Music

Billie Eilish has just hit a new YouTube milestone: She’s racked up more than 45 million subscribers on her official artist channel. That makes her one of only nine artists who have that many subscribers. The others are, in descending order, BlackPink, Justin Bieber, BTS, Marshmello, Eminem, Ed Sheeran, Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift.

Is Rihanna engaged?  The “Diamonds” singer laughed off an answer about a giant rock on THAT finger on Tuesday and told reporters, “‘This old ring?”  Daily Mail says she didn’t confirm whether or not she’s engaged to boyfriend A$AP Rocky, with whom she’s expecting her first child.

Camila Cabello is rocking a mullet, it seems.  She took to Instagram to show off a haircut — or is it a wig? — that screams, “Business in the front, party in the back.”  Camila’s hair is chopped short in the front and on the top of her head while she sports long tresses in the back.  Lil Nas X commented with two fire emojis.

Mariah Carey is taking you to school with her upcoming Master Class on how to use your voice like an instrument.  She confirmed her course runs on April 14 and encouraged fans to sign up now. “I’ve never let cameras into my musical oasis before—but that’s all about to change. My class on the voice as an instrument is coming soon,” she teased.  “Hope to see you there!”

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Rapper and fashion icon A$AP Rocky announced on Thursday his new alcohol venture, Mercer + Prince. The Canadian whisky was developed in partnership with Global Brand Equities and E. & J. Gallo.

“I have wanted to launch a whisky for a few years, but it was difficult to find partners willing to innovate to the level I envisioned,” A$AP said. “Fortunately, I found those partners in Global Brand Equities and Gallo.”

The name, Mercer + Prince, represents two of the rappers’ favorite cross streets in New York, where people of all walks of life intersect.

“I’m so excited and grateful to finally introduce Mercer + Prince to the world,” A$AP said. 

Drake seems to be in a giving mood lately. According to Billboard, the “God’s Plan” rapper gifted $1 million in Bitcoin to The LeBron James Family Foundation, after winning big in roulette. The mission of the foundation is to invest time, resources and attention in the kids of LeBron’s hometown of Akron, Ohio.

“Anytime I get blessed like that, I always think it’s good karma that needs to be transferred,” the rapper said in an Instagram video. 

Fans of the popular TV show Bel-Air have all the more reason to enjoy the franchise. 

Peacock, the service that streams the Fresh Prince spinoff, is teaming up with livestream app NTWRK to drop an exclusive collection of Bel-Air-inspired sneakers, set-used props and wardrobe items, and fan collectibles.

The pack includes a Will Smith Bel-Air basketball jersey, a blazer, a school uniform, Jordan sneakers and more. 

All proceeds will go to Coded by Kids, a Philadelphia-based tech education nonprofit that focuses on tech startup-focused entrepreneurship programs for underrepresented groups.

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Ed Sheeran will have some special guests when he performs at the upcoming Concert for Ukraine — a band of musicians currently serving as front-line soldiers there.

The band, called Antytila, armed and dressed in combat gear, took a moment from fighting the Russian invasion of their country to contact the Grammy winner, who is headlining the two-hour benefit concert.

“In peacetime, our concerts gathered stadiums. The war has changed our lives and now we are fighting with weapons against the Russian occupiers,” they explained. “Today we learned about your charity concert for Ukraine, which will take place in Birmingham. And we offer to make a live broadcast between Kyiv and Birmingham with Antytila temporary joining the gig remotely.”

“Our band will play our music in Kyiv, a city that has not surrendered and will never surrender to the Russian occupiers. You will play in Birmingham,” they continued. “We are not afraid to play under the bombs. Through music, we want to show the world that Ukraine is strong and unconquered. We will fight and sing for victory in front of the whole world that supports us.”

They closed saying they are “ready” to perform on March 29, where the benefit concert is set to air on ITV.

Ed was moved by Antytila’s plight and reached out to them on Thursday, saying, “I love you.  I stand with you and I’m so proud to be playing this fundraising event next week.  I can’t wait to check your music out, guys, and I’m sending you lots of love.”

The Concert for Ukraine will benefit ongoing humanitarian efforts there.  Camila Cabello, Snow Patrol and others are also expected to perform.

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Justin Bieber’s marriage to Hailey has only strengthened following his wife’s health scare. The model suffered “stroke-like symptoms” earlier this month and required hospitalization for a blood clot in her brain. She has since made a full recovery.

A source told Entertainment Tonight that the incident has a positive effect on the couple’s relationship and they are more in love than ever.

“Hailey went through a traumatic experience with her blood clot, but she is thankfully doing much better and is healthy,” the insider spilled. “This actually elevated her relationship with Justin and solidified that he will always be by her side through thick and thin and make sure she is taken care of and supported in any capacity.”

