Elton John has called time on full-scale touring. That hasn’t changed, but he’s still standing, he’s done almost a dozen private shows this year, and he’s cracking on with new music.

The legendary British pop artist spoke with Variety for a dive into his philanthropy and fundraising efforts for HIV/AIDS, his love of Chappell Roan, his own health problems, and the road ahead.

Creating music, well, he’s not turning his back on it anytime soon.

“But I tell you what,” he insists, “I’m singing better than I’ve ever done before, and I’m playing really well, and I’m enjoying it, and that is helping me a lot.”

Elton’s farewell tour wrapped up in 2023, Almost five years after launching, the Farewell Yellow Brick Road jaunt grossed $939.1 million and sold 6 million tickets according to figures reported to Billboard Boxscore.

These days, Elton still puts his hand up for the occasional one-off show, including his recent headlining spot in Singapore for the F1 Grand Prix, and for TV specials, including An Evening With Elton John and Brandi Carlile, produced by Fulwell Entertainment and shot in March at the London Palladium to promote their joint album Who Believes in Angels.

Music has “been my whole life and has given me so much and takes me on journeys that I never thought I would ever go on — and it’s still doing that,” John explains. “I just like doing the odd thing. It pays the rent very well, and it keeps me musical. I just can’t wait to go into the studio now and write some new songs and go from there.”

Elton is battling with vision problems, but he has a workaround — a teleprompter — and his friends from the music community are never far away, with offerings of encouragement, love and support.

“Paul McCartney FaceTimes me to see how I’m doing. It’s really beautiful,” he enthuses. “The love I’ve received from him and from Pete Townshend and Mick Jagger and people like that have been amazing. Or you get an email from Keith Richards saying, ‘Hello, darling, how you doing? You know we love you,’ and that’s it, but it just makes my day.”

A followup to Who Believes in Angels, which went to No. 1 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart and cracked the top 10 on the Billboard 200, might not be far away.

Elton has “seven new lyrics” from longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin. And “they’re really, really good, so I can’t wait to go in the studio with Andrew [Watt, his recent favorite producer] and just write and see what happens.”

It was Elton who presented Taupin with the Musical Excellence Award at the 2023 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. John was inducted in the Rock Hall class of 1994.

Who Believes in Angels? debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard 200 chart dated April 19, marking the 22nd top 10 for John and fourth for Carlile. In his homeland, Angels gave Elton a landmark 10th U.K. chart leader, and a first for Carlile.

When Dom Dolla touches down in Australia, massive things happen.

The EDM star made a whirlwind visit to his homeland last week for the 2025 ARIA Awards, where he collected best dance/electronic release (with “Dreamin” featuring DAYA), his third consecutive win in that category, and global impact recipient award, becoming the first-ever recipient.

At the tail end of 2024, Dom (real name Dominic Matheson) played to 170,000 fans across four shows, the biggest-ever tour by an Australian electronic artist. 

Later this year, another entry for the history books. On Dec. 20, he’ll return to the scene of his ARIAs wins with a show at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium, next door to Hordern Pavilion, for what will mark the first time an Australian electronic music artist has played a stadium in these parts.

“Oh man, I’m so excited,” Dom exclusively tells Billboard.com. “We’re really taking the show to the next level. Can’t give away too much, but I’m pumped about how it’s all coming together. The goal is simple – turn a stadium into a nightclub.”

Untitled Group was behind the record-smashing 2024 trek, and the forthcoming open-air spectacle.

Dom has been in the fast lane throughout 2025, during which time he completed residences in Ibiza and Las Vegas; sold-out multiple dates at Madison Square Garden; pumped the party at some of the world’s best-known festivals, and realized a dream with “No Room For a Saint”, his contribution to F1: The Movie.

“There’s no slowing down next year, that’s for sure,” Dom enthuses. The year ahead will include “a few first tours in places like Asia and Latin America which I’m really excited about. And I’ve been writing a ton of new music lately, so I can’t wait to start sharing more of that with everyone soon.”

Next up, a headline spot at 808 Festival in Bangkok, Thailand. Following the Allianz Stadium date, Dom joins Australia’s Beyond The Valley and Wildlands festivals, followed by shows in Japan, Argentina, Colombia, New Zealand, Netherlands and elsewhere.  

Might a Dom Dolla artist album emerge from that wealth of new material?

