Nita Strauss performs on stage during Alice Cooper’s 23rd Annual Christmas Pudding charity concert at Celebrity Theatre on November 15, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Daniel Knighton/Getty Images)
Nita Strauss is expecting her first child with her husband, Josh Villalta.
“Looks like 2026 will be the best year yet,” the Alice Cooper guitarist writes in an Instagram post. “We’ve waited so long for this miracle and now the time is finally here! He will come into this world surrounded by so much love!”
“So excited to meet our little man this summer,” she adds.
The post also includes pictures of Strauss and Villalta holding a sonogram photo.
Strauss and Villalta got married in 2024. Villalta, who plays in Strauss’ solo band, proposed in 2023 onstage during a concert celebrating the release of her album The Call of the Void.
Taylor Swift and Stevie Nicks onstage at the 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards, January 31, 2010 in Los Angeles (Michael Caulfield/WireImage)
Taylor Swift recently told Stephen Colbert that she was “very lucky” to have two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Stevie Nicks “in my life in a way that affects me positively constantly.” That friendship was on full display on New Year’s Eve, when both women attended the wedding of a mutual friend.
Peopleshared photos of Taylor and Stevie walking and talking together at the wedding of HAIM‘s Este Haim, who wed tech entrepreneur Jonathan Levin on New Year’s Eve in California. Taylor wore a gold sequin gown paired with a tan shawl and had her hair up, while Stevie opted for an all-black look, as usual.
Taylor and the HAIM sisters have been friendly for a long time. They’ve collaborated on the songs “No Body, No Crime” and “Gasoline,” and HAIM also opened for Taylor on the Eras Tour. In 2024, Este praised their friendship, saying, “[Taylor]’s the best and she deserves every accolade that she’s ever had. She’s a true genius and she’s also like the best friend and the best hang.”
As for why Stevie was there, she’s been a longtime friend and a mentor to the HAIM sisters, much as she has been to Taylor.
While appearing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Taylor said of Stevie, “Being able to talk to her and have a phone call with her and hear what she’s been through, she paved the way for me and any other artist that get to do this on this level. So I feel very lucky that she’s lended [sic] her very magical, wonderful, wise approach to life to me.”
Este’s ceremony marks the second wedding Taylor has attended for a friend since her own engagement, following Selena Gomez’s. Perhaps, she’s been taking notes for her future wedding to Travis Kelce.
“Zombie” feat. The Smashing Pumpkins single artwork. (Locomotion Recordings/Capitol Records)
The Smashing Pumpkins have teamed up with Yungblud for a new version of his song “Zombie.”
The “1979” outfit lends their signature ’90s alt-rock sound to the track, while Billy Corgan sings lead on the second verse and harmonizes with Yungblud on the chorus.
Yungblud previously guested on Corgan’s podcast, The Magnificent Others, and they both performed at the massive Back to the Beginning concert in July.
“[Yungblud] is the whole package and so fun to be around so much positive energy and passion,” says Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin in an Instagram post.
The video for the the Pumpkins-featuring “Zombie” will premiere Friday at 1 p.m. ET.
The original “Zombie” is a single off Yungblud’s 2025 album, Idols. It’s nominated for best rock song at the 2026 Grammys.
Pink attends Apple’s ‘All of You’ New York premiere at The Whitby Hotel on September 17, 2025 in New York City. (Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
Pink shared a New Year’s message to fans from the hospital this week.
In an Instagram post Wednesday, the singer shared a photo of herself wearing a hospital gown and smiling from a hospital bed, revealing she recently underwent a procedure where she had two discs in her neck replaced.
“I end the year giving reverence to, paying attention to, and to fixing my body. It may not be a fancy Face lift, but I am getting two new shiny discs in my neck,” Pink wrote in part in the accompanying caption.
“A new scar, a new reminder, that I appreciate this vessel that I have and use it for all it’s worth. Rock ‘n’ roll is a contact sport.”
Despite having to ring in the new year in the hospital, Pink focused on positivity in her lengthy message and highlighted the “beauty” she saw amid a less-than-perfect 2025.
“I want to say Happy New Year’s to everyone … I am leaving behind all of my hurt in 2025,” she wrote. “This year was a doozy for all of us and it ran the spectrum from absolutely devastating to mildly annoying. In amongst all of that, there was so much beauty.”
