Thanks to the outpouring of love for You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love, Olivia Rodrigo is enjoying the happiest week, ever. Her words.

The American pop phenomenon dropped in for a chat Wednesday, June 24 with Australia’s Nova network on her hit new album, how she surrounds herself with supportive people, and more.

After powering to No. 1 on both sides of the Atlantic, and around the globe, including Australia, the love for You Seem Pretty Sad has put a smile on Rodrigo’s face.

“I’ve had the happiest week ever. It feels so amazing to have this record out in the world,” she tells Nova 96.9’s Ricki-Lee & Tim. “I’ve been living with it, and you know, finessing it for about two years now, and so it feels kind of surreal that now the songs are in other people’s hands, and to watch them kind of resonate with them the way that they are, and you know, apply them to their own personal lives, is just, it’s just so beautiful, and a total dream come true.”

You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love bows at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 485,000 units shifted, for Rodrigo’s career best week. She’s now a perfect three-from-three on the all-genres albums chart, and the rumor mill is now grinding away on whether Rodrigo can win her first album of the year trophy at the Grammy Awards next February.

The secret to her success? Working with the right people. Just like the rest of us, Rodrigo admits she’s “navigating my way through this crazy old world,” but she insists on “finding people who really support you and truly love you for who you are is just the name of the game. I think if I am sane at all, it’s only because of my wonderful friends who have always supported me and like brought me back down to earth.”

If she had to dish out advice, she’d suggest being “really careful who you spend your time with.”

Currently, Rodrigo doesn’t have any Australian tour dates scheduled for her 65-date world tour in support of Sad, though she isn’t ruling it out. “I am so on album mode. I like literally cannot see five feet in front of [me],” she told the Sydney Breakfast radio show hosts. Rodrigo last visited these parts in October 2024 when her GUTS World Tour looped into Sydney and Melbourne. “I love going to Australia,” she added, “and I hope to be back very soon.”

The love goes both ways. You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love (via Geffen/Universal) opened its account at No. 1 on the ARIA Chart last Friday, while “Stupid Song” started atop the national singles tally, giving Rodrigo a rare chart double. All 13 tracks from the new collection impact the ARIA top 30.

Like in the United States, all three of her studio albums have topped the national chart. Her debut album Sour logged eight weeks at No. 1 in 2021, and her sophomore collection Guts led the tally for two weeks in 2023. Rodrigo just missed out on the top 10 with her 2025 release Live From Glastonbury (A BBC Recording), which peaked at No. 11.

Stream her interview with Nova here and below.

When Mackenzie Sol was just 4 years old, he auditioned for judge Simon Cowell on The X Factor. More than 20 years later, the now-25-year-old TikTok star was back in front of Cowell to try out for America’s Got Talent.

On Tuesday night’s (June 23) episode, Sol transformed sombr‘s breakout hit “Back to Friends” into a sensual R&B ballad, slowing down the tempo and adding a series of creative vocal runs, putting all the attention on the song’s heartbreaking lyrics. “Back to Friends” was sombr’s first song to hit the Billboard Hot 100 back in April 2025, eventually peaking at No. 7 in January this year.

Ahead of his performance, Sol was able to tell Cowell about their first encounter more than two decades ago. What he didn’t mention is that in the years since, he’s gone on to amass more than 12 million TikTok followers through his combination of comedy and music videos. He also previously auditioned for American Idol in 2024, making it to the top 20 of season 22 before he didn’t make the top 14 cut.

But he’ll be moving forward in AGT: Following the sombr cover, Cowell asked fellow judge Mel B of Spice Girls fame to share her thoughts, and she immediately went for the Golden Buzzer, automatically advancing Sol to the live shows.

Below, watch Sol’s full audition:

After almost 60 years, Daryl Braithwaite is calling time on performing live.

In a social post on Tuesday, June 23, the ARIA Hall of Fame inducted singer and former Sherbet frontman says years-long battles with his own body are taking a toll.

“I would like to share this news with you all,” he writes on Instagram. “After much thought and consideration, I have made the difficult and sad decision to step back from performing live gigs. For some time now it has been increasingly physically challenging for me to sing comfortably and as a result it has taken the joy out of performing, which has always been so important to me.”

The iconic Australian singer doesn’t close the door on studio work or future recordings, although he leaves little wiggle room for one-off shows or events.

“I have loved the 58 years of being a part of the music industry,” he continues. “I sincerely want to thank all of the dedicated and loyal supporters and all of the people and organisations that I have been associated with who have been such a significant part of my singing life. With much love and I thank you. Daryl.”

