Today is 4/20, which means a number of things. It’s Killer Mike’s birthday. Snoop Dogg is in full celebration mode over the annual weed holiday. Earlier this month, Elon Musk promised that today would be the day that Twitter removed legacy verified blue check marks. Those are the ones public figures like celebrities, politicians, and journalists were given before Twitter switched to its current model of paying for blue checks. Well, Musk has delivered on his promise.
The check marks used to make it immediately clear if an account belonged to a notable person, but now that is no longer the case. Look on the official Twitter accounts of Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, and Jack Harlow, and you’ll notice that all three no longer have the blue checks they had yesterday. In fact, that should be true of pretty much any previously verified musician and notable figure you can think of (unless they’re paying Twitter Blue subscribers). Yes, even Pope Francis.
This wasn’t any sort of surprise. Aside from the aforementioned warning, Twitter tweeted yesterday, “Tomorrow, 4/20, we are removing legacy verified checkmarks. To remain verified on Twitter, individuals can sign up for Twitter Blue here: twitter.com/i/twitter_blue_sign_up.” Musk also replied to the tweet, “Tomorrow is shaping up to be quite the day!”
Tomorrow, 4/20, we are removing legacy verified checkmarks. To remain verified on Twitter, individuals can sign up for Twitter Blue here: https://t.co/gzpCcwOXAX
Taylor Swift is now a single woman. This news came as a shock to many, as there were rumors swirling about a potential engagement or marriage to then-boyfriend Joe Alwyn. Sadly, the two could not make it work. Now, fellow celebrities are coming out of the woodwork to shoot their shots and give advice. The latest to do so is R&B singer Ne-Yo. TMZ caught up with the artist in LAX and spoke to him about the recent news of Taylor’s split.
In the video posted on TMZ’s website, the gossip blog’s reporter walked alongside Ne-Yo in the airport. “Is there a silver lining to that sort of stuff?” he asked. “It can be good for songwriting, you know what I mean?” Ne-Yo listened intently and offered his thoughts on the matter. “Oh, yeah, absolutely. Some of my best songs are about heartache and breakups and stuff like that.” The reporter continued, asking if the R&B singer thought Taylor could make use of this. Ne-Yo responded with positivity, looking at the bright side of the situation. “That’s the beauty of being a songwriter,” he explained. “You don’t have to suffer through it as much because you can take that energy and turn it into something positive.”
Taylor’s Sudden Split
The reason for Taylor Swift’s sudden split with Jow Alwyn is still not clear. As always, Taylor has remained tight-lipped about the subject. She has never been one to speak about her relationships much in public. She prefers to save it for her music. However, a source did give Entertainment Tonight a little bit of insight into the situation. They clarified that the breakup was not dramatic. Instead, the two simply decided it was time to end things. “The relationship had just run its course,” the source said. “It’s why [Alwyn] hasn’t been spotted at any shows.”
Taylor Swift generally doesn’t speak much about her relationships until after they are over. However, she and Alwyn were together for six years. So, in an uncharacteristic move, she spoke openly about how he had inspired her song “Lavender Haze.” About the track, Taylor said: “I happened on the phrase ‘lavender haze’ when I was watching Mad Men, and I looked it up because I thought it sounded cool, and it turns out that it’s a common phrase used in the ’50s where they would just describe being in love.” What do you think of the star’s recent split? Let us know in the comments!
Now that Weekend One of Coachella 2023 is approaching, it’s never to early to start looking ahead to possible headliners for the festival’s next few years. This year, the wildly successful music and arts festival returns for the second showing of its post-COVID-19 era. Featuring headlining sets from chart-topping K-Pop phenom BLACKPINK, Grammy-winning R&B maestro Frank Ocean, and world-conquering reggaeton superstar Bad Bunny, this year’s Coachella is certainly heavy on the star power. But, even though it feels as if Coachella tastemakers select the biggest and brightest of today’s music stars to headline the festival, there are still quite a few acts that have curiously not yet headlined. As exhilarating as record-breaking tours are, Coachella is still a dependable site for iconic cultural moments — from the still-shocking Tupac hologram in 2012 to Beyoncé’s legendary tribute to historically Black colleges and universities in 2018.
