Music

Summer Walker and Taylor Swift now share a record for the most songs by a female artist simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100.

The Atlanta singer has 18 tracks on the chart this week, tying the record previously set by Swift in September 2019 from her RIAA double-Platinum album, Lover. All the songs are from Summer’s new album, Still Over It, which debuted this week at number one on the Billboard 200. Drake holds the overall record for the most single-week entries, 27, in July 2018, from his five-times platinum Scorpion album.

Walker’s highest entry is “No Love,” with SZA, at number 13, followed by “Bitter,” featuring Cardi B, at number 25.

As previously reported, Still Over It earned 166,000 units in its first week. That marks the biggest week for an R&B album in 2021, and Still Over It is the first R&B album by a woman to top the Billboard 200 in more than five years. Solange’s A Seat at the Table ruled for one week in October 2016.

Summer’s 20-track project also set the record for the largest streaming week ever for an R&B album by a woman, with 201 million on-demand streams, surpassing her first album, Over It, which earned 155 million streams in its debut week in October 2019.

Plus, Still Over It achieved the biggest sales week for an R&B album by a woman since Beyoncé’s Lemonade earned 202,000 units in May 2016.

In addition to Cardi B and SZA, Still Over It features Pharrell Williams, Ciara, Omarion, Lil Durk and Ari Lennox, plus JT from City Girls, who teamed with Summer for the first single, “Ex for a Reason.”

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Elvie Shane’s star continues to rise, as the “My Boy” hitmaker has shared plans to hit the road next year. His first-ever headlining trek, the My Kinda Trouble Tour, will launch February 17 in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Extending through late April, the run will take Elvie to cities like Chicago, Nashville and Birmingham, and includes two dates in his home state of Kentucky. Police officer turned burgeoning Texas country star Frank Ray will accompany him as opening support.

“I’ve never been more ready to break the chains!” the singer says. “Getting to go out on the road for my first headlining tour is something we’ve been plotting for a while, and feels just like the kinda trouble I could get into. I can’t wait to get out there and play this record live.”

The record in question is Elvie’s full-length major-label debut, Backslider, which came out late in October. It includes his first-ever country radio chart-topper, “My Boy,” a heart-tugging ode to his stepson that went viral over the summer. Not only did the song land Elvie his first number-one hit, but it also earned him some RIAA hardware, as the song was recently certified Gold.

Tickets for the My Kinda Trouble Tour go on sale this Friday at 10 a.m. local time. For dates and details, visit Elvie’s website.

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Adele isn’t allowing her divorce to ruin her opinion on marriage.  In fact, she hopes notorious bachelor John Mayer settles down with the love of his life one day.

“You should get married,” she told John during their recent interview on SiriusXM. “Yes, I think it is a really incredible thing, marriage.”

Adele, 33, acknowledged that her advice may come as a surprise, especially since some believe she “gave up” on her marriage with ex Simon Konecki, with whom she shares a nine-year-old son, Angelo. The “Easy on Me” singer explained she doesn’t regret marrying Konecki and, although she couldn’t “really say why,” revealed she is “definitely open to marriage again.”

“The feeling I had in being married was the safest feeling I’ve ever had in my life and, sadly, it didn’t work out, but I miss being married,” Adele confessed before flashing a thumbs-up to John, who was clearly moved by her honesty. He placed a hand to his chest and let out a small “aww” before promising Adele, “I’m gonna get myself married… one of these days.”

“You should,” Adele shot back with a grin.

John, whose past romances have included Jessica Simpson, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Aniston, Katy Perry and others, is not believed to be dating anyone at the moment. 

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Travis Scott, Drake, and the promoters of the Astroworld Festival are named in a $750 million lawsuit filed Tuesday on behalf of victims of the tragedy.

Attorney Tony Buzbee filed the lawsuit for 125 victims, including Axel Acosta, 21, who was one of 10 people who died from injuries suffered November 5 during the event, People reports, when the crowd of 50,000 surged toward the stage.

Buzbee’s legal team said Acosta’s death “was needless, and was the result of gross negligence.”

“When Axel collapsed, he was trampled by those fighting to prevent themselves from being crushed,” the lawsuit states. “As he lay there under a mass of humanity, dying, the music played and streamed on — for almost forty minutes.”

The complaint continues: “Axel Acosta loved and adored Travis Scott and the other performers at Astroworld—the feeling was not mutual; certainly, neither Travis Scott nor his exclusive partners, streaming service, record labels, handlers, entourage, managers, agents, hangers on, promoters, organizers, or sponsors cared enough about Axel Acosta and the other concertgoers to make an even minimal effort to keep them safe.”

Promoters Live Nation are also named in the lawsuit, along with Apple Music, Epic Records, Scott’s Cactus Jack Records, and Tristar Sports & Entertainment Group.

The lawsuit states that Scott “glorifies violence and other dangerous behaviors.”

Drake was a surprise guest performer during Scott’s set at the festival. “When [Drake] accepted [Scott’s] invitation to perform at Astroworld 2021, [Drake] was well aware of the damage [Scott] had caused at his shows in the past,” Buzbee writes in the lawsuit. “[Drake] was also well aware of the anticipated size and volatility of the crowd, and the likelihood of incitement.”

The attorney adds that he intends to file another lawsuit “with another 100 named plaintiffs.”

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Lady Gaga‘s acting career is taking off, but she revealed in a new interview that it wasn’t always smooth sailing. In fact, the Oscar winner recalled a rather humiliating experience when auditioning for a LensCrafters commercial back in the day.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Gaga opened up about her Achilles heel that would flare up whenever she tried landing a role.

