It has been more than seven years since Britney Spears wrapped her global Piece of Me tour. And while fans of the 44-year-old “Toxic” pop star who has effectively retired from the music world are always eager to get any hint that she is considering a return to the stage, on Thursday night (Jan. 8) Britney seemed to put a stop to all that talk.

As far as the the United States is concerned, anyway.

In a sweet Instagram post featuring a throwback picture from her glory days of the singer seated on the bench of a white grand piano next to her keyboard player, Spears revealed that she is planning to offer the instrument to her youngest son, 19-year-old Jayden James Federline, while revealing that she will never, ever tickle those ivories herself in America. “Sending this piano to my son this year!!!,” she wrote, explaining that her signature, frequent dancing videos are sometimes “embarrassing,” but that she “walked through fire to save my life.”

She then dropped a bombshell: “I will never perform in the U.S. again because of extremely sensitive reasons,” Spears said without specifically explaining what those reasons are while also creaking the door open a crack on possibly performing elsewhere in the future. “But I hope to be sitting on a stool with a red rose in my hair, in a bun, performing with my son… in the UK and AUSTRALIA very soon. He’s a huge star and I’m so humbled to be in his presence!!! God speed, little man!!!”

At press time a spokesperson for Spears had not returned Billboard‘s request for comment on the singer’s pledge not to perform in the U.S. again.

Spears was referring to her Jayden, who she has referred to as a “genius” in a December 2024 post after an emotional Christmastime reunion in which she crowed about how they were “like twins.” In March of last year Spears posted a pair of Insta clips of Jayden showing off his piano-playing and rapping skills, dubbing his talents “sick!” and captioning the clip “WOW WOW WOW !!!“

Spears has not released an album of new material since 2016’s Glory and her last live show was on Oct. 21, 2018 in Austin, Texas and has repeatedly said in the past that she is done with the music industry.

Billboard’s Friday Music Guide serves as a handy guide to this Friday’s most essential releases — the key music that everyone will be talking about today, and that will be dominating playlists this weekend and beyond. 

This week, Bruno Mars at long last returns, Zach Bryan checks in with another sprawling statement, and The Kid LAROI keeps growing up. Check out all of this week’s picks below:

Bruno Mars, “I Just Might” 

Bruno Mars hasn’t released a solo album in nearly a decade — but fortunately for the superstar showman, his music has always been unstuck from time constraints and modern trends. “I Just Might,” which precedes the long-awaited full-length The Romantic, sashays straight from the ‘70s with funked-up guitar and canned horns, while always shoving Mars’ beguiling personality straight up front, just like most of his biggest and best hits.

Zach Bryan, With Heaven on Top 

Although Zach Bryan is prolific enough that a year-and-a-half between full-lengths feels like an eternity, With Heaven on Top, which follows 2024’s The Great American Bar Scene, quickly makes up for the relative wait with 25 songs that examine a whirlwind period in the singer-songwriter’s life — a breakup, a marriage, professional enormity amidst personal growth — with vulnerability and grace.

The Kid LAROI, Before I Forget 

Considering how far back he’s been scoring hits, it’s hard to believe that The Kid LAROI is still only 22 years old — and new album Before I Forget finds the genre-crossing star trying to untangle complex emotions on the cusp of adulthood, reveling in nostalgia for simpler times while also serving up some radio fodder (the silky-smooth recent single “A Perfect World” sounds like it could cross over).

Luke Combs, “Sleepless in a Hotel Room” 

Luke Combs closed out 2025 with the release of “Giving Her Away,” a muted reflection on the shared bond between the groom and the father of the bride at a wedding; “Sleepless in a Hotel Room,” the latest track from his upcoming album The Way I Am, is much more rollicking, with the country superstar picking up the tempo and growling out a “whoa-oh-OH” hook on his first offering of the year.

Ari Lennox, “Twin Flame” 

“I never thought that I would fall for your type,” Ari Lennox admits on “Twin Flame,” an effective new entry from the R&B star’s upcoming Vacancy project, on which Lennox waxes poetic about acting out of character in the presence of her crush and wields her powerhouse voice to convey her surprise and delight.

Carín León & Xavi, “La Morrita” 

Kicking off 2026 in the most spirited fashion possible, Carín León hoists up his national pride — alongside Xavi, one of Mexican music’s skyrocketing new talents — on “La Morrita,” a firecracker collaboration with a dizzying interplay between the pair of voices and the production over the course of two-and-a-half minutes, making for an overflowing celebration.

