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.

The final season of Stranger Things premiered on Netflix on November 26 and the hit sci-fi series is teaming up with a number of fashion and lifestyle brands to mark the occasion.

GAP just unveiled a retro-themed Stranger Things collection with 80s-inspired denim, T-shirts and sweats, while footwear brand Aldo debuted a collection of whimsical Stranger Things shoes and bags earlier this fall. But perhaps the buzziest release was the latest collaboration between Nike and Netflix, with the Stranger Things x Nike Dunk Low sneaker, which dropped November 6.

The sneakers, which retailed for $155, quickly sold out on the Nike site and they are only available now on resale sites like Stockx, as of this writing.

Dunk Low x Stranger Things buy online

Nike Dunk Low x “Stranger Things”

The distressed navy and white sneakers are the latest release in the Nike x Stranger Things collab, which was first introduced in 2019, and included footwear and apparel inspired by the show (previous models in the collaboration are also available starting from $115 on StockX.com).


Though the Stranger Things Dunk Low is no longer available on the Nike site, fans can still pick up a couple of new pieces in stock from the collaboration. One of them is this pair of Nike x Stranger Things sweatpants, available now at JDSports.com. The elastic sweatpants feature upside-down Nike graphics and vintage color-blocking, with a Stranger Things tab at the side.

Shop Nike x Stranger Things Collection: Buy Sneakers, Clothing Online

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Nike x Stranger Things NRG Woven Pants

The sweatpants are made from a polyester material with just a touch of sheen and available in sizes small to 2XL.


Complete the look with the matching windbreaker, which also features the chevron blue and white color-blocking, reworked Nike logo and a Stranger Things tab. An adjustable hood and water-repellent material help to keep you dry.

Shop Nike x Stranger Things Collection: Buy Sneakers, Clothing Online

Nike x Stranger Things NRG Windrunner Jacket

JD Sports says the collab “fuses Nike’s technical edge with Hawkins-inspired style.” Choose from sizes small to 2XL but hurry — this piece is selling out fast.


Can’t get your hands on one of the official Stranger Things Nike pieces? There are a ton of similar items or alternatives available online too. One of them is this Caitlin Clark Indiana Fever jersey, re-worked with a Stranger Things-inspired twist.

nike stranger things

Caitlin Clark Indiana Fever x ‘Stranger Things’ 2025 Rebel Edition

The Fever’s normal red, gold and blue jersey is re-imagined in the red, white and black colorway of the new Stranger Things season, and nods to the show run throughout the piece, from claw marks from the demogorgons in the Upside Down, to 80s-style red splatter paint detailing. The Caitlin Clark Stranger Things jersey is available in sizes XS to XXL.


Another official piece in the Nike x Stranger Things collection is this unisex crewneck sweatshirt, which features a slightly oversized fit and a cozy brushed fleece construction. The navy sweatshirt features the phrase “Friends Don’t Lie,” one of Eleven’s (Millie Bobby Brown) most iconic lines from the show. The caption “All Strangers Welcome” sits below the main graphic.

Nike x 'Stranger Things' Fleece Crew

Nike x ‘Stranger Things’ Fleece Crew

The back of the unisex sweatshirt features large Nike lettering running from shoulder to shoulder.


Looking for more Stranger Things-inspired pieces from Nike? We like this New York Knicks “Halloween” T-shirt, which applies the same eerie vibe of Stranger Things to the Knicks basketball logo. Though it’s branded as a “Halloween” tee, this is a shirt you can really wear year-round. The lived-in look and feel, and relaxed fit, adds to the vintage appeal.

Nike Knicks Halloween NBA Max90 T-Shirt

Nike Knicks Halloween NBA Max90 T-Shirt

This unisex tee is available in sizes small to 3XL. Nike also sells a similar T-shirt style for the Phoenix Suns and the Golden State Warriors.


And you can keep the 80s vibes going with this vintage-inspired Jordan Brooklyn tee, which features a stylized graphic of Michael Jordan slam dunking a basketball, along with the year 1985 etched in bright orange letters, marking the year the NBA star broke into the league.

