One of the Doobie Brothers has reconnected with a long-lost Doobie son.
As reported by NBC, Michael McDonald made contact a year and a half ago with biological son Michael Goessling, who recalls putting it together over a preliminary phone call that he was related to a rock star.
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Adopted as a baby, 59-year-old Goessling told the outlet that he never knew his biological parents until last year, when he received a letter informing him that they wanted to meet him. His first conversation with McDonald was over the phone.
“I just said: ‘What a voice that guy has!’” Goessling said. “It just sounded so familiar, but I couldn’t place it. Finally, I just said: ‘Are you Michael McDonald?’ And he chuckled and he said, ‘Yeah, I’m afraid so.’”
Goessling also figured out the identity of his birth father after McDonald told him he was a musician with a gig that night at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheater. A quick Google search showed that the Doobie Brothers were booked for the venue on that date.
“There are still days I wake up, and my first thought is I am coming out of the craziest dream, and it’s been a year and a half,” Goessling added. “I’m still trying to get my head around all of it.”
Back when McDonald was 14, he had a child with his middle-school girlfriend. The pair put the child up for adoption, and the musician went on to replace Tom Johnston as the lead singer of the Doobie Brothers. McDonald has five Grammys to his name and helped the Doobie Brothers score Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 “What A Fool Believes,” as well as other top 10 hits such as “Real Love” and “The Doctor.”
Goessling also told NBC that he never harbored resentment for his biological parents — who he says are still good friends — for putting him up for adoption. “I just wanted to thank them for the choices they made on my behalf and for giving me a shot in this world, and how grateful I was for that,” he said. “They were always heroes in my story.”
Melanie C is being a good sport for a great cause in Australia.
The Spice Girls co-founder is fronting the Uber x Australian Red Cross Clothing Drive, a national spring clean which encourages Aussies to donate clothes for the charity’s fundraising activities.
Some 30 years after Sporty Spice returned the tracksuit to its rightful place in pop culture’s top shelf, the British pop superstar is parting ways with three memorable pieces that will be racked in Australian Red Cross Shops. They include her “Morning Show Tracksuit,” a green and yellow tracksuit that gave off vibes of former prime minister John Howard’s fetching ensemble; the “Roundhouse” grey sequin suit she wore live in London; and a little black Gucci dress.
“I’ve been lucky enough to wear some incredible pieces over the years – there are lots of memories attached to them, and I love the idea of giving them a new life with somebody else,” she explains in a statement. “And yes, I’m even parting with a couple of tracksuits! If I can do it, hopefully Sporty Spice can inspire others to have a look through their wardrobes too.”
Melanie is very much at home down under, where she has served as a coach on The Voice Australia for the past two seasons. It’s been a winning experience. Last Sunday, Sept. 27, her artist Yung Milla was crowned winner of The Voice Australia 2026, which aired on the free-to-air Seven Network.
By giving back to Red Cross, a charity that has helped people through crisis, recovery, and everyday challenges for more than 110 years, Melanie is helping to raise vital funds to support people here and abroad, and encouraging Aussies to recycle and reduce waste.
“I’ve always loved finding great pre-loved pieces. The last time I was in Sydney, my stylist and I went into a Red Cross Shop in Bondi Junction and found a brilliant yellow bomber jacket, which I ended up wearing on The Voice,” she enthuses. “I love that you never quite know what you’re going to find.”
Mel has contributed to a campaign video and her face adorns a red double-decker bus that’ll be hard to miss as it does the rounds in Sydney.
As a member of the Spice Girls, Mel C brought “Girl Power” — and the tracksuit — to the masses. Formed in 1994, the pop group had a global phenomenon two years later with their debut single, 1996’s “Wannabe.” The catchy track logged four weeks at the summit of the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1997, and is one of the group’s nine U.K. No. 1 singles. The Brits’ debut LP Spice cruised to five weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and 15 weeks at the summit of the Official U.K. Albums Chart (followup Spiceworld bagged three weeks at No. 1 in the U.K. in 1997).
The group went on hiatus in 2000, returning in 2007 for a global tour and again in 2018-2019, though without Victoria Beckham.
