The song is set for release on March 20, 2026.

The collaboration brings together two influential voices from different musical backgrounds, blending African rhythm with global soul in a song expected to appeal to audiences across cultures.

Affectionately called the ‘Dancehall King’, Shatta Wale has built a strong legacy in African dancehall, winning multiple awards and shaping the sound of a generation. His influence extends beyond Ghana through a number of international collaborations that highlight his global reach.

Over the years, he has worked with icons such as Beyoncé, Bounty Killer, Vybz Kartel, Gramps Morgan and Shenseea. These projects have positioned him as one of the key African voices bridging dancehall and the global mainstream.

John Legend stands among the most decorated artistes of his era, with 13 Grammy Awards from more than 40 nominations. His catalogue of timeless hits, worldwide acclaim and respected musicianship have secured his place among music’s elite.

‘Ain’t Nobody’ is expected to further strengthen Shatta Wale’s international presence as he continues to expand his reach beyond Africa.

Nkanu Adichie-Esege, one of the twins, died on 7 January after complications arose during preparatory medical procedures at Euracare Hospital in Lagos.

The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) investigation panel established a prima facie case of medical negligence against Euracare and Atlantis Hospital over the child’s management.

The three doctors have all been suspended from practising medicine pending the determination of their cases by a disciplinary tribunal.

Dr Munir Bature, publicity secretary for the Nigerian Medical Association, confirmed the suspensions to the BBC.

“What will ultimately happen to those affected will be determined after another panel sits on their case,” he said.

He added that they could permanently lose their licences. The doctors have not commented.

Butare encouraged Nigerians to report any perceived wrongdoing by medical personnel so the council could intervene.

The family of Adichie had accused the hospital of negligence, alleging that medics denied oxygen to her son and administered excessive sedation, which they say led to cardiac arrest.

In a statement, the hospital expressed its “deepest sympathies” over the child’s death but denied any wrongdoing.

An inquest into Nkanu’s death is due to begin on 14 April at the Yaba Magistrate’s Court in Lagos.

The coroner will hear from medical experts and hospital representatives to establish the circumstances and cause of death.

The case has sparked a wider debate about patient safety in Nigeria’s healthcare system.

Following a public outcry, Nigeria’s health ministry admitted there were “systemic challenges” and announced the creation of a national task force on “clinical governance and patient safety” to improve the quality of care.

Adichie is an award-winning writer known for novels including Half of a Yellow Sun and Americanah.

Her 2013 essay We Should All Be Feminists was sampled by Beyoncé on her track Flawless, while the author was named among Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people in 2015.

She explores themes around gender and immigration in her works, establishing her as a leading voice in postcolonial feminist literature.

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It follows a glittering few years for the 36-year-old pop superstar, who broke her own sales record with her latest album, The Life of a Showgirl, in October.

She is among nine songwriters within the 2026 class, which also includes Canadian-American singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette and Walter Afanasieff, known for his work with Mariah Carey.

The singer will be welcomed into the prestigious club during a private ceremony in New York later this year.

‘Everything originates from the song and its creator’

Founded in 1969, the Songwriters Hall of Fame honours those “whose work represents a spectrum of the most beloved songs from the world’s popular music songbook”.

It selects a small group of artists on an annual basis, and fewer than 500 people have been invited in over the last fifty years.

Announcing this year’s inductees, chairman and Chic frontman Nile Rodgers said this year’s line-up “not only showcases iconic songs but also celebrates unity across various genres”.

“These songwriters have profoundly impacted the lives of billions of listeners worldwide, and it is our privilege to honour their contributions,” he added.

Also among the 2026 class is Christopher “Tricky” Stewart, who was behind Beyonce’s Single Ladies and Break My Soul, and Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons of rock band Kiss.

Footloose singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins, Terry Britten, and Graham Lyle, who wrote Tina Turner’s What’s Love Got To Do With It, have also been inducted.

Taylor is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, reaching stardom with her 12 studio albums and four re-recorded “Taylor’s Versions” albums.

Last year, it was announced she had bought back the rights to her first six albums, ending a long-running and highly publicised battle over the ownership of her music.

While her latest album secured the UK’s biggest opening week of 2025, after selling 304,000 copies in just three days.

She has been decorated with a host of awards over the years, including becoming the first performer to win the Album of the Year Grammy four times.

An official family statement said that 21-month-old boy Nkanu Nnamdi, who the novelist had with her husband Dr Ivara Esege, died on Wednesday after a brief illness.

Issued on behalf of the family by Omawumi Ogbe, the statement said they were “devastated by this profound loss”, and thanked well-wishers while also asking for privacy and prayers.

Award-winning US-based writer Adichie is known for works including Half of a Yellow Sun, Americanah and her 2012 Ted Talk and essay We Should All Be Feminists, which was sampled by Beyoncé on her 2013 song Flawless.

A key figure in postcolonial feminist literature, her work explores themes around gender and immigration.

In 2015, she was listed as one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people.

Adichie, 48, had her first child, a daughter, in 2016. In 2024, her twin boys were born using a surrogate.

In 2020, her 2006 novel Half of a Yellow Sun was voted the best book to have won the Women’s Prize for Fiction in its 25-year history.

Speaking to the BBC last year around the release of her novel Dream Count, she stressed how she wanted her books to be read in Africa.

She also explained how the writer’s block she had experienced while pregnant with her first child was “terrifying”.

“It’s a really frightening place to be, because writing is the thing that gives me meaning,” the acclaimed author told Emma Barnett.

In 2022, in a BBC lecture on freedom of speech, the writer said young people were growing up “afraid to ask questions for fear of asking the wrong questions”.

Such a climate could lead to “the death of curiosity, the death of learning and the death of creativity”, she said during one of the BBC’s annual Reith lectures.

“No human endeavour requires freedom as much as creativity does,” she added.

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Speaking on Joy FM‘s Showbiz A-Z, platform, Austine questioned why Nigerian artiste Burna Boy, who was once featured on Shatta Wale’s song Hosanna, has since surpassed Ghanaian acts on the international stage.

“How did Burna Boy who was featured on Hosanna by Shatta Wale just have that quantum jump over us? I think we revere in petty competition among ourselves when the competition is against the world out there. Because I ask myself when they did Hosanna, Shatta Wale was three times bigger than Burna Boy; Shatta Wale has been doing well since that time. He’s gone up, he has been featured by Beyoncé. But now Burna Boy across the world is like ten times bigger than Shatta Wale,” Austine told host Kwame Dadzie.

He pointed to Burna Boy’s performance at the UEFA Champions League final as an example of how Ghana is lagging behind its Nigerian counterparts in international exposure.

Austine also lamented how some Ghanaian music fans and industry players celebrate small achievements, such as artistes filling modest venues abroad, rather than aiming for global-scale success.

“I think that there is a huge market we can harness out there but what we keep doing is always competitiveness which is negative. If competitiveness is positive it helps the industry to grow but for ours somebody will take pictures of one hour into the show and post that people didn’t go to the show,” he said.

He urged Ghanaian musicians to unite for a major event outside the country that truly represents Ghana on the global stage.

“I envisage a point in time where Sarkodie, Black Sherif, Stonebwoy, Shatta Wale, Kuami Eugene, Samini, Diana Hamilton will be billed for a Ghanaian Independence Day or Nkrumah Memorial Day staged in, say, the UK where there is a huge African population. We do proper groundwork and hit a ten-thousand-capacity auditorium; it will be a stepping stone for us,” he added.

Austine concluded that he has chosen to stay away from discussions about petty industry issues to focus on more meaningful conversations about growth and global relevance.

Source: Kwame Dadzie  

Although the free concert was scheduled to begin at 4:00 pm, fans started arriving as early as midday. By sunset, the entire venue and the adjoining streets were jam-packed with supporters, many clad in white to celebrate the self-acclaimed Dancehall King.

Shatta Wale, whose birthday fell on 17th October, said the concert was his way of showing appreciation to fans who have stood by him over the years.

The event featured a lineup of performers, including Sarkodie, Samini, Wendy Shay, Medikal, Kelvynboy, Amerado, DarkoVibes, Tinny, JZyNo, Kwame Yogot and DopeNation, among a blizzard of other top music stars. Each act thrilled the crowd with energetic performances that kept the atmosphere electric throughout the night.

In one of the night’s highlights, Shatta Wale honoured rapper Tinny with a citation and an emotional tribute for supporting him during his early days in music. He also played peacemaker between Nigerian influencers Peller and Big Jiggy, calling them on stage to reconcile and shake hands.

The concert ended around 7:05 am on Sunday. 

Shatta Fest 2025 was powered by MoMo Fest (Mobile Money Ghana Limited), with support from Shaxi and Charterhouse.

A lot of rave reviews from music fans, critics and creative industry aficionados have started pouring in, hailing Shatta Wale for his star power and influence. 

Born Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jr., Shatta Wale is one of Ghana’s most influential reggae-dancehall artistes. He has produced several hit songs, including Dancehall King, My Level and Taking Over. His collaboration with Beyoncé on Already helped cement his international reputation as one of Ghana’s biggest music exports.

Over the years, he has won numerous local and international awards and has built one of the most passionate fan bases in African music.

Meanwhile, Shatta Wale has submitted his latest single Street Crown to the Recording Academy for consideration in next year’s Grammy Awards, expressing optimism about earning a nomination.

Photo credit: Manuel Photography

Source: Kwame Dadzie  

Gaga collected four awards on the night, including artist of the year, fending off competition from Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Bad Bunny and Kendrick Lamar, who were all absent from this year’s slightly muted event.

She dedicated the award to her fiancé, Michael Polansky, as well her her fans, aka the “Little Monsters”.

Grande and Carpenter picked up three awards each. The former won the night’s big award for best video for Brighter Days Ahead, while the latter’s haul included the new gong for best pop artist.

The ceremony was hosted by a largely off-screen LL Cool J, who handed out only seven awards during the telecast.

Here are five of the stand-out moments and talking points from the three-hour Long Island show, which honoured the best in the music video medium over the past 12 months.

1. VMAs go Gaga… then Gaga goes gigging

Gaga went into the show as the most nominated artist of the evening with 12 nods, and she took home four “moon person” trophies, taking her career total to 22.

This puts her in third place on the all-time ranking list, ahead of Madonna and behind only Swift and Beyoncé, who have 30 each.

When collecting the award for artist of the year, she said, “I cannot begin to tell you what this means to me.

“Being an artist is an attempt to connect the souls of people all over the world.”

She left the arena after collecting the award, but the MTV cameras later followed her across the city to her live concert at Madison Square Garden, where she performed Abracadabra and The Dead Dance.

Tim Burton directed the gothic music video to the latter song, which also appeared on the soundtrack to the new Netflix Addams Family show, Wednesday, in which Gaga also makes a guest appearance.

She also won awards for best direction and art direction for Abracadabra, as well as best collaboration for her song Die With A Smile alongside Bruno Mars.

Another Mars collaboration, his song APT with Rosé, won song of the year, while the South Korean singer’s outfit Blackpink were named best group.

“This is a really big moment for 16-year-old me and anyone else who has dreamed about being accepted equally for their hard work,” said an emotional Rosé during a lengthy speech.

2. Sabrina stands (and dances) with LGBT community

Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet was crowned album of the year, while she was also named as the inaugural best pop artist and took home the visual effects award for Manchild.

She delivered a retro-themed performance of Tears alongside a collection of drag queens and trans dancers holding signs reading slogans including “in trans we trust” and “protect the dolls”.

Grande grabbed the video of the year, long-form video and best pop video awards for Brighter Days Ahead, thanking her own dad for his cameo.

She explained in her acceptance speech that her recent work had found her focusing daily on “healing all different kinds of trauma.”

“If you’re on that journey, please continue onward, because I promise there are brighter days ahead,” she told fans with a spiffing segue.

Another US singer, Megan Moroney, became the first-ever winner in the best country category for her single, Am I Okay?

3. Mariah: Maximum respect (for minimum effort?)

Mariah Carey, meanwhile, won a lifetime achievement award on a night that largely celebrated female artists.

The diva scored a first victory in the R&B section for Type Dangerous before being given the special Video Vanguard award.

“This is amazing, MTV, I don’t know why it took you so long!” she joked in a video message ahead of performing later in the show.

The Fantasy singer then sang a medley of her hits, with one fan noting online: “I love Mariah Carey’s voice, but she’s got less energy than me on a Sunday night.”

Another fan commented that even while she was “doing the bare minimum” Mariah was “still [being] iconic”.

In a speech, the singer offered that music videos “are my way of life.”

She continued: “Let’s be honest, sometimes they’re just an excuse to bring the drama and do things I wouldn’t do in real life. Music evolves, but fun? That is eternal.”

Doechii did the double, winning the hip-hop award and best choreography for Anxiety, as did Tate McRae for best editing and song of the summer for Just Keep Watching, taken from the F1 movie.

Shakira took the Latin prize for her song Soltera while South African star Tyla won the award for best Afrobeats.

4. Ricky rolls back the years

There were live performances on the night from the likes of McRae, Doja Cat and J Balvin, as well as best new artist Alex Warren and multinational girl group Katseye, who won performance of the year for Push.

But Latin icon winner Ricky Martin showed he can still live La Vida Loca with the best of them, performing a medley of his hits.

Accepting his award from Jessica Simpson, Martin said: “We just want to break boundaries, and we just want to keep music alive.”

He credited his fans with his 40-year career: “This is very simple: this is for you all,” he said. “I am addicted to your applause, that’s why I keep coming back.”

Fellow 53-year-old rapper Busta Rhymes also hit the stage to perform tracks including Break Ya Neck and Gimme Some More on a night when he received the Rock The Bells Visionary prize.

Elsewhere on the night, Post Malone was shown performing from Germany alongside Jelly Roll.

5. Ozzy remembered

Last but not least, the night also remembered former Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne, who died in July, with a performance introduced via video message from his son Jack and his children.

Bare-chested British star Yungblud joined the likes of Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry to perform tracks from Osbourne’s career including Crazy Train, Changes and Mama, I’m Coming Home.

Fellow hellraisers Coldplay collected the rock category for All My Love while Sombr scored the alternative award for Back To Friends.

Check out the full list of winners here.

Source: BBC

An Unprecedented Chart Domination
Just days following his death, Daddy Lumba’s songs have saturated the Apple Music Ghana Top Songs chart. “Makra Mo” notably commands the highly coveted No. 1 spot, a poignant symbol of the renewed emotional connection Ghanaians feel to his music.

