Music

On Wednesday’s episode of Red Table Talk, Jada Pinkett Smith opens up a conversation around alopecia, the autoimmune disorder that causes hair loss. Smith, who has alopecia; her mother, Adrienne Banfield Norris; and her daughter, Willow Smith, are joined by a few guests who share their personal experience with the disorder.

The mother of 12-year-old Rio Allred, who died by suicide after being bullied for her alopecia, emotionally recalls her daughter’s hair loss journey and how she and her family, including her 7-year-old daughter, Avry, are dealing with the tragic loss.

“With the hair loss, she was so strong,” Allred’s mom, Niki Ball, said. “She just rocked it, even when it was still falling out and she had these big patches.” Ball details how the many different remedies she tried — like creams and injections — didn’t help her daughter and instead aided in the young girl’s decision to shave her head. “So we did and she just glowed,” Ball said.

Of the many instances of bullying she endured, one of the last encounters Allred told her mother about was a “really bad day” at school when a fellow student, referring to Allred’s bald head, told her to “put your hat back on, I can’t stand the glare.”

On how she’s coping since the discovery of her daughter on March 14, Ball said, “Eating has gotten a little easier; you literally have to eat to stay alive.”

Speaking to the table of visibly emotional hosts, Ball said, “I worry about all of us a lot. I feel like I have to stay strong.”

The full half-hour episode, “Alopecia: The Devastating Impact,” can be viewed on the Red Table Talk‘s Facebook Watch page.

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Phoebe Bridgers has premiered the video for her new single, “Sidelines.”

The clip features live, backstage and behind-the-scenes footage from the “Kyoto” artist’s ongoing U.S. headlining tour. You can watch it now streaming on YouTube.

If you want to see Bridgers live, her tour continues Wednesday in Omaha, Nebraska, and concludes June 16 in New York City.

“Sidelines,” Bridgers’ first original song to follow her Grammy-nominated 2020 effort Punisher, premiered in April. It was recorded for the new series Conversations with Friends, which is streaming now on Hulu.

Bridgers will perform “Sidelines” during her appearance on NBC’s The Tonight Show on June 15.

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Liam Payne chose an inopportune time to air One Direction‘s dirty laundry and fans are livid.  

Appearing on the Impaulsive podcast, the British singer singled out his former bandmates by name. Fans are now accusing Liam of trying to divert attention away from his alleged infidelity. The “Strip That Down” singer’s engagement to Maya Henry went up in flames after he became embroiled in a cheating scandal.

Among the revelations was a scathing bit about Louis Tomlinson, whom Liam said he “hated” when 1D first formed. Although Liam said he and Louis are now close, he claimed they nearly traded blows when they were part of the band.

“We came very close at points. There was one moment where there was an argument backstage and one member in particular threw me up a wall,” Liam revealed.

He also spoke about Zayn Malik, who famously left 1D in 2015. “There’s many reasons why I dislike Zayn and there’s many reasons why I’ll always, always be on his side,” he said, referencing Zayn’s “upbringing” by hinting his parents weren’t supportive.

Liam’s interview has ignited fans’ outrage, with many pointing out that his former bandmates haven’t badmouthed One Direction since the group went on hiatus over five years ago.  

He also drew some heavy criticism for claiming in the same interview that he is the most successful of his former bandmates. Speaking of his 2017 single “Strip That Down,” he said, “We did the first song, billion streams. I think it outsold everybody within the band.”

Fans have pointed out both Zayn and Harry Styles’ debut singles, respectively “Pillowtalk” and “Sign of the Times,” amassed over a billion Spotify streams, while “Strip That Down” has 800,000.

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Sam Asghari shared a heartfelt update about how he and fiancée Britney Spears are choosing to focus on being “positive” as they process her pregnancy loss.

“It’s just part of life … It’s something that happens to a lot of people,” the actor told Entertainment Tonight when asked about the miscarriage.

