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Report: Madonna's new album includes a song about her late brother

Madonna (Rafael Pavarotti)

Madonna's upcoming album, Confessions II is a dance album, but one track was inspired by the tragic death of her brother, Christopher Ciccone. According to the U.K. paper The Sun, producer Stuart Price discussed the song, called "Fragile," during a playback session for the album.

“Madonna’s gone on record to say she lost her brother during the making of the record,” said Price, as per The Sun. Ciccone, Madonna's youngest brother, died of cancer in October 2024 at age 63.

"It was a process of grieving. Madonna was really just being at the height of her expression, and her vulnerable side, which appears on this record, I think is really great to hear," Price continued. "Personally, my observation is that her greatest successes as an artist are where she’s documenting who she is, where she’s at, what she’s seeing. Sometimes it’s not comfortable, sometimes it’s not obvious.”

Price also shared details about Madonna's Sabrina Carpenter duet, "Bring Your Love," revealing the pair recorded the song together in the same New York City studio. "Their physical chemistry from the second they got together in the studio was really immediate. They were funny together," he revealed.

In addition, Price said that he and Madonna recorded Confessions II using the same microphone they used on her 2005 album, Confessions on a Dance Floor. 

“The through line on this record is absolutely just the telling of life," he noted.

Confessions II arrives on July 3.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Music notes: Kevin Jonas, Harry Styles and more

Kevin Jonas debuted his new solo single, "Little Things," live Wednesday night during the Jonas Brothers' show  in São Paulo, Brazil. Now, the song is officially out. It marks only his second solo release, following last year's "Changing." In a statement, Kevin says the song is inspired by his wife, Danielle Jonas. "My wife and I have been married for 17 years," he says. "There are little moments during our time together that trigger my joy and happiness and remind me exactly why I’m still with her."

Harry Styles launches his Together, Together tour in Amsterdam on Saturday, and the whole city is ready to dance. Johan Cruijff Arena, where Harry will perform 10 shows, posted a video on Instagram showing iconic Amsterdam landmarks transformed into mirrored disco balls — just like the one on the cover of Harry's album Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally. Robyn will open all 10 dates.

New Kids on the Block have been announced as performers on the American Music Awards, taking place in Las Vegas May 25 and airing on CBS and Paramount+. They join a lineup that includes Teddy Swims, sombr, KATSEYE, Hootie & the Blowfish and Billy Idol. Queen Latifah will host the show.

While you're waiting for Ariana Grande's new album petal to drop, you can listen to a new song by her brother, Frankie Grande. He's released his version of Céline Dion’s hit "I Drove All Night, which he performs nightly in the Broadway musical Titanique. Frankie says this version is "faster," "gayer" and "unapologetically made for the dance floor."

Shaggy has released a new album, Lottery, featuring his pal Sting, as well as guests Robin Thicke, Akon and Rayvon, who sang on Shaggy's 2001 #1 hit "Angel."

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Harry Styles, Adele, Dua Lipa among 40 richest people under 40 in the UK

Harry Styles performs on stage during The BRIT Awards 2026 on Feb. 28, 2026 in Manchester, England. (JMEnternational/Getty Images)

Harry Styles, Adele and Dua Lipa are among the richest, young-ish people in the U.K.

That's according to the Sunday Times Rich List, which is put out by the U.K.'s paper of record, The Times. It ranks the richest people in the United Kingdom, but there's a subset of the list called "40 richest people under 40 in the U.K." On that list, Harry ranks #23, with an estimated fortune of $313.5 million. 

Adele ranks #28 on the list, with a fortune of $229 million, while Dua Lipa comes in at #32 with $200 million. As previously reported, the under-40 musician who ranks the highest is Ed Sheeran, who is #14 with an estimated fortune of $547 million. He's the only musician under 40 who has enough money to also rate a spot on the overall list, which includes 350 people. The "poorest" person on that list, #350, is "only" worth $454 million.

Other musicians on the overall rich list include Elton John, The Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, Spice Girls' Victoria Beckham, Queen's Brian May and Roger Taylor, and Noel and Liam Gallagher of Oasis.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Lady Gaga introduces 'MAYHEM Requiem' film in LA: 'What if we tore the album down?'

Lady Gaga in Apple Music's 'MAYHEM Requiem' (Courtesy Apple Music)

Lady Gaga thrilled fans on Thursday night when she showed up to a one-night-only screening of her new film, MAYHEM Requiem, which is now streaming on Apple Music.

