Music News

Taylor Swift is the leading nominee going into Wednesday night's MTV VMAs with 12 nods overall. But she won't have to win that many to break Beyoncé's record.

Taylor received eight nominations for her "Fortnight" video, two in social categories, and nominations for Best Pop and Artist of the Year this year. She currently has 23 MTV VMA wins and Bey has 30, so Taylor will need to win seven of those 12 nods to tie, and eight to capture the title of most awarded artist in the show's history.

However, Beyoncé is up for three VMAs this year, so depending on how the voting goes, she may still hold the title at the end of the night.

One of Beyoncé's nominations is for Most Iconic Performance, a category that was likely added this year to acknowledge the show's 40th anniversary. Bey is up for her 2011 performance of "Love On Top," during which she revealed her pregnancy to the world. 

Taylor is also nominated in that category, for her 2009 performance of "You Belong With Me" — though that's not exactly the Taylor moment that everyone remembers from the 2009 show.

Page Six reports that if Taylor attends the show, Travis Kelce won't be with her, because he had to return to Kansas City for practice. But even without him, all eyes will be on her — because, as you might have noticed, Taylor enjoys making surprise announcements at award shows.

The lineup of performers on the show includes Camila Cabello, Shawn Mendes, Sabrina Carpenter, Benson Boone, Eminem, Halsey, Lenny Kravitz, LL Cool J, Megan Thee Stallion and, on the extended play stage, Teddy Swims and Jessie Murph. Katy Perry will receive the Video Vanguard Award.

The 2024 MTV VMAs air at 8 p.m. ET.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

As a newlywed couple prepares to embark on the "Adventure of a Lifetime," they had the chance to premiere another Coldplay song.

According to People, Chris Martin and company sent the couple, Céline and Paul Delcloy, their unreleased song "All My Love" to premiere at their wedding.

After seeing Coldplay play "All My Love" during a show in Greece in June, Céline and Paul attended the band's subsequent concert in France and held up a sign "asking Chris to sing 'All My Love' at our wedding for our first dance."

"Chris noticed and said, 'Maybe,'" they tell People. "After many attempts to reach the band, a miracle happened two days before our wedding."

Said miracle was Coldplay's manager Paul Harvey, often referred to as the "fifth member" of the band, replying to Céline and Paul on social media and telling them, "Let me see what I can do."

After Céline and Paul posted footage of them dancing to "All My Love," Coldplay retweeted the video and added, "Congratulations, Céline and Paul. We wish you a lifetime of love, laughter and happiness."

The rest of us will get to hear "All My Love" in full when Coldplay's new album, Moon Music, drops Oct. 4.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

It didn't ruin the tour, and now it appears as though Justin Timberlake's DWI charge isn't going to ruin his fall, either.

Justin has reached a deal to resolve the DWI charge in Sag Harbor, New York, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News. He's expected to appear Friday in Sag Harbor Village court to plead guilty and pay a fine, resolving the misdemeanor charges, the sources said.

As previously reported, Justin was arrested and charged with misdemeanor driving while intoxicated in the town in New York's Hamptons on June 18. According to Sag Harbor Village police, he was pulled over after leaving the American Hotel; he drove through a stop sign and swerved into a lane of oncoming traffic. According to the criminal complaint, he told the arresting officer he'd only had one drink.

Justin, 43, was held overnight for arraignment, after which he was released on his own recognizance.

Following the incident, several Sag Harbor businesses started capitalizing on "Timberlake tourism," Page Six reported. Art galleries began selling Andy Warhol-inspired prints based on Justin's mugshot at $520 a pop, while tourists visited the American Hotel to order a "JT special" — the martini that the singer reportedly downed before the arrest.

The latest North American leg of Justin's tour is set to conclude Dec. 20 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner have finalized their divorce a year after their split.

A final judgement in the divorce case between the Jonas Brothers singer, 35, and the Game of Thrones actress, 28, was issued Sept. 6, 2024, according to a court docket viewed by ABC Audio.

Joe filed for divorce from Sophie on Sept. 5, 2023, after four years of marriage, stating in the court filing that their marriage was "irretrievably broken."

The filing also called for "shared parental responsibility" of their two daughters and revealed there was a prenup in place.

Joe and Sophie issued a joint statement to their respective Instagram accounts after the divorce filing, saying, "After four wonderful years of marriage we have mutually decided to amicably end our marriage."

"There are many speculative narratives as to why but, truly this is a united decision and we sincerely hope that everyone can respect our wishes for privacy for us and our children," they added at the time.

In October 2023, the former couple reached a temporary custody agreement of their two children after mediation as they navigated the legalities of their split.