This isn’t just a peak; it’s a profound, organic response. Other classic hits, including “Ankwanoma” at No. 5, “Sika” at No. 6, “Se Sumye Kasa A” at No. 13, “Mpempem Do Me” at No. 15, “Mensei Da Harry (Remix)” at No. 17, and “Biribi Gyegye Wo” at No. 18, demonstrate a widespread embrace of his extensive catalogue.

In total, a staggering 30 of his songs now occupy positions within the Top 100, an unprecedented feat for any Ghanaian artiste on an African Apple Music chart. This overwhelming presence on the charts highlights the immediate and deeply felt public response to his demise, showing how his melodies continue to provide comfort and a collective memory.

The Power of Posthumous Popularity
The powerful dynamic of an artiste’s death leading to increased music sales is recognised globally, from the likes of Michael Jackson to Whitney Houston. However, Daddy Lumba’s case in Ghana presents a particularly compelling and unique example of cultural resonance. The sheer volume of songs re-entering and dominating the charts signifies more than just casual listening; it suggests a deliberate act of remembrance, a national tribute from a grieving nation and its diaspora.

Fans are not just listening; they are revisiting his work, finding solace and connection in his timeless melodies and poignant lyrics that often spoke directly to the Ghanaian experience, from the struggles of “Yee Ye Aka Akwantuom” reflecting immigrant life to the timeless advice in “Sika.”

This outpouring of support demonstrates the enduring power of music to unite people across continents in times of shared sorrow. His legacy extends beyond simple entertainment, evolving into a cherished cultural heritage that bridges geographical divides for Ghanaians living abroad.

Further solidifying his global appeal, his 2008 song “Mpempem Do Me” was notably featured on King Charles III’s Commonwealth Day Playlist in March 2025.

This placed him on a curated list alongside international titans like Beyoncé and Bob Marley, powerfully demonstrating his profound artistry that transcended national borders. Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama eloquently stated, “Lumba’s unmatched musical genius provided the soundtrack to our lives,” adding that while “the beats to his memorable songs may have died down, his enduring legacy will echo through the ages.”

A Cultural Icon’s Lasting Imprint
Daddy Lumba was more than a musician; he was a foundational cultural institution in Ghana. His music often reflected societal nuances, exploring themes of love, heartbreak, and everyday life, making him relatable across generations. This current chart domination is a powerful affirmation of that deep-seated connection. It solidifies his status as arguably Ghana’s most influential musician.

A Nation’s Vigil: August 2nd and Beyond

The national sentiment extends beyond streaming numbers. The Creative Arts Agency (CAA), in collaboration with his family, has announced a National Candlelight Vigil in his honor set for Saturday, August 2, 2025, at Independence Square in Accra, from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM. This event is part of a wider global tribute, with simultaneous vigils planned in key diaspora cities across Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Netherlands. This coordinated international effort underscores the profound impact Daddy Lumba had on the Ghanaian identity worldwide. As the CAA stated, “Your presence will not only honor the legacy of an icon but also unite us in celebrating the power of music, culture, and community.”

This emotional resonance is now translating into tangible data on streaming platforms. It proves that authentic artistry fosters lasting emotional bonds, which manifest with striking intensity during moments of loss.

This emotional resonance is now translating into tangible data on streaming platforms and organized national and international tributes. It proves that authentic artistry cultivates lasting emotional bonds, which manifest with striking intensity during moments of loss.

The widespread resurgence in his music consumption undeniably highlights the indelible mark he left on the Ghanaian music landscape and on the hearts of its people.

His passing, as former President Nana Akufo-Addo noted, saw even political rivals “find common ground in sorrow,” a true testament to his unifying power. The collective embrace of Daddy Lumba’s music in this period of national mourning is a powerful reminder that some legacies are not diminished by death, but rather illuminated, continuing to inspire and unite.

Source: Nana Karikari, Senior International Affairs and Political Analyst

Hard drives containing the unreleased songs, show plans, and past and future set lists for her tour were among the items stolen from a rental car used by the singer’s choreographer and one of her dancers, according to a police report.

The theft occurred on 8 July, two days before Beyoncé’s first Atlanta performance.

Atlanta police say an arrest warrant has been issued, but the suspect’s name has not been made public.

Choreographer Christopher Grant and dancer Diandre Blue told police they had parked the rented Black Jeep Wagoneer and gone inside a nearby food hall. When they returned, the vehicle’s rear window had been smashed and two suitcases were missing, a police incident report states.

They told police they were “carrying some personal sensitive information for the musician Beyoncé” in the vehicle that was also stolen.

That included “five jump drives containing watermarked music, unreleased music, footage plans for shows past and future, and set list”, the report states.

Other items reported stolen included a laptop, designer clothes and Apple AirPods. Authorities used tracking information on the laptop and headphones to track where the items may have gone, the police report notes.

Authorities also dusted the vehicle for any fingerprints and discovered “two very light prints”.

It is unclear whether the stolen items have been recovered.

The BBC has contacted a representative for Beyoncé for comment.

Beyoncé is currently on tour in Atlanta as part of her Cowboy Carter stadium tour. She has been performing in the city since 10 July, and her last show was set for Monday night.

Her husband, the rapper Jay Z, made a surprise appearance on the third night of her show in the city.

Choreographer Mr Grant has worked with other major musicians, including Shakira. Dancer Mr Blue appeared alongside Beyoncé in a 2024 Super Bowl advert, during which she released two singles from her Cowboy Carter album, released later that year.

Source: BBC

Despite her young age, Princess Duncan is gaining prominence across Africa, serving as Deputy Chief Executive of COA Research and Manufacturing Limited Company and advocating for peace across borders.

The prestigious honour was conferred during the 2025 Africa’s Under 40 CEOs Awards and Summit held on Saturday, June 28, in Johannesburg, South Africa.

In addition to receiving the honorary doctorate, she was recognised as the Icon of African Economic Advancement 2025—a distinction that further cements her influence on the continent’s leadership landscape.

Her new title, “Doctor,” adds to an already impressive profile, making her one of the youngest female CEOs in Ghana to receive such international acclaim.

The honour is viewed as a continuation of a legacy deeply rooted in service, leadership, and vision.

Princess Duncan is the daughter of renowned Ghanaian scientist and philanthropist, Professor Samuel Ato Duncan—the Executive President of COA Research and Manufacturing Company and the Nkosuohemaa of Frante Sekyeredumasi in the Ashanti Region.

Following in her father’s footsteps, she has consistently demonstrated a commitment to peacebuilding, community health, and youth empowerment.

Speaking exclusively to Ghanaian journalist Beyoncé Diamond Kpogli after receiving the award, Princess Duncan expressed immense gratitude to the summit organisers and the awarding institution.

“I am deeply honoured by this recognition. It means the world to me,” she said. “To be acknowledged not just for what I’ve achieved, but for the values I stand for – it’s humbling.”

She noted that the award serves as motivation to continue her mission.

“This is only a stepping stone,” she added. “Greater things are coming. We are born to serve humanity, and we will continue to do so until peace reigns again.”

Dr. Princess Duncan used the platform to call for peace and unity, stressing that sustainable development cannot occur in the absence of stability.

“Without peace, we cannot grow or develop as individuals or a nation. That’s why it’s crucial to end all conflicts and embrace peace. We owe that to ourselves, to our future, and to the next generation.”

The Africa’s Under 40 CEOs Awards and Summit brought together some of the continent’s most dynamic young leaders. The event celebrated innovation, leadership, and social impact—highlighting individuals shaping Africa’s future.

Princess Duncan has long been admired for her blend of discipline, compassion, and leadership. Whether in boardrooms or community outreach, she continues to lead with vision, purpose, and integrity.

Source: Myjoyonline.com

The BET Awards 2025 proved once again why it’s called Culture’s Biggest Night. Hosted by the one-and-only Kevin Hart, the show brought together the brightest stars across music, film, TV, and sports to celebrate the talent shaping the culture and pushing it forward. From iconic moments to major milestones, the night belonged to both legends and new-school favorites.

FULL LIST OF WINNERS – BET AWARDS 2025

His message has resonated across Africa and beyond, with his admirers seeing him as following in the footsteps of African heroes like Burkina Faso’s very own Thomas Sankara – a Marxist revolutionary who is sometimes referred to as “Africa’s Che Guevara”.

“Traoré’s impact is huge. I have even heard politicians and authors in countries like Kenya [in East Africa] say: ‘This is it. He is the man’,” Beverly Ochieng, a senior researcher at global consultancy firm Control Risks, told the BBC.

“His messages reflect the age we are living in, when many Africans are questioning the relationship with the West, and why there is still so much poverty in such a resource-rich continent,” she said.

After seizing power in a coup in 2022, Traoré’s regime ditched former colonial power France in favour of a strong alliance with Russia, that has included the deployment of a Russian paramilitary brigade, and adopted left-wing economic policies.

This included setting up a state-owned mining company, requiring foreign firms to give it a 15% stake in their local operations and to transfer skills to Burkinabé people.

The rule also applied to Russian miner Nordgold, which was given a licence in late April for its latest investment in Burkina Faso’s gold industry.

As part of what Traoré calls a “revolution” to ensure Burkina Faso benefits from its mineral wealth, the junta is also building a gold refinery and establishing national gold reserves for the first time in the nation’s history.

However, Western-owned firms appear to be facing a tough time, with Australia-headquartered Sarama Resources launching arbitration proceedings against Burkina Faso in late 2024 following the withdrawal of an exploration licence.

The junta has also nationalised two gold mines previously owned by a London-listed firm, and said last month that it planned to take control of more foreign-owned mines.

Enoch Randy Aikins, a researcher at South Africa’s Institute for Security Studies, told the BBC that Traoré’s radical reforms had increased his popularity in Africa.

“He is now arguably Africa’s most popular, if not favourite, president,” Mr Aikins said.

His popularity has been fuelled through social media, including many misleading posts intended to bolster his revolutionary image.

AI-generated videos of music stars like R Kelly, Rihanna, Justin Bieber and Beyoncé are seen immortalising him through song – though they have done nothing of the sort.

Ms Ochieng said that Traoré first caught the attention of Africans when he spoke at the Russia-Africa summit in 2023, telling African leaders to “stop behaving like puppets who dance every time the imperialists pull the strings”.

This speech was heavily publicised by Russian media, which has become a major player in promoting Traoré’s pan-Africanist image.

Thanks to his rhetoric and pushed by a slick social media campaign, his appeal has spread around the world, including among African-Americans and Black Britons, Ms Ochieng noted.

“Everyone who has experienced racism, colonialism and slavery can relate to his messages,” Ms Ochieng said, pointing out that African-American rapper Meek Mill had posted about him on X late last year, saying how much he liked his “energy and heart” – though he was ridiculed for mixing up names by referring to Traoré as Burkina Faso and later deleted the post.

But France’s president is not a fan, describing Traoré as part of a “baroque alliance between self-proclaimed pan-Africans and neo-imperialists”.

Emmanuel Macron was also referring to Russia and China, whom he accused, in a 2023 speech, of provoking coups in Africa’s former French colonies, and hypocritically stirring up old arguments over sovereignty and colonial exploitation.

Traoré’s popularity comes even though he has failed to fulfil his pledge to quell a 10-year Islamist insurgency that has fuelled ethnic divisions and has now spread to once-peaceful neighbours like Benin.

His junta has also cracked down on dissent, including the opposition, media and civil society groups and punished critics, among them medics and magistrates, by sending them to the front-lines of the war against the jihadists.

For Rinaldo Depagne, the Africa deputy director of the International Crisis Group think-tank, Traoré commands such support because “he is young in a country with a young population” – the median age is 17.7 years.

“He is media-savvy, and uses the past to build his popularity as a reincarnation of Sankara,” he told the BBC.

“And he knows the art of politics – how to make a nation completely traumatised by war feel there is a better future. He is really good at that game.”

Sankara rose to power in a coup in 1983 at the age of 33, rallied the nation under the motto “Fatherland or death, we will win!”, and was killed four years later in another coup that put Burkina Faso back in France’s political orbit until Traoré’s seizure of power.

Ghanaian security analyst Prof Kwesi Aning, who previously worked at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, said the popularity of the military leader reflected a political shift taking place on the continent, especially in West Africa.

A 2024 survey in 39 countries by Afrobarometer showed a drop in support for democracy, although it remained the most popular form of government.

“Democracy has failed to give hope to the youth. It has not delivered jobs or better education and health,” Prof Aning told the BBC.

He said Traoré was “offering an alternative, and re-capturing the spirit of two historic epochs”:

• The post-independence era, when there were leaders like Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah and Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia
• And a later era with Sankara and Ghana’s Jerry Rawlings, whose coup in 1979 “was also very popular at the time”.

It was Traoré who stole the show at the inauguration of Ghana’s President John Mahama in January, when he arrived wearing battle fatigues with a pistol in his holster.

“There were already 21 heads of state there, but when Traoré walked in, the place lit up. Even my president’s bodyguards were running after him,” Prof Aning said.

Traoré offered a sharply contrasting image to some of the continent’s other leaders, who struggled to walk but clung to power by rigging elections, he said.

“Traoré is stylish and confident, with a very open face and a small smile. He is also a powerful orator, and presents himself as a man of the people.”

In a sign that his Russian-allied junta has made some progress on the economic front, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank have given a generally upbeat assessment.

In a statement in early April, the IMF said that despite a “challenging humanitarian and security” environment, the economy was expected to remain “robust” in 2025, and the regime had made “commendable progress” in raising domestic revenue, containing the public wage bill, and increasing spending on education, health and social protection.

As for the World Bank, it said that inflation had surged from 0.7% in 2023 to 4.2% in 2024, but the extreme poverty rate, which refers to people living on less than $2.15 [£1.61] a day, had fallen by almost two percentage points to 24.9% because of “robust growth” in the agriculture and services sectors.

Despite these reports from US-based financial institutions, relations with both France and America have been frosty.

A recent example being the claim by the head of the US Africa Command, Gen Michael Langley, that Traoré was using Burkina Faso’s gold reserves for his junta’s protection rather than the nation’s benefit.

