Category: Music

Ariana Grande is clarifying her comments about when she might release new music.

In a Variety interview published Friday (Jan. 9), the pop star and actress spoke about the Wicked film franchise, her upcoming Eternal Sunshine Tour, and the possibility of new music.

“No — definitely not. Nothing is coming before May,” Grande said when asked about new music. She added, speaking directly to her fans, “I love them so much, but sometimes I want to ask, ‘Do you think there’s another version of me out there who had time to write an album?’ Not yet — but soon enough.”

Grande’s seventh studio album, Eternal Sunshine, arrived in March 2024 and spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. She later released a deluxe version of the album, and will embark on a tour this year in support of the project.

Since then, the “7 Rings” singer has been focusing on her role as Glinda in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical Wicked and its recent sequel, Wicked: For Good. She is nominated for best performance by a female actor in a supporting role at the Golden Globes on Sunday (Jan. 11).

Shortly after the Variety interview was published, Grande addressed a fan post on Instagram to clarify her remarks.

“Welp i never said ‘but soon enough’ or mentioned any months ! lol my goooooodness,” she wrote in the comments. “All i said was ‘no’ and ‘do they think there’s a clone of me out there somewhere’! there must’ve been a zoom glitch or something.” She added, “Ma’am i would need an extra brain and four more arms.”

Grande has a packed schedule in the months ahead. In addition to her role in Wicked, she will star in the upcoming comedy Focker In-Law, appear in the new season of American Horror Story, and voice a character in the animated adaptation of the Dr. Seuss book Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

She also teased a top-secret project to Variety. “I can’t say much yet, but it’s something that inspires me deeply,” Grande said. “It contains multitudes.”

Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, is suing a construction manager for allegedly interfering with the sale of his $57 million Malibu house.

Ye brought slander and breach of contract claims on Thursday (Jan. 8) against Tony Saxon, who handled construction work on the rapper’s beachfront mansion in 2021. Notably, Saxon has been pursuing his own lawsuit against Ye since 2023 over alleged unpaid wages and unsafe working conditions on the job.

To account for those alleged unpaid wages, Saxon took out a $1.8 million lien on the house after Ye put it on the market, through which Saxon claimed he would be entitled to a portion of the proceeds from any sale. Saxon’s lawyer, Ronald Zambrano, told media outlets at the time, “If someone wants to buy Kanye’s Malibu home, they’ll have to deal with us first.”

“Ye is one of the most recognizable recording artists and entrepreneurs in the world and rarely initiates litigation,” wrote Ye’s lawyers in the Thursday complaint. “Plaintiffs bring this action because defendants recorded and then wrongfully maintained a $1,819,986.00 mechanics lien against the property — despite knowing or having reason to know the lien was invalid — while simultaneously launching an aggressive publicity campaign designed to pressure Ye, chill prospective transactions, and extract payment on disputed claims already being litigated in court.”

A judge ultimately disposed of Saxon’s lien last year after determining that he’d failed to enforce it. But Ye alleges that the lien, and the swirl of publicity initiated by Saxon’s team, did damage to his real estate dealings while in place.

According to Ye, the lien required him to buy a bond and had the effect of “discouraging buyers, title and escrow professionals, lenders and the public.” Ye ultimately sold the house for $21 million, significantly below his $57 million purchase price from 2021, according to an MLS report.

Ye is now seeking unspecified financial damages from Saxon, Zambrano and the lawyer’s firm. Zambrano did not immediately have any comment on the claims when reached on Friday (Jan. 9).

Zambrano is behind a number of employment-related lawsuits that have been brought against Ye in recent years. In addition to Saxon, his clients have included teachers who allege the controversial rapper fired them for complaining about bizarre conditions at his now-shuttered school, Donda Academy.

Saxon’s lawsuit against Ye remains pending, with a trial scheduled to begin this March. Ye maintains that he doesn’t owe anything, arguing in court papers that he already made “substantial payments” and that Saxon isn’t entitled to more because he doesn’t have a valid contractor’s license.

Pittsburgh rap superstar Wiz Khalifa is just finding out how his family made their way to western Pennsylvania.

Khalifa sat down with host Henry Louis Gates Jr. for Tuesday’s new episode of Finding Your Roots on PBS. In Billboard‘s exclusive preview clip, Gates reveals that Wiz’s grandfather Willie Wimbush Jr. and his family headed to his hometown of Pittsburgh in 1955 during the Great Migration — roughly between 1910-1970 — when Black people and their families moved from the South to other parts of the country. Once Khalifa’s family reached Pennsylvania, Wimbush decided to settle in Pittsburgh’s Hill district, which has historically been a predominately Black neighborhood.

