Music notes: Lil Nas X, Lizzo, Meghan Trainor, Olivia Rodrigo and Rihanna

Music notes: Lil Nas X, Lizzo, Meghan Trainor, Olivia Rodrigo and Rihanna
Music notes: Lil Nas X, Lizzo, Meghan Trainor, Olivia Rodrigo and Rihanna

Lil Nas X was being a super uncle at his latest show: he brought his young nephew onstage to dance with him to the new “Star Walkin'” anthem. He shared a video on TikTok of the two busting moves to the new hit, which drove the crowd wild.

Lizzo shared a behind-the-scenes video of her playing James Madison‘s 200-year-old crystal flute. In a new TikTok, the singer revealed she not only was the first person to ever play it, she is also the first person to play music in the Library of Congress’ Reading Room — and, of course, she played the historic relic for that, too!

Remember that viral photo of Meghan Trainor and husband Daryl Sabara visiting a sex shop? Well, she finally explained what she was doing there in a TikTok video and said “it’s not what you think.” She was there to pick up a few things for a friend who was too shy to go in there herself — so Meghan was simply being a brave friend.

Olivia Rodrigo broke a major streaming record on Spotify. Her team confirmed to ABC Audio she is the first female artist on the platform to have three solo songs off the same album hit 1 billion streams. Her song “dejavu” joins hits “drivers license” and “good 4 u” in Spotify’s billion streams club.

TMZ is now reporting Rihanna has not picked a guest to assist her at the Super Bowl halftime show. Apparently her team has compiled a list of 50 potential names, but the “Umbrella” singer could choose to do the entire set solo.

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DJ Cassidy returns with BET Hip Hop Awards edition of ’Pass the Mic’

DJ Cassidy returns with BET Hip Hop Awards edition of ’Pass the Mic’
DJ Cassidy returns with BET Hip Hop Awards edition of ’Pass the Mic’
Leon Bennett/STA 2020/Getty Images for BET

DJ Cassidy returns with the final iteration of the beloved aftershow Pass the Mic on Tuesday, October 4, following the 2022 BET Hip Hop Awards. 

The lineup features a list of 20 hip-hop heavy hitters, including Busta RhymesRemy MaSwizz BeatzJadakiss and Method Man

Created out of the pandemic, the 10-episode series brings together a surprise guest list of legendary hip-hop and R&B stars who sing along to their most iconic hits and “pass the mic” to the following guest to do the same.

Some of the past guests of series include AshantiJa RuleDoug E. FreshBoyz II MenShaggyTLC and Missy Elliot

“When I created Pass The Mic in July 2020 I sought to celebrate our everyday heroes by uniting my musical heroes in the greatest singalong of all time,” DJ Cassidy said. “Millions of people around the globe have now united around the most iconic artists and songs of all time to pass the mic in unison. I am so honored to be celebrating my Hip Hop heroes in this final edition of the series.”

The final edition of Pass The Mic airs on BET October 4 at 11:30 p.m. ET. The annual BET Hip Hop Awards, hosted by Fat Joe, premiere at 9 p.m. 

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Nashville notes: Kelsea Ballerini brings “Love is a Cowboy” to late night + more

Nashville notes: Kelsea Ballerini brings “Love is a Cowboy” to late night + more
Nashville notes: Kelsea Ballerini brings “Love is a Cowboy” to late night + more

In case you missed it, Kelsea Ballerini made a stop on The Late Late Show With James Corden this week to perform her song “Love is a Cowboy.” You can watch the performance now.

Jason Aldean, Dustin Lynch and more are all set to be guests on Tracy Lawrence’s just-announced TL’s Road House podcast. The first episode, featuring Jelly Roll, is out now.

Hailey Whitters just dropped an acoustic video for her song “Everything She Ain’t.”

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50 Cent shares trailer for new investigative series ‘Hip Hop Homicides’

50 Cent shares trailer for new investigative series ‘Hip Hop Homicides’
50 Cent shares trailer for new investigative series ‘Hip Hop Homicides’
Christopher Polk/Getty Images for iHeartMedia

50 Cent‘s list of executive-produced television shows continues to grow, with his latest project, Hip Hop Homicidesset to air this November.  

On the heels of the death of rapper PNB Rock and following other major hip-hop killings, such as King VonYoung Dolph and Nipsey Hussle, the new WE tv true-crime series will examine violence in hip-hop.

In partnership with Mona-Scott Young, of the Love & Hip Hop franchise, and Lionsgate TV, Hip Hop Homicides will provide a closer look into the crimes, delving into facts and executing exclusive interviews. TV personality Van Lathan will host the series.