Now entering its eighth year, the Uber x Australian Red Cross Clothing Drive last year collected almost 125,000kg of quality pre-loved clothing. That was enough shop-quality donations to stock five Red Cross stores for an entire year, reps say.
The clothing drive culminates in a one-day mass giveaway on Saturday, Oct. 17 from between 10am and 4pm local time, with Uber collecting items from doorsteps in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. Read more here.
Drake turned a handful of tracks premiered during his FOMO short film into a four-pack of songs that landed on streaming services on Friday (Oct. 2).
The 6 God initially teased that a “bunch of songs” would be coming to DSPs earlier this week while streaming a gambling session on Kick.
“Go watch FOMO. It’s a bunch of songs coming to streaming on Thursday,” Drake said. “So, all the songs that you guys have been asking [about]. Well, not all of them. Enough of them are coming on Thursday. That’s it.”
The foursome includes a pair ofDon Toliver collaborations, including “Solar Eclipse,” which is best known for Drake’s interpolation of Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” anthem that’s spending a record 24th week atop the Billboard Hot 100.
Fans also got their wish as the dynamic “Cold Shoulder” featuring Toliver was brought to DSPs, along with an extended version of HABIBTI’s “Classic” and “Quebec.”
Drake’s four-pack arrives a week after Taylor Swift employed a similar strategy with her foursome of new tracks packaged as The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore.
It remains to be seen if the hype and appetite for Drizzy’s fresh tunes is as fervent as a few weeks ago when it comes to his future charting success, since all four songs were debuted on Sept. 15 in Fear of Missing Out.
Either way, Drake fans are eating well in 2026 and the 6 God’s creative juices are flowing effortlessly. Back in May, Drizzy picked up a 15th No. 1 album atop the Billboard 200 with ICEMAN and he notched a 14th No. 1 smash on the Billboard Hot 100 thanks to “Janice STFU.”
Drake’s May trifecta (ICEMAN, HABIBTI and MAID OF HONOUR) also made history with the OVO boss becoming the first artist to ever hold the top three slots on the Billboard 200 simultaneously.
Here are all four tracks from the HABIBTI (FOMO) deluxe ranked below.
Metallica have officially arrived in Las Vegas, kicking off their Life Burns Faster residency Thursday (Oct. 1) at the Sphere.
When the hard rock legends announced they were playing the state-of-the-art venue earlier this year, Lars Ulrich — the band’s co-founder and drummer — said it was seeing U2 open the Sphere in September 2023 that convinced them they needed to hit that stage too.
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“About 12 seconds into the opening night of Sphere with U2 back in ‘23, I thought ‘We have to do this, it’s completely uncharted territory!’” Ulrich said. “This residency gives us another chance to reinvent how we interact with our fans in a live setting. We are beyond excited to share this with the world … and way f—in’ psyched to go next level!”
And now the next level is here.
While Billboard has the full night 1 setlist below, the band is planning to shake things up throughout the residency in keeping with their No Repeat Weekend tradition that started with the M72 World Tour in 2023. Fans wanting to check out more than one show could buy two-night No Repeat Weekend tickets that guarantee them two completely unique shows. So stay tuned to Billboard to see what the band has in store for night 2 on Saturday as well.
In addition to dates this month and next, Metallica also has 2027 dates set for the first three months of next year, wrapping March 13. (Find the full dates here.) They also announced last month that they’re adding 12 new dates to their M72 World Tour, starting May 8 in Vancouver through June 19 in Salt Lake City.
Metallica are following in the footsteps of other Sphere headliners including Eagles, Backstreet Boys, No Doubt, Kenny Chesney and the just-announced John Mayer, who will return for a solo residency in April after playing the venue in 2024 and 2025 as part of Dead & Company.
Find the full Metallica night 1 setlist below:
Billboard’s Friday Music Guide serves as a handy guide to New Music Friday’s most essential releases each week — the key music that everyone will be talking about today, and that will be dominating playlists this weekend and beyond.
Last week, we featured Taylor Swift, Tinashe, Madonna and Charli xcx and Kenny Chesney.