Editor’s Pick: Robyn, “Talk To Me” 

While Robyn unveiled “Dopamine” as the lead single of her upcoming album Sexistential last fall, “Talk To Me,” one of two new tracks released this week, provides the more blissful physical rush: co-written by Max Martin, “Talk To Me” is spectacular in its dance-pop intricacies and Robyn’s unadorned expression of sexual longings, heralding the full return of one of pop’s very best stars.

The Television Academy announced on Friday (Jan. 9) the rules changes for the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, several of which pertain to music categories. The academy also added a statement about AI to its Rules & Procedures book, and shed light on its new Legacy Award, which will be presented to classic TV series.

Here’s a summary of key changes most relevant to the music community.

Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary/Nonfiction or Reality Program (Original Dramatic Score)

Rule Change: The category formerly known as Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special (Original Dramatic Score) will now allow eligibility for reality programs that contain an original dramatic score.

2025 winner: Chef’s Table: “José Andrés” – Duncan Thum and David Bertok (Netflix)

Outstanding Main Title Theme Music

Rule Changes: Expanded eligibility to include main-on-end themes. Both a main title theme (appearing at the beginning of the program) and a main-on-end title theme (appearing after the final act, before the end credits/crawl) are eligible.

A main title theme must appear in 50% or more of eligible episodes submitted for the 2026 Emmy competition. The main title theme has been further defined as a musical fingerprint and calling card that is identifiable and unique to a show.

2025 winner: The White Lotus – Cristobal Tapia de Veer (HBO)

Outstanding Movie

Rule change: The name of the Outstanding Television Movie category has been changed to Outstanding Movie to more accurately reflect the evolving landscape of cinematic content created for broadcast or streaming.

2025 winner: Rebel Ridge (Netflix)

AI Statement

The following statement has been added to the academy’s Rules & Procedures book: “The Television Academy reserves the right to inquire about the use of AI in submissions. The core of our recognition remains centered on human storytelling, regardless of the tools used to bring it to life.”

Legacy Award

The academy announced the creation of the Legacy Award, recognizing a program that has made “a profound and lasting impact on audiences and sustained its relevance to society, culture and the industry.” Candidates will be selected annually by the Governors Award committee (to be renamed the Special Awards Committee) and presented to the Board of Governors for a vote.

Criteria for the Legacy Award include:

Preference is given to shows celebrating an anniversary in the year awarded. Programs that were previously awarded the Governors Award are not eligible. These are Masterpiece Theatre (1991), American Idol (2016) and Star Trek (2018). Also, no future Governors Awards may go to a program.

The Legacy Award will be given to the creator(s) and up to four lead executive producers/showrunners whose tenure on the production significantly contributed to its longevity and success (as determined by the Television Academy) and to the main network/studio partner airing the program.

Like the Governors Award, the winners will receive an Emmy statuette. The award may be given out during the Creative Arts Emmy ceremonies, the telecast Emmy ceremony, or the Hall of Fame ceremony.

KPop Demon Hunters singers EJAY, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI lit up the Jimmy Kimmel Live! stage on Thursday night (Jan. 8) with the refreshed version of their record-breaking HUNTR/X single “Golden” featuring a string section and a dramatic new arrangement.

Surrounded by a forest of warm, glowing string lights encircling them on the stage and dressed all in black, the three women who provide the voices for the fictional K-pop girl group in the smash hit Netflix animated movie were accompanied by a group of violin and cello players as they emoted their way through the “Golden (Glowin’ Version)” revamp of their chart-topping single; the song dropped at midnight, just moments before they took the stage.

EJAY, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI are the voices of the film’s K-pop group, performing the vocal roles, respectively, of Rumi, Mira and Zoey in the movie. The original version of “Golden” has been the breakout hit from the film, scoring 8 consecutive weeks at the pinnacle of the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and 18 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200. Also, this week, the song landed a record-breaking 20th week at No. 1 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart, passing ROSÉ and Bruno Mars’ “APT.” for the longest run on top since the survey began in September 2020.

The new symphonic version adds an even more cinematic edge to the already soaring track, with Thursday night’s performance enhanced by the patterned blinking of the flaxen lights on the floor and a brief, dramatic string-only coda. “Golden (Glowin’ Version)” was produced by Ian Eisendrath, John Nathaniel, IDO, 24, and TEDDY

Watch the trio’s “Golden (Glowin’ Version)” performance below.