Music

Ever since The Format broke up in 2008, bandmates Nate Ruess and Sam Means have fielded questions about whether they would ever reunite. Even still, they didn’t expect the overwhelming reaction to their first show back in 2025.

“Surprised is an understatement,” Means tells ABC Audio. “We were just absolutely … our faces were melted by just, like, what was going on.”

That comeback show took place in a basketball arena in The Format’s hometown of Phoenix and marked the band’s biggest headlining performance of their career.

“I don’t even know if fun. ever played a headlining show that big,” Means laughs, referring to Ruess’ former band. “So it was wild to come back after so much time and play in a basketball arena. The energy that night was just unmatched.”

The Format had initially planned to reunite in 2020 for a run of shows, but those were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The five years in between allowed The Format to make a new album, Boycott Heaven, which marked their first record in 20 years.

“The 2020 stuff, I’m sad that that never happened,” Means says. “But in hindsight, I think, this is a much better situation.”

Boycott Heaven is out now, and The Format will launch a full reunion tour in support of it Thursday in Boston.

“We’re going to be playing a lot of new stuff, obviously playing a ton of old stuff, but we like to do a different set list every show,” Means says. “Nate is really famous for the last-second set list before the show, so people will get a good variety.” 

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Live Nation Urban has teamed with the Black Women Photographers organization for its fifth year of giving Black female photographers the paid opportunity to shoot at some upcoming festivals.

Festivals include Black on the Block in DC and Dallas; Keith Lee’s Familee Day; Roots Picnic in Philadelphia; A Roots Picnic Experience in LA; One Music Fest; and Broccoli City Fest.

“As a Black woman who continues to navigate the music industry, this work feels deeply personal to me,” Christina Woodson, Live Nation Urban’s tour and festival marketing manager, said in a statement. “Creating paid opportunities for Black women and non-binary creatives to shoot our festivals and concerts is about more than access — it’s about representation. This partnership ensures we are not only in the room but shaping the narrative and capturing our culture from within our own community.”

“Five years in, our partnership with Live Nation Urban continues to prove what’s possible when access meets intention. Together, we’ve opened doors for Black and African women creatives to not only enter the music industry, but to thrive within it,” Black Women Photographers founder Polly Irungu added. “The next time you’re at a show, take a look at who’s behind the lens — that visibility is impact in action. Together, we’re not just opening doors. We’re redefining the landscape of music storytelling.”

May 1 is the deadline to submit applications, which are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Bruce Springsteen is set to kick off his Land of Hope and Dreams American Tour on March 31 in Minneapolis, but that won’t be his only performance in Minnesota.

The Boss has confirmed to the Minnesota Star Tribune that he will perform his new protest song, “Streets of Minneapolis,” at the No Kings rally, which is scheduled for Saturday at the Minnesota Capitol in St. Paul.

“You want to try to meet the moment,” Springsteen told the paper. “The No Kings movement is of great import right now.”

“When you have the opportunity to sing something where the timing is essential and if you have something powerful to sing, it elevates the moment, it elevates your job to another level,” he added. “And I’m always in search of that.”

Springsteen released “Streets of Minneapolis” on January 28, explaining that he wrote it “in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis.” He dedicated it to “the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good,” the two Minneapolis residents who were fatally shot by federal agents.

He previously performed the song live at Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello’s January 30 protest concert at First Ave, a downtown Minneapolis venue.

Also attending the No Kings rally in St. Paul on Saturday will be Sen. Bernie Sanders, Jane Fonda and singers Joan Baez and Maggie Rogers.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

NBA YoungBoy has stepped in to cover the funeral expenses for 10-year-old Kimani Thomas, who was killed in an accidental shooting in Baton Rouge on March 10.

Kimani’s mother, Kiara Young, shared the news on Facebook over the weekend as she expressed her gratitude for the rapper’s gift.

“I know Baton Rouge loves to focus on the negative, but I want to publicly thank NBA YoungBoy and everyone on his team,” she wrote. “As I type this with tears in my eyes, my baby Kimani’s funeral is officially paid for.”

“Just when I thought nothing was getting done, he literally saved the day,” she added.

According to WBRZ, police report that Kimani and her brother were at a Sonic Drive-In waiting for their mother when the 8-year-old boy found a gun in their vehicle and accidentally shot her. Kimani later succumbed to her injuries.

Young also shared that NBA YoungBoy was her daughter’s favorite artist. “I know she’s dancing her tail off, full of joy,” she wrote.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

In addition to advocating for more matinee concerts, Jamie Lee Curtis has another music take. 

The Oscar-winning actress has shared her review of the new documentary The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother, Hillel, in an Instagram post. It begins, in all caps, “HOLY S***! THIS IS MIND BLOWING! I AM F****** MOTIVATED!”

The film, which premiered Friday on Netflix, is about the early days of RHCP and specifically focuses on the artistic vision of original guitarist Hillel Slovak, who died in 1988. It includes interviews with frontman Anthony Kiedis and bassist Flea.  