“I was terrible at auditioning. I was so bad. I could never get a role. I used to just freeze,” the House of Gucci star admitted. “I would stand there and go, ‘Oh my God. Ah! You’ve got to do this perfect. I’m not making my dad proud.'”

Those nerves got the better of her when auditioning at a LensCrafters commercial callback. She did not get the part.

Gaga has come a long way since that fateful audition and has an Oscar and a Golden Globe to prove it.  She took home the Oscar for best original song in 2019 for A Star Is Born, but she was also nominated for best actress, losing to The Favourite‘s Olivia Colman.  Her starring role in American Horror Story: Hotel earned her the best actress Golden Globe in 2016. 

Gaga is poised to add more awards to her collection, with Hollywood buzzing over her performance of Patrizia Reggiani in the upcoming House of Gucci.  Gaga herself says it’s a performance of a lifetime, telling The Hollywood Reporter, “Meaning I put my entire lifetime into her.”

House of Gucci premieres in theaters November 24.

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Kelsea Ballerini says these days, she mostly feels healthy and self-confident, and is able to brush off comments or criticism about her appearance.

But it’s been a journey to get here, the singer admits. In fact, in a revealing new interview with People, Kelsea shares that she experienced a bout with bulimia as a teenager, which was triggered in part by some upheaval she was facing in her home life.

“My parents had just gotten divorced, and I think for me, it was a source of control,” the singer reflects, explaining that she also took diet pills and worked out excessively during this time.

That time period of her life is one that Kelsea dives into in more detail in her new book of poetry, Feel Your Way Through. In addition to her complicated past with body image, she also explores themes of relationships, family dynamics and more in the collection.

As for her current relationship with self-love and body positivity? “It’s a journey, and it’s never-ending,” Kelsea says. However, for the most part, she feels like she’s in a “much healthier spot” after years of working to overcome her body confidence struggles.

Feel Your Way Through arrived on Tuesday.

 

 

 

 

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Judas Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner has shared a new, encouraging update on his health after undergoing emergency heart surgery last month.

In an Instagram post, Faulkner writes that he’s “feeling very strong and positive,” and can “definitely see the light at the end of the tunnel.”

“I’m pretty active and I’m starting cardiac therapy very soon,” Faulkner shares. “I’m playing guitar everyday and with the love and support of my family, the continued support from you guys and the inspiration that i get from the guitar, I’ll be back on stage in no time!”

The post also includes an animated video soundtracked to Faulkner’s shredding.

Faulkner was performing with Priest at the Louder than Life festival in October when he suffered an aortic aneurysm. He was immediately rushed to the hospital and underwent over 10 hours of open heart surgery. Priest, meanwhile, postponed the remainder of their 2021 tour dates.

When the metal legends do return to the road once Faulkner is fully recovered, don’t be surprised if you see a few of his doctors in the crowd.

“My surgeons are very pleased with my progress and have all reserved front row tickets for the next Priest show,” Faulkner writes.

 

 

 

 

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Ciara and her three children are special guests of the White House today to promote COVID-19 vaccinations for kids.

The Grammy winner and her three children – daughter Sienna Princess, 4, and sons Future Zahir, 7, and Win Harrison, 1 – will meet with first lady Dr. Jill Biden and pediatrician Dr. Hina Talib to discuss the importance of vaccinations for 5- to 11-year-olds, a White House official tells People.

“She has been eager to engage around vaccinations and particularly interested in promoting children vaccinations,” the White House official says about the “Level Up” singer.

Last month, the FDA authorized the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use in children in that age range.

“From the White House perspective, we are always looking for trusted messengers who we know from polling are the best people to convince people to get vaccinated,” the spokesperson continued. “That is no different for parents and their young children.”

While at the White House, Ciara will answer questions about the vaccine’s effectiveness for youth.

As previously reported, Ciara and her husband, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, are publishing a children’s picture book titled WHY NOT YOU? on March 1, 2022. Last month, they celebrated Ciara’s 36th birthday when Wilson rented the top two floors of Seattle’s iconic Space Needle observation tower and restaurant for an intimate dinner.

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Think Taylor Swift has taken over the news? You’re not alone.  The headlines have been seemingly nonstop since she released Red (Taylor’s Version). Here’s the three latest updates about what’s going on in Taylor’s world.

First up: Fans widely believe the song “All Too Well” is about Taylor’s old flame, actor Jake Gyllenhaal, especially after the singer added this new and somewhat telling lyric to the 10-minute version of the song: “You said if we had been closer in age maybe it would have been fine/ And that made me want to die.”  Well, Jake might have finally weighed in — though his rumored cat, Ms. Fluffle Stilt Skin.  Ms. Fluffle has her own Instagram page, believed to be run by Jake but never confirmed, and referenced another Taylor song when telling her followers, “MEOUCH – y’all need to clam [sic] down and stop cyber bullying.”  Shortly after that, someone in Jake’s camp told E! News the actor has “no interest” in the drama and is “living his life and focused on himself.  He’s ignoring all of the noise.”

Next: If you want to recreate Taylor’s look from her “I Bet You Think About Me” music video, better kiss all your free time goodbye. Nicole + Felicia Couture created Taylor’s attention-grabbing white wedding dress and its red replica, which took “approximately 1,200 hours to complete,” reports Page Six.  That’s 50 days.  The dressmaker reveals there are 2,500 flowers on each gown and all the petals were handmade.

Lastly: Taylor is reportedly skipping Sunday’s American Music Awards.  A source tells Hollywood Life Taylor’s “taking a break” from public appearances and instead, will let her recent SNL performance “speak for itself.”  Taylor’s up for three big awards this year — artist of the year and favorite pop/rock female artist and album.

 

 

 

 

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