Joe is set to release his solo album Music For People Who Believe in Love on Oct. 18. In a recent interview with Billboard, Joe seemed to shut down any speculation that the album would include songs about his divorce by saying, "I’m not trying to come for anyone on this album. I’m not trying to put stuff on blast. 

"I have a beautiful life that I’m grateful for. I’ve got two beautiful kids," he added. "I’m a happy person, and the music needed to resemble that — but also, the journey to get here.”

Since the couple split, Sophie has moved on with English aristocrat Peregrine Pearson.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Charli XCX has confirmed the remix she's been teasing for a while: "Talk talk," featuring her tour mate Troye Sivan, will be out "in 24 hours," she announced Sept. 11 at 9 a.m. ET.

Charli also confirmed Dua Lipa is on the remix. She wrote on her Instagram Story, "also thank you @dualipa for speaking french and spanish on the track!"

This is the third remix Charli has released from her album Brat, following "Girl, so confusing" featuring Lorde and "Guess" featuring Billie Eilish.

Charli has four nominations going into the MTV VMAs Sept. 11 — including nods for "Guess" and her viral hit "Apple" — but she's not performing on the telecast.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The Weeknd will release a new single and video, "Dancing in the Flames," on Sept. 13, but you can get a sneak preview of it now.

A behind-the-scenes look at the video debuted during Apple's "It's Glowtime" event on Sept. 9 -- the clip was shot entirely on the iPhone 16 Pro. You can also watch a one-minute version of the video now.  In it, The Weeknd is driving a convertible while wearing dark glasses, sporting a look similar to his After Hours era, running in slow motion and then singing in the pouring rain. 

You can see more footage of The Weeknd singing the song at his Sept. 7 concert in Brazil on his Instagram. If you missed the livestream, you can watch the concert from now through Sept. 14 on YouTube.

"Dancing in the Flames" is from The Weeknd's new album Hurry Up Tomorrow, the third installment of the trilogy that began with After Hours and continued with Dawn FM. There's no release date yet.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

After breaking out on TikTok in 2022, Mark Ambor has his first big hit with "Belong Together" from his debut album, Rockwood. While he couldn't have predicted how big the song would become, he says he wasn't entirely surprised.

"When I sent it to the immediate team I have around me ... they usually like one [song], or two of them like one," Mark tells ABC Audio. "And one would be like, 'I like this one more.' With 'Belong Together' ... everyone liked it."

"So, I don't want to say I thought it was going to happen. You always kind of dream that it resonates around the world the way it has," he adds. "But [I] definitely had high hopes for it."

What did surprise Mark was hearing from fans how deeply his songs have affected people.

"It's been insane, just looking at fans' eyes and ... hearing their stories about the songs and what they mean to them," he says, noting that he writes his songs "alone in my room ... based on what I'm feeling in that moment."

"It's crazy for me to think of how a song can take a whole different meaning and life of its own. ... I think that's one of the really big eye-opening things for me."

It's also been eye-opening for Mark to see how fans have used "Belong Together" on TikTok.

"There was a period of time where people were kind of putting, like, destinations ... and it'd be like 'you and me belong together ... Italy?' And was all these like picturesque, beautiful scenes in Italy. Those are kind of fun to watch," he says. 

"There are obviously these couples videos that are cool," he adds. "Honestly, seeing anyone find their own context for the song and put it in their life in any way, I think's cool."

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Following the first presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump in Philadelphia, Taylor Swift took to Instagram to announce her endorsement for Harris.

Taylor said in a post Tuesday night that she watched the debate, has done her research and made her choice on who to support in 2024 presidential race.

"I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 Presidential Election," Swift wrote.

She added, “Recently I was made aware that Al of 'me' falsely endorsing Donald Trump's presidential run was posted to his site. It really conjured up my fears around Al, and the dangers of spreading misinformation. It brought me to the conclusion that I need to be very transparent about my actual plans for this election as a voter. The simplest way to combat misinformation is with the truth.”

Taylor continued, "I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them. I think she is a steady-handed, gifted leader and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos. I was so heartened and impressed by her selection of running mate @timwalz, who has been standing up for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and a woman’s right to her own body for decades."

Taylor, who endorsed President Joe Biden in the 2020 election, noted in her post, “Your research is all yours to do, and the choice is yours to make." She reminded fans that in order to vote, they must be registered and linked to Vote.Gov in her IG Stories.

The pop star signed her post, “Taylor Swift, Childless Cat Lady.”

