Author: Rap Hooks

Congratulations are in order for Vanessa Hudgens and her husband, Cole Tucker, who are expecting their second child together.

The 36-year-old High School Musical alum shared the exciting news on Saturday (July 12) in a social media post, debuting her baby bump in a maternity photoshoot alongside the 29-year-old former professional baseball player.

“Round two!!!!” Hudgens captioned the Instagram post, beaming as she pointed to her growing belly.

Hudgens and Tucker’s celebrity friends flooded the comments section with well-wishes for the growing family.

“Omg!!!!!!!! Congrats,” Disney Channel alum Aly Michalka wrote, while Allison Holker and Alexandra Shipp both shared red heart emojis. “Ohhhhh congratulations my love!!” Jenna Dewan added. Hudgens’ former Broadway co-star Corey Cott chimed in with, “Congrats V!”

The couple welcomed their first child together in July 2024. While the Bad Boys: Ride or Die star was overjoyed by their baby’s arrival, she also expressed frustration that the moment was overshadowed by invasive paparazzi attention.

“We’re disappointed that our family’s privacy was disrespected and exploited during this very special time due to the greed of a long lens camera feeding the media,” Hudgens wrote in her Instagram Story, referencing photos published by TMZ that showed her leaving a Santa Monica, Calif., hospital in a wheelchair with her newborn.

The pregnancy announcement comes just two weeks after Hudgens shared a heartfelt Instagram tribute for Tucker’s 29th birthday. The pair tied the knot in Mexico in December 2023.

“Happy birthday to my best friend/lover/partner in life,” the singer and actress captioned a photo of the couple wearing sunglasses and making silly faces. “@cotuck you’re everything to meeeeeee. No one does it better.”

“You’re the best mama thank you,” Tucker replied in the comments.

Check out Hudgens adorable pregnancy announcement on Instagram here.

Organizers of London’s annual BST Hyde Park concert series have canceled the event’s final day on Sunday (July 13) after Jeff Lynne’s ELO withdrew due to medical reasons.

On Saturday (July 12), organizers announced that Lynne — whose performance was set to be his final live show — would not appear as planned.

“Jeff Lynne is heartbroken to report that he will not be able to perform at tomorrow’s BST Hyde Park show,” read a statement posted on the festival’s website. “Jeff has been battling a systemic infection and is currently in the care of a team of doctors who have advised him that performing is simply not possible at this time nor will he be able to reschedule.”

Organizers added, “The legacy of the band and his longtime fans are foremost in Jeff’s mind today — and while he is so sorry that he cannot perform, he knows that he must focus on his health and rehabilitation at this time.”

Later that day, organizers updated the announcement to confirm that the entire July 13 program would be canceled following Lynne’s withdrawal. The lineup was set to include special guests The Doobie Brothers, Steve Winwood and Dhani Harrison. Full refunds will be issued to ticket holders.

“Tonight’s performance marks the final night of an incredible edition of BST Hyde Park and we look forward to seeing everyone next year,” the updated statement said.

Saturday’s lineup featured performances by Stevie Wonder, Ezra Collective, Thee Sacred Souls, Elmiene, Corinne Bailey Rae, and others.

Jeff Lynne’s ELO concert at BST Hyde Park was announced in October 2024 and billed as the group’s final performance following their Over and Out farewell tour in North America and a run of dates in the U.K. On Thursday (July 10), the act’s second-to-last concert at Manchester’s Co-op Live was canceled at the last minute, with audience members already seated in the venue.

It feels undeniable at this point: the first half of the decade belongs to Bad Bunny. Over the past five years, the Puerto Rican superstar has reigned as the most-streamed artist on the planet, his music serving as the soundtrack to millions across borders, cultures and languages. Year after year, he shatters records, breaks barriers, numerously reaches No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and carves out a legacy shared only by once-in-a-lifetime icons.

His latest milestone? A history-making residency kickoff on Friday night (July 11) at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot (aka El Choli) in San Juan. Dubbed No Me Quiero Ir De Aquí (I Don’t Want to Leave From Here), the event marks the beginning of an unprecedented 30-show series at Puerto Rico’s most iconic venue with a capacity crowd of 18,000. To a full house on opening night, Benito delivered three hours of spectacle, celebration, and pure corazón boricua, cementing Puerto Rico as the world’s main stage.