This appeared to be a reference to the long-standing view of the US, and some of its African allies, that Russian forces were propping up Traoré in exchange for a stake in Burkina Faso’s gold industry – undermining the military ruler’s image as a leader who expelled French troops in 2023 to reclaim the country’s sovereignty.

Gen Langley’s comments, made in early April during a US Senate committee hearing, triggered an uproar among the captain’s supporters, who felt their hero was being smeared.

This was further inflamed when shortly afterwards, the Burkinabé junta said it had foiled a coup plot, alleging the plotters were based in neighbouring Ivory Coast – where Gen Langley then made a visit.

Ivory Coast denied being involved in any plot, while the US Africa Command said Gen Langley’s visit had focused on addressing “common security challenges” – including “violent extremism”.

But the junta took the opportunity to organise one of its biggest rallies in Burkina Faso’s capital over fears that “imperialists” and their “lackeys” were trying to depose the captain.

“Because Colin Powell lied, Iraq was destroyed. Barack Obama lied, Gaddafi was killed. But this time, their lies won’t affect us,” one protester, musician Ocibi Johann, told the Associated Press news agency.

Rallies in solidarity with Traoré were also held abroad, including in London, on the same day.

He took to social media afterwards, posting in French and English, to express his gratitude to them for sharing his vision “for a new Burkina Faso and a new Africa”, adding: “Together, in solidarity, we will defeat imperialism and neo-colonialism for a free, dignified and sovereign Africa.”

It is impossible to say how things will end for the young captain, but he – along with military leaders in Mali and Niger – have certainly shaken up West Africa, and other states have followed their example by ordering French forces to leave.

The three military-ruled neighbours have also pulled out of the regional trade and security grouping Ecowas, formed their own alliance, and have ended free trade in the region by announcing the imposition of a 0.5% tariff on goods coming into their countries.

Mr Aikins said Traoré could learn from others, pointing out that when Rawlings took power in Ghana at the age of 32, he was known as “Junior Jesus” but after 19 years he left a mixed legacy – he had been unable to stem corruption despite helping to create an “enduring” democracy.

For a “lasting legacy”, Mr Aikins said, Traoré should focus on achieving peace and building strong state institutions to bring about good governance rather than “personalising” power and cracking down on dissent.

ALSO READ:

• Tensions mount in Burkina Faso after coup attempt

• Burkina Faso junta leader denies reports of army mutiny

Speaking to Doreen Avio on Hitz FM’s Daybreak Hitz, the singer—who recently released her new album Did I Lie?—shared a list of artistes she hopes to collaborate with.

“I want to perform with Beyoncé, with Chris Brown, with Burna Boy, with Tems, with Ayra… who else? They are plenty,” she said.

She added that if Michael Jackson were alive, she would have loved to share a stage with him as well.

Cina Soul also revealed that she has an unreleased song with Efya, which she plans to drop soon.

“I want to release the song with Efya. We have a song together. But, you know, I didn’t want to put it on the album because, yeah, I wanted to give it special attention,” she said.

Her dream collaborations highlight her admiration for music legends and her desire to work with talented artistes from around the world.

Cina Soul made the revelation on Daybreak Hitz on Hitz FM on Friday, March 21, 2025, during an interview with Doreen Avio.

“I want to release the song with Efya. We have a song together. But you know, I didn’t want to put it on the album because I wanted to give it special attention,” she said.

Her collaboration with Efya has sparked excitement among music lovers, who have long admired both songstresses.

This follows Cina Soul’s open admiration for Efya, who has won the Female Vocal Performance category at the Ghana Music Awards multiple times. In 2019, when asked if her presence in the music industry posed a threat to Efya, Cina Soul paid tribute to her influence.

“I grew up listening to Efya and mimicking some of the things she did, so if you tell me that I sound like her or compare me to her, you’re blessing me because it’s such a privilege to be compared to Efya,” she said.

Beyond her collaboration with Efya, Cina Soul also has aspirations to work with some of the world’s biggest musicians.

“I want to perform with Beyoncé, with Chris Brown, with Burna Boy, with Tems, with Ayra Starr… who else? They are plenty,” she added.

Cina Soul recently released her latest album, Did I Lie?

The playlist, curated in collaboration with Apple Music, highlights songs that bring the British monarch joy and make it “incredibly hard to sit still.”

Daddy Lumba’s 2008 hit sits at number seven on the 17-track selection, alongside songs from global icons such as Beyoncé, Diana Ross, Bob Marley, Grace Jones, and Davido.

The King’s inclusion of Mpempem Do Me reflects his appreciation for diverse musical cultures and aims to resonate with people across the Commonwealth.

Uploaded to Daddy Lumba’s official YouTube page four years ago, the song has already garnered over 1.4 million views, underscoring its lasting appeal. Through its lyrics, he acknowledges both admirers and critics but remains focused on the love and appreciation he receives.

As a pioneer of Highlife music, Daddy Lumba is widely regarded as one of Ghana’s greatest musicians, boasting an impressive catalog of about 34 albums.

His music career began at the age of 16 in a church choir before forming the Lumba Brothers band and later embarking on a highly successful solo journey.

This recognition from King Charles III further cements Daddy Lumba’s influence beyond Ghana, highlighting the global impact of his music.

Listen to song below:

His defamation action claims she “voluntarily admitted” being pressured into making false claims in what it describes as an “evil conspiracy” to extort money and damage his reputation.

The anonymous woman filed her legal action in October and refiled it in December, accusing Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, and Sean “Diddy” Combs of raping her aged 13, after the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards.

Both rappers denied the allegations.

Jay-Z’s defamation action, filed at a federal court in Alabama, also accuses the woman’s lawyer, Tony Buzbee, and his co-counsel, David Fortney, of orchestrating her lawsuit.

Mr Buzbee has garnered headlines internationally over the dozens of legal actions he has filed on behalf of people accusing Mr Combs of sexual misconduct, extortion, assault and other transgressions.

Mr Combs has denied all the allegations.

He is also facing federal sex-trafficking and racketeering charges, to which he has pleaded not guilty.

Jay-Z’s defamation action says the woman told his legal team her lawyers had made her make the false allegations.

“Buzbee brought Jay-Z into it,” it says she said.

And despite her admitting Jay-Z “did not sexually assault [her],” Mr Buzbee “pushed [her] towards going forward” with the false story to strengthen the case and extort more money, the defamation suit claims.

Jay-Z’s action also notes alleged discrepancies in the woman’s interview with NBC News last year, including naming another celebrity guest at the MTV party, who had, in reality, been performing in a city thousands of miles away on the night.

Her father also contradicted her claim he had picked her up after the alleged assault, it claims.

Jay-Z’s defamation action says Mr Buzbee’s firm failed to vet the claims and the woman, who they say has a history of mental health issues and an assault charge.

‘Emotional toll’

Mr Buzbee has denied any wrongdoing and claims Jay-Z’s team tried to intimidate the woman into retracting her statements.

In a statement obtained by BBC News, Mr Buzbee said Jay-Z’s defamation action had “no legal merit”.

“Shawn Carter’s investigators have repeatedly harassed, threatened and harangued this poor woman for weeks, trying to intimidate her and make her recant her story,” Mr Buzbee said.

“She won’t – instead, she has stated repeatedly she stands by her claims.”

Jay- Z, who is married to Beyoncé, says the accusations have led to personal and professional harm, including the loss of business contracts worth about $20m (£15.8m) a year for his company, Roc Nation, and taken an emotional toll on his family, particularly his children.

ALSO READ:

• Jay-Z accused of sexually assaulting 13-year-old in 2000 incident along with ‘Diddy’
• Jay-Z releases statement amid allegations of rape with Diddy

“My mommy is gone,” Diamond wrote in a Facebook post.

Stone was fatally injured when a van she was traveling in overturned early Saturday after a performance, according to media reports.

The artist, known for hits like No More Rain (In This Cloud) and Wish I Didn’t Miss You, received three Grammy nominations over her career. She began her musical journey in the 1970s as a member of the female hip-hop trio The Sequence, best known for their song Funk You Up, which peaked at 15 on Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart.

Her daughter, who is also a musician and goes by the name Ladi Diamond, expressed her grief on social media, saying she felt “numb.” Hours earlier, she had asked for prayers for her family while traveling.

A spokesperson for Stone told the BBC that her family had traveled to Montgomery, Alabama, and planned to release more information soon.

Guy Todd Williams, also known as Rahiem from Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, revealed that about nine other passengers were in the van with Stone at the time of the crash.

“She left her indelible mark on the music industry, initially as a member of the legendary rap group Sequence,” Williams said.

He confirmed that Stone was the sole fatality in the accident.

The BBC has reached out to Montgomery police for further details.

Beyond her music career, Stone also found success in film. She made her movie debut in The Hot Chick (2002), starring Rob Schneider, Rachel McAdams, and Anna Faris. She later appeared in The Fighting Temptations (2003) alongside Cuba Gooding Jr. and Beyoncé.

The talented artist also secured the Best International Music Act award, further cementing her global influence.

The awards ceremony, held in Newcastle, saw Ayra Starr triumph over fellow Nigerian stars Asake and Tems, as well as South African sensation Tyla, to claim the Best African Music Act title.

In the Best International Act category, she beat an impressive lineup of global heavyweights, including Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, Kendrick Lamar, Megan Thee Stallion, Tems, and Latto.

A visibly emotional Ayra Starr took the stage to receive her award, expressing gratitude to her fans, team, and record label. She described the moment as surreal, admitting that she was shaking with excitement.

It was her first appearance at the MOBO Awards and her first-ever set of awards.

Global star, unstoppable force! 🌍✨ @ayrastarr took home Best African Music Act at the #MOBOAwards – repping African Music at the highest level! 🔥🏆 pic.twitter.com/cm5wzUPpyh

— MOBO Awards (@MOBOAwards) February 19, 2025

The official MOBO Awards X (Twitter) account celebrated her achievement, calling her a global star and an unstoppable force representing African music on the world stage.

Hosted by Indiyah Polack and Eddie Kadi, the event honored the best of Black music and culture across various genres, including hip-hop, R&B, soul, reggae, jazz, gospel, and Afrobeats.

Founded in 1996 by Kanya King, the MOBO Awards remain one of the most prestigious platforms recognizing excellence in Black-origin music. Ayra Starr’s historic win marks a significant moment for female artists in the African music industry.

A special moment for @ayrastarr as she come off stage after winning Best African Music Act #MOBOAwards pic.twitter.com/73w8kBZsmc

— MOBO Awards (@MOBOAwards) February 18, 2025

]]> https://www.adomonline.com/the-nfl-super-bowl-2025-kansas-city-chiefs-v-philadelphia-eagles-preview/ Fri, 07 Feb 2025 06:00:07 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2501791 ESPN, the undisputed home of America’s premiere sporting leagues, is the exclusive broadcaster in Africa of one of the greatest sporting events on the calendar: The NFL Super Bowl.

This year, viewers across the continent will be able to tune in live on both ESPN and ESPN2 (DStv Channel 219) on Sunday, 10 February from 11:00pm.

The much-anticipated showdown will see the defending champions Kansas City Chiefs face the Philadelphia Eagles in the 59th Super Bowl, #ESPNAfricaSuperBowlLVIII.

Fans can expect a game filled with grid-iron action, strategy, and unforgettable moments as the two conference champions battle for the coveted Vince Lombardi Trophy.

This year’s Super Bowl will take place in New Orleans at the Caesars Superdome, home to the New Orleans Saints, with a capacity of 83,000 spectators.

This marks the 11th time New Orleans has hosted the event.

Can the Kansas City Chiefs make history?

This epic match showcases two titanic teams who’ve both made very recent trips to the championship. In Super Bowl 59, the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs will take on the Philadelphia Eagles, their Super Bowl opponent from two years ago, in a rematch for the books.

This showdown also features some of the most celebrated stars in the league – like Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce in the Chiefs, and Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley for the Eagles – facing off on the biggest stage in the NFL.

No team has ever won three consecutive Super Bowls. Many teams have won back-to-back Super Bowls, but the Chiefs now have a chance to become the first to achieve historic three-peat success.

Who is performing at the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show?

The Super Bowl halftime show, a 12- to 15-minute musical extravaganza and one of the most coveted slots on the American music calendar, will feature multiple Grammy-winning hip hop artist Kendrick Lamar.

The 37-year-old Lamar, from Compton, the heart of the Los Angeles rap scene, has 22 Grammy wins and previously performed during the Super Bowl halftime show in 2022 alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and Mary J. Blige.

Past Super Bowl halftime performers include The Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson, Prince, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Rihanna and Beyoncé. Last season’s performance featured Grammy-winning artist Usher.

More opportunities to watch

For those who can’t catch the action live or those who would simply like to enjoy it more than once, full game repeats will air on ESPN (DStv Channel 218 / GOtv Channel 167) on Monday, 10 February and Tuesday, 11 February at midday, and on ESPN2 (DStv Channel 219) on Monday, 10 February at 6am and 3pm and catch all the action wherever you are on DStv Stream or GOtv Stream.

In addition to the full match replays, a special 55-minute highlight version will also be available, giving fans another opportunity to relive the best moments of the game.

The NFL Super Bowl is more than just a championship game. It’s a cultural phenomenon that brings together sports, music, and entertainment on an unmatched scale.

For updates on the NFL Super Bowl and from the world of American sports, fans can connect to @ESPNAfrica on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit Africa.espn.com. Fans are encouraged to use #ESPNAfricaSuperBowlLVIII for this special event.

Noah kicked off the ceremony with an opening monologue that touched on some of music’s biggest stars, including Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and Rihanna, while also making references to the new administration in Washington.

Trevor Noah took a jab at the Grammy voting process, which involves 13,000 members of the Recording Academy, jokingly suggesting that “20 million illegal immigrants” were part of the vote.

Later in the night, he made another politically charged remark, stating, “There’s been a few changes in Washington. So I’m gonna enjoy tonight because this may be the last time I get to host anything in this country.”

His comments came just days after a controversial immigration policy under Trump’s leadership resulted in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, leading to the arrest of 1,179 individuals across major U.S. cities.

Several other artistes used their speeches to show support for marginalised communities and speak out against the divide in the country.

Trump had promised the American public that “it will all be worth the price that must be paid” to bring the “Golden Age.”

While accepting the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, Alicia Keys took the opportunity to address another controversial policy from the Trump administration—the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) departments.