Shop Nike x Stranger Things Collection: Buy Sneakers, Clothing Online

Jordan Brooklyn Oversized Graphic T-Shirt

The front of the T-shirt features the same Jordan and net and backboard graphic, along with an orange Air Jordan logo. Pick this up in sizes XS to 3XL.


The final season of Stranger Things premieres with the first four episodes out on November 26, followed by three episodes on Christmas Day.

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.

With the holiday season finally here, it’s that time of year to buy your new or old beau a thoughtful gift. Whether it’s a sentimental item or a splurge-worthy present, the best gifts for boyfriends will undoubtedly make him grin.

The Best Gifts for Boyfriends, At a Glance:

Gift shopping can be hard, so here at ShopBillboard, we’ve compiled a list of memorable, stylish and exciting products that’ll make him fall in love with you all over again. From tech-savvy electronics and gamer-ready consoles and accessories, to stylish wardrobe boosters, to fun home good gifts to spruce up his apartment, there’s something for every boyfriend out there.

As we inch closer to the holidays, we’ll continue to update our gift guide with even more must-have presents to make his Christmas, birthday, anniversary or any other occasion even more special. Shop the best gifts for boyfriends below.

For the Tech-Savvy Boyfriend

Is your man into electronics? There are plenty of fantastic tech gifts that’ll have him thinking he’s Iron Man this holiday season. From Apple’s stylish AirPods Max headphones, to Sonos impressive Era 300 speaker to LARQ’s smart water bottle, shop our favorite gadgets below.

Best Gifts for Boyfriends Who Love Music, Fashion & Electronics

Meta Quest 3 VR

Tap into virtual reality to play blockbuster video games or stream your favorite shows and movies through a variety of dynamic environments.


apple-tv-4k

Apple TV 4K

Let him watch all his favorite shows and movies in stunning 4K Dolby Vision and HDR10+.


Best Gifts for Boyfriends Who Love Music, Fashion & Electronics

Remarkable Paper Pro Move

$599 $638 6% off

Buy Now on remarkable

Note taking never felt better or cooler then on a Remarkable tablet. For the serious note taker, this gift will offer sleek, responsive writing on a and slim enough design that it can slip in a jacket pocket.


Best Gifts for Boyfriends Who Love Music, Fashion & Electronics

Hypervolt 2 Pro

Beat those muscles into submission with the Hypervolt massage gun. If he’s into working out, have your man warming up faster and recover like a pro with an impressive deep tissue massage.


Best Gifts for Boyfriends Who Love Music, Fashion & Electronics

Apple AirPods Max

$454.48 $549 17% off

Buy Now on Walmart

Apple’s entry into the world of premium headphones is a pricey one, but the Airpods Max deliver rich, detailed sound with incredible active noise-cancelling. For the fashionistas, these over-ear headphones have also become a staple style accessory with its catchy modern design and variety of color options.


Best Gifts for Boyfriends Who Love Music, Fashion & Electronics

GoPro HERO12 Black

Let him live out his action-sport fantasies and capture all his highlights with a GoPro. The HERO12 Black can capture Ultra HD video with HDR, 27MP photos, as well as, live streaming capabilities and impressive image stabilization.


Best Gifts for Boyfriends Who Love Music, Fashion & Electronics

LARQ Bottle PureVis 2 Water Bottle

Keep your beau hydrated with this futuristic water bottle that has a built-in UV water purifier with self-cleaning, a filter straw and a smart app for hydration tracking.


Best Gifts for Boyfriends Who Love Music, Fashion & Electronics

Sonos Era 300 Speaker

Its simple minimalistic design makes the Sonos Era 300 an easy fit in most rooms. It delivers expansive stereo sound and immersive spatial audio to fill up any room you place it in. It can also pair with other Sonos speakers for an immersive home theater set up.


For the Musician Boyfriend

Help him tap into his artistic side with essential gifts for music lovers, including a stylish Pro-Ject turntable, a premium Fendor guitar and a top-performing Tonor mic for audio recording.

