

What music venues are on your bucket list to play?

The Ryman [Auditorium] was probably No. 2 on my list. Obviously, the Grand Ole Opry is a total dream. I’ve been blessed to play that stage a few times with Austin [Snell], but I haven’t stepped into the circle at all. I’m hopeful I’ll get to do that one day. Red Rocks would be an awesome venue to play, but I got to play a lot of cool places with Austin, a lot of arenas and amphitheaters. It would be cool to go play a lot of those places again for myself.

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With the Thunder leading the best-of-seven series against the Lakers 2-0, home court now shifts from Oklahoma City to Los Angeles for Game 3 during the West Semifinals of the 2026 NBA Playoffs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the No. 1-seed, Oklahoma City Thunder, take on LeBron James and the No. 4-seed, L.A. Lakers, in a prime-time game. You can watch the NBA postseason game online with Sling TV.

On Saturday (May 9), the Thunder-Lakers game takes place at Crypto.com Arena in Southern California.

Watch Game 3: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. L.A. Lakers, at a Glance:

When Does Oklahoma City Thunder vs. L.A. Lakers Game Start?

Game 3: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. L.A. Lakers game airs live, with tipoff at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT.

Where to Watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs. L.A. Lakers Online

The Oklahoma City Thunder vs. L.A. Lakers game broadcasts on ABC, and it also livestreams on Sling Select, or Sling Blue. Keep reading for more details on how cord-cutters can watch the Thunder-Lakers game online with Sling TV.

How to Watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs. L.A. Lakers With Sling TV

A subscription to Sling Select, which comes with ABC for Game 3, gets you access to live TV from top-rated cable channels. Starting at $29.99 per month, you can watch networks, including FOX News, National Geographic, GRIT, NFL Network, FX, FOX Sports, FOX, NBC, MeTV, Game Show Network, Heroes & Icons TV, LMN and Vice.

Additionally, ABC is on Sling Blue, but pricing and availability depends on your local TV market. You can learn more about Sling TV here.

Which Celebrities Are Making Appearances During Thunder vs. Lakers?

It’s likely there might be a number of celebrities and recording artists in attendance during the game, such as Oklahoma City Thunder fans Toby Keith, Bill Hader, Kristin Chenoweth, Lil Yachty and others; as well as L.A. Lakers fans Denzel Washington, Kendrick Lamar, Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers, Snoop Dogg and more. Tune in to Sling TV to find out who’s at the NBA game.

Starting at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT, Oklahoma City Thunder vs. L.A. Lakers game airs on ABC, while it’s available to livestream on Sling TV on Saturday, May 9.

Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Xbox deals, studio headphones and Nintendo Switch accessories.

Sony Music Group reported on Friday (May 8) its sales revenues rose 21% to 570 billion Japanese yen ($3.6 billion) for the quarter ending March 31 compared to a year ago driven by higher recorded music streaming revenue, Bad Bunny and Harry Styles album sales and live events and merchandise.

Operating income for the Japan-based company’s fiscal fourth quarter came in at 132.4 billion yen ($829 million), an increase of more than 36% from last year.

Sales of Bad Bunny’s hit album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, Harry Styles Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally and Tate McRae‘s So Close To What helped the company generated 2,120 billion yen ($13.3 billion) for the fiscal year, which for Sony also ended on March 31, a 15% increase from the prior fiscal year. Higher revenues from streaming services in recorded music and music publishing, live events and merchandising in recorded music helped operating income reach a record high of 447 billion yen ($2.8 billion), an increase of 25%.

Streaming revenue for the full fiscal year grew to 852.7 million yen ($5.4 billion), and to 419.9 million yen ($2.6 billion) in the music publishing division, marking increases of 9% and 14% on a U.S. dollar basis respectively.

The company forecast that revenues will likely hold flat at this level in the coming fiscal year as higher streaming income is expected to offset lower concert revenue, with operating income to come off its record highs by about 11%.

The company flagged big forthcoming releases by Chris Brown, Foo Fighters and Maluma.