In her speech said, “DEI is not a threat, it’s a gift. And the more voices, the more powerful the sound. When destructive forces try to burn us down, we rise from the ashes like a phoenix.” She added,

“This is not the time to shut down the diversity of voices we’ve seen on this stage: talented, hard-working people from different backgrounds, with different points of view. And it changes the game.”

Chapell Roan, who won Best New Artist during the star-studded night sent a message to the trans communities during her red carpet interview with GLAAD.

She said, “It’s brutal right now. Trans people have always existed and they will forever exist, and they will never, no matter what happens, take trans joy away. That has to be protected more than anything because I would not be here without trans girls.”

In a direct message to transgender Americans, the singer said, “Just know that pop music is thinking about you and cares about you, and I’m doing my best to really stand up for you in every way I can,” as reported by Daily Mail.

Lady Gaga also expressed her support for her transgender fans on the stage. She said, “I just want to say tonight that trans people are not invisible. Trans people deserve love. The queer community deserves to be lifted up. Music is love.”

The 67th Grammy Awards have been held in Los Angeles, with more than 90 prizes handed out over the course of the night.

Here are the winners in all the main categories.

The ceremony, which takes place in LA on Sunday night, runs for a staggering eight hours, attracting the biggest stars in pop, rock, country and hip-hop.

Organisers will hand out 94 awards, recognising everything from best pop album to best choral performance.

Beyoncé and Taylor Swift have both confirmed their attendance, as they square off in the album of the year category for the first time since 2010 (Swift won on that occasion, fact fans).

There’ll also be performances from Charli XCX, Sabrina Carpenter, Benson Boone, Shakira, Stevie Wonder, Teddy Swims and Raye – and an in memoriam tribute to Thriller producer Quincy Jones.

Here’s everything you need to know about the ceremony.

1) Who’s going to win album of the year?

The big question of the night is whether Beyoncé will finally win Album of the Year, after four previous losses in the category.

During last year’s ceremony, her husband Jay-Z addressed the oversight, telling the audience: “I don’t want to embarrass this young lady, but she has more Grammys than everyone and never won album of the year. So even by your own metrics, that doesn’t work.”

Beyoncé’s latest record, Cowboy Carter, is a wildly ambitious attempt to contextualise and commemorate the black roots of country music. It’s the sort of thing that delights Grammy voters, who traditionally prefer albums that elevate America’s musical history over contemporary, cutting-edge productions.

But the album’s excessive length – including a few weaker tracks in its latter half – could count against it.

Billie Eilish is currently the bookmakers’ favourite with her third album Hit Me Hard and Soft. Mixing passionate power ballads with violent electronic shifts and hip-hop swagger, it marks a new evolution in the star’s songwriting partnership with her brother, Finneas.

Charli XCX’s Brat is a career-defining pop record that became a cultural phenomenon. The best-reviewed album of 2024, it’s probably too abrasive for the Grammys’ more conservative voters, but that’s their loss.

And you’d have to be crazy to ignore Taylor Swift. Her 11th album, The Tortured Poets Department, was the biggest seller of last year; a fact that will undoubtedly be taken into account, even if the record is one of her weaker efforts.

If she wins, Swift will collect her fifth Album of the Year trophy – more than any other artist in Grammy history.

2) What about the other big prizes?

One of the year’s most stacked categories is record of the year – better understood as “best single”.

Aside from a rogue nomination for The Beatles (see below), the shortlist reflects a stellar year for pop music, with Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso and Charli XCX’s 360 up against Beyoncé’s Texas Hold ‘Em and Billie Eilish’s Birds Of A Feather.

But the front-runner is Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us. A furious take-down of his rap nemesis, Drake, it’s as catchy as it is legally contentious. If it wins, it would be only the second hip-hop single to win the category, following Childish Gambino’s This Is America in 2019.

In the parallel song of the year prize – which recognises achievement in songwriting – the smart money is on Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga’s Die With A Smile.

Both artists are perennial Grammy favourites, and their virtuoso ballads will be catnip to voters.

Their competition includes Shaboozey’s A Bar Song (Tipsy), which was America’s longest-running number-one single of 2024. However, the fact that it’s based on a previous hit (J-Kwon’s Tipsy) is likely to count against it.

Chappell Roan’s breakout single Good Luck Babe is another strong contender, notable for its soaring high notes and a piercing lyric that skewers internalised homophobia. Billie Eilish’s gossamer ballad Birds of a Feather is a similar masterclass in songcraft – making this category one of the hardest to predict.

By contrast, the coveted Best New Artist prize is pretty much a two-way split between Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter, both of whom established a dominant chart presence in 2024 after years on the pop sidelines.

That’s bad news for the sole British nominee, six-time Brit Award winner Raye. But at least she’s in good company, alongside breakout rap star Doechii and big-hearted pop singer Teddy Swims.

3) Which Grammy records could be broken?

Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter has 11 nominations, potentially making it the most-rewarded album in Grammy history.

The record is currently held by Santana, who got nine trophies for his album Supernatural in 2000 (coincidentally, the same year that Beyoncé received her first Grammy nomination, as part of Destiny’s Child).

And if Cowboy Carter doesn’t take home best album, Beyoncé still breaks a record, for the most nominations in that category without a win.

Billie Eilish could become the first female artist to win Record of the Year three times with Birds of a Feather. Paul Simon and Bruno Mars are the only other artist with three wins in the category.

Rapper turned flautist André 3000 is also poised to make history. If he wins best instrumental composition, he does so with the longest song title in Grammy history: I Swear, I Really Wanted To Make A ‘Rap’ Album But This Is Literally The Way The Wind Blew Me This Time.

The current record holders, in case you were wondering, are Oklahoma band The Flaming Lips. In 2007, they won best rock instrumental performance for the magnificently-titled The Wizard Turns on the Giant Silver Flashlight and Puts On His Werewolf Moccasins.

4) Who votes for the Grammys?

More than 13,000 members of the Recording Academy vote for the Grammys every year – including musicians, producers, lyricists, and even the people who write CD liner notes.

To qualify, they must be currently working in the music industry, and pay an annual subscription of $150 (£120). All former winners are also eligible to vote.

Every member is allowed to vote in up to 10 categories across three fields, such as rock, classical and R&B. They are encouraged only to vote in genres where their expertise lies.

Additionally, every member, regardless of their background, gets to vote for the six biggest awards of the night. Those are: album of the year, record of the year, song of the year, best new artist, songwriter of the year and producer of the year.

The 2025 awards recognise music released between 16 September 2023 and 30 August 2024. The winners are not revealed until the ceremony.

5) How did The Beatles get nominated?

The Beatles might have broken up 55 years ago, but they’re up for two prizes on Sunday: record of the year and best rock performance.

Both nominations recognise Now and Then, a song that John Lennon demoed in the 1970s, and which was finally completed by his surviving bandmates Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr last year.

Grammy voters, with their eyes firmly trained on the past, rarely miss an opportunity to reward the Beatles. Eight years ago, for example, the band’s documentary Eight Days a Week: The Touring Years beat Beyoncé’s groundbreaking Lemonade for best music film.

In some ways, that’s correcting a historic wrong. In their prime, the Beatles were nominated for record of the year four times – for I Want to Hold Your Hand, Yesterday, Hey Jude and Let It Be – but lost every time.

A win in 2025 would prove that Beatlemania never fades – but voters may be put off by The Beatles’ use of machine learning (a form of artificial intelligence), which was used to clean up Lennon’s scratchy old cassette recordings.

The Recording Academy’s rules on AI say that “only human creators” can win Grammys, and that “the human authorship component of the work submitted must be meaningful”.

That’s true in the case of Now And Then, but many creators remain sceptical of the technology.

6) How will the California wildfires affect the ceremony?

All the hoopla surrounding the Grammys has gone. No pre-parties, no after-parties. Everything except the ceremony itself has been cancelled. All the money that would have been spent on champagne and vol au vents is being funnelled into relief efforts.

The Recording Academy and its affiliated MusiCares charity have also set up a Fire Relief fund, which has so far pledged more than $3.2 million (£2.6 million) in emergency aid to assist music professionals affected by the fires.

And the telecast itself will reflect the devastation, with segments honouring the first responders who risked their lives to tackle the inferno and protect the vulnerable.

“We’ll still have performances, we’ll still have awards and honour music,” Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason, Jr told Variety magazine.

“But you’ll know that something’s happened, and you’ll know that we’re using music to do good.”

7) Is there a list of Grammy performers?

You betcha. So far, the list includes:

• Benson Boone
• Sabrina Carpenter
• Jacob Collier
• Sheryl Crow
• Billie Eilish
• Cynthia Erivo
• Chappell Roan
• Charli XCX
• Doechii
• Herbie Hancock
• Brittany Howard
• John Legend
• Chris Martin
• Janelle Monáe
• Brad Paisley
• Raye
• Shakira (pictured)
• Teddy Swims
• Lainey Wilson
• Stevie Wonder
• St. Vincent

8) How can I watch in the UK?

The ceremony is split into two parts, with the first 80 awards distributed during what’s called the “premiere ceremony” at 12:30 in Los Angeles / 20:30 in London on Sunday.

It’s often worth tuning in. The winners in the more obscure categories are less polished and more excited about winning, and the performances are looser and, dare I say it, more musical than the grandiose set pieces you’ll see later.

You can watch the whole thing on the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel, and on live.grammy.com.

That’s also where you want to go to watch red carpet coverage, which kicks off at 15:00 in Los Angeles / 23:00 in the UK.

Finally, the main show kicks off at 17:00 in Los Angeles / 01:00 Monday in the UK. It’s broadcast live in the US on CBS and streamed internationally on Paramount Plus. Speeches and select performances are usually uploaded to YouTube the following day.

9) Does any of this really matter?

Of course not! But have you seen what’s going on everywhere else in the world?

Musicians, however, take the Grammys very seriously indeed. A big win can boost album sales and bump you up festival bills.

That said, the awards themselves are notoriously ridiculous. According to legend, they were created in 1959 as a panicked reaction to the popularity of rock ‘n’ roll. Record companies hoped that by highlighting “good” music, they’d steer the public away from Elvis’s swivelling hips.

As if to illustrate that point, they didn’t hand Mr Presley a trophy until 1968, and even that was for “best-sacred performance”, recognising his first gospel album, How Great Thou Art.

Since then, the awards have remained wilfully arbitrary, woefully out of touch, or a combination of the two.

Famously, The Beatles won more awards after they split up than they did together; and there were no rap categories until 1989.

And if anyone still thinks that Herbie Hancock’s jazz tribute to Joni Mitchell was the best album of 2008 – the year of Amy Winehouse’s Back To Black and Kanye West’s Graduation – I’d be interested to hear your arguments.

So if Beyoncé doesn’t win on Sunday (or even if she does) don’t let it affect your enjoyment of her music.

The 2024 release has debuted impressively at #35, making it a good start for the 2025 year in review.

This isn’t Shatta Wale’s first Billboard achievement. His Reign album peaked at #6 on the Billboard World Album Chart.

Other notable entries include:

• #48 on the Billboard Social 50 Chart,
• #26 on the Canadian Digital Song Sales Chart,
• #9 on the Reggae Albums Chart with the King Midas album, and
• #16 on the Top Compilation Albums Chart with Tropical House Cruises to Jamaica.

Additionally, Shatta Wale gained significant recognition for his collaborations with Beyoncé, featuring on Already and the Black Is King album, both earning multiple Billboard entries.

With a total of 16 Billboard entries to his name, Shatta Wale stands as one of Ghana’s most recognized artists on the platform, second only to Amaarae in terms of appearances.

The next closest winners to Swift were Zach Bryan with five awards, Morgan Wallen with four, and four artists tied with a trio of prizes: Shaboozey, Bad Bunny, Drake and Elevation Worship.

Who else was a big winner on Thursday night? See the full list of winners below to find out.