This week, Noah Kahan’s lead single from The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping soundtrack arrives; Victoria Monét drops her highly-anticipated second album; and Miranda Lambert shares her country-meets-disco set, Crisco … plus much more. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
Noah Kahan, “Draw You Out”
Not long ago, it was revealed that Noah Kahan had landed the coveted lead single for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping soundtrack — and it arrives today. The sweeping and emotive “Draw You Out” would sound equally at home on one of Kahan’s albums as it will within the film, which was the exact balance the singer-songwriter was trying to strike. As he told Billboard: “If I have to sit there in the studio and put a lot of love into it, I don’t know if I can connect with it if I don’t feel like parts of me are in there … I really do feel proud of being able to find that balance on this song.” He co-wrote and co-produced the song with Aaron Dessner. The full soundtrack drops Nov. 13, while the film hits theaters Nov. 20.— LYNDSEY HAVENS
Victoria Monét, Frequency of Love
The Jaguar era is officially in the rearview mirror. Fresh off that three-time Grammy-winning project, Victoria Monét has returned with Frequency of Love, a sweeping, swooning 22-track odyssey through every kind of love imaginable. Featuring appearances by Bruno Mars, SZA, Lucky Daye, Bryson Tiller, Chlöe, Leon Thomas and, of course, her daughter Hazel Monét, Victoria’s second album is a triumph. Her pen is as sharp as ever, and her curatorial skills have somehow gotten even more impressive. It may be time for her to clear up some more space on her awards mantle. — KYLE DENIS
Drake, Habibti (FOMO)
Earlier this year, Drake became the first artist in Billboard 200 history to simultaneously debut three studio albums in the chart’s top three spots with his seismic Iceman-Habibti-Maid of Honour drop. Now, Drizzy has reloaded his R&B-tinged Habibti set with four new tracks, all of which he debuted in his FOMO short film on YouTube two weeks ago. Don Toliver pops up on “Solar Eclipse” and standout “Cold Shoulder,” which also features frequent collaborator Yebba. Is there really such a thing as too much Drake? — K.D.
Lil Nas X, “World’s Greatest!”
Montero is back — and aiming higher than ever, with a new single titled “World’s Greatest!” With a chorus that sounds like repeated mirror affirmations (“I’m a champion/ I’m a champion”), the verses seem to pull more from early-life diary entries about his upbringing, reminding him just how far he’s made it: “Came up from the bottom/ Used to share a room with my sisters and my brothers … I was sad, I was down, I was covered in defeat/ Now everybody from my town play my songs on repeat.” With this new single, Lil Nas X is not only taking a moment to dust himself off and pat himself on the back, but is testing the power of manifestation — and time will tell just how powerful it really is. — L.H.
Holly Humberstone, “Too Cute To Be Lonely”
Alt-pop artist Holly Humberstone released her excellent second album, Cruel World, earlier this year and is now gifting fans a little more to love. This week, the singer-songwriter announced a deluxe edition, Cruel World…So It Ends, will arrive Nov. 13 — and thankfully, she’s sharing a taste of the extra tracks today. The playfully poppy “Too Cute To Be Lonely” is one of five bonus songs on the deluxe, showcasing some of Humberstone’s most crisp and assured vocals. And much like Role Model with the deluxe for Kansas Anymore (namely, its bonus track and breakout smash “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out”), it’s possible Humberstone’s deluxe could birth an unexpected pop hit of its own while garnering new appreciation for the original set. — L.H.
Dexter and the Moonrocks & Avery Anna, “Why Don’t You Say So”
After breaking big earlier this year with the Alternative Airplay No. 1 “Freakin’ Out,” alternative-grunge act Dexter and the Moonrocks is sharing its debut full-length, Friends That I Don’t Like. For its focus track, the group tapped one friend they do seem to like: emerging pop artist Avery Anna. Her sugary vocals balance out the harder production elements while also blending rather seamlessly with frontman James Tuff’s signature tone. The album’s only other feature is from Treaty Oak Revival on the previously-released single, “12 Steps.” — L.H.
