Music

Cardi B has made history, yet again.

On Tuesday, it was officially announced that the Grammy-winning artist has become the first female rapper with two Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified 11-times platinum hits. The record beats out her previous one of becoming the first female rapper to have a song reach Diamond status.

The new accolade comes thanks to her breakthrough hit “Bodak Yellow” and the Bad Bunny and J Balvin-assisted “I Like It.” Each track boasts billions of global streams and over a billion music video videos. 

To top it off, the certifications come on Cardi’s 30th birthday, giving her an extra reason to celebrate. 

Previously, Cardi made history when “Bodak Yellow” was 10-times certified Platinum and again when every song on her debut album Invasion of Privacy was certified at least Platinum by the RIAA. 

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Darius Rucker is a southerner at heart, especially when it comes to food. 

Born and raised in Charleston, S.C., Darius learned how to cook by his hard working single mother, Carolyn, who in between her shifts as a nurse taught Darius and his five siblings the art of cooking, which became a frequent activity in their household. 

“Both my mom and my grandma cooked and my my sisters when I got older. Cooking was, I wouldn’t say a prerequisite, but everybody cooked. Everybody in the house learned how to do something because cooking was such an integral part of the day,” he explains to Southern Living. 

His favorite meal revolves around a vegetable that’s classic in southern dishes, one that holds special memories from his childhood that he stills connects to today.

“My favorite meal was always Okra soup,” he says of the dish that also features tomatoes and ham hocks and other “Southern stuff.” “It’s still my favorite meal. My sisters make it for me every now and then. I love it.”

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Before Ciara was singing and making hit dance tracks like “1, 2 Step” and “Jump,” she had her eyes set on a different occupation — becoming a hairstylist. 

The superstar entertainer opened up about her love of doing hair for Allure Magazine’s November issue. 

“You would’ve asked me what my job was going to be when I was this 8-year-old girl in Decatur, Georgia, and I would’ve told you I’m going to be doing hair,” she said.

The Atlanta native says it was her vision to own hair salons. “Hair was a big part of how we expressed in Georgia.”

Noting her roots in the South, Ciara says she takes great pride in where she comes from.

“There’s something in the water, as they would say. Even down from being a cheerleader growing up in the South. There’s so much sauce, so much character. The people. How we all talk. Sometimes, when I go home, it’s like speaking another language because of our Southern drawl. It’s different,” she adds. “You don’t really know it until you see it. It’s an energy.”

Her music career took off in 2004 with the success of “Goodies.” Now, more than 18 years since its release, the singer is working on her seventh album, one she feels is similar to her first. 

“It’s a lot of bass,” Ciara said of the upcoming project. “There’s a strong R&B core, which is also really fun.”

While expected sometime soon, Ciara has yet to reveal the album name or release date. 

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Måneskin‘s new single, “The Loneliest,” will soon be a little less lonely.

An official video for the track is set to premiere Wednesday at 1 p.m. ET on YouTube. Prior to the debut, the Italian rockers will be hosting an online Q&A beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET.

Måneskin has also tweeted a preview of the video, featuring frontman Damiano David floating underwater before a quick series of cuts showing him and his bandmates standing in the rain.

The song “The Loneliest” dropped last Friday. It’s the first new, original tune from Måneskin to follow their single “Supermodel,” which was released in May.

Måneskin will launch their first-ever North American headlining tour Halloween night in Seattle.

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For Brothers Osborne, working with Fender on its American Vintage II Series of guitars is a dream come true.

Fender celebrates iconic electric and bass axes from the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s, with each instrument getting a modern upgrade in the retro line.

Brothers Osborne are one of the musical acts taking part in the campaign showcasing these updated instruments. 

Throughout his career, John Osborne has played lots of older guitars, noting how Fender makes it easier to work a brand new one into his typical concert rotation. 

“The great thing about the Fender American Vintage Series is that they are made to a vintage spec, and most of the instruments that we play are vintage,” John says. “After a while, you get used to what a certain era feels like. So the adjustment period is way quicker on a vintage spec guitar like Fender’s doing right now.” 

As a young musician, TJ Osborne not only longed for the day he could have his own Fender Telecaster, but also dreamed of starring in one of their ads, as he’d flip through Guitar Player magazine.

“I couldn’t afford one and I would have to just think about having a Tele. Now John has a complete arsenal of them,” TJ recalls. “I was having that epiphany while we were shooting a lot of the teasers for this. I was like, ‘This is really cool.’ … it’s up there with winning an award,” he remarks. “It’s just one of those moments.”  

