Noah Kahan will release his new album, The Great Divide, in April, but he says that creating it — or, at least, starting to create it — was “the worst professional thing I’ve gone through.”
While Noah is aware that he shouldn’t complain about being creative or being a musician, he admitted during an appearance on Mythical Kitchen’s Last Meal that the pressure to follow up Stick Season left him in despair.
“I mean, as a creative person, getting asked, ‘What are you gonna do next?’ just creates a pit in your stomach, where you’re like, ‘Oh s***, like, I gotta follow this up,’” he tells host Josh Scherer.
“The pressure of having all the sold-out shows and the song on the radio and people being like, ‘This album changed my life.’ … I started to see them all as negatives,” he explains. “Because I was like, ‘It just means that when I disappoint you with my next thing, it’s gonna be that much harder for me to bear.'”
“So I started to hate when people told me they loved [the album], because it made me feel like, ‘That’s just another person whose face is gonna fall when they hear how bad my next thing is.'”
“It was the worst professional thing I’ve gone through, having to look at that blank piece of paper after four years and be like, ‘I gotta start,’” he shares. And when he finally did, he says, it was a struggle.
“It felt like someone had taken my power away,” he says. But eventually he was able to write The Great Divide, thanks to his wife, his mom and “all these people in my life that have been with me through these cycles I’ve gone on and helped me get through that s***.”
J.I.D performs during J.I.D: God Does Like Ugly Tour at Coca-Cola Roxy on December 19, 2025, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Prince Williams/WireImage)
To Whom This May Concern, JID is one of the features on Jill Scott’s newly released album. He appears on the song “To B Honest,” which he says was an honor — but a surprise opportunity.
“It was amazing working with her. I was overly honored. I was shocked that it was happening,” he told ABC Audio. “So many feelings wrapped up in working with somebody of that stature, her legacy and everything that she has contributed to music in itself. So I put my best foot forward.”
He says he “sent the song [back] like overly fast” because he was “not letting this moment pass.”
“It holds a special place in my heart, being able to work with Miss Jill Scott,” JID says. “I’m kind of still processing it.”
He adds that he and Jill are still in touch and have “even worked on more music.”
While JID guests on Jill’s To Whom This May Concern, fans noticed his absence on J. Cole’s The Fall-Off, an album he’s happy has finally been released.
“Me being a part of it is … that is neither here nor there because me and my dog work all the time,” JID says.
Of Cole and the album, he adds, “It’s like super amazing to see somebody with his trajectory. … Being around it is like super inspiring.”
JID released his last album, the Grammy-nominated God Does Like Ugly, in August. With the help of his son, he also recently reimagined the Frosted Flakes jingle “Hey Tony.”
“It’s not something that happens every day or to anybody. So I take it with honor,” he says of recreating the jingle. “I’m happy that I got a chance to do it.”
The Doors L-R Jim Morrison, John Densmore, Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger pose for a portrait circa 1968 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Edmund Teske/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
The Doors’ John Densmore and Robby Krieger recently teamed with Playing for Change, the multimedia project connecting the world through music, for a new version of The Doors’ classic “Riders on the Storm.” It features artists from eight countries, including Don Was, Lukas Nelson and Foo Fighters’ Rami Jaffee, and also incorporates the original vocals of late Doors frontman Jim Morrison — something one of the project’s creators feels was “clearly meant to be.”
“We filmed Robby and John, and they just played it like they’ve played it all their lives,” Playing for Change partner and producer Sebastian Robertson tells ABC Audio of the video.
“And as we were going and adding more people and traveling around the world, it started to get so exciting that The Doors management said, ‘Why don’t we give you Jim’s original vocal and see what happens?’ And, like the mystical ways of The Doors, it was the exact right tempo and it just fit in.”
“It was an honor. And it was breathtaking to hear [Jim’s vocals] isolated,” he says. “It just worked. It was clearly meant to be. And I think Jim and Robby and John are still in sync, and I think Jim approves.”
