Variety honored the top 25 music acts of 2021 on Saturday, with Olivia Rodrigo, Lil Nas X, BTS, Billie Eilish and others taking home high honors at its fifth annual Hitmakers Brunch.

Lil Nas X was crowned innovator of the year and reflected on how much his life has changed in 2021, noting that he went into the year worried if he would recapture the success of 2019’s “Old Town Road.”

“This year took a lot of mental strength for me just to even continue to keep pushing after my debut…reached such a high place so, so quickly.  And it’s very scary to try to follow up and keep it going,” he said while accepting his trophy. “I came out. I was myself. I did what I needed to do. I put effort into every single part of my career.”

Olivia, who was named songwriter of the year, spoke about the impact of her debut single, “drivers license,” which she says is “about this really hard time in my life.”  The Grammy nominee was touched by how it resonated with “people regardless of sexual orientation, or gender or age,” and said, “To me it’s a beautiful thing about art: How music can bring us all together and make us feel less alone.”

Billie, who accepted film song of the year alongside her brother, FINNEAS, for penning the Bond theme for No Time to Die, said it was “the most surreal song to be able to make.”

BTS virtually accepted their award for record of the year for their summer smash “Butter” and said they created their song to “share fun, positive energy with many people.”

Many of this year’s honorees later appeared in Lil Nas X’s hilarious TikTok video, which he shared Sunday.

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Billie Eilish has premiered the video for “Male Fantasy,” a track off her new album, Happier Than Ever.

The clip reflects the wistful nature of the acoustic-driven tune, with shots of Eilish looking despondent in a various rooms of a lonely, unlit house.

You can watch the “Male Fantasy” video, which Eilish directed and edited herself, streaming now on YouTube.

Happier Than Ever, Eilish’s sophomore album, was released this past July. It’ll compete for Album of the Year at the 2022 Grammys, held January 31.

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Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff have lost out on an Album of the Year nomination for next year’s Grammys.

The pair had been credited as songwriters on Olivia Rodrigo‘s debut, SOUR, and thus would earn a Grammy trophy themselves should it win the 2022 Album of the Year award. However, an update from the Recording Academy shows that both Antonoff and St. Vincent have been removed as nominees.

Olivia had given Taylor and Jack writing credit on the SOUR song “deja vu” because it borrowed Taylor’s bridge from “Cruel Summer,” which the pop superstar had originally written with Bleachers frontman Antonoff. Taylor’s songwriting nomination for SOUR has been removed, as well.

While the duo won’t win a Grammy with SOUR, they are still Album of the Year nominees for evermore. Jack will also compete for the Producer of the Year, Non-Classical.

The 2022 Grammys take place January 31.

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Kenny Chesney is carrying his nostalgic single, “Knowing You,” to the top of the charts.

The superstar has amassed his 34th #1 hit with the song as it reaches the pinnacle position on the country chart after a 37-week climb. It’s the latest single off his 2020 album, Here and Now, which debuted atop the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and all-genre Billboard 200. 

“There is such a beautiful innocence to this song. I love the idea that what was great is what matters; the idea that what you felt that was so good — that’s the thing to hang on to,” Kenny says in a statement. “Wishing the other person well, hoping they’re out there spreading that same joy, feeling that same love wherever they may be? To me, that’s just beautiful.”

Kenny continues, “My hope, throughout the life of this single, has been for people to take this idea and embrace it, embrace that person they loved who’s gone and celebrate every small thing that was part of their relationship.”

The success of “Knowing You” follows that of the album’s title track, which reached #1 last year. 

Kenny will embark on the 2022 Here and Now Tour with Carly Pearce, Dan + Shay and Old Dominion next spring, launching on April 23 in Tampa.

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With less than a month to go before we ring in the new year, YouTube is looking back at the biggest music videos of 2021.  Among the artists who videos racked up the most views are The Weeknd, Olivia Rodrigo and Lil Nas X.

The Weeknd’s “Save Your Tears” is YouTube’s second-most popular song in the U.S., racking up nearly 615 million views since its January 5 release.  Close behind him is Lil Nas X, whose “Montero (Call Me By Your Name) came in third after amassing over 400 million times since March.

Silk Sonic‘s “Leave the Door Open” landed in seventh, while Olivia Rodrigo claimed the ninth spot on the countdown with “drivers license.”

