Author: Rap Hooks

Sometimes, holiday songs become classics thanks to originating in a film – say, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” from 1944’s Meet Me in St. Louis. And then you have those tunes that may have found a new audience because of their later use in a movie, like when Mariah Carey’s 1994 song “All I Want for Christmas Is You” was covered memorably in 2003’s Love Actually.

On the latest Billboard Pop Shop Podcast — and near the eve of Christmas — Katie and Keith are talking through a selection of unforgettable movies, and moments, featuring holiday music – including White Christmas (1954), Home Alone (1990), Elf (2003), Love Actually (2003) and Mean Girls (2004). Listen to the discussion below.

Plus, as it’s the final episode of the pod for 2025, the team also jingles their way through a chat about some of their favorite holiday movies that are essential viewing for them during the season. Some of those festive films include The Polar Express, Scrooged, The Muppet Christmas Carol and the original Miracle on 34th Street.

The Billboard Pop Shop Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things pop on Billboard‘s weekly charts. You can always count on a lively discussion about the latest pop news, fun chart stats and stories, new music, and guest interviews with music stars and folks from the world of pop. Casual pop fans and chart junkies can hear Billboard‘s executive digital director, West Coast, Katie Atkinson and Billboard’s managing director, charts and data operations, Keith Caulfield every week on the podcast, which can be streamed on Billboard.com or downloaded in Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast provider. (Click here to listen to the previous edition of the show on Billboard.com.)

Enrique Iglesias and Anna Kournikova now have a family of six.

The longtime partners welcomed their fourth child last week, sharing on Instagram that their youngest was born Dec. 17. “My Sunshine 12.17.2025,” the joint post is captured, sharing a photo of the baby alongside a stuffed sloth. No details have been shared about the baby’s name or sex.

The baby joins 8-year-old twins Nicholas and Lucy, born in December 2017, and 5-year-old daughter Mary (nicknamed Masha), born in January 2020. Adorably, Iglesias also captioned his Instagram birth announcement for Mary in a similar fashion, writing at the time: “My Sunshine 01.30.2020.”

The Spanish pop superstar and the Russian tennis player began dating in 2001, meaning next year will mark their 25th anniversary.

Kournikova’s last Instagram post before the baby announcement was a picture with her three older kids on Halloween, with the girls wearing matching pumpkin costumes and Mom in a yellow duck costume.

In March 2024, Iglesias released his most recent album, Final (Vol. 2), featuring collaborations with Miranda Lambert, Belinda, El Alfa and Maria Becerra. The project debuted in the top 10 on Billboard‘s Latin Pop Albums, landing at No. 6.

Iglesias holds the record for the most No. 1 songs on Billboard‘s Hot Latin Songs chart (27 songs) and the Latin Pop Airplay chart (24 songs). He’s also landed 25 hits on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, including two chart-toppers: the three-week No. 1 “Be With You” in 2000 and the two-week No. 1 “Bailamos” in 1999.

Romeo Santos collects a 23rd No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart with “Lokita Por Mí,” alongside Prince Royce, extending his own record for the most No. 1s among acts that primarily record tropical music. The track surges 5-1 on the chart dated Dec. 27. Royce, meanwhile, banks his 20th champ.

“Lokita Por Mí” was released Nov. 28 on I Love Amiguita/Sony Music Latin, as one of 13 bachatas on Santos and Royce’s collaborative album Better Late Than Never. The set debuted at No. 1 on the Top Tropical Albums and at No. 2 on the Top Latin Albums charts (dated Dec. 13).

“Lokita” rises to No. 1 after an 11% increase in audience impressions, to 8.2 million, earned in the United States on the Dec. 12-18 tracking week, as reported by Luminate. It sends Feid’s “Se Lo Juro Mor” to No. 7, after the latter’s 32% dip in impressions (to 6.1 million).

With the latest achievement, Santos strengthens his record for the most No. 1s among tropical acts, with 23 champs. This comes just eight months after his “Khé?” with Rauw Alejandro, claimed the top spot for a week in March.

Royce, meanwhile, holds the second spot among tropical acts with 20 No. 1s. He also ties with Karol G for the 10th-most No. 1s across all genres. Additionally, the song climbs from No. 3 to No. 1 on the Tropical Airplay chart.

Here are the 11 acts with the largest collection of No. 1s on the overall Latin Airplay chart since its inception in 1994:

Count, Artist
39, J Balvin
36, Ozuna
32, Enrique Iglesias
30, Bad Bunny
29, Daddy Yankee
25, Maluma
24, Shakira
24, Wisin
23, Romeo Santos
20, Karol G
20, Prince Royce

RainNao’s First: Puerto Rican singer-songwriter RaiNao, celebrates her first No. 1 on a Billboard chart as her collab with Bad Bunny, “Perfumito Nuevo,” claims the top spot on the Latin Rhythm Airplay chart. The track rises 4-1 after two weeks in the top 10.