At times, the show felt like an immersive celebration of Puerto Rican history and identity. Before even kicking off his three-hour performance at 9 p.m. ET, a giant screen projected facts about the island’s roots, culture and resilience. Messages in Spanish like “Puerto Rico is an archipelago, not just an island” and “San Juan is one of the oldest cities in the Americas. It was founded in 1521” educated the crowd, fusing pride with context.

Others underscored the island’s distinctiveness: “Puerto Rico has two native musical genres: bomba and plena,” a tribute to its African and working-class traditions, and “In Puerto Rico, they celebrate the longest Christmas season in the world.” Even lighter truths got a moment in the spotlight: “Sancocho cures anything, according to our grandmothers.”

This mix of history and pride set the tone for an unforgettable night. Benito appeared on stage wearing a Taíno-inspired outfit — a beige ensemble with straw accents, dark shades and a winter-trapper-style hat — as if embodying the island’s ancient roots while stepping firmly into the modern world. With a set that featured lush green hills and intricate cultural motifs, the visuals matched the depth of his message: Puerto Rican culture was front and center — not for explanation but for celebration.

He opened with “DTmF” and spanned through hits from his latest album, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, like “KETU TeCRÉ,” “EL CLúB,” “PIToRRO DE COCO” and “WELTiTA.” He also performed older classics including “La Santa” (originally feat. Daddy Yankee), “El Apagón,” “Si Estuviésemos Juntos” and “Ni Bien Ni Mal,” totaling up to over 30 songs — transitioning between bomba, plena, salsa, Latin trap and reggaetón.

He brought Puerto Rico’s ancestral rhythms to life with hypnotic percussion and dancers wearing traditional straw hats. And later, during a segment dedicated to salsa, the energy shifted to honor the Puerto Rican diaspora’s contributions to the genre. Rocking a classic cream suit styled from that ’70s era, he channeled the spirit of legends like Héctor Lavoe, Willie Colón, Rubén Blades and Tito Puente, Benito gave a nod to the iconic Fania All-Stars era — most importantly, to the generations of Puerto Ricans in New York City who sustained these sounds long after they left the island.

Throughout the night, Benito made clear that this residency wasn’t just about him — it was about the community and legends who paved the way. Midway through the performance, he paused to deliver a shoutout to the P.R. trailblazers who shaped reggaetón and Latin music: Tego Calderón, Daddy Yankee, Ivy Queen, Don Omar, Wisin y Yandel, Ñengo Flow and many others. “This is all for you. For us,” he said, pulling the crowd even closer to his vision.

And the surprises didn’t stop there. Basketball legends LeBron James and Draymond Green joined Benito on stage, lounging with him in a tiny recreation of a Puerto Rican casita — one of the standout set pieces of the night — that highlighted the island’s charm and the sense of “home” that resonated throughout the performance.

“This residency is more than a concert series — it’s a defining moment for our island,” Jorge L. Pérez, the venue’s general manager, told Billboard Español. “It’s an affirmation of our creative talent and our place in global entertainment.”

With Puerto Rico about to experience an influx of over 250,000 visitors during the residency’s run, Benito has positioned the island as an entertainment destination, creating waves that will benefit the local economy, uplift small businesses and draw global eyes to its unique identity.

Pérez continues: “It inspires the next generation to believe that success doesn’t require leaving home. They can dream big, build here, and be celebrated here. This is Puerto Rican pride in motion. It’s cultural relevance, economic momentum and artistic excellence — all rooted right where it matters most.”

By the time the final moments arrived near midnight, Bad Bunny stood shoulder to shoulder with his dancers, a massive Puerto Rican flag spread across the stage lights lit up the venue. It was a culmination of gratitude — a tribute to the land, the people, and the culture that shaped him into the artist the world knows today.

MK has scored his first No. 1 single on the U.K.’s Official Singles Chart with his track “Dior.”

The Michigan-born DJ and producer’s collaboration with Manchester-based Chrystal has knocked Lewis Capaldi’s “Survive” off the summit after one week. 

MK has had success on the charts before with a 2013 remix of Storm Queen’s “Look Right Through,” hitting the top spot. He’s had three top 40 UK singles in his lengthy career, but this is the first time his original material has taken the crown. 

The 52-year-old DJ burst onto the scene in the early ‘90s, and has two No. 1s on Billboard’s Hot Dance Airplay with “Always” (1993) and “Love Changes” (1994).

