Music

“Good as Hell” pop star Lizzo gets personal about her road to success, body image, her experience learning about Blackness and more, as the cover girl of People’s Women Changing the World Issue.

“There was no Lizzo before Lizzo,” the 33-year-old superstar said in a sit-down interview. In detailing her road to success, the singer/songwriter said, “I had to blaze a trail.”

It took two years for Lizzo’s Grammy-winning hit single, “Truth Hurts,” to gain popularity but after blowing up on TikTok, the song – and Lizzo – became a music industry favorite.

Her success garnered millions of fans, some of whom were critical of her physical appearance.

“Okay, we all know I’m fat,” she said in the People article, which hits stands Friday. “I know I’m fat. It doesn’t bother me. I like being fat, and I’m beautiful and I’m healthy…”

The star has often spoken out about body shaming and being comfortable in her skin. “I really don’t understand why I can’t just exist in my body,” Lizzo told ABC last year.

In response to all of the body-image noise, Lizzo says she considers herself a “body icon.”

Lizzo also said growing up, she quickly learned the truth about being Black in America. Her parents made sure to enlighten her about the Black experience and how to maneuver it.

“I don’t think my dad wanted to tell us about the gruesome murders that happen to Black people all the time,” Lizzo said. “But Black parents have this responsibility to let their children know what can happen.”

The star recently announced her new body-positive reality TV show, set to air on Amazon Prime this month. She considers the new dance show, Watch Out for the Big Grrrls, the “greatest moment of my career yet.”

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Ghost has premiered a new song called “Twenties,” which will appear on the band’s upcoming album, Impera.

The track finds frontman Tobias Forge declaring “In the twenties/We’ll be singing in a reign of pennies,” perhaps commenting on our current decade, which has gotten off to a, let’s say, shaky start.

You can listen to “Twenties” now via digital outlets.

“Twenties” is the third song to be released from Impera, following “Hunter’s Moon” and “Call Me Little Sunshine.” The whole album arrives March 11.

Ghost is currently on a co-headlining tour with Volbeat, which concludes Thursday in Anaheim, California.

(Video contains uncensored profanity.) 

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Avril Lavigne says she’s fought “since day one” to make her music her way.

Speaking to Alternative Press, the Grammy nominee reflected on the upcoming 20th anniversary of her debut album, Let Go, and how far she’s come as an artist.  Overall, Avril says she’s proud of her legacy because it’s 100 percent her design — but there was a small price to pay.  Because she refused to be told what to do, it gave her somewhat of a negative reputation.

“I was tough. Honestly, a lot of people, when they meet me, [they] think I’m going to be a b****. I’m actually really nice. They’re always like, ‘Oh, my God, you’re totally not what I was expecting,'” she laughed, adding she views the label as “a good thing.”

“It means that you’re not a doormat. You’re not a pushover, and you speak your mind,” explained Avril. “I’m stubborn and strong-willed and strong-minded, and if I feel a certain way, I stick to it. I’m constantly fighting. I’ve been fighting since day one to write my own songs. I had to fight my whole career to write the type of music I wanted to write.”

The hitmaker continued, “Sometimes labels would give me pushback and didn’t understand my vision. I had to always fight, and fight on each album to keep going in the musical direction I wanted to go, even if they’re trying to sway me another way.”

“I’ve always been pretty good about keeping it real, and I’ve always been pretty unapologetic about it,” she declared. 

Avril’s new album, LOVE SUX, is out now.

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 Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, Old Dominion and Kelsea Ballerini are just a few of the country A-listers headed north for the first-ever Lasso Montreal country music festival this summer.

The two-day festival is scheduled for August 12 and 13, with an additional event, Lasso in the City, set for August 11. Old Dominion and Dierks are headlining the first night, with acts like Ashley McBryde, Lily Rose and Tenille Townes also on the bill.

The next day, the lineup will include Breland and Riley Green, with Kelsea and Luke closing out the party.

Lasso Montreal will take place at Île Sainte-Hélène at Parc Jean-Drapeau, a two-island park that was once the site of the Expo 67 World’s Fair. Canadian country music will be well-represented, not only with the Grande Prairie, Alberta export Tenille Townes, but also with a bevy of talented local acts such as Five Roses, Brittany Kennell, Sara Dufour and Léa Jarry.

Tickets for the inaugural Lasso Montreal are on sale now. Fans can choose between GA passes and Gold Passes, the latter of which will offer access to fast-tracked entry, premium views and more.