Best Gifts for Boyfriends Who Love Music, Fashion & Electronics

Personalized Platinum & Gold LP Record

A platinum record they will never forget.


Best Gifts for Boyfriends Who Love Music, Fashion & Electronics

Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB Turntable

For the vinyl lover in your life, this stylish turntable can easily be the focus point of a living room with its eye-catching satin walnut detailing. It can also pair with most bluetooth speakers, especially Sonos for a high-quality audio experience.


Best Gifts for Boyfriends Who Love Music, Fashion & Electronics

Fendor Classic Vibe Custom Esquire Guitar


If he likes to rock out, this Fendor will have his inner Jimi Hendrix ready to rip a solo. This specific old-school inspired guitar is a special tribute to the double-bound body Esquire models of the late ’50s and ’60s. It features an innovative 3-position blade switch providing versatile tone settings including tone control bypass, variable tone control, as well as a pre-set tone capacitor for bass-y warmth.


Best Gifts for Boyfriends Who Love Music, Fashion & Electronics

TONOR USB Microphone

For great audio capture, you’ll want to invest in a proper mic like this TONOR USB model, which will help capture recordings with as little background interference as possible. It comes with a foldable three-legged stand that has a detachable shock absorber, and just needs to be plugged in to get connected and recording ready.


Best Gifts for Boyfriends Who Love Music, Fashion & Electronics

Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen USB Audio Interface

An absolute non-negotiator is to include an audio interface in his home studio set up. If you’re new, then the Scarlett interface is great entry level option


Best Gifts for Boyfriends Who Love Music, Fashion & Electronics

LEGO Icons Retro Radio Building Set

Put his hands to good use by crafting this detailed replica of a 1970s radio with LEGO Icons Retro Radio building set. With 906 pieces this will keep him pretty busy, and when he’s done, mount the device on a table for a stylish vintage decor look. It also features sound effects and a compartment with a smartphone holder to simulate a working radio.


For the Gamer Boyfriend

Let his gamer side shine with the most popular gaming consoles and accessories currently out. From the next-gen PlayStation 5 to the newly-release Nintendo Switch 2, there’s plenty of fun gems to satisfy his gaming craze.

Best Gifts for Boyfriends Who Love Music, Fashion & Electronics

Sony PlayStation 5 Slim

Upgrade him to next-gen gaming with the most popular gaming console. With an expansive library of exclusive games like the ‘Last of Us’, ‘Spider-Man 2’ and ‘Astro Bot’, he won’t leave the couch for hours.


Best Gifts for Boyfriends Who Love Music, Fashion & Electronics

Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle

Armed with a vivid and brilliant 7.9-inch LCD display with HDR (High Dynamic Range) support, the Nintendo Switch 2 is great gaming option for anyone looking to game on the go or at home. Paired with Mario Kart World, he may never put down the joycons.


Best Gifts for Boyfriends Who Love Music, Fashion & Electronics

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Gaming Headset

$299.99 $349.99 14% off

Buy Now on walmart

Level up his gaming audio with ultra-detailed sound with neodymium magnetic drivers, delivering crystal clear highs, pinpoint mids, and deep bass. It also includes active noise cancellation that’ll automatically detect and eliminate distracting background audio.


Best Gifts for Boyfriends Who Love Music, Fashion & Electronics

Backbone One Controller

Turn your phone into a gaming console and controller with this popular handheld device.


Best Gifts for Boyfriends Who Love Music, Fashion & Electronics

Razer BlackWidow V4 75% Keyboard

Enhance his PC gaming with light, balanced keystrokes with satisfying acoustics, thanks to a gasket-mounted FR4 plate, tape-enhanced PCB, lubricated stabilizers, and sound-dampening foam. You’ll never hear him mashing keys again.


For the Stylish Boyfriend

Have your man dressed to impress with these menswear staples. Shop classic Air Jordan sneakers, stylish denim jeans, harrington jackets and even vintage Prince merch.

Best Gifts for Boyfriends Who Love Music, Fashion & Electronics

Timex Waterbury Classic 40mm Watch

$123.96 $150.00 17% off

Buy Now On Amazon

An Apple Watch is great, but sometimes a classic watch silhouette will make an outfit feel more sophisticated. This Timex watch is gift that will keep on giving for years to come.