Following her appearances at London’s BST Hyde Park festival, Sabrina Carpenter’s “Manchild” rebounds one place up to No. 2. The song debuted at No. 1 upon release in early June. Ravyn Lenae’s “Love Me Not” continues its consistent spot inside the top five by closing the week at No. 3. The song is yet to hit the top spot, however, but peaked at No. 2 back in May.

Lewis Capaldi’s comeback song “Survive” falls from the top spot to No. 4. The song was his sixth U.K. No. 1 single overall, and follows “Someone You Loved” (2018), “Before You Go” (2019), “Forget Me” (2022), “Pointless” (2022) and “Wish You The Best” (2022). The Scottish songwriter recently completely sold out a U.K. and Ireland tour set to happen this fall, including three nights at London’s O2 Arena.

Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club” closes the week at No. 5, with her Reading & Leeds headline appearance due to take place in just over a month’s time (Aug. 24).

Congratulations are in order for Kid Cudi and Lola Abecassis Sartore, who announced Friday (July 11) that they are now a married couple.

Revealing that they tied the knot during a romantic ceremony in the South of France on June 28, the rapper born Scott Mescudi shared photos on Instagram and wrote, “Man, I’ve been waiting for this moment my whole life.”

“A truly special day with amazing [friends] and loving family,” he continued. “I love this woman so so much, and I know she loves me in the same way. Its always a battle sayin ‘I love you more’ because she always wins that battle haha. My best friend. My ride or die.”

In the snaps, Cudi kisses his new wife, poses with mom Elsie Mescudi and cuts into a massive, strawberry-covered cake alongside Sartore. “Here’s to starting a new chapter,” he added in his caption. “To my baby Lola, we are in for a wonderfully fantastic journey together. Next we need this baby … not joking.”

The musician first met the former Louis Vuitton designer — who now serves as head designer at ERL — at a Virgil Abloh fashion show in 2018. After years of dating, Cudi proposed in 2023.

According to Vogue, the couple’s ceremony took place at Cap Estel in Èze, near where Sartore grew up. The bride wore a gown designed by her close friend, Alain Paul, who also served as her “bridesman” in the wedding.

“It was bliss,” Sartore told the publication of the big day. “A moment out of time where the world stopped, and it was just the two of us. We forgot everything around us. It was just us and our love, and it was the purest moment.”

Cudi’s big life update comes just weeks after he made headlines for a much less cheerful reason: Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial, at which the Trap star testified. While on the stand, he alleged that the disgraced Bad Boy Records founder broke into his Los Angeles home and vandalized his car out of anger over Cudi’s past relationship with Cassie Ventura.

Combs was ultimately found not guilty of sex-trafficking and racketeering charges, though he will face prison time for a prostitution charge. The mogul has long denied all of the accusations levied against him during the trial.

In happier news, Cudi is also gearing up to release his next album, Free, on Aug. 22. So far, he’s released two singles from the project: “Grave” and “Neverland.”

Donovan Mitchell has made a ton of shots in his life, but none more important than successfully sliding a ring on Coco Jones’ finger.

The R&B singer announced her engagement to the NBA star on Friday (July 11) with a picturesque sun-kissed photo showcasing her precious bling.

It appears as if Mitchell popped the question in front of white candles as Jones donned a matching white dress. The backdrop couldn’t be any more perfect with the sun about to set as the newly engaged couple shared a kiss.

Jones and Mitchell received countless congratulatory messages in the comments on IG saluting their love. Angel Reese, Lady London, Ciara, Jaylen Brown and Jessie Reyez all chimed in. “Yaaaaaayy!! So happy for you guys,” CiCi wrote.

The Grammy-winning singer and the Cleveland Cavaliers star had been dating for over a year, but kept things on the hush publicly, before Jones confirmed the couple was indeed an item in March while appearing on Club Shay Shay.

“I love the internet because they definitely clocked my tea. Little spies everywhere,” she told Shannon Sharpe. “I’m happy and I will say, my music is my outlet where I tell my stories and my truth. Some things I keep for myself because this is my life, too. I say some things and you can hear it on my album.”

Jones continued: “Secrecy is not what I prefer. I don’t want to feel like I have to be somebody secret. I don’t want to make anybody feel like they’re mine. For me, I’m trying to protect myself, and I’m trying to protect my family and who I love, so I am more private.”

The countdown to Coco walking down the aisle is on. Both are thriving in their respective crafts. Mitchell is coming off an All-Star NBA season in Cleveland, while Jones released her anticipated Why Not More? debut album in April.

Find the engagement photo here.