ARTIST AWARDS

Top Artist

Zach Bryan

Sabrina Carpenter

Drake

WINNER: Taylor Swift

Morgan Wallen

Top New Artist

Benson Boone

Tommy Richman

WINNER: Chappell Roan

Shaboozey

Teddy Swims

Top Male Artist

Zach Bryan

Luke Combs

Drake

Post Malone

WINNER: Morgan Wallen

Top Female Artist

Sabrina Carpenter

Billie Eilish

Chappell Roan

WINNER: Taylor Swift

SZA

Top Duo/Group

blink-182

Coldplay

WINNER: Fuerza Regida

Linkin Park

Stray Kids

Top Billboard 200 Artist

Zach Bryan

Drake

WINNER: Taylor Swift

SZA

Morgan Wallen

Top Hot 100 Artist

Zach Bryan

Sabrina Carpenter

Billie Eilish

WINNER: Taylor Swift

Morgan Wallen

Top Hot 100 Songwriter

Amy Allen

Jack Antonoff

Zach Bryan

Kendrick Lamar

WINNER: Taylor Swift

Top Hot 100 Producer

WINNER: Jack Antonoff

Zach Bryan

Daniel Nigro

Finneas O’Connell

Taylor Swift

Top Streaming Songs Artist

Zach Bryan

Sabrina Carpenter

Kendrick Lamar

WINNER: Taylor Swift

Morgan Wallen

Top Radio Songs Artist

Sabrina Carpenter

Doja Cat

WINNER: Taylor Swift

SZA

Morgan Wallen

Top Song Sales Artist

Jelly Roll

Jung Kook

WINNER: Shaboozey

Taylor Swift

Teddy Swims

Top Billboard Global 200 Artist

Sabrina Carpenter

Billie Eilish

Ariana Grande

WINNER: Taylor Swift

The Weeknd

Top Billboard Global (Excl. U.S.) Artist

Sabrina Carpenter

Billie Eilish

Ariana Grande

WINNER: Taylor Swift

The Weeknd

Top R&B Artist

Brent Faiyaz

Tommy Richman

WINNER: SZA

Tyla

The Weeknd

Top R&B Male Artist

Brent Faiyaz

WINNER: Tommy Richman

The Weeknd

Top R&B Female Artist

Muni Long

WINNER: SZA

Tyla

Top R&B Touring Artist

Chris Brown

WINNER: Bruno Mars

Usher

Top Rap Artist

WINNER: Drake

Future

Kendrick Lamar

Metro Boomin

Travis Scott

Top Rap Male Artist

WINNER: Drake

Kendrick Lamar

Travis Scott

Top Rap Female Artist

WINNER: Doja Cat

GloRilla

Nicki Minaj

Top Rap Touring Artist

Nicki Minaj

WINNER: Travis Scott

$uicideboy$

Top Country Artist

Zach Bryan

Luke Combs

Post Malone

WINNER: Morgan Wallen

Top Country Male Artist

Zach Bryan

Luke Combs

WINNER: Morgan Wallen

Top Country Female Artist

WINNER: Beyoncé

Megan Moroney

Lainey Wilson

Top Country Duo/Group

Zac Brown Band

WINNER: The Red Clay Strays

Treaty Oak Revival

Top Country Touring Artist

WINNER: Zach Bryan

Kenny Chesney

Luke Combs

Top Rock Artist

WINNER: Zach Bryan

Hozier

Jelly Roll

Noah Kahan

Linkin Park

Top Rock Duo/Group

Good Neighbours

WINNER: Linkin Park

The Red Clay Strays

Top Hard Rock Artist

Bad Omens

HARDY

WINNER: Linkin Park

Top Rock Touring Artist

WINNER: Coldplay

The Rolling Stones

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band

Top Latin Artist

WINNER: Bad Bunny

Fuerza Regida

Junior H

KAROL G

Peso Pluma

Top Latin Male Artist

WINNER: Bad Bunny

Junior H

Peso Pluma

Top Latin Female Artist

WINNER: KAROL G

Shakira

Kali Uchis

Top Latin Duo/Group

Eslabon Armado

WINNER: Fuerza Regida

Grupo Frontera

Top Latin Touring Artist

Bad Bunny

KAROL G

WINNER: Luis Miguel

Top Global K-Pop Artist

ENHYPEN

Jimin

Jung Kook

WINNER: Stray Kids

TOMORROW X TOGETHER

Top K-Pop Touring Artist

ENHYPEN

WINNER: SEVENTEEN

TOMORROW X TOGETHER

Top Afrobeats Artist

Asake

Burna Boy

Rema

Tems

WINNER: Tyla

Top Dance/Electronic Artist

Beyoncé

The Chainsmokers

WINNER: Charli XCX

Dua Lipa

Calvin Harris

Top Christian Artist

Lauren Daigle

WINNER: Elevation Worship

Forrest Frank

Brandon Lake

Anne Wilson

Top Gospel Artist

Kirk Franklin

Maverick City Music

Chandler Moore

Naomi Raine

WINNER: CeCe Winans

ALBUM AWARDS

Top Billboard 200 Album

Zach Bryan, Zach Bryan

Drake, For All the Dogs

Noah Kahan, Stick Season

Taylor Swift, 1989 (Taylor’s Version)

WINNER: Taylor Swift, The Tortured Poets Department

Top Soundtrack

Hazbin Hotel: Season One

WINNER: Trolls: Band Together

Twisters: The Album

Wish

Wonka

Top R&B Album

WINNER: Chris Brown, 11:11

Brent Faiyaz, Larger Than Life

PARTYNEXTDOOR, PARTYNEXTDOOR 4 (P4)

Bryson Tiller, Bryson Tiller

Tyla, Tyla

Top Rap Album

21 Savage, american dream

WINNER: Drake, For All the Dogs

Future & Metro Boomin, WE DON’T TRUST YOU

Nicki Minaj, Pink Friday 2

Rod Wave, Nostalgia

Top Country Album

Beyoncé, Cowboy Carter

Zach Bryan, The Great American Bar Scene

WINNER: Zach Bryan, Zach Bryan

Chris Stapleton, Higher

Bailey Zimmerman, Religiously. The Album.

Top Rock Album

Zach Bryan, The Great American Bar Scene

Zach Bryan, Zach Bryan

Hozier, Unheard (EP)

WINNER: Noah Kahan, Stick Season

Dolly Parton, Rockstar

Top Hard Rock Album

Bring Me The Horizon, POST HUMAN: NeX GEn

Falling In Reverse, Popular Monster

HARDY, Quit!!

Pearl Jam, Dark Matter

WINNER: Sleep Token, Take Me Back to Eden

Top Latin Album

WINNER: Bad Bunny, nadie sabe lo que va a pasar mañana

Fuerza Regida, Pa Las Baby’s Y Belikeada

Grupo Frontera, El Comienzo

Junior H, $AD BOYZ 4 LIFE II

KAROL G, MAÑANA SERÁ BONITO (BICHOTA SEASON)

Top K-Pop Album

ATEEZ, THE WORLD EP.FIN: WILL

WINNER: Jung Kook, GOLDEN

Stray Kids, ROCK-STAR

Stray Kids, ATE

TOMORROW X TOGETHER, The Name Chapter: FREEFALL

Top Dance/Electronic Album

WINNER: Charli XCX, BRAT

Jungle, Volcano

Odetari, XIII SORROWS

Troye Sivan, Something to Give Each Other

John Summit, Comfort in Chaos

Top Christian Album

WINNER: Elevation Worship, CAN YOU IMAGINE?

Forrest Frank, CHILD OF GOD

Brandon Lake, COAT OF MANY COLORS

Maverick City Music, Chandler Moore & Naomi Raine, The Maverick Way Complete: Complete Vol 02

Katy Nichole, Jesus Changed My Life

Top Gospel Album

Kirk Franklin, Father’s Day

Koryn Hawthorne, On God

WINNER: Maverick City Music, Chandler Moore & Naomi Raine, The Maverick Way Complete: Complete Vol 02

CeCe Winans, More Than This

Naomi Raine, Cover The Earth: Live in New York

SONG AWARDS

Top Hot 100 Song

Benson Boone, “Beautiful Things”

Jack Harlow, “Lovin on Me”

Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen, “I Had Some Help”

Shaboozey, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”

WINNER: Teddy Swims, “Lose Control”

Top Streaming Song

WINNER: Zach Bryan feat. Kacey Musgraves, “I Remember Everything”

Kendrick Lamar, “Not Like Us”

Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen, “I Had Some Help”

Shaboozey, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”

Teddy Swims, “Lose Control”

Top Radio Song

Benson Boone, “Beautiful Things”

Jack Harlow, “Lovin on Me”

Tate McRae, “Greedy”

Taylor Swift, “Cruel Summer”

WINNER: Teddy Swims, “Lose Control”

Top Selling Song

Benson Boone, “Beautiful Things”

Jung Kook, “Standing Next to You”

Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen “I Had Some Help”

WINNER: Shaboozey “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”

Teddy Swims “Lose Control”

Top Collaboration

Zach Bryan feat. Kacey Musgraves “I Remember Everything”

Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar “Like That”

WINNER: Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen “I Had Some Help”

Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone “Fortnight”

Morgan Wallen feat. ERNEST “Cowgirls”

Top Billboard Global 200 Song

WINNER: Benson Boone “Beautiful Things”

Sabrina Carpenter “Espresso”

Tate McRae “Greedy”

Taylor Swift “Cruel Summer”

Teddy Swims “Lose Control”

Top Billboard Global (Excl. U.S.) Song

WINNER: Benson Boone “Beautiful Things”

Sabrina Carpenter “Espresso”

Tate McRae “Greedy”

Taylor Swift “Cruel Summer”

Teddy Swims “Lose Control”

Top R&B Song

4batz feat. Drake “act ii: date @ 8 (remix)”

Muni Long “Made for Me”

WINNER: Tommy Richman “MILLION DOLLAR BABY”

SZA “Saturn”

Tyla “Water”

Top Rap Song

Doja Cat “Agora Hills”

Doja Cat “Paint the Town Red”

Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar “Like That”

Jack Harlow “Lovin on Me”

WINNER: Kendrick Lamar “Not Like Us”

Top Country Song

Zach Bryan feat. Kacey Musgraves “I Remember Everything”

Dasha “Austin”

Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen “I Had Some Help”

WINNER: Shaboozey “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”

Morgan Wallen “Thinkin’ Bout Me”

Top Rock Song

Zach Bryan “Pink Skies”

WINNER: Zach Bryan feat. Kacey Musgraves “I Remember Everything”

Djo “End of Beginning”

Hozier “Too Sweet”

Noah Kahan “Stick Season”

Top Hard Rock Song

WINNER: Falling In Reverse feat. Jelly Roll “All My Life”

Falling In Reverse, Tech N9ne & Alex Terrible “Ronald”

HARDY “Psycho”

Linkin Park “The Emptiness Machine”

Superheaven “Youngest Daughter”

Top Latin Song

Bad Bunny “MONACO”

Bad Bunny & Feid “PERRO NEGRO”

WINNER: FloyyMenor & Cris MJ “Gata Only”

KAROL G & Peso Pluma “QLONA”

Xavi “La Diabla”

Top Global K-Pop Song

ILLIT “Magnetic”

Jimin “Who”

WINNER: Jung Kook “Standing Next to You”

Jung Kook feat. Jack Harlow “3D”

LE SSERAFIM “Perfect Night”

Top Afrobeats Song

Adam Port & Stryv feat. Malachiii “Move”

Tems “Me & U”

Tyla “Truth or Dare”

WINNER: Tyla “Water”

Tyla, Gunna & Skillibeng “Jump”

Top Dance/Electronic Song

WINNER: Dua Lipa “Houdini”

Dua Lipa “Illusion”

Kenya Grace “Strangers”

Ariana Grande “yes, and?”

Marshmello & Kane Brown “Miles on It”

Top Christian Song

WINNER: Elevation Worship feat. Brandon Lake, Chris Brown & Chandler Moore “Praise”

Forrest Frank “GOOD DAY”

Josiah Queen “The Prodigal”

Seph Schlueter “Counting My Blessings”

Tauren Wells with We The Kingdom & Davies “Take It All Back”

Top Gospel Song

Koryn Hawthorne “Look at God”

Maverick City Music, Chandler Moore & Naomi Raine “God Problems”

Maverick City Music, Chandler Moore & Naomi Raine ft. Tasha Cobbs Leonard “In the Room”

Victor Thompson X Gunna feat. Ehis ‘D’ Greatest “THIS YEAR (Blessings)”

WINNER: CeCe Winans “That’s My King”

The lawsuit was initially filed against Combs in October, but on Sunday the woman added Shawn Carter, the rapper and businessman known as Jay-Z, as a defendant in the civil lawsuit.

Carter is the first celebrity to be accused of sexual assault in connection to Combs.

In a statement addressed to CNN, Carter called the allegations “so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one!! Whomever would commit such a crime against a minor should be locked away, would you not agree?”

Combs was indicted on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and prostitution related charges. Combs pleaded not guilty to the charges and has denied all wrongdoing in roughly 30 civil lawsuits that have been filed against him.

The woman, who is identified as a Jane Doe, says she was 13 years old at the time she was allegedly assaulted by Combs and Carter at an after party following the Video Music Awards in 2000. The woman alleges she began to feel woozy after consuming a drink at the party and wandered into a nearby bedroom. The woman alleges Carter raped her first, followed by Combs. The woman says she hit Combs and ran out of the party, according to the amended lawsuit.

Carter was identified in the initial lawsuit as Celebrity A.

According to the lawsuit, the Doe’s attorneys reached out to Carter to request “a mediation to resolve this matter.”

“Upon present information and belief, Jay-Z responded to said letter by not only filing an utterly frivolous lawsuit, but by also orchestrating a conspiracy of harassment, bullying and intimidation against Plaintiff’s lawyers, their families, employees and former associates in an attempt to silence Plaintiff from naming Jay-Z herein. This effort was meant to scare Plaintiff and to discredit her counsel. That effort failed. Indeed, Plaintiff chose to file this amendment as a result of the egregious conduct perpetuated by Carter,” according to the lawsuit.

In his response sent to CNN on Sunday – which was addressed to Doe’s attorney – Carter called the mediation request a “blackmail attempt.” Carter also said this lawyer, “who I have done a bit of research on, seems to have a pattern of these type of theatrics!”

In a statement from Buzbee on Saturday, he wrote, “The pleading speaks for itself. This is a very serious matter that will be litigated in court.”

CNN has also reached out to Jay-Z’s wife Beyoncé Knowles for comment.

Carter added in his statement that his “only heartbreak” is for his family: “My wife and I will have to sit our children down, one of whom is at the age where her friends will surely see the press and ask questions about the nature of these claims, and explain the cruelty and greed of people. I mourn yet another loss of innocence. Children should not have to endure such at their young age.”

CNN reported in November that an anonymous male celebrity filed a lawsuit against the Texas attorney representing the Doe alleging he was the victim of an extortion scheme.

The celebrity accused Houston-based attorney Tony Buzbee and his firm of “shamelessly attempting to extort exorbitant sums from him or else publicly file wildly false horrific allegations against him.”

Attorneys for the unnamed celebrity claimed further the Buzbee had “threatened to unleash entirely fabricated and salacious allegations of sexual assault” that included “multiple instances of rape of a minor, both male and female” if their client “refuses to comply with their demands.”

Buzbee denied the extortion claims against him, in an Instagram post in which he wrote that his firm “won’t allow the powerful and their high-dollar lawyers to intimidate or silence sexual assault survivors,” and in a statement to CNN.

“If you are trying to hide your identity, and you claim you did nothing wrong, doesn’t seem very smart to take this approach,” Buzbee told CNN in an email at the time. “We will address it in due course.”

“I have confidence that with full public disclosure, all of this will sort itself out,” Buzbee wrote.

Beyoncé has announced she will perform during the NFL’s half-time show on Christmas Day.

The singer will perform as the Houston Texans take on the Baltimore Ravens – one of two fixtures scheduled for that day.

The second match will see Kansas City Chiefs play the Pittsburgh Steelers and both matches will be streamed on Netflix.

It will be the first time Beyoncé has performed tracks from her latest album, Cowboy Carter, which she first revealed during February’s Super Bowl.

The donation was made on her behalf by Beyonce Diamond Kpogli, as part of activities to mark the queen’s birthday, which falls on the 13th of November.

This follows the queen’s principle of giving back to society, especially to the underprivileged, as she celebrates her birthday.

In her message, Pilot Queen, who also doubles as the Nkosuahemaa of the Fante Sekyredumasi Traditional Area, bearing the stool name Nana Akua Ahenesima I, indicated that giving back to society is something dear to her heart.

“I believe that there are more blessings in giving than receiving, and we must not wait until we have all that we desire before giving back to the underprivileged. Everyone wishes to be privileged in many ways, but having a life and giving a portion of what you have to society is the greatest gift ever,” she said.

