Music

If you were excited to hear the new Phoebe Bridgers song “Sidelines” in the Conversations with Friends trailer, then you and the show’s stars have something in common.

Speaking with ABC Audio, cast member Joe Alwyn shares that he thought the track was “wicked.”

“I really liked her music beforehand,” Alwyn says. “I’d heard that they were gonna ask her to do it, and so when she said yes, and when I heard the song, I loved it. I think it’s amazing.”

Alison Oliver, who plays the lead role of Frances in Conversations with Friends, adds that she’s “obsessed” with the Grammy-nominated “Kyoto” artist.

“That was so, so cool that she was gonna do it,” Oliver says. “It’s an amazing song.”

Beyond Alwyn’s love for Bridgers’ music, the two have another connection: the actor is dating Taylor Swift, with whom Bridgers collaborated on the song “Nothing New” for the pop star’s Red (Taylor’s Version) album.

Bridgers, meanwhile, is in a relationship with Paul Mescal, who starred in the show Normal People. Both Conversations with Friends and Normal People are based on novels by author Sally Rooney.

Conversations with Friends premieres on Hulu this Sunday, May 15.

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— 50 Cent is keeping his promise on employing Mo’Nique, after he announced a new TV gig that the 54-year-old actress just landed. Taking to Instagram to share the news of Mo’Nique’s role on the hit Starz show BMF, 50 shared a video of the award-winning actress, who introduced the world to her character, Goldie. 

“Guess who i got in BMF this season GOLDIE !,” the rapper wrote. “I don’t miss, THE UNDER DOG’s BACK ON TOP.”

Fans on social media expressed excitement over the comedian, who is said to have been blackballed from the entertainment industry following her fallout with Precious director Lee Daniels in 2009. 

“[Q]ueen of comedy back like she never left,” one user said. Power star Joseph Sikora wrote, “Ooooooo weeeee! I’m here for this.”

—Kehlani started trending on Twitter on Tuesday after the Blue Water Road singer shared her thoughts on a recent radio interview that she felt was “cringey” and “invasive.” Fans weren’t too happy with Kehlani’s treatment on The Morning Hustle, citing the hosts’ emphasis on the singer’s pronouns and unnecessary questions related to her romantic life. 

“See, there’s an actual music journalist out there that would have LIVED for a chance to interview Kehlani. But instead it was you,” one Twitter user wrote, addressing the hosts. “Sorry to that journalist. Sorry to Kehlani…”

Another tweeted, “Kehlani wasn’t wrong. If anything she was a good sport during this interview on The Morning Hustle because she was dealing with two fools that cared more about a salacious soundbite to go viral than talking about her album.”

As a result of the interview, Kehlani says she will only speak to a select number of people whom she feels care about her deeply. 

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Harry Styles treated fans Tuesday by sharing a behind-the-scenes video for “As It Was.”

The clip starts with Harry rolling across the floor with his costar, actress Mathilde Lin, before jumping to rehearsals.  Harry shares the work that went into each shot, from filming multiple takes to all the staging that went on to ensure each shot was perfect.

The video also shows everyone dancing on the rotating floor for the first time, which is pretty noisy, and also lets fans see what it looked like before it was finished.  While it looks like a giant UFO on the ground in the music video, Harry revealed its simplistic design — a circular slab that moves using a motor and wheels.

Other scenes show Harry trying to take off his shoe, busting some dance moves and pretending to do kung fu with members of the crew.  The “Adore You” singer also enjoyed some quality time with an infant, raising the baby over his head like that iconic scene in The Lion King and then cuddling the child until it begins crying for its mother, which causes others in the room to erupt into laughter.

Harry also included footage of everyone celebrating when filming wrapped, which includes thunderous applause and plenty of hugs.

“As It Was” is featured on the singer’s upcoming album, Harry’s House, which arrives May 20.

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Kacey Musgraves and The Chicks are among the headlining acts at Austin City Limits Music Festival, taking place October 7-9 and October 14-16 at Zilker Park in the Texas capital. Tickets are on sale now.  

Tyler Hubbard is teaming up with celebrity fitness trainer Erin Oprea for Fitness at Fest, taking place during CMA Fest at Bridgestone Arena Plaza on June 10 at 8:15 a.m. CT. Tickets are $10 and will be donated to the CMA Foundation. 

Midland will embark on The Last Resort: Greetings from Tour, beginning on September 23 in Phoenix, AZ. The tour wraps on November 18 in Seattle. Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. local time. 

Cam is headlining The Otherside Tour later this year, with Jillian Jacqueline and Amythyst Kiah opening on select dates. The tour kicks off July 28 in Portland, OR. Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. local time.

