Entertainment

Chappell Roan Thanks Lady Gaga for Grammy Speech Shout-Out: ‘Love You + Your Album’

Published

5 months ago

March 10, 2025

Vicky

Chappell Roan is receiving some love from Lady Gaga — and the feeling is mutual.

In a recent interview with The New York Times, Gaga — who released her seventh album, Mayhem, on Friday (March 7) — was asked about Roan’s powerful acceptance speech at the 2025 Grammy Awards, where she advocated for record labels to support up-and-coming artists by providing them with livable wages and healthcare.

“I think Chappell Roan is speaking the truth, and she is courageous to do so,” Gaga said. “I look at what she’s been doing and saying and think, ‘Man, I should have stood up for myself more when I was younger.’ I think women speaking their mind is a powerful thing, and I was really happy she did that.”

On Saturday (March 8), the “Pink Pony Club” singer took to social media to thank Gaga for the shout-out and returned the compliment with a message of her own.

“Thank you @ladygaga I love you + your album so much <3,” Roan wrote in her Instagram Story over a screenshot of the Times interview.

During her best new artist acceptance speech at the Grammys on Feb. 2, Roan called out record labels for failing to provide livable wages or healthcare coverage for their artists, sharing her own experience after being dropped by Atlantic Records in 2020.

“If my label would have prioritized artists’ health, I could have been provided care by a company I was giving everything to,” she told the audience.

This isn’t the first time Gaga has shown support for Roan. Earlier, Gaga expressed admiration for Roan and other pop stars like Charli XCX, Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift and Kesha, all of whom she personally praised in her Vogue cover story in September 2024.

“I’m not only cheering them on, I want them to know that my heart is in it with them,” Gaga said at the time, tearing up. “And I want them all to feel really happy.”

Earlier this year, Gaga also shared some hard-earned wisdom with younger pop stars following in her footsteps. In an Elle interview in January, the 13-time Grammy winner gave her thoughts on artists like Roan and Sabrina Carpenter, who were quickly rising to superstar status in 2024.

“They’re amazing,” Gaga said of the musicians. “They’re strong and vibrant and creative and artistic. I think they’re being celebrated because they’re wonderful.” As for the advice she’d give to today’s younger pop stars, Gaga shared, “It would be that the whole you matters.”

“Who you are at home is just as valuable as who you are when you’re onstage,” the star explained. “And no matter what anyone says to you, you can value who you are outside of all of this … I’ve been in this business for years. Being a woman and a product at the same time was really exhausting.”

Vicky

Entertainment

Michael Tait Accuser Claims Christian Singer Has More Than 1,000 Sexual Assault Victims: ‘The Goal Is to See Him Go to Prison’

Published

13 hours ago

August 9, 2025

Vicky

Two months after reports alleging Michael Tait sexually assaulted several people over the course of decades rattled the Contemporary Christian Music community, some of the singer’s accusers are speaking out again — and one of them says he believes there could be more than 1,000 other people who share their experiences.

In a vulnerable interview with People published Friday (Aug. 8), Shawn Davis — who alleges that Tait drugged and raped him in 2003 — said that he is involved in building a legal case against the disgraced CCM star, whom Davis believes has more than 1,000 total victims, according to the publication. He also said that the Brentwood Police Department in Tennessee is currently carrying out an active investigation into Tait.

“We’re trying to head this and do everything we can in our power to take him down,” Davis told People. “Ultimately, in the end, the goal is to see him go to prison. We need every single victim possible to come forward. They deserve to know that they’re not the only ones, and they deserve to tell their story.”

Billboard has reached out to the Brentwood Police Department for comment. A rep for Tait could not immediately be reached.

Davis was one of a handful of men who detailed allegations of sexual assault against Tait in a June report from The Guardian, which followed on the heels of a similar investigation into the singer by The Roys Report. Despite Tait building his career on releasing music that encouraged abstinence and sobriety, both reports were filled with accusations that he had groomed, drugged and molested multiple people while partaking in drug and alcohol use for many years.

Soon after they were published, Tait responded to the allegations in a lengthy statement posted to Instagram. “Recent reports of my reckless and destructive behavior, including drug and alcohol abuse and sexual activity are sadly, largely true,” he wrote at the time. “For some two decades, I used and abused cocaine, consumed far too much alcohol and, at times, touched men in an unwanted sensual way. I am ashamed of my life choices and actions, and make no excuses for them. I will simply call it what God calls it — sin.”

Tait also noted that he had been seeking treatment since stepping down from his former band, the Newsboys, in January, adding that he’s now living a “clean and sober” life. (Following the reports, the remaining Newsboys members issued a statement saying they were “horrified, heartbroken and angry” to learn of Tait’s alleged behavior.)

His accusers, however, indicated to People that they won’t be satisfied until the singer is fully brought to justice.

