Categoría: Billboard

Zach Bryan and Gavin Adcock were involved in a heated confrontation that nearly turned physical at the Born & Raised Festival in Pryor, Oklahoma. On Saturday (Sept. 13), the two country artists were caught on camera in a verbal altercation just moments before Adcock, 26, was scheduled to perform at the event. A video clip, shared on Instagram by Adcock, shows the singers arguing from opposite sides of a chain-link fence. “Hey, do you want to fight like a man? Come open the gate,” Bryan, 29, is heard saying before angrily shoving the fence. “When you get death threats from Sack Cryin before you headline in his hometown,” Adcock wrote over the short clip, using a mocking nickname for Bryan. He captioned the post, “Eat a snickers bro.” In another video posted to Facebook, Bryan is seen climbing over the barbed-wire-topped fence and lunging toward Adcock before being restrained by security. Adcock is shown walking away while escorted by a guard. Adcock faced criticism in the comments section, with one user writing, “He scaled a barbed wire fence … and you didn’t do s—t and hid behind security … this lil clip ain’t fooling anybody.” Adcock responded, “Had a show to play for Oklahoma. Wasn’t going to jail over that Psycho,” according to Penn Live. Billboard has reached out to representatives for both Bryan and Adcock for comment. The confrontation appears to be the latest chapter in an ongoing feud between the two country singers, which began earlier this summer. In mid-July, Adcock seemed to throw shade at Bryan over an interaction involving a 14-year-old fan who was disappointed after not receiving an autograph from the “I Remember Everything” singer. In a since-deleted TikTok comment following the second night of Bryan’s three-show run at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Bryan wrote, “You’re not entitled after someone plays two and a half hours to a picture or a hello,” adding the NSFW acronym “GOMD.” Adcock later responded on X, criticizing Bryan’s handling of the situation. “If you can’t handle the criticism of a 14 year old why do people idolize you?” he wrote. “That kid was head over heels to meet you and spent/ parents spent a ton of money to see you. He’s got feeling too and a you’re a ‘grown man’ nearly 30. They’re the only reason you are around.” Adcock expanded on his criticism during an appearance on Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now podcast. “It wasn’t about not wanting to sign autographs after a show, it’s like letting a 14-year-old kid rant, without saying, ‘get off my d—k.’ You’re bigger than that,” he said. “I think Zach Bryan puts on a big mask in his day-to-day life and sometimes he can’t help but rip it off and show his true colors,” he said, without elaborating on what those “true colors” might be. Despite the public feud, Adcock admitted he has never met Bryan. “I wouldn’t say Zach Bryan is my buddy,” he told the podcast. “I ain’t his buddy, he ain’t my buddy. I ain’t met the guy. I don’t need him.” Source link

Ariana Grande has released a statement to fans regarding concert ticket resellers after the North American dates of her 2026 Eternal Sunshine Tour went on sale, and quickly sold out, earlier this week on Ticketmaster. Though face value tickets are not currently available, ticket inventory can be found at inflated prices on the resale market– on Ticketmaster and on platforms including StubHub, TickPick, SeatGeek and more. Explore See latest videos, charts and news The singer posted an Instagram Story addressing the situation on Saturday (Sept. 13). “hi my angels, i have been on set all week but i wanted to let you know that what’s been happening with the secondary ticket resellers has been brought to my attention and of course i am incredibly bothered by it,” Grande wrote in her message. She continued, “i’ve been on the phone every second of my free time fighting for a solution. i hear you and hopefully, we will be able to get more of these tickets into your hands instead of theirs. it’s not right.” “i just wanted you to know that my team and i see it and that i care very much and we will do, and are doing, everything we can. i love you so much and thank you for your patience and understanding,” Grande said. The Eternal Sunshine Tour, with 36 dates scheduled for summer 2026 in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, begins on June 6, 2026 in Oakland, Calif. It runs through Aug. 6, wrapping in London, England. Grande, touring in support of her seventh studio album — the Billboard 200 chart topper Eternal Sunshine — announced initial dates in late August and added to the itinerary in September. Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox Sign Up Source link

