Music

If you watch British TV shows or movies, you may be aware of the distinctly British Christmas tradition of the “Christmas cracker“: a wrapped cardboard tube that pops when you pull it apart, revealing a paper crown, a tiny present and a terrible joke. While they’ve become more popular in the U.S. in recent years, one British pop star recalls searching in vain for them for her first American Christmas.

“I remember when I first came to America and had a Christmas here, me and my mom were like, ‘Okay, let’s go get the Christmas crackers,'” Leona Lewis told ABC Audio. “Y’know, we went to the shops, it’s Christmas Eve. And people were like ‘What? You want what?'”

“We’re like, ‘Christmas crackers!’ — no one knew what we were talking about!” the “Bleeding Love” singer laughed. “I was like, ‘They don’t have Christmas crackers in America — this is so crazy!'”

But Leona, who’s currently doing a holiday residency in Las Vegas, said one thoughtful fan made sure she had the experience, even in Sin City.

“Someone bought me a Christmas cracker to the show. And when I was walking on the catwalk, he handed it to me and we pulled the Christmas cracker together,” she laughed. “It was so cute!”

Meanwhile, another British pop star thinks it’s “wild” that Christmas crackers aren’t a regular part of holiday celebrations in the U.S.: Spice Girl Mel C.

“We need to introduce them, because they’re fun!” she told ABC Audio. “The presents are always rubbish. It’s not about the gift, it’s about the corny jokes you get inside.” 

Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Cardi B went viral for her courtroom drama in 2025, but she wasn’t the only major figure forced to face a judge. One of the most defining legal moments of the year came when Sean “Diddy” Combs stood trial in a high-profile federal case involving charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.

Jury selection began on May 5, 2025, with opening statements delivered the following week. Numerous witnesses testified over the course of the multiweek trial, but Combs’ ex Cassie Ventura’s testimony was the centerpiece of the prosecution’s case. She and several others described alleged patterns of violence, coercion and sexual exploitation, before the verdict was delivered in early July.

Combs was acquitted on the most serious charges — racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking — but was convicted on two federal counts of transportation to engage in prostitution under the Mann Act. In October, he was sentenced to 50 months in federal prison and ordered to pay a $500,000 fine, followed by supervised release. He is currently serving his sentence at FCI Fort Dix in New Jersey.

His legal team has filed an appeal in an attempt to reduce his prison term; they’ve been granted an expedited appeal schedule for his conviction.

While Diddy has largely remained out of public view, photos and short clips have been released, offering rare insight into his incarceration.

As the legal process continues, Combs ends the year as the subject of renewed public scrutiny following the release of the Netflix documentary Sean Combs: The Reckoning, executive produced by 50 Cent. 50 claimed he believed Combs would like the documentary, though reports say Combs attempted to block its release. His attorneys have since sent a cease and desist letter, alleging the project uses “stolen footage that was never authorized for release,” according to CNN.

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21 Savage debuts at #3 on the Billboard 200 with his latest release, What Happened to the Streets? The album earned 73,000 equivalent album units in the week ending Dec. 18, according to Luminate, with 48,000 units from streaming and 25,000 from album sales.

With the debut, What Happened to the Streets? becomes his seventh album to chart in the top 10. It also opens at #5 on the top streaming albums and top album sales charts.

Released on Friday, the album features guest appearances from Young Nudy, Latto, Drake, GloRilla, G Herbo, Lil Baby and Jawan Harris. Speaking on the Perspektives With Bank podcast about the album’s title, 21 Savage said, “The street dead. It’s f***** up. S*** ain’t the same no more.”

Artists have since echoed his recent “f*** the streets” slogan, which he first used in a message directed at Young Thug and Gunna.

“When I say f the streets I’m talking about the part that gave me trauma and made me can’t sleep at night,” 21 later clarified on his Instagram Story. “If you ain’t tired of that part you ain’t been through it!”

During an Instagram Live, 21 added that he probably should have said, “Save the streets.”

Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Along with decking the halls, you can also Duff the halls this Christmas Eve.

