Scooter Braun confirms that The Kid LAROI’s social media “diss” was a publicity stunt

Scooter Braun confirms that The Kid LAROI’s social media “diss” was a publicity stunt
Scooter Braun confirms that The Kid LAROI’s social media “diss” was a publicity stunt
Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for WarnerMedia

t turns out The Kid LAROI is not joining Taylor Swift in the “I Hate Scooter Braun” club after all.

Even though the Australian artist seemingly dissed the music manager on social media on Wednesday, Braun has now used his Instagram Story to reveal that the whole thing was a stunt to promote LAROI’s new single “Thousand Miles.”

On Wednesday, LAROI posted a snippet from the song, in which he sings, “Here goes another mistake/ I know I’m gonna make,” with a text balloon reading, “Show me ur last mistake. Use this sound.” He then posted three photos of Braun, suggesting that his last mistake had been signing with Braun’s management company.

Last year, LAROI signed on with Braun, who also handles his “Stay” duet partner Justin Bieber, but then departed after four months, with Billboard reporting that Braun had reneged on a promise to be personally involved in his career.

However, Braun has now produced receipts in the form of text messages proving that LAROI had run the idea about the diss past him first. He also posted a screenshot of an exchange in which he wrote to LAROI, “People are calling from media thinking you and I got real beef,” to which LAROI replied, “LMAO I’m dead. They’re quick with it!”

Braun wrote over the screenshots, “For those asking about the beef…and my friends who are wanting to go hard. Don’t believe everything you see on the internet.” He also urged his followers to check out “Thousand Miles,” which he notes was produced by his client Andrew Watt.

And, pointing out that LAROI’s “last mistake” could be interpreted as him leaving Braun, not signing with him, Braun posted a video of himself saying in mock anger, “Huge mistake. Probably the biggest of your career. That guy’s trash.”

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This day in Black history: Beyoncé delivers history-making Coachella performance

This day in Black history: Beyoncé delivers history-making Coachella performance
This day in Black history: Beyoncé delivers history-making Coachella performance
Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Coachella

Four years ago today, the world got to witness greatness personified, by way of Beyoncé’s groundbreaking 2018 Coachella performance.

From her pyramid stage, the 28-time Grammy winner performed a two-hour set that was rich in Black history, HBCU pride, iconic hits, musicality and so much more.

The full production was extraordinary, to say the least, but it was also filled with cultural references and homages to Black life, Black art and Black music. And rightfully so — after more than 20 years of shows and events from Indio, California’s Coachella Valley, Beyoncé made history as the first-ever Black woman to headline the festival.

From marching bands and Greek strolls to majorette dancing and chopped and screwed versions of songs, Beyoncé and the 150 dancers and musicians, made proud both the Black community and the millions of fans who watched the concert.  Highlights included a mini Destiny’s Child reunion, and appearances from her husband, Jay-Z, and sister, Solange.

The 2018 performance, which was quickly dubbed ‘Beychella,’ received widespread critical acclaim, not only for the history it made, but so much more. The New York Times called the show “meaningful,” “absorbing” and “forceful,” among other things, with others wondering if Beyoncé’s two weekend performances can ever be topped, and more still considering it one of the greatest concerts of all time.

Netflix knew what to do: They joined forces with the singer to release the original concert film, Homecoming, at the same time Beyoncé released Homecoming: The Live Album.

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Confirmed: Arcade Fire playing Coachella

Confirmed: Arcade Fire playing Coachella
Confirmed: Arcade Fire playing Coachella
Josh Brasted/WireImage

Arcade Fire is officially playing Coachella.

Earlier Thursday, the “Wake Up” outfit teased a possible surprise set at the California festival with a photo of frontman Win Butler captioned, “Decided to spend my birthday somewhere warm and dry.” Now, Coachella has confirmed that Butler and company will indeed be performing in its newly unveiled schedule of set times.

Arcade Fire won’t be playing a headlining set — rather, they’ll be performing Friday evening at the Mojave tent from 6:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m., in between performances by pop artist Carly Rae Jepsen and punk band IDLES.

The first weekend of Coachella takes place April 15-17, followed by weekend two April 22-24. It’s unclear if Arcade Fire will play the second weekend, as well, or just the first.

The Coachella 2022 lineup also includes Billie Eilish, Måneskin, Phoebe Bridgers, Turnstile, girl in red, Wallows, FINNEAS, The Regrettes, and Bishop Briggs.

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Here’s what you can expect to learn in Mariah Carey’s MasterClass

Here’s what you can expect to learn in Mariah Carey’s MasterClass
Here’s what you can expect to learn in Mariah Carey’s MasterClass
Gisela Schober/Getty Images for amFAR

Mariah Carey is teaching her very own MasterClass that will train students how to use their voice like an instrument.

