Music

The singers up for this year’s coveted Polaris Music Prize have been announced, and among the pack is The Weeknd.

Pitchfork reports the Canadian-born singer is in the running to pick up his country’s prestigious prize, which “honours and rewards artists who produce Canadian music albums of distinction.” The Weeknd scored a nod thanks to his new album, Dawn FM, which has produced the hits “Take My Breath,” “Sacrifice” “Gasoline” and others.

Each year, a jury consisting of 197 individuals determines who receives the ultra-competitive award. They are tasked to sift through all the qualifying albums — 223 albums were up for consideration this year — before determining the longlist.

In all, 40 artists have made it to the next round, but the list will be whittled down to just 10 albums when Polaris Music Prize 2022 submits the list of this year’s finalists on July 14.

The ceremony will be held on September 19 in Toronto. In addition to some incredible bragging rights, winners also go home with a $50,000 prize.

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Having previously paid tribute to Nirvana, Post Malone is now tackling another titan of grunge: Pearl Jam.

The “Circles” artist performed a cover of the PJ tune “Better Man” during his appearance on The Howard Stern Show this week. Speaking with host Howard Stern, Post recalled hearing “Better Man” when he visited his brother Jordan, a Marine who was stationed in Hawaii at the time.

The stripped-down rendition consisted of Post’s voice and an acoustic guitar played by frequent collaborator Andrew Watt, who produced Eddie Vedder‘s new solo album, Earthling, and toured in his Earthlings solo band.

You can watch the performance streaming now on YouTube.

Also during the Stern appearance, Post shared that he received approval from Kurt Cobain‘s daughter Frances Bean Cobain to play his Nirvana tribute set in 2020.

“I…never want to offend anybody by trying to show support, so I just wanted to make sure everything was OK,” Post explained. “And it was OK.”

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Faith Hill was thrust back into the spotlight with her role on 1883, but there was a time when she almost swore off acting. 

Faith and her husband, Tim McGraw, have earned critical acclaim for their portrayal of Margaret and James Dutton on the series that serves as the prequel to Yellowstone. Prior to that, Faith had a lead role in the 2004 remake of The Stepford Wives, starring alongside Nicole Kidman, Glenn Close and Matthew Broderick. 

Though she praises the “amazing” cast, Faith tells Kelly Clarkson that it “wasn’t the best experience” — her main gripe being the long wait times in between takes. “I said, ‘I will never ever do another movie,” Faith recalls on The Kelly Clarkson Show. “It took so long. The waiting for me, I cannot. I have to be busy doing stuff.”

But the singer did find her way back in front of the camera with 1883. She says that she and her husband were so captured by the script that they had to be a part of it. 

“For the script to have been so incredibly well-written, I honestly had never read anything like it,” she raves. “So we just made the decision to do it.” 

1883 premiered on Paramount+ in December. 

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Britney Spears‘ wedding guest list included Madonna, Drew Barrymore, Selena Gomez and Paris Hilton — but her family was noticeably absent from the ceremony. Now, the Grammy winner is clearing the air on why that was.

Britney spoke out after her brother, Bryan Spears, and his girlfriend, Amber Lynn Conklin, issued a joint statement explaining why they were absent from the wedding. The two claimed in the since-deleted post that his daughter’s elementary school graduation was the same day.

“Bryan felt terrible having to choose but he had to be there for his daughter and sent his love to Britney,” the post read, per Page Six. “We are so sad to miss such an important moment but so so happy for Britney and Sam’s Marriage!”

Britney fired back on her Instagram, “You were never invited to my wedding.” The “Toxic” singer detailed the alleged abuse she endured from Bryan while under her 13-year conservatorship, adding, “I know you’re blood and yes blood runs deep but no family of mine would do what you guys did to me.”

Her post has also been deleted.

In other Britney news, TMZ reports the singer has fired her security team for failing to stop her ex-husband Jason Alexander from breaking into her home on the day of her wedding.  

Alexander was arrested by police and now faces a multitude of charges. As for Britney, she has been awarded a three-year restraining order against her ex.

The “Perfume” singer has since hired a new security detail, which sources to the outlet say happened shortly after the terrifying incident.

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BTS‘ label claims the group is not going on a “hiatus,” as they previously claimed.

A day after the Grammy nominees declared they were going on a break, citing exhaustion and a loss of direction, South Korean entertainment company Hybe clarified BTS isn’t going anywhere.

