Maren Morris has made it no secret that a lifelong dream of hers is to star in Wicked, and “The Middle” singer is officially one step closer to turning her Broadway dreams into a reality.
Maren celebrated some very good news on her Instagram Stories, writing in lime green letters against a white backdrop, “I got a callback for Wicked. I am in tears. What the hell.”
The singer also shared the excellent news on Twitter, which earned her a round of applause from none other than Kristin Chenoweth, who originated the role of Glinda in Wicked‘s Broadway debut. “You go baby!! Told ya you could do it!!!” the Broadway legend cheered.
Soon after, “The Bones” singer took to her Instagram Story to talk about the significance of the moment. “Ya’ll, I literally don’t even care — yes I do — if I go beyond this callback because this is, like, 14-year-old Maren’s getting to achieve something that was never in reach,” the singer said, adding her Broadway dreams “just never felt possible.”
“We’ll see where it goes,” the Grammy winner emotionally declared. “I’m just really happy. I love Wicked. I love Elphaba. I love Kristin Chenoweth. Thank you, Kristin, for inspiring me to just buck up and just send the self-tape in.”
Maren revealed in May she had made an audition tape where she sings “The Wizard and I,” a solo number sung by the character Elphaba, in hopes of being cast in the beloved musical.
The singer previously revealed she wants to play Elphaba, who becomes the infamous Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz. The hitmaker said she identifies “heavily” with the green-skinned character.
The Billboard Music Awards winners were revealed in ceremonies Sunday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, and broadcast live on NBC. Sean “Diddy” Combs served as the host of this year’s ceremony.
Here’s the complete list of winners:
Top Artist
Drake
Top Female Artist
Olivia Rodrigo
Top Male Artist
Drake
Top Duo/Group
BTS
Top New Artist
Olivia Rodrigo
Top Billboard 200 Artist
Taylor Swift
Top Billboard 200 Album
Olivia Rodrigo, SOUR
Top Hot 100 Artist
Olivia Rodrigo
Top Hot 100 Song
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber, “STAY”
Top Streaming Songs Artist
Olivia Rodrigo
Top Radio Songs Artist
Olivia Rodrigo
Top Billboard Global 200 Artist
Olivia Rodrigo
Top Billboard Global (Excl. U.S.) Artist
Ed Sheeran
Top Tour
The Rolling Stones (No Filter Tour)
Top R&B Artist
Doja Cat
Top R&B Male Artist
The Weeknd
Top R&B Female Artist
Doja Cat
Top R&B Tour
Bruno Mars (Bruno Mars at Park MGM)
Top Rap Artist
Drake
Top Rap Male Artist
Drake
Top Rap Female Artist
Megan Thee Stallion
Top Rap Tour
Omarion & Bow Wow (The Millennium Tour 2021)
Top R&B Tour
Bruno Mars (Bruno Mars at Park MGM)
Top Rap Tour
Omarion & Bow Wow (The Millennium Tour 2021)
Top Country Artist
Taylor Swift
Top Country Male Artist
Morgan Wallen
Top Country Female Artist
Taylor Swift
Top Country Duo/Group
Dan + Shay
Top Country Tour
Eric Church (Gather Again Tour)
Top Rock Artist
Glass Animals
Top Rock Tour
The Rolling Stones (No Filter Tour)
Top Latin Artist
Bad Bunny
Top Latin Male Artist
Bad Bunny
Top Latin Female Artist
Kali Uchis
Top Latin Duo/Group
Eslabon Armado
Top Latin Tour
Los Bukis (Una Historia Cantada Tour)
Top Dance/Electronic Artist
Lady Gaga
Top Christian Artist
Ye
Top Gospel Artist
CeCe Winans
Top Billboard 200 Album
Olivia Rodrigo, SOUR
Top Soundtrack Encanto
Top R&B Album
Doja Cat, Planet Her
Top Rap Album
Drake, Certified Lover Boy
Top Country Album
Taylor Swift, Red (Taylor’s Version)
Top Rock Album
twenty one pilots, Scaled And Icy
Top Latin Album
KAROL G, KG0516
Top Dance/Electronic Album
ILLENIUM, Fallen Embers
Top Christian Album
Ye, Donda
Top Gospel Album
Ye, Donda
Top Song Sales Artist
BTS
Top Streaming Song
