Music

Ariana Grande can't believe "Wicked" defied the odds by becoming the highest-grossing Broadway musical movie adaptation ever ... calling the flick's growing popularity "surreal."

We caught up with the pop star outside CBS Studios in NYC on Tuesday, where she met with her adoring fans and signed a number of autographs -- feeling as "Popular" as ever.

However, Ari made it clear she's blown away by audiences' response to the movie ... noting she and her "Wicked" peers are all moved by the worldwide attention.

Drew Taggart from The Chainsmokers is off the market -- he's announced his engagement to model Mari Fonseca, sharing pics and vids from the romantic proposal.

The head-over-heels pair were all smiles in the IG post Tuesday, with Mari proudly flaunting her massive ring as they celebrated over a romantic candlelit dinner.

Drew couldn’t contain his excitement, writing in the comments, "HELL YEA!! 💍," letting everyone know he’s pumped to spend forever with his fiancée. Fans flooded his comments with congrats right away.

Eminem's mom Debbie Nelson has died following a battle with advanced lung cancer, TMZ has learned.

Sources tell us Debbie passed away due to lung cancer. She died last night in St. Joseph, Missouri. TMZ has confirmed her death with Eminem's rep, Dennis Dennehy.

Debbie's diagnosis was first revealed in September ... and reports at the time said she didn't have long to live.

9:22 AM PT -- Yak Gotti's mother Latasha Kendrick gave a passionate speech outside the courtroom after her son's not-guilty verdict ... doubling down support on his decision not to take a plea deal and fight the case, even at the risk of her own freedom.

Young Thug's co-defendant Yak Gotti just shrugged off a jailhouse stabbing, and he's set to walk out a free man ... after being found NOT GUILTY on all charges in the spiraling YSL RICO trial!!!

The embattled rapper, who's been integral for Thug's YSL Records since the start, was smiling as he hugged his lawyer, Doug Weinstein, who supported him through the knife attack a few days ago.

Another defendant, Shannon Stillwell, was given probation for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and also shared an emotional moment with his attorney. He was found not guilty of murder, among other charges.

The YSL RICO trial is the longest-running in Georgia's history and its top target, Young Thug, struck a plea deal that sprung him with a lengthy probation ... legal pundit Meghann Cuniff said the Peach State should be embarrassed about their results.

Jeff DiSantis, a spokesman for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, told the media outlets on the scene ... “We always respect the verdict of a jury.

Yak and Stillwell were the last two defendants in the case and now assume to resume business as usual ... making hit records!!!

No word or not if that includes Gunna going forward.

Speculation about Kendrick Lamar releasing another album before the Super Bowl may have to pipe down for a bit ... he's taking his No. 1 album on the road -- and SZA is coming too!!!

On Tuesday, Kendrick and SZA popped the surprise announcement about their Grand National Tour -- just like they did on their “GNX” collabs “Luther” and “Gloria” in November.

The 21-city tour will take the dynamic duo through hubs like Dallas, Atlanta, East Rutherford, N.J., a pair of L.A. dates, and even an opportunity to be at New Ho King for fried rice with a dip sauce and blammy -- with a stop in Toronto!!! The tour starts in April, with tickets going on sale Wednesday.

Cynthia Erivo is doubling down on her singing in theaters stance ... so much so, she's teasing an appearance at the upcoming sing-along screenings.

We caught up with the "Wicked" star in NYC, where she made it clear she's excited for the sing-along version of the movie to hit theaters Christmas Day. In fact, she told us she "might attend one" ... though, didn't share specifics on the where and the when.

This is likely due to safety, given the fact "Wicked" continues to dominate box offices across the globe ... sparking quite a bit of awards chatter for the Broadway veteran.

Britney Spears turned 43 on Monday but she claims in disturbing new Instagram videos that she's really 5 and moving to Mexico.

In the footage posted to her IG account, the troubled pop star starts off by talking about how the paparazzi put her on a plane with a mask over her face while carrying a torch given to her by a friend.

As if that wasn't bizarre enough ... Britney discussed her B-day, falsely stating that she turned 42 when she's actually 43, but that wasn't the worst part.

Rihanna is famous for her high sense of fashion ... but some fans are mistaking her latest ensemble for the Cookie Monster!

The singer attended The Fashion Awards in London, England, this week with her rapper boyfriend, A$AP Rocky — and she donned a shaggy light blue oversized hat with a matching coat along with a black Christian Lacroix FW02 Couture dress.