As her wedding date with Benny Blanco nears, Selena Gomez mentioned her future children in an appearance on Amy Poehler’s podcast. Chatting on this week’s episode of Good Hang With Amy Poehler, Gomez named the movie she plans to make her kids watch someday. Gomez congratulated the comedian on her work portraying Joy in Disney and Pixar’s Inside Out and Inside Out 2, sharing that the animated movie franchise’s sequel — which introduces Anxiety (the character and emotion) into 13-year-old protagonist Riley’s life — had her in tears. In fact, the singer/actress/businesswoman thinks Inside Out 2 should be required viewing for all kids — including her own. “I watched it with my sister and I completely sobbed because it’s so factual … I almost feel like it should have been a requirement in school to watch that as a homework assignment,” Gomez said on the podcast’s Sept. 9 episode. She added that Gracie, her 12-year-old sister, also cried. (Watch the full episode below.) Explore See latest videos, charts and news “There’s that kind of heartbreak that happens when Anxiety moves in,” Poehler agreed. “No matter the age, you’re either feeling it in real time as a young person, [or] you’re remembering that feeling as a person in your 30s or 40s or 50s and above when your paint set got some darker colors in it. It’s part of growing up, but it’s brutal.” “It is. I’m gonna make my children watch it,” said Gomez, who’s not a parent now, but is getting ready for her upcoming nuptials to Blanco, clarified that thought: “Not yet.” “I know, I know they don’t exist yet, but I can’t wait,” Poehler replied amid squeals of wanting to see Selena with a baby. “They don’t,” said Gomez. Her future children popped up again in conversation. The I Said I Love You First singer, who also stars in Only Murders in the Building and runs cosmetics company Rare Beauty, says she has a hard time telling people “no,” but that might change “when I have kids.” “I feel like I owe a lot of people in the world any sort of smile, hug, picture, so it’s very hard,” Gomez explained. “When I don’t do it, I promise you it’s because I’m either really having a hard time dealing with my anxiety, or I’m late, which I try not to be. But in general, it’s a lot — ‘cause I love doing it. I think about it too much. I’ll think about if I missed that one person. It can get crazy in my head.” “I feel protective of you,” Poehler told her. “As a women that is older … I think that any woman in her 30s is doing that thing where they’re trying to figure out, basically, what is expensive for me with energy? You start protecting it.” Gomez responded, “I think that’ll happen moreso if I, when I, have kids. I’ll probably put more boundaries up for the sake of the sanity of, you know, what that will look like.” Before the interview, Poehler talked to Only Murders co-star Martin Short about Gomez, who raved about working with her and described what it’s like when the horde of paparazzi turns up while the pop star’s filming scenes on the streets of New York City. “When Selena joins us, there’s about 120 paparazzi and they’re there all day,” Short told Poehler. “I’m sure they’re just waiting for her to fall or stumble or [be] mean — therefore they could make more money from it. That’s been her life. She does have security on the streets — we all do — but she’s so lovely with them and they’ve been in her life so long. The only time I ever saw her get a little stern is when they were a little abrupt to like this 14-year-old fan of hers, and she goes, ‘Never do that.’ You can’t fault her.” Meanwhile Gomez recounted one particular on-set incident caught on camera while filming season two: “Someone said a vile word to someone else, and it was a photographer … I just looked at him and I gave him the finger. There’s just one shot of me [giving the finger]. And he missed it. He’s not even the one who got it. The other people started laughing, and I was like, I don’t even care. I’m just so … I can’t tolerate this kind of stuff. But then they want that kind of reaction, so I’m like, damnit.” Poehler shrugged it off: “One finger in 33 years?” “There’s probably been a couple more,” Gomez admitted. “We can probably find them,” Poehler quipped. Source link

