Glass Animals, Machine Gun Kelly and Imagine Dragons were the top three rock artists of 2021, according to Billboard.

The publication has unveiled its annual year-end charts, which determine the biggest acts in a variety of different genres using combination of factors including airplay, sales and streaming data for songs and albums, as well as touring revenue and social media activity.

Glass Animals, who broke out in a big way this year thanks to the hit single “Heat Waves,” is number one on 2021’s Top Rock Artists chart. MGK, who continued to enjoy the success of his 2020 album Tickets to My Downfall, comes in at number two, followed by ID at number three.

Imagine Dragons’ “Follow You,” the lead single off their 2021 album Mercury — Act 1, was the number-one Rock Airplay Song of the year, followed by MGK and blackbear‘s “My Ex’s Best Friend,” All Time Low and blackbear’s “Monsters,” Weezer‘s “All My Favorite Songs,” and Rise Against‘s “Nowhere Generation.’

The rest of the top-10 Billboard Top Rock Artists of 2021 are Fleetwood Mac, AJR, The Beatles, Queen, Twenty One Pilots, Måneskin and AC/DC.

This year’s top 10 Rock Albums, based on sales data, were a mix of mostly classic rock records and best-of compilations, along with a couple more recent releases. The list, in order, is Queen’s Greatest Hits, Kelly’s Tickets, Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours, Elton John‘s Diamonds, Creedence Clearwater Revival‘s Chronicle, Journey‘s Greatest Hits, AC/DC’s Back in Black, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers‘ Greatest Hits, Glass Animals’ Dreamland, and The Beatles’ 1.

No album released in 2021 made the top 10.

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In recent years, Dolly Parton has made nearly as many headlines for her philanthropy as for her music.

She expanded her Imagination Library program, raised money for middle Tennessee flood victims, and of course, she donated $1 million in 2020 to help fund the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Now, she’s been named one of the 2021 People of the Year by People Magazine. But in an interview with the publication, Dolly says she’s hesitant to accept too much recognition for her good deeds.

“…I don’t want to be worshipped, because there’s a scripture in my Bible that talks about idol worship,” the singer reflects. “And I see that happening all the time with movie stars and these celebrities. People literally worship them more than they worship God. And I just — I cringe at it sometimes.”

Then there’s the “pressure” that comes along with all that good press, the singer goes on to say. Still, Dolly’s happy to be able to set a “good example.”

“But yeah, it’s like, I am not all that,” she adds. “I’m glad that I stand for enough stuff to where I’m not the worst person in the world.”

Other 2021 People of the Year include gymnast Simone Biles, actor Sandra Oh and National Teacher of the Year Juliana Urtubey.

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Mariah Carey proudly wears her “Queen of Christmas” crown and is always telling us how hard she goes around the holidays.  But no one really knew how to celebrate Christmas just like Mariah…until now.

Speaking to People, the Grammy winner dishes on her dos and don’ts when it comes to throwing a party designed to “spread some holiday cheer, darling.”

Her biggest rule that cannot be broken is: “Bleak people cannot come.” 

As for what you’ll need to throw a Mariah Carey-approved Christmas party, the “Fantasy” singer says you have to string up some mistletoe and leave out some milk and cookies for Santa.  Although Mariah loves her real Christmas trees, she gives her blessing to go the artificial route, saying, “Unfortunately we kind of have to deal with that now because we don’t wanna kill all the trees in the land.”

What are the things that Mariah wants you to steer clear of for your party?  She says lock up those “ugly” Christmas sweaters and put down that homemade tinsel — mainly because she admits, “I don’t know what that is.” She also warns against putting up decorations in October, but relents on one condition, which is, “Only if you’re under duress.”

Mariah also hopes to remind everyone that she is more than a holiday novelty, even though “Christmastime really is my favorite part of the year.”  She quips, “It’s not like, ‘Oh, I only emerge from the sea at Christmastime.’ But I live for that stuff, and it makes me laugh!”