The video’s since racked up over 2 million views and raised thousands of dollars for the Playing for Change Foundation’s music program for indigenous artists in South Dakota. It was chosen due to John’s support of indigenous arts and rights, and Sebastian’s own Mohawk heritage via his late father, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Robbie Robertson.
Sebastian says of the video’s success, “This is a very important song for a lot of people. And I think we treated it that way in the video.”
The next Playing for Change video, Sebastian teases, will “take place ‘on a dark desert highway.'”
Christy Carlson Romano attends 2024 FOX winter press day at Fox Studio Lot on Nov. 18, 2024, in Los Angeles, California. (Andrew Toth/Getty Images)
Christy Carlson Romano has opened up about receiving a positive test result after getting screened for cancer.
The former Disney Channel actress recently took to Instagram to share a video detailing what has happened and reminding others to test themselves for cancer.
“Right now the news is that something is going on. I’m nervous and a bit scared (heck who wouldn’t be!). I’m going in for a PET scan later this week and hopefully it’s something easy to treat,” Romano captioned the video.
She noted that she debated whether or not to share this news publicly before eventually deciding to make the video.
“I debated whether or not I was going to post this because I was afraid I’d come off ‘cringe.’ But I decided it was my duty to share, so that people get out there and get screenings. Let’s keep the good vibes going and I will keep you all posted as I get more information,” Romano wrote.
In the video, Romano said both her parents had cancer.
“My mom beat it. My dad eventually didn’t. My grandmother on my mom’s side had lung cancer and died from that,” Romano said in the video.
The actress said she lives in Austin, Texas, in the community where the late James Van Der Beek resided.
“His family is amazing. He’s a pillar of our community in Texas. They always were raising money for the most amazing charities. And he’s not with us anymore. And cancer is everywhere, which is why I got this test,” Romano said.
Romano’s husband, Brendan Rooney, commented a message of support on her video.
“You got this my beautiful wife. We will figure this out and destroy any problem that comes your way. I love you beyond words,” Rooney wrote.
Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins performs after accepting the TEC Innovation Award during the 41st NAMM TEC Awards in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, January 22, 2026. (Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
The Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan has released the latest episode of his podcast, The Magnificent Others, featuring Jack Osbourne, son of the late Ozzy Osbourne, as the guest.
“[Jack] joins Corgan for a wide-ranging conversation about his upbringing in the spotlight, the realities of fame, paranormal experiences, and forging his own path,” a press release reads. “The two reflect on his father’s legacy, the lasting impact of Black Sabbath, and the power of rock music. [Jack] also discusses what lies ahead, including an upcoming biopic about his father.”
Corgan was among the performers at the 2025 Back to the Beginning concert, which marked the final performance of Black Sabbath’s original lineup and Ozzy’s last live show ever. Ozzy died just over two weeks after the concert.
Corgan previously interviewed Ozzy’s widow, Sharon Osbourne, on The Magnificent Others. The next episode’s guest will be Disturbed frontman David Draiman.
As Katy Perry’s song “Wide Awake” has become a popular TikTok trend — which she’s taken part in — her video for “Part of Me” has just hit 1 billion views on YouTube. It’s Katy’s ninth video to hit that milestone.
Twenty-four years after Christina Aguilera released her iconic hit “Beautiful,” the woman who wrote it is going to release her own take on the song. Linda Perry, who is a songwriter and the front woman of 4 Non Blondes, announced the news on Instagram. She wrote, “It feels strange covering your own song. The heartfelt performance Christina Aguilera delivered will forever remain timeless and powerful… so the question remains. How do you cover your own song when you already consider it perfect? My version of Beautiful comes out February 23rd.”
Alex Warren continues to tease his new track, “Fever Dream.” He hasn’t announced a release date, but in his latest Instagram post, he shared a video of himself sitting on a plane. He wrote on the video, “someone’s mom recognized me on this flight so I airdropped her the full song.” He added in the caption, “about to have WiFi someone convince me this song got leaked.”