According to the official press release, “Carey will bring members into the Butterfly Loungeher mobile studio, to show how they can use their voice not only to sing but also to write and produce melodies, lyrics and instrumentation that blend genres and break barriers.”

In addition, attendees will be first to hear a remix of Mariah’s 1997 song “The Roof,” which will feature new vocals from Brandy.  The Moesha star will also be a part of the class so students can “see Carey in action as she directs Brandy on background vocals.”

“I’ve never let cameras in when I am creating — not when I’m writing, and especially not when I’m singing,” Mariah said in a statement, adding she hopes her class will help teach people they can “become anything they want to be as long as they create, re-create, reimagine and reinvent.”

Mariah’s MasterClass is now available, consisting of seven video lessons that run just under an hour and 45 minutes total.

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Garth Brooks has revealed the name of his downtown Nashville bar, and it’s an ode to one of his biggest hits

Garth Brooks has revealed the name of his downtown Nashville bar, and it’s an ode to one of his biggest hits
Garth Brooks has revealed the name of his downtown Nashville bar, and it’s an ode to one of his biggest hits
Terry Wyatt/Getty Images

As promised, Garth Brooks unveiled the name of his downtown Nashville entertainment complex this week, and the moniker is an homage to one of his biggest hits of all time.

The venue is called Friends in Low Places, named after Garth’s classic breakout single from 1990. In true Garth fashion, he found a creative way to share the name of his new hot spot with fans, slowly assembling the letters in the windows of the second and third stories of the building.

That means that fans walking down Nashville’s bustling Lower Broadway could see Friends in Low Places slowly emerging, and after the full reveal, Garth posted a time-lapse video of the process to his socials.

Just a couple of weeks after he officially confirmed the opening of his new entertainment complex, Garth is already bringing Friends in Low Places to life. The downstairs merch store is open for business, and fans have been posting their snapshots of the inside — and their purchases — to Twitter, using the hashtag #FILPonBroadway.

Meanwhile, Garth’s gearing up for a two-night stand at Music City’s Nissan Stadium. Those shows, which take place Friday and Saturday, are both stops on his Stadium Tour.

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Is Arcade Fire teasing surprise Coachella performance?

Is Arcade Fire teasing surprise Coachella performance?
Is Arcade Fire teasing surprise Coachella performance?
Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for WarnerMedia

Is Arcade Fire planning a surprise performance at Coachella?

On Thursday, the “Wake Up” outfit tweeted a photo of frontman Win Butler, who turns 42 today, with a palm tree in the background, alongside the caption, “Decided to spend my birthday somewhere warm and dry.”

The tweet also includes a palm tree emoji and tags @Coachella.

A surprise Coachella performance would fit right in with Arcade Fire’s recent month of spontaneous concerts, which has included last-minute, intimate shows in New York City and New Orleans. However, nothing yet is confirmed. It’s entirely possible that Butler is instead teasing a DJ set under his DJ Windows 98 moniker, or is just attending the festival as a fan.

Coachella, meanwhile, has seen its fair share of lineup changes on the road to its return this year following two years of pandemic-canceled festivals. The reunited Rage Against the Machine was originally supposed to headline in 2020 before eventually dropping off the bill, while controversial rapper Kanye West‘s headlining set was canceled just this month, with The Weeknd and electronic group Swedish House Mafia replacing him on the bill.

As for who will definitely be playing Coachella 2022, which takes place April 15-17 and April 22-24, the lineup includes Billie Eilish, Måneskin, Phoebe Bridgers, Turnstile, girl in red, Wallows, FINNEAS, The Regrettes, and Bishop Briggs.

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Ex-Metallica bassist Jason Newsted discussed joining Alex Van Halen & Joe Satriani for Van Halen tour

Ex-Metallica bassist Jason Newsted discussed joining Alex Van Halen & Joe Satriani for Van Halen tour
Ex-Metallica bassist Jason Newsted discussed joining Alex Van Halen & Joe Satriani for Van Halen tour
Jason Koerner/Getty Images

A Van Halen tour featuring drummer Alex Van Halen, guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani and ex-Metallica bassist Jason Newsted was apparently discussed.

That revelation comes from Newsted himself, who tells The Palm Beach Post that Alex had recruited Satriani to step in for his late brother and band mate, Eddie Van Halen, and had been searching for a bassist.

Newstead says he was approached for the project about six months ago, and traveled to California to jam with the pair before deciding not to continue with the project.

“There’s nobody that can top [Van Halen], so how do you show it honor?” Newsted says. “I didn’t want it to be viewed as a money grab. And then it kind of just all fizzled.”