The premiere episode, airing Thursday, November 3, at 9 p.m. ET, is about the murder of New York rapper Pop Smoke, who was gunned down in Hollywood during an attempted robbery. 

The following episodes will air every Monday on the streaming service ALLBLK.

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Coffee, coffee, coffee!: Country stars who love a good cup of joe

Coffee, coffee, coffee!: Country stars who love a good cup of joe
Coffee, coffee, coffee!: Country stars who love a good cup of joe
ABC/Connie Chornuk

As National Coffee Day approaches on September 29, it’s no secret that many country artists run on caffeine with their busy lifestyles. 

Maren Morris, Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan are among the artists who have strong connections to the beverage. Luke doesn’t mess around when it comes to coffee making, admitting that while on tour, the only people he trusts with his morning brew are himself and his tour manager. 

“I have my way of making it, and I’ll tell you this: When I make my coffee, there are some mornings where people come to this bus to see if there’s anything left over,” he says, revealing that his go-to brand is Starbucks Veranda Blend. “I can get bougie with my beans.” 

Maren also isn’t shy about her love of coffee, posting on National Coffee Day in 2018 a photo of herself enjoying “her favorite day + drink” by the pool. Carrie also likes to indulge in a cup of joe, especially when unwinding on vacation with a beachfront view.

“Why does vacation coffee always taste so much better?” she shared in 2016, adding, “yes, I just took a picture of my coffee…I’m one of those people.”

Another major coffee fan is Craig Morgan, so much so that he and his wife Mindy opened their own coffee shop in 2022 in Eagleville, TN, Grindstone Cowboy. Combining their love of music and coffee, the couple hosts live music events at the shop, including a sold out show headlined by Thompson Square

Also making a name for himself in the coffee business is Clint Black, who launched Cowboy Coffee in 2021 offering bags of a speciality dark roast blend. “Many a cattle drive and recording session have been fueled by coffee!” he says of the inspiration behind the venture. 

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Melanie C reveals she was nearly kicked out of the Spice Girls over fight with Victoria Beckham

Melanie C reveals she was nearly kicked out of the Spice Girls over fight with Victoria Beckham
Melanie C reveals she was nearly kicked out of the Spice Girls over fight with Victoria Beckham
ABC/Eric McCandless

Melanie C was almost kicked out of the Spice Girls because of an argument with Victoria Beckham.

Although the Dancing with the Stars alum said everything is fine between them now, there was a moment when her future with the girl group was thrown into question.

Speaking with Entertainment Tonight, Melanie revealed, “Something happened quite early on in the Spice Girls’ journey, and I have a little bit of fall out with Victoria at the [Brit Awards] in ’96 — not the Union Jack dress [year], but year [the] before.”

Melanie said “few people knew us” at the time because they were “unreleased,” so when the drama reared its ugly head it was almost curtains for Sporty Spice. “There was a little fall out, and I was threatened to get kicked out the band,” she disclosed.

Melanie revealed the moment freaked her out. She said she realized, “I have to control myself. I have to control what I do.”

That impulse went into overdrive and morphed into an eating disorder in order to maintain her moniker as the “sporty” one of the group. “I was controlling what I ate. I was controlling how much exercise I was doing,” she explained. “I think because in a situation like that so much is out of your control, the things you can control I became very obsessive about.”

Melanie said she wasn’t “ready to accept” help for her eating disorder when it was first offered, noting, “You can’t really help somebody until they’re willing.”

The “Viva Forever” singer reflects on her rise to fame in the memoir The Sporty One: My Life as a Spice Girl

Looking ahead, Melanie is hoping for a Spice Girls reunion some day, saying the girls “would love that.”

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Corey Taylor announces livestream for upcoming London solo concert

Corey Taylor announces livestream for upcoming London solo concert
Corey Taylor announces livestream for upcoming London solo concert
Scott Dudelson/Getty Images

Corey Taylor has announced a livestream for his upcoming solo show in London on October 17.

The concert will air via the streaming platform Dreamstage beginning at 4 p.m. ET. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Taylor Foundation, which the Slipknot frontman founded in support of those battling post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.

The show itself will feature Taylor performing songs off his 2020 debut solo album, CMFT, as well as Slipknot and Stone Sour tracks and various covers.

For more info, visit Dreamstage.live.

Taylor is currently on tour with Slipknot supporting their new album The End, So Far, which drops this Friday.