Sharon Osbourne is “still having trouble finding the words” after Ozzy Osbourne’s death earlier this summer. On Friday (Sept. 12), the 72-year-old wife and longtime manager of the Black Sabbath frontman — who passed away on July 22 at age 76 — spoke out on social media for the first time since his passing, opening up about her grief and the outpouring of support she has received. “I’m still having trouble finding the words to express how grateful I am for the overwhelming love and support you’ve shown on social media,” the British TV personality wrote alongside an Instagram video featuring herself and daughter Kelly at a falconry in England. “Your comments, posts, and tributes have brought me more comfort than you know,” she continued. “None of it has gone unnoticed, in fact, it’s carried me through many nights. Though I’m still finding my footing, I wanted to share some glorious creatures I had the chance to spend an afternoon with.” Sharon went on to describe the emotional connection she felt during the experience. “The connection you make with these powerful birds is built entirely on trust and confidence,” she wrote. “They’ll choose to perch on you only if they sense you are safe and unafraid of them. It’s a bond I know all too well, and the experience was nothing short of magical.” Osbroune concluded her message with a heartfelt note of gratitude. “I love you all, and I thank you deeply for the otherworldly amount of love you continue to send my way,” she wrote. The video montage showed Sharon and Kelly interacting with exotic birds at Cornwall Falconry in England. In one clip, a falcon swoops down onto Sharon’s gloved hand to feed, while Kelly looks on with a smile. Another shows a white owl landing on Sharon’s arm in slow motion. In another moment, Sharon is seen gently petting a bird, followed by a playful scene where another bird perches atop Kelly’s winter hat. Days earlier, Kelly shared the same video on her own Instagram account, writing, “Today I introduced my mum to falconry and she loved it! Thank you @gerardsulter for putting a smile on my mum’s face too!” Sharon’s post marks her first public statement since Ozzy’s death. Her previous Instagram post was a photo taken with Andrew Watt and Slash at Black Sabbath’s farewell concert in early July. Ozzy died just weeks after performing his final live show in Birmingham, England. His family confirmed the news in a joint statement at the time. “It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning,” they wrote. “He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.” See Sharon Osbourne’s full post on Instagram below. Source link

Brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher reunited in Mexico after 17 years on Friday (Sept. 12), and the long wait to see Oasis live again was worth every moment — with the differences that led to their 2009 breakup behind replaced by a celebration of pure, unfiltered rock and roll. The British band’s inaugural stop in Latin America on their highly successful Oasis Live ’25 reunion tour — which launched in Cardiff, Wales, on July 4 — drew a crowd of 65,000 fans at Mexico City’s Estadio GNP Seguros, according to promoter OCESA. It was the first of two sold-out nights at the iconic venue, which witnessed a majestic two-hour performance featuring songs that have become generational anthems globally. “¡Viva México!”, shouted frontman Liam Gallagher visibly moved, as he walked onto the stage hand in hand with his brother Noel. “It’s good to be back!” The massive screens displayed the message “This is happening,” followed by “Mexico City,” setting the tone for an unforgettable night. Later, Liam delivered another compliment that the crowd celebrated enthusiastically: “You’re fuchsia, beautiful, heavenly and majestic.” The setlist performed in the Latin American country stayed true to what the band