Pop Music

CNN reports: If he ever enjoyed Taylor Swift’s music, President Donald Trump now likes the pop star’s tracks “about 25% less.” Trump struck out at Swift a day after the singer and longtime Nashville resident endorsed Democratic candidate Phil Bredesen, a former governor, over Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn in Tennessee’s Senate race. “What’d she say?” Trump said with a smile …

CNBC reports: Taylor Swift usually stays out of the political fray, but this year, with just a month to go until midterm elections, the pop superstar is getting involved in a big way. Swift stunned the pop culture and political worlds Sunday night with a lengthy, impassioned Instagram post in which she endorsed Democrats Phil Bredesen and Rep. Jim Cooper …

The Guardian reports: The French singer Charles Aznavour – often hailed as his country’s Frank Sinatra – has died at the age of 94. Aznavour, who was born Shahnour Varinag Aznavourian in Paris to Armenian parents, sold more than 100 million records in 80 countries and had about 1,400 songs to his name, including 1,300 he wrote himself. He was …

Yahoo News reports: Kanye West has been having a very Kanye West 24 hours. He performed as a giant Perrier bottle on Saturday Night Live, then was cut off at the end of the show during an impromptu pro-Trump speech to awkward silence and a scattered mixture of boos and applause. Which President Trump praised on Twitter. Head spinning yet? …

The Guardian reports: Willie Nelson took to the stage in Austin on Saturday night wearing a “Beto for Texas” cap over his trademark braided hair. It didn’t last long – within minutes he had flung the hat into the crowd and replaced it with his trusted red bandana. That Nelson was there in the heart of the capital to lend …

The Associated Press reports: When Barbra Streisand started writing lyrics for her new political song, “Don’t Lie to Me,” she initially aimed for “very subtle” references to President Donald Trump. But she couldn’t help herself. “I just went ballistic,” she said. “Don’t Lie to Me,” released Thursday, finds a passionate Streisand questioning the nation’s leader and pleading for change. Lyrics …

Roll Call reports: Willie Nelson may be getting up there in years, but there’s always time for firsts. And for the first time ever, the 85-year-old country music star will take the stage to perform on behalf of a political candidate. Nelson is the headline act for a rally in Austin, Texas, on Sept. 29 for Rep. Beto O’Rourke, the …

“I’m sorry I even have to say this, I don’t want to even have to ask this, but please don’t pickax my star, okay guys? I know it’s all the rage these days, but that’s not cool, just please don’t do that. Unless, at some point in the future, I do something unfathomably monstrous and evil, in which case, sure, …

Billboard Magazine reports: La Roux has taken Fox Business to task for using the song “Bulletproof” in a back-to-school segment promoting bulletproof school gear. A broadcast of Mornings With Maria on Monday showed a segment on back-to-school gear lined with hard ballistic plates. The segment used a clip of La Roux’s 2009 single “Bulletproof” as the lead-in track, keeping only …

Variety reports: Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler is demanding President Donald Trump stop using the band’s songs at rallies, like the one held at the Charleston Civic Center in West Virginia on Tuesday (August 21). The band’s 1993 hit “Livin’ on the Edge” was played as Trump devotees entered the venue, which has a capacity of 13,500. Tyler has in turn …

Variety reports: A group of lawmakers introduced legislation on Tuesday to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Aretha Franklin, who died last week. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) are among the co-sponsors of the legislation in the Senate, while Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-Mich.) and Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) are co-sponsors in the House. In a statement, …

Variety reports: Logic delivered another powerful performance at the MTV Video Music Awards on Monday, using a backdrop of immigration illustrated by a U.S. Border Patrol graphic and a T-shirt that read “F— the Wall,” referencing President Donald Trump’s proposed border-crossing deterrent. The immigration-themed set featured dozens of advocates for immigrants’ rights and others displaced by Trump’s policies at the …

Deadline reports: Considering it was the MTV Video Music Awards, one would think that they would have some sort of tribute to the late, great Aretha Franklin — and they did. Madonna stepped out on the stage at the VMAs adorned in a graduation robe and what looks like everything from her jewelry box paid homage to the Queen of …

Click On Detroit reports: President Donald Trump tweeted about the passing of Aretha Franklin on Thursday. Trump, joining the chorus of reaction and tributes around social media, said, “She was a great woman, with a wonderful gift from God.” The legendary soul singer met with, performed for and was honored by many of the presidents during her long career. In …

TMZ reports: Aretha Franklin, known for having one of the greatest voices in music history, and for hits like “Respect,” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” died Thursday after a long battle with cancer, TMZ has learned. Sources close to the singer tell us Aretha passed away in her Detroit home where she was under hospice care. …

Rolling Stone reports: Aretha Franklin is reportedly “gravely ill” in Detroit, where friends and family have gathered around the Queen of Soul. Showbiz 411 first reported on Franklin’s condition Sunday night, with Detroit news anchor Evrod Cassimy – who broke news of Franklin’s impending retirement in February – confirming that Franklin’s family informed him Monday morning that Franklin is “gravely …

NBC News reports: Rapper Kanye West isn’t known for holding his tongue, but at one point in a meandering interview on TV’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” Thursday, one question brought silence. Kimmel, a near nightly critic of President Donald Trump, hammered the performer over his support for Trump, whom West once described in a tweet as “my brother.” Kimmel asked, “I …

Rolling Stone reports: Cher has debuted “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight),” the first single off her forth ABBA cover album Dancing Queen. Produced by her longtime collaborator Mark Taylor — who was behind her massive hit “Believe” — the track sees the diva meshing her penchant for Nineties-esque house with plenty of faithfulness to the original material. She …

The Huffington Post UK reports: Britney Spears has raised eyebrows with her latest tweets, which has sparked accusations of “exploiting Pride” to sell her latest perfume. Over the weekend, Britney gave her first UK live performance in two years at Brighton Pride, where her show received huge praise from fans. However, shortly after the event, a tweet was posted on …

The Herald Extra reports: As Imagine Dragons neared the end of a hot, busy summer day and upbeat onstage rock set Saturday night in Salt Lake City, a full crowd proudly displaying rainbow colors and flags cheered as frontman and LoveLoud founder Dan Reynolds announced that the 2018 festival had reached its goal of raising more than $1 million in …