Alessia Cara’s new album, Love or Lack Thereof, will arrive on March 20. The Canadian star has “revisited, reimagined, and reinvented” songs of love and heartbreak from her catalog as jazz and soul tracks, recorded with a group of Toronto-based jazz musicians. She wrote on Instagram, “wanted to do something special … pulled this together in just over 3 days thanks to a super talented group of people. can’t wait for you to hear it!”
Poster for Baby Keem’s ‘Ca$ino’ listening event (pglang)
Baby Keem is giving fans a chance to listen to his album Ca$ino ahead of its release. The rapper is set to host a live listening event Thursday on his YouTube channel. It will begin at 8 p.m. PT and feature a special performance from Keem.
Ca$ino arrives on Friday, marking Keem’s sophomore studio album. His rollout has included the release of an accompanying documentaryseries, which so far has featured home footage of a young Keem; images and stories about life in Las Vegas; and interviews with his friends, colleagues and family, including his first cousin once removed Kendrick Lamar.
“I understand the hardship before he was born. His mom, that’s my first cousin. I already knew what she’s been through or was going through and just the history of our family in general. We don’t call ourselves the Hillbillies for nothing,” K.Dot says in a clip. “Section 8, welfare, general relief, AFDC, this is the story of a warfare environment and a warfare psychologically to try to change our generational curses.”
Keem will be supporting the album with a tour. He’s also announced dates and locations for a few album signing events.
U2 on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live! ‘2017 (Photo creedit: ABC/Randy Holmes)
U2 frontman Bono has shared some insight into the band’s upcoming album, which is expected later this year.
In conjunction with the just-released EP U2 – Days of Ash, U2 released a special edition of their magazine Propaganda, and in an interview, Bono revealed that they have plenty of songs in the mix for the record.
“There’s a lot more than 25 songs in the works … but I’d say about 25 are worth considering for U2 projects in the next few years,” Bono says. He notes that songs being considered are “very different in mood” from the tracks on Days of Ash, which was written in response to current events.
“More songs of celebration than lamentation,” he said. “The LP/album we’ve been working on has a very different kind of musical mood and narrative, a more of a defiantly joyful kind of feel to take on these anxious times … almost a carnival vibe.”
Continuing to discuss the mood of the new record, Bono notes, “We’re going to try and make the light brighter real soon. … We’re going try finding it in each other and our fans.”
“We’re gonna try to find that carnival atmosphere in our audience, where hopefully we can both show each other not just where we are at but where we want to be at. … Serious fun is required,” he adds. “We can’t always be letting the bad news drown out the good news of just waking up in the morning and being together in the same place … we’re all much better live!!!”
So far a specific release date for U2’s next album has not been revealed. It will be their first album of new material since 2017’s Songs of Experience.
Hudson Williams attends Gold House’s Lunar New Year Gold Celebration at Chinese Tuxedo on Feb. 12, 2026, in New York City. (Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for Gold House)
Hudson Williams has found his next project.
The Heated Rivalry star will appear in the Crave original series Yaga. Production is currently underway on the streaming service’s first half-hour original drama series, which also stars Carrie-Anne Moss, Noah Reid and Clark Backo.
Yaga will be based on the play by Kat Sandler, who also serves as the series’ showrunner and writer. Its plot centers around a reimagining of the myth of Baba Yaga. It’s a contemporary mystery thriller that takes place in a small coastal town.
Reid stars as Rapp, a private investigator who arrives in the small town to investigate the disappearance of the young heir to a powerful fishery named Henry Park (Williams). While there, Rapp finds himself at odds with local detective Carson (Backo) and a university professor with a taste for younger men (Moss).
“Yaga has evolved from myth to stage to my first greenlit series, reclaiming the wicked witch and reshaping her as an incendiary feminist antihero for our time,” Sandler said in a press release. “It reflects the kind of storytelling I love: propulsive, accessible, dark, funny, and unapologetically bold.”
