Music

It’s the best “get well” present he could’ve received: Elton John has scored his first number-one single on the U.K. charts in 16 years.

The song that did it for the Rocket Man is, of course, “Cold Heart,” his mashup remix with Dua Lipa. The song, which combines four of Elton’s previously released tracks, took over the top spot on the U.K.’s Official Singles Chart after three weeks at number two.  It dethroned Ed Sheeran‘s “Shivers,” which has been number one for four weeks. 

Last week, Ed actively encouraged his fans to stop streaming his song and stream Elton’s instead, writing, “It will be his first number one in almost twenty years and I really want it to happen…Who doesn’t wanna be knocked off [the top] by Elton anyway?”

The last time Elton topped the charts in his native country was in 2005, as a featured performer on “Ghetto Gospel,” a posthumous single by slain rapper 2Pac which samples Elton’s 1971 song “Indian Sunset.”  The last time Elton had a number-one hit on his own was in 1997, with “Something About the Way You Look Tonight/Candle In the Wind ’97.”

Elton, who recently had hip surgery, posted a photo of himself celebrating while wearing a bathrobe.

“We did it – UK NUMBER 1!! I cannot begin to tell you how much this means to me,” he wrote, adding, “You’ve made me feel infinitely better after my surgery and I can’t wait for you to hear the whole of The Lockdown Sessions when it comes out next week!”

Elton’s Lockdown Sessions album also includes collaborations with Stevie Wonder, Stevie Nicks, Charlie Puth, Miley Cyrus, Lil Nas X and many more.

 

 

 

 

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Vance Joy has released a new remix of his single “Missing Piece” in collaboration with electronic duo Sofi Tukker.

The updated recording adds a bit of EDM glitz the original’s shuffling, acoustic-driven earnestness. You can listen to the remix now via digital outlets.

Vance first premiered “Missing Piece” in May, marking his first new solo song since he dropped his sophomore album, Nation of Two, in 2018. The single currently sits in the top five on Billboard‘s Alternative Airplay chart.

Sofi Tukker previously landed their own alternative hit with their 2017 single, “Best Friend.”

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If you were suddenly freed from prison after 13 years, you’d no doubt have some worries about how you’re going to fit back into society.  Well, Britney Spears is evidently having similar worries as the end of her 13-year-long conservatorship approaches.

In a lengthy Instagram post on Friday, Britney wrote, “I’ll just be honest and say I’ve waited so long to be free from the situation I’m in…and now that it’s here I’m scared to do anything because I’m afraid I’ll make a mistake!!!”

“For so many years I was always told if I succeeded at things, it could end…and it never did!!!” she continued. “I worked so hard but now that it’s here and getting closer and closer to ending I’m very happy but there’s a lot of things that scare me.”

For example, she says, she’s concerned that the paparazzi “try to scare me and jump out..onto the road when I drive home,” adding, “It’s like they want me to do something crazy.”

“I’m fearful of doing something wrong…I started experiencing that when I got the keys  to my car for the first time 4 months ago and it’s been 13 years !!!!” Britney went on, and pronounced herself, “disgusted with the system.”

“I haven’t done anything to be treated the way I have for the past 13 years !!! [I]…wish I lived in another country!!!” she declared.

Britney also seemed to threaten to spill the tea about how her family has allegedly been complicit in her mistreatment, adding, “Lord have mercy on my family’s souls if I ever do an interview !!!”

She concluded, “In the meantime … I’m staying clear of the business which is all I’ve ever known my whole life … which is why this is so very confusing for me !!!”

 

 

 

 

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Congrats are in order to Queens star Eve. The 42-year-old rapper-actress has announced she is expecting her first baby with husband Maximillion Cooper.

“Can you believe it @mrgumball3000 we finally get to tell everyone!!!!!,” she wrote on Instagram, sharing a couple of photos of her cradling her baby bump. “You all know how long we’v been waiting for this blessing!!! We get to meet our lil human February 2022.”

Her hubby also reposted her photos, along with the sweet message, “Very excited to share this news… we have a lil human on the way.”

This is the first child for Eve with her husband, Maximillion. She is also stepmom to Cooper’s four teenage children from his previous marriage — Lotus, 19, Jagger, 17, Cash, 15, and Mini, 13. 

 

 

 

 

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Starz has released an epic first trailer to the second season of their hit crime-drama Power Book II: Ghost.

The new promo teases Michael Rainey Jr.‘s original Power character, Tariq, and his deeper dive into the world of crime following the events of season one. As previously reported, Power alum Larenz Tate has been upped to a series-regular role for the second season of the Power spinoff. He joins Mary J. Blige, Cliff “Method Man” Smith, Woody McClain and others, who will also return. Season two of Power Book II: Ghost premieres November 21 on Starz.

In other news, Kevin Durant‘s Apple TV+ series, Swagger, has dropped its first trailer. Inspired by Durant’s childhood experiences playing basketball in Washington, D.C., the series follows the young athletes, families and coaches as they “walk the fine line between dreams and ambition, and opportunism and corruption.” Swagger stars O’Shea Jackson Jr., Isaiah Hill, Quvenzhané Wallis, Tristan Mack Wilds, Jason Rivera and others. The series hits Apple TV+ on Friday, October 29.

Finally, John Boyega has teamed up with Converse for The Create Next Film Project, a new initiative that will help nurture the next generation of Black filmmakers. As part of the project, Boyega will work with five London filmmakers, who will receive funding to create a five-minute short film, as well as be supported through mentoring from Boyega and a team of creatives. The program’s design is to help “highlight issues people of color face working in the industry.” Boyega shared the news on his Instagram with the message, “The next generation deserves a proper shot ! Let’s do this.”

 

 

 

 

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Kelly Clarkson’s holiday project, When Christmas Comes Around, arrived on Friday, and the track list boasts some impressive collaborators. Among them is Chris Stapleton, who lends his voice to one particularly soulful song, “Glow.”

Kelly and Chris trade verses on the song, a love ballad about the one special person who’s missing from an otherwise perfect Christmas.

“Nothin’ has changed, I still wish you could be / Wrapped up in my arms, spendin’ Christmas with me,” the pair harmonize in the chorus. “When it gets cold is when I notice the most / With all the lights on the trees, even Christmas can’t compete with your glow…”

This is the first time Kelly’s ever teamed with Chris, but the pop star’s no stranger to country collaborations in general. In fact, “Under the Mistletoe” — her duet with Brett Eldredge — is a bonus track on When Christmas Comes Around.

Kelly also snagged a number-one country hit back in 2011, thanks to her duet with Jason Aldean, “Don’t You Wanna Stay.”

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