All posts tagged: Grammys

Jelly Roll Clarifies Political Views, Regrets Grammys Comments

Jelly Roll Clarifies Political Views, Regrets Grammys Comments

Published by Daniella Wilson

Jelly Roll is ready to speak out about his political beliefs. Months after he declined to get political at the 2026 Grammys, the singer-songwriter opened up about his views on Thursday’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!, which he’s been guest hosting this week while Kimmel’s been on his summer hiatus. Earlier in the week, he made a number of jokes about Donald Trump in his monologue, which sparked backlash from some conservatives. Thursday night, he shed more light on his political views. “It is funny that before this week everybody thought I was MAGA. And now they think I’m some sort of liberal snowflake,” he said. “Hosting Jimmy Kimmel’s show doesn’t mean I have all of Jimmy Kimmel’s politics. Sure, I lean left on some things, but like most folks I’m pretty down the middle.” He added, “I am a Christian. I am a country music singer. I’m a farmer. I’m a bow hunter. And most of the things I eat, I prefer to get with a stick and a string. That’s the truth.” He went on …

Grammys CEO defends Asian pop award after BTS pulls out of 2027 consideration

Grammys CEO defends Asian pop award after BTS pulls out of 2027 consideration

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the inside track from Roisin O’Connor with our free weekly music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Grammys chief executive Harvey Mason Jr has defended the Recording Academy’s new Asian pop category after BTS announced it would not submit its music for consideration at the 2027 awards. The Academy chief issued a public statement after the seven-member group said it would sit out this year’s Grammy awards process, becoming one of the highest-profile acts to publicly reject the ceremony. All seven members – RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook – shared an identical statement on their individual Instagram Stories on Wednesday, writing that they “hope music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language”. “I am saddened to hear that BTS has chosen not to participate in the Grammy Awards process this year, but as a music creator, I understand and respect their decision,” Mason said in a statement …

BTS boycott Grammys after introduction of new Asian pop category

BTS boycott Grammys after introduction of new Asian pop category

Published by Sam Flores

Global K-pop sensation BTS said Wednesday they will not submit their music for next year’s Grammy Awards, after the Recording Academy introduced a new Asian pop category criticised for restricting the success of regional artists. The South Korean megastars were widely tipped in the running for several of the Grammys’ top honours, including Album of the Year, after their comeback album, ARIRANG, became one of this year’s best-selling hits. But the seven-member group said they would not enter the contest after the introduction of five new categories, including Best Asian Pop Music Performance. Read moreK-pop megastars BTS drop new album ahead of comeback mega-concert “We have decided not to enter the Grammys this year,” BTS members said in coordinated posts on their individual Instagram accounts. “We hope that music is heard and loved for what it is, rather than being defined by region or language,” they said. BTS is the first all-South Korean act to reign over Billboard’s US top singles chart, which they achieved with their 2020 track “Dynamite”, their first hit sung completely …

Grammys CEO Responds to BTS Decision Not to Submit For Awards

Grammys CEO Responds to BTS Decision Not to Submit For Awards

Published by Daniella Wilson

Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. has issued a lengthy response after BTS announced they wouldn’t be submitting their music for Grammy consideration this year, giving his support to the group over their decision while also addressing critique toward the organization’s newly-created best Asian pop music performance category. “I am saddened to hear that BTS has chosen not to participate in the Grammy Awards process this year, but as a music creator, I understand and respect their decision,” Mason Jr. wrote. “I do want to clarify something that seems to be getting lost in the conversation. The Asian Pop category was created to celebrate the depth, diversity and extraordinary growth of pop artistry coming out of Asia. The spirit of this new category is to shine a dedicated spotlight on these important artists.” BTS first announced their decision on Tuesday night, sharing posts on Instagram where they said they “hope that music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language.” The move came just over a month after …

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s Relationship Timeline: All Their Eras, From Super Bowls to Wedding Bells

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s Relationship Timeline: All Their Eras, From Super Bowls to Wedding Bells

Published by Sam Flores

Jason, for his part, couldn’t help but let his protective-big-brother side creep out in an interview. “It’s certainly been weird, the level that it is now,” he said. “On one hand, I’m happy for my brother that he seems to be in a relationship that he’s excited about, that he is genuine about. But there’s another end of it, where it’s like, ‘Man, this is a lot.’ There’s paparazzi talking about him fueling his car before the game today, and I’m like, ‘Is that really necessary information to share?’” “There’s some, I think, alarms sometimes with how over in-pursuit people can be,” Jason said. “Overall, he can deal with some of this. As long as it’s not becoming a threat to his safety and things like that.” October 22, 2023: The not-so-secret WAG handshake Swift and Mahomes celebrate a touchdown at Arrowhead Stadium on October 22, 2023. David Eulitt/Getty Images In yet another jaunt to Kansas City, Swift took in another Chiefs win while wearing a vintage Chiefs sweatshirt and a friendship bracelet featuring Kelce’s …

Ryan Beatty on Writing ‘Sweet Fortune,’ Winning Grammys With Beyoncé, and Making Healing Music

Ryan Beatty on Writing ‘Sweet Fortune,’ Winning Grammys With Beyoncé, and Making Healing Music