Best Gifts for Boyfriends Who Love Music, Fashion & Electronics

Nike Air Jordan 5 Retro “Fire Red Black Tongue” sneakers

Jordan’s will never go out of style, and your beau will surely covet this classic “fire red” colorway forever.


Best Gifts for Boyfriends Who Love Music, Fashion & Electronics

Prince ‘Purple Rain’ T-Shirt

It’s a Prince “Purple Rain” tee, what more is there to say? This is a must-cop for any music fan out there.


Best Gifts for Boyfriends Who Love Music, Fashion & Electronics

Kevin Garnett Black Minnesota Timberwolves Maxxed Out Hockey Jersey

If he loves basketball and hockey, this NBA throwback-inspired NHL jersey is a great mesh of both worlds. Even if he’s not a Timberwolves fan, he can’t deny how stylish this top is, especially with the old school Wolves logo.


Best Gifts for Boyfriends Who Love Music, Fashion & Electronics

Lee Legendary Relaxed Straight Jean

Every guy needs a great pair of jeans in their closet and Lee’s relaxed fit jean is an essential for anyone looking to build out a wardrobe. This crisp “night shade” pair gives a throwback ’90s straight leg feel that be styled in many ways.


Best Gifts for Boyfriends Who Love Music, Fashion & Electronics

Tecovas Cartwright Boot

Every guy needs at least one pair of cowboy boots in their rotation.


Best Gifts for Boyfriends Who Love Music, Fashion & Electronics

Flint and Tinder Waxed Harrington Jacket

A classic outerwear staple that add a little Oxford prep to his wardrobe.


Best Gifts for Boyfriends Who Love Music, Fashion & Electronics

Nike Dunk Low Retro Sneakers

$82.97 $120 31% off

Buy Now at nike

Nike’s “Panda” Dunks are a classic gift for sneaker lovers.


For the Homebody Boyfriend

Here’s a few home good products that will spruce up his home and make staying over even more enjoyable.

our-place-wonder-oven-pro

Wonder Oven Pro

An eye-catching air fryer that has bigger capacity, sleeker digital controls, and eight functions in one over its predecessor.


ralph-lauren-coffee-mug

Ralph’s Coffee Barista Polo Bear Mug

For the barista lover in your life that’s serving up hot lattes and even hotter fits.


pf-candle-co-spruce-scent

P.F. Candle Co. Spruce Scent Soy Glass Jar Candle

Liven up his place with a relaxing and earthy scent.


Best Gifts for Boyfriends Who Love Music, Fashion & Electronics

Vitruvi Stone Diffuser

$103.99 $129.99 20% off

Buy Now on vitruvi

Give his place a much needed scent boost with the viral diffuser from Vitruvi. Grab you favorite essential oils like lavender and eucalyptus and transform his living room into your own personal spa.


Best Gifts for Boyfriends Who Love Music, Fashion & Electronics

Yeti Rambler Cocktail Shaker

That Martini isn’t going to shake its self.


Best Gifts for Boyfriends Who Love Music, Fashion & Electronics

Rocco Super Smart Fridge

The viral fridge has taken over social media for its mid-century modern aesthetic, vibrant colorways, and its impressive smart tech features. It can easily be the centerpiece of a living room and can store all of your drink cans, beers, wine and champagne bottles. You can also control temperature and lighting while keeping track of your inventory straight from the app.


Best Gifts for Boyfriends Who Love Music, Fashion & Electronics

Eames: Beautiful Details book

$45.49 $65.00 30% off

Buy Now On Amazon

For the boyfriend who has an Eames chair and loves to watch home video tours on Architectural Digest.


Best Gifts for Boyfriends Who Love Music, Fashion & Electronics

Steele Permanent Style Bag Caddie

Doing laundry isn’t the most attractive hobby, but when you get to wheel around this stylish caddie, he’ll have his (and your) laundry done and folded in no time. The caddie is also customizable with different canvas and rim colors for a more personalized look.


