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Wicked: For Good is coming to theaters on Nov. 21. While we’re still a ways away from the film’s release, you can celebrate early by shopping beauty products from Ulta Beauty’s Wicked section.

That’s right. Ulta has a full-on section of beauty products inspired by Wicked and its upcoming second half, including makeup, haircare, lashes, skincare and even nail polish. The section includes products from major brands like R.E.M. Beauty, Bubble, Kiss, Essie and Conair, among others. ShopBillboard has scoured the section and picked a few of our favorite Wicked-inspired products, from practical to wacky, to help you along your shopping journey. If there’s one thing these brands know how to do, it’s stick to a theme. Who doesn’t love a theme? You can shop our picks below.

'Wicked' at Ulta Beauty: What to Shop From 'Wicked: For Good' Section

Ariana Grande ‘Wicked’ Glinda Bubbly Pink Eau de Parfum

a Wicked-themed perfume.


This Glinda perfume, from Ariana Grande’s fragrance line, is a Floral Gourmand, as you’d expect. The decorative fragrance currently retails for $72. The fragrance’s top notes include pink sparkle apple, blush nectarine and pink pepper, which gives the scent a fruity and slightly peppery hit. The middle notes are straight-up floral with what Grande describes as charming princess tulip and dewy peony. On the bottom, you’ve got creamy cedarwood/blond woods, sandalwood and sugared musks which smell musky and woody, as you’d expect. Added all together this scent is sweet with a hint of something musky and earthy, making the scent more complex.

'Wicked' at Ulta Beauty: What to Shop From 'Wicked: For Good' Section

Kiss FALSCARA X ‘Wicked: For Good’ False Eyelashes, Lash Extension Kit

A Wicked-themed lash extension kit.


If you’re looking for lashes that pop, look no further than Kiss’ FALSCARA X Wicked: For Good False Eyelashes, Lash Extension Kit for $11.99. The kit comes with rows upon rows of flirty lash clusters, some in black, others tinged with gold, along with Wicked-branded glue and tweezers. According to Kiss, these lashes are meant to stay up to 24 hours or up to 14 days, depending on care. This would be a great purchase if you’re planning on adding a little something to your Halloween costume. The kit allows users the freedom to give themselves extensions at home. No booking appointments and no hefty price tags.

'Wicked' at Ulta Beauty: What to Shop From 'Wicked: For Good' Section

Essie Limited Edition ‘Wicked: For Good’ Salon-Quality Nail Polish

A Wicked-inspired nail polish line.


Salon-quality nails have never been easier to achieve with this Essie limited-edition Wicked: For Good salon-quality nail polish. While we’ve specifically picked the Glinda-inspired Bubble of Brilliance shade, there are about five other colors that Wicked fans can choose from, all inspired by moments from the film and the upcoming sequel. Each polish retails for $10 and features salon-quality pigment upon the first pass of your brush. No, it’s not magic, it’s just Essie.

'Wicked' at Ulta Beauty: What to Shop From 'Wicked: For Good' Section

Scünci ‘Wicked’ Glinda Gold Hair Pin

A Glinda-themed hair pin.


Looking to beautify your hair like Glinda? This Scünci Wicked Glinda Gold Hair Pin should do the trick! Retailing for $12, this pin is adorned with a high-shine rhinestone adornment, similar to the sheen of Glinda’s crown. The Wicked-inspired style is simplistic but will elevate any updo thanks to the shiny accents. In case you were wondering, this is a French pin. To use, you’ll want to gather your hair in a twist and insert the pin horizontally into the twist with the curve facing away from your head. The resulting updo is slightly unkempt, relaxed and so chic, a certified French girl style.

'Wicked' at Ulta Beauty: What to Shop From 'Wicked: For Good' Section

Conair ‘Wicked’ Wavy Lighted Mirror

A Wicked-themed beauty mirror.


While we think that specific makeup products are important for successful makeup application, the right tools are priority number one. Set yourself up for success with this Conair Wicked Wavy Lighted Mirror, a collaborative piece retailing for $39.99. The mirror is Elphaba green with a coordinating green gemstone and metallic gold accents. The wavy design is accented by a bright LED light that illuminates every inch of your face while applying makeup or skincare. The mirror also has a 1x magnification, letting users get into the nitty gritty details of every look, from applying perfect winged liner to plucking your brows.

'Wicked' at Ulta Beauty: What to Shop From 'Wicked: For Good' Section

R.E.M. Beauty ‘Wicked’ Emerald City Metallic Eyeliner Set

A set of four Wicked-themed eyeliners.


Ariana Grande’s R.E.M. Beauty launched a whole line of Wicked: For Good-inspired products. While the whole collection is pretty stellar, we’ve picked the Emerald City Metallic Eyeliner Set for its price point and extremely inventive packaging. The set comes with four metallic liners, all for $49. If you’re counting, that’s $12.25 per liner. Shades include Ozmazing, a forest green with gold pearl, Oh, for oz sake!, a deep bronze, Follow the road, a bright gold, and Tin is in, a silver with green and blue reflective pearl. Each liner is a dip-well style equipped with a thin precision brush made for creating bold graphic looks or delicate linework. With one swipe, you’ll be getting a hefty amount of pigment that will make your eyes pop.