Published by Jenni Sidey

Ryan Beatty hates this part. “In the past, I would really fight against this,” he tells me, “this” being an interview. “Putting out music is such a vulnerable thing,” the 30-year-old singer-songwriter explains. “I loved making it, but I sometimes dreaded putting it out. It opens you up to a lot of love, but also a lot of critique or questions, or things that you maybe don’t even want to acknowledge.” So Beatty doesn’t give a lot of interviews. In any case, he’s a busy guy who had a whirlwind few years: touring his critically acclaimed 2023 album, Calico, co-writing for artists like Bleachers, opening for Noah Kahan and Maggie Rogers. Oh, and there was the Grammy he shared in winning for co-writing four songs on Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter. And not just any Grammy—her album of the year. He likes to let the music speak for itself, he says, but he’s also gained a lot of confidence that sharing his music with the world means he can talk about it a little too. “Ultimately, I’m …

Major star Peabo Bryson dies aged 75

Major star Peabo Bryson dies aged 75

Published by Daniella Wilson

Disney legend and R&B icon Peabo Bryson passed away on June 2 surrounded by his family, after suffering a stroke days prior. The 75-year-old, best known for his Disney collaborations, “transitioned peacefully at 5:00 p.m. ET,” according to a statement from his representative.  “We are tremendously moved by the outpouring of love, prayers and support from fans, friends, and colleagues around the world,” his family said. “While our hearts are broken, we find comfort in knowing how deeply Peabo was loved and how many lives were touched by his voice and his generous spirit. His legacy and music will live on for generations to come.”  Peabo was raised in South Carolina and showed a penchant for music from a young age, before becoming a member of the group Moses Dillard and the Tex-Town Display in the ’70s.  © Getty ImagesPeabo was a legendary R&B artist and Grammy winner He released his first album in 1976, and achieved his first top 10 R&B hit with “Reaching for the Sky” in 1978. Over the years, the crooner became …

Drake Albums: ‘Iceman,’ ‘Habibti,’ and ‘Maid of Honour’ Review

Drake Albums: ‘Iceman,’ ‘Habibti,’ and ‘Maid of Honour’ Review

Published by Sam Flores

The rollout of his big comeback project wasn’t exactly auspicious. Drake foreshadowed one of the releases by erecting a giant sculpture of ice blocks in his native Toronto that, when melted, would reveal the date of Iceman’s drop. Ultimately, the ice sculpture was removed and destroyed by Toronto fire officials after being deemed a public safety hazard. To quote an ever popular and enduring meme, in many ways Drake came into the release of Iceman, Habibti, and Maid of Honour “at his lowest…fat, nasty, and broke. Career in shambles.” But surprisingly, the best tracks off these albums are the ones on which he lets go of that anger and gets a little silly. While it debuted at No. 3 on the chart—making it the lowest-ranked of Drake’s three new offerings—Maid of Honour is the best album of the trilogy, the one on which he largely lets go of his bitterness and resentment and has some fun again. Drake has always had many facets as an artist, and he’s a prolific one at that. There’s the …

Bad Bunny Turns Up As Benjamin Bunny for the Met Gala, Age Spots and All

Bad Bunny Turns Up As Benjamin Bunny for the Met Gala, Age Spots and All

Published by Sam Flores

Bad Bunny showed up to the 2026 Met Gala more like a Bad Rabbit. The recent album of the year Grammy winner showed up to fashion’s biggest night made up to look about 50 years older than he actually is, complete with old age prosthetics, grey hair, and a cane. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue His prosthetics were made by Mike Marino, the makeup artist also been behind many of Heidi Klum’s most memorable costumes. Per Vogue, Marina hand-sculpted every blemish and wrinkle on Bad Bunny’s face, from his pock marks to his sags. The result is an uncanny look at how Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, might look almost half a century into the future. Bad Bunny was obviously inspired by the Met’s exhibit, “Costume Art,” which runs from May 10 through January 10, 2027, and explores the “dressed body” an embodied art form. “Perhaps reflecting our fear of having to face our own mortality, the youth-oriented fashion industry has traditionally ignored the aged body,” reads a plaque included in …

Lizzo Didn’t Have Sex Until After Her First Grammy Win In 2020

Lizzo Didn’t Have Sex Until After Her First Grammy Win In 2020

Published by Sam Flores

Lizzo has shared that she kept a promise to herself not to have sex until after winning a Grammy. The Good As Hell singer is the latest guest on the Friends Keep Secrets podcast, where she disclosed that she was a “late bloomer” when it came to having sex for the first time. Admitting that this was something she “lied about” for “a long time”, Lizzo eventually said that her first time was in 2020, when she was in her early 30s. “Isn’t that crazy?” she remarked, admitting that sex was a subject she “wasn’t even thinking about” until that point. The chart-topping star noted: “I promised myself when I was younger that I wouldn’t have sex until I won a Grammy.” In January 2020, Lizzo picked up her first Grammy Awards in the Best Pop Solo Performance category for her hit Truth Hurts, Best Traditional R&B Performance for the album track Jerome and Best Urban Contemporary Album (now known as Best Progressive R&B Album) for her release Cuz I Love You. She added during …