“Perfumito Nuevo” secures the No. 1 spot with the Greatest Gainer honors, after registering 6.3 million audience impressions, up 30%, earned during the tracking period. Plus, the song flies 21-6 on the overall Latin Airplay chart for its first week in the top 10. For Benito, the new win adds a 37th top 10 to his ledger, RaiNao scores her first.

All charts (dated Dec. 27) will update on Billboard.com Tuesday, Dec. 23. For all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram. Plus, for all chart rules and explanations, click here.

Nicki Minaj made a guest appearance at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest on Sunday, as the Queens rap legend sat down with right-wing political commentator Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, for a glowing interview — but Charlie might not have been as positive about the rapper in his lifetime, according to a resurfaced video.

Throughout her time onstage, Minaj effusively championed President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance for the job their administration has done since getting into office. She praised them as “role models” for society to follow, while condemning California Governor Gavin Newsom, whom she nicknamed “New-scum.”

“Dear young men, you have amazing role models like our handsome, dashing president and you have amazing role models like the assassin JD Vance, our vice president,” Minaj said, later adding, “This administration is full of people with heart and soul, and they make me proud of them. Our vice president, he makes me … well, I love both of them. Both of them have a very uncanny ability to be someone that you relate to.”

But despite Minaj’s praise, Charlie Kirk — who was shot and killed on Sept. 10 at a campus debate event in Utah in what Gov. Spencer Cox called a “political assassination” — was previously critical of Minaj and her music in a resurfaced clip from April 2024, which has made the rounds on social media since Nicki’s AmericaFest appearance.

While he seemed to conflate Nicki and Cardi B, Kirk deemed that Minaj was not a suitable role model for young Black women.

“Black culture is being held captive by influences, songs and role models. Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, I don’t think that’s a good role model for 18-year-old Black girls,” he said. “I don’t think that songs that are talking about glorifying wet female genitalia — I don’t know which one wrote that song.”

It’s unclear what Kirk’s view of Minaj was at the time of his death. Supporters also recirculated a tweet from Kirk in 2021, and his view of how the rapper was being treated by the Democratic Party.

“Democrats’ treatment of Nicki Minaj should be all the proof you need that they don’t care about Black people, especially those they can’t control. They just use them every 4 years for their votes,” Kirk wrote. “But people are waking up.”

Minaj has continued to be outspoken about political issues, and she attended a United Nations event in November to raise awareness about the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria.

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Cutting the cable cord doesn’t mean you have to give up watching your favorite Christmas movies, bing-worthy TV shows and live sporting events. Sling TV is a great affordable streaming option that’ll give you access to channels like ESPN, Bravo, E!, FX and AMC, among others, for one low price.

In short, Sling TV delivers the best value for premium content, and is one of the best ways to stream live TV online. While Sling is already affordable at $45 a month, a new Sling Orange & Blue deal gets you the best of both plans for 50% off the regular $65.99+ monthly subscription price for a limited time.

Keep reading to learn more about Sling TV including the best deals and promos currently going on.

What Is Sling TV?

Sling TV is a TV streaming platform that’ll give you instant access to more than 30 live TV channels that you can watch online without needing cable. Other streaming services like Apple TV+ and Netflix only provide you with on-demand shows and movies, but Sling TV will give you on-demand content and live TV channels to watch at your leisure. You can choose from three different packages: Sling Orange, Sling Blue and Orange + Blue depending on your budget and viewing preferences.

The Orange package is best for sports fans, as it includes channels like ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN3, while the Blue package offers more entertainment channels such as Bravo, TLC and The Food Network. Each plan also includes DVR storage to record and watch programs later.

Don’t want to choose? You can also combine both with the Orange + Blue package, which will give you all 72 channels to livestream as well as the ability to stream on three devices at once. As part of the new Sling holiday promotion, the Orange + Blue package is discounted to just $33 (or 50% off).

The best part? No installation is required — once you sign up, you’ll get instant access to live TV and on-demand movies and TV shows.

Does Sling Have a Free Trial?

The live TV streamer’s deals and promos change throughout the year — and that includes when they have a free trial. While you won’t be able to get a free trial with the best Sling TV deals going on right now, you can score a major 50% discounted price on the platform compared to competitors that offer packages around $80 a month.

Can You Get Local Channels on Sling?

A few of the channels offered on the Blue and Orange packages are local like ABC and FOX. Not all of the channels will be local though. See below for a full list of channels included in each package.

Sling TV Orange Plan Exclusive TV Channels

Sling TV Blue Plan Exclusive TV Channels

Live TV Channels Included in Both Plans