The founder of the orphanage home, Nii Afotey Botswe, expressed his appreciation for the kind gesture and prayed for Pilot Queen Princess Duncan to excel in all her endeavors.

“Nanahemaa, thank you so much. On behalf of myself, the board of elders, and the children, we say thank you. May God bless you, give you a long life, and bless everything that you do. Your ways and your household, you will live and fulfill your purpose on earth. As you remember us today, may you also be remembered for everything you are meant to be remembered for,” he prayed.

He noted that the donation would go a long way in supporting the home.

He took the opportunity to call on the public to support the orphanage with a borehole due to the water crisis that has persisted for the past few weeks.

“Oliver Twist… we will always ask for more; no amount of money is too small. Every little thing given to us is channeled toward a worthy cause,” he said.

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Agya Koo stated that their relationship is cordial and emphasized that it is human nature for people to create problems where none exist.

He made these comments on Kumasi-based Lawson Radio.

“It’s similar to how people used to say that Anthony Yeboah and Abedi Pele were at odds, or that Daddy Lumba and Nana Acheampong were feuding,” he said.

Agya Koo recalled that when Lilwin was first introduced to him on set as a talented comedian with potential, he supported him wholeheartedly.

“I encouraged them to bring him on because we had a goal to compete with Nigerian actors. If there was someone talented, it was best to include them.”

He added, “I have no issues with him. People just like to create rifts that aren’t there. When Lilwin meets me, he greets me, and I respond warmly.”

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Beyoncé added to her all-time record number of Grammy nominations with 11, followed by Kendrick Lamar, Charli XCX and Billie Eilish with seven nods each. Beyoncé now has a career total 99 Grammy nominations – more than any other artst – but she’s not yet won the Recording Academy’s top prize, album of the year.

Winners will be revealed at the event in Los Angeles on Feb. 2.

See below for a list of nominees in several top categories. A full list of nominations in all 94 categories can be found here.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Beyoncé – “Cowboy Carter”

Billie Eilish – “Hit Me Hard and Soft”

Chappell Roan – “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess”

Charli XCX -“Brat”

Jacob Collier – “Djesse Vol. 4”

Sabrina Carpenter – “Short n’ Sweet”

Taylor Swift – “The Tortured Poets Department”

RECORD OF THE YEAR

The Beatles – “Now and Then”

Beyoncé -“Texas Hold ’Em”

Billie Eilish – “Birds of a Feather”

Chappell Roan – “Good Luck, Babe!”

Charli XCX – “360”

Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us”

Sabrina Carpenter – “Espresso”

Taylor Swift Featuring Post Malone – “Fortnight”

SONG OF THE YEAR

Shaboozey – “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”

Billie Eilish -“Birds of a Feather”

Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die With a Smile”

Taylor Swift – “Fortnight” [ft. Post Malone]

Chappell Roan – “Good Luck, Babe!”

Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us”

Sabrina Carpenter -“Please Please Please”

Beyoncé – “Texas Hold ‘Em”

BEST NEW ARTIST

Benson Boone

Sabrina Carpenter

Doechii

Khruangbin

RAYE

Chappell Roan

Shaboozey

Teddy Swims

BEST POP SOLO PERFORMANCE

Beyoncé – “Bodyguard”

Sabrina Carpenter -“Espresso”

Charli XCX – “Apple”

Billie Eilish -“Birds of a Feather”

Chappell Roan -“Good Luck, Babe!”

BEST POP DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE

Gracie Abrams ft. Taylor – “Us”

Beyoncé Featuring Post Malone – “Levii’s Jeans”

Charli XCX & Billie Eilish – “Guess”

Ariana Grande, Brandy & Monica – “The Boy Is Mine”

Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars -“Die With a Smile”

BEST RAP ALBUM

Common & Pete Rock -“The Auditorium Vol. 1”

Doechii – “Alligator Bites Never Heal”

Eminem – “The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)”

Future & Metro Boomin – “We Don’t Trust You”

J. Cole – “Might Delete Later”

BEST VIDEO

“Tailor Swif” A$AP Rocky

“360” Charli xcx

“Houdini” Eminem

“Not Like Us” Kendrick Lamar

“Fortnight” Taylor Swift featuring Post Malone

BEST RAP PERFORMANCE

Cardi B – “Enough (Miami)”

Common & Pete Rock Featuring Posdnuos – “When the Sun Shines Again”

Doechii -“Nissan Altima”

Eminem – “Houdini”

Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar – “Like That”

Glorilla – “Yeah Glo!”

Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us”

Best rap album

“Might Delete Later” J. Cole

“The Auditorium, Vol. 1” Common & Pete Rock

“Alligator Bites Never Heal” Doechii

“The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce)” Eminem

“We Don’t Trust You” Future & Metro Boomin

BEST RAP SONG

“Asteroids” Rapsody featuring Hit-Boy. Written by Marlanna Evans

“Carnival” Kanye West & Ty Dolla $Ign featuring Rich The Kid & Playboi Carti.  Written by Jordan Carter, Raul Cubina, Grant Dickinson, Samuel Lindley, Nasir Pemberton, Dimitri Roger, Ty Dolla $ign, Kanye West & Mark Carl Stolinski Williams

“Like That” Future & Metro Boomin featuring Kendrick Lamar. Written by Kendrick Lamar Duckworth, Kobe “BbyKobe” Hood, Leland Wayne & Nayvadius Wilburn

“Not Like Us” Kendrick Lamar. Written by Kendrick Lamar

“Yeah Glo!” GloRilla. Written by Ronnie Jackson, Jaucquez Lowe, Timothy McKibbins, Kevin Andre Price, Julius Rivera III & Gloria Woods

BEST R&B ALBUM

“11:11 (Deluxe)” Chris Brown

“Vantablack” Lalah Hathaway

“Revenge” Muni Long

“Algorithm” Lucky Daye

“Coming Home” Usher

BEST COUNTRY ALBUM

Beyoncé – “Cowboy Carter”

Post Malone -“F-1 Trillion”

Kacey Musgraves -“Deeper Well”

Chris Stapleton – “Higher”

Lainey Wilson – “Whirlwind”

BEST COUNTRY SOLO PERFORMANCE

Beyoncé – “16 Carriages”

Chris Stapleton – “It Takes a Woman”

Jelly Roll -“I Am Not Okay”

Kacey Musgraves – “The Architect”

Shaboozey – “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”

BEST ROCK ALBUM

The Black Crowes – “Happiness Bastards”

Fontaines D.C. -“Romance”

Green Day -“Saviors”

Idles -“TANGK”

Pearl Jam – “Dark Matter”

The Rolling Stones – “Hackney Diamonds”

Jack White – “No Name”

BEST ROCK PERFORMANCE

The Beatles – “Now and Then”

The Black Keys – “Beautiful People (Stay High)”

Green Day – “The American Dream Is Killing Me”

Idles – “Gift Horse”

Pearl Jam – “Dark Matter”

St. Vincent – “Broken Man”

BEST R&B ALBUM

Chris Brown – “11:11 (Deluxe)”

Lalah Hathaway – “Vantablack”

Muni Long -“Revenge”

Lucky Daye – “Algorithm”

Usher – “Coming Home”

BEST R&B PERFORMANCE

Chris Brown – “Residuals”

Coco Jones – “Here We Go (Uh Oh)”

Jhené Aiko – “Guidance”

Muni Long – “Made for Me (Live on BET)”

SZA – “Saturn”

She leads the nods with 11, bringing her career total to 99 nominations. That makes her the most nominated artist in Grammy history.

“Cowboy Carter” is up for album and country album of the year, and “Texas Hold ’Em” is nominated for record, song and country song of the year.

She also received nominations in a wide swath of genres, including pop, country, Americana and melodic rap performance categories.

This is her first time receiving nominations in the country and Americana categories.

Previously, she and her husband Jay-Z were tied for most career nominations, at 88.

If Beyoncé wins the album of the year, she’ll become the first Black woman to do so in the 21st century.

Lauryn Hill last won in 1999 for “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,” joining Natalie Cole and Whitney Houston as the only Black women to take home the Grammys’ top prize.

Post Malone also received his first-ever nominations in the country categories this year, having released his debut country album “F-1 Trillion” in August.

That one is up for a country album and “I Had Some Help,” his collaboration with Morgan Wallen, is nominated for country song and country duo/group performance. They are Wallen’s first-ever Grammy nominations.

Malone is just behind Beyoncé, with seven nominations, tied with Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar and Charli XCX, who earned her first nominations as a solo artist.

Lamar’s ubiquitous diss track released during his feud with Drake, “Not Like Us,” has been nominated for record and song of the year, rap song, music video as well as best rap performance.

He has two simultaneous entries in the latter category, a career first: Future & Metro Boomin featuring Lamar, “Like That” is up for best rap performance and best rap song.

This is his third time receiving two simultaneous nominations for best rap song.

Taylor Swift and first-time nominees Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan boast of six nominations each.

Last year, women artists dominated the major categories. This year, that continues somewhat, but the main trend seems to be a variance of genre. In the album of the year category, alongside “Cowboy Carter” is André 3000’s new age, alt-jazz “New Blue Sun” and multi-instrumentalist Jacob Collier’s “Djesse Vol. 4.”

Rising pop stars Carpenter and Roan round it out, with “Short n’ Sweet” and “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” respectively, as well as Swift’s “The Tortured Poets Department,” Eilish’s “Hit Me Hard and Soft,” and Charli XCX’s rave-ready “BRAT.”

Eilish is the only artist to have her first three albums become nominated for album of the year.

Last year, Swift won album of the year for “Midnights,” breaking the record for most wins in the category with four. This year, she becomes the first-ever woman to have seven career nominations in the category.

“The breadth and the variety of genres represented in the general field feel new and really exciting,” says the Recording Academy CEO and President Harvey Mason Jr.

He credits an active and evolving voting body for its success. “We’ve been very intentional in how we looked at and tried to rebalance our membership.

So not just gender or people of colour, different racial makeup, but also genre equity and trying to make sure that all different types of music in different regions and different locations are being represented in every way possible.”

Only recordings commercially released in the U.S. between Sept. 16, 2023, through Aug. 30, 2024, were eligible for nominations. The final round of Grammy voting, which determines its winners, will take place Dec. 12 through January 3.

In the best new artist category, Carpenter and Roan will go head-to-head, alongside Benson Boone, Doechii, Khruangbin, RAYE, Shaboozey and Teddy Swims.

In the song of the year category, Beyoncé is joined by Eilish with “Birds of a Feather,” Swift and Post Malone with “Fortnight,” Roan’s “Good Luck, Babe!”, Carpenter’s “Please Please Please,” Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With A Smile,” and Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy).”

Shaboozey is also a first-time nominee. His “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” is the biggest song of the year, having spent more weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 than any other — it is so popular, that a remix of the track is also up for remixed recording.

Elsewhere, Shaboozey is nominated in the melodic rap performance category for his feature on Beyoncé’s “SPAGHETTII.” Linda Martell, the first commercially successful Black woman musician in the country, is also featured on the song, delivering the 83-year-old artist her first Grammy nomination.

For the record of the year, “Texas Hold ’Em” will compete against Swift and Post Malone’s “Fortnight,” Eilish’s “Birds of a Father,” Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” Roan’s “Good Luck, Babe!”, Carpenter’s “Espresso,” Charli XCX’s “360,” and the Beatles last new song, the AI-assisted “Now and Then.”

“We’re trying to make sure we’re keeping up with how music creators and our community are using technology. And in this case, AI-enhanced the record and allowed it to be eligible in the categories that it was eligible in,” Mason jr explains.

Dolly Parton scored her 55th career nomination in the audiobook, narration, and storytelling recording category for her “Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones,” news The Associated Press broke to the country music legend Friday morning.

“No! What did I get nominated for?” she cheered over the phone. “Oh, well, that’s cool. I thought it would be for my rock album, I’d take it.

“It feels good. I’m always appreciative of everything. I don’t work for that, but it’s always good to say ‘You’ve done good work,’ and for somebody to acknowledge that. So, I’m always proud of every award I get and every mention I get. That just makes me feel like I’m doing the right thing.”

She’s up against producer Guy Oldfield, George Clinton, Barbra Streisand and Jimmy Carter, who could become the oldest Grammy award winner in history at 100.

So, what’s missing? Like last year, there’s a huge dearth of Latin music — the fastest-growing streaming genre in the United States — across the board, and no representation in the major categories.

There are also only four entries in the best Música Mexicana album category, despite it also being one of the fastest-growing genres.

And K-pop, too, seems to be absent. There are no nominations for the BTS members who’ve released solo material this year: RM’s “Right Place, Wrong Person,” J-Hope’s “Hope on the Street, Vol. 1,” and Jimin’s “Muse.” As a boy band, BTS has received five nominations across their career.

“I definitely see room for improvement across many genres and we are continuing to invite people to be a part of the academy,” Mason Jr. says.

“Without the right representation, we don’t get the right results. When I say right, I mean reflective and representative of what’s happening in music today. So, the work continues.”

Just after midnight, a few hundred feet from where Kamala Harris was expected to stand on stage for her election night party at Howard University in Washington, DC, a handful of students sat in a huddle.

They began their night ecstatic, they said, ready to celebrate the ascent of a Howard alum to the highest office in the US. The Democratic presidential nominee had chosen to return to her alma mater for the special night, but later, she cancelled her planned appearance.

“I felt so excited, like this is history in the making,” said Cori Ross, 20. “No other campus has the future president, or at least the current vice-president on their grounds.”

But with the first two calls from the country’s seven swing states – Georgia and North Carolina, both projected for Donald Trump – the collective change in mood was obvious.

“We’re freaking out,” said Ross’s fellow student Dru Strand. “It’s just such a close race, so the minute that someone loses one state or gains in one state… it’s just super stressful.”

The crowd packed inside Howard’s Yard, the grassy quad at the centre of the university, started to thin out, seemingly hundreds of people streaming off campus in the cool night air.

Those who stayed seemed to hold on to the enthusiasm of hours before, dancing and singing along to the music by Usher, Kendrick Lamar and Beyoncé, blasting from the speakers dotting the yard.

ALSO READ:

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She was awarded for her role in ‘Red Carpet’, a movie producer by filmmaker and costume designer Samira Yakubu, who also happens to be Jackie’s manager.