Hearing this news for the first time, Wiz felt proud. “It’s really good to learn it,” he said. “Just to know… just to feel Papa Bush’s ambition through his story. That’s what I could feel.”

Wiz’s episode, titled “Great Migrations,” will also feature actress Sanaa Lathan and will premiere at 8 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org, the PBS App and the PBS Documentaries Prime Video Channel.

Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr. recently kicked off the show’s 12th season and will feature a range of famous names, including musicians like Lizzo, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea, Darren Criss, Rhiannon Giddens and Kristin Chenoweth. Other celebrity guests: Kate Burton, Lizzy Caplan, Liza Colón-Zayas, Danielle Deadwyler, Barry Diller, America Ferrera, Brittney Griner, Sara Haines, Spike Lee, Tracy Letts, Delroy Lindo, Hasan Minhaj and Chris Paul.

Tune in Tuesday and watch the exclusive clip below.

Jimin is Vogue Korea‘s latest cover star. The BTS performer is helping the publication get a strong start to 2026 by posing for a chic photo shoot displayed across several different versions of the new issue.

In the covers shared by Vogue Korea on Instagram, Jimin pops on camera at the center of a blue color palette, modeling Dior. In one, he gives a smoldering look while enjoying a blue lollipop; in another, he wears navy slacks and a cerulean jacket while sitting against a wall beside a colorful bouquet.

All three of the covers dub the K-pop superstar “The Sound of Now.” “At the moment, Jimin,” the publication’s caption on Instagram reads. “Brilliant delicacy, dreamy and fairytale, cozy beauty.”

The fashion milestone comes amid a singularly exciting time for BTS, as the band has spent the past several months preparing to make a major comeback in 2026 after each of the members finished their enlistment periods in the South Korean military. On Jan. 4, the Bangtan Boys finally officially announced the release date of their highly anticipated next album: March 20.

Jimin has stayed busy with his solo music amid BTS’ time away, releasing his seven-track album, Muse, in 2024. The project peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200.

The artist has also treated fans to a second season of his Are You Sure?! travel series with bandmate Jung Kook. The second installment premiered on Disney+ in December.

See Jimin on the cover of Vogue Korea below.

Fetty Wap credited 50 Cent for being there for him more than anyone else in the music industry during his federal drug case, which saw him spend more than three years behind bars.

Following his release from a Minnesota prison earlier this week, Fetty pulled up to The Breakfast Club on Friday (Jan. 9) for his first interview since regaining his freedom.

“50 did a lot for me,” Fetty admitted. “From day one, it was like, ‘Whatever you need, just holler at me.’ I’m like, ‘All right.’ Then [he] was like, ‘Where this money going?’ I’m like, ‘What?’ I ain’t used to that. I’m used to it’s always the other way around.”

Whether it was financially or just being able to hop on the phone and give the 34-year-old some advice, 50 was there and ready to help “Whatever I needed, he was right there,” Fetty continued. “He answered the phone. He didn’t shy off all the way down to the time I’m about to come home, ‘How you getting home?’ As far as financial and mental help, he was probably there the biggest.”

Some of their conversations included 50 imploring Fetty to “stop f—ing up” and how he “should’ve never stopped making music.” 50 was there for motivation as well. “You should’ve kept going hard,” Fetty said in his best Queens accent.

50 Cent reposted the clip of Fetty showing him love on The Breakfast Club to his Instagram, while welcoming the “Trap Queen” rapper home.

“WOP HOME fresh out the FED’S ready to work. He good I got him let’s get it,” he captioned the video.

Outside of 50, Fetty mentioned artists like Coi Leray, Chief Keef and Albee Al for helping him in different ways while he was locked up.

Fetty Wap was released from prison on Thursday (Jan. 8) about 11 months ahead of his expected release date, which was set for December.

Fetty was arrested in September 2021 ahead of his Rolling Loud NYC performance on federal drug charges as prosecutors alleged he transported 100 kilograms of drugs from California and distributed them in Long Island.

The New Jersey native pleaded guilty to a single charge of conspiring to distribute at least 500 grams of cocaine in August 2022. Fetty was ultimately sentenced to six years in prison in May 2023. He served over three years behind bars in a Minnesota prison before being released earlier this week.

“I want to thank my family, friends, and fans for the love, prayers, and continued support — it truly means everything to me,” Fetty shared in a statement with Billboard. “Right now, my focus is on giving back through my community initiatives and foundation, supporting at-risk young children by expanding access to education, early tech skills, and vision care for young kids and students so they can show up as their best selves. I’m committed to moving forward with purpose and making a meaningful impact where it matters most.”

Watch the full interview with Fetty Wap below.