Music

This just in ... LESTER HOLT CAN SING!

The "NBC Nightly News" anchor got out from behind the desk Sunday night and took center stage at the Hill Country BBQ joint in NYC to sing his face off -- and it's pretty good!

Holt channeled his inner Bill Withers and belted out the 1977 hit "Lovely Day" with his band, The Rough Cuts.

The whole thing went pretty smoothly -- but Lester definitely loses some cool points for having to check his lyrics sheet a few times during the set. Come on man, it's a classic!!!

Aerosmith will be the closing act for the 2018 VMAs this week -- and it might very well give us a glimpse of what's to come in Vegas.

Sources close to the band tell us Steven Tyler, Joe Perry and co. are taking the stage Monday night at Radio City Music Hall in NYC to close out MTV's award show. We're told they're going to be performing their smash hit "Walk This Way."

We got the band out in NYC Monday ... and each member seemed to drop hints at a possible collab for their performance.

Considering the size of the venue, it'll be the perfect warm-up for Aerosmith ... the band's got a Vegas residency coming up. As we reported ... the band announced they'll be hitting the strip next Spring and putting on 18 shows at the MGM Grand Park Theater ... which seats 5,200 people.

RCMH seats more people -- a skosh over 6,000 -- but is significantly smaller in square footage. All in all ... we're guessing it'll be good practice for the Boys from Boston on a smaller stage than what they're normally used to. Might as well get it in early and often.

Also noteworthy ... Aerosmith had a pretty epic opening performance at the VMAs in 1999, where they also played "Walk This Way" ... but had some help from Kid Rock and Run-D.M.C.

Question: What's black and white and red all over?

Answer: Ed Sheeran and Don McLean performing 'Vincent' together. And it's beautiful.

The two got together to perform the song as part of a fundraiser in the Pacific Palisades for UCLA Health and Teen Cancer America ... but before they hit the stage, they got together for a private rehearsal.

Sheeran brought the guitar -- and his finest red cargo shorts -- and strummed away while he and Don took turns with the verses.

72-year-old McLean was clearly impressed with his 27-year-old duet partner -- saying, "Ed is a quick study...turned out great"

Lisa Marie Presley won't have to pay her estranged hubby spousal support ... 'cause the postnuptial agreement they signed in 2007 says she doesn't have to pony up a penny and it's ironclad.

According to new legal docs obtained by TMZ ... the judge said the agreement Michael Lockwood signed in 2007 -- after they married in 2006 -- is legit. Michael gave up his right to spousal support, something they've been at war over for the last week.

Even though Michael testified he had NOT read the postnup when he signed it, the court ruled signing it on the advice of his attorney holds up because it means he understood what he was signing based on what his lawyer was telling him.

This is just the latest in Lisa and Michael's divorce war. She was ordered back in February to pay him $100k in legal fees.

Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott will have a direct shot at Nicki Minaj during the VMAs ... this after Nicki blasted them for cheating her out of the top spot on the Billboard chart.

The seating chart for Monday night's VMAs plays like some high school drama. Roughly 24 hours after Nicki went nuclear on Travis and Kylie, they'll be sitting within inches of each other at Radio City Music Hall in NYC.

ICYMI, Nicki went off on Travis Sunday, blaming Kylie and her daughter, Stormi, for rocketing Travis to the top of the Billboard Chart with his album, "Astroworld," which came out 2 weeks ago. Nicki's convinced Kylie's strong social media presence is what pushed Travis over the top and firmly believes the No. 1 spot woulda been hers if not for Kylie and Stormi.

Grab ya popcorn.

One Republic has made one enormous gesture.

The band donated $100k to help cover medical costs for the victim of a shooting ... TMZ has learned.

The woman -- who has not been identified -- was shot in Nashville, TN last week and is in critical condition. She's the wife of a team member of One Republic.

One Republic is leading the charge in raising funds for her medical costs. The band is asking people to donate to a GoFundMe ... roughly $170k has been raised in just 5 days.

Dierks Bentley also chipped in $2,000.

The victim has undergone multiple surgeries and lost her spleen ... but her condition is not life-threatening.

Rihanna's never one to play second fiddle ... unless of course she's at her best friend's wedding.

RiRi hit up Barbados over the weekend where she was a bridesmaid at her best friend Dr. Sonita Alexander's wedding. Rihanna couldn't help but throw her hands in the air when she made eye contact with her BFF, who also raised her hands while riding in a 1960 MGA Coupe driven by her father.

The Barbados Babe -- who has known Sonita since they were 11 -- wore the hell outta this blue dress in yet another example that her wardrobe's got serious range.

BTW, remember this badass pose? She was a bridesmaid back in 2015 at another good friend's wedding in Hawaii. She was front and center ... cig hangin' from her lips.

If you're rooting for Black Chyna and Tyga to get back together ... well, you could be in luck.

Blac Chyna and Tyga reunited Sunday night in NYC ... and it looks like they called a babysitter.