'Wicked' at Ulta Beauty: What to Shop From 'Wicked: For Good' Section

Bubble Bubble x ‘Wicked’ Other Half Lip Balm Set

A Wicked-themed lip balm set.


Moisturizing your lips doesn’t have to be boring, and this Bubble x Wicked collaboration proves that. The Other Half Lip Balm Set currently retails for $28 and comes with two balms, a pink for Glinda and green for Elphaba, obviously. Along with your balms, you’ll also receive two matching charms to decorate the product and a keychain bag. The balm’s formula is a carbon copy of Bubble’s best-selling Tell All Lip Balm, just in a decorative package. Each balm is jam-packed with nourishing and hydrating ingredients like chicory root extract to smooth and moringa oil esters to hydrate. You’ve also got sunflower seed wax that gives the balm a soft and lush texture when applied.

'Wicked' at Ulta Beauty: What to Shop From 'Wicked: For Good' Section

Wet Brush ‘Wicked’ 2.0 Detangle and Style Kit

A Wicked-themed detangle brush.


Wet Brush’s detangle brushes went extremely viral for their de-tangling abilities. Now, the brand is bringing Wicked fans a full-on detangling kit that’s here to save your hair for good, pun intended. The kit currently retails for $19.99 and comes with a wet brush and two butterfly-shaped bobbi pins. The secret to Wet Brush’s success? It’s the ultra-soft IntelliFlex bristles that glide through tangles with ease while minimizing pain. The brush itself has been Wicked-afided with a pink, silver and blue print inspired by Glinda.​

'Wicked' at Ulta Beauty: What to Shop From 'Wicked: For Good' Section

Kiss imPRESS X ‘Wicked: For Good’ Press On Nails

Wicked-themed press-on nails.


If you’ve ever looked at Elphaba’s nails and thought to yourself, “Goals,” well, you’re in the right place. We can totally see Elphaba rocking Kiss’ imPRESS X Wicked: For Good Press On Nails for $10.99. The press-on kit gives you a salon-level manicure in moments with help from utterly adorable press-ons in emerald green, a la Elphaba. The coffin-shaped press-ons are equipped with adhesive backing that lasts for up to 10 days. No glue required.

Lourdiz has responded to intense cyberbullying she experienced in the wake of appearing on Cardi B‘s new album Am I The Drama?

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Lourdiz appeared on the album’s 15th track “On My Back,” and apparently has been experiencing a good amount of harassment online as a result. According to a statement shared on her Instagram early Tuesday morning (Oct. 14), a rumor spread that the singer was dead, which was obviously debunked. While she did not specify where the online bullying was coming from, Lourdiz had previously appeared on Nicki Minaj‘s Pink Friday 2, and Nicki and Cardi are currently in the midst of a volatile feud.

“First of all, I’m alive..but I’m shaking while typing this because this is a whole different level of disturbing, and my spirit isn’t sitting right with it right now,” Lourdiz began in her statement. “I’m grateful to have parents who love me and made me mentally strong, but I want to speak up for those who aren’t able to handle situations like this and have no one to turn to.”

Lourdiz proceeded to call out “anyone who condones this behavior,” saying that doing so “speaks volumes about your character.”

“Bullying people or spreading lies about someone being dead is where I draw the line. It’s a deeply sensitive topic, and real people have lost their lives because of this cruelty,” she wrote. “When will people start holding others accountable for what their fanbases do? I don’t stand for this type of behavior and neither should any of you. It’s inhumane and heartbreaking. If you’re capable of this level of hate, please stay far away from me. This kind of harassment isn’t fandom it’s barbarism. Please do better.”

Concluding her post, Lourdiz sent her love to those who have “lost a loved one to cyberbullying,” reminding them that “you’re not alone.”

Check out Lourdiz’s full statement below:


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Michael Archer Jr., the son of D’Angelo and Angie Stone, has issued a statement following the death of his father on Tuesday (Oct. 14), which comes just seven months after the death of his mother.

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“I am grateful for your thoughts and prayers during these very difficult times, as it has been a very rough and sad year for me,” Archer Jr. told People. “I ask that you please continue to keep me in your thoughts as it will not be easy, but one thing that both my parents taught me was to be strong, and I intend to do just that.”

D’Angelo’s family confirmed that the neo-soul icon died at age 51 following a battle with pancreatic cancer. “The shining star of our family has dimmed his light for us in this life,” read the statement, which was shared with Billboard. “After a prolonged and courageous battle with cancer, we are heartbroken to announce that Michael D’Angelo Archer, known to his fans around the world as D’Angelo, has been called home, departing this life today, Oct. 14, 2025.”