The ideal Coachella headliner should be popular enough to appeal to a wide demographic, respected as an artist that delivers quality work, have the ability to put on an arresting show in terms of physical performance and setlist sequencing, and, most importantly, have at least an hour and a half’s worth of undeniable hits and notable songs. The archetype of the Coachella headlining act has evolved dramatically over the past two decades, and with the latest edition of the festival boasting its most populist and globalist lineup yet — the possibilities are endless.
Here are 10 artists that could theoretically headline Coachella in the next few years:
Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber has been a cultural touchstone and musical force for the better part of two decades. With hits ranging from “Baby” and “Boyfriend” to “Sorry” and “Peaches,” The Biebs has been cranking out hits across five non-holiday studio albums — four of which have received Grammy nominations. Far removed from his bowl-cut days, Justin Bieber has grown from a teener-bopper phenomenon to a global powerhouse. He’s dipped into wide range of genres making him fit for a sprawling headlining set. He can supplement his standard Top 40 smashes like “Love Yourself” and “Ghost” with hits across reggaeton (“Despacito”), country (“10,000 Hours”), and afrobeats (“Essence”). Also consider: headlining Coachella could be a nice way to formally wrap up his Justice World Tour — which was unfortunately cut short due to health concerns. Of course, it’s not a requirement, but Bieber has a wide selection of surprise guests to pull from — Ludacris, Usher, Diplo, Wizkid, Tems, Daddy Yankee, Chance the Rapper, the list goes on. Plus, Bieber loves Coachella, and has appeared in sets from the likes of Daniel Caesar and Jack Ü.
Ed Sheeran
Having already headlined comparable festivals like Glastonbury, Ed Sheeran is an easy fit for a Coachella headlining slot. From “The A Team” and “Don’t” to “Perfect” and “Bad Habits,” the British singer-songwriter has a decade’s worth of hits to pull from — and we haven’t even mentioned smashes like “Shape Of You” or “Thinking Out Loud” yet. The timing also lines up particularly well. Ed could make a stellar 2024 headliner. He’s dropping his new album, – (Subtract), in May and the supporting tour for that record concludes in September, leaving him ample time to rest up and put together a fresh set for the following summer. On that front, Ed has been handling solo stadium shows for years now, and between his hilarious onstage banter and his riveting use of the loop pedal — he knows how to captivate a crowd. It also goes without saying that Ed’s reach extends across a wide range of audiences, and his potential surprise guests prove it. Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Burna Boy, Stormzy, Fireboy DML, and Chris Stapleton are all plausible choices for his set’s surprise element.
Taylor Swift
For an artist like Taylor Swift, headlining Coachella is undoubtedly a matter of “when,” not “if.” Currently in the midst of her record-breaking Eras Tour, Swift is the ideal Coachella headliner. With hits ranging from 2008’s “Teardrops On My Guitar” to 2022’s “Anti-Hero,” she has an overwhelming amount of songs to pull from, and her current tour — which pays tribute to each of her ten wildly successful studio albums — is refining her setlist sequencing skills each and every night. Taylor also understands how to steer the dynamism of her live shows; she’s equally capable of reigning over flashy stage production (think the moving “Look What You Made Me Do” platforms from the Eras Tour or the giant snake from her Reputation Stadium Tour) and crafting slower, more intimate moments with fan-favorite ballads like “Enchanted” or “All Too Well.” Moreover, if the timing works out, then Taylor could use a Coachella headlining set to commemorate finally releasing the remaining Taylor’s Version albums (her eponymous debut, Speak Now, 1989, and Reputation).
Rihanna
Sure, Rihanna has pretty much forsaken us to prioritize her makeup and lingerie empire (and who can really blame her?), but every now and then, Rihanna The Pop Star reemerges to placate our collective hunger. After returning with a pair of songs for the Academy Award-winning Black Panther: Wakanda Forever — including Best Original Song nominee “Lift Me Up” — Rihanna treated us to two performances that showed off different sides of her onstage capabilities. Although her headlining slot at the inaugural Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show received some lukewarm initial reviews, her set has proven to be a pop culture phenomenon, sparking trends that have reached high schools, nursing homes, and everywhere in between. Her heartfelt performance of “Lift Me Up” at the 95th Academy Awards also showed off her ability to handle a stage with just a microphone and a ballad. Between her most recent musical showings and a decade and a half’s worth of undeniable smash hits to her name, Rihanna can easily hold down a headlining set at Coachella. Whether she makes it a victory lap or the catalyst for a new album and tour, Rihchella is destined to be a career highlight. The “Love On The Brain” singer could also bring out jaw-dropping surprise gets like Jay-Z, SZA, Calvin Harris, Nicki Minaj, Buju Banton, and, of course, A$AP Rocky.