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Royal Blood and Biffy Clyro are the latest artists to drop off the lineup for Moscow’s Park Live festival following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“Due to the invasion of Ukraine, we will not be appearing at Park Live Festival in Moscow,” Royal Blood says. “We stand united with all Ukrainian and Russian citizens who want peace.”

Similarly, Biffy Clyro states, “Our thoughts and prayers are with all Ukrainian citizens and Russian people who desire peace.”

Earlier this week, Iggy Pop announced he was canceling his Park Live headlining set, calling the decision “necessary.” Additionally, a rep for The Killers tells Billboard that the “Mr. Brightside” rockers have pulled out of the festival, as well.

Park Live takes place over multiple weekends throughout June and July. Other listed headliners include My Chemical Romance, Placebo, Gorillaz, Deftones, Five Finger Death Punch, Slipknot and Limp Bizkit.

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Actresses Nia Long, Quinta Brunson, Aunjanue Ellis and Chanté Adams will be honored at the 15th Anniversary Black Women in Hollywood Awards, ESSENCE announced on Wednesday.

The highly coveted event, hosted this year by “SnowFall” star Damson Idris, honors Black women for their extraordinary achievements in the entertainment industry.

“For a decade and a half, ESSENCE has spotlighted and honored the Black women who curate and shape Hollywood and the entertainment ecosystem from a variety of roles and positions. We are proud to again commemorate their achievements at our signature awards luncheon and throughout the year,” ESSENCE CEO Caroline Wanga said.

The star-studded affair was commemorated in ESSENCE ’s March/April print issue, which hit stands on Tuesday and features newly-married couple Niecy Nash and Jessica Betts.

“We proudly continue celebrating actresses championing for authentic portrayals and diverse storytelling across film, television and streaming,” said Cori Murray, ESSENCE deputy editor. “Much like our theme, the Black Cinematic Universe, the power in our presence is infinite.”

The Black Women in Hollywood Awards falls during Oscar week and is part of the larger ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood celebration. The awards will air as a virtual experience on Monday, March 28 from 7-10 p.m. on EssenceStudios.com.

The third annual Essence Hollywood House, an experience developed to provide compelling content and conversation, will be held on March 25.

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Sean Paul is ready to hit the road after a two-year pause and, on Wednesday, unveiled his multi-stop Scorcha Tour that kicks off later this month.  

The “Temperature” rapper kicks off his 10-stop tour on March 11 at Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay, Florida.  He will then hit the nation’s largest metro areas, such as New York City and Las Vegas, before wrapping on May 29 at California’s Monterey Fairgrounds.

This tour fulfills the promise Sean made to fans about returning to the road by the spring.  Prior to this, he hadn’t left Jamaica since the pandemic all but shut down the touring industry and halted his plans. 

“While a digital platform may keep you connected, it is no substitute for being physically interactive with fans,” the Dancehall star said in a statement.

The Scorcha Tour will support Sean’s upcoming eighth studio album of the same name, which is the follow-up to his Grammy-nominated album, Live N Livin.   The tour also coincides with the 20th anniversary of Sean’s breakthrough album, Dutty Rock, which produced the hits “Baby Boy,” “Gimme The Light” and “Get Busy.”

Tickets go on sale this Friday, March 4, at 10 a.m. ET on Sean Paul’s official website.  

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If you miss Richard Marx’s amazing 1980s hair, be sure to tune into ABC’s The Goldbergs tonight.

Richard plays himself in the episode, but since the show is set in the ’80s, he’s sporting a wig that resembles the long feathered ‘do he sported during that decade.  You can see him in a clip that he’s posted on his socials in advance of the episode, which is also the show’s 200th.

In the clip, Richard is seen talking to Beverly, played by Wendi McLendon-Covey. He asks Wendi for a check for his performance, which he says he “kinda nailed.” 

A reluctant Beverly replies, “Well, I’ll tell ya what. I’m gonna write down a number, and you can either take it or leave it.” She hands him a piece of paper.

“That is not a number. And why would I do that to myself?” Richard asks after reading it. 

“Oh, boo hoo, write a sad song about it,” snaps Beverly.

“Oh, I will,” replies Richard. “And it’ll be a number one smash hit!”

It’s not clear how Richard and his performance fits into the plot of the episode, which is called “The Wedding.” It involves Geoff, played by Sam Lerner, scrambling to fix things after he finds out no one made a deposit on the wedding venue, and an approaching storm that could jeopardize the entire event.  It airs tonight at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

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