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BTS is gearing up for their June 10 release of their forthcoming album, Proof, and finally unveiled its complete track list on Tuesday.

Proof, which arrives on BTS’ ninth anniversary as a group, is a three-disc anthology that celebrates their international career.  While the first disc includes their biggest hits, the second album delves into their lesser-known songs and deep cuts.  The third disc is made for hard-core BTS fans and includes numerous demo versions individually sung by every member of the group, their label, BigHit, announced Tuesday.

RM‘s track will be called “Young Forever” while V will sing “Spring Day,” and “Seesaw” will be sung by Suga. In addition, “Still with You” will be sung by Jungkook, J-Hope has the song “DNA,” Jin‘s vocals will be featured on “Epiphany,” and Jimin will team with Suga for “Tony Montana.”

Billboard reports the CD is also packed with the unreleased songs  “Quotation Marks” and “Young Love,” as well as a tribute single “For Youth” that BTS recorded for their fans.  

“The BTS anthology album that embodies the history of BTS will be released as they begin a new chapter as an artist that has been active for nine years to look back on their endeavors,” BigHit said in a statement. “The anthology album Proof that consists of three CDs includes many different tracks — including three all-new tracks — that reflect the thoughts and ideas of the members on the past present and future of BTS.”

Proof arrives June 10 at midnight ET and is available to pre-order now.

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Dierks Bentley and Elle King are taking a “Shot.” 

After performing their new song, “Worth a Shot,” together live during Elle’s headlining show at the Ryman Auditorium in March, the singers are now officially releasing it to the masses on Friday. They shared the news via a candid singing session on Instagram where they recite the tongue-twisting chorus together.

“Might be at the bottom of an empty glass/Don’t know if the whiskey can fix it or not/But baby it’s worth a shot,” they chant in unison, sharing a laugh at the end of the video.

“Hey @DierksBentley…wanna release a song this Friday??” Elle teases on Twitter with the hashtag, #WorthAShot. “Hey Elle… I’m down, let’s do it..!” Dierks responds. 

The duet partners seemingly have a recipe for success: their last collaboration, “Different for Girls,” went #1 on the country charts in 2016.

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Maroon 5 made Israeli fans’ dreams come true by performing their first show in that country on Monday night — and they also made the dreams of one lucky street performer come true.

As The Jerusalem Post and other outlets reported, when the band arrived in Tel Aviv, Israel a few days ago, Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine looked out his hotel window and spotted the performer, Coral Bismuth, singing for people on the boardwalk outside.  One song she happened to sing was Maroon 5’s hit “Sunday Morning.” 

Not only did Adam post video of Coral doing the song, but he also followed her on Instagram and invited her to join the band at their show in front of 60,000 fans at the city’s Yarkon Park.  Of course, she and Adam sang “Sunday Morning” together.

While Coral has now made her Instagram private, she reportedly wrote of the experience, “I have been playing in the street for five years, spreading my music, love and sunflowers to everyone who passes by. Yesterday I had the incredible privilege of singing for 60,000 people in Yarkon Park in a magical collaboration with Maroon 5 and Adam Levine, the man with the biggest heart I have ever met.”

She added, “I am very grateful for all the love I am receiving from all of you. The dream I never had the courage to have came true. Thank you all.”

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Rapper Young Thug was not present in court in Atlanta during Tuesday’s morning scheduled first appearance, after the Atlanta rapper was arrested at his home Monday in connection to gang-related charges. According to ABC affiliate WSB, Fulton County officials say the rapper will instead appear before a Superior Court judge on a date yet to be announced.

Young Thug, whose birth name is Jeffery Williams, is one of 28 people allegedly associated with the Atlanta-based Young Slime Life (YSL) gang who are named in a 88-page, 56-count grand jury indictment, the counts of which include conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, murder, armed robbery, and participation in criminal street gang activity. Authorities say Williams founded YSL — which is also the name of his record imprint, Young Stoner Life — in 2012. A number of those charged are associated with the label.

Williams’ charges include two alleged counts: conspiring to violate the RICO act and participating in street gang activity.

In a statement to ABC News Monday night, Williams’ attorney, Brian Steel, said Williams “has committed no violation of law, whatsoever. We will fight this case ethically, legally and zealously. Mr. Williams will be cleared.”

WSB reports Williams will remained jailed for now. The rapper is scheduled as a performer at the “Young Thug and Friends” concert in Atlanta next month.

Also listed on the indictment is Sergio Kitchens, better known by his rap name, Gunna, who faces one count of violating the RICO act. As of Tuesday afternoon, there has been no confirmation that Gunna was arrested and booked. 

Gunna & Thug were recently featured as Billboard‘s March cover stars. 

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