Directed by Frank Rajah Arase, ‘Red Carpet’ also features Grace Omaboe, Selly Ghally, Kalsoume Sinare, Roseline Ngissah, Adjetey Annang, Abeiku Santana, Deyemi Okanlawon and Beverly Afaglo.

This is not the first time Jackie Appiah has won an AMAA. In 2007 she won her first award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in ‘Beyonce’ at the African Movie Academy Awards.

In 2010, she won Best Actress in a Leading Role award for ‘The Perfect Picture’ produced by Shirley Frimpong Manso. Since then he has also received several nominations for roles plays in various movies.

Jackie has over the years, distinguished herself with her exceptional acting skills and brand positioning.

Jackie is also known for movies such as The Love Doctor, Royal Battle, Chasing Hope, Princess, The Prince’s Bride, Fake Feelings, Wind of Love, Total Love, Passion of the Soul, Mortal Desire, Pretty Queen, and The King is Mine.

The Harris-Walz Campaign has announced that rapper Cardi B will be speaking at the vice-president’s rally in Milwaukee tomorrow.

It’s no surprise that with an election this big comes equally big celebrity endorsements.

Other celebrities have made appearances at rallies for Harris, including Beyoncé, Bruce Springsteen.

Arnold Schwarzenegger has signalled his support online, as did Taylor Swift.

On the Trump side, billionaire and Tesla chief executive Elon Musk is a fierce campaigner, and he’s also been supported by rapper Kanye West, F1 pundit Danica Patrick, and social media influencer Jake Paul.

The second man to step foot on the moon, Buzz Aldrin, has also posted online in Trump’s favour.

After Sunday’s Puerto Rico comment at a Trump rally, the controversy rippled through the community and stars Jennifer Lopez, Luis Fonsi, Don Omar, Ricky Martin and Marc Anthony have all shown support to Harris. Nicky Jam, who had previously appeared onstage supporting Trump, withdrew his endorsement over the remark.

The Akron, Ohio native went on to say that he was motivated by his family when he decided to back the Democratic candidate.

“What are we even talking about here?? When I think about my kids and my family and how they will grow up, the choice is clear to me,” he wrote, before adding: “VOTE KAMALA HARRIS!!!”

James joins a flurry of celebrities in recent weeks to throw their support behind Harris.

Beyoncé and Bruce Springsteen both appeared alongside the vice-president at campaign events earlier this month, while Arnold Schwarzenegger – the former Republican governor of California – endorsed her on X this week.

Elon Musk, Kanye West and Buzz Aldrin, the second man to step foot on the moon, have all endorsed Trump.

In a recent interview with TV3, the Beyoncé actress explained that actors aim to make these scenes convincing for the audience, stressing that no genuine emotions are involved.

Nadia distinguished between the on-screen characters’ emotions and the actors’, stating that the scenes are crafted solely for the characters’ storyline, not reflecting the actors’ personal feelings.

“They are not real. It is make-believe. However, we are trying to convince people, so we were really kissing, but it is just that it is real for the characters, not for the actors. There are no feelings involved,” she stated.

According to her, actors must separate emotions from kissing scenes, which are typically filmed in front of numerous crew members. (Read also: Not everybody will appreciate the good in you—Nadia Buari, East Legon accident: It’s too painful to forgive, says Nadia Buari)

She finds kissing scenes and character portrayal to be the most daunting aspects of her profession.

Nadia Buari, returning to the screens after a hiatus, shares insights into the challenges of movie acting.

Marking her comeback, Nadia stars in “Forever in a Night,” produced by John N. Okwugo and directed by Jameel Buari. The film premieres on November 9, 2024, simultaneously at Accra Mall and West Hills Mall in Accra.

During an interview on TV3, she said these scenes are purely make-believe.

Nadia, who recently released the trailer for her upcoming movie with Majid Michel, explained that, the aim of actors during these scenes is to create an illusion of reality to engage the audience.

She clarified that, while the actors may appear to be genuinely kissing, it is only authentic for their characters and not for the performers themselves, as no real feelings are involved.

“They are not real. It is make-believe. We are trying to convince people, so we were really kissing, but it’s just that it’s real for the characters, not for the actors. There are no feelings involved,” she stated.

Nadia further noted that actors must remain detached from their emotions during these scenes, especially since they are often filmed multiple times in front of many crew members on set.

Despite her extensive experience with kissing scenes throughout her career, she revealed that she does not have a favourite co-star for on-screen kisses.

She also acknowledged that both the kissing scenes and character portrayal are among the most challenging aspects of acting in films.

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While she did not perform – unlike in 2016 when she sang at a rally for Hillary Clinton in Cleveland – she spoke as Ms Harris warned that her Republican rival for the White House wants women’s rights to be further eroded.

“I’m not here as a celebrity, I’m not here as a politician. I’m here as a mother,” Beyonce told the crowd in Houston, Texas, as she endorsed the US vice president.

“A mother who cares deeply about the world my children and all of our children live in, a world where we have the freedom to control our bodies, a world where we’re not divided.”

“Imagine our daughters growing up seeing what’s possible with no ceilings, no limitations,” the US singer continued. “We must vote, and we need you.”

Beyonce was joined onstage by her Destiny’s Child bandmate, Kelly Rowland, and introduced Democratic candidate Ms Harris as the “next President of the United States”.

Houston is Beyonce’s hometown, and Ms Harris’s presidential campaign has taken on Beyonce’s song Freedom, a track from her 2016 album Lemonade, as its anthem, first using the music in July.

Beyonce gave permission to Vice President Harris to use the song, which samples two John and Alan Lomax recordings that document America’s segregation history.

The rally took place in Texas to highlight the growing medical fallout from the state’s strict abortion ban. Abortion is illegal in almost all cases, with exceptions for if the mother’s life is at risk.

But the ambiguous way the law is written means harmful pregnancies do not explicitly constitute an exception. As a result, the state’s infant death rate has increased, more babies have died of birth defects and maternal mortality has risen.

Ms Harris was joined at the rally by women who have nearly died from pregnancy complications. In some states, doctors face criminal charges if they provide medical care to women in life-threatening situations.

“For anyone watching from another state, if you think you are protected from Trump abortion bans because you live in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Nevada, New York, California, or any state where voters or legislators have protected reproductive freedom, please know: No one is protected,” Ms Harris warned.

“Because a Donald Trump national ban will outlaw abortion in every single state.”

Mr Trump has been inconsistent with his message on abortion and reproductive rights – though he has repeatedly said he would veto a national ban.

He was also in Texas on Friday, where he said he would break records for the number of people deported from the US if he won.

Cissy Houston, renowned gospel singer and the mother of Whitney Houston, died on Monday morning at the age of 91, her family said in a statement.

Houston, a two-time Grammy Award winning singer, died in her New Jersey home while in hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease, her daughter-in-law Pat Houston said.

“Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We lost the matriarch of our family,” she said, adding that her mother-in-law was a “strong and towering figure” in the family’s life.

Houston enjoyed a decades-long successful singing career, where she performed alongside superstars like Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin.

A spokesperson announced her death on her personal Instagram page and in a statement her family said she was an “unforgettable inspiration to everyone who knew her or heard her story”.

The cause of death has not been given.

DePrince made a remarkable journey from suffering as an orphan in war-torn Sierra Leone to numerous accolades in the world of international dance.

Her family said her death had been “sudden”, adding: “Michaela touched so many lives across the world, including ours.”

DePrince’s sister, Mia Mabinty DePrince, described being “in a state of shock and deep sadness” as “my beautiful sister is no longer here”.

Tributes have been pouring in, including from others in the ballet community.

“Despite being told the ‘world wasn’t ready for black ballerinas’ or that ‘black ballerinas weren’t worth investing in,’ she remained determined, focused, and began making big strides,” American ballerina Misty Copeland wrote on social media.

• Michaela DePrince: The war orphan who became a ballerina

Born in Kenema, Sierra Leone, in 1995, DePrince was sent to an orphanage at the age of three after both of her parents died during the civil war.

She has spoken in the past about how she was seen as a “devil’s child” in the orphanage because she suffered from vitiligo, a condition in which patches of skin lose pigmentation.

But she was adopted aged four by an American couple and moved to New Jersey. Her adoptive mother quickly noticed her obsession with ballet and enrolled her in classes.

She rose to fame after graduating from high school and made history as the youngest principal dancer at the Dance Theatre of Harlem.

DePrince has performed across the world, including in Beyoncé’s “Lemonade” music video album.

She joined the prestigious Boston Ballet as a second soloist in 2021 and starred in the TV show Dancing with the Stars when she was just 17.

A dedicated humanitarian, DePrince also advocated for children affected by conflict and violence.

Her spokesperson wrote that her artistry “touched countless hearts” and her spirit had “inspired many, leaving an indelible mark on the world of ballet, and beyond”.

They added: “Her life was one defined by grace, purpose, and strength. Her unwavering commitment to her art, her humanitarian efforts, and her courage in overcoming unimaginable challenges will forever inspire us.

“She stood as a beacon of hope for many, showing that no matter the obstacles, beauty and greatness can rise from the darkest of places.”

“From the very beginning of our story back in Africa, sleeping on a shared mat in the orphanage, Michaela (Mabinty) and I used to make up our own musical theatre plays and act them out,” Mia wrote in a statement.

DePrince’s sister said the pair used to create their own ballets as children, “she would choreograph, and I was the composer and conductor”.

She “left her footprints in the sand and on so many stages across the world. She will be truly missed,” Mia added.

The two girls, who were mat-mates at the orphanage, were adopted by an American woman, Elaine DePrince.

In an interview with the BBC’s Newshour programme, DePrince’s siblings – Eric and Mia – said the family was grieving two deaths this week: Michaela’s and that of their mother Elaine.

“I had just gotten off the phone with my mum’s doctor with her news when I was alerted about my sister, it just didn’t seem believable.

“It was really hard to hear because I normally pick up the phone to call my mum with anything, and it occurred to me that I couldn’t call her,” Mia told the BBC.

Elaine enrolled then five-year-old DePrince in the Rock School of Dance in Philadelphia, making the 45-minute drive from New Jersey every day.

DePrince was an ambassador for the charity War Child, and her siblings say they hope to continue on her legacy.

Her brother, Eric DePrince, told the BBC he hopes the world can remember his sister “as someone who worked hard to improve the lives of others”.

His family shared the heartbreaking news Tuesday morning on Instagram.

According to the post, Beverly, whose real name is Howard Stanley Beverly, died on Monday, Sept. 10.

“He lived his life with pure soul as one would say, and for us, no one did it better. He lived for his music, family and friends,” the post read.

The family has not shared details regarding Beverly’s death and has asked for privacy during this difficult time.

Speaking of winners, going into the night, Taylor Swift led all nominees with 12 nods followed by her “Fortnight” collaborator Post Malone with 11 — and they left as the top two as well.

Swift scored seven wins and Post had five, including their top win of the night when “Fortnight” was named video of the year.

But who else won big? Find Billboard‘s full 2024 MTV VMAs winners list below.

Video of the year

Ariana Grande – “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” – Republic Records

Billie Eilish – “Lunch” – Darkroom / Interscope Records

Doja Cat – “Paint the Town Red” – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records

Eminem – “Houdini” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records

SZA – “Snooze” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records

WINNER: Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records

Artist of the year                    

Ariana Grande – Republic Records

Bad Bunny – Rimas Entertainment

Eminem – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records

Sabrina Carpenter – Island

SZA – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records

WINNER: Taylor Swift – Republic Records

Song of the year

Beyoncé – “Texas Hold ‘Em” – Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia Records

Jack Harlow – “Lovin on Me” – Generation Now / Atlantic Records

Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – pgLang, under exclusive license to Interscope Records

WINNER: Sabrina Carpenter – “Espresso” – Island

Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records

Teddy Swims – “Lose Control” – Warner Records

Best new artist

WINNER: Chappell Roan – Island

Gracie Abrams – Interscope Records

Tyla – Epic Records

Best collaboration

Drake feat. Sexyy Red & SZA – “Rich Baby Daddy “ – OVO / Republic Records

GloRilla, Megan Thee Stallion – “Wanna Be” – CMG / Interscope Records

Jessie Murph feat. Jelly Roll – “Wild Ones” – Columbia Records

Jung Kook feat. Latto – “Seven” – BIGHIT MUSIC / Geffen Records

Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen – “I Had Some Help” – Mercury / Republic / Big Loud

WINNER: Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records

Best pop

Camila Cabello – Geffen / Interscope Records

Dua Lipa – Warner Records

Olivia Rodrigo – Geffen Records

Sabrina Carpenter – Island

Tate McRae – RCA Records

WINNER: Taylor Swift – Republic Records

Best hip-hop

Drake feat. Sexyy Red & SZA – “Rich Baby Daddy “ – OVO / Republic Records

WINNER: Eminem – “Houdini” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records

GloRilla – “Yeah Glo!” – CMG / Interscope Records

Gunna – “fukumean” – Young Stoner Life Records / 300 Entertainment

Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA” – Hot Girl Productions

Travis Scott feat. Playboi Carti – “FE!N” – Cactus Jack / Epic Records

Best R&B

Alicia Keys – “Lifeline” – AK Records, under exclusive license to gamma.

Muni Long – “Made for Me” – Def Jam

WINNER: SZA – “Snooze” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records

Tyla – “Water” – FAX Records / Epic Records

Usher, Summer Walker, 21 Savage – “Good Good” – mega / gamma.

Victoria Monét – “On My Mama” – Lovett Music / RCA Records

Best alternative

WINNER: Benson Boone – “Beautiful Things” – Night Street Records, Inc. / Warner Records

Bleachers – “Tiny Moves” – Dirty Hit

Hozier – “Too Sweet” – Columbia Records

Imagine Dragons – “Eyes Closed” – KIDinaKorner / Interscope Records

Linkin Park – “Friendly Fire” – This Compilation / Warner Records

Teddy Swims – “Lose Control (Live)” – Warner Records

Best rock

Bon Jovi – “Legendary” – Island

Coldplay – “feelslikeimfallinginlove” – Atlantic Records

Green Day – “Dilemma” – Reprise Records / Warner Records

Kings of Leon – “Mustang” – Capitol Records

WINNER: Lenny Kravitz – “Human” – ℗© 2024 Roxie Records Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management GmbH

U2 – “Atomic City” – Interscope Records

Best Latin

WINNER: Anitta – “Mil Veces” – Floresta Records / Republic Records / Universal Music Latin Entertainment

Bad Bunny – “Monaco” – Rimas Entertainment

Karol G – “Mi Ex Tenía Razón” – Bichota / Interscope Records

Myke Towers – “LaLa” – Warner Music Latina

Peso Pluma & Anitta – “Bellakeo” – Double P Records

Rauw Alejandro – “Touching the Sky” – Sony Music Latin / Duars Entertainment

Shakira & Cardi B – “Puntería” – Sony Music US Latin

Best Afrobeats

Ayra Starr ft. Giveon – “Last Heartbreak Song” – Mavin / Republic

Burna Boy – “City Boys” – Spaceship / Bad Habit / Atlantic Records

Chris Brown ft. Davido & Lojay – “Sensational” – Chris Brown Entertainment / RCA Records

Tems – “Love Me JeJe” – Since ’93 / RCA Records

WINNER: Tyla – “Water” – FAX Records / Epic Records

Usher, Pheelz – “Ruin” – mega / gamma.

