Music

Nicki Minaj showed support for Elon Musk Thursday by attending SpaceX’s test flight in Texas, where the company planned to launch its Starship rocket, testing its capabilities and durability.

Nicki appeared the on the SpaceX livestream, wearing a T-shirt with a Starship graphic, and encouraged fans to join her. “Barbz, come on down, because this is a lot of fun. I’m excited,” she said. “This is historic, this is a major moment y’all.”

She also noted that it was her first time attending a rocket launch.

“Major shoutout to Elon,” she continued. 

Nicki later shared a video of herself posing and dancing in the outfit on X, captioning the post, “Even did a lil video for the Barbz. #Starbase #Starships.”    

The launch was canceled after “the hydraulic pin holding the tower arm in place did not retract,” Elon later explained on X.       

He’s the latest public figure Nicki has publicly supported, alongside President Donald Trump, a topic she addressed in a recent interview with TIME.

“Many celebrities feel the way I do, but they don’t say it,” she said of her support of Trump. “Sometimes you just need one brave person to get the brunt of the impact. I think I am the catalyst for that change.”

“Hopefully when they see me and hear me speak and feel my energy,” she continued, “that will make them say, ‘You know what: Who am I afraid of? What am I afraid of?’”  

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Chaka Khan and Kelly Rowland will be among the honorees of The Connie Orlando Foundation Presents Black Women in Music Dinner, taking place June 12 at the Audrey Irmas Pavilion in Los Angeles.

Chaka will receive the Vanguard Award in recognition of her legendary music career and lasting influence across generations and genres. 

Kelly will be presented with the Velvet Guard Award, honoring “her artistry and presence that have become woven into the fabric of culture” when she’s presented the Velvet Guard Award.

Also set to be honored are music executive Natina Nimene; veteran music journalist and Billboard editor-at-large Gail Mitchell; producer, engineer, musician and A&R executive Ebonie Smith; and choreographer Fatima Robinson, whose credits include work with Michael Jackson, Kendrick Lamar and Mary J. Blige.

“Each of these women represents something profound, not just in music, but in the way they’ve carried themselves, led others, and left this industry better than they found it. I am so honored to celebrate them,” Connie Orlando wrote on Instagram.

According to the website, the event serves as a “celebration of excellence, a testament to the [Black women] trailblazers who have paved the way.” The event will also raise funds for breast cancer prevention, research and care through education, resources and support initiatives. 

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Sexyy Red’s friendship with Drake earned her features on two songs across his three-album release. Speaking with Complex, she talked about working with Drake and reflected on recording “Cheetah Print,” which appeared on Maid of Honour.

“Working with Drake always fun as hell ’cause he really be in his bag,” she said. “And for real, for real, he got the best ear in music.”

She added that they “were on that ‘cha cha slide’ type timing” while making “Cheetah Print,” which quickly took off online.

“I knew it was going up when I opened TikTok and everybody was using the sound. I ain’t even expect it to blow that fast. But seeing people shake a**, make videos, and really f*** with the song like that made me happy ’cause we had so much fun making [‘Cheetah Print’],” said Sexyy, who also appeared on Drake’s HABIBTI song “Hurr Not Hurr.”

The pair first teamed up in 2023 on “Rich Babby Daddy,” which also featured SZA, before reuniting for “U My Everything” in 2024.

Sexyy has continued to publicly support Drake, most recently posting a photo of a billboard celebrating his recent album release with the caption, “GO GET MY BABY DADDY ALBUM WTF!” 

Others in hip-hop have also weighed in on the project. Jack Harlow praised the albums and called Iceman his favorite. “I love when he raps,” he said to Rolling Stone. “I love when he’s melodic, too. But I love when he addresses things. He’s a writer.”

Former collaborator Rick Ross criticized the album during an appearance on the PBD Podcast, claiming people around him listened and weren’t impressed.

“This a muthaf****** who always bringing up Michael Jackson. Where the Billy Jean at? Where the Thriller? My homies actually sat there and they lost a hour for the life for this s***.”

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Lola Young has premiered a new song called “From Down Here.”