David Frazee and Rachel Talalay will co-direct the series, while Moss will executive produce. Crave is the same streaming service that produced the hit romance series Heated Rivalry, which served as Williams’ breakout acting project.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries speaks at a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on February 18, 2026, in Washington. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
(WASHINGTON) — The standoff between Democrats and the White House over Department of Homeland Security funding and immigration enforcement continued on Wednesday, with both sides digging in as the partial government shutdown hit its fifth day.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called the counteroffer made by Democrats “very unserious,” while House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries remained firm that Democrats would not back away from their demands for reform.
President Donald Trump, who had said he would be personally involved in negotiations, hasn’t yet spoken with Democrats, according to Leavitt.
“He hasn’t had any direct conversation or correspondence with Democrat lawmakers recently. It doesn’t mean he’s not willing to. I’m just not aware of any conversations that have taken place,” she told reporters at Wednesday’s press briefing.
Funding for DHS lapsed on Saturday, affecting agencies like the Transportation Security Administration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Secret Service.
A majority of DHS employees are expected to work during the shutdown, though they could miss a paycheck.
FEMA has paused almost all travel related to the agency’s work, according to multiple sources familiar with the decision, though travel related to disaster relief will continue.
“These limitations are not a choice but are necessary to comply with federal law. FEMA continues to coordinate closely with DHS to ensure effective disaster response under these circumstances,” a FEMA spokesperson said.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which is at the center of the funding fight after two fatal shootings of American citizens by federal agents in Minneapolis, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection remain operational due to billion-dollar infusions from Trump’s massive spending and tax-cut bill passed by Republicans in Congress last summer.
Democrats have asked for a range of new restrictions on immigration enforcement, including a mandate for body cameras, judicial warrants before agents can enter private property — rather than administrative warrants — and a ban on ICE agents wearing face masks. They also want stricter use-of-force policy and new training standards for agents.
The White House and Democrats have traded offers over the past week, though the details haven’t been released publicly. Both sides have called the other’s proposals “unserious.”
“We’ve been engaged in good faith negotiations with the Democrats … They sent over a counterproposal that, frankly, was very unserious. And we hope they get serious very soon because Americans are going to be impacted by this,” Leavitt said on Wednesday.
Jeffries said Wednesday the ball was in the White House’s court.
“We’ve reiterated our perspective on the types of things that are absolutely necessary in order for a DHS funding bill to move forward, all anchored in this principle that ICE needs to conduct itself like every other law-enforcement agency in the country, and stop using taxpayer dollars to brutalize the American people,” he said.
Trump said on Sunday he didn’t like some of what Democrats are asking for, and emphasized his administration is “going to protect ICE.”
In the wake of the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis during the administration’s immigration crackdown and resulting protests, an ABC News review found multiple examples of public statements appearing to be in inaccurate that the agency initially made after using force.
One example occurred last month in Minneapolis when Julio Sosa-Celis, a Venezuelan migrant, was shot in the leg by an ICE agent.
At the time, DHS said its agents were “violently assaulted … with a shovel and broom handle.” ABC News obtained a frantic 911 call made by apparent relatives saying agents fired the shot as Sosa-Celis ran away. Todd Lyons, the acting director of ICE, later said two of his agents appear to have made “untruthful statements” about the moments before the shooting. Both officers were placed on administrative leave and Lyons said they may face federal charges.
Another case unfolded in Chicago last October when Marimar Martinez, an American citizen and teacher’s assistant, was shot five times by federal agents.
DHS initially said that the agents were “forced to deploy their weapons and fire defensive shots at an armed US citizen” after their SUV was “rammed by vehicles and boxed in by 10 cars.” But an ABC News analysis of video footage shows that agents were being followed by two, not 10 vehicles, and that at no time was their vehicle blocked from the front. A CBP spokesperson said in a statement that the officer who shot Martinez was placed on administrative leave following the incident and the Department of Justice dropped the charges against Martinez.