Stone, founding member of the trio The Sequence, died at age 63 in a car crash on March 1 after her last performance at Mardi Gras Association’s Grand Marshal’s Ball in Mobile, Alabama. “Unfortunately, at around 4 a.m. while heading back to Atlanta from Alabama, the Sprinter flipped over and was subsequently hit by a big rig. Thankfully, all survived except for Angie,” Walter Millsap, president of Conjuction Entertainment, said in a statement obtained by Billboard.

Archer Jr., who performs under the stage name Swayvo Train, shared an Instagram clip of the “Heart and Neo-Soul (Ginuwine and D’Angelo)” episode of MTV’s Family Legacy, where he and Stone watched one of D’Angelo’s old interviews, specifically when he talked about spending the years between his 1995 debut album Brown Sugar and his 2000 album Voodoo with his family. “I had a son. After his birth, I started writing for the album. And this album is dedicated to my son,” D’Angelo says in the interview. “He inspired me not just to write songs but to be a better man and to grow up. And that’s what the album is about. Music to me is about growth, and I grew a lot.”

When Stone passed away earlier this year, Archer Jr. paid tribute in a heartfelt Instagram post. “Hey mama, I ain’t want nothing, just wanted to say I love you … Im so grateful for the lessons that I learned from you, I hope to one day be as good to my kids as you were to me,” he wrote at the time. “I just wanted to you to know that I got it from here , imma be okay… and imma LONG LIVE YOU 4Ever love you mama.”

Despite a shorter songbook than many of his peers, D’Angelo enshrined a highly regarded, quality-rich discography into the R&B catalog.

The Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and producer, who died Tuesday (Oct. 14) at age 51, joined contemporaries including Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill and Maxwell at the forefront of the neo-soul movement, which focused on recapturing live, thick instrumentation, rich songwriting and weighted, passionate delivery in the vein of its nominal predecessor. With the acts’ ascent in national and international prominence, neo-soul joined new jack swing, the quiet-storm ballads and hip-hop-inspired samples and collaborations as key pillars of the 1990s R&B canon.

D’Angelo, born Michael Archer, made his Billboard chart breakthrough in 1994 as a co-writer and co-producer of the Jason’s Lyric soundtrack cut “U Will Know.” The single was performed by B.M.U. or Black Men United, a one-time collective that included Boyz II Men, Brian McKnight, and Usher, and reached No. 5 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Two years later, he arrived as a solo performer with “Brown Sugar,” another No. 5 success on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and a No. 27 Hot 100 hit. The track’s parent album of the same name, meanwhile, exceeded the song’s highs — pushing to a No. 4 best on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and No. 22 on the Billboard 200 — on the strength of third single “Lady,” his sole top 10 Hot 100 hit (No. 10).

His commercial might peaked with 2000’s Voodoo, which opened at No. 1 on both the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The Prince-like lead single “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” raced to No. 2 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, fueled by big radio support and its steamy, sensual music video that features the shirtless singer performing the track direct-to-camera in a nearly unbroken edit. To complement the chart wins, Voodoo won a Grammy Award for best R&B album and “Untitled” took the prize for best male R&B vocal performance.

Following a nearly 15-year-hiatus, a time marked by personal issues and reduced musical activity, largely limited to occasional touring and features, D’Angelo returned with his third album, Black Messiah, in 2014. It introduced the final Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart hit in his lifetime, the No. 43-peaking “Really Love.”

As fans and industry associates remember and reflect on D’Angelo’s musical legacy, here’s a countdown review of his 10 biggest hits on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

D’Angelo’s biggest hits ranking is based on weekly performance on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart through Oct. 18, 2025. Songs are ranked based on an inverse point system, with weeks at No. 1 earning the greatest value and weeks at lower spots earning the least. Due to changes in chart methodology over the years, eras are weighted differently to account for chart turnover rates during various periods.

Morgan Wallen’s “I Got Better” rises to No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart (dated Oct. 18), becoming his 12th career leader.

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The song pulled 13.2 million official U.S. streams, 31 million in radio audience (up 5% in both metrics) and 1,000 sold (up 10%) Oct. 3–9, according to Luminate. Boosting the song’s reach, its official video premiered Oct. 1.

Here’s a look at Wallen’s dozen Hot Country Songs No. 1s, with “I Got Better” dethroning his own “What I Want” after 20 weeks on top:

  • “I Got Better,” Oct. 18, 2025 (one week to date)
  • “What I Want” feat. Tate McRae, beginning May 31, 2025 (20 weeks)
  • “I’m the Problem,” Feb. 15, 2025 (one)
  • “Love Somebody,” Nov. 2, 2024 (one)
  • “I Had Some Help,” Post Malone feat. Wallen, May 25, 2024 (seven)
  • “Last Night,” Feb. 18, 2023 (25)
  • “You Proof,” May 28, 2022 (19)
  • “Thought You Should Know,” May 21, 2022 (one)
  • “Don’t Think Jesus,” April 30, 2022 (one)
  • “Wasted on You,” Jan. 23, 2021 (11)
  • “7 Summers,” Aug. 29, 2020 (one)
  • “Whiskey Glasses,” May 18, 2019 (two)

Dating to Wallen’s initial week atop Hot Country Songs with the first of his 12 No. 1s, no one else has more than four leaders in that stretch (led by Luke Combs).