Braithwaite’s last promoted solo show was presented March 13 at The Cooly Hotel in Queensland. Prior to that, he embarked on the 2024 Red Hot Summer series, a national tour of open-air venues headlined by Simple Minds and ICEHOUSE.

As frontman with glam-era pop outfit Sherbet, Braithwaite landed a string of hits in the ’70s with “Summer Love,” “Howzat,” “Cassandra” and others. The Sherbs, as they’re affectionately known down under, enjoyed a taste of international success.

Back in 1976, their Aussie chart-topping hit “Howzat” reached No. No. 4 in the United Kingdom and No. 61 in the United States. And they crossed into French Touch territory when Daft Punk sampled their early ‘80s track “We Ride Tonight” for the now-disbanded duo’s song “Contact,” from 2013’s Random Access Memories.

Braithwaite’s interpretation of Rickie Lee Jones’ “The Horses” is now regarded as a classic Down Under and is a staple at house parties across the country. When triple j counted down its inaugural Hottest 100 of Australian Songs in July 2025, Braithwaite’s “The Horses” came in at No. 30 – the highest-ranked cover in the poll.

The Aussie singer, how aged 77, is one of a small handful of artists twice elevated into the ARIA Hall of Fame. He got his dues with Sherbet in 1990, in just the third year of the annual celebration. And again in 2017, as a solo artist.

What does one give Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce as a wedding present when they seemingly have it all? Coach Andy Reid has some ideas.

In an interview with KSHB 41 this week, the Kansas City Chiefs leader had a funny response when asked what gift he planned to give his star tight end to commemorate the upcoming nuptials. “I’m going to give Travis a couple throws — just a couple of new routes,” Reid quipped with a laugh.

The coach added, “He’ll be as happy as can be.”

Reid is one person who will almost definitely be on the guest list for Swift and Kelce’s big day, which, according to reports, is set to take place over Fourth of July weekend, possibly at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The 14-time Grammy winner previously told Graham Norton that she’s planning to invite “anyone I’ve ever talked to,” adding in October, “I know it’s going to be fun to plan, because I think the only stressful weddings are the ones where … you have to evaluate or assess your relationship with [people] to see if they should be there. I’m not going to do that.”

By Swift’s logic, the guest list will also include the other attendees of this year’s Tight End University, which kicked off Monday night in Nashville. The Eras Tour headliner was present alongside Kelce at the opening-night gathering, posing with George Kittle and Greg Olsen in a photo recently posted on Instagram by TEU.

It’s also possible that Reid will take the mic for a speech during Kelce and Swift’s reception. “Well there are a few [stories] I can’t tell,” the coach said on 96.5 The Fan with Fescoe and Dusty in August. “No, there are a lot of great stories. He’s done so many good things, all the things he’s done off the field that people don’t know about, just helping people out. He’s got a big heart that way and I appreciate that the most.”

Mark Lee — a K-pop star who was, up until recently, a member of NCT — has come under fire for photos that show him wearing a Confederate flag T-shirt, something his Upper Room label has now apologized for in a statement.

Posted on Tuesday (June 23), a block of text on the company’s Instagram Story began, “We would like to extend our sincere apologies for the concern, discomfort, and disappointment caused by the vintage T-shirt that appeared in a recently shared photograph.”

“The garment was selected solely as a vintage wardrobe item,” it continued. “However, upon recognizing the historical significance and sensitivity associated with the symbol displayed on the T-shirt, we took measures to ensure that it would not be visible in any official content. Despite these efforts, the image was subsequently shared externally.”

Acknowledging that the intention behind Lee’s shirt didn’t erase the harm it may have caused, the statement continued by recognizing that “this matter should have been handled with greater diligence and care.”

“We take full responsibility for this oversight,” it added. “Upper Room and the artist unequivocally reject and do not tolerate racism, hate, discrimination, or any form of intolerance. We are also grateful to those who brought this matter to our attention. In response, we will strengthen our internal review procedures for wardrobe selection and content approval to help prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.”

Based on fan reports online, the photos of Lee wearing a shirt emblazoned with the flag — which the Anti-Defamation League classifies as a hate symbol due to its historic association with white supremacy — were taken at a fan event. It also appears that Upper Room was the original source of the pictures, posting them on social media before quickly taking them down.

Billboard has reached out to the label for more information.

Lee founded Upper Room earlier in June after departing NCT 127 and NCT DREAM in April. At the time, SM Entertainment stated that his departure was based on a “mutual agreement” between the artist and company, while Lee said in a message to fans, “I’m truly and always thinking about you guys … and I’ll really be working very very hard to make it all make sense.”