Part of the new campaign is a four-part video series showcasing the artists performing original songs, along with covers from each decade in the American Vintage series.

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It seems like the latest season of NBC’s The Voice just started, but plans have already been announced for next season — which will feature some new faces, plus the return of a familiar one.

This season of The Voice features a coach who got their start on the TV show The X Factor: Camila Cabello. The upcoming spring season — number 23 — will feature a coach who got his start on the U.K. version of that same show: Niall Horan, formerly of One Direction.

“I’m excited to be joining this season of The Voice as a coach,” Niall says in a statement. “I’m looking forward to meeting and mentoring the new crop of talent while we battle it out with the other teams!”  Fingers crossed that Niall’s old pal Harry Styles will pop by to be an advisor at some point in the season.

Meanwhile, Kelly Clarkson is returning to the show, after taking this season off.  Her most recent appearance, on season 21, resulted in a win with Girl Named Tom.  “I am so excited to be back with my Voice family!” Kelly says in a statement. “Let’s do this, Team Kelly!”

Another new face for season 23 will be Chance the Rapper, the Grammy-winning star who’s also known for his charity work. “I’m thrilled to join The Voice as a coach for the next season,” Chance says. “I’m excited to help other artists get to the next level and make the most of this life-changing experience. Get ready for #teamchance.”

On a sad note, though, Blake Shelton, who’s been with the show since its inception, has announced that season 23 will be his last.  The winningest coach in Voice history, members of his team have been crowned the show’s champ eight times.

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You can tell it’s October because that’s when artists start releasing holiday albums. Lindsey Stirling‘s new Christmas album, Snow Waltz, is out now, but she says that in order to ease fans into the idea of Christmas, she’s also acknowledging Halloween on the album.

Snow Waltz is Lindsey’s first new Christmas album since Warmer in the Winter came out in 2017. She tells ABC Audio, “Oh my gosh, finally I’ve got new Christmas music to tour and to create with and make music videos with, and it’s just been so fun to have a new set.”

Lindsey says she wrote the album’s title track “specifically to kind of tie into spooky season,” noting, “It’s a familiar place for people because The Nightmare Before Christmas was such a popular franchise. Danny Elfman‘s music in general has that, like, kind of spooky-but-magical feeling to it. And so I kind of went in that direction.”

“I think it’s going to be really great for fans to be able to, like, tiptoe into the holidays without feeling like we haven’t skipped Halloween and Thanksgiving,” she laughs.

Lindsey’s used to going all out for Halloween — she even puts up a Halloween tree every year.

“Often I have a Christmas tree up because I’m filming content with it, so then I was like, ‘Well, I don’t want to take it down because Christmas is around the corner,'” she explains. “So I just started making it a Halloween tree. And yeah, every year I take a trip to Dollar Tree and get new things to add to it.”

Lindsey starts rehearsing for her Christmas tour shortly, then hits the road, so she never actually takes down the Halloween tree — she just changes it back into a Christmas tree.

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Blake Shelton, who’s been with The Voice since its inception, has announced that season 23 will be his last. The winningest coach in Voice history, members of his team have been crowned the show’s champ eight times.

Though the latest season of NBC’s The Voice just started, plans have already been announced for next season — which will feature some new faces, plus the return of a familiar one.

This season of The Voice features a coach who got their start on the TV show The X Factor: Camila Cabello. The upcoming spring season — number 23 — will feature a coach who got his start on the U.K. version of that same show: Niall Horan, formerly of One Direction.

“I’m excited to be joining this season of The Voice as a coach,” Niall says in a statement. “I’m looking forward to meeting and mentoring the new crop of talent while we battle it out with the other teams!” Fingers crossed that Niall’s old pal Harry Styles will pop by to be an advisor at some point in the season.

Meanwhile, Kelly Clarkson is returning to the show, after taking this season off. Her most recent appearance, on season 21, resulted in a win with Girl Named Tom. “I am so excited to be back with my Voice family!” Kelly says in a statement. “Let’s do this, Team Kelly!”

Another new face for season 23 will be Chance the Rapper, the Grammy-winning star who’s also known for his charity work. “I’m thrilled to join The Voice as a coach for the next season,” Chance says. “I’m excited to help other artists get to the next level and make the most of this life-changing experience. Get ready for #teamchance.”

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