Key Art for ‘Billie Eilish Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour Live,’ featuring Billie Eilish streaming on Paramount+, 2026. (Paramount+)
Billie Eilish’s HIT ME HARD AND SOFT concert film will soon be streaming hard and soft.
The movie is set to debut on Paramount+ on Aug. 6.
BILLIE EILISH – HIT ME HARD AND SOFT: THE TOUR was filmed during the “bad guy” artist’s world tour in support of her latest album, 2024’s HIT ME HARD AND SOFT. It was co-directed by Eilish alongside famed Titanic and Aliens director James Cameron.
The film premiered in theaters in May and was released to digital platforms in June.
In related news, Eilish paid tribute to late Irish singer-songwriter and Oscar-winning Once star Glen Hansard, who died Wednesday at age 56.
“Devasted… wouldn’t be who I am today without glen,” Eilish wrote in an Instagram Story.
Russell Dickerson’s ‘Famous Back Home’ (Triple Tigers)
There’ll soon be “one more face in that hallway hall of fame” at Russell Dickerson’s house, Kailey Dickerson revealed Wednesday evening on her socials.
A video captured on the beach shows a visibly pregnant Kailey holding hands with Russell while their two boys play in the water, all set to the title track of his latest album, Famous Back Home.
Russell and Kailey have been married since May 2013, with Remington Edward Dickerson arriving on Sept. 10, 2020, and Radford Arthur Dickerson on Oct. 1, 2023.
Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. is weighing in after BTS announced Wednesday that they will not submit music for consideration in the 2027 Grammy Awards.
The decision of the group’s seven members — RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook — to withdraw from Grammy consideration comes one month after the Recording Academy announced five new categories for next year’s awards, including best Asian pop music performance.
As previously reported, each BTS member shared a statement on their Instagram accounts Wednesday morning that read, “We have decided not to submit for Grammys this year. Rather than music being divided by region or language, we hope music itself can be heard and loved for what it is. We are always grateful to ARMY and everyone who is always with us.”
In a statement shared with ABC News, Mason said he is “saddened to hear that BTS has chosen not to participate in the Grammy Awards process this year.”
He added said that he respects the group’s decision and also wanted to address why the Asian Pop category was created.
“I do want to clarify something that seems to be getting lost in the conversation,” he began. “The Asian Pop category was created to celebrate the depth, diversity and extraordinary growth of pop artistry coming out of Asia. The spirit of this new category is to shine a dedicated spotlight on these important artists.”
Mason continued, “More categories mean more artists’ work is recognized. It’s never to divide, but to expand who is recognized by our 15,000 Grammy voters.”
“I also want to be very clear: submitting music in a genre category such as Asian Pop, or Jazz or Country does not exclude an artist from also submitting and being considered in the General Field categories, including Record of the Year, Album of the Year and Song of the Year,” he added.
“Those categories remain open to any eligible recording, regardless of genre. Recognition in a genre category and recognition in the General Field are not mutually exclusive. An artist can absolutely pursue both.”
BTS were the only K-pop group to have earned a Grammy nomination until 2026, when several K-pop artists scored big nods in top categories.
The 2027 Grammy Awards will air live on ABC, Disney+ and Hulu on Feb. 7.
Cardi B performs during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture® Presented By Coca-Cola® – Caesars’ Superdome at Caesars Superdome on July 03, 2026, in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Josh Brasted/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
It seems fans won’t have to wait too long for new music from Cardi B.
Days after teasing a new song on her socials, she’s announced the track, “Ah Ha,” will arrive on streaming platforms Friday. She shared the release date, along with the cover art, which features her in a Dominican Republic flag bikini.
Cardi wore the same bikini in the teaser as she rapped the song while making her way across a beach.
“A n**** can’t trap me, I won’t keep it/ B****** really hate me, so be it/ Bathroom floors and these h*** both heated,” she raps.
Explaining the “a n**** can’t trap me” lyric on Instagram Live, she said, “Sometimes n***** think that because you have a baby with them or you gonna keep a baby or you have a baby that you won’t move the f*** on or you’ll stay there taking s***. Nah, b****, I’ll take my baby and get the f*** on. That’s for sure.”
Paul McCartney’s ‘The Boys of Dungeon Lane’ (MPL/Capitol Records)
Paul McCartney’s latest album, The Boys of Dungeon Lane, has been nominated for the 2026 Mercury Prize, which recognizes the best albums from a British or Irish artist.
“What a brilliant and exciting surprise to be part of such an incredible list @mercuryprize,” McCartney writes on Instagram. “To have ‘The Boys of Dungeon Lane’ recognised alongside so many brilliant artists and albums is a huge honour for me.”
“Thank you to everyone who continues to support and enjoy the album,” he adds. “We have been having so much fun along the way. From making it with @thisiswatt to getting it out there for people to hear. I must say the reaction has been really special. So this news has just totally blown me away.”
The Boys of Dungeon Lane is one of 12 records shortlisted for the 2026 Mercury Prize. Also nominated is Florence + The Machine’s Everybody Scream and the charity compilation HELP(2), as well as albums by RAYE, Olivia Dean, Suede and more.
The 2026 Mercury Prize will be presented Oct. 22 at a ceremony held at Utilita Arena in Newcastle, U.K. The winner receives a trophy and a cash prize of about $33,000.
Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan and Shavo Odadjian as R.H. Martin in ‘Dexter: Resurrection,’ episode 1, season 2, streaming on Paramount+, 2026. (Credit: Matt Infante/Paramount+)
System of a Down’s Shavo Odadjian is entering the world of Dexter.
The bassist has a role in the upcoming second season of the Dexter: Resurrection sequel series, as revealed in a crop of official first-look photos.
The photo features Odadjian, who plays a character named R.H. Martin, restrained against a pole as Michael C. Hall’s Dexter menacingly looks on.
Hall, of course, played the titular serial killer in the original Dexter series, which aired on Showtime from 2006 to 2013. He returned as the character for the Dexter: New Blood miniseries and now again for Dexter: Resurrection, which first premiered in 2025.
Dexter: Resurrection streams on Paramount+. The exact second season premiere date has yet to be announced, but is currently set for later in 2026.
‘Everybody Scream’ album artwork. (Polydor Records/Republic Records; Credit: Autumn de Wilde)
Florence + the Machine’s 2025 album, Everybody Scream, is among the nominees for the 2026 Mercury Prize.
The prestigious award honors the best album of the year by a U.K. or Irish act.
Other nominees include Paul McCartney’s The Boys of Dungeon Lane, Olivia Dean’s The Art of Loving and the War Child benefit compilation HELP(2), which included contributions from Arctic Monkeys, The Last Dinner Party, Depeche Mode, beabadoobee, Fontaines D.C., Wet Leg, Foals, Damon Albarn and Portishead’s Beth Gibbons.
The 2026 Mercury Prize winner will be announced during a ceremony held Oct. 22 in Newcastle, England. For more info, visit MercuryPrize.com.
Olivia Dean and RAYE are among the nominees for the U.K.’s prestigious Mercury Prize, which recognizes artistic achievement by U.K. and Irish musicians.
Projects by the “Man I Need” and “Where Is My Husband!” singers are among the 12 albums nominated for the Prize, which is open to records released by British or Irish artists between Aug. 30, 2025, and July 17, 2026.
Olivia’s album The Art of Love and RAYE’s This Music May Contain Hope. are up against releases by Florence + The Machine, ex-Little Mix singer Jade Thirlwall aka JADE and Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney, among others.
Also nominated is HELP (2), a charity album featuring tracks by multiple artists performing under the collective name War Child. That album includes Olivia Rodrigo’s version of “The Book of Love,” originally recorded by the indie band The Magnetic Fields.
The 2026 Mercury Awards show will take place Oct. 22 in Newcastle, England, and will feature live performances by many of the nominees, along with the presentation of the award. The winner is selected by an independent judging panel made up of musicians, journalists, producers, executives and other music biz figures.
Bailey Zimmerman’s Different Night Same Rodeo Tour (Live Nation)
Bailey Zimmerman won’t be able to take his Different Night Same Rodeo Tour across the pond as planned, he revealed Thursday on his socials.
“I wanted to let you all know personally that I unfortunately have to cancel my UK/Europe shows,” he posted. “This was not an easy decision and it kills me to have to cancel because I know how excited everyone is… but right now I need to take this time to focus on important family matters. Everything is okay, it’s just my family needs my attention and that’s what l’ve gotta do.”
“I will still be playing my shows in North America in August,” he continued, “but after that I will be taking some more time to focus on me, my family, and new music. Once again I’m so sorry to everybody that has waited so long… I hope y’all can understand that my family has to come first.”
“Thank you for having my back on this crazy ride we call life,” he closed.
The “Chevy Silverado” hitmaker has four more shows in the States, starting Aug. 6 in Pennsylvania and wrapping Aug. 14 in Illinois.
From there, he was supposed to kick off the European leg of the tour Aug. 27 in the U.K. and finish Sept. 12 in Norway.
There’s no word yet on the rest of Bailey’s touring year. After some Sept. dates in the U.S., he’s scheduled to go to Australia in October. Only three dates remain on his 2026 calendar from there, including a December stop at Planet Hollywood in Vegas.
Billy Corgan attends the Songwriters Hall of Fame 55th Annual Induction and Awards Gala at Marriott Marquis Hotel on June 11, 2026 in New York City. (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
It took a couple decades, but The Smashing Pumpkins are finally headlining Lollapalooza in their hometown of Chicago.
While the “1979” outfit previously performed at Lolla back in 1994 when it was a touring festival, they have never played it since it permanently moved to Chicago in 2005. Not only that, but the Pumpkins have never performed at the festival’s site, Grant Park, either.
“We were banned by the mayor of Chicago at the time, Richie Daley, who basically banned us from playing the park, ever,” frontman Billy Corgan tells ABC Audio.
That will finally change when the Pumpkins take the stage at Grant Park during Lolla 2026 as a Friday night headliner.
“For us, it’s very meaningful,” Corgan says of the set. “We’ve had a lot of ups and downs and it’s gonna be really a beautiful night in our incredible, crazy, up-and-down history.”
Lollapalooza 2026 takes place Thursday through Sunday. You can watch the Pumpkins’ set and many others streaming live via Hulu and Disney+.
Disney is the parent company of Hulu and ABC News.
