Music

Melanie Chisolm breathed new life into fans’ hopes for a Spice Girls reunion.  During her appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, the “2 Become 1” singer hinted that she and her former band mates are seriously considering hitting the road again.

When guest host Howie Mandel prodded Mel about her former girl group going back on tour, she said she “really” hopes that things come together.

“We’re talking about it. Yes! We are talking about it constantly. It was always the plan,” Mel C continued as the crowd erupted into cheers.  “We did these amazing stadium shows in the U.K. two years ago. It was the best thing we’ve ever done. The creative was so incredible. We had the best time.”

Melanie said should the group head back on tour, they’re planning on a North American trek because “we love the U.S.  Our fans here are amazing!”

It’s been rumored the “Wannabe” singers are planning to hit the road in 2023 for a reunion tour, but so far nothing has been set in stone.

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Fetty Wap was arrested Friday afternoon at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey on an outstanding warrant

The “Trap Queen” rapper, whose birth name is William Junior Maxwell II, was taken into custody after officers were notified of an active warrant via an ankle monitor call, according to NJ.com.

Port Authority spokesperson Amber Greene says the warrant was for a public nuisance ordinance, and added that Fetty was released after posting bail

As previously reported, Fetty was arrested October 28 during the Rolling Loud music festival at Citi Field in New York City. He was charged with five others, including a New Jersey corrections officer, with conspiring to distribute and possess controlled substances across Long Island and New Jersey.

After pleading not guilty to federal drug charges, Fetty was released on a $500,000 secured bond, along with other restrictions. As part of his release, he must stay under GPS monitoring, submit to random drug testing, surrender his passport, and only travel with the prior approval of Pre-trial Services and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The 30-year-old MC faces a minimum of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted.

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Although BTS is heading toward a small break, the K-pop sensations shared a new video Monday that teased an upcoming project titled 7FATES: CHAKHO that has the ARMY buzzing with excitement.

J-Hope, Jimin, Jin, Jungkook, RM, Suga and V stand dramatically as a flurry of twinkling lights illuminate the nighttime scenes around them.  They’re then shown in different settings, from deep in the forest to an empty tunnel.  The promo ends with the lights forming a sparkling ball that rests in RM’s hand, who then presses it into his chest.

“A new fate is unveiled. A new story begins! 7FATES,” the cryptic caption reads.

In addition, the BTS YouTube channel recently posted individual interviews of the septet, where they talk about what fate means to them, as well as their thoughts about their band mates.  The videos tease a new partnership between the group’s entertainment company, HYBE, and webcomic platform Webtoon as well as the social reading platform Wattpad.  The goal is to bring new original BTS content to fans in the form of new stories and cartoons.

7FATES: CHAKHO arrives January 14, 2022 on both platforms, according to BTS’ Twitter.  The upcoming story, set in Korea’s Joseon Dynasty, which lasted from the late 1300s to late 1800s, is about seven tiger hunters bound by fate who must fulfill their destiny.

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Billy Corgan‘s father, William Dale Corgan, has passed away at age 74.

The Smashing Pumpkins frontman announced the news over the weekend with a series of videos, in which he described his “long, crazy, complicated relationship” with Billy Sr.

“On the bright side of it all, he inspired me to be the musician that I am,” Corgan said. “He made me be way better than I would’ve ever been without him. He was a fantastic musician, and a great teacher in his own way.”

Corgan added that while his dad “didn’t really understand what I was doing, musically,” during the early days of the Pumpkins, he later “came around and became my biggest fan and supporter.”

Following the announcement, Corgan played a holiday concert at Madame ZuZu’s, the Chicago tea shop he owns with his partner, Chloe Mendel.

“The show goes on — that’s what my father believed in,” Corgan said.

WILLIAM DALE CORGAN, 1947-2021
“He inspired me to be the musician that I am. He made me be way better than I would have ever been. He was a fantastic musician, and a great teacher in his own way.” pic.twitter.com/cEiBekR0FC

— William Patrick Corgan (@Billy) December 19, 2021

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Each year, Luke Bryan‘s wife, Caroline, spends 12 days in December pranking family, friends and other loved ones for fun in an annual tradition they call Pranksmas. On day seven of this season’s installment, the queen of pranks got pranked herself.