“I Got Better” marks Wallen’s fourth Hot Country Songs No. 1 from his album I’m the Problem, the second such feat for the superstar. One Thing at a Time produced as many, with the sets currently placing at Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, on Top Country Albums. Plus, with his Dangerous: The Double Album at No. 3, 11 of his 12 Hot Country Songs leaders appear on projects in the album chart’s top three spots.

Combs Drops ‘The Prequel’

Luke Combs claims the top three ranks on Country Digital Song Sales, all with new debuts: “Days Like These” (No. 1; 2,800 sold), “My Kinda Saturday Night” (No. 2; 2,700 sold) and “15 Minutes” (No. 3; 2,100 sold). The songs arrived Oct. 3, collectively packaged under the title The Prequel. He ups his totals to 11 No. 1s and 45 top 10s on the chart.

“Days Like These” concurrently opens at No. 25 on Hot Country Songs, also via 4.3 million streams, and “15 Minutes” enters at No. 46 (2.6 million).

Combs’ current radio-promoted single, “Back in the Saddle,” rises 8-7 for a new Hot Country Songs high. It rides 8-5 on Country Airplay (23.9 million in audience, up 7%).


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Kevin Federline is speaking out about Britney Spears, whose parenting and mental health he calls into question in newly published excerpts from his upcoming memoir, You Thought You Knew.

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In snippets from the book shared by The New York Times on Tuesday (Oct. 14), the actor writes about his fears that his superstar ex-wife’s wellbeing is at stake and questions whether the termination of her conservatorship in 2021 was the right call. “The truth is, this situation with Britney feels like it’s racing toward something irreversible,” Federline expresses in one of the chapters.

“It’s become impossible to pretend everything’s OK,” he continues. “From where I sit, the clock is ticking, and we’re getting close to the 11th hour. Something bad is going to happen if things don’t change, and my biggest fear is that our sons will be left holding the pieces.”

Spears and Federline got married in 2004 and finalized their divorce in 2007. They share two sons — 20-year-old Sean and 19-year-old Jayden.

Elsewhere in You Thought You Knew, Federline alleges that his former partner previously demonstrated shocking behavior toward their kids. “They would awaken sometimes at night to find her standing silently in the doorway, watching them sleep — ‘Oh, you’re awake?’ — with a knife in her hand,” he writes. “Then she’d turn around and pad off without explanation.”

A representative for Spears, however, dismissed Federline’s claims in a statement shared with Billboard. “With news from Kevin’s book breaking, once again he and others are profiting off [Britney],” the spokesperson wrote. “Sadly it comes after child support has ended with Kevin. All she cares about are her kids, Sean Preston and Jayden James and their well-being during this sensationalism. She detailed her journey in her memoir [The Woman in Me].”

Federline’s memoir is set to hit shelves on Oct. 21. On Tuesday night, he’ll give his only televised interview about the project via Entertainment Tonight; in a teaser for the upcoming conversation, Federline explained that he feels he needs to “sound the alarm” on his ex-wife’s alleged ongoing mental health issues.

“I’ve never, ever, once, been against Britney,” he adds in his memoir, according to the published excerpts. “I’ve only tried to help my sons have an incredible relationship with their mother. And it’s hard because when I really reflect on everything that’s happened — my kids do not know the woman that I married. And I’ve spent two decades trying to bridge that gap.”

Federline’s shocking claims come as Spears has been open about trying to nurture her relationship with her kids, who were placed in their father’s custody following the two stars’ split. In 2023, the boys moved with Federline to Hawaii.

On Christmas 2024, Spears shared that she got to spend quality time with Jayden after a long separation. “Best Christmas of my life !!! I haven’t seen my boys in 2 years !!!” she wrote on Instagram at the time. “Tears of joy and literally in shock everyday koo koo crazy so in love and blessed !!! I’m speechless thank you Jesus !!!”

This past year, the pop star has shared additional photos of herself and Jayden.


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He made history again: Alok marked his name on the Tomorrowland timeline by breaking his own Latin American record, taking more than 1,000 drones to the skies of Tomorrowland Brazil in Itu, São Paulo, on Sunday (Oct. 12).

The machines created images of the mother flower — the “LIFE”-themed flower that sits center stage on the Tomorrowland main stage — as well as the Alok and Tomorrowland symbols, and a robotic face that moved as a voice interacted with the audience. The phrase “Rave the World” also formed in the sky.

“You are now forever connected by the universal melody of LIFE,” Alok wrote on Instagram alongside a video of the drone show. “United through the magical energy of friendship. Thank you, for writing history. Live Today, Love Tomorrow, Unite Forever.”