Asghari then opened up about the mindset he and his “soon-to-be wife” adopted since losing their unborn child. “We’re positive about it,” he said. “And one beautiful thing that I heard was when the baby’s ready, it’ll come. So that was a beautiful thing somebody had said … it’s a common process and the female body is just so amazing, and just the human body in general is so beautiful that it heals itself. And that when the baby’s ready it’ll be the right time.”

Despite the heartbreak, Asghari maintains hope he will be “a young father” one day.

“That’s just the joy of life, I think, is procreation. And that’s just a next step,” he continued, explaining he is already focusing on making changes that will benefit his future children. “I am careful with money because I do want to build a future for my children,” the Iranian-born actor said. “If you came to this country, you came with a purpose. You don’t come here to goof around.”

Britney announced in April that she was expecting her first child with Asghari. They issued a joint statement last month that they lost their “miracle baby” and asked fans to respect their privacy during the difficult time. They also vowed to “continue trying to expand our beautiful family.”

Asghari, who met Britney on the “Slumber Party” music video set in 2016, proposed to the Grammy winner in September 2021. 

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After teasing a new song last week, Yeah Yeah Yeahs have delivered that and more.

As promised, the track, titled “Spitting Off the Edge of the World,” is out today and features indie pop artist Perfume Genius. Not only that, but Karen O and company have also announced their first album in nine years, Cool It Down.

“To all who have waited, our dear fans, thank you, our fever to tell has returned, and writing these songs came with its fair share of chills, tears, and euphoria when the pain lifts and truth is revealed,” O says of the upcoming record. “Don’t have to tell you how much we’ve been going through in the last nine years since our last record, because you’ve been going through it too, and we love you and we see you, and we hope you feel the feels from the music we’ve made.”

O adds, “No shying away from the feels, or backing down from what’s been gripping all of us these days. So yes we’ve taken our time, happy to report when it’s ready it really does just flow out.”

Cool It Down will be released September 30. In the meantime, you can listen to “Spitting Off the Edge of the World” now via digital outlets and watch its accompanying video streaming now on YouTube.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs will play Montreal’s Osheaga festival in July and Chicago’s Riot Fest in September, followed by headlining dates in New York City and Los Angeles in October.

Here’s the Cool It Down track list:

“Spitting Off the Edge of the World” feat. Perfume Genius
“Lovebomb”
“Wolf”
“Fleez”
“Burning”
“Blacktop”
“Different Today”
“Mars”

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Muse has released a new song called “Will of the People,” the title track off the band’s upcoming album.

“‘Will of the People’ is a fictional story set in a fictional metaverse on a fictional planet ruled by a fictional authoritarian state run by a fictional algorithm manifested by a fictional data center running a fictional bank printing a fictional currency controlling a fictional population occupying a fictional city containing a fictional apartment where a fictional man woke up one day and thought ‘f*** this,'” says frontman Matt Bellamy.

Somehow, we think the inspiration for “Will of the People” isn’t entirely fictional.

You can listen to “Will of the People” now via digital outlets. Its accompanying video, which very much lays out the scenario Bellamy describes, is streaming now on YouTube.

The album Will of the People arrives August 26. It also includes the previously released songs “Won’t Stand Down” and “Compliance.”

In other news, Muse has announced a limited run of North American tour dates, making stops in Los Angeles on October 4, Chicago on October 11, Toronto on October 14 and New York City on October 16.

Tickets go on sale June 24 at 10 a.m. local time. For all ticket info, visit Muse.mu.

(Video contains uncensored profanity.) 

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Justin Bieber is back at it again with Tim Horton’s — the Canadian equivalent of Dunkin’ — and dropped the first commercial teasing his new cold brew offering that’s appropriately named Biebs Brew.

The hilarious commercial, which dropped Wednesday, shows just how excited the Grammy winner is to finally taste the new menu item. The commercial opens with Justin staring intently at glass jar filled with the first batch of Biebs Brew and a Tim Horton’s employee named Pam asking why he hasn’t gone home.

Justin firmly replies, “I haven’t tried the final product,” so he cannot leave because his job isn’t done.

Pam tries to persuade the “Ghost” singer against waiting because cold brew takes longer to make than your average cup of coffee, explaining, “It takes 16 hours for it to steep before it’s ready.” She adds Tim Horton’s plans on calling him back in about 15 hours so he can be first to taste it.

“Yeah, not a chance I let someone put their lips on the Biebs Brew before this guy,” Justin argues, adding, “I’m a stayin'” as he gets cozy in an office chair.

The two part ways while sharing awkward good nights, with Justin shouting to the employee that he loves her.

“I love you, too,” she giggles. “I’m glad you said it first!”

Justin’s all new Biebs Brew — which comes with a limited-edition French vanilla flavoring — drops June 6.  

This isn’t his first collaboration with Tim Horton’s. Last year, the singer teamed with the chain to make his own Timbits, which is their name for doughnut holes, and dubbed them Timbiebs. That partnership was a smash and even sparked some head-scratching headlines when ecstatic customers tried reselling them for thousands of dollars on eBay.

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Blake Shelton is teaming up with Jimmie Johnson to honor our nation’s veterans. 

Before the Indy 500 race last weekend, where Blake was the grand marshal, he was tasked with the special honor of helping former NASCAR driver and longtime friend Jimmie decorate the helmet he wore during the Indy 500, which marked Jimmie’s first time competing in the race.

Designated the “Helmet of Heroes,” it features symbols that honor their family members who’ve served in the U.S. armed forces. Blake’s late father, Richard Shelton, served in the Korean War and then became part of the honor guard. His brother Richie was a member of the Army before he died in a car accident at the age of 24 in 1990. 

After Jimmie wore the helmet during the race, Blake and Jimmie signed it. The helmet will be given away as part of a contest raising money for the American Legion, a nonprofit that supports veterans. A $48 donation to the American Legion equals one entry into a drawing for the Helmet of Heroes. The winner will be announced on September 13.

“What an honor, especially with the American Legion involved and it’s [Jimmie’s] first Indy 500. There’s so much that this helmet represents,” Blake said, adding that it’s a “big deal” for him to have input on the Helmet of Heroes. 

The helmet will be on display at the IndyCar Series races and other events in the American Legion mobile unit until the end of racing season. 

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The Academy of Country Music announced its Special Awards nominees on Wednesday, putting a spotlight on artists, songwriters and industry members.

Miranda Lambert is being honored for her career-long ACMs success, receiving this year’s Triple Crown Award. She qualifies for that honor because throughout her career she was won ACM Top New Female Vocalist, ACM Female Vocalist of the Year and ACM Entertainer of the Year.

The most controversial honoree in the bunch, Morgan Wallen, will win the Milestone Award for his outstanding achievements in the country music field over the past year. It’s a major turnaround for Morgan, who was barred from eligibility at the 2021 ACM Awards due to his racist slur scandal, which took place in February of that year.

Chris Stapleton is also being recognized: He’ll be awarded the ACM Spirit Award, which draws inspiration from country legend Merle Haggard. The honor is presented to an artist who most exemplifies Haggard’s legacy, writing great songs and following their own path.

Shania Twain and legendary songwriter Sonny Throckmorton are the two recipients of the ACM Poet’s Award, which they are winning for lyrical contributions and impact on country music culture.

TV series Yellowstone is winning the ACM Film Award; and Paul Barnabee and Dwight Wiles are this year’s ACM Lifting Lives Award recipients. Connie Bradley will receive the ACM Icon Award, and Duane Clark will receive the ACM Service Award. Hardy, who won ACM Songwriter of the Year at the most recent awards show, will be recognized, too.

The ACM Honors ceremony will take place Wednesday, August 24, at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. This year’s show will also celebrate some of the ACM Awards winners who weren’t televised during the major awards show, like studio recording and industry honorees.

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