In a video posted on Instagram, Luke and Caroline are seen posing for a photo in front of a beautiful Christmas tree when a stranger walks in front of the camera, talking on the phone as he lets out a loud sneeze. 

His rude behavior prompts an annoyed response from the country superstar, who says “what a bunch of s**t,” before breaking into a smile. 

“Who is that?” he asks, only to find out that their friends Nicole Bobek and Adam Alspaugh are behind the prank, with Adam disguising himself in a face mask, wig and hat.

“I got to see that,” Luke said in a fit of giggles. 

Other pranks this year include Caroline and friends scaring each other with a toy spider, Caroline startling unsuspecting people with an air horn, and even going so far as to pretend that her hair had caught on fire.  

“@linabryan3’s #prankmashas started. Everyone beware,” Luke warned on Instagram alongside a photo of the couple dressed in Christmas garb.

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Cardi B has canceled a limited-edition doll in her likeness, which she previously announced would be released in spring of this year.

The three-time RIAA-certified Diamond rapper began taking $35 orders in March for the Cardi B doll, produced by the Real Women Are company. HBut she’s now had to cancel it due to COVID-19 related production and shipping delays, as well as concerns about the product’s quality, TMZ reports.

The company announced the dolls would begin being delivered in October, but soon, buyers were complaining they didn’t receive it, and began demanding refunds. Cardi agrees that her fans should get their money back, and has asked all buyers to request a refund if they haven’t already, according to TMZ.

“Expose these scammers pls,” one fan pleaded on Real Woman Are’s Instagram. “Not one doll was shipped to any customers and they have the nerve to sell more without giving any updates on first batch of orders … they even turned off comments on latest post so they can scam more people into buying.”

Cardi initially announced the release of her doll on March 5 on Instagram in celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8.  “Inspired by me. Created by me. Designed by me,” the “I Like It” rapper wrote. “This means sooo much!!” 

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Ex-Fleetwood Mac singer/guitarist Lindsey Buckingham, Foo Fighters and The Smashing Pumpkins are among the acts that will be playing the 2022 Beale Street Music Festival, held from April 29 to May 1 in Memphis, Tennessee.

Other artists on the bill include Modest Mouse, The Glorious Sons, Toad the Wet Sprocket, rap star Lil Wayne, blues guitarist Sue Foley and more. Additional acts will be announced at a later date.

For ticket info, visit MemphisinMay.org.

Buckingham and The Smashing Pumpkins were originally on the 2020 Beale Street lineup before the festival was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 festival was scrapped, as well.

Meanwhile, Buckingham is scheduled to be playing the final concert of his 2021 solo tour tonight in Boulder, Colorado.

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Adele‘s “Easy on Me” was mighty, but Mariah Carey had Christmas magic behind her in the battle for number one.  The holidays now reign supreme on the Billboard Hot 100, with Mariah’s RIAA Diamond-certified hit “All I Want for Christmas Is You” topping the chart for a third year in a row.

Mariah’s song is now the first in history to be number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in three separate years. The track was previously tied with Chubby Checker‘s classic, “The Twist,” which hit number one in 1960 and again in 1962.

“All I Want for Christmas,” which wasn’t eligible to chart when it first came out in 1994, first hit the top 10 in 2017.  It finally went ascended to number one 2019, where it led the chart for three weeks.  It then rose to number one again in 2020 for two weeks before performing this year’s hat trick.

The song’s latest ascension to the top means that Mariah has now racked up 85 weeks in total at number one over her career — the most of any other artist.  Rihanna is in second place with 60 weeks.

Mariah aside, the holidays have taken over the Hot 100’s top five, with Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” jumping into second place while Bobby Helms‘ “Jingle Bell Rock” rises to fourth.  Burl Ives‘ “A Holly Jolly Christmas” rounds out the top five.

As for Adele, her single “Easy on Me” hit now sits at number three.

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