For more gift options, see our picks for the best gifts for music lovers, best Lego gifts, tech gifts and viral gifts from Walmart.

Did you ever wonder who would play the Clipse in a biopic about the brothers from Virginia Beach?

During a recent Reddit AMA, Pusha T and Malice were asked who would play them in a movie, Push gave an interesting answer.

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“If I had to have someone play me, it would definitely be Tyler, The Creator,” Push said, before commending Tyler for his immersive music videos. “I think he really dives into character really well. You can tell through his videos he dives into character really well with different themes through his albums. I think he could play Pusha T. I think he could. Man, the climax scene is gonna be just him killin’ all the competition. All of them. Everybody. Be the last man standing and walking off into the sunset.”

When it comes to Malice, though, he didn’t really have an answer, but he did break down what it would take to play him in a movie. “If a movie was made about us? I don’t really know who could really play me,” he answered. “You would have to have a whole bunch of attitude and a certain authenticity and genuineness about you. I don’t see people being that real nowadays. As far as the outcome, I wanna see resilience. I wanna see people working through their hardship, their suffering, and then coming out on top and just never giving up.”

Tyler is no stranger to acting. He and Odd Future had the sketch comedy show Loiter Squad on Adult Swim for three seasons that has since become a cult classic and has often been referenced on social media in the form of memes and GIFs. Most recently, he played a supporting role in the upcoming film Marty Supreme opposite Timotée Chalamet that’s set to be released on Christmas Day and is currently receiving rave reviews.

On Wednesday, Pusha T presented his friend, frequent collaborator and fellow Virginia Beach native Pharrell Williams with Shoe of the Year at the 2025 Footwear News Achievement Awards in New York for the Adistar Jellyfish.

Someone should start working on a script ASAP.

Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo just proved that it’s never too late to be crowned prom king and queen.

In an adorable video shared by the Dumb Blonde podcaster on Wednesday, Bunnie and her country-star husband get all dolled up to attend a dance hosted by Jelly’s 17-year-old daughter, Bailee, of whom Bunnie shares full custody. “I learned a powerful lesson as a parent this week,” Bunnie wrote over the clip, which also shows the couple slow-dancing and donning crowns. “Bailee has always hated school dances, but because J and I never went to ours, we’ve always pushed her: ‘Go make memories. Go have the experiences we missed.’”

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Bunnie went on to say that Bailee didn’t tell them what she had in store for the evening, which went down the night before Jelly’s 41st birthday. “What we walked into stopped us in our tracks — a full room of friends and family … a night she called ‘Under the Stars,’” Bunnie wrote. “A prom/birthday party she created for us. She crowned us King and Queen, and we danced and sang like teenagers who finally got their moment.”

“And the lesson?” the influencer added. “Time is the most precious thing we own. Spend it on your people. The memories you make with them will outlive everything else.”

The next day, Bunnie shared photos of herself and Jelly — whose facial hair is already growing back after he shocked fans by shaving it off in November — at the prom. While the former sported a glamorous white and blue floral-printed gown, the latter wore all black with a matching cowboy hat.

“To the man I worship & admire..,” Bunnie wrote. “Loving you in all your eras is my favorite thing to do. Happy Birthday my shooting star, I love love love youuuuu.”

Jelly has two children from previous relationships: Bailee and her younger brother Noah. When Bailee was a kid, her father and stepmother were granted full custody over her, with Jelly — who had to prove his parenting capabilities to the court after spending time in jail — calling Bunnie a “beacon of change” in his 2023 Billboard cover story.

“You’re talking about a woman that came in and took a child that was soon to be born and a child that [we were] soon to have full custody of,” Jelly said at the time. “I would have never got custody of my daughter without her. I wouldn’t have had the stability or the money.”


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The Jonas Brothers are finally headed back to camp.

On Thursday (Dec. 4), Disney shared the first teaser trailer for the long-awaited third installment in their smash Camp Rock film series.

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After a montage of classic camp imagery — a yellow school bus, vacant cabins and idle canoes — backed by soundbites sourced from 2008’s Camp Rock and 2010’s Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam, the shadows of Nick, Kevin and Joe Jonas begin to fill the screen.