She concluded her message by saying that for 2026, she plans to “choose joy,” before wrapping up her New Year’s message by sharing her support for fans and followers.
“I know that 2026 is going to be better because that is the choice that I have made. I hope and pray every person can make that wish, have that choice. I know that isn’t a reality for some,” Pink wrote.
“I will work this year to help preserve the choices of others to make for themselves and their families and this very pursuit of happiness. Let’s do better for ourselves and for others.”
When a new year rolls around, Dustin Lynch has two ongoing traditions: He’s got a standing date with Luke Bryan and his fans in Mexico, and he’ll be traversing the globe with some old friends.
“We’ve got our bull’s-eye set on Argentina,” he says of his 2026 plans. “Each year we do a trip, me and a couple college buddies, to a new country we’ve never been to, and Argentina is on that list.”
“It’s easy for me because it’s kind of in the time zone of normal life here in the States,” he adds. “So we’ll go down there and usually do a week and pop around.”
Over the years, what began as pure fun has morphed into something deeper.
“It’s a productive trip,” Dustin tells ABC Audio. “It started out as kind of a more of a party trip. And as we’ve grown up, it’s become more of a goal-setting trip for the year. So we go down there and kind of do some exploring and do some strenuous stuff, test ourselves physically, and then set goals for the year.”
Dustin’s due in Cancun on Jan. 15 to fulfill his annual duties as “mayor” of Crash My Playa, as his latest hit, “Easy to Love,” makes its way up the country chart.
Musician Joe Walsh of the Eagles performs onstage during The 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 15, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
The Eagles will return for more residency dates at the Sphere Las Vegas in January, with dates confirmed through March. While they’ve already announced that the March shows will be their final Sphere dates for 2026, guitarist Joe Walsh tells ABC Audio that doesn’t mean it will necessarily be their final shows ever at the venue.
“We’re in residence at the Sphere. From time to time, we’ll come back,” he says. “Other than that, all I know is we’re not done yet. We love playing together.”
And fans certainly love seeing them play together — and it’s not just those who’ve been with them from the beginning. In fact, Walsh says their audiences are made up of all generations of music fans.
“I guess that’s a secret to longevity,” says Walsh. “Kids know about us because their parents played our music, so they had to hear it. They had no choice. And now they have kids.”
He adds, “And everybody comes, you know? We have one, at least one of everything in our audience. Everybody gets along great. Everybody goes home happy.”
The Eagles’ first Sphere show of 2026 is Jan. 23, with dates confirmed through March 28. They are also set to headline New Orleans Jazz Fest on May 2. A complete list of dates can be found at Eagles.com.
Puscifer ‘Normal Isn’t’ album artwork. (Puscifer Entertainment/Alchemy Recordings/BMG)
With 2025 officially in the rearview mirror, it’s time to look forward to the new albums coming out in 2026.
The first month of the year will include the release of Megadeth‘s self-titled farewell album, due out Jan. 23. January will also feature new records from Alter Bridge, The Format and Poppy.
February kicks off with Puscifer‘s Normal Isn’t and Silversun Pickups‘ Tenterhooks on Feb. 6, followed by albums from Mumford & Sons, Gorillaz and Rob Zombie.
Here are some of the confirmed album releases for 2026:
Jan. 9 Alter Bridge, Alter Bridge
Jan. 16 The Funeral Portrait, Live from Suffocate City
Jan. 23 The Format, Boycott Heaven Megadeth, Megadeth Poppy, Empty Hands
Jan. 30 Joyce Manor, I Used to Go to This Bar
Feb. 6 Puscifer, Normal Isn’t Silversun Pickups, Tenterhooks Jay Buchanan, Weapons of Beauty
Feb. 13 Story of the Year, A.R.S.O.N.
Feb. 20 Mumford & Sons, Prizefighter New Found Glory, Listen Up!
Feb. 27 Gorillaz, The Mountain Rob Zombie, The Great Satan
Nelly performs at IHEARTRADIO JINGLE BALL 2025 (Disney/Ben Hider)
With 2026 comes another set of New Year’s resolutions, but Nelly is not taking part in the tradition. The rapper tells ABC Audio he doesn’t believe in making resolutions.
“I do not do the New Year’s resolution because I just feel like you’re making yourself a promise that you know you should do anyway,” he says.