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

It seems as though two more pop stars are working it out on the remix with Charli XCX. The singer has been posting videos to Instagram with audio from her Brat track "Talk talk" that feature a new verse from Troye Sivan. Although an official collaboration announcement has not been made, one of Charli's producers, zhone, seemingly confirmed the remix — and said Dua Lipa is also involved. "@charli_xcx @troyesivan @dualipa prod by me and the boys @novodor @styalzfuego," zhone wrote on his Instagram Story.

Speaking of collaborations, Katy Perry has announced that Doechii will appear on the next single from her upcoming album, 143. The song, called "I'm His, He's Mine," arrives on Sept. 13. A music video will accompany the song, which is available to presave now.

After teasing it for weeks, Teddy Swims has announced the name of his new song, which arrives on Friday. "Bad Dreams releases 9.13 baby!! Sorry for the wait," Teddy wrote on Instagram on Monday.

Joe Jonas has been named the first global brand ambassador for the Amsterdam-based fashion brand Scotch & Soda. Joe has his very own exclusive capsule collection, which he co-designed and modeled as part of the seasonal campaign.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Black Eyed Peas have announced a Las Vegas residency kicking off in February, and lead singer will.i.am says the group's lineup for the shows will include their female vocalist, J. Rey Soul, as well as an AI member called Vida.

He tells USA Today, "Our [AI] member of the group will be patched into every band member, stage hands and the audience, if they want to engage with her. J. Rey will have songs with Vida and Vida will be singing."

"Taboo and I will be rapping and singing and so will Vida,” he continues. “It’s going to be the most interactive pre, during and post-show experience and if there is a place to have that experience, it’s going to be in Vegas.”

Will also says the residency was inspired by seeing Taylor Swift perform this summer in Milan. 

“I was blown away. I haven’t been this inspired in so  ... long," he says of witnessing the Eras Tour. "That’s when I said, I need to start dreaming and go to work. What cues can we take from Empress Swift when we approach our Vegas show?"

In particular, he says Taylor's "camera stuff" really impressed him. "I’ve never seen a group or artist do that," he gushes. "I’ve seen a network do it and the Super Bowl do it. I’m watching the most awesome theatrical pop culture film at a show. Of course she’s talented, but she gives you all this emotion in that format. It’s flawless execution.”

As previously reported, the residency starts Feb. 15 at PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. Tickets go on sale Sept. 14 via ticketmaster.com.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Jessica Simpson has lived many lifetimes since she debuted as a Y2K pop star, which is why her story is being told in an upcoming multipart documentary.

Deadline reports the doc is being produced by Gunpowder & Sky; the company's CEO, Van Toffler, first worked with Jessica on her reality show Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica. Deadline quotes Toffler as saying of Jessica, "Her journey, like most great novels, has seen the highest peaks and profound valleys, yet through it all, she has persisted and flourished. It’s a privilege to collaborate with her in telling her story.”

The documentary is a "raw, intimate and unprecedented" look at Jessica's life, according to Deadline, "including personal revelations, successes, and heartbreaks that have never been shared with the public before.” It will include interviews with Jessica, as well as those closest to her, and will document her upcoming return to music.

In addition, the documentary will show a behind-the-scenes look at Jessica's billion-dollar company, the Jessica Simpson Collection, her religious upbringing, and how she survived abuse and her parents' divorce. Deadline quotes Jessica as saying that the film is "entirely real, raw and more personal than anything I have done before.”

"I am ready to share a lot that has happened in my life since [memoir Open Book] was published, including an artistic journey and return to music inspired by pain and betrayal as well as beauty and forgiveness," she continues.

"I am looking forward to reconnecting and sharing my heart with all those who might need it in the hope that we can inspire each other and move forward on our parallel journeys.”

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Ariana Grande has multiple Platinum awards for her many hits, but she apparently never ceases to be amazed by them.

She shared a post on her Instagram Story from the Recording Industry Association of America — the folks who certify Gold and Platinum releases — announcing that her latest album, eternal sunshine, has gone Platinum, and so has her single "the boy is mine." Plus, her single "we can't be friends (wait for your love)" has been certified two-times Platinum.

Those single certifications follow the Platinum certification of the album's first single, "yes, and?," which hit that milestone in June. Ari also shared a post from the Chat Data account on social platform X announcing that she's the first artist this year to release three singles that have all been certified Platinum.

"this is quite insane to me," she wrote. "just wanted to say thank you and i love you so very much. this album is my favorite. i am moved and deeply grateful."

Ariana recently released an acoustic version of "we can't be friends" to mark the six-month anniversary of eternal sunshine.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Janet Jackson had an early start in the entertainment industry, but right now she has Control over 7-year-old son Eissa's life. If he wants in, she says he not only needs to make the decision on his own, he has to meet her age requirement.