Pretty fashionable one might think ... but it didn't seem to go over too well with a handful of Rihanna's supporters on X.

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky are looking like real fashion killers over in England ... turning heads at the London Fashion Awards.

The "Love On The Brain" singer and the "Fashion Killa" rapper are at Monday's event across the pond, looking absolutely spectacular ... with RiRi commanding all the attention with her furry blue outfit.

Rihanna and A$AP are at Royal Albert Hall to accept his cultural innovator award ... and reports from the UK say the couple showed up fashionably late.

My Chemical Romance is saying goodbye to Bob Bryar, the band's former drummer who was found dead in his home last week.

The group just broke their silence on Bob's shocking death, posting a tribute on social media, saying ... "It is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to Bob Bryar, our former bandmate and an important part of the history of My Chemical Romance."

The band adds ... "We send our deepest condolences to his friends and family at this time. May he rest in peace."

LL Cool J isn't waiting until he passes to smell the roses -- he's ordered himself a bouquet of Hip Hop flowers and the little card reads, "HE'S THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME!!!"

That was the DEFinitive statement when LL recently sat with Apple Music's "Le Code" podcast where he put his legacy in stone ... "I’m going to say this humbly, but I really mean this ... I think one day people are going to wake up and realize that LL Cool J is the most important rapper that ever existed. I truly believe one day people are going to say that."

He colorfully continued to make his case using an array of bejeweled metaphors, but LL spit his brightest gems reminding fans of the game-changers he contributed to Hip Hop culture.

Kendrick Lamar's "GNX" dominance wasn't just felt on the Billboard 200 album chart -- the pgLang gang leader also has 7 out of the Top 10 new entries in the Hot 100!!!

Billboard unveiled the singles chart on Monday, revealing K. Dot's owned the Hot 100 with the top 5 entries, in addition to the number 8 and number 9 slots ... newcomers Lucky Gunplay and Dody6 have their first Billboard entries as a result.

The cherry on top comes with Kendrick's newest banger "Squabble Up," which is also the new top song in the country -- his 3rd No. 1 record this year, behind the lawsuit-attracting "Not Like Us" and Future and Metro Boomin's "Like That"!!!

We just spoke to RJMrLA about his cameo in the "Squabble Up" video -- he couldn't decide which was better between it and "Not Like Us" because he considers both to be certified anthems.

JasonMartin saluted K. Dot once again, this time for not even needing the "NLU" heat to move his chart-topping 319K units ... just pure West Coast adrenaline!!!

Sad news from the K-Pop world -- BTS member V’s beloved pet dog has died.

V shared the heartbreaking news Monday via an Instagram Story, telling fans in Korean his pet dog Yeontan had "gone on a long journey," posting a compilation of pics and videos of his furry friend on his feed to honor their time together.

The singer explained it felt right to share the sad news with the BTS ARMY -- a nickname for the boyband's fans -- since they've shown so much love to Yeontan over the years.

Bad Bunny's giving golf tips to Happy Gilmore ... because the rapper is filming scenes with Adam Sandler for the upcoming sequel -- and it looks like he's a caddy.

Check out these behind-the-scenes photos from the set of Adam's "Happy Gilmore 2" ... Bad Bunny's in full costume and makeup, dressed up like a caddy on the golf course with Happy.

Adam's rocking the trademark 'HG' fit ... a Boston Bruins hockey jersey, baggy pants and some Timberland boots.

Kendrick Lamar's "GNX" album was a surprise drop but his timing has proved to be perfect ... he has the top album in the country, even bigger than the more promoted "Wicked" soundtrack!!!

Billboard rolled out the final tally for K. Dot's new age West Coast classic on Monday, which moved 319K album equivalent units ... making a Munchkin out of the 139K units the "Wicked" soundtrack sold!!!

Maybe they should have let fans sing in theaters ... could've spread the word about the OST.

Drake's lawsuit against the powers that helped make "Not Like Us" a cultural phenomenon proves he knows NOTHING about Hip Hop culture, says Charlamagne Tha God, who's calling "The Boy" the supreme donkey of the day!!!

"The Breakfast Club" co-host was on vacay last week and echoed much of the disgust we heard from Peter Rosenberg, Joe Budden and others for Drake's lack of awareness, considering that he also participated in the grimy 2024 Rap Wars.

CThaGod predicted Drake's "white side" and investors at UMG would convince him to file a lawsuit several months ago, on the 500th episode of his 'Brilliant Idiots' podcast.