has been playing in previous shows, opening with “Hello” and including tracks like “Acquiesce,” “Morning Glory,” “Some Might Say,” “Cigarettes & Alcohol,” “Supersonic,” “Stand by Me” and “Live Forever.” And closing with the powerful “Wonderwall” and “Champagne Supernova.” As has been the tradition during their reunion tour, Oasis was joined on stage by a cardboard cutout of Spanish soccer manager Pep Guardiola, who leads Manchester City. But here, they gave it a Mexican touch by placing a traditional charro sombrero on it. One of the most emotional moments came during the performance of “Acquiesce,” when Noel sang the song’s chorus with heartfelt conviction: “Because we need each other, we believe in one another,” creating a feeling of hope among fans. On the eve of the show, Oasis announced their arrival by lighting up Mexico City’s sky with a drone display that formed the band’s name. The spectacle flew over the majestic Bosque de Chapultepec, surprising locals and quickly going viral on social media. For this leg of their tour, the Gallagher brothers were joined by guitarist Paul “Bonehead” Arthur, guitarist Gem Archer, bassist Andy Bell, and drummer Joey Waronker. The opening act for the night was the American rock band Cage the Elephant. On Saturday (Sept. 13), Oasis is set to perform a second night in Mexico City before heading back to London for two shows at Wembley Stadium, on Sept. 27 and 28. The Latin American leg of the tour will resume on Nov. 15 in Argentina, continuing through Chile and concluding in Brazil on Nov. 22-23. Source link

The Foo Fighters are gearing up for their first live performance with new drummer Ilan Rubin. The Dave Grohl-led rockers made a surprise announcement on Friday night (Sept. 12), revealing that they’re playing an all-ages show at the Fremont Theater in San Luis Obispo, California, on Saturday (Sept. 13). The intimate gig at the 900-capacity venue will mark the band’s first official performance with Rubin, the former Nine Inch Nails drummer who joined the group earlier this summer. “SOUND ON. See you Saturday in San Luis Obispo,” the Foo Fighters wrote on Instagram alongside a show poster. Fans also quickly noticed a teaser of what seems to be a newly recorded track — and judging by the reaction, they’re fully on board with the riff-heavy sound. “Yeeees this is the sound we like … Good heavy riffs! The boys are back to what they’re good at and it feels good!!” one fan commented Others speculated that the song may have roots in the band’s past live sets. “They played this in-between All My Life in Birmingham a couple years ago. Glad they’re putting it out soon!” a fan noted. Another added, “It’s definitely not live yep. Maybe they didn’t wanna do it exactly the way they’d jammed it live? But the similarities are definitely there. It’s the 30th anniversary of the band this year, maybe they’re gonna release new versions of old songs? But it’s undeniably got All My Life influences here. Maybe it’ll be like a KISS – Sonic Boom scenario. Who knows.” In the days leading up to Saturday’s San Luis Obispo show, Foo Fighters dropped a pair of cryptic teasers on social media, including a nod to “Weird Al” Yankovic, who recorded his parody song “My Bologna” on the city’s Cal Poly campus in 1979. They also shared a photo that appeared to show Grohl wearing a T-shirt from Boo Boo Records, a beloved local record store. The Foo Fighters has been off the road since September 2024 and is set to return to the stage with upcoming shows in Indonesia (Oct. 2), Singapore (Oct. 4), Japan (Oct. 7, 8, 10) and Mexico City (Nov. 14). The band released their 11th studio album, But Here We Are, in 2023, marking their first new music following the death of longtime drummer Taylor Hawkins. The act also marked its 30th anniversary in July with the release of a new track titled “Today’s Song.” In July, the Foos announced Rubin as their new drummer following the departure of veteran session and live drummer Josh Freese, who joined the group in May 2023 after Hawkins’ passing. Check out the Foo Fighters’ San Luis Obispo show announcement — and new song teaser — below on Instagram. Source link