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber, “STAY”
Top Selling Song
BTS, “Butter”
Top Radio Song
Dua Lipa, “Levitating”
Top Collaboration
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber, “STAY”
Top Billboard Global 200 Song
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber, “STAY”
Top Billboard Global (Excl. U.S.) Song
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber, “STAY”
Top Viral Song
Doja Cat ft. SZA, “Kiss Me More”
Top R&B Song
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak), “Leave The Door Open”
Top Rap Song
Lil Nas X ft. Jack Harlow, “INDUSTRY BABY”
Top Country Song
Walker Hayes, “Fancy Like”
Top Rock Song
Måneskin, “Beggin'”
Top Latin Song
Kali Uchis, “telepatía”
Top Dance/Electronic Song
Elton John & Dua Lipa, “Cold Heart – PNAU Remix”
Gabby Barrett may be thinking “I Hope” daughter Baylah is ready for a sibling.
Gabby revealed the news — fittingly, on Mother’s Day — that she and husband Cade Foehner are expecting their second child. Posting a video of her sonogram on her socials, the star wrote, “My son. Another LIFE we get to love and cherish. Happy Mothers Day!”
On Instagram, Cade wrote, ‘Happy Mother’s Day to my amazing, strong, and fruitful Bride! She is currently carrying another precious life made in the image of God.”
Gabby and Cade got married in October 2019 after meeting on season 16 of American Idol. They welcomed Baylah on January 18, 2021.
Dan + Shay and Justin Bieber’s hit duet, “10,000 Hours,” became the subject of a copyright infringement lawsuit this week.
The complaint, levied by Manufacturing Concepts, Melomega music and Sound Gems, accuses the artists of stealing the “core portion” of “10,000 Hours” from a song called “The First Time Baby Is a Holiday.”
“First Time” first came out over four decades ago, but the lawsuit states that it was re-released in 2014. Meanwhile, “10,000 Hours” came out in late 2019.
“Defendants’ theft is impudently bold,” reads the lawsuit. “One need only listen to ‘First Time’ and the infringing ‘10,000 Hours’ to discern the unmistakable similarities between the songs.” The suit also names Dan + Shay’s record label, Warner Music Group, as a defendant in the case.
The claim against “10,000 Hours” is reportedly corroborated by musicologist Dr. Alexander Stewart, a University of Vermont professor and a frequent expert witness in music copyright cases.
The plaintiffs are asking for credit on the track, as well as payment for damages and legal fees, plus an injunction to prevent further distribution of Dan + Shay and Justin’s song.
Backstage at the Grammys Sunday night in Las Vegas, artists answered questions from both reporters who were actually backstage at the MGM Grand Arena, and reporters who’d logged in on Zoom from around the country. But some of the night’s biggest winners didn’t appear backstage.
Olivia Rodrigo and Silk Sonic, both of whom won multiple awards Sunday night, posed for photos, but didn’t talk to reporters. Doja Cat, who won Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group for “Kiss Me More,” also declined to speak with reporters, but her duet partner, SZA, did come backstage, despite the fact that she was on crutches due to, as she put it, “falling out of bed” the day before.
“That’s the way it goes,” she laughed. “Everything awesome in my life has always come with something very random, but it just adds to the energy.”
SZA’s Grammy was her first win after 11 nominations, and R&B songstress Jazmine Sullivan and country duo Brothers Osborne were two other artists who finally won for the first time Sunday night after multiple nominations. Backstage, Sullivan, who actually won two trophies, said, “After losing so many times, I feel like I kinda gave up [hope of ever winning]…so it’s surreal to actually hold these babies!”