The crowd gathered at the main stage admired the brightness of the drones that fit in perfectly with the Brazilian DJ’s set.

In 2024, Alok created a show unlike any other in the festival’s history — not even in the Belgian edition. He sent 600 drones flying over Maeda Park, creating images related to Tomorrowland‘s universe and its identity. The set was voted best performance of 2024 by the Electronic Dance Music Awards (EDMAs) and celebrated by Brazilians as one of the most iconic moments of the festival’s 20 years.

This year, the Brazilian star raised the bar with more than a thousand drones choreographed and synchronized with fireworks, lasers and lights.

The show was the result of a collaboration between Alok’s creative team and Tomorrowland’s production.

Tomorrowland Brasil 2025.

Tomorrowland Brasil 2025.

Courtesy

While A-list artists are set for Billboard Latin Music Week 2025 — including Daddy Yankee, Kali Uchis, Carín León, Laura Pausini, Gloria Estefan, Ozuna and Pablo Alborán — the week-long event is also gearing up for marquee conversations with top industry executives and key networking roundtables, in addition to its celebrated Billboard En Vivo event.

Returning to The Fillmore Miami Beach from Oct. 20 to 24, Latin Music Week — which coincides with the 2025 Billboard Latin Music Awards, set to air Thursday, Oct. 23, on Telemundo and Peacock — will feature important conversations that explore new ways music is consumed and promoted today. Below, check out these “out of the box” panels you cannot miss during the 2025 conference, all taking place at The Fillmore Miami Beach.

For full schedule and ticket information, visit Billboard Latin Music Week’s website

BRESH & Zumba: Dancing Up The Charts

Bresh

Bresh

Courtesy of Fiesta Bresh

When: 9:45 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 20

Who: Atella, head of music at Zumba and Bröder, DJ and creative director at BRESH

What: With parties and fitness classes, the two lifestyle companies have become global tastemakers and coveted promotional vehicles. 

The Influencer Effect presented by L’Oreal

Paola Ruiz at the Billboard Latin Music Week 2025 Press Conference on September 18, 2025 in Miami, Florida.

Paola Ruiz at the Billboard Latin Music Week 2025 Press Conference on September 18, 2025 in Miami, Florida.

Gustavo Caballero

When: 1:15 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 20

Who: Social media influencers Karime Pindter, La Segura, Mario Ruiz, and Pao Ruiz

What: Four of the buzziest social media personalities of today will gather to discuss how content creators have become critical to music marketing.

The Globalization of Latin Touring presented by Live Nation

Rauw Alejandro

Rauw Alejandro

Marco Perretta

When: 2:35 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 20

Who: Jorge Garcia, Global tour promoter at Live Nation; Leizer Guss Guss, Director of festivals at OCESA; and Mac Clark, Agent at CAA

What: A candid conversation on how Latin artists are touring beyond the U.S. and Latin America, and how Latin America has become a key destination for other international acts.

Power of Podcasters

Alofoke

Alofoke

Marcos Duarte Santana

When: 11:40 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 22

Who: Alofoke, Dimelo King, Leo Rojas of “Escuela de Nada,” and Molusco

What: Your favorite hosts sit down for a conversation on the growing impact of podcasts in media, music, and beyond. 

You know the numbers by now, right? Taylor Swift‘s The Life of a Showgirl made history this week by officially moving 4.002 million units in its debut week of release, with 3,479,500 of those coming in sales — both single-week records for an album released in the modern era (since 1991).

Showgirl passes Adele’s 25, which previously held both benchmarks — moving 3.482 million units in its 2015 debut week, with 3.378 million of that number coming in sales. In addition setting those records while debuting atop the Billboard 200, Showgirl launches all 12 of its tracks into the top 12 of the Billboard Hot 100 — also a record for top-end dominance — as lead single and opening track “The Fate of Ophelia” bows at No. 1, becoming Swift’s 13th song to reign on the chart.

How has she managed to set so many new records with this album? And how has she done it at a time when none of her peers seem able to even get within striking distance of her numbers? Billboard staffers answer these questions and more below.

1. Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl debuts with 3,479,500 in first-week sales and 4.002 million first-week equivalent album units, beating both first-week records for the modern pop era, previously held by Adele’s 25. What’s the word that first comes to mind when you consider this level of accomplishment? 

Eric Renner Brown: Complicated. Swift’s accomplishment is a major feat, of course. But comparing Showgirl‘s release with 25’s is simply apples to oranges. The ways listeners consume new music has changed drastically in the last decade – and Swift has, to her credit, savvily navigated that. Still, Swift’s straight sales edged Adele’s by only about 100,000, and Adele didn’t have the wind of myriad vinyl variants in her sales sails. And while Swift’s equivalent album units figure includes streaming, Adele initially withheld 25 from streaming. When it comes to the charts, changing modes of distribution and consumption can make comparing artists from different eras challenging: What does one make of Future having three times more Hot 100 entries than The Beatles?