Organizers of Farm Aid 40 have confirmed that this year’s festival will proceed as planned at the University of Minnesota, following a resolution between the university’s administration and striking workers. On Saturday (Sept. 13), Farm Aid organizers announced on social media that the annual event will be held at Minneapolis’ Huntington Bank Stadium on Sept. 20, after the university and Teamsters Local 320 reached a labor agreement. “Farm Aid is grateful that the University of Minnesota and Teamsters Local 320 have reached an agreement,” organizers wrote on Instagram. “We are thrilled to confirm that Farm Aid 40 will go forward in Minneapolis as planned.” They continued, “For four decades, Farm Aid has stood with farmers and workers. Today’s agreement is a reminder of what can be achieved when people come together in the spirit of fairness and solidarity.” The 2025 edition of Farm Aid — marking the festival’s 40th anniversary — will feature headliners Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews, Kenny Chesney, Margo Price and Billy Strings, among others. The event is expected to draw a crowd of approximately 50,000 fans. “We look forward to celebrating that spirit on September 20 — alongside farmers, workers, advocates, artists and fans — in a day of music and community that honors this shared history,” the statement concluded. The labor dispute had cast uncertainty over the event in recent weeks. On Friday (Sept. 12), Farm Aid revealed that Nelson, the festival’s co-founder and president, had personally spoken with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz in an effort to help resolve the situation. “I spoke with @mngovernor, and I’m grateful that he understands what’s at stake for farmers and Farm Aid,” Nelson said in a statement on Instagram. “His involvement is very appreciated. We both know that, ultimately, it’s up to the University to do the right thing, and soon, so that Farm Aid 40 can go forward.” Farm Aid first announced the location for its 40th anniversary concert in May, naming the University of Minnesota as host. But on Sept. 4, members of Teamsters Local 320 — which represents public sector employees including custodial, maintenance, food service and sanitation staff — voted to reject a proposed contract extension. The union went on strike days later. Crews were set to begin building the festival infrastructure on Sept. 12. Prior to the agreement, organizers acknowledged the difficulty of relocating the event at such a late stage. “It is critical to understand that if Farm Aid 40 is forced to move or cancel, the financial impact could be devastating,” organizers said in a previous statement to Billboard. “The expenses already incurred to bring this historic event to Minnesota may well threaten the survival of our organization after four decades of service to family farmers.” “We urge the University of Minnesota to settle this contract quickly so that Farm Aid 40 can proceed as intended — to celebrate four decades of farmers, music, and solidarity. The world is watching, and together we can make sure this anniversary is remembered for unity, not division.” Since being founded in 1985, Farm Aid has raised more than $85 million “to promote a strong and resilient family farm system of agriculture,” according to its website. See Farm Aid’s statement about moving forward in Minneapolis on Instagram below. Source link

From career milestones to new music releases to major announcements and those little important moments, Billboard editors highlight uplifting moments in Latin music. Here’s what happened in the Latin music world this week. Explore See latest videos, charts and news Peso Pluma Makes Fashion History This week, Peso Pluma made history as the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s (CFDA) first Mexican ambassador for New York Fashion Week. Dressed in Willy Chavarría and styled by Anastasia Walker, the música Mexicana superstar made his official debut at the CFDA cocktail party hoisted in Rockefeller Center by CFDA Chairman Thom Browne, alongside designers Michael Kors and Anna Sui. Peso was joined in the celebration by his girlfriend and pop singer, Kenia OS, as well as Young Miko, who’s also an ambassador. Trueno Teams Up with Gorillaz Trueno unveiled a cool career move this week, sharing on his Instagram that he’s a featured artist on Gorillaz‘s upcoming studio