“Music, friendship, memories,” remarks Nick as he and his brothers gaze out on the lake, reminiscing on their individual and shared Camp Rock memories, with Joe responding, “We’re back… exactly where we’re supposed to be!” Always good for a laugh, Kevin then quips, “Still no birdhouse!” before the trailer begins introducing the Camp Rock 3 castB

Executive produced by the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato, who starred as Mitchie Torres in the first two Camp Rock films, Camp Rock 3 will feature performances by Malachi Barton, Lumi Pollack, Sherry Cola and Liamani Segura. All three JoBros will reprise their roles as members of fictional boy band Connect 3, while Maria Canals-Barrera will return as Connie Torres, Mitchie’s mother. Lovato, who recently earned her ninth Billboard 200 top 10 project with It’s Not That Deep (No. 9), is not currently confirmed to reprise her role in the new film.

Camp Rock 3 is set to premiere on Disney Channel and Disney+ in summer 2026. The film wrapped on Nov. 1, just two weeks before A Very Jonas Christmas Movie premiered on Hulu and Disney+. The JoBros-led musical comedy arrived alongside a soundtrack album of the same name, which peaked at No. 17 on Holiday Albums and featured 10 original holiday songs.

Earlier this year (Aug. 10), the Jonas Brothers brought out Demi Lovato as a surprise guest at the MetLife Stadium stop of their 20th-anniversary tour in East Rutherford, N.J. The Disney Channel icons performed two Camp Rock fan favorites, “Wouldn’t Change a Thing” and “This Is Me,” the latter of which reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Watch the first Camp Rock 3 teaser trailer below.

Brian McKnight Jr. claimed that his father, singer Brian McKnight, refused to tell his estranged son, Niko McKnight, that he loved him in his final days as he battled a cancer diagnosis.

McKnight Jr. sat down with Marc Lamont Hill earlier this week, where he recalled the heartbreaking conversation with Niko, who was distraught about his father’s lack of affection, before his passing in May.

“One of the darkest and coldest and most disheartening memories of my life is the day my brother [Niko] calls me sobbing — with all he’s going through — looking death in the eye, to tell me I’m right about telling him not to call my father because I knew what was going to happen,” he said.

McKnight Jr. continued: “Because I knew where my dad was, I told [Niko], ‘Dad is gone.’ All my brother wanted, needed, asked for was my father to tell him he loves him,” he added. “My father responds to my brother, ‘I can’t arbitrarily say that I love you.’ But this is the man that wanted to help him?”

In October 2023, the Grammy-nominated singer said he legally changed his name to Brian Kainoa Makoa McKnight Sr. to ensure he was the senior to his newborn with his wife Leilani Malia Mendoza.

Months later, in April 2024, he referred to his biological children as “products of sin.” “In order to live a life that you love, you have to get rid of the evil and the negativity — even if that evil and negativity is related [to you],” he wrote on Instagram.

In his current Instagram bio, McKnight refuses to recognize Brian McKnight Jr. and his late son, Niko McKnight, who passed away in May following a two-year battle with cancer. “Father of Julia, Jack, Kekoa Matteo & Brian Kainoa Makoa McKnight Jr.,” the IG bio reads.

Niko McKnight revealed his cancer diagnosis publicly in January 2024. Niko’s uncle Claude announced that his nephew had passed away at 32 years old in a video posted to social media in May.

@claudemcknight

I’m devastated at my nephews passing. If you comment please do do in love, and NOT at what you may have heard about the relationship my brother had/has with his kids. Thank you 🙏🏾 #nephew #cancersucks #rip #love #family

♬ original sound – Claude Mcknight

McKnight Jr. slammed his father in October for celebrating winning a lawsuit against his ex-wife, Julie McKnight, which happened to also be Niko’s birthday.