Hannah Dailey: Destiny. I think that Taylor was always going to achieve this record one way or another. I don’t think she ever would have stopped working for it until she got it. As astonishing as these numbers are, they’re the culmination of decades of Taylor working her a– off to get to this moment. Whether it was with Showgirl or not, she was always going to take it at some point.  

Kyle Denis: Cool. Seeing two all-time records fall in one week is an incredible moment, but I think I’m too aware of the sweat it took to make this moment possible for me to just sit back in awe. And I wish it was for a better album. 

Danielle Pascual: Incomparable. I’m confident that no other artist alive right now can do these numbers. In the age of streaming, surpassing even one million in album sales is a feat to be celebrated. Selling more than three times that in 2025 speaks to the power of the fanbase Taylor has carefully curated over the past near two decades since her debut. When a world of music is right at your fingertips thanks to DSPs, artists must have a following that truly supports them to have fans go out of their way to buy an album (let alone multiple). With the success of her Taylor’s Versions and the Eras Tour, we’ve already known Taylor to be in a league of her own — but with Showgirl, the ball’s been hit to another galaxy.

Andrew Unterberger: Wrong-proving? Pre-release week, I had several conversations where I said that there was next to no chance of her to break Adele’s first-week record. And that was no knock on Taylor Swift at all, just a recognition of the reality of the situation, which still included Swift falling way short of those totals with the 31-track expanded Tortured Poets at (seemingly) the absolute peak of her popularity, and now coming back with a 12-tracks-only effort where she seemed to have other priorities in mind. But it’s not the first time Swift has reorganized what I previously believed industry realities to be, and I’m confident it won’t be the last.

2. After Swift’s Tortured Poets Department, released at the peak of Eras Tour mania, still fell well short of the Adele first-week records, many thought they might remain beyond her grasp. What do you see as the biggest factor behind her seizing them with this album? 

Eric Renner Brown: Quite frankly, I do not know. For the last several years, every day has felt like Peak Taylor Swift – but even so, April 2024, when Tortured Poets dropped, felt like the true pinnacle of her cultural omnipresence. Did Showgirl surpass Tortured Poets because Swift touted her long-awaited reunion with producers Max Martin and Shellback? Did her recent engagement to Travis Kelce buoy its numbers? Had fans’ wallets finally recovered from the damage done by the Eras Tour merch table? None of these feel substantial enough to totally explain Showgirl outstripping Tortured Poets to such a degree.

Hannah Dailey: I think it was very smart of Taylor to make the Eras Tour such a crucial part of The Life of a Showgirl’s brand, from marketing the album as a behind-the-scenes peek at her life on the road to singing about her experiences on stage with Sabrina Carpenter on the album’s title track. TTPD may have come out during the tour, but Showgirl is the album embodiment of the tour – and even nearly a year after it wrapped, people are still obsessed with all things Eras, meaning that a whole album dedicated to that chapter of Taylor’s life was always going to do phenomenally. 

Kyle Denis: I think capitalizing on post-Eras Tour momentum with another new album, tying Showgirl to her engagement and the beginning of the NFL season, and, of course, putting out seemingly infinite variants of the album are the biggest factors behind Swift seizing Adele’s first-week records. She also made herself incredibly visible throughout release week, appearing on late-night shows on both sides of the pond. It also worth noting that Showgirl tracks were unable to be individually purchased during release week, theoretically spurring more listeners to buy or stream the full 12-track album. 

Danielle Pascual: I think it has a lot to do with the rollout. Because Tortured Poets was released at the height of the Eras Tour, Taylor didn’t really have time to go out and promote the album since her focus was probably on her 3.5 hour stadium shows. On the other hand, since she announced The Life of a Showgirl on her now-fiancé’s podcast in mid-August, it has been all systems go on album promo. From Taylor’s return to radio and late-night interviews to brand activations and more, TS12 has completely infiltrated the mainstream in a way that TS11 did not.

Andrew Unterberger: If this were any other artist, we’d probably saying “well OF COURSE the 12-track set of pop bangers is doing way better than the 16-or-31-track set of tortured poetry.” Maybe we should just be saying it with Swift too.

3. Of Swift’s last two lead singles, “Anti-Hero” reigned on the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks, while “Fortnight” with Post Malone reigned for two. Which length of rule do you think the run for “The Fate of Ophelia,” which bows atop the listing this week, will more closely resemble? 

Eric Renner Brown: For much of this year, the upper echelon of the Hot 100 has felt stagnant – which means a Swift takeover could last longer than the brief blink-and-you-miss-it No. 1s we sometimes see in the streaming era. At the same time, Showgirl has felt more siloed off from the broader culture – as much as a multi-million-selling album can feel that way – than Swift’s other recent output. It’s easy to imagine Swift’s fans holding “Ophelia” and other songs from this album in high esteem, even as they fail to seize the zeitgeist like her previous hits have. Especially without another Post-caliber star in the mix, I don’t anticipate “Ophelia” clocking multiple weeks at the top.