TJ Osborne of Brothers Osborne, who admitted that his mother “hates” that he dyed his hair blond, spoke about how “incredibly fulfilling” it’s been to perform for their fans since he came out as gay last year.
But country’s big winner was Chris Stapleton, who took home three trophies, including Best Country Album. Asked backstage who out there he’d like to collaborate with, Stapleton, who’s worked with Taylor Swift, Adele and Santana, among others, said he wouldn’t mind working with Harry Styles.
Country superstar Carrie Underwood won the Best Roots Gospel Album Grammy for her faith-based project My Savior and cried backstage as she spoke about how it “means the world” to her that she won because she’s wanted to make that kind of album “literally my whole career.”
H.E.R., who won the Best Traditional R&B Performance Grammy, was still buzzing from her performance with Lenny Kravitz on the show. “I was having so much fun…growing up, I’d literally study all his videos…he’s one of the reasons why I even wanted to play guitar, so having this full circle moment…I was at a loss for words.”
And The Late Show with Stephen Colbert bandleader Jon Batiste, who had the most Grammys going into the show, also cited Lenny Kravitz as HIS full circle moment: Kravitz announced that Batiste had won the Album of the Year for his project We Are. “We played together when I was 16, so it was surreal,” Batiste told reporters, adding, “Seeing Uncle Lenny up there, it was just like a whole vibe, like, ‘This is far out.'”
Foo Fighters swept the rock categories, but sadly, they didn’t attend due to the death of drummer Taylor Hawkins. St. Vincent won Best Alternative Album for Daddy’s Home and backstage, she mentioned how happy she was that Jack Antonoff, her co-producer on the album, had been named Producer of the Year.
She also spoke about how “times are changing” in terms of women in alternative rock, while rock legend Bonnie Raitt, who won the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, praised the new crop of young female artists, including Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo.
“Across all genres, I think women are kickin’ it,” said Raitt.
The 64th Annual Grammy Awards aired live from Las Vegas Sunday night on CBS, hosted by Trevor Noah.
Here is the complete list of winners in the major categories:
Record of the Year
“Leave the Door Open,” Silk Sonic
Album of the Year We Are, Jon Batiste
Song of the Year
“Leave the Door Open,” Brandon Anderson, Christopher Brody Brown, Dernst Emile II & Bruno Mars, songwriters (Silk Sonic)
Best New Artist
Olivia Rodrigo
POP
Best Pop Solo Performance
“driver’s license,” Olivia Rodrigo
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
“Kiss Me More,” Doja Cat Featuring SZA
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album Love For Sale, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga
Best Pop Vocal Album Sour, Olivia Rodrigo
ROCK/ALTERNATIVE
Best Metal Performance
“The Alien,” Dream Theater
Best Rock Song
“Waiting on a War,” Foo Fighters
Best Rock Performance
“Making a Fire,” Foo Fighters
Best Rock Album Medicine at Midnight, Foo Fighters
Best Alternative Music Album Daddy’s Home, St. Vincent
R&B/RAP
BEST R&B PERFORMANCE (TIE)
“Leave the Door Open,” Silk Sonic
and
“Pick Up Your Feelings,” Jazmine Sullivan
Best Traditional R&B Performance
“Fight for You,” H.E.R.