Dua Lipa
Although she only has two studio albums under her belt, Dua Lipa is more than ready to take on the Coachella mainstage. Between smash collaborations like “One Kiss” (with Calvin Harris) and her own staggering roster of solo hits — “New Rules,” “Levitating,” and “Don’t Start Now” among them — Dua’s catalog is more than capable of anchoring a headlining set. Last year, the three-time Grammy-winner embarked on her Future Nostalgia Tour which visited four different continents over the course of 82 shows. A true spectacle of fashion, vocals, choreography, and stage and lighting design, that concert tour helped further sharpen Dua’s stage presence and performance ability. With past performances at Glastonbury and We The Fest, Dua is already familiar with working festival crowds, and the historic number of streams her albums garner proves that audiences genuinely enjoy her music. The Future Nostalgia Tour featured supporting acts such as Megan Thee Stallion, Tove Lo, and Caroline Polacheck — all of whom are strong candidates for surprise guests. Nonetheless, Dua could also reunite Silk City (Diplo & Mark Ronson), bring out Calvin Harris, or treat festival goers to appearances from Elton John, Kylie Minogue, Miguel, Martin Garrix, or Miley Cyrus.
Nicki Minaj
After clinching the first solo female rap song to debut at No. 1 on the Hot 100 in nearly 25 years — while in between album cycles, at that — Nicki Minaj is an easy pick to headline the Coachella Stage. The “Do We Have A Problem” rapper has enough hits to fill two Coachella sets with no repeats. She’s been handling legendary stages and arenas around the world for over a decade now, and her endlessly quotable bars are tailor-made for once-in-a-lifetime crowd interaction moments. Armed with hits ranging from “Itty Bitty Piggy” to “Super Freaky Girl,” a Nicki Minaj Coachella set would be a perfect storm of pop smashes, street anthems, euphoric throwbacks, and undeniable classics. Let’s be real, only Drake can compete with a setlist of so many possibilities. With past headlining performances at festivals like Wireless and Hot 97 Summer Jam, the Queens rapper is more than familiar with massive stages. There’s also the fact that Nicki Minaj has not dropped an album since 2018. Although she’s still been ever-present with hits ranging from “Yikes” and “Whole Lotta Money” (with BIA) to “Tusa” (with Karol G) and, most recently, “Red Ruby Da Sleeze,” a Coachella headlining set could be the perfect way to launch her fifth studio album.
Shakira
With Bad Bunny already making history as Coachella’s first Latin American solo headliner, why not continue the festival’s increasingly globalist approach by tapping one of the biggest crossover stars of the century, Shakira? While the Colombian powerhouse has long established herself as a hitmaker with seminal pop smashes like “Hips Don’t Lie,” “Waka Waka,” and “Whenever, Wherever,” she’s been having something of a re-peak in 2023 as she preps the release of her forthcoming twelfth studio album. This year, the Grammy-winner has already notched a pair of Top 10 hits, one with Bizarrap (“Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53”) and another with Karol G (“TQG”) — a testament to her longevity and ability to connect with audiences across generations and languages. In 2020, the “She Wolf” singer headlined the Super Bowl Halftime Show alongside Jennifer Lopez, and she’s also embarked on a whopping six headlining world tours. As a multi-instrumentalist, belly dancer, and vocalist, Shakira can entertain the Coachella Valley in a multitude of ways. There’s also the fact that the “Beautiful Liar” singer could bring out a wide range of surprise guests from Beyoncé and Rihanna to Maluma and Rauw Alejandro.
Bruno Mars
Isn’t it kind of crazy that Bruno Mars hasn’t headlined Coachella yet? Widely hailed as one of the best performers in contemporary mainstream pop music, Bruno Mars has delivered two highly memorable Super Bowl Halftime Show performances, a pair of acclaimed Las Vegas residencies (one solo and the other alongside Silk Sonic partner-in-crime Anderson .Paak), and three global headlining concert tours. Since his 2010 debut, Bruno Mars has garnered 18 top ten hits on the Hot 100, eight of which reached the summit including “Grenade,” “That’s What I Like,” and the four-time Grammy-winning “Leave the Door Open.” An entertainer in truest sense of the term, a Bruno Mars Coachella set could take several transfigurations. He could use most of the time to flaunt his skills as an instrumentalist on the drums, piano, and guitar, or he could have a dance-centric set that also displays his vocal chops. Regardless of what the set looks like, it is almost guaranteed to be one of the liveliest headlining sets to ever grace Coachella. Bruno is more than capable of headlining the festival on his own, but he could surprise the Indio Valley with special guests like Cardi B, Eminem, and, of course, Anderson .Paak.