album, The Mountain. Set to release March 2026, the Argentine artist is a collaborator on the track “The Manifesto,” also featuring the late Proof. Additionally, Trueno will be joining the group on key dates of its The Mountain Tour set to kicks off Spring 2026 across the U.K. and Ireland. “It is an honor to be able to carry this beautiful responsibility, from La Boca to where I never imagined,” he expressed. Trueno and Gorillaz first shared stage at the 2022 Quilmes Rock Festival in Argentina, where the rapper joined the group for a freestyle of their hit single “Clint Eastwood.” Chiquis Continues Giving Back “This has always been a part of who I am, I like to give back,” Chiquis said in a new reel posted this week. In the clip, the Mexican-American singer talks about the importance of having compassion and helping her community, while also visiting a local supermarket and paying for the groceries of many strangers. “This is for my people. Those who dream, those who fight and don’t give up,” she captioned the post. “For my hardworking people, those who smile even when life is sometimes hard.” Her sweet gesture also served as a teaser of her upcoming single “Pa’ Mi Gente,” out Sept. 18. A Laura Pausini Museum A museum dedicated to Laura Pausini‘s prolific career will open its doors in Italy, becoming the first musesum dedicated to a music star in the country. Encouraged by her father to turn their family home into a hot spot for tourist and fans — and with the support of mayor Maria Diletta Beltrani and the entire municipality of Solarolo — the museum will showcase Pausini’s awards, memorable outfits, personal belongings, and objects donated by her fans. The exhibition will officially open on Sept. 13 and will be free of charge to members of her fan club. For more information, visit here. Source link

Bounty Killer received a Lifetime Achievement Award Honor and Busta Rhymes received an Elite Icon Award at the 2025 Caribbean Music Awards, which were presented on Aug. 28 at Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, N.Y. The third annual ceremony, hosted by comedian Majah Hype, aired on BET on Sept. 12. A giant in the dancehall space, Bounty Killer has earned three entries on the Billboard Hot 100: 1997’s “Hip-Hopera” (No. 81, with The Fugees), 1998’s “Deadly Zone” (No. 79, with Mobb Deep and Rappin’ Noyd) and 2001’s “Hey Baby” (No. 5, with No Doubt). The Kingston-bred artist’s lifetime achievement honor arrived nearly two months after he headlined Brooklyn’s Barclays Center for his first U.S. performance in 15 years. Busta Rhymes, who recently received the inaugural Rock the Bells Visionary Award at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, has spent his career supporting Caribbean talent as one of hip-hop’s most visible Jamaican-Americans. The Billboard 200 chart-topper has collaborated with the likes of Vybz Kartel, Spice, Sean Paul, Skillibeng, YG Marley, Ding Dong and Popeye Caution. Shenseea and Masicka entered the night as the most nominated artists (seven apiece), and both took home several trophies. Shenseea nearly swept the ceremony with five wins, including dancehall album of the year for Never Gets Late Here, which also earned the pop-dancehall princess her first solo Grammy nomination earlier this year. Masicka, who took home three awards with Shenseea thanks to their smash “Hit & Run” single, won a fourth trophy for reggae song of the year thanks to his featured turn on Romain Virgo’s “Been There Before.” Several other artists scored multiple victories, including Kartel (three), Virgo (three), Di Genius (three), Patrice Roberts (two) and Kes (two). Other winners in competitive categories included Lila Iké, Lady Lava, Buju Banton, and Armanii, who recently performed at Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Live (Sept. 6). Lady Lava took home the inaugural zess-steam artist of the year award, and Dexta Daps took home the first-ever Caribbean R&B artist of the year honor. The Caribbean Music Awards recognize artists, producers, and industry professionals who have significantly contributed to the Caribbean music landscape. This year’s nominations list included more than 40 categories spanning a diverse range of genres, including reggae, soca and dancehall. The awards