Gaga and her dancers showed up at the AMC theater in LA's The Grove for the screening, accompanied by a marching band that, according to Billboard, played somber versions of songs from Mayhem, including "Abracadabra" and "Disease."

Gaga paid tribute to her late friend Alexander McQueen by wearing a vintage McQueen red-and-black dress. Her dancers all wore white, and everyone walked down a black carpet strewn with rose petals.

"Welcome to the ceremony where we close this chapter together," Gaga captioned a series of photos of the appearance. 

The film, shot in January at LA's Wiltern theater, features Gaga performing reimagined versions of all the songs from Mayhem surrounded by rubble. The concept, as she puts it in a behind-the-scenes video, was: "What if we were to lock the [Mayhem Ball] set away after we were done with the last show, and over hundreds of years it fell apart, and some Little Monster from the future found it — or made an art piece out of it?”

Gaga told fans at the screening that she and her fiancé, Michael Polanksy, then wondered, "What if we tore the album down and we just completely put it back together and reimagined the music in a new way?”

She concluded, "To me, this idea that we can take the broken pieces of our lives and put them back together is a lot of why I made this album in the first place."

You can now watch videos of Gaga's performances of "Die With a Smile" and "Killah" from the film on YouTube.

 

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Ed Sheeran makes 'Sunday Times' Rich List, drops long-awaited collab, co-writes World Cup anthem

Ed Sheeran and Martin Garrix (Photo Credit: Louis Van Baar)

Ed Sheeran is currently out on his LOOP tour, but while he's entertaining fans in person, he's also raking in the bucks and dropping new material.

Ed is included on the annual Sunday Times Rich List, which is put out by the U.K.'s paper of record, The Times, and ranks the richest people in the U.K. On the paper's list of the "40 richest people under 40 in the U.K.," Ed ranks #14, with an estimated fortune of more than $547 million. That's up from last year, when he was "only" worth around $494 million. However, when he's ranked against the entire list, which features everyone of every age, he's #306 out of 350.

Meanwhile, Ed has finally released "Repeat It," a song he and DJ/producer Martin Garrix have been working on intermittently for 12 years. The song was teased with a billboard campaign in the Dominican Republic, where Ed performed May 9. The billboards read, "hi ed, can we please release our song? xx marty."

Finally, Ed co-wrote "Dai Dai," the new official 2026 FIFA World Cup Anthem, performed by Shakira and Burna Boy, which is now available. Shakira is donating her royalties from the song to Global Citizen's Education Fund, which provides access to education for kids in underserved communities. No word on whether Ed is also donating his royalties.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Olivia Rodrigo reveals who named her new album

Olivia Rodrigo, 'you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love' (Geffen Records)

Unlike her first two albums, SOUR and GUTS, Olivia Rodrigo's upcoming third album has a long title: you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love. But it turns out Olivia didn't come up with that title herself.

Olivia's official fan Instagram account, @LiviesHQ, posted a video clip of Olivia doing an interview. She says that her goal for the album was trying to "capture, or master for myself, the art of a sad love song." As she explains, "Those are always my favorite love songs, ones that are like, kind of depressing and like, kind of dark."

"And so I always knew that that was the challenge," she continues. "So I was having a conversation with my producer, Dan [Nigro], about something, and he was like, 'Oh, you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love.' Just in conversation."

"And I was like, 'That's it! That's gonna be the album title!'"

Thursday was Dan Nigro's birthday, and the caption on the video reads, "happy birthday to the best producer and album title generator!! we [love] you @dan_nigro."

you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love is out June 12.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Madonna unveils album track list with poster campaign in London

Madonna, 'Confessions II,' (Warner Records)

Imagine Madonna putting up posters on a random wall in London with a glue brush. Turns out, you don't have to imagine it: You can see her doing it in a video she shared on Instagram.

In the video, a couple of guys are seen plastering walls in the British capital with posters advertising Madonna's new album Confessions II, and other posters revealing the track listing for the album. Then Madonna joins them, and even puts up a poster herself. The video is set to "Bring Your Love," her duet with Sabrina Carpenter.

"Did you find yours?" the caption reads.

The poster reveals there are 12 tracks on the album, including one called "Danceteria," named after the legendary '80s-era New York nightclub. In the early '80s, Madonna would go around to clubs and ask them to play her demos. Mark Kamins, the deejay at Danceteria, was impressed enough to arrange a meeting for her with Sire Records, which led to Madonna's first label deal. He also produced her 1982 debut single, "Everybody."