“It’s about him. If that’s what he wants, but I would say that he has to wait until he’s of age and still make sure that’s what he wants to do," Janet said on U.K. TV show Loose Women. "Whatever you do is very difficult. The industry is very tough, but he would have to wait till he is 18."

She adds she's grateful that her father saw her talent and pushed her toward the same career paths as her brothers aka The Jackson 5, but notes there are some things she didn't get the chance to experience.

“I am happy because he obviously saw something that I didn’t, but I still wish I would’ve experienced college. Or, I should say university. I always wanted to experience that," Janet said. "I was just a baby when my brothers were successful, so that’s all I’ve ever really known."

Janet shares Eissa with ex-husband Wissam Al Mana.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Shawn Mendes will be one of the performers at the MTV VMAs on Sept. 11, and it turns out he's going to treat viewers to a song we haven't heard yet.

Rather than play "Why Why Why" or "Isn't That Enough" — the two songs we've heard so far from his upcoming album, Shawn — he's going to perform another one. He wrote on Instagram, "NOBODY KNOWS
LIVE AT THE VMAS. SONG OUT MIDNIGHT ET 9/12."

He added, "I’m absolutely BEAMING to play this song live." He included a clip of the song in his post. Shawn's new album is out Oct. 18.

The VMAs will find the Canadian singer/songwriter performing on the same bill as his ex-girlfriend Camila Cabello and his rumored ex-girlfriend Sabrina Carpenter. Tune in at 8 p.m. ET to see how awkward it gets.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Doja Cat has feet of clay — actually, an entire body made of clay — in a new commercial for Brisk Iced Tea.

The singer is depicted via claymation in the ad, which is a throwback to the brand's stop-motion animation ads of the '90s and '00s. In it, Doja and a guy are sitting in a forest. She asks him for a sip of his iced tea, and as soon as he says no, he's grabbed by an angry bear. He yells for her to help him, so she sings a bit of her song "Demons," enchanting all the other forest animals and making them attack the bear — and rescue the iced tea.

"That's cold," yells the guy, who's still in the bear's clutches. "That's Brisk, baby!" she replies.

“I’m known for pushing boundaries and making the impossible a reality, so I was honored to collaborate with Brisk Iced Tea and bring our creative energy to life in a way that fans have never seen me before," Doja says in a statement, adding that "seeing myself transformed into the iconic claymation style was like stepping into a wild, animated dream.”

If you follow @Brisk on Instagram and tag a friend in the comments with #ThatsColdSweepsEntry, you can get a chance to win a giant version of Doja's claymation head, which she was seen carrying around in August.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

I've gotta feeling ... that Black Eyed Peas are going to shut it down in Las Vegas.

The group has announced that early next year they'll take over PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino for a show called Black Eyed Peas: 3008 The Las Vegas Residency. The title is inspired by a lyric in the group's hit "Boom Boom Pow": "I'm so 3008/ You so 2000 and late."

The residency kicks off Feb. 15; tickets go on sale Sept. 14 at 10 a.m. PT via Ticketmaster. Presales start Sept. 11 via Citi card, Sept. 12 for fan club members and Sept. 13 for Live Nation, Ticketmaster and Caesars Entertainment's loyalty program customers.

Will.i.am says in a statement that the residency "gives Black Eyed Peas the opportunity to do what we do best, to dream up something brand new and creative that pushes the boundaries of the live show experience. We draw inspiration from Disney rides, Las Vegas shows, concerts, AI and technology."

"We will reinvent how we perform, creating an interactive show, a journey to 3008 that is both a concert and play," he adds. "I can’t wait for the world to see what we cook up in Las Vegas.”

The poster for the residency includes will, Apl.de.Ap and Taboo — there's no mention of which female singer, if any, will be joining them. In recent years, female vocals have been provided by J. Rey Soul.

The dates going on sale are:
Feb. 15, 16, 19, 21, 22
March 21, 22, 26, 28, 29
May 24, 25, 28, 30, 31

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins has shared a response to the video of Taylor Swift singing along to "I Believe in a Thing Called Love."

The pop superstar was filmed rocking out to the English rockers' 2003 hit alongside her boyfriend, NFL star Travis Kelce, while attending the U.S. Open tennis tournament.

In a post to TikTok, Hawkins says, "It was a really heartwarming moment for me."

"My little girl can't wait to tell her friends at school," he continues. "So, thanks Taylor, thanks Travis, thanks everybody who enjoys tennis, that's a really lovely start to the day. Nice one, guys!"