“Right now,” he continues, “I’m just writing as much music as I can. An album might not be right around the corner, but I can promise there’ll be a lot more music next year. I’m really excited about what’s been cooking.”

Lainey Wilson logs her ninth top 10 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart dated Nov. 29, as “Somewhere Over Laredo” rises 11-9. The track pulls 4.1 million official United States streams (up 3%), 24.6 million in radio audience (up 8%) and 1,000 in sales (up 36%) during the Nov. 14-20 tracking week, per Luminate.

Wilson co-wrote the Jay Joyce-produced track, which interpolates 1939’s iconic “Over the Rainbow.”

The Baskin, Louisiana, native is quickly growing her footprint among country’s most successful women. Of the top 100 artists by count of top 10s on Hot Country Songs in the last 10 years, Wilson’s nine tie her with Maren Morris for third among solo women behind Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood, who have logged 17 and 10, respectively. Including ties for fifth (Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan’s 15), eighth (Blake Shelton, Dan + Shay and Florida Georgia Line’s 11), and ninth (Carrie Underwood and Old Dominion’s 10), Wilson places comfortably in the top quarter overall at No. 10, tying both Maren Morris and Cole Swindell. Narrow the lens to the last five years and her rise looks even sharper: Wilson trails only Swift among solo women and places fourth overall behind Morgan Wallen (37), Luke Combs and Taylor Swift (14 tie) and Zach Bryan (13).

Kelsea Ballerini, meanwhile, makes her own Hot Country Songs impression with two titles. She bows at No. 36 with “Emerald City” (2.9 million streams). The track sits just behind “I Sit in Parks,” which rises 14% (37-32) and logs 3.3 million streams. Both appear on Mount Pleasant, her new six-song EP, which opens at No. 9 on Top Country Albums with 13,000 equivalent album units. “Emerald City” becomes Ballerini’s 24th charted title on the list, seven of which have made the top 10 since 2015’s breakthrough “Love Me Like You Mean It.”

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Black Friday savings are here and the good news is that many of the deals these days continue through Black Friday weekend and into Cyber Monday.

A number of electronics brands have discounted their top tech products this week, with our shopping editors spotting deals on Apple, Beats by Dre, Bose, Samsung and Sony products, among others. We’ve also spotted savings of up to 50% off on top-rated TVs, turntables, soundbars and speakers. Many of these electronics deals feature products that are being discounted for the first time this year, making this weekend a great time to snag say, those wireless earbuds or smart home device you’ve been eyeing.

What Are the Best Black Friday Electronics Deals to Shop?

From a $98 name-brand TV to savings on the all-new AirPods, we’ve rounded up the best tech and electronics deals to shop this Black Friday. Quantities are starting to run out so we recommend adding to cart now.

SAVE $30 OFF

Apple AirPods Pro 3 Wireless Earbuds

$219.99 $249.00 12% off

Buy Now On Amazon

Apple’s latest AirPods Pro model was just released in September but they’re already discounted on Amazon for Black Friday. Regularly $249, Amazon’s Black Friday sale has the new AirPods for just $219.99. The wireless earbuds boast active noise cancellation technology, heart rate sensing and even live translation capabilities. Read our full review here.

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SAVE $20 OFF

OneOdio Bluetooth Over Ear Headphones

$29.99 $49.99 40% off

Buy Now On Amazon

These fold-down headphones are on sale for just $29 and available in multiple colors (including a sleek black or silver colorway, in addition to the pink-tone pair seen here). Get up to 110 hours of playtime and big, deep sound from the 50mm drivers. These are great for listening to music, watching movies and gaming too.

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SAVE $170 OFF

Beats Studio Pro Premium Wireless Over-Ear Headphones

$169.95 $349.99 51% off

Buy Now On Amazon

If you’ve been debating whether or not to pick up a pair of these Beats headphones, now’s the time to do it. Amazon has the Beats Studio Pro Over-Ear Headphones discounted to just $169 — more than 50% off. Get active noise cancellation technology plus up to 40 hours of battery life on a single charge. Four different colors are on sale for Black Friday.

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SAVE $151 OFF

Sony WH-1000XM5 Premium Noise Canceling Headphones

$248.00 $399.99 38% off

Buy Now On Amazon

One of the best Black Friday weekend deals is on the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Headphones — the top-rated noise-cancelling headphones on the market today. Regularly $399+, the headphones are on sale for just $248 — the lowest price we’ve seen for these cans all year. We like this “midnight blue” colorway above, but the headphones deal also comes in black, silver or “smokey pink.” See the deal here.