Best K-pop

Jung Kook ft. Latto – “Seven” – BIGHIT MUSIC / Geffen Records

WINNER: LISA – “Rockstar” – Lloud Co. / RCA Records

NCT Dream – “Smoothie” – SM Entertainment / Virgin Music Group

NewJeans – “Super Shy” – ADOR / Geffen Records

Stray Kids – “LALALALA” – JYP Entertainment / Imperial / Republic Records

TOMORROW X TOGETHER – “Deja vu” – BIGHIT MUSIC / IMPERIAL / Republic Records

Video for good

Alexander Stewart – “if you only knew” – FAE grp

WINNER: Billie Eilish – “What Was I Made For (From Barbie)” – Darkroom / Interscope Records

Coldplay – “feelslikeimfallinginlove” – Atlantic Records

Joyner Lucas & Jelly Roll – “Best for Me” – Twenty Nine Music Group

RAYE – “Genesis.” – Human Re Sources

Tyler Childers – “In Your Love” – Hickman Holler Records / RCA Records

MTV push performance of the year

August 2023: Kaliii – “Area Codes” – Atlantic Records

September 2023: GloRilla – “Lick or Sum” – CMG / Interscope Records

October 2023: Benson Boone – “In The Stars” – Night Street Records, Inc. / Warner Records

November 2023: Coco Jones – “ICU” – Def Jam

December 2023: Victoria Monét – “On My Mama” – Lovett Music / RCA Records

January 2024: Jessie Murph – “Wild Ones” – Columbia Records

February 2024: Teddy Swims – “Lose Control” – Warner Records

March 2024: Chappell Roan – “Red Wine Supernova” – Island

April 2024: Flyana Boss – “yeaaa” – vnclm_/ Atlantic Records

May 2024: Laufey – “Goddess” – Laufey / AWAL

June 2024: LE SSERAFIM – “EASY” – SOURCE MUSIC / Geffen Records

July 2024: The Warning – “Automatic Sun” – Lava / Republic Records

VMAs Most Iconic Performance

Beyoncé – “Love on Top” (2011)

Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Madonna, Missy Elliott – “Like a Virgin” & “Hollywood” (2003)

Eminem – “The Real Slim Shady” & “The Way I Am” (2000)

WINNER: Katy Perry – “Roar” (2013)

Lady Gaga – “Paparazzi” (2009)

Madonna – “Like a Virgin” (1984)

Taylor Swift – “You Belong With Me” (2009)

Best Trending Video

Beyoncé – “Texas Hold ‘Em” – Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia Records

Camila Cabello feat. Playboi Carti – “I Luv It” – Geffen / Interscope Records

Chappell Roan – “Hot to Go!” – Amusement Records / Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.

Charli XCX – “Apple” – Atlantic Records

WINNER: Megan Thee Stallion feat. Yuki Chiba – “Mamushi” – Hot Girl Productions

Tinashe – “Nasty” – Nice Life Recording Company

Best Group

*NSYNC – RCA Records

Coldplay – Atlantic Records

Imagine Dragons – KIDinaKorner / Interscope Records

NCT Dream – SM Entertainment / Virgin Music Group

NewJeans – ADOR / Geffen Records

SEVENTEEN – PLEDIS Entertainment / Geffen Records

TOMORROW X TOGETHER – BIGHIT MUSIC / IMPERIAL / Republic Records

Twenty One Pilots – Fueled By Ramen

Song of Summer

Ariana Grande – “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)” – Republic Records

Benson Boone – “Beautiful Things” – Night Street Records, Inc. / Warner Records

Billie Eilish – “Birds of a Feather” – Darkroom / Interscope Records

Chappell Roan – “Good Luck, Babe!” – Amusement Records / Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.

Charli XCX & Billie Eilish – “Guess featuring Billie Eilish” – Atlantic Records

Eminem – “Houdini” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records

Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar – “Like That” – Wilburn Holding Co. / Boominati / Epic / Republic

GloRilla, Megan Thee Stallion – “Wanna Be” – CMG / Interscope Records

Hozier – “Too Sweet” – Columbia Records

Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – pgLang, under exclusive license to Interscope Records

Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen – “I Had Some Help” – Mercury / Republic / Big Loud

Sabrina Carpenter – “Please Please Please” – Island

Shaboozey – “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” – American Dogwood / EMPIRE

SZA – “Saturn” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records

WINNER: Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records

Tommy Richman – “Million Dollar Baby” – ISO Supremacy / PULSE Records / Concord

Technical awards

Best direction

Ariana Grande – “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” – Republic Records; directed by Christian Breslauer

Bleachers – “Tiny Moves” – Dirty Hit; directed by Alex Lockett & Margaret Qualley

Eminem – “Houdini” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records; directed by Rich Lee

Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA” – Hot Girl Productions; directed by Daniel Iglesias Jr.

Sabrina Carpenter – “Please Please Please” – Island; directed by Barbia Zeinali

WINNER: Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records; directed by Taylor Swift

Best cinematography

WINNER: Ariana Grande – “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” – Republic Records; cinematography by Anatol Trofimov

Charli XCX – “Von dutch” – Atlantic Records; cinematography by Jeff Bierman

Dua Lipa – “Illusion” – Warner Records; cinematography by Nikita Nuzmenko

Olivia Rodrigo – “obsessed” – Geffen Records; cinematography by Marz Miller

Rauw Alejandro – “Touching the Sky” – Sony Music Latin / Duars Entertainment; cinematography by Camilo Monsalve

Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records; cinematography by Rodrigo Prieto

Best editing

Anitta – “Mil Veces” – Floresta Records / Republic Records / Universal Music Latin Entertainment; editing by Nick Yumul

Ariana Grande – “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” – Republic Records; editing by Luis Caraza Peimbert

Eminem – “Houdini” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records; editing by David Checel

LISA – “Rockstar” – Lloud Co. / RCA Records; editing by Nik Kohler

Sabrina Carpenter – “Espresso” – Island; editing by Jai Shukla

WINNER: Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records; editing by Chancler Haynes

Best choreography

Bleachers – Tiny Moves – Dirty Hit; choreography by Margaret Qualley

WINNER: Dua Lipa – “Houdini” – Warner Records; choreography by Charm La’Donna

LISA – “Rockstar” – Lloud Co. / RCA Records; choreography by Sean Bankhead

Rauw Alejandro – “Touching the Sky” – Sony Music Latin / Duars Entertainment – Choreography by Felix ‘Fefe’ Burgos

Tate McRae – “Greedy” – RCA Records; choreography by Sean Bankhead

Troye Sivan – “Rush” – Capitol Records; choreography by Sergio Reis, Mauro Van De Kerkof

Best visual effects

Ariana Grande – “the boy is mine” – Republic Records; visual effects by Digital Axis

WINNER: Eminem – “Houdini” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records; visual effects by Synapse Virtual Production, Louise Lee, Rich Lee, Metaphysic, Flawless Post

Justin Timberlake – “Selfish” – RCA Records; visual effects by Candice Dragonas

Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA” – Hot Girl Productions; visual effects by Mathematic

Olivia Rodrigo – “get him back!” – Geffen Records; visual effects by Cooper Vacheron, Preston Mohr, Karen Arakelian, Justin Johnson

Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records; visual effects by Parliament

Best art direction

Charli XCX – “360” – Atlantic Records; art direction by Grace Surnow

LISA – “Rockstar” – Lloyd Co. / RCA Records; art direction byPongsan Thawatwichian

WINNER: Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA” – Hot Girl Productions; art direction by Brittany Porter

Olivia Rodrigo – “bad idea right?” – Geffen Records; art direction by Nichaolas des Jardins

Sabrina Carpenter – “Please Please Please” – Island; art direction by Nicholas des Jardins

Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records; art direction by Ethan Tobman

Beyoncé has been snubbed by the Country Music Awards, despite having one of the biggest country hits of the year with Texas Hold ‘Em.

When the nominees for the ceremony were announced on Monday morning, the star was notably absent – with not a single nomination.

Beyoncé had widely been expected to gain recognition at the awards, with fans speculating she could become the first black woman to be shortlisted for album of the year, for Cowboy Carter.

Instead, Morgan Wallen walked away with the most nominations, three years after being suspended by his record label for using a racial slur.

Rapper Kendrick Lamar will headline the Super Bowl half-time show, the National Football League and Apple Music announced on Sunday.

It will be the second time the Grammy and Pulitzer Prize-winning artist will perform in one of the most coveted events in music – but will be the first time he is the main act.

“Rap music is still the most impactful genre to date. And I’ll be there to remind the world why,” Lamar said in a statement. “They got the right one.”

The Super Bowl will be held on 9 February in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Among the selected artists are Nigeria’s rising stars, Tems and Rema, who have earned coveted spots on the prestigious playlist.

Tems’ soulful hit “Love Me Jeje” from her debut album is included, showcasing her emotional depth and captivating style.

Meanwhile, Rema’s chart-topping single “Yayo” from his sophomore album “Rave & Roses” (not “HEIS”) has also made the cut, boasting an impressive 60 million streams on Spotify and topping the charts in Greece.

Obama shared the playlist on his X handle, saying, “As summer winds down, I’m excited to share some of my recent favorite tunes – and, as always, I’ve curated an eclectic mix. I hope you discover something new to enjoy!”

Obama’s playlist also features Charli XCX’s “365,” Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em,” Tommy Richman’s “Million Dollar Baby,” “Wanna Be” by Glorilla & Megan Thee Stallion, Billie Eilish’s “CHIHIRO,” as well as classic tracks like 2Pac’s “How Do U Want It” featuring K-Ci & JoJo and Bob Dylan’s “Silvio.”

Recall during a recent interview with influencer Carter Gregory (thecarterb), Obama revealed that his daughters, Sasha and Malia, play a key role in keeping his musical tastes current and broadening his musical horizons.

“I get referrals from my daughters — which keeps me not stuck in the ’80s,” the former President told Mr Gregory.

Connie Chiume, a veteran South African actor who appeared in Marvel film Black Panther, has died at the age of 72, her family has announced.

The multi-award-winning actress starred in several South African TV shows including Rhythm City, Zone 14 and most recently, Gomora.

Chiume was a trained teacher but later became a household name on mainstream television.

She died at a Johannesburg hospital on Tuesday afternoon, a short family statement said.

But these stunning starlets haven’t always looked like they do today – with Hollywood’s best skincare and make-up on hand to have elevated their appearance.

Striking before and after photos show how the actresses and models have transformed their faces over the years, with the power of cosmetics experts, stylists and hairdressers behind them.

The ‘golden ratio’ refers to a specific mathematical ideal which uses set measurements to determine how aesthetically pleasing something is.

In terms of beauty standards, the theory suggests that the gap between the nose, mouth and eyes on a person’s face directly correlates to beauty.

It’s important to note that beauty is of course, subjective, and refers to people of all shapes, sizes and facial features.

How is the golden ratio used?

Beauty experts at London Facial Plastic Surgery have explained that the ratio is used to identify the ‘most appealing face features’.

Dr Julian De Silva explained: “At my clinic, we use digital mapping to study facial aspects like eyes, lips, and nose.

“We then set these against the Golden Ratio to determine the most pleasing features.

“We use a software to analyse face photos, measuring aspects like the gap between the nose, eyes, and lips. These measures are then matched with the Golden Ratio to gauge their similarity.

“Typically, the method marks crucial spots on a face, like eye corners, mouth corners, and the nose tip. The program then uses these markers to figure out facial proportions and ratios. It then contrasts these with the perfect proportions from the Golden Ratio.”

The 10 most beautiful women (according to the golden ratio)

In 2023, Dr De Silva revealed which celebrities have the highest golden ratio scores:

1. Jodie Comer – 94.52 percent
2. Zendaya – 94.37 percent
3. Bella Hadid – 94.35 percent
4. Beyoncé – 92.44 percent
5. Ariana Grande – 91.81 percent
6. Taylor Swift – 91.64 percent
7. Jourdan Dunn – 91.39 percent
8. Kim Kardashian – 91.28 percent
9. Deepika Padukone – 91.22 percent
10. HoYeon Jung – 89.63 percent

In an Instagram post, she wrote that 80% of the ‘old faces’ are currently not getting movie roles.

“How many of the old faces do you producers and directors cast anyway? 80% ain’t working. What is going on? Shoutout to all the producers holding us down. The industry needs you. Keep going,” the caption reads.

Beverly also mentioned in her post that, she has shot only two movies this year and called on movie producers to consider her while casting for their film projects.

“I think I am getting bored. I have done only two productions this whole year: ‘Yaa Basabasa’ on YouTube and one movie produced by Steve Ekeso. Where are the producers and directors? Forgotten about me? I’m a versatile actor ooo. I can do it all. Or you say you want new faces? Or you can’t pay me? Try me,” she wrote.

Beverly has acted in movies such as ‘I love you But’, ‘Return of Beyonce, ‘Crime to Christ’, ‘Never Again’, ‘Single Six’, ‘Bachelors’, ‘The King’s Bride’, ‘A Northern Affair’, ‘The Game’ and ‘Sidechic Gang.’

In 2010, she won Best Actress in Comedy at Terracotta Awards in Nigeria. She has also earned a number of nominations in various movie award schemes.

Apart from acting, Beverly runs her personal businesses. On Friday, April 5, 2024, she launched her newest business, Traffic Shawarma.

According to her, because a lot of people enter the movie industry now, actors need side businesses that will serve as alternative sources of income.

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