“I’ve tried, man. I’ve tried really, really hard. To not touch on s–t. To let it go, to be the bigger person, to be mature,” McKnight Jr. said in an Instagram Story post, per Complex. “But the shit going on with my dad right now, man. If y’all aren’t seeing what’s happening. If y’all aren’t seeing the fact that this is just a very hurt, and a very emotionally unavailable and not intelligent person that has still not been able to handle the death of his own mother…to decide to make certain posts on my late brother’s birthday?”

In an Instagram Q&A in April, McKnight explained he attempted to get his son, Niko, the best specialists and medical care in the country, but stopped trying to help once his ex-wife, Julie, got involved and allegedly told him to stop.

“Six months ago, we found out about this [Niko’s diagnosis],” he said. “We called him. We talked to him, we talked to his wife. She told us that she was all alone and handling everything all by herself and it became quickly evident to us that since they didn’t have insurance and they didn’t have access to the proper doctors, naturally, we jumped into action.”

The 56-year-old added: “So what are we doing? We’re adhering to her wishes because that’s what she wanted and we’re staying out of it.”

Watch the harrowing clip below:

Taylor Swift may not be “hot” anymore in the eyes of the president, but even his own White House press secretary can’t get enough of the pop star’s tunes.

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Shortly after Spotify rolled out its annual Wrapped features on Wednesday (Dec. 3), Karoline Leavitt shared a screenshot of her top five artists of 2025 on her Instagram Story. Though the first four were Morgan Wallen and Christian music stars Forrest Frank, Brandon Lake and Anne Wilson, one notably liberal pop star stood out at No. 5: Swift.

Without acknowledging the 14-time Grammy winner’s place on her ranking, the communications specialist simply added a cowboy hat, cross and music note emojis to the post.

Though she might be one of Swift’s more surprising listeners, Leavitt is far from the only one this year. The Eras Tour headliner closed out 2025 as Spotify’s most-streamed artist in the United States, as well as the second-most-listened-to artist in the world, just behind Bad Bunny.

Those stats certainly contradict President Donald Trump’s claim earlier this year that Swift isn’t as popular as she once was. “Has anyone noticed that, since I said ‘I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT,’ she’s no longer ‘HOT?’” he wrote on Truth Social in May.

The twice-impeached POTUS has also indicated that Swift’s vocal support of Democratic politicians and her opposition to the Trump administration would cause Republican fans to boycott her music. In September, after the singer endorsed his opponent, Kamala Harris, for the presidency, Trump said, “I was not a Taylor Swift fan. It was just a question of time … She’s a very liberal person, she seems to always endorse a Democrat, and she’ll probably pay a price for it in the marketplace.”


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For 39 years, the annual Footwear News Achievement Awards (FNAA), known as the “Shoe Oscars,” have celebrated style icons, compelling brand stories, dedicated philanthropists, rising talents, and seasoned industry leaders. This year stood at the intersection of fashion, culture and innovation, as the FNAA’s highlighted individuals who reshape how the world walks, performs and expresses itself.

On Dec. 3, 2025, in New York City, the star-studded red carpet and gala honored Pharrell Williams, Tommy Hilfiger, Ronnie Fieg, Pete Nordstrom, Coco Gauff, Jordan Brand, among others.

The red carpet buzzed with designers, athletes, musicians and industry leaders, all arriving with their favorite footwear on feet and to acknowledge the impact that sneakers and footwear have on identity, economy and global storytelling.

Footwear has evolved far beyond utility, sneakers are statements, boots are narratives, heels reflect eras, slides, clogs, and slip-ins are proof of how comfort is shaping the modern marketplace and bleeding into everyday life. Last night’s honorees and award recipients demonstrated that craft is no longer confined to factories, it lives in the communities built around product, in the campaigns that resonate, and in the conversations that challenge tradition.

The night had everything, acceptance speeches that sparked dialogue, heartfelt acknowledgments of family and friends, to comedic moments that reminded the room not to take itself too seriously, but there were five core moments that stood out as defining touchpoints that captured the spirit of the evening.

Below you’ll find the highlights from a night that celebrated more than footwear, it celebrated the people, stories and ideas pushing the industry forward.


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With just a few weeks to go until Christmas, Santa Claus is definitely coming to town — and no one is more excited than Laufey.