The source said, “Justin was shaken up by the experience” because “Hailey is his world.”

“He could never imagine life without her. This brought them closer together than ever before and it was a reminder for the both of them to really appreciate each other and their special relationship,” the spy noted.

The source says, in all, the couple is spending more time together because of how they reacted to the health scare: “Hailey knows now more than ever that she can always rely on him and lean on him when she needs support.  They never want to let each other go and feel so grateful to call each other husband and wife and to feel like they have a true partner.”

Justin previously opened up about his wife’s health scare at last week’s concert in Denver, where he told the crowd, “It’s been really scary, but I know for a fact that God has her in the palm of his hands. And that’s a good thing.”

Justin and Hailey tied the knot in 2018.

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Anyone who’s seen Carrie Underwood’s live show can attest to the fact that she always strives to push herself to be the best entertainer she can be. The singer even descended from the ceiling on a swing during her ACM Awards performance with Jason Aldean.

That competitive edge serves her well in her country music career. But at home? Carrie says that she and her husband have to set aside any pastimes that can bring out their competitive sides.

“We kinda can’t play board games,” the singer admits, according to an ET Canada video interview. “I got in trouble once playing board games with some friends.”

Carrie ascribes her desire to be the best to an athlete-like competitive spirit, and she should know: She’s married to former pro ice hockey player Mike Fisher.

“I’m not an athlete, but I feel like I do have kind of a lot of that mindset,” Carrie continues. “It’s just that drive to get better, and to push yourself.”

Off the stage, Carrie also describes herself as “a lot nerdy, for the record” and has a well-documented love of horror movies. That interest in all things spooky and creepy comes out in her new single, an understated revenge ballad called “Ghost Story” that’s already making a big impression at country radio just days after its release.

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Arcade Fire has joined the lineup of the 2022 NCAA March Madness Music Festival, taking place April 1-3 in New Orleans in conjunction with the Final Four of the men’s college basketball tournament.

The “Wake Up” outfit will perform as part of the AT&T Block Party, which will be held April 1. The bill will also includes New Orleans jazz collective Preservation Hall Jazz Band, as well as DJ Rusty Lazer.

Though they original hail from Montreal, Arcade Fire has strong ties to New Orleans, where band mates — and husband and wife — Win Butler and Régine Chassagne now live.

As previously announced, Imagine Dragons and Grouplove are also on the March Madness Festival lineup. They’ll take the stage for the Capital One JamFest, which is scheduled for April 3.

Admission for all three days of the festival is free, although you do need to register for tickets ahead of time. For more info, visit NCAA.com.

Last week, Arcade Fire announced that they will release a new album, WE, on May 6.

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Kehlani started trending on Twitter on Thursday after the R&B singer announced an April 29 release date for her upcoming album, Blue Water Road.

On Instagram, she posted the cover art — an image of the singer looking seemingly calm and relaxed while standing on a rock-filled beach — and alerted fans that the album was now available for pre-order.

“Blue Water Road is a destination in my mind,” Kehlani explained in the official announcement. “I’m giving everyone access. It’s an emotional journey, a sexual journey, and a spiritual journey. To me, the album is like a glass house. It’s light, transparent, and the sun is shining right through it.”

Prior to the album’s release, the two-time Grammy-nominated soul singer has released two tracks, “Little story” and “Altar,” both of which have already enjoyed great success.

“Can’t wait for Kehlani to drop this new album next month…lord knows how healing this album about to be and how bad I need it,” one user tweeted in reaction to the release news. “Kehlani is about to change lives,” another fan wrote.

Blue Water Road can be pre-ordered now via major digital platforms.

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Halestorm has announced a new graphic novel called Hyde Manor.

The book, published by Z2 Comics, follows Lzzy Hale and company as they meet “sinister doppelgangers of themselves” while staying in the titular Hyde Manor.

“Within the decrepit halls of Hyde Manor, mirror reflections independently talk back and photographs transform to reveal sordid prophecies, leading the band to slowly succumb to madness while recording a new album,” reads the Hyde Manor description. “The tale creaks and twists with doom-filled revelations, perfectly tied to Halestorm’s scorching discography.”

Hyde Manor, which takes its title from Halestorm’s 2012 EP Hello, It’s Mz. Hyde, is set to be released October 31. You can pre-order it now via Z2Comics.com.

Z2 Comics has previously worked with rock artists including Rise Against, Pantera, Anthrax, Beartooth and Alter Bridge.

Halestorm, meanwhile, is gearing up to release a new album, Back from the Dead, on May 6. It includes the previously released singles “Back from the Dead” and “The Steeple.”

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