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Fitz and the Tantrums announce new album, ’Let Yourself Free’

Fitz and the Tantrums announce new album, ’Let Yourself Free’
Fitz and the Tantrums announce new album, ’Let Yourself Free’
Elektra Records

Fitz and the Tantrums have announced a new album called Let Yourself Free.

The fifth studio effort from the “HandClap” outfit will arrive November 11. It includes the previously released song “Sway”; a second track, titled “Moneymaker,” is out now via digital outlets.

“For this record we really wanted to pull from our earliest influences and bring the through line of this band full circle,” says frontman Michael “Fitz” Fitzpatrick. “Tracks like ‘Silver Platter’ and ‘Steppin’ on Me’ really are a nod to our first album, Pickin’ up the Pieces, while tracks like ‘Moneymaker’ take that influence and blast it into the future!”

Let Yourself Free is the follow-up to 2019’s All the Feels. Fitzpatrick released his debut solo album, Head Up High, in 2021.

Fitz and the Tantrums have also announced a 2023 U.S. headlining tour in support of Let Yourself Free, running from January 21 in Portland, Oregon, to February 16 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Tickets go on sale this Friday, September 30, at 10 a.m. local time. For the full list of dates and all ticket info, visit FitzandtheTantrums.com.

Here’s the Let Yourself Free track list:

“Good Intentions”
“Heaven”
“Sway”
“Silver Platter”
“Let Yourself Free”
“Moneymaker”
“AHHHH!”
“Good Nights”
“Big Love”
“Is It Love”
“Steppin’ on Me”
“Someday”

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SZA, Keke Palmer, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II among ‘TIME’s’ list of world’s rising stars

SZA, Keke Palmer, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II among ‘TIME’s’ list of world’s rising stars
SZA, Keke Palmer, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II among ‘TIME’s’ list of world’s rising stars
Charles Sykes/Bravo

Time magazine revealed its 2022 TIME100 Next list on Wednesday, naming Keke PalmerSZAJonathan MajorsYahya Abdul-Mateen II and more.

“She changed the world!” fellow musician Lizzo says of SZA. 

“The authenticity in her craft — the way she’s able to tell her story and the way she uses melody — is extraordinary. No one can replicate that,” Lizzo says. “When she’s onstage, she’s timeless. She’s someone who’s the real deal, and I think that she’s well on her way to being regarded as one of the greatest songwriters and singers of all time.”

Landing at the top of the “innovators” section of the list is multiple hyphenate entertainer Palmer.

Queen Latifah says she’s “one of the most talented human beings I’ve ever met.”

“Watching Keke evolve as a young woman has been a joy. She is the epitome of grace, poise, and honesty. To watch her grow as an artist, taking on a range of challenging roles — ­including her stunning performances in Akeelah and the Bee, Pimp, and the critically acclaimed 2022 blockbuster Nope — has been inspiring to me as a fellow actor.”

Michael B. Jordan calls fellow actor Majors a “chameleon,” referring to his on-screen abilities. 

“There’s a strong empathy to Jonathan and to his work,” Jordan writes. “He allows people to go on the character’s journey. That’s a really great quality for an actor to have because it invites you into the film’s world.”

“An absolutely beautiful man, inside and out,” says Jason Momoa of Abdul-Mateen II, who falls under the “artist” category. 

And what would a list be today without an influential TikToker like Khaby Lame? The social media star rose to fame with his viral reaction videos. 

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Miranda Lambert’s “fiery” Las Vegas residency is her chance to do something onstage she’s never done before

Miranda Lambert’s “fiery” Las Vegas residency is her chance to do something onstage she’s never done before
Miranda Lambert’s “fiery” Las Vegas residency is her chance to do something onstage she’s never done before
Getty

Miranda Lambert’s Velvet Rodeo Las Vegas residency is officially rolling: The country superstar kicked things off over the weekend with her first performance at the city’s Planet Hollywood.

So, what’s she loving most about the show? “The fire,” Miranda tells ET Online with a laugh.

“I mean, I get to have a lot of fire on the stage, and I’ve never had that before,” the singer goes on to say. “Except for, like, at awards shows and stuff. I’ve never taken fire on tour. So this is a treat, every night, to get to blow stuff up.”

Along with all those pyrotechnics, Miranda says she’s been enjoying spending time in Vegas with her husband, Brendan McLoughlin, who is planning to be in the audience for every single show.

Miranda recently teased that fans might get to see Brendan take the stage with her one night. “I’ve promised him he could bring me a tequila shot one night, but not yet,” she told Extra, admitting that her husband is a huge fan of being in the spotlight.

Miranda’s Velvet Rodeo is scheduled to run through April 2023.

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