Hawkins also shares that he attended one of Swift's Eras Tour shows in Zurich, Switzerland, with his family. Not only did he enjoy the concert from the VIP section, he also received a letter from Swift in which she writes, "I'm a massive fan of yours and think 'I Believe in a Thing called Love' is one of the greatest songs of all time."

"I was just dad of the year," Hawkins says of the experience. "Maybe dad of the century."

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Anyone who's had the kind of rocket ride to fame Chappell Roan has had this year would likely have problems dealing with it, so maybe it's not so odd that part of her wishes she could return to obscurity.

Covering the October issue of Rolling Stone, Chappell says she's feeling the pressure of trying to follow up the success of "Good Luck Babe!" She tells the magazine, "[The next single] needs to have more grit, whether that means more pop grit or rock grit or just bite to the lyrics. Anything that I listen to — Joan Jett, Heart, Gaga — I want to feel like them. So I’ll just be inspired by that feeling and how I can capture it.”

She says she and collaborator Dan Nigro have about six songs they like, and she plans to write from November to mid-May. However, she admits, "Part of me hopes I never have a hit again because then no one will ever expect anything from me again.”

Chappell tells Rolling Stone that her fellow female pop stars have been very generous with their advice and support in helping her navigate her crazy year. Among those who've reached out: Charli XCX, Billie Eilish, boygenius and Paramore's Hayley Williams.

In addition, Chappell says Katy Perry advised her to never read the comments. Lorde gave her tips on how to go unnoticed in an airport. Lady Gaga offered her phone number, but she's too scared to call her. Even Sabrina Carpenter, who's been on a similar trajectory, wants to meet up and talk it all out.

"We’re both going through something so f****** hard ... she just feels like everything is flying, and she’s just barely hanging on,” Chappell says. “It was just good to know someone else feels that way.”

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Ariana Grande recently celebrated the 10-year anniversary of her sophomore album, My Everything, by offering a 10th anniversary edition, plus vinyl versions of the album's singles. One of them was "Break Free," a collaboration with Zedd that hit #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Zedd tells ABC Audio he never thought the song would find its way to Ariana.

Zedd says he created the "Break Free" track and then asked his pal, super-producer Max Martin, to write some lyrics. "We were both like, 'Awesome, we love this song. One day something will happen with it,'" he recalls.

That day came when Max called Zedd and said he was in the studio with Ariana Grande — what did he think about her recording "Break Free"? Zedd thought it was an "amazing" idea, but there was one problem.

"She recorded the vocals and I had a really hard time understanding the words," Zedd says. "I'm German, so I'm not the best at, like, giving advice on English. [But] I was like, 'I have a really hard time making out what the words are saying.'"

"So she went back and rerecorded everything from scratch, which I feel like most artists wouldn't do," he continues. "So the fact that she wanted this to be perfect and went back and redid the entire thing speaks for her work ethic and how much of a perfectionist she is."

And Zedd gives Ari credit for the song's continued popularity, 10 years later.

"Nobody really expected this to become this anthem. I mean, I still play the song live ... it's just become one of the biggest songs in my sets. And [I'm] incredibly grateful because it certainly wouldn't have happened without her ... she really drove that thing home."

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

When the 2024 CMA Awards nominations were announced Monday, one artist who took over the country charts this year was notably missing: Beyoncé.

Fans immediately noticed that Beyoncé, whose album Cowboy Carter won over fans and critics this year, was entirely absent from the list of nominations.

Morgan Wallen is the top-nominated artist for the 58th annual CMA Awards, earning seven in total, including entertainer of the year.

Beyoncé's album, released March 29, spent four weeks at #1 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart and helped her become the first Black woman to top that chart.

In terms of songs, "Texas Hold 'Em" spent 10 weeks at #1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart. Additionally, her collaboration with Miley Cyrus, "II Most Wanted," topped out at #2, and her rendition of Dolly Parton's "Jolene" reached #3.

Artist Shaboozey, who received two nominations for this year's CMA Awards and collaborated with Beyoncé on two tracks on Cowboy Carter, appeared to react to the snub in an Instagram Story.

"That goes without saying. Thank you @Beyonce for opening a door for us, starting a conversation, and giving us one of the most innovative country albums of all time!" he posted.

Dionne Warwick claimed the snub was "absolutely ridiculous."

Ahead of her eighth solo studio album, Beyoncé wrote on social media that Cowboy Carter was a reaction to her feeling excluded from country music.

"It was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed…and it was very clear that I wasn't," she said at the time. "But, because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive."

"This ain't a Country album. This is a 'Beyoncé' album," Bey concluded.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.