Miranda Lambert & Ella Langley, “Snakeskin Boots”
It seems Lambert and Langley had some unfinished business in the studio — and how lucky for fans. After working together on Langley’s celebrated second album, Dandelion, which Lambert co-produced (including its breakout smash and Hot 100 No. 1 “Choosin’ Texas”), Langley is now returning the favor by guesting on Lambert’s 12th studio album, Crisco. Out today, the album walks the line between country and disco and their collaboration fits the bill well with groovy, midtempo production that sounds tailor-made for a desert dancefloor. — L.H.
Noah Kahan is playing to win on “Draw You Out,” the lead single from the forthcoming film in the Hunger Games franchise.
Arriving as the clock hit midnight, “Draw You Out” sees Kahan reunite with Aaron Dessner, who co-wrote and co-produced the track at New York’s Long Pond Studio and Nashville’s Gold Pacific Studios and East Iris Studios.
“Draw You Out” features those dramatic, multi-tracked vocals that sent Kahan into music’s top tier with 2022’s “Stick Season,” and will be housed on the official soundtrack, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (The Album), due out Nov. 13 via MCA.
With the fresh cut, inspired by and written for the film, the folk-pop artist is reflective, moody and ready for battle. On it, he sings: “I was born with someone else’s face / A coward’s anger and a fighters rage / I wait around for them to take my place / And say love you’re free now.” Fighting words.
Speaking with Billboard’s Lyndsey Havens, the Vermont artist said it was “an insane opportunity” to play a part in the Hunger Games universe, and that he’s “read all the books” and “seen all the movies.”
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (The Album) is executive produced by Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson) and brings together 29 cross-genre artists, according to a statement from MCA. Kahan is the only artist confirmed for the project to-date.
“Music is such a massive part of the Hunger Games in a lot of ways,” Kahan tells Billboard. “To be able to speak to what the director sees in these characters, what Suzanne Collins wrote these characters for, and to try to match that is a big task – but a really fun challenge. I just can’t believe that I get to be a part of it.”
Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, a prequel that revisits the world of Panem 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games, will play in theaters from on Nov. 20.
Pre-order the album here and check out the tracklist below.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (The Album) Tracklist:
1. The Raven I
2. Ash and Snow
3. First in Line
4. See It Coming
5. The Wheel
6. The Raven II
7. Dove Song
8. Here Then We’re Gone
9. Wrestle with God
10. Ruthless (Arena Mix)
11. No Destination
12. The Raven III
13. Favor
14. But You Wanted More
15. Black Stars
16. Half Alive
17. Doing The Best That I Can (Arena Mix)
18. The Goose and The Common
19. Survive (Arena Mix)
20. Same Blood
21. May Brings Flowers
22. The Old Therebefore
23. Can’t Let You Go
24. Old Money
25. Show Me Where The Ending Starts
26. Deep in the Meadow
27. Draw You Out — Noah Kahan
28. Metal Birds
29. Alone (Live in Berlin 2022)
Mac Miller’s estate has released a three-pack of new songs as part of The Divine Feminine‘s 10th anniversary edition, which arrived on Friday (Oct. 2).
A previously unreleased single titled “Butterflies” was released in September, while “Grand” and “Channel 13” hit streaming services for the first time on Friday.
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Mac’s family is also celebrating the LP’s 10th anniversary with The Divine Feminine Live, which will be based on the original TV series from 2016 that was exclusive to DirecTV. Fans can stream TDF Live on Mac Miller’s YouTube starting at 10 p.m. ET on Friday night.
Sam Balaban will be producing, directing and editing the live special, while Bart Peters serves as the original live performance director. There will be contributions from E. Dan and Justin Boyd as well.
The Divine Feminine arrived in September 2016 and debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with 48,000 total album-equivalent units earned. TDF featured Mac’s new girlfriend at the time and pop supernova Ariana Grande, Anderson .Paak, Kendrick Lamar, Ty Dolla $ign and CeeLo Green.
Album standout “Cinderella” experienced a massive resurgence this summer, as a TikTok trend caused the Ty Dolla $ign-assisted eight-minute expedition exploring love and lust to explode and reach the Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at No. 25. It’s Mac’s second-highest charting single as a lead artist and still surging as “Cinderella” also hit the top 10 of the latest Rhythmic Airplay chart.