Mariah also laughs her way to the bank every holiday. Celebrity Net Worth estimates that she’s earned $60 million — or between $600,000 to $1 million a year — just in royalties alone for her 1994 hit “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”

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Getting out of bed is something people do every day, but that task can sometimes feel impossible for those struggling with their mental health.  Selena Gomez understands that battle all too well and shared the steps she takes to get herself out from under the covers. 

“Sometimes I’m not good at it.  It just happens where I’ll wake up and… l struggle,” the Grammy nominee confessed in a new Instagram post. 

Selena, who has previously opened up about her depression and anxiety, continued, “What helps me, first and foremost, [is] just picking up the phone and calling someone.”

She also says understanding why this happens also helps, which is why she will “constantly try to fill myself with knowledge of what it is that I am feeling and the triggers that happen to me.” Selena says doing that allows her to “take a step back and think of all the tools I’ve learned and try to implement them in my everyday life.”

The “Lose You to Love Me” singer also encouraged her followers to exercise, even though she’s not a fan of it herself. “I hate working out!,” she quipped. “It is not fun.”

Despite how she feels about working up a sweat, Selena said taking “intense boxing classes” helps her mentally because she’s able to release her pent -p frustration and energy.  “It feels so good,” she added.

The video was a teaser for Selena’s upcoming mental health platform, Wondermind, which launches next year.

 

 

 

 

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Long before Lady Gaga picked up an Academy Award or released her breakout single “Just Dance,” she was known as Stefani Germanotta, the girl who played “Girl at Swimming Pool #2” on HBO’s The Sopranos.

The singer reflected on her acting debut in a new interview with Entertainment Weekly and marveled over how far she’s come since playing a background character in 2001. 

“When I look back on that scene I can see exactly what I did wrong in that scene,” Gaga remarked. “I didn’t know how to listen in a scene! I was supposed to laugh, and it was sort of like, cue, laugh…. I see it and I go, ‘oh, that’s not a real laugh!'”

“I see a very non-specific actor [on The Sopranos],” Gaga said, before explaining how she’s “grown a lot” since playing that pizza-eating teenager.

“I see myself as someone who is at least really striving to be specific without thinking about it, and that requires a lot of work ahead of time,” Gaga expressed.  “The nuance and being specific as an actor is something that can grow over time if you’re willing to listen and really hear the other actor that you’re working with.”

Gaga used her starring House of Gucci role as Patrizia Reggiani as a prime example of that.  “I really thank my acting teacher, Susan Batson, she and I worked for months and months on this before we filmed,” said Gaga, who also praised the “incredible” director Ridley Scott for creating “a sanctuary for you on set to just fly.”

Gaga’s performance is already generating buzz that she could receive a second Best Actress Oscar nod.

House of Gucci is in theaters now. 

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Jason Aldean’s baby boy, Memphis, is growing up: He turned four years old on Wednesday. To celebrate the occasion, both Jason and his wife Brittany turned to social media to share some throwback photos.

“Happy bday to my little man today. Hard to believe he is already 4 years old,” Jason wrote, along with a series of snaps of Memphis and his family through the years. “This lil guy has been such a blessing to their family and we couldn’t love him more. Happy birthday Mems.”

For her part, Brittany put together a full-on photo and video montage of some of the highlights of Memphis’ life so far. Set to Lee Brice’s parent-and-child anthem, “Boy,” the montage includes of her pregnancy, Memphis’ birth and his journey from infant to toddler. Included in the family montage is the arrival of Memphis’ sister, the couple’s youngest child, Navy.

Jason recently reflected on life as a dad to young kids, and how different it is now that he’s in his 40s, as opposed to his experience of having two young daughters in his 20s during his first marriage.

“At this point in my career, I’ve been able to be home a lot more for the little ones and experience a lot more of those things,” he reflects, explaining that the balance between touring and staying home with family has changed quite a bit. “I’m not out there going after the unknown.”