YouTube also took a walk down memory lane to reflect on some of the biggest music moments of 2021, which include K-pop group BLACKPINK becoming the website’s most-subscribed artist.  Other highlights include Selena Gomez‘s intimate “Artist Spotlight Stories” and BTS‘ viral “Permission to Dance” challenge.

YouTube also saluted Rick Astley, Shakira, 4 Non Blondes, Bon Jovi, Nelly and the many others who became first-time members of their prestigious Billion Views Club.

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Nine Inch Nails, Arctic Monkeys and Lorde are set to headline the inaugural Primavera Sound Los Angeles.

The long-running Spanish festival, which has been held in Barcelona since 2001, will make its U.S. debut September 12-18, 2022 at the L.A. State Historic State Park. Primavera Sound L.A. had originally been announced in 2019 to launch in 2020, but has been delayed several times due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Registration for access to pre-sale tickets is open now. Tickets go on sale to the general public beginning this Friday, December 10, at 2 p.m. PT.

For the full lineup and all ticket info, visit PrimaveraSound.com.

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Mariah Carey will not only fill her fans’ bellies with her upcoming collaboration with McDonald’s — she also plans to fill their Christmas stockings.

With a week to go before the Grammy winner launches the upcoming Mariah Menu, where fans can chow down on her personal favorites like the Big Mac and Chicken McNuggets, she’s sweetening the deal with some exclusive Mariah x McDonald’s merchandise. 

For two days only, Mariah will hook up a limited number of fans with a specialty designed t-shirt and beanie.  The beanie comes with Mariah’s signature on it, while a the tee-shirt features a throwback photo of the singer enjoying a cheeseburger with extra pickles.

According to the press release, the beanie can be redeemed on December 15 and the tee will be made available on December 21.  The first 10,000 fans to redeem the Mariah Menu deal — which is a bakery item and a Sausage McMuffin with Egg — using the McDonald’s app and pay using mobile order will score the exclusive merch.  

Mariah said in a statement, “Just like so many of my fans, I have such amazing memories with McDonald’s over the years. I always get a sense of nostalgia when I see the Golden Arches, so creating throwback merch with one of my favorite photos from the 90s was really fun for me.”

In addition, Mariah stars in her very own McDonald’s television commercial, which began airing Monday.

The Mariah Menu launches December 13 and runs through December 24. 

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Jack Antonoff and St. Vincent have lost out on an Album of the Year nomination for next year’s Grammys.

The pair had been credited as songwriters on Olivia Rodrigo‘s SOUR, and thus would earn a Grammy trophy themselves should it win the 2022 Album of the Year award. However, an update from the Recording Academy shows that both Antonoff and St. Vincent have been removed as nominees.

Rodrigo had given Antonoff and St. Vincent writing credit on the SOUR song “deja vu” because it borrowed from the bridge of Taylor Swift‘s song “Cruel Summer,” which the pop superstar had originally written with the Bleachers frontman and the “Los Ageless” rocker. Swift’s songwriting nomination for SOUR has been removed, as well.

Hayley Williams is also a credited songwriter on the SOUR song “good 4 u” due to its similarities to Paramore‘s “Misery Business.” However, Williams was never listed among the nominees.

While he won’t win a Grammy with SOUR, Antonoff is still an Album of the Year nominee as a contributor to Swift’s evermore. He’ll also compete for the Producer of the Year, Non-Classical.

St. Vincent, meanwhile, is nominated for Best Alternative Music Album with her 2021 record, Daddy’s Home.

The 2022 Grammys take place January 31.

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Luke Combs and Carrie Underwood are performing in the Grand Ole Opry’s first USO show this holiday season. 

Created in partnership with United Service Organizations, a nonprofit that provides entertainment to service members and their families, Opry Live: USO Holiday Special will feature additional performances by Josh Turner, Lauren Alaina, Craig Morgan, himself an Army veteran, plus Jessie James Decker and duo The War & Treaty. 

The show will be hosted by American Idol alum and USO Global Ambassador, Kellie Pickler. “I’ve never worn the uniform, but I’m a proud supporter for those who do. As a Global Ambassador for the USO, I hope to share the importance of serving those who serve us all,” Kellie says in a statement. 

Opry Live: USO Holiday Special will air on the Circle Network on December 18 at 9 p.m. ET and will be livestreamed on the USO and Circle All Access’ Facebook, Twitter and YouTube channels.

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