The track was recorded with musician James Blake following the 2026 Grammys, during which Young won best pop solo performance for her breakout hit, “Messy.”

“The day after the Grammys, I had a wave of inspiration hit me, so I got in the studio with the incredible James Blake and made this song,” Young says in a statement. “I am rewriting the next chapter of my story because what a boring book the old one would’ve been anyway.”

You can watch the video for “From Down Here,” which finds Young standing in water with her head just above the surface, streaming on YouTube.

“From Down Here” follows Young’s 2025 album, I’m Only F****** Myself. It also marks her first new music since collapsing onstage at the 2025 All Things Go festival in New York City, after which she stepped away to look after her mental and physical health. She told Rolling Stone in an interview published in March that she’s entered treatment and has been attending AA meetings.

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If you’ve ever dreamed of exploring Key West with Kenny Chesney, his new music video for “Carry On” may be just about as close as you’ll come. 

“Key West isn’t about who you are, but what’s in your soul,” he says of the Florida town that’s the setting for both the song’s narrative and its visual. “It’s the great equalizer, with wisdom to be found just about anywhere if you listen. I knew I wanted this video to show people that heart – beyond what tourists see – and give them a sense of what this song’s really reaching into in terms of how to live.”

The clip opens with Key West legend David Wegman delivering his take on “Carry On,” followed by a performance from Kenny centered at Schooner Wharf, the open-air bar on William Street’s Harbor Walk that’s mentioned in the song. 

“If you want to understand making the most of every day, of filling your time with creativity and laughter and adventure, David Wegman is all of that, and more,” Kenny says. “When we started filming, I wanted him to be part of this, so people could see what ‘Carry On’ draws from.”

“We had the best day shooting at his place, where you never know if you’ll find painters, musicians on tour or just friends from somewhere around the world… But that’s what makes it so awesome. Open your arms and just welcome what life brings you,” he adds. 

You can check out Kenny’s new “Carry On” video on YouTube now.  

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Ed Sheeran has made a major change to his professional life.

In an email update to fans, Ed announces that he left his record label a month ago. He’s been with the same label for 15 years, but as he says, “This isn’t a ‘disgruntled artist leaves record label’ type situation.”

“This is a boy who started as a teenager on the company with different priorities, to the father of 2 man who exists now, who feels like he needs a shift and change in the way he does things professionally,” he explains. However, he notes that “the door is always open for the future.”

He goes on to thank everyone at the label, Warner Music, adding, “It’s been an incredible journey. Excited to see where the next 15 years takes me.”

He continues, “I leave the company with SO much love and gratitude for everything we achieved together.”

As for what prompted this change, Ed writes, “My life is hugely different now to what it was when I was a teenager, and I’ve been feeling in my gut for a long time that a lot of things in my professional life need to change.”

“I am, underneath it all, a singer songwriter who plays pub gigs,” he concludes. “And I’ve sorta morphed into this pop star who plays stadiums over 15 years, it’s a super amazing thing to have happened but also a lot to get your head around.”

Both Warner and Ed Howard, who signed Sheeran to the label in 2011, issued statements supporting Ed’s decision to Music Week.

According to Music Week, Ed’s career on Warner Music has resulted in 170 million albums sold worldwide, 126 billion global streams, 38 billion YouTube views and 14 tracks in Spotify’s Billions Club.

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Greta Van Fleet has announced the release of a new single called “Play Your Games.” 

The track is set to premiere on May 29. It’s available now to presave, and you can check out a minute-long preview via Greta Van Fleet’s Facebook.

“Play Your Games” will mark the first fresh material from Greta Van Fleet to follow their 2023 album, Starcatcher. In the time since that release, the band had fans worried they’d broken up when they posted a video titled “Thanks for the Wild Ride,” before revealing that they were back in the studio working on new music.

Greta Van Fleet will play an intimate underplay concert at New York City’s Bowery Ballroom on May 27. Tickets will be available exclusively at the Bowery Ballroom box office starting at 9 a.m. ET on May 26.

In sadder Greta Van Fleet news, Gretna Van Fleet of Frankenmuth, Michigan, whom the band is named after, has died at age 95.

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