If there are other features on the album, the poster doesn't reveal them, but Sabrina Carpenter's name isn't included, either. According to the poster, the track list is as follows:

"I Feel So Free"
"Good for the Soul"
"One Step Away"
"Bring Your Love"
"Danceteria"
"Read My Lips"
"Everything"
"Love Without Words"
"Bizarre"
"School"
"Fragile"
"My Sins Are My Savior"

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Gracie Abrams hits the wall with 'Daughter From Hell''s first single

Gracie Abrams, 'Daughter From Hell' (Interscope)

Gracie Abrams has released the first single and video from her third album, Daughter from Hell.

"Hit The Wall" has upbeat music, but the lyrics paint a picture of someone in crisis, wrecking relationships because of mental health issues. "Sooner or later, you'll find out/ I live in a pattern of breakdowns," she sings in one line. "I barely deserve it if you do stay/ I wish you would anyway," she sings in another line. "I'm not a problem you can solve." 

The chorus is, "Now you can watch me hit the wall."

The video takes one of the lyrics -- "I'm afraid that my fortress is a glass box" -- and makes it literal, with Gracie lying down in a glass box.  She's also shown being examined by doctors, going in and out of doors, and standing in a hallway. At one point, a set of little girl twins appear in the hallway, like in that super-creepy scene in The Shining. The video ends with her singing in front of a burning tree.

Gracie shouts out one of her musical heroes in the lyrics, singing "'A Case of You' playing in the hallway/ Hallucinations that I downplay." "A Case of You" is a track from Joni Mitchell's iconic 1971 album Blue. Gracie loves Joni Mitchell so much that she even has a Joni-related tattoo.

On Instagram, Gracie's producer and co-writer Aaron Dessner wrote, "This was the song @gracieabrams and I wrote one day — when we were literally hitting a wall creatively — that broke through and brought everything else into focus. .... Gracie you’re a genius and I’m so grateful for all the trust you put in me to help excavate these songs."

Daughter from Hell is out July 17.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Rihanna, Shakira are among 'TIME''s biggest philanthropists

Rihanna attends the 2026 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2026 in New York City. (Theo Wargo/FilmMagic)

Rihanna and Shakira are global music stars, but they're also very generous. Both artists have landed on the TIME100 Philanthropy list, which highlights the “world’s most influential givers, leaders, advocates, and thinkers.”

The mag notes that the people on the list are “representing the most compelling stories in philanthropy today, in a field that moves more than $1 trillion globally each year.”

Rihanna made the cut thanks to her Clara Lionel Foundation, founded in 2012 after her grandmother's death and named after her grandparents. Over the years, the charity has donated over $100 million toward climate resilience, women’s entrepreneurship, arts and culture, education and healthcare, not just in her native Caribbean, but also in the U.S. and East Africa.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the foundation gave away $33 million in a single year. Most recently, when Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica in October 2025, the foundation started a fund to rebuild the island's impacted health care services and improve access to water and education.

As for Rihanna's "Can't Remember to Forget You" duet partner Shakira, she's been building schools in her native Colombia via her charity, the Barefoot Foundation, for almost 30 years. Nineteen schools have been built, 12,000 teachers have been trained and 224,000 children have been helped thanks to the charity, according to TIME.

Other musicians on TIME's list include Elton John, Chance the Rapper and country music icon Willie Nelson.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Harry Styles' opening act Shania Twain loves his relationship with his mom

Shania Twain and Harry Styles perform at the Coachella Stage during the 2022 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival on April 15, 2022 in Indio, California. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for ABA)

Harry Styles' Together, Together tour is launching Saturday night in Amsterdam. After his mini-residency there, Harry will head to London, where his opening act will be his pal Shania Twain. Shania, who's old enough to be Harry's mother, says one of the things she likes about him is the relationship he has with his actual mother, Anne Twist.

Shania and Harry first connected when he brought her out at Coachella as a special guest in 2022. Shania, 60, tells Apple Music working with Harry, 32, is "a beautiful chapter and to me, it signifies bridges. Bridging generations, bridging audiences, bridging everything — unity brings us all together."

She goes on to say, "I think music should wrap its arms around everybody who wants to listen to it, and Harry does that. Harry's got that personality, too. He's so likable and sweet, and he makes music that is beautiful. It sounds unique when it's Harry's voice."

But also, Shania says, "I am very warmed by his relationship with his own mother. It's very fitting right now for me to be around them and witness them together as mom and son. I am a mother, I have a son, and [it makes me] think of my own mother and how she would have loved to have watched me go through my career."