Paramore
The recent trajectory of Coachella headliners has skewed more pop-heavy than the festival’s rock and alternative roots. With a career spanning nearly twenty years and a handful of crossover hits that sit at the zenith of mainstream pop, Paramore is the perfect act to bridge Coachella’s past and present. The Grammy-winning punk-pop band has three worldwide headlining concert tours to their name, and they are currently in the throes of their This Is Why tour in support of their chart-topping album of the same name. Known for exhilarating live shows packed with hair-raising instrumental breaks and virtuosic vocal performances, Paramore is one of the strongest contemporary live acts that have yet to headline Coachella. Last year, Billie Eilish brought out frontwoman Hayley Williams as a surprise guest at her headlining set. Whenever Paramore gets their chance to headline, Hayley could return the favor — or she could opt to bring out guests like Olivia Rodrigo, who pulled from the band’s seminal “Misery Business” for her own Grammy-nominated “good 4 u.”
Lil Wayne
Hip-hop has had a presence at Coachella headlining sets for years dating back to Beastie Boys in 2003. With a discography as prolific as his, Lil Wayne is an obvious pick to continue that legacy. Like his YMCMB mentees Drake and Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne has the perfect catalog to construct a headlining festival set out of. From just the sheer amount of music he’s released, Wayne could dominate Coachella with just his mixtape cuts, let alone his bevy of crossover pop hits and rap anthems that have ruled myriad Billboard charts. With over two decades of hits ranging from 1999’s “Back That Azz Up” to last year’s Grammy-nominated “God Did,” Lil Wayne’s catalog is one for the ages, and a stage as big as the Coachella Stage is the perfect place to remind the world why he’s one of the most successful and acclaimed rappers of all time. Wayne’s 2023 touring popularity might make it a tough sell, but something like Lil Wayne and Friends could make a lot of sense, especially with a plethora of potential surprise guests — Drake, Nicki Minaj, Juvenile, Jay-Z, Chance the Rapper, and Rick Ross among them.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Nick Cannon has his eyes on Taylor Swift as his partner for Baby No. 13.
Popping up on The Howard Stern Show, Nick Cannon isn’t planning a new relationship or child at this particular moment, but if he were, Taylor Swift would potentially be a good partner.
Swift is recently single, and Stern floated the idea to Cannon. He replied, “First of all, she’s an amazing songwriter. What I do love about Taylor Swift is that she has been so vulnerable and open with all of her music.”
Cannon added, “I think she would relate to me very well. We probably will understand each other.”
Keeping with the joke, Cannon stated having baby 13 with the pop star “would be amazing.”
Nick Cannon currently has 12 children, while the number 13 has recurred throughout Taylor Swift’s career. So, Swift having Cannon’s 13th child would certainly be something, and it’s an idea that Cannon is up for, as he noted in a recent interview with Howard Stern.
The clip starts with Stern asking for a definitive answer on whether Cannon is done having kids. He refused to be concrete, though, because he simply doesn’t know what the future holds. He did say, however, “I’m happy currently with, you know, my dozen that I got.”
Stern pushed the issue, asking, “Who would be the woman that would make you have a baby again?” Cannon laughed off the question, saying, “I’m not doing this. I can see the headlines.” Stern continued, “If I said to you, ‘Taylor Swift wants to have a baby with you.’” Cannon replied, “Absolutely, I’m in. Let’s go! That’s the one! I’m all in.”
Cannon added:
“First of all, she’s an amazing songwriter. And what I do love about Taylor Swift is the fact that she has been so vulnerable and open with all of her music since such a young girl. And she kind of like me, like… me and Taylor’s numbers is very similar when we talk about being in these streets [laughs]! So I think she would relate to me very well based off of, like, ‘Yo, you’ve dated a lot of people in the public eye, so have I,’ so we probably will really understand each other.”