The former couple -- who have a son, King -- sent the weekend out in style. They dined at Meatpacking District hot spot Catch NYC ... and then met up again at Marquee New York nightclub as they partied into the early morning.

Don't expect Cardi B to make a triumphant return to rap at the VMAs Monday, 'cause her appearance won't include a performance ... TMZ has learned.

Sources connected to the production tell us Cardi will in fact open the VMAs Monday as has been announced, but she won't be rockin' the mic for MTV. We're told she will either do a monologue or partake in some sort of skit instead.

Many speculated the show would mark Cardi's first musical performance since giving birth to baby Kulture ... but it just ain't happening.

Speaking of Kulture ... we're told she won't be making the trek to the show with mom either.

It's unclear whether or not Cardi's gig will be in the flesh or a pre-taped segment ... but one thing's for sure, fans will finally get their long overdue Cardi fix.

The 14 or so people injured by a tent collapse before a Backstreet Boys concert this weekend are lucky to be alive based on this woman's first-hand account of the accident ... which sounds terrifying.

We spoke with Oklahoma resident Rhonda Dunn, who was one of the at least 14 victims injured at the WinStar World Casino and Resort Saturday after an awning fell on people waiting in line. She recounts the moment the tent collapsed ... fighting back tears to do so.

According to Rhonda, she was pinned under the structure before some heroic bystanders helped lift enough of it for her to get out. She didn't walk away unscathed though -- Rhonda tells us a doctor told her she'd suffered a compression fracture on her spine.

Nicki Minaj is going nuclear, blaming Kylie Jenner and her daughter Stormi for Travis Scott's victory over her on the charts.

Nicki is furious because she believed she would soar to the top of the Billboard Chart with her new album, "Queen" ... but Travis captured the #1 spot with his album, "Astroworld," which came out 2 weeks ago. She came in at #2 this week.

Nicki believes Travis cheated because he's using his baby and baby mama to fuel interest in his album. Specifically, Nicki went ham over Kylie's post 3 days ago where she plastered Travis' tour art with the caption, "me and storm ready for tour. shop.travisscott.com."

Nicki claims Travis sold more than 50,000 units off Kylie's post ... spiking his overall album sales.

Pearl Jam brought out a very special guest at their Chicago concert this weekend -- none other North Korea's #1 man Dennis Rodman ... who had some, uh, interesting things to say.

The former Bulls star made an appearance Saturday night at PJ's Wrigley Field set and told Chitowners he was thankful for their continued support while he unofficially lobbied for the U.S. with Kim Jong-un ... which unofficially resulted in an actual meeting recently.

Dennis told the crowd ... "You people here are the only people on this planet Earth [that] gave me support. Thank all you guys!" He continued with a promise to the Windy City, saying when he died ... he'd "make sure" to be buried in Chicago. The audience ate it up.

Eddie Vedder told him to put off his death for as long as possible. Well said.

2 Chainz has been referring to Kesha Ward as his wife forever, but now it's official ... they're married!

2 Chainz and Kesha tied the knot Saturday at the Versace Mansion aka The Villa Casa Casuarina in Miami, with some famous pals looking on, including Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatz and Gucci Mane.

Kesha walked down the isle to John Legend's version of "All of Me."

You'd think Kanye West would not get shut down when he ordered a pair of Yeezy slides, but the ones he wore to 2 Chainz' wedding were waaaay 2 small.

The back of Ye's feet were hangin' off the slide. It may have affected his balance because it looks like he had to use Kim's ass to stay upright. Then again ... that's just a theory.

They otherwise had a great time at the nuptials.

Drake is still stinging from Pusha T railing on him over his secret baby, and Saturday night he took it out on Kanye West.

Drake was performing at The United Center in the Windy City -- part of his Aubrey and the Three Migos tour -- and began singing "Know Yourself," but changed the lyrics from "Then Kanye dropped" to "Then Kanye flopped."

It seemed Drake might have gotten past his beef with Pusha T ... now that's he's acknowledged he had a son with ex-porn star Sophie Brussaux, but clearly he hasn't. As you know, Pusha's in Kanye's camp -- Ye has produced Pusha T's music -- and apparently that's enough for Drake to take aim and fire.

At least 14 Backstreet Boys fans waiting for their show to begin were injured when nasty weather caused a structure to collapse ... according to various reports.

The outdoor pavilion concertgoers at the WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, Oklahoma venue were treated by emergency personnel and taken to local hospitals.

Reports say they were waiting in a large tent area when the severe weather caused the awning to fall on top of them.

BB members Kevin Richardson and Nick Carter tweeted about the ordeal, saying emergency crews were helping their fans ... and Kevin just informed everyone the show's been canceled.

Carter echoed the "safety first" sentiment earlier, as well.

Footage of the aftermath shows several people were hurt, but as far as we know ... there have fortunately been no deaths as a result.