Best R&B Song
“Leave the Door Open,” Silk Sonic
Best Progressive R&B Album Table for Two, Lucky Daye
Best R&B Album Heaux Tales, Jazmine Sullivan
Best Rap Performance
“Family Ties,” Baby Keem Featuring Kendrick Lamar
Best Melodic Rap Performance
“Hurricane,” Kanye West featuring the Weeknd and Lil Baby
Best Rap Song
“Jail,” Dwayne Abernathy, Jr., Shawn Carter, Raul Cubina, Michael Dean, Charles M. Njapa, Sean Solymar, Kanye West and Mark Williams, songwriters (Kanye West featuring Jay-Z)
Best Rap Album Call Me If You Get Lost, Tyler, the Creator
COUNTRY
Best Country Solo Performance
“You Should Probably Leave,” Chris Stapleton
Best Country Duo/Group Performance
“Younger Me,” Brothers Osborne
Best Country Song
“Cold,” Dave Cobb, J.T. Cure, Derek Mixon & Chris Stapleton
Best Country Album Starting Over, Chris Stapleton
DANCE/ELECTRONIC MUSIC
Best Dance Recording
“10%” by Kaytranada feat. Kali Uchis
Best Dance/Electronic Album Alive, Rüfüs Du Sol
GOSPEL/CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC
Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song
“Believe For It,” CeCe Winans; Dwan Hill, Kyle Lee, CeCe Winans & Mitch Wong
Best Gospel Album Believe For It, CeCe Winans
Best Contemporary Christian Music Album Old Church Basement, Elevation Worship & Maverick City Music
Best Roots Gospel Album My Savior, Carrie Underwood
LATIN
Best Latin Pop Album
Mendó, Alex Cuba
Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album
Origen, Juanes
Best Regional Mexican Music Album A Mis 80s, Vicente Fernandez
Best Tropical Latin Album Salswing!, Rubén Blades y Roberto Delgado & Orquesta
COMEDY
Best Comedy Album Sincerely, Louis C.K.
MUSICAL THEATER
Best Musical Theater Album The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical, Composers/Lyricists Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, Producer Emily Bear
MUSIC FOR VISUAL MEDIA
Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media (TIE)
Caros Raphael Rivera, The Queen’s Gambit
and
Jon Batiste, Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor, Soul
Best Song Written For Visual Media
“All Eyes on Me” (from Bo Burnham: Inside), Bo Burnham
MUSIC VIDEO/FILM
Best Music Video
“Freedom,” Jon Batiste
Best Music Film Summer of Soul, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, video director; David Dinerstein, Robert Fyvolent & Joseph Patel, video producers
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a surprise appearance at the 64th Grammy Awards and sent a powerful message about the cost of freedom and the healing power of music.
In a pre-taped video, the president spoke from an unknown location in his country, which is being bombarded by Russian bombs in an unprecedented attack to seize control of the country. Zelenskyy remained poised and spoke with a stern, gravel-like tone about the cost of Russia’s ongoing war.
“The war. What’s more opposite to music? The silence of ruined cities and killed people. Our children draw swooping rockets, not shooting stars. Over 400 children have been injured and 153 children died and we’ll never see them drawing,” he said. “Our parents are happy to wake up in the morning. In bomb shelters. Alive.”
Zelenskyy urged, “The war doesn’t let us choose who survived and who stays in eternal silence.”
“Our musicians wear body armor instead of tuxedos. They sing to the wounded in hospitals. Even to those who can’t hear them, but the music will break through anyway,” he continued, noting Russia is bringing “horrible silence with its bombs. The dead silence.”
He urged those at the Grammy Awards to “fill the silence with your music” and to “tell our story” by sharing the “truth” of the Russian invasion “on your social networks, on TV — support us in any way you can.”
While naming the besieged cities of Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Volnovakha and Mariupol, Zelenskyy declared, “I have a dream of them living and free. Free like you on the Grammy stage.”
The Ukrainian president’s speech was followed by John Legend‘s performance of “Free.” He was joined by Ukrainian instrumentalist Siuzanna Iglidan and singer Mika Newton for the inspiring number.
The search for the next American Idol continued Sunday night, with host Ryan Seacrest and judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie leading the hunt.
Here are some of the night’s highlights, which include giving away the second out of three coveted Platinum tickets for the milestone season 20.
Kicking things off was 27-year-old Betty Maxwell, who some might recognize as Miss Georgia 2015 and Miss America 2016. Now, she’s after the American Idol crown, and after singing Kelly Clarkson‘s “A Moment Like This” and Carrie Underwood‘s “Jesus Take The Wheel,” she’s well on her way with a ticket to Hollywood.