Trophy season is pressing forward, and Flavor Flav looked to be enjoying himself at the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards. The rich and famous descended on the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles to watch their peers’ performances and to learn who would take home the gold. It’s a reunion—or first meeting—for many, as stars, too, have celebrities that they admire. Flav is a Hip Hop icon who was excited to be on the red carpet, and he told Billboard that attending award shows will “never get old to me.”
“It’s always gonna be new, every time I do it,” he added. The reporter wanted to know who the Public Enemy icon was most excited to see. “Let me tell you something, man. I want to see Lenny Kravitz, I’m a big fan of Lenny Kravitz.” However, the “American Woman” singer took a backseat to Flav’s fanning over Taylor Swift. He even opened his jacket to show off his shirt that read, “Come Back Stronger Than a ’90s Trend.” It’s a lyric from Swift’s song, “Willow.”
That wasn’t the only reporter Flav was bragging about Taylor Swift to. Elsewhere, he revealed he’s working on new music and will soon return to television. It’s unclear if he’ll once again be looking for love on a dating show, but we’re sure it’ll be captivating. Then, he once again showed off his shirt and spoke about his admiration of Swift. “Always love Taylor Swift’s music,” he said before admitting to being a Swiftie. “I’m here to support her! I’m here to support my girl.”
Taylor Swift & Flavor Flav Become Besties
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 27: (FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) (L-R) Taylor Swift and Flavor Flav attend the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California on March 27, 2023. Broadcasted live on FOX. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for iHeartRadio)
To prove that he’s dedicated, Flavor Flav sang “Bad Blood” but switched up the lyrics ever so slightly. “‘Good blood!’ I ain’t got no bad blood today! I got the good blood, you know what I’m saying! Word up! But yeah, I wanna meet her, too. One day.” And just like that, Flav spoke it into reality. While at the iHeartRadio Music Awards, he got his wish, and Taylor even posed for a selfie. The smile on Flav’s face says it all. Check out his red carpet moments above.
Arguably one of the best parts of award shows is seeing which celebrities wind up interacting with one another amid all the celebrations. On Monday (March 27), several of our favourites from all across the music industry came together for the annual iHeartRadio ceremony, handing out prizes to the year’s best of the best in music. Among those in attendance for the festivities were PinkPantheress and her “Boy’s a liar Pt. 2” collaborator Ice Spice, who was clearly starstruck over meeting Taylor Swift.
The Bronx Baddie and her foreign friend were tasked with handing out the award for Song of the Year, which ultimately went to the country-turned-popstar for “Anti-Hero.” While she walked the red carpet in an eye-catching black and white dress, Spice changed into an orange ensemble prior to carrying out her duties, markedly matching her vibrant eyeshadow to her gown’s colour. During their time on stage together, Swift and the rapper shared plenty of smiles and laughs, even turning around to seemingly compare the size of their booties at one point.
Speaking of bodacious behinds, Spice also showed hers off in an Instagram photo dump, kicking off with a not-so-subtle thirst trap of her using a bathroom counter to emphasize her cheeks. Beside her, we see the 23-year-old’s fuzzy purse – worth noting as fans often joke that she always seems to have her bag nearby, something the “Princess Diana” hitmaker says she learned from her time growing up in New York. In the following picture, she and PinkPantheress pose with Swift again, this snap seemingly captured behind the scenes of the iHeartRadio Awards.
Of course, it wouldn’t be an Ice Spice photo dump with more sultry inclusions, both of which chiefly show off her hourglass figure in her long, lace dress. To add some extra height and shine to her look, the fashionista donned silver strappy platform heels, plus some elegant jewelry around her neck and wrist. Keep scrolling for more of the rising rap diva’s new pictures with T-Swift, and check back later for more pop culture news updates.
More iHeartRadio Awards Photos
PinkPantheress and Ice Spice present the Song of the Year award for “Anti-Hero” to Taylor Swift onstage during the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California on March 27, 2023. Broadcasted live on FOX. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartRadio)PinkPantheress and Ice Spice present the Song of the Year award for “Anti-Hero” to Taylor Swift onstage during the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California on March 27, 2023. Broadcasted live on FOX. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for iHeartRadio)Taylor Swift, Ice Spice and PinkPantheress exit the stage during the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards at Dolby Theatre on March 27, 2023, in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