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On Thursday (Dec. 4), the Grammy-winning jazz-pop star shared an adorable new claymation music video for her cover of “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town.” With creative director Junia Lin and animation director Jennifer Kidd leading the Scale Model Studios production, Laufey’s new music video follows her and Mei Mei the Bunny as they ready their wish lists for Santa Claus.

Beginning with Laufey letting out a jolly “ho ho ho!” at the piano, the whimsical “Santa” video features her and Mei Mei examining a “naughty, nice & extra nice” list, dancing by the fireside, turning Christmas tree tinsel into levitation powers, and making snow angels and ice skating outside. By the video’s close, Laufey and Mei Mei finally catch a glimpse of Ole Saint Nick.

“Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” appears on Laufey’s A Very Laufey Holiday project, an ever-expanding EP she first launched in 2022. Now comprised of seven songs, A Very Laufey Holiday has reached No. 3 on Independent Albums and No. 5 on Jazz Albums.

Laufey added her latest cover to the EP on Nov. 5, just two days before she nabbed her second career Grammy nomination. Already a winner in this category, Laufey will compete in best traditional pop vocal album at the 2026 Grammys with A Matter of Time. Her third studio album, Time reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and soundtracked its accompanying A Matter of Time tour, which visited arenas across North America and Europe.

Next year, Laufey is set to release her first book, Mei Mei the Bunny, under Penguin Random House. The 32-page children’s picture book will follow Mei Mei’s journey to her very first recital.

Watch Laufey and Mei Mei enjoy the holiday season in the “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” music video below:

No matter how quick the wit, no stand-up comic starts out a success. Forget the top: on the way to the bottom rung, comics need to endure endless open-mic tryouts, log thousands of miles for little or no money and be thankful for 1:00 a.m. slots in front of drunken hecklers. And that’s just for starters. The further up the ladder they climb, the more pressure they face to consistently write and hone hour-plus sets that will power tours, specials and social media. Increasingly, they also choose to engage in a weekly form of digital improv known as the podcast.   

As the first quarter of the 21st century comes to an end, Billboard set out to determine the best of that A-list: the top 25 stand-up comics of the last 25 years. To come up with these rankings, we polled experts that work with comics on a daily basis. 

The panel consists of William Burdett-Coutts, who heads the Assembly venues at the Edinburgh Fringe festival; Michael Cox, stand-up booker for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon; Adam Eget, booker at Joe Rogan’s Comedy Mothership in Austin, Tx, and before that, the Comedy Store in Los Angeles; Bruce Hills, who, for 36 years booked and eventually ran Montreal’s Just For Laughs festival; Caroline Hirsch, the founder of Caroline’s Comedy Club and co-founder of the New York Comedy Festival; brothers Chris Mazzilli and Steve Mazzilli, owners of the Gotham Comedy Club in Manhattan; Patrick Milligan, the booker and proprietor of The Stand NYC comedy club; Susan Provan, director of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival; and Samantha Schles, director of comedy at the SXSW Festival. (Billboard‘s parent company, PMC, owns a 50% stake in SXSW.)

Thanks to all our panelists for taking time out of their hectic schedules to participate. (And special thanks to Hill, who provided valuable advice on voting parameters, helped create a well-rounded and authoritative judges panel and generously provided means to contact them.) 

The process began with our panel helping put together a ballot of more than 150 nominees. The talent pool was limited to comedians with active stand-up careers over the last 25 years — as opposed to sketch, sitcom, film or improvisational performers, such as the cast of Saturday Night Live, Second City or Upright Citizens Brigade. Overseas comedians with a presence in the United States were also considered.  

From there, the judges each ranked their top 25 comics. Voting was anonymous, and a weighted system was used to determine the top 25. As a number of judges remarked when returning their ballots, winnowing such a large batch of nominees was extremely difficult. There are a lot of exceptional stand-up comics out there.  

For the next week, Billboard will present the results of the voting — the top 25 stand-up comedians of the last 25 years — in ascending order, five at a time, with the complete list unveiled on Friday (Dec. 5).  
Nos. 25 through 6 follow below.