While Nelly opts out, he’s quick to say he doesn’t judge anyone who chooses to set goals for the new year. In fact, he says he’s more than willing to hold other others accountable for the promises they make.
“I don’t knock anybody that does [make resolutions],” he says. “I try to hold people to them, too. I’d be like, ‘Yeah, you said you wasn’t gonna drink.'”
Instead of resolutions, Nelly is focusing on staying productive in 2026. Fans can expect new music, including the upcoming return album from the St. Lunatics. He also has a second season of his reality show with wife Ashanti, Nelly & Ashanti: We Belong Together, in the works, though it’s not clear when that will premiere.
Backstreet Boys perform at Sphere Las Vegas (Rich Fury)
Backstreet Boys spent New Year’s Eve onstage at Sphere Las Vegas, and will also play there Friday and Saturday before returning in February for more dates. Their Into the Millennium residency is set to wrap up Feb. 15, but AJ McLean hints that there may be more shows at Sphere — a lot more.
“We hoped it would be successful, and here we are [with] more dates in the future,” AJ said. “You know, there’s been rumblings of us getting to 100 shows, which is — that’s a lot.”
“I mean, who knows? But we’re going to stay there until they kick us out, essentially,” he added.
It’s not clear how Backstreet would fit more dates onto their already busy 2026: They have another residency planned for September and October in Düsseldorf, Germany. Plus, AJ is dropping a solo album on Jan. 9 and he’s part of two reality shows, The Fashion Hero and Netflix’s Building the Band. And then there’s the matter of new Backstreet Boys music, which AJ thinks is possible.
“I can’t say what, but we were [recently] recording something that is going to be massive,” he teased. “And we’re really stoked about it. … It’s an amazing opportunity.”
“Hopefully [there will be a] second season for me for Netflix and third season for The Fashion Hero, solo stuff,” he continued. “But there’s gaps in there where we could potentially make another album.”
“Who knows? But we are definitely talking about new music and what that might look like.”
Backstreet’s most recent album of original material was 2019’s DNA.
2025 saw some artists release long-awaited new music:
— In October, Mariah Carey released Here For It All, her first album of original material since 2018. It featured a cover of the Paul McCartney and Wings song “My Love,” and collaborations with Anderson .Paak, TheClark Sisters and Kehlani. In June, Mariah received the Ultimate Icon Award at the BET Awards. In September, she was presented with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the MTV VMAs. On Nov. 28, she launched a Las Vegas Christmas residency and in December, she set the all-time record for longest-running #1 hit when “All I Want for Christmas Is You” racked up its 20th cumulative week on top of the Billboard Hot 100.
— Justin Bieber dropped not one but two albums: SWAG in July and SWAG II in September. SWAG, his first album since 2021’s Justice, produced the hits “Yukon” and “Daisy,” received critical acclaim and earned Justin four Grammy nods. He was also announced as the 2026 Coachella headliner.
— Maroon 5 released Love Is Like, their first album since 2021, with features from BLACKPINK‘s LISA, and rappers Lil Wayne and Sexyy Red. It produced the single “Priceless.” The band also launched a North American headlining tour. Singer Adam Levine had his own comeback, returning to The Voice for season 27 after a five-year break.
— Lewis Capaldi returned to music after taking a hiatus in 2023 to focus on his physical and mental health. In June, Lewis successfully returned to Glastonbury, the festival at which he’d been unable to finish his set two years prior. He also released a comeback single, “Survive,” and toured the U.K. He released an EP, also called Survive, in November and announced a North American tour for 2026.
And in other 2025 music news …
Backstreet Boys became the first pop act to headline at Sphere Las Vegas, with a show celebrating their biggest album, Millennium. The residency was so popular that it was extended several times; it will wrap up in February 2026. The group also announced a residency in Düsseldorf, Germany, for September and October 2026.
After completing his “mathematics” series of albums, Ed Sheeran released Play, the first in what will be a series of albums named after media control buttons, including Rewind and Fast Forward. He was everywhere promoting the album, which included his experimentations with Indian and Persian music: playing at Coachella, doing a Netflix special, surprising fans at pubs and more. He also announced his Loop tour for 2026.
Teddy Swims was able to continue his 2024 success into 2025. He toured the world, broke records on the Billboard chart with the longevity of his song “Lose Control,” became a dad, released collaborations with DJ David Guetta and country star Thomas Rhett, earned another Grammy nomination and sang at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