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SAVE $31 OFF

Portable Wireless Speaker With 24W Loud Stereo Sound

$28.49 $59.99 53% off

Buy Now On Amazon

Get this portable Bluetooth speaker on sale for under $30 during Amazon’s Black Friday electronics sale. The durable boombox-style speaker gets you 24 watts of power plus up to 24 hours of playtime on a single charge. It’s rated IPX6 to be fully waterproof too, and it has built-in lights to really turn up the party.

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SAVE $90 OFF

Marshall Emberton II Portable Bluetooth Speaker

$89.99 $179.99 50% off

Buy Now On Amazon

The Marshall Emberton II portable speaker is down to its lowest price of the year, with a whopping 50% discount during Black Friday. Get 360° sound with Marshall’s “True Stereophonic” technology, which delivers surprisingly crisp and full audio from this portable device. Battery life is strong with up to 30 hours on a single charge. We like this “cream” colorway but four other colors are available online.

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BONUS $25 COUPON

Minolta MN40Z 20MP Digital Camera

$259.89 $329.99 21% off

Buy Now On Amazon

Amazon has this name-brand Minolta digital camera on sale for just $259 right now. What we like: this kit includes everything you need to get started, with the 20MP camera, a carrying strap, storage case, batteries and more.

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SAVE $20 OFF

4K Digital Camera for Photography and Vlogging

$69.99 $89.99 22% off

Buy Now On Amazon

Vloggers and content creators will want to pick up this camera kit, which gets you a digital camera that shoots up to 64MP photos and 4K video, all in a compact design. The set includes the handheld camera, a 32GB SD card, batteries and more.

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SAVE $130 OFF

INSIGNIA 50″ Class F50 Series LED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV

$169.99 $299.99 43% off

Buy Now On Amazon

Looking for a Black Friday TV deal? One of the best values from Amazon’s electronics sale is this 50-inch Fire TV, on sale for just $169. This is an LED TV with 4K display and the set comes with a voice remote that lets you use Alexa to search for channels, adjust volume and more.

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SAVE $210 OFF

Samsung 75″ Class Crystal UHD U7900F 4K Smart TV 

$448 $649 31% off

Buy Now AT WALMART

Walmart’s best Black Friday electronics deal, meantime, gets you a massive 75-inch TV for under $500. This is a brand new 2025 Samsung television set and the lowest price we’ve seen all year. The TV boasts a Crystal Processor 4K display plus Samsung’s “MetalStream Design,” which offers a slim and sleek look.

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SAVE $20 OFF

VIZIO 32” Class HD 720p LED Smart TV 

One of the other top Walmart Black Friday TV deals is on this 32-inch LED Smart TV from VIZIO. Great for a bedroom, dorm room or kitchen, the TV delivers hyper realistic images and bright colors. Apple AirPlay 2 and Google Cast are built-in to let you easily find content to watch.

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SAVE $35 OFF

Amazon Echo Show 5

$54.99 $89.99 39% off

Buy Now On Amazon

All of Amazon’s Alexa-enabled devices are on sale through Black Friday weekend but the best deal is on the Echo Show 5. Normally $89.99+, the tabletop video display and smart speaker is marked down to just $54. The Echo Show 5 lets you check the weather, see your cameras and watch content on its five-inch screen while the camera lets you make video calls with ease. Pair the Echo Show 5 with Alexa to play your music, turn off your lights and more using just your voice.

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FREE $50 GIFT CARD

Meta Quest 3S 128GB — The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners Bundle

$249.99 $299.99 17% off

Buy Now AT BEST BUY

If virtual reality is your thing, gaming company Best Buy is offering a free three-month trial to Meta Horizon+ with a Meta Quest headset purchase and a free $50 digital gift card to BestBuy.com. The sleek, all-in-one headset (which has thousands of five-star reviews) allows you to play the biggest titles and multi-player games, plus find new ways to workout and socialize. This Best Buy exclusive includes “The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners” game, in addition to the bonus gifts mentioned above.