In April 2025, Lee dropped his first solo album, The Firstfruit, topping Billboard‘s year-end list of the best K-pop albums of 2025.

Keith Richards has suggested that The Rolling Stones may shift away from traditional touring in favour of residencies, revealing that the physical demands of travel have become the biggest obstacle to the band performing live.

“I don’t know if tours are possible,” Richards told Uncut Magazine. “It’s the travelling that takes it out of you. But I do see the possibility of us doing residency somewhere. Wherever it is, London, New York, Paris, anywhere. I’ll play Rome! But I don’t see why they shouldn’t be able to throw some shows together in a new format.”

The comments build on remarks Mick Jagger made recently on BBC Radio 2, where the frontman said he “can’t wait” to get back on the road and is hoping to tour again “as soon as possible” — though he acknowledged it would not happen this year. The band scrapped plans for a U.K. and European stadium tour in 2026 after Richards was unable to commit to the run.

Despite the logistical questions, Richards was clear that the desire to play has not diminished. “It’ll be exciting until something inside me says, ‘That’s that,’” he said. “I love working with the guys. I mean, what am I gonna do?”

The Stones are preparing to release their 25th studio album Foreign Tongues on July 10 via Polydor/Universal Music. Recorded in less than a month at Metropolis Studios in West London with producer Andrew Watt, the album features guest appearances from Paul McCartney, The Cure’s Robert Smith, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith and Steve Winwood, alongside a special appearance by late drummer Charlie Watts recorded during one of his final creative sessions with the band before his death in 2021.

The album includes previously released tracks “Rough and Twisted” and “In the Stars,” as well as a cover of Amy Winehouse’s “You Know I’m No Good.”

Richards reflected on the recording process in the album’s announcement. “The Foreign Tongues album has a continuity from Hackney Diamonds, and it was great to be working in London again, and to have that London vibe around us,” he said. “It was a month of concentrated punch.”

Hackney Diamonds, the Stones’ first album of original material in 18 years, debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and produced “Angry,” which became the band’s first U.K. top 40 hit since 2005.

Leave it to Beyoncé to drop the ultimate Father’s Day tribute.

On Sunday night (June 21), Queen Bey’s haircare brand, Cécred, closed out Father’s Day by sharing a link to a seven-minute vlog titled “The Blueprint.” And, when it comes to The Carters, the whole world knows exactly who “The Blueprint” refers to.

Narrated by Beyoncé, the new clip follows the complete timeline of Jay-Z’s hair journey — from a low-cut Caesar to his Basquiat-esque wicks and now, his voluminous Afro, which he debuted during his headline-dominating Roots Picnic set last month (May 30).

“Jay told me a few months ago he was planning on combing out his locs for the Philly show with The Roots. He wanted to do this in honor of his father… his dad used to rock a fro, so he wanted to rock a fro in his honor,” Beyoncé explains between bits of behind-the-scenes Roots Picnic rehearsal footage, including a sweet clip of Rumi, their youngest daughter, shadowing her father onstage. “I wasn’t all the way convinced that he would be able to comb out his locs, considering he had such thick, long wicks, and his hair had been locking for over eight years. I thought it was always beautiful that the real reason Jay grew out his hair was to show Blue that her hair was like his hair.”

Those old enough to remember will recall the way the world treated Blue Ivy when she was born in 2011. Both online and in real life, people lambasted The Carters for “not combing” Blue’s hair and denigrated its look and texture. According to Beyoncé, Blue was around five years old when she first expressed a lack of confidence in her hair, which, in turn, inspired Jay to start growing out his. “We really wanted her to love and embrace every inch of her gorgeous curls,” says Beyoncé.

Pouring into their daughter eventually became part of Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s artistic mission. Blue appeared with her natural hair in both Beyoncé’s Grammy-winning “Formation” music video and Jay’s Ava DuVernay-helmed “Family Feud” clip, provided guest vocals on her mother’s “Brown Skin Girl,” and even narrated Matthew A. Cherry’s Hair Love audiobook, picking up a voice arts award in the process (best voiceover — children’s audiobook). The Carters also used a photograph of a Black woman picking out a Black man’s Afro for the cover of their 2018 Everything Is Love joint album. Blue Ivy also appears in the new Cécred clip, pitching in to help comb and detangle her father’s hair while quipping, “I’m gonna be an influencer!”

Even though Beyoncé wasn’t initially on board with Jay taking out his locs — “It’s a lot of memories stored in locs,” she muses over a clip of Jay holding and kissing their twins Rumi and Sir. “Locs can be like antennas, connecting us to frequencies and energies” — she understood that this was also an emotional transformation.