Leah Marlene, 20, from Illinois admittedly has some “questionable fashion choices” but the judges didn’t have to question anything when it came to whether or not they were sending her through to the next round. She performed One Direction‘s “Steal My Girl” and Katy even drew a comparison to former Idol contestant Catie Turner, who made it to season 16’s top seven.
Unfortunately, the same fate wasn’t in the cards for 17-year-old Skylie Thompson, who shared an original song called “Buckle Bunny” followed by a cover of Zach Bryan‘s “Oklahoma City.” Although the trio of judges enjoyed her energy and performance, they ultimately sent home with an optimistic “not yet.”
Luke Taylor‘s deep voice took the judges by surprise. After having a few laughs, which included him singing “Frosty the Snowman,” Luke and Lionel voted him through to Hollywood.
Kenedi Anderson, 17, took home a Platinum ticket, impressing the judges with her rendition of Lady Gaga‘s “Applause.” She had the judges praising her, even saying she was “born to be a star” and top ten material.
Other notable auditions included, 18-year-old Kelsie Dolan, who was praised by the judges for hitting “no bad notes” after taking a swing at Kelly Clarkson’s “Piece by Piece,” and Adele‘s “When We Were Young.”
Mike Parker, 27, sang his heart out as his family grapples with his mother’s health issues. He sung Deana Carter‘s “Strawberry Wine” and had Katy saying he’s potential “Top 24.” Also winning the judges compliments was Christian Guardino, singing Donnie Hathaway‘s “A Song For You” and Lady K, who took a stab at Katy’s song “Wide Awake.” Both had the judges saying that they’re “magic.”
The auditions continue when American Idol returns Sunday, March 13 at 8 p.m ET on ABC.
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For a second year in a row, the Grammy Awards will not take place on January 31 as originally planned because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
ABC News confirms the Recording Academy has delayed this year’s ceremony, which was to be hosted again by Trevor Noah.
“After careful consideration and analysis with city and state officials, health and safety experts, the artist community and our many partners, the Recording Academy and CBS have postponed the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards Show,” the organization announced in a statement on Wednesday.
The Recording Academy continued, “The health and safety of those in our music community, the live audience, and the hundreds of people who work tirelessly to produce our show remains our top priority. Given the uncertainty surrounding the Omicron variant, holding the show on January 31 simply contains too many risks.”
At this time, the organization has not announced when the Grammys will be rescheduled, but promised the new date “will be announced soon.”
Currently, federal data reports that more than 100,000 people are hospitalized in the U.S. for COVID-19. Data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from the weekend shows that the U.S. is now averaging nearly half a million new cases a day — averaging out to nearly six Americans testing positive every second.
If you got the chance to sing with the two biggest female stars in pop music, you’d want to tell everyone about the experience, right? Not if you’re country superstar Chris Stapleton.
Chris is the duet partner of choice for Taylor Swift and Adele: He sings with Taylor on “I Bet You Think About Me,” a “From the Vault” track on Red (Taylor’s Version), which comes out Friday; and with Adele on a bonus track on her album, 30, which comes out later this month. But backstage at the CMA Awards Wednesday night, when asked to reveal what that was like, Chris was a gentleman and kept his lips zipped.
“I can tell you very simply, they called and I answered,” Chris told reporters. “Y’know, those are calls that you, when you pick up, you’re like, ‘What do you want me to do? O.K. cool.’ Y’know, that’s how that goes.”
“So that’s what I can tell you about it,” he added, maddeningly. “The rest of it, they’ll have to tell you on their own time.”
Sure, Chris — because Taylor and Adele just love talking to the press.
By the way, Chris is also the duet partner of choice for another big female pop star: He sings with Kelly Clarkson on her new holiday album …When Christmas Comes Around. And Wednesday night, he sang with another American Idol alum, Jennifer Hudson.
And he doesn’t limit himself to female pop stars, either: Chris also sang with Justin Timberlake on JT’s most recent album, 2018’s Man of the Woods. That came after the two brought down the house at the CMA Awards back in 2015.