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SAVE $30 OFF

Fitbit Inspire 3 Health & Fitness Tracker With Stress Management

$69.95 $99.95 30% off

Buy Now On Amazon

There are a ton of Fitbit Black Friday deals online, but the best one is on the Fitbit Inspire 3 Fitness Tracker. Regularly 99.95+, the smartwatch is on sale for just $69 — a generous $30 discount.
The Fitbit measures steps, heart rate and blood oxygen levels, plus monitors your stress and sleep. There are a ton of other features with the accompanying Fitbit app. The Fitbit Inspire 3 deal is available in three colors. See all the Fitbit Black Friday offers here.

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SAVE $55 OFF

Retrolife Turntable Belt-Drive Record Player

$104.68 $159.99 35% off

Buy Now On Amazon

One of the best Black Friday record player deals is on this Retrolife Vinyl Turntable Record Player. Regularly $159+, Amazon’s Black Friday sale has it for just $105 — a 35% discount. This is the first discount we’ve seen this season for the top-rated turntable, which features a diamond-tipped stylus, wireless outputs and sturdy and a sophisticated glossy brown base.

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SAVE $56 OFF

ANGELS HORN Bluetooth Vinyl Record Player

$183.98 $239.98 23% off

Buy Now On Amazon

For a more modern look, this jet-black record player is $56 off on Amazon. What we like: while it plays vinyl records, you can also pair your phone or laptop to the turntable via Bluetooth, to use it as a portable speaker.

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SAVE $9 OFF

6-in-1 Vinyl Record Cleaning Kit

$14.99 $23.99 38% off

Buy Now On Amazon

And keep your records (and record player) clean with this 6-in-1 cleaning kit, which includes a duster, anti-static brush, cleaning solution and more. This Black Friday doorbuster deal makes a great holiday gift or stocking stuffer idea too.

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SAVE $40 OFF

Blink HD Video Doorbell

$29.99 $69.99 57% off

Buy Now AT BEST BUY

If you’ve been looking to buy a video doorbell, there’s no better time than Black Friday weekend. The best-selling Blink Video Doorbell is on sale for just $29.99 at Best Buy — a $40 discount. Get two-way audio, HD video, and motion and chime app alerts to better monitor your home and entrance.

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SAVE $61 OFF

Sony S100F 2.0ch Soundbar with Bass Reflex Speaker

$98.00 $159.99 39% off

Buy Now On Amazon

Amazon’s Black Friday electronics sale includes this Sony soundbar for under $100. Get easy Bluetooth pairing with this wireless soundbar, which is ideal for music, TV and movies alike. We like Sony’s “Bass Reflex” feature, which amps up the low end. The voice enhancement feature, meantime, picks up and brings out dialogue to make it clearer and easier to understand.

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Tributes from across the music world are pouring in for Jimmy Cliff, the reggae pioneer whose death was announced earlier this week.

Cliff, 81, died following a seizure and pneumonia, according to a statement shared by his wife, Latifah Chambers, on Monday (Nov. 24). While the family confirmed his passing, artists across genres — dancehall, pop, rock and reggae royalty — are now publicly honoring the singer’s legacy.

Sean Paul was among the first to share a tribute, posting a black-and-white image of Cliff on Instagram and writing, “R.I.P 2 a real general. He hit them the harder they came. Fly high my G.” Fans immediately echoed the sentiment, remembering Cliff as one of the musicians who helped shape the global identity of reggae.

Yusuf/Cat Stevens, whose 1970 song “Wild World” became one of Cliff’s signature recordings, shared a heartfelt message on Facebook. “A powerful presence,” he wrote. “God bless him. His songs always had some message of peace — may he find it now and forever.”

The Marley family also honored him, noting Cliff’s pivotal role in Bob Marley’s early career. “Jimmy was an instrumental figure in Bob’s coming up,” they wrote on Instagram. “He brought him to producer Leslie Kong in 1962 to record his very first singles, ‘Judge Not’ and ‘One Cup of Coffee.’” The post included a smiling throwback photo of Cliff, a reminder of the deep roots the two shared inside Jamaica’s music history.

Shaggy added his own tribute with a photo of the pair onstage together. “Saddened to hear about the passing of the legendary Jimmy Cliff,” he wrote. “His voice, his message, and his spirit helped shape the soul of reggae music. We’ve lost a true icon, but his light and legacy will live on forever.”

UB40 frontman Ali Campbell described Cliff as a “reggae forefather,” writing, “A true foundation, a pillar of our music, and one of the first to carry reggae out into the world. Rest Easy King, ‘Many Rivers to Cross.’”