“BTS are not taking a hiatus. Members will be focusing more on solo projects at this time,” Hybe said in a statement, per USA Today.

The clarification comes shortly after BIGHIT MUSIC, who represents BTS, told ABC News in a statement, “BTS now starts a new chapter with new solo projects as well as group projects. Members will take this time to achieve personal growth through various new activities, and we expect it to further strengthen the foundation for the group‘s long-run as a team.”  The company added they “actively support” BTS.

As previously reported, the “Butter” singers spoke to fans at their ninth annual FESTA dinner, with Suga revealing, “We’re going into a hiatus now.”

They explained why the break was needed, with Jimin admitting, “[BTS is] going through a rough patch right now… We’re trying to find our identity and that’s an exhausting and long process.”

The septet noted of the unique pressures the pandemic and the K-pop “idol system” placed on them, which made them always “keep producing music and keep doing something.”  Several members also expressed they felt stifled creatively, such as RM, who said he wanted to be more than the “rapping machine” of the group.

J-Hope noted the hiatus would be good for the group, saying it will allow them to “become stronger” and “start our second chapter.” 

While it is unknown when BTS will return, BIGHIT announced J-Hope is working on a solo album and other members are working on “collaborations with other artists.”

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Tuesday marked the fifth anniversary of the deadly Grenfell Tower Fire, in which 72 people in a 24-story London apartment building perished in 2017 and many others injured.  Adele marked the somber occasion by reminding fans that those responsible for the deaths have not yet been held accountable.

Retweeting a post by Grenfell United, which is comprised of survivors and family members of the victims seeking justice, the Grammy winner again urged her followers to support their cause.

“I stand with the Grenfell families. Follow @GrenfellUnited and join their campaign for truth, justice and change,” she wrote.  

The organization declared Tuesday, “For 5 years we’ve had to endure a justice system that protects the powerful. A system that prevents justice. Whilst this system exists, we face the same unachievable battle as the many before us.”

“They left us to search for answers, they mocked us publicly. Now, they stand in the way of justice,” the organization continued in a follow-up post. “We must pave a new way forward.”

Grenfell United says the building’s owners, who reportedly didn’t maintain the exterior to code, and the fire service, which didn’t evacuate the building’s residents quickly enough, should be held accountable for their failures.  In addition, the group is demanding the inquiry made the day following the 2017 be released.  

The Grenfell Tower fire is one of the deadliest structural fires in U.K. history.

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Foo Fighters have announced the first performers who’ll appear at the upcoming Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concerts.

As previously reported, the two shows in London and Los Angeles will feature Hawkins’ “bandmates and his inspirations playing the songs that he fell in love with, and the ones he brought to life.”

The artists who’ll be joining the Foos onstage at London’s Wembley Stadium on September 3 include Rush‘s Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, Queen‘s Brian May and Roger Taylor, The Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde, Stewart Copeland of The Police, Liam Gallagher, Wolfgang Van Halen, Josh Homme, Mark Ronson, bassist Chris Chaney of Jane’s Addiction and Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders, and legendary drummer/producer Omar Hakim, who’s worked with Foo Fighters, David Bowie, Dire Straits, Miles Davis, Journey, Kate Bush and dozens more.

Plus, Dave Chappelle will make a special appearance, and Hawkins’ cover band Chevy Metal is also on the bill.

The guests for the September 27 Los Angeles show at the Kia Forum will be announced at noon Wednesday. The charities that will benefit from both shows — chosen by the Hawkins family — will be announced shortly. For ticket information, join the Foo Fighters’ mailing list.

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With her new home goods collection, Wanda June Home, Miranda Lambert is paying homage to the generations of women who came before her.

Named after her mother, Beverly June, and her grandmother Wanda Coker, the country star’s kitchen and home decor line is inspired by her own kitchen that marries southwestern flair with farm chic. Products range from vintage striped porcelain dishware to a fringe pillow and flatware displaying phrases like “bless your heart” and “hot stuff.”

“They both taught me everything I know about being a woman and how to make a warm home full of laughter, love and memories. That’s really the heart of my Wanda June Home brand,” Miranda said in a statement about her mother and grandma. “The products are a physical representation of a long line of beautiful memories with amazing women.”

Wanda June Home is available exclusively at Walmart, where the singer’s grandfather used to be a greeter.   

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