Stream the 10th anniversary edition of Mac Miller’s The Divine Feminine below.
Hilary Duff is adding a little more chaos to her comeback year — this time with a certain mischievous feline.
The pop star has released “CATastrophe,” an original song written for Warner Bros. Pictures Animation’s upcoming theatrical adaptation of The Cat in the Hat. The track arrived Friday (Oct. 2) along with a music video that drops Duff into a series of colorful, oversized worlds inspired by the whimsical visual language of Dr. Seuss.
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Duff co-wrote the song with her husband and frequent collaborator Matthew Koma, Madison Love and Brian Phillips, with Koma and Phillips also handling production. Rather than just serving as a playful tie-in to the movie, “CATastrophe” explores a pretty relatable idea: what happens when life suddenly changes before you’re even ready for it.
In a statement provided to Billboard, Duff explained that Dr. Seuss books were a fixture in her childhood home, making the opportunity to contribute to the movie an easy yes. She also described the song as being about the feeling of having your entire world rearranged without getting a say in the matter — an idea that she wanted to pair with an upbeat, car-ready pop song; a great juxtaposition.
The song arrives as Duff continues her big musical comeback. Earlier this year, she released Luck… Or Something, her first studio album in more than a decade. The 11-track album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, giving Duff her sixth top 10 album on the chart and her highest position on the tally since 2007.
Duff’s return to pop has also extended beyond the studio. After nearly two decades away from full-scale touring, she launched the Lucky Me tour this year, bringing her Y2K-era hits and new material to fans around the world. Billboard recently reported that the tour has been extended through 2027, and Duff is set to be honored with Billboard‘s Outstanding Pop Tour of the Year award at the 2026 Billboard Live Music Summit in November.
Duff is now taking her comeback into an entirely different universe, one filled with talking animals, impossible proportions and a very tall red-and-white hat.
The Cat in the Hat will arrive in theaters and IMAX on Nov. 6, with The Cat in the Hat (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) due roughly a week before on Oct. 30. The Warner Bros. Pictures Animation’s first full-length theatrical feature will star Bill Hader as the iconic Seussian troublemaker, following Cat as he attempts to help siblings Gabby and Sebastian adjust to moving to a new town. Matt Berry, Quinta Brunson, Xochitl Gomez, Giancarlo Esposito and America Ferrera are also among the voice cast.
Watch the music video below:
American Authors are venturing into a new corner of the music world — one populated by puppets and pineapple-themed characters. The band behind the 2014 top 20 Billboard Hot 100 hit “Best Day of My Life” is launching Bogoo’s Best Day, a new project aimed at kids and families, with the debut album The Greatest Adventure Yet, due Oct. 23.
The project is centered around Bogoo, a spirited character who gets into adventures alongside his best friend, Bestie, and the older, more experienced Papa Piña. Across the album, American Authors put their knack for catchy hooks and group vocals toward songs about friendship, confidence, individuality and the everyday moments that can feel like big adventures to a kid.
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Three songs from the project have already been released: “Celebrate,” “Sing With Friends” and “Luckiest Kid Alive,” along with “Zombie Walk,” out Thursday (Oct. 1). The song is a seasonal entry to the Bogoo universe, as it is a dance-infused Halloween-themed track that will have little ghouls up on their feet.
For American Authors’ Zac Barnett and Matt Sanchez, Bogoo’s Best Day is also a way to bring some of their own family histories into the body of work. Barnett grew up around his father’s work as a puppeteer and magician, and spent part of this summer assisting him at puppet shows throughout Southern California. These childhood experiences served as the blueprint for Bogoo’s world — a very fitting direction for a project built around characters who exist separate from the songs they live in.
Sanchez also drew from his own family when creating Papa Piña. The character takes inspiration from Sanchez’s grandfather and his Mexican heritage, giving the project a personal thread alongside its colorful cast and kid-friendly storytelling. Sanchez’s daughter, Emma, also helped structure his perspective on the kind of world the duo wanted to create.
The result is a considerable departure in audience, but not necessarily in spirit, for American Authors. The band has spent more than a decade turning buoyant melodies and communal choruses into pop-rock staples, with “Best Day of My Life” becoming its signature hit, landing the group their sole spot on the Billboard Hot 100 back in 2013 and 2014, peaking at No. 11. Now, those same musical instincts are being redirected toward songs designed to be enjoyed by parents and children together.