It’s unclear whether the tour would be considered a tribute to be Van Halen, or whether the band was supposed to be a rebooted version of the iconic “Panama” rockers. It’s also unclear whether Alex and Satriani still plan to pursue the project without Newsted.

Eddie died October 2020. Prior to his passing, a tour potentially featuring the return of bassist Michael Anthony and all of Van Halen’s past vocalists — David Lee Roth, Sammy Hagar and Gary Cherone — was discussed, but was ultimately scrapped due to Eddie’s health issues.

Eddie’s son Wolfgang Van Halen, who played bass in Van Halen since 2006 and now fronts the band Mammoth WVH, has repeatedly said that the band is done following his father’s death. “You can’t have Van Halen without Eddie Van Halen,” Wolf told ABC Audio in 2020.

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Billie Eilish to appear in new ‘Simpsons’ short “When Billie Met Lisa”

Billie Eilish to appear in new ‘Simpsons’ short “When Billie Met Lisa”
Billie Eilish to appear in new ‘Simpsons’ short “When Billie Met Lisa”
Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Billie Eilish is the latest celebrity to head to Springfield.  She’s appearing in an upcoming The Simpsons special.

Taking to her Instagram story to share the official poster, Billie revealed along with two wide grinning emojis, “Guest starring in @thesimpsons new short streaming April 22nd on @disneyplus.”

The special is titled “When Billie Met Lisa,” which shows the “bad guy” hitmaker singing at the studio as Lisa Simpson accompanies her on her baritone sax.  

The special will also feature her brother, FINNEAS.  According to the official press release, “Lisa Simpson is discovered by chart-topping artists Billie Eilish and FINNEAS while searching for a quiet place to practice her saxophone. Billie invites Lisa to her studio for a special jam session she’ll never forget.”

Billie is the latest singer to get a Springfield-style makeover.  Before this announcement, The Weeknd was the latest star to make a guest appearance, voicing two characters — a famous kid influencer who owns a skatewear brand, and his equally-as-cool father, in the episode “Bart the Cool Kid.”

Billie now joins a long line of singers to have been featured on The Simpsons, including Britney SpearsMichael JacksonJustin BieberJohn LegendElton JohnNSYNCKaty PerryEd Sheeran and many others.

Catch her episode when it premieres next Friday, April 22, on Disney+. 

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From “Duh!” to “D’oh!”: Billie Eilish starring in new ‘Simpsons’ short

From “Duh!” to “D’oh!”: Billie Eilish starring in new ‘Simpsons’ short
From “Duh!” to “D’oh!”: Billie Eilish starring in new ‘Simpsons’ short
ABC

Billie Eilish is the latest musician to head to Springfield.

The “bad guy” artist is set to star in upcoming Simpsons short titled “When Billie Met Lisa,” premiering on Disney+ next Friday, April 22.

Eilish revealed the news in an Instagram Story featuring the cartoon, Simpsons-ized version of herself singing next to the character Lisa Simpson, who’s playing her signature saxophone. According to a press release, Eilish’s brother and collaborator FINNEAS will also guest on the short.

“In ‘When Billie Met Lisa,’ Lisa Simpson is discovered by chart-topping artists Billie Eilish and FINNEAS while searching for a quiet place to practice her saxophone,” the release teases. “Billie invites Lisa to her studio for a special jam session she’ll never forget.”

Eilish joins a long list of musical artists who’ve appeared on The Simpsons, including Green Day, Weezer, The White Stripes, Aerosmith, Metallica and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Meanwhile, Fall Out Boy‘s band name is a Simpsons reference.

Disney is the parent company of ABC News.

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One person injured after shooting at DaBaby’s North Carolina home

One person injured after shooting at DaBaby’s North Carolina home
One person injured after shooting at DaBaby’s North Carolina home
Rich Fury/Getty Images

North Carolina police are investigating a shooting that left one person injured at the home of rapper DaBaby, who’s birth name is Jonathan Kirk

According to details shared by the Troutman Police Department on Facebook, officers arrived on scene at approximately 7:45 p.m. on Wednesday, where they found one person suffering from a non-life threatening gunshot wound. That person was transported to a medical facility for treatment. 

“Due to the ongoing and continuing nature of this investigation, no information as to the names of those involved or the circumstances can be released at this time,” the statement reads. 

A local reporter says that he spoke with the Troutman Police chief on Thursday morning, who confirmed “rap star DaBaby was home at the time of the shooting when an unknown gunman entered the residence but wasn’t injured.”

The reporter subsequently shared an image of the home’s gated entrance, highlighting the “private security” that’s guarding the area.

“This is an isolated incident and there is no threat to the community at large,” authorities said. 

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