are presented by the Caribbean Elite Group, which also produces Caribbean Elite Magazine – a print and digital publication which highlights Caribbean entertainers, artists, producers, promoters, cuisine, travel, fashion and entrepreneurs. Here’s a complete list of winners in both competitive (fan-voted) and honorary categories. Competitive Categories 2025 Impact Award (Dancehall): Armanii 2025 Impact Award (Reggae): YG Marley 2025 Impact Award (Soca): Yung Bredda Album of the Year (Reggae): Romain Virgo, The Gentle Man Album of the Year (Dancehall): Shenseea, Never Gets Late Here Artist of the Year (Bouyon): Mr. Ridge Artist of the Year (French Caribbean): Joé Dwèt Filé Artist of the Year (Latin Caribbean): Bad Bunny Artist/Band of the Year (Konpa): Rutshelle Guillaume Caribbean R&B Artist of the Year: Dexta Daps Caribbean Fusion Artist of the Year: Naïka Zess-Steam Artist of the Year: Lady Lava Artist of the Year — Female (Dancehall): Shenseea Artist of the Year — Female (Reggae): Lila Iké Artist of the Year — Female (Soca): Patrice Roberts Artist of the Year — Male (Dancehall): Vybz Kartel Artist of the Year — Male (Reggae): Romain Virgo Artist of the Year — Male (Soca): Kes Best New Artist (Dancehall): Malie Donn Best New Artist (Reggae): Sevana Best New Artist (Soca): Blaka Dan Collaboration of the Year (Soca): Trilla G, Lil Boy & Quan, “Someone Else” Collaboration of the Year (Reggae): Bugle, Buju Banton & Damian “Jr Gong” Marley, “Thank You Lord” Collaboration of the Year (Dancehall): Shenseea, Masicka & Di Genius, “Hit & Run” Cruise Event of the Year: UberSoca Music Event of the Year: Vybz Kartel’s Freedom Street Male International DJ of the Year: DJ Private Ryan Female International DJ of the Year: DJ Ana People’s Choice: Vybz Kartel Performer of the Year (Dancehall): Spice Performer of the Year (Soca): Kes Song of the Year (Dancehall): Shenseea, Masicka & Di Genius, “Hit & Run” Song of the Year (Soca): Mical Teja, “DNA” Song of the Year (Reggae): Romain Virgo feat. Masicka, “Been There Before” Video of the Year (Reggae/Dancehall): Shenseea, Masicka & Di Genius, “Hit & Run” Video of the Year (Soca): Patrice Roberts, “Anxiety” Honorary Awards Lifetime Achievement Award: Bounty Killer Elite Icon Award: Busta Rhymes Legacy Award: Carimi Humanitarian Award: Sizzla Producer Award Honor: Kerwin Du Bois Gospel Award Honor: Shirley Ann Cyril-Mayers Calypso Award Honor: Austin “Super Blue” Lyons Source link

From Vybz Kartel’s culture-quaking comeback to the global domination of Moliy, Silent Addy and Disco Neil’s “Shake It to the Max,” Caribbean music and culture have been running 2025. To commemorate an incredible year, the region’s biggest and buzziest stars descended upon Kings Theater in Brooklyn, N.Y. for the third annual Caribbean Music Awards (Aug. 28). Hosted by Majah Hype, the “King of Caribbean Comedy,” the night featured special performances from Machel Montano, Elephant Man, Ding Dong, Lady Lava, Full Blown, Maureen, and more. With reggae, dancehall, calypso, konpa and soca all given spotlights, the breadth of West Indian music was on full display. Additional celebrity appearances included Shenseea, Spice, Dexta Daps, Serani, Buju Banton, Patrice Roberts, Alison Hinds, Lyrikal, and Armanii, who recently performed at Billboard‘s annual R&B/Hip-Hop Live concert on Sept. 6. Inside the theater, attendees were treated to a litany of West Indian iconoclasts, including live steelpan bands, blinged-out Carnival costumes, and Jamaican and Haitian beef patties. In addition to over 40 competitive awards, several pillars of Caribbean music were honored for their contributions to the culture. Bounty Killer took home the lifetime achievement award, Sizzla earned the humanitarian award, and Busta Rhymes was honored with the elite icon award. Additional special honorees included Austin “Super Blue” Lyons (calypso honors), Kerwin Du Bois (producer honor), Carimi (legacy award) and Shirley Ann Cyril-Mayers (gospel honors). This year’s Caribbean Music Awards aired Sept. 12 on BET, marking the very first time the ceremony has been televised. On the red carpet, Billboard hosted a live stream co-hosted by staff writer Kyle Denis and Love Island USA’s Chelley Bissainthe. Here are the six best moments from the 2025 Caribbean