“Why does Michael do what he does? Because Michael thought he was invincible,” said Randall Crawford, who alleges that Tait invited him over, roofied his drink and assaulted him while he was blacked out one night in 2000. “It was so traumatic. It did something to me spiritually, mentally and physically.”

“Look at the trail of destruction that he’s left behind,” Crawford added. “I have to speak up. I have kids that are the age of some of these victims. This is for the future generation. This is for those that are scared to speak up. I want more victims to come forward. I want Michael to find true repentance and remorse and feel terrible and not deny what he’s done to me.”

Another accuser, Jason Jones, told People that he thinks Tait’s statement following the Guardian and Roys Report investigations was “hogwash.” “I saw nothing but protection for himself,” added the music manager, who claims he was “blacklisted” by his industry after claiming that Tait had drugged and assaulted him in 1999.

As the men continue to band together and speak out about their experiences, Crawford said he hopes other artists in particular will rise up to condemn the star’s behavior. One of them, Hayley Williams, already has; in June, the Paramore frontwoman said that she believes the CCM industry at large is at fault for enabling predators, adding that she hopes the genre “crumbles” after hearing about Tait’s alleged crimes.

Crawford expressed something similar. “This is a problem,” he told People. “I want justice. I don’t want this to happen to another kid. I’ve seen what it does. It destroyed my career. I didn’t deserve this, what he did to me. I’ve held this shame for many years, [but] I have nothing to be ashamed of.”

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

Vicky

Entertainment

MGK Reveals What Taylor Swift Said to Him While Watching the Chiefs Lose the 2025 Super Bowl

Published

13 hours ago

August 9, 2025

Vicky

The Kansas City Chiefs’ disappointing loss at the 2025 Super Bowl is one that fans of the team — including Taylor Swift and MGK — will remember all too well.

Both musicians were present at the big game against the Philadelphia Eagles in February, with the pop star there to support boyfriend Travis Kelce and the former rapper on site to cheer on Kansas City before performing at the team’s afterparty later that night. But while hopes that the Chiefs could snag a “three-peat” Super Bowl win were high at the beginning of the game, they quickly faltered as the Eagles kept scoring to win 40-22 — something MGK reflected on talking to Swift about that day in an interview with ABC News on Wednesday (Aug. 6).

“I was in Travis’ suite, and at the beginning of it, Taylor was like, ‘Hell yeah, we’re gonna come watch you perform, it’s gonna be crazy tonight,'” the musician began. “Internally, I was stoked. I was like, ‘Oh what a legendary night this is gonna be.'”

“By the third quarter, dude, I was looking at that score,” he continued, laughing at the memory. “I went up to Taylor, I was like, ‘Y’all aren’t coming tonight, huh?’ She was like, ‘I don’t think so, man. I’ll see if I can get [Travis] to get out, but I don’t think [so].'”

MGK still had to perform at the losing team’s post-game party in New Orleans that night — a gig he does not recommend to other artists. “Don’t ever sign yourself up for that,” he said before joking, “Wait to sign the paper ’til third quarter or something, ’til it looks like it’s going one way or the other.”

But while the afterparty was a little bit grim, MGK will always support Kelce — a fellow Ohioan — and the rest of the Chiefs. “That’s my dawg,” the artist added of the athlete. “He’s from Cleveland. He’s from right next to where I’m from.”

Shortly after the interview, MGK went on to release his new album, Lost Americana, on Friday (Aug. 8). With none other than Bob Dylan in his corner during the rollout, his rootsy new project marks a shift away from the hip-hop and pop-punk genres he previously experimented with.

As for the Chiefs, Kelce and his teammates have been hard at work training for the upcoming season, which kicks off in early September. And after becoming a mainstay at Arrowhead Stadium throughout the past two NFL seasons after beginning her romance with the tight end in 2023, Swift is expected to appear at even more games this year now that she’s finished her global Eras Tour.

Watch MGK recall his conversation with Swift at the Super Bowl below.

Vicky

Entertainment

Here’s How to Get the Best Nike Back-to-School Deals — Save Up to 60% Off

Published

2 days ago

August 8, 2025

Vicky

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

With summer almost ending, we’re looking ahead to the back-to-school season for high schoolers, undergrads, music academy students and post-graduates in late August and early September. Luckily, Nike has a bunch of deals on all sorts of sneakers and apparel, so you can go back-to-school comfortable and in style.

We rounded up some of the best deals going on during Nike’s back-to-school sale on items, like sneakers, hoodies, backpacks, slides and more. In fact, even if what you’re looking for isn’t on sale, you can still take 20% off items with promo code SPORT at checkout.

Shop Back-to-School Deals at Nike.com

However, this the product you want is marked down, you can get an extra 20% off with the same code. We like deeper discounts, especially when they’re up to a whopping 60% off list prices.

Scroll down and shop our recommendations for the best items from Nike’s back-to-school sale.

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