 

 

 

 

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Following the fatal shooting Wednesday morning of Jacqueline Avant, wife of legendary music executive Clarence Avant, Tyler Perry is vowing to help find the killer.

Jacqueline was shot and killed during an invasion of the Avant home in Beverly Hills. She was 81.

“I have no idea what kind of sub-human could shoot an 81-year-old woman, and in her own home,” Perry tweeted. “You can rest assured that every available resource will be used to find whoever is responsible for this awful nightmare.”

During a press briefing, Beverly Hills Police Chief Mark G. Stainbrook read a statement from the Avant family, as reported by ABC Los Angeles affiliate KABC-TV.

“The entire Avant family wishes to thank everyone for their outpouring of love, support and condolences for Jacqueline Avant,” the statement said. “Jacqueline was an amazing woman, wife, mother, philanthropist, and a 55-year resident of Beverly Hills, who has made an immeasurable positive contribution and impact on the arts community. She will be missed by her family, friends and all of the people she has held throughout her amazing life.”

In addition to Perry, many other celebrities expressed their grief, including NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson, and former President Bill Clinton.

“Jackie was the sweetest person you could ever meet. She had a beautiful soul, kind heart, & always had a kind word for everybody,” Johnson wrote.

“Jackie Avant was a wonderful woman, a great partner to Clarence and mother to Alex and Nicole, an active citizen & a dear friend to Hillary and me for 30 years,” Clinton tweeted.

Clarence, 90, and Jacqueline were married for 54 years and have two children. Clarence Avant was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in October.

But you can rest assured that every available resource will be used to find whoever is responsible for this awful nightmare. This is tremendously sad. (2/2)

— Tyler Perry (@tylerperry) December 1, 2021

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Adam Levine may be sporting what appears to be new ink on his face, but fans can rest assured knowing that tattoo on his temple is 100 percent fake.

ABC Audio reached out to the Maroon 5 singer’s rep to find out if that rose tattoo was legit, who responded, “Nope, not real!”

Adam later took to his Instagram story to personally quell the rumor, and said, “This message is for my mother. I do not have a tattoo on my face. Those that know me know, I am too vain, I’m too f****** vain to get a tattoo on my face.”

The singer then gestured to his body and quipped, “I’ll tattoo the rest of this, but no, the face has gotta stay the same.”

Adam was seen flaunting the face art at a Wednesday night red carpet event with wife Behati Prinsloo.  Fans pointed out the flower resembled the Calirosa Tequila brand the “Harder to Breathe” singer recently launched with Behati. 

Since Adam is known to get tattoos with special meanings, such as the word “California” across his abdomen to honor his home state, it was believed the new ink was in honor of his new business venture.

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ZZ Top frontman Billy Gibbons is a sharp-dressed Santa in a new animated video for his recently released holiday tune “Jingle Bell Blues,” which premiered today on his official YouTube channel.

The clip features a cartoon Gibbons donning a Santa Claus outfit as he embarks on a snowy adventure to deliver presents in a hot rod that’s been converted into a flying sleigh. Along the way he rocks out on his new Christmas tune with help from a harmonica-playing snowman.

“The animators put me in a hot rod that looks suspiciously like our very own ’34 Ford-based ‘Whiskey Runner’ though they’ve made some few seasonal adjustments,” Billy explains of the video. “There’s considerable snowfall so the wheels are replaced midway by a set of skis and now there’s a pickup bed in the back so gifts can rain down from it. They have me doing a header into a chimney but it’s not clear if I get to to enjoy any cookies and milk for my efforts.”

As previously reported, “Jingle Bell Blues” is 12-bar-blues-infused version of the Christmas classic “Jingle Bells” that’s available now as a digital download and via streaming services. A limited-edition seven-inch vinyl single pressed on red-translucent vinyl will be released on December 10.

The disc, which you can pre-order now at Gibbons’ official online store, comes with an old-school vinyl center hole adapter with “Billy F Gibbons” written on it. The single’s flip side features an etching of a whitewall tire.

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