Listen to “Zombie Walk” below:
The list of artists who won’t be involved in this weekend’s 2026 NRL Grand Final has grown to two, with Silverchair confirming it won’t rise for the occasion.
As previously reported, Tones And I was initially tipped as the headline entertainer for the National Rugby League’s showpiece event, to be staged Sunday, Oct. 4 at Sydney’s Accor Stadium.
The “Dance Monkey” singer and songwriter, however, won’t be anywhere near Sydney for kick-off. According to a statement from her team at Lemon Tree Management, Tones was approached to perform the preshow, an offer was presented, but “nothing was signed or confirmed in writing.” Instead, Tones will fulfil a prior commitment with Macklemore in the United States.
In a break from tradition, Australian Rugby League Commission chair Peter V’landys went on the record as saying he’d rather the money spent on the entertainment — roughly A$1 million — should be reinvested into the sport’s grassroots.
That was last week, an age in sport. Since the story broke on the vacant headline spot, another rugby league tale has captured hearts and headlines.
On Sunday, Sept. 27, the Newcastle Knights advanced to the final game of the season, doing so for the first time in 25 years. The Sydney Roosters await.
Sport can make the toughest of men cry, bring tribes together and facilitate the unlikeliest of reunions. The Knights and the franchise’s resurgence is one such moment, and it has touched the members of Silverchair, the rockers who soundtracked a generation of Aussies. Silverchair are also long-suffering Knights fans, its members Daniel Johns (vocals, guitar), Ben Gillies (drums) and Chris Joannou (bass), born and raised in the “Steel City.”
In a rare and unexpected post, the band insisted they couldn’t and wouldn’t take the gig.
“For the first time in ages, the three of us actually agree wholeheartedly about something: GO KNIGHTS!!!,” reads the post, the first on Silverchair’s official Facebook page in upwards of four years.
“Thanks to everyone who’s asked if we’re playing before the game. We’re way too rusty, so sorry, no can do. We won’t be taking the stage, but we’ll be supporting as loudly as everyone else and there in spirit. Wishing the Newy players all the luck in the world this Sunday.”
If there’s one positive takeaway, it’s the revelation that Johns, Gillies and Joannou are still in touch, communicating and connected to the Knights’ run.
Formed in 1992, the former schoolmates started young and enjoyed the type of career every kid dreams of.
Before they could legally drink or drive, Silverchair was the hottest act in the country, ruling the national ARIA charts with their grunge-influenced 1995 debut album Frogstomp and the powerhouse single “Tomorrow.” Frogstomp went to No. 9 on the Billboard 200, and its followup, 1997’s Freak Show, peaked at No. 12.
Silverchair sold more than six million albums and achieved many firsts in their career. All five of their studio LPs, from Frogstomp through to Young Modern, went to No. 1 on the ARIA Albums Chart, a feat no other band could match at the time. And by the time they disbanded, they’d collected more ARIA Awards than any other act, with 21.
In 2011, still at the peak of their powers, Silverchair’s members announced they would go their separate ways.
A reunion has never transpired. Joannou and Gillies participated in a two-part Australian Story, which the Australian Broadcasting Corporation aired in 2023. Johns, whose second and most recent solo studio album, FutureNever, hit No. 1 on the ARIA Chart in 2022, did not.
At the time of writing, the NRL Grand Final pre-game entertainment spot remains unfilled.
Read Silverchair’s full statement below.
Is this thing still on.
For the first time in ages, the three of us actually agree wholeheartedly about something: GO KNIGHTS!!!.
It’s all about the Knights this weekend. We love how footy brings this community together, and it’s pretty special watching the whole Steel City get behind the boys.
Thanks to everyone who’s asked if we’re playing before the game. We’re way too rusty, so sorry, no can do. We won’t be taking the stage, but we’ll be supporting as loudly as everyone else and there in spirit. Wishing the Newy players all the luck in the world this Sunday.
UP THE KNIGHTS!!!
From The Chair