“Am stunned at the depth of these friendships, the saving grave of friends connecting through music and the transformation that one person can give another,” Curtis’ post reads. “Also the pain and suffering of addiction, the miracle of recovery and mostly the PUNK FUNK ROCK OF BEING ALIVE!”

Following the doc’s original announcement, the Peppers clarified that the film is not a Red Hot Chili Peppers documentary and that they “had nothing to do with it creatively.” The band added that Kiedis and Flea gave interviews for the movie “out of love and respect for Hillel and his memory.”

“We have not yet made a Red Hot Chili Peppers documentary,” the statement read. “The central subject of this current Netflix special is Hillel Slovak and we hope it sparks interest in him and his work.”

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Toni Braxton has posted a message in an attempt to un-break the hearts of those who attended the New Edition Way tour stop in Minneapolis Sunday. The singer, who co-headlines the trek with New Edition and Boyz II Men, explained in an Instagram Story on Monday why her set ended abruptly.

“My loves, I am so sorry I wasn’t able to finish the show last night. I had an unexpected personal emergency and had no choice but to step away,” she wrote. “You deserved my everything and I hate that I couldn’t give it to you. I feel your love from here. Thank you for understanding.”

Toni kicked off the New Edition Way tour on Jan. 28.

No further details were released regarding the shortened set, though Toni has been open about her experience living with systemic lupus erythematosus. She had emergency heart surgery in 2022.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

A Justin Bieber fan from Mexico has earned a Guinness World Record title for a very specific feat: “most Justin Bieber songs identified from their lyrics in one minute.” The fan, Luisa Fernanda Diazayas Tenorio, named 33 of Justin’s songs in just 60 seconds, beating the previous record of 29.

Madonna is currently in Venice, Italy, filming the new season of the Apple TV series The Studio. She shared a video on Instagram of herself riding in a gondola and lip-syncing to her hit “Like a Virgin,” the video for which was also filmed in Venice. Joining her in the gondola was actress Julia Garner, who is rumored to be playing the Queen of Pop in an upcoming project.

New dad Charlie Puth is set to appear as the next guest on TikTok In The Mix, a new interview show hosted by Jack Coyne. Charlie’s episode premieres live tonight, Monday, at 5:30 p.m. PT on @TikTok.

During a recent appearance on the YouTube series Hot Ones, country superstar Luke Combs shared that he learned a lot about singing by listening to the Backstreet Boys. When the show reposted that clip, the group’s official Instagram account responded, “Thanks for the love, bro!” while members Kevin Richardson and Howie Dorough gave Luke their own thanks. Fans then chimed in, calling for the Backstreet Boys to appear on Hot Ones, where celebrities answer a series of questions while eating progressively spicier wings.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Cold has canceled and postponed a number of dates on the band’s upcoming tour due to frontman Scooter Ward’s mother recovering from a stroke.

Ward reveals in an Instagram post that his mother suffered the stroke in January while he was visiting for the holidays.

“She ended up pulling through but it’s been a rough couple of months for her during recovery,” Ward writes. “I’m forever thankful and blessed she’s still with us. She’s finally now feeling a bit better and things are looking a bit more positive.”

“I extended my stay to help facilitate all the things necessary to make both my parents lives easier during this time and to help where I could with all the day to day things,” he continues. “With that said, I had to make the decision to delay the start of the tour.”

The affected dates were originally scheduled for between April 15 and May 2. The Instagram post lists all of the canceled shows, as well as the new dates for the rescheduled ones.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

If you ever wondered whether or not famous musicians actually sing at their own weddings, Adam Levine has revealed that he did croon at least one tune at his nuptials — with some help from a two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer.

In an advance clip of Monday night’s episode of The Voice, contestants Drew Russell and Jared Shoemaker sing the song “Leather and Lace.” The song is a duet between Stevie Nicks, who wrote the song, and her ex-boyfriend Don Henley of The Eagles. It hit the top 10 in January 1982.

Reacting to the performance, Adam says, “This song to me is just a heavyweight champion of songs in my life. Like, I sang this song, with Stevie Nicks, to my wife at our wedding.” Fellow judge Kelly Clarkson reacts, “What?” 

“I did. That happened. It really happened,” Adam laughed. “I think it really happened. I pinch myself sometimes.”

Adam went on to praise the contestants’ performance as “so beautiful.”

Stevie was a guest mentor for Adam’s team on The Voice back in 2012. When Adam and his wife, Behati Prinsloo, wed in 2014, she was invited to perform. Stevie eventually joined Adam’s band Maroon 5 on the song “Remedy” on their 2021 album, Jordi. 

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

You can check out Hudson Westbrook’s debut appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show on Tuesday. Check your local listings to see when it airs in your area. 

Justin Moore’s 17-track Greatest Hits… Moore to Come is out now, including the version of his latest hit, “Time’s Ticking,” that features Dierks Bentley, as well as classic tracks like “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away.” 

Jelly Roll is out with “Lighter,” a song produced by Canadian songwriter and producer Cirkut that features him singing with Mexican artist Carín León. It’s from the Official FIFA World Cup 2026™ Album, and it’s meant to represent all three of the tournament’s host nations.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.