It took six days for Beyoncé, Blue and Houston loctician Letisia “Lety” Ravelo to comb out Jay’s locs — and an additional day just to detangle his hair. They exclusively used Cécred products, which Jay has also been using for his hair for the past eight years, including the brand’s parting tail comb, detangling spray and hair and scalp balm.

“And on show day, his fro was beautiful, from start to finish,” Beyoncé closes out the vlog, complete with family-centric backstage footage from Hov’s fiery Roots Picnic headlining set. “I wanna thank Jay for trusting Cécred on his hair journey.”

It’s been a banner year for Jay-Z as he celebrates 30 years of his debut studio album Reasonable Doubt. The New York Times hailed him as one of the 30 greatest living American songwriters; he fired back at everyone from Dame Dash to Nicki Minaj in his buzzy Roots Picnic freestyle, and he’ll play a trio of Yankee Stadium shows next month (July 10-12), one of which will honor the 25th anniversary of his classic The Blueprint.

Check the full Cécred blog recounting Jay-Z’s hair journey below.

From “Jealousy, Jealousy” on Sour, “Lacy” on Guts and “My Way” on You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love, the topic of jealousy as shown up in Olivia Rodrigo‘s songs across all three of her albums.

In a cover story interview with Pitchfork published Monday (June 22), the pop star explained why she thinks envy — specifically in regard to other women — has been such a dominant emotion in her life and music. “It’s something I have felt intensely since I was young,” she began, tracing it back to when she got her start as a child actress and found fame on Disney’s Bizaardvark and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.

“It’s sort of the thing of like, ‘If you don’t want to do this, we’ll get another cute little 12-year-old girl to do it,’” she continued. “I think it was some weird programming in my brain that tripped that wire. I think it’s not specific to my experience, it’s a larger play against women.

“As I got older, I realized more and more how some of my female friendships matter the most to me,” Rodrigo added. “And that intensity you get from them is so important.”

Despite struggling with jealousy, Rodrigo has never let it get in the way of her passion for championing women and girls. After establishing herself as an activist with her Fund 4 Good — which, over the course of her 2024 Guts World Tour, raised more than $2 million for abortion funds and other charities supporting women’s education and freedom — the Grammy winner has now announced that she’s starting her own festival benefit.

Dubbed Daisy Chain Fields, the event will feature a lineup consisting of Chappell Roan, KATSEYE, Stevie Nicks, Doechii and other women artists, including Rodrigo. All of the net proceeds will go to organizations supporting women and girls.

“I actually feel like it’s my calling in some weird way,” she told Pitchfork of the festival. “I … have had this dream to do this festival for a really long time.”

The interview and festival announcement comes shortly after the release of You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love earlier in June. Debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, the project moved 485,000 equivalent album units in its first week — marking the best opening week Rodrigo has had for an album to date, and 2026’s second-biggest opening week (after BTS’ Arirang) for an album.

See Rodrigo on the cover of Pitchfork below.

Lewis Capaldi is already thinking about his next album. The Scottish singer-songwriter closed out TRNSMT Festival in Glasgow on Sunday night (June 21), using the headlining moment to tell fans that more music is on the way.

Capaldi told the crowd that after his remaining summer shows, he plans to step away from the road again to focus on writing. “After this summer,” he said, “I’m gonna go away for a bit and make an album.”

The update came during an emotional set at Glasgow Green, where Capaldi also spoke candidly about the difficult period that followed his last TRNSMT appearance in 2022. The singer released his second album, Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent, the following year, but later stepped back from touring and public performance after struggling with his mental and physical health.

“My mental health took a beating,” Capaldi told the TRNSMT crowd, adding that he is now “back” and “feeling better.”

Capaldi’s return has carried added weight for fans. In 2023, he cut short his Glastonbury Pyramid Stage performance while dealing with tics caused by Tourette’s syndrome, with the crowd famously helping him through “Someone You Loved.” He later announced that he would be taking an extended break to focus on his health.

Since then, Capaldi has eased back into public life and live performance, including a surprise Glastonbury appearance last year and the release of “Survive,” his first new music since Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent.

His comeback comes after a major commercial run. “Someone You Loved” spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2019, earned a Grammy nomination for song of the year and helped push his debut album, Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent, into global breakthrough territory.

Capaldi is scheduled for additional summer dates, including major outdoor shows at BST Hyde Park and Roundhay Festival in July, as well as performances in Liverpool, Newcastle and at Sziget Festival. While he has not yet announced a title, release date or tracklist for his next album, his TRNSMT comments mark one of the clearest signals yet that a new full-length project is officially on his radar.