Music Awards. Third Time’s the Charm for DJ Puffy Since the Aug. 28 ceremony was taped to air on BET on Sept. 12, if there was an error in the program, we had to run it back in real time in Kings Theatre. During one particularly funny moment, DJ Puffy — who won International DJ of the Year at the 2024 ceremony — had to run back his lines three different times. He missed his cue the first time, the audience applause was a bit lackluster the second, and the third time just felt like Majah Hype was in a silly, goofy mood. All in all, it was an admirably human moment that kept the night a bit more grounded than your average awards spectacle. Alison Hinds Salutes Rihanna This year marks 20 years of Rihanna’s debut single, the iconic dancehall-inflected “Pon de Replay.” Although the Bajan Bad Gyal was not in attendance — after all, she’s nearing the end of her third pregnancy! — soca icon Alison Hinds gave a sweet shoutout to the pop icon for her towering legacy, drawing cheers and applause from those in the room. Elephant Man’s Explosive Opener To kick off the show, Elephant Man — fresh off of serenading Love Island USA’s Chelley Bissainthe with his viral remix of the late Connie Francis’ “Pretty Little Baby” — delivered a rousing medley of hits, including “Pon de River, Pon de Bank” and “Nuh Linga.” Decked out in a glitzy navy blue sweatsuit and flanked by endlessly energetic dancers to evoke the relentless fervor of the dancehall, Elephant Man instantly brought Kings Theatre to his feet — and that was before his special guests took the stage. Ding Dong, who recently spoke with Billboard about releasing his debut album two decades after his initial musical breakthrough, joined Elephant Man onstage with his classic hit “Badman Forward, Badman Pull Up.” For a night that began with a lovably hectic extended family reunion on the red carpet, Elephant Man and Ding Dong maintained that energy as the ceremony commenced. DJ Khaled & Swizz Beatz Honor Bounty Killer Bounty Killer brought out all the stars for his lifetime achievement honor, including Grammy-winning producers DJ Khaled and Swizz Beatz. To honor the dancehall icon, the two producers shared anecdotes they’ve accumulated over the years, including one cricket match in Spanishtown where Bounty pulled out “the biggest ratchet” Swizz had ever seen at the time. The mutual love and respect were apparent throughout their speech, but when they finished and a career montage began to play, Khaled and Swizz wasted no time brushing the dirt off Bounty’s shoulders and making sure he looked as sharp as possible for his big moment. It’s that kind of camaraderie and brotherhood that makes both dancehall and hip-hop so special. Notably, the afternoon of the ceremony, Khaled dropped a new single featuring Bounty, Vybz Kartel, Buju Banton, Mavado, Rorystonelove and Kaylan Arnold called “You Remind Me.” Busta Rhymes Illuminates Brooklyn’s Afro-Caribbean History A few weeks before he accepted the Rock the Bells Visionary Award from LL Cool J at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards (Sept. 7), Busta Rhymes received the Elite Icon Award from the Caribbean Music Awards. Presented by Buju Banton, who took home reggae collaboration of the year for “Thank You Lord” (with Bugle and Damian “Jr Gong” Marley), the honor allowed Busta to wax poetic about the impact of his Jamaican parents and heritage on his approach to hip-hop and cross-genre collaboration. “I’m super honored and super blessed and super grateful to Jamaican culture for raising me and gifting me with the Jamaican parents that I have,” he said. “I want to thank Brooklyn for making me experience this beautiful Caribbean community…. I take Jamaica everywhere I go. It don’t matter what song, what video, what stage, the reason why a lot of artists can’t see me in hip-hop is because of that Caribbean cheat code that I be using all the time. It’s my weapon when I want to respectfully compete… or disrespectfully compete!” Machel Montano & Ayetian Make Surprise Appearance During Full Blown’s Performance Between performing NPR Tiny Desk’s first-ever soca set to headlining the inaugural Planet Brooklyn music festival and winning his 11th Road March title, it’s been quite a year for Machel Montano. While the Trini legend