Shania's mother and stepfather died in a car crash in 1987. Shania was 22 at the time and had yet to launch her record-setting career.

Shania's dates with Harry begin June 12; she's releasing a new album, Little Miss Twain, on July 24. She says she plans to tour behind the new album, but first, "I gotta get through my time with Harry, so that's my focus."

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Charli XCX says she isn't 'gonna explain where i was coming from' with 'Rock Music'

Charli XCX poses during the 76th Berlinale International Film Festival Berlin on Feb.14, 2026 in Berlin, Germany. (Dominique Charriau/WireImage)

Charli XCX's new song is called "Rock Music," and while it does incorporate an electric guitar, she denies that it actually is rock music. Now, she's taken to Instagram to share her thoughts on the divisive feedback she's been getting about the song.

"seeing all the different reactions to my song rock music has been really interesting," she writes, adding, "i’m not gonna explain where i was coming from with 'rock music,' but all i know is that things can be funny, earnest, sincere, and joyful all at the same time and that’s what i feel about a lot of the things i make."

"i love talking about music and art w my friends, so im happy people are throwing out thoughts," Charli writes, concluding, "anyways, just was thinking about things and thought i’d put them on the internet, will probably regret it lol."

Charli has also posted a behind-the-scenes look of the making of the song's video, revealing that in one scene, she decided to throw a salt shaker and accidentally hit her husband, George Daniel, right in the head. "I feel so terrible," she says. In another part of the clip, we learn that she's wearing her actual wedding dress under a black leather jacket in several scenes.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Britney Spears' rep says story of 'erratic' behavior was 'completely blown out of proportion'

Britney Spears attends the 2017 Radio Disney Music Awards in Los Angeles on April 29 (Image Group LA/Disney Channel via Getty Images)

A spokesperson for Britney Spears is pushing back on a TMZ report that Britney exhibited "erratic" behavior while dining at a restaurant in Sherman Oaks, California, on Wednesday night.

TMZ cited sources that claimed while sitting at a table with two people she was allegedly "screaming" and "barking"; another diner claimed she walked by their table with a knife. Separately, an entertainment journalist said in a post on X that he was eating dinner next to Britney, calling it an "INSANE dining experience."

But a rep for Britney tells ABC News, "This is completely blown out of proportion. Britney was enjoying a quiet dinner with her assistant and bodyguard. She was simply telling the story about how her dog was barking at the neighbors."

"At no point did she put anyone in danger with a knife. She was cutting her hamburger in half," the statement continued.

"This constant attack on everything that she does and this is exactly what happened 20 years ago when the media tried to depict Britney as a bad person. This is ridiculous and it needs to stop now."

Britney's attorney, Michael A. Goldstein, pleaded guilty on her behalf on May 4 to reckless driving in connection with a March 4 arrest. She was sentenced to one day in jail, which she already served, as well as three months of an alcohol education program, including weekly visits with a psychologist and twice-monthly visits with a psychiatrist. She was also required to pay a $571 fine and undergo chemical tests at any time at the request of police.

Britney voluntarily checked herself into a rehab facility after her arrest, a representative previously confirmed to ABC News.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Dua Lipa to release live album, concert film from Radical Optimism tour

'Dua Lipa (Live From Mexico)' album art (Madison Phipps)

Dua Lipa sent a video snippet of herself with a fan at one of her concerts in Mexico in an email to fans Wednesday and captioned it, "One more thing before the end of an era." Turns out it was teasing a new live album and concert film.

Dua Lipa (Live from Mexico) will premiere May 21 at 1 p.m. ET on her YouTube channel. The live album will hit streaming services May 22; you can preorder physical copies of the album now for shipping on June 5.

The concert was recorded during Dua's three sold-out shows at Mexico City's Estadio GNP Seguros during her Radical Optimism tour.  "Now we can enjoy these shows forever and ever and ever, I love you!!!!" Dua wrote on Instagram.

You can watch a trailer for the film now, during which Dua tells the audience, "This tour has been the most beautiful and fulfilling experience of my career so far." Plus, the audio for her performance of "End Of An Era (Live From Mexico)" is out on streaming services.

The Radical Optimism tour encompassed 92 shows over five continents and sold 1.75 million tickets. A signature feature of the tour was Dua covering a song from a local artist, in its original language. She also occasionally welcomed a local artist onstage for an in-person duet. Among those she sang with onstage: Lionel Richie, Chaka Khan, Charli XCX, Lenny Kravitz, Gwen Stefani, Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong and Brandi Carlile.