Duff McKagan has announced a stream of his Lighthouse: Live from London concert film, premiering on his YouTube channel at noon ET on Dec. 24.

Lighthouse: Live from London captures the Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver bassist’s 2024 show in the English capital while touring behind his 2023 solo album, Lighthouse. It was released as a live album in October.

McKagan will be back rocking with GN’R on their upcoming world tour, which launches in the U.S. in May. The “Welcome to the Jungle” rockers also just put out a pair of new songs, “Nothin'” and “Atlas,” earlier in December, marking their first fresh material in two years.

Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Big Sean is bringing more of his creativity to the world of the Detroit Pistons, where he’s been named the creative director of global experience.

As part of his role, he will work with the franchise on ways to leverage his platform to help increase community engagement and expand global fan development efforts, introducing Detroit basketball to new people around the world. He will also continue responsibilities from his previous role as creative director of innovation, focusing on the team’s product and design.

“Been building with the Pistons for the last few years and it’s been a dream from winning an Emmy together to designing city edition jerseys worn in game, and other pieces of incredible merch, while also linking local designers and creatives with the Pistons to collaborate and tying in the community,” Big Sean wrote on Instagram. “This new level of working in the front office of this iconic team means a lot. Its on!”

In a press statement, the Detroit native added that the new role allows him to “serve the Pistons community … on an even bigger scale.”

“Detroit has always been rich with talent and culture, and my mission is to keep opening doors and hiring our city’s creatives to shine alongside one of the most iconic franchises in sports,” he continued. “I’m grateful to the Pistons for trusting me to help define what the culture of Detroit Basketball really means.”

Sean and the Pistons have launched the Creatives Across Continents initiative to celebrate their expanded partnership; it will offer creatives an opportunity to develop designs inspired by Detroit basketball for a 2026 retail collection, using a prompt from Sean.

Additional details about the partnership will be revealed in the near future.

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The success of Mariah Carey‘s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” has allowed her to achieve something no artist has ever come close to.

As the song remains at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, the publication reports that Mariah has now spent a collective 100 weeks on top of the chart.  She accumulated those 100 weeks thanks to her 19 #1 hits, including the holiday track. “All I Want for Christmas Is You” has spent a cumulative 21 weeks at #1 over the years, making it the longest-running chart topper in the history of the chart.

How far ahead of other acts does this put Mariah? A lot. Rihanna, who is second, has only spent 60 weeks at #1. The Beatles, in third place, have 59 overall.

And Mariah just set another record as well. “All I Want for Christmas Is You” logs its 78th week on the Hot 100 in total. It’s now the longest-charted title on the Hot 100 by a female artist, passing the previous record holder: “Levitating” by Dua Lipa.

It’s been reported that every year, Mariah earns an estimated $2.5 million from her holiday hit alone, at minimum.

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Thirty Seconds to Mars has shared a statement reflecting on 2025 and looking forward to 2026.

The band’s year included a show in August celebrating the 20th anniversary of their 2005 album A Beautiful Lie, which spawned the single “The Kill.” Frontman Jared Leto also starred in the movie Tron: Ares.

“Dear MARS Army, as the year comes to a close, we’re feeling incredibly grateful and a little nostalgic,” Jared and drummer Shannon Leto write in an Facebook post. “This one felt especially meaningful as we celebrated 20 years of A Beautiful Lie, the album that changed everything. Seeing so many familiar faces, the ones who’ve been there from the beginning and those who joined along the way, meant everything.”

“That shared history and those moments we’ve lived together are what make this community what it is,” the post continues. “We took that energy on the road this year and felt it everywhere we went. Your support continues to push and inspire us. Thank you for being here, growing with us, and being a part of where we’re going.”

The Leto brothers conclude by teasing, “We can’t wait to share what’s next. More to come.”

One thing that’s coming is the 20th anniversary reissue of A Beautiful Lie, due out March 27.

The most recent Thirty Seconds to Mars album is 2023’s It’s the End of the World but It’s a Beautiful Day.

Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.