Hannah Dailey: Both of my predictions for “Anti-Hero” and “Fortnight” turned out to be wrong, but if I have to guess, I’ll say that “The Fate of Ophelia” will have a No. 1 run that’s more similar to the latter – if only because of how little the Hot 100 top 10 has changed this year. Even when new songs have come for the crown, a lot of them have only remained briefly at the top before falling back behind the top 10’s longterm residents in 2025. 

Kyle Denis: Definitely “Fortnight.” “Ophelia” isn’t nearly as hooky as “Anti-Hero,” and that song already wasn’t as catchy as Taylor’s Red and 1989 pop hits. KPop Demon Hunters’ “Golden” also clearly isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. 

Danielel Pascual: “Anti-Hero.” I’m not so sure “The Fate of Ophelia” will beat eight weeks at No. 1, but I think it will come close. Her latest lead single sounds more like the radio-ready single we’ve come to expect from Swift’s pop projects. Despite the A-list feature of Post Malone on “Fortnight,” the song was a sonic departure for Swift. Timing-wise, I do think the Eras Tour overshadowed that single, whereas now, Taylor can put all her energy into promoting “Ophelia.” If she wanted this to be her biggest No. 1, she could undoubtedly do it.

Andrew Unterberger: I hope it’s more like “Fortnight,” since “Ophelia” is one of my least-favorite Taylor Swift singles. (Actually can we get a longer run for the somehow-highly-underrated “Fortnight” retroactively instead?) But I’d guess it ends up being more like “Anti-Hero” — the streaming numbers are still too gargantuan, and radio is only just starting to get going with the song, with every reason in the world to continue embracing it.

4. The most staggering thing about Taylor Swift moving four million units of an album in one week in 2025 might be that no other artist has even moved one million — and only Adele herself has come particularly close. What do you think is the biggest reason why Swift has separated herself from the pack so dramatically? 

Eric Renner Brown: In the year 2025, Taylor Swift has a remarkably high floor. Her gaudy sales numbers mirror her Eras Tour live statistics, which were similarly Barry-Bonds-on-steroids margins beyond other successful stadium artists. Her popularity feels more akin to the monocultural stars of yesteryear than any of her “peers” today. But when considering the sheer distance by which she has surpassed the rest of pop’s A-list, I do credit some of it to her savvy – to put it uncynically – navigation of how records are sold today. Granted, plenty of other major artists today use things like vinyl variants to bolster their numbers, without attaining Swift’s success; in a world where Swift offers a more limited range of purchasing options, I bet she still healthily trumps Adele and all other challenges, just not by such a staggering margin.

Hannah Dailey: She puts so much effort into turning each of her albums into their own miniature brands. The variants, the visuals, the exclusive photos and poems. Her album sales numbers are consistently wild because she consistently gives fans so many different goodies to get their hands on — and most importantly, she makes it fun for them to do so. Swifties truly want to live inside these album worlds Taylor creates, and where there’s demand, she always knows how to supply. 

Kyle Denis: Her willingness to sweat and play the game. Musically, Showgirl is tailor-made for mass appeal. The song structures and melodies are familiar; the production is largely inoffensive, and any pop radio station can play these lyrics. She also isn’t aligning herself with — or explicitly calling out — a sociopolitical movement. When you combine all of this with Swifty’s nifty marketing mind (30+ variants with exclusive mixes, BTS voice notes, early demos, etc.), you end up with an album and a campaign specifically engineered for mass consumption.

But it also takes a committed fanbase with the buying power to pull this off, and Taylor has conditioned an army of consumers who trust her ability to deliver quality material (to their ears, at least) and believe in the virtues of collecting and investing in the never-ending lore of her career. She’s completely committed her focus to securing the biggest first-week totals possible, and that’s a level of tenacity that a lot of her peers don’t seem to be interested in leaning into. 

Danielle Pascual: No other artist has had anything like the Eras Tour. With it, she brought together die-hard fans and casual listeners, who’ve all come to realize how big of a role her music has had on so much of their lives. Now, it’s been 10 months since that final show, and people are still talking about its impact. Showgirl was introduced as an album that gives fans a look behind the Eras Tour curtain, so attendees of that tour were eager to not just relive the magic but learn more about Taylor’s thought processes during such a whirlwind time of her career.

Andrew Unterberger: It’s pretty hard to point to one thing — it’s more 15-plus years of savvy creative and business decisions building on one another and paying off in a way we’ve simply never seen before. It’s amazing that Taylor Swift has gotten to this point, but it’s not totally shocking: Even as a teenager, you could tell she was playing the long game with her music, always looking to the future and how to continue growing her audience, her profile and her artistry to the point where she is now not just flop-proof, but able to make the other biggest pop stars in the world look like DIY bedroom-pop artists by comparison. She has, in fact, told us that she is a mastermind.

5. Make a prediction: Will Taylor have another album eventually sell more than 4.002 million in a week? 

Eric Renner Brown: Probably! If Showgirl has proven anything, it’s that even in a year where Swift feels less in the zeitgeist (relatively speaking), she can still do mind-boggling – record-breaking, even – numbers. If there’s a future album campaign where she combines Showgirl-esque release mastery with an acclaimed, chart-dominating pre-release single, it’s easy to imagine that album surpassing Showgirl’s sales marks.

Hannah Dailey: Yes. There’s no reason to doubt that she’ll keep topping herself at this point – she always, always proves that she can.  

Kyle Denis: What the hell, sure. 

Danielle Pascual: Yes. When Showgirl was first announced, I didn’t think she could surpass the 2.61 million units moved with Tortured Poets — and clearly I was wrong. Although Taylor’s chart dominance isn’t new, I don’t think it’s over yet. Her next album will be her 13th, and since that’s her favorite number, she’s got to go big or go home, right?

Andrew Unterberger: Yes. Which still feels impossible, of course, but I simply refuse to get burned betting the under with Taylor Swift again.


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If there’s one thing that Grammy award-winning musician Chris Stapleton takes seriously, it’s his cowboy-boot game.

The Kentucky native is a longtime lover of the silhouette, specifically styles from Lucchese Bootmaker. The “Tennessee Whiskey” singer often keeps the brand’s shirts in his tour outfit rotation. It makes perfect sense, then, that Stapleton would want to collaborate with the brand on a second capsule, expanding upon his first collection of sold-out styles from 2023 to give his fans a chance at walking in his shoes.

The second collaborative endeavor with Lucchese Bootmaker launched Tuesday (Oct. 14) on the brand’s website and features three cowboy boot silhouettes and a button-up long sleeve, the first of its kind for both parties. You’ve got all new colorways and exotic leathers married with good craftsmanship, a factor that is important to both collaborating parties. These styles, down to the apparel, are a great fit for the fall season and an easy way to diversify your wardrobe. The boots are a splurge item, but one we can see our readers getting lots of milage out of. Keep reading to shop our favorite picks from Lucchese Bootmaker and Chris Stapleton’s latest collection.

Chris Stapleton's Lucchese Bootmaker Collection: What to Buy

Old Friend in Chocolate

Chocolate brown cowboy boots.


Chris Stapleton's Lucchese Bootmaker Collection: What to Buy

The Original Exotic

Tan cowboy boots.


First up on our list is the Old Friend silhouette, currently retailing for $695. The boot comes in two new colorways, Chocolate and Gray. The boot is said to be a nod to Stapleton’s songwriting heroes and what he calls the “songwriters’ uniform.” The style features a 12-inch quarter and French toe accompanied by textural suede vamps, a beloved fabric for fall. (Pro tip: When we talk about quarters, we’re talking about the height of the boot shaft. That height will determine where the boot will sit on your leg.) A subtle block heel rounds out the set, offering the wearer a subtle lift. The silhouette is vintage-inspired with a nod to classic Italian tailoring, giving it that classy meets country vibe.

Next up, we’ve got the Original Exotic for $3,995, one of the more expensive options on our list. The boot comes in two new colorways, Anthracite Grey and Cognac. The silhouette is one pulled directly from Lucchese’s archive for the vintage vibe. The silhouette was made with American Alligator leather — hence the price tag — and modified with shorter 11-inch quarters to provide that lived-in feel. The Cognac hue is perfect for fall and versatile. Alligator leather is durable, something you want in your cowboy boots. The fabric is known for its strength and flexibility, often outlasting traditional leathers such as cowhide if taken care of properly. These are an investment piece for sure, but ones that will last you a lifetime.

Chris Stapleton's Lucchese Bootmaker Collection: What to Buy

San Antonio in Black Cherry

A reddish brown cowboy boot.


Finally, last on the boot front is the San Antonio retailing for $995. We immediately fell in love with the new deep, rich, reddish brown Black Cherry hue, though the Tan colorway is also a winner. This silhouette is also vintage-esque and inspired by Lucchese’s original San Antonio factory. You’ve got lush Santini goat vamps, a goat hide with a metallic finish, along with 12-inch quarters and a dark mahogany stacked-leather heel to match that deep cherry-red hue.

Chris Stapleton's Lucchese Bootmaker Collection: What to Buy

Lucchese x Chris Stapleton Classic Fit

A button-up black shirt.


As for apparel, the collaborative collection includes an all-arounder, a button-up shirt in black. The Classic Fit currently retails for $195. This shirt is made of 100% cotton, giving the long sleeve a breathable finish. While the shirt is quite simple — which is, in reality, the beauty of it — its details are what make it a winner. You’ve got a cobranded tag, black pearl snaps to close and notched barrel cuffs with snap-sleeve plackets, giving the style a tailored finish. A black button-down is a staple. As far as black button-downs, this one is as good as it gets.