Here's the track listing:
"Training Season" (Live From Mexico)
"End Of An Era" (Live From Mexico)
"Break My Heart" (Live From Mexico)
"One Kiss" (Live From Mexico)
"Whatcha Doing" (Live From Mexico)
"Levitating" (Live From Mexico)
"These Walls" (Live From Mexico)
"Oye Mi Amor" (ft. Fher de Maná) (Live From Mexico)
"Maria" (Live From Mexico)
"Physical" (Live From Mexico)
"Electricity" (Live From Mexico)
"Hallucinate" (Live From Mexico)
"Illusion" (Live From Mexico)
"Falling Forever" (Live From Mexico)
"Happy For You" (Live From Mexico)
"Love Again" (Live From Mexico)
"Anything For Love" (Live From Mexico)
"Be The One" (Live From Mexico)
"New Rules / Dance The Night Interlude" (Live From Mexico)
"Don’t Start Now" (Live From Mexico)
"Houdini" (Live From Mexico)

 

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Miley Cyrus plays coy when asked about 'Hannah Montana' reboot

Miley Cyrus performs on the 'Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special' (Disney/Ser Baffo)

Now that Miley Cyrus has pulled off her Hannah Montana 20th anniversary special, could a reboot be far behind?

When Variety's Mark Malkin asked Miley that question Wednesday night, she smiled and said, "I don't know about all that." She added, "You always get me in trouble."

Her comment refers to the fact that she's credited Malkin with inspiring her to begin promoting a Hannah 20th anniversary celebration, even though she didn't actually have any concrete plan for one. When the special did materialize earlier this year, it produced the single "Younger You" and boosted streaming numbers for Miley's entire Hannah Montana catalog.

In December, prior to the announcement of the anniversary special, Miley was asked by Billboard about a reboot and if she'd like to see a new actress cast as Hannah.

"I don't know if there is a new Hannah. This is the only Hannah," she stated.

Meanwhile, Miley has just been announced as the recipient of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Nick Lachey says running into Jessica Simpson on a plane was 'strangely OK'

Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey in 2003, during MTV Bash in Hollywood, California. (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)

Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson, whose reality show Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica made them household names, got divorced in 2006 and, according to Nick, hadn't seen each other since — until they ran into each other on a flight to Hawaii in April. But, maybe surprisingly, Nick said it wasn't awkward.

"It was strangely OK," Nick told Bravo's Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live! "You know it's been 20 years since — and so we haven't seen each other in those 20 years and then spent 6 1/2 hours on a flight to Hawaii together.”

Nick then clarified that they were simply "in the same vicinity" on the flight, they weren't sitting together.

"Everyone was very very cordial, very respectful,” Nick added, noting that he was with his wife, Vanessa Lachey, and their three kids. As for Jessica, she was sitting with her mom, Nick said.

Nick added that he believed that Jessica's three kids and their father, Eric Johnson, were seated in another section of the plane, but noted that he was unsure of Jessica and Eric's status; they've reportedly been separated since 2025.

Overall, Nick said, "It was honestly, it was fine."

A source told People in April of the encounter, "They all had a nice conversation. Nick, Jessica and Vanessa. It was very amicable and cordial."

Nick, a member of 98 Degrees, and Jessica, a solo pop star, tied the knot in 2002 and split after four years. Nick married Vanessa in 2011; Jessica wed Eric in 2014.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Taylor Swift's '1989,' Beyoncé's 'Single Ladies' added to Library of Congress' National Recording Registry

Taylor Swift, '1989' (Big Machine Records)

Recordings by Taylor Swift and Beyoncé have been chosen by the Library of Congress for preservation in its National Recording Registry.

In total, 25 recordings have been chosen this year “based on their cultural, historical or aesthetic importance in the nation’s recorded sound heritage.”

This year’s picks include Taylor's 2014 album, 1989, and Beyoncé's 2008 hit "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” as well as The Go-Go's 1981 album, Beauty and the Beat, and Chaka Khan's 1984 hit version of Prince's "I Feel For You." 

Chaka said in a statement, "For the Library of Congress to say this recording belongs in the permanent collection of American sound heritage, that means it wasn’t just a hit, it was history. And I am so very grateful to have been part of it.”

Belinda Carlisle of The Go-Go's said, “I feel extremely honored to be part of the American artists that are a part of the Library of Congress. It’ll be great 100 years from now when someone is doing their research and they see The Go-Go’s in there."

Also chosen were Weezer's self-titled 1994 album aka The Blue Album; Gladys Knight & The Pips’ 1973 classic "Midnight Train to Georgia"; and José Feliciano's 1970 Christmas favorite “Feliz Navidad.”

Recordings by The Byrds, The Charlie Daniels Band, Ray Charles, Reba McEntire, Vince Gill and Paul Anka also made this year's list.

The public can nominate recordings to be considered. The Library of Congress received over 3,000 nominations this year.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Madonna, BTS, Shakira to headline the FIFA World Cup final halftime show

FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Halftime Show (Courtesy Global Citizen)

Three of the biggest names in pop, K-pop and Latin music are coming together this summer to celebrate the World Cup.

The FIFA World Cup final will feature a halftime show for the first time this summer, Global Citizen announced early Thursday. The lineup, curated by Coldplay's Chris Martin, features Madonna, BTS and Shakira. The show takes place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 19.

Both Madonna and Shakira have experience with this sort of performance: Both have headlined Super Bowl halftime shows. Plus, Shakira has recorded this year's FIFA World Cup official song, "Dai Dai."

Meanwhile, BTS member Jungkook performed at the 2022 FIFA World Cup Opening ceremony, the first Korean solo artist to do so. BTS also collaborated with Coldplay on the 2021 single "My Universe."

Chris Martin teamed up with the Muppets to reveal the halftime show's superstar lineup, appearing in a social media video with Muppets including Elmo, Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Cookie Monster, Animal and Statler and Waldorf.

The halftime show will be produced by Global Citizen, the global movement dedicated to ending poverty. It will raise money for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which provides access to education and soccer to children around the world.

The final is scheduled to begin on July 19 at 3 p.m. ET. Broadcast information for the final's halftime show has not yet been announced.

As previously reported, the FIFA World Cup kicks off June 11. Artists who'll be performing at the opening ceremonies in the three host countries -- the U.S., Canada and Mexico -- include Katy Perry, Alanis Morissette, Michael Bublé, J Balvin, Tyla, Future and BLACKPINK's LISA.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


How *NSYNC members became producers of the musical Ariana Grande called 'the best show ever'

JC Chasez and Joey Fatone pose at the opening night of the new musical 'Titanique' on Broadway on April 12, 2026 in New York City. (Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic)

In 2019, Ariana brought four members of *NSYNC onstage to sing with her at Coachella. Now two members of *NSYNC are co-producers of the Tony-nominated Broadway musical that Ariana recently called "the best show ever."

Joey Fatone and JC Chasez are producers of the musical spoof Titanique, which has received four Tony nods, including best musical. It currently features Ariana's brother, Frankie J. Grande, who was also in the off Broadway version. 

As for how they got involved, Joey has starred in multiple Broadway shows, from Little Shop of Horrors to Rent to & Juliet. He tells ABC Audio, "I love the arts and I saw Titanique off Broadway. And [the show's producer] Eva Price is one of the producers of & Juliet. And obviously I was on & Juliet and I said, 'Hey, does any opportunity come along to be a producer, to be something or anything, I'd love to be part of it.'"

He then brought JC, who's currently developing his own musical, on board: "I literally said to JC, I'm like, 'C ... dude, you want to do musicals, right? ... Get in this so you can see what's going on on this side of it.'"

"I mean, we know about business, but we don't really know as far as [the] Broadway side," Joey says. "It's been great as far as just learning this side of it ... and being proud of something from the outside, not onstage."

"I've always been a theater kid anyway ... so for me to be able to give back and to be to able to help productions, I'm all for it."

Titanique imagines the movie Titanic as told by Céline Dion. Joey says, "It is wacky. It is so much fun." 

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Music notes: Taylor Swift, Madonna and more

Taylor Swift is a regular social butterfly these days. After traveling to London for dinner, a show and a birthday party, then to Greece for a wedding, then to New York for a family dinner, she was out again in the Big Apple on Tuesday night. This time, the occasion was the 40th birthday party of her friend Lena Dunham, held at Via Carota in the West Village, as per E!. Also attending were Andrew Rannells and Emily Ratajkowski.

It's like the '80s all over again: Both Madonna and Michael Jackson are back on the Billboard Hot 100. Madonna's there courtesy of her new duet with Sabrina Carpenter, "Bring Your Love," while four of Michael's classics are back on the chart thanks to the biopic Michael. According to Billboard, the last time MJ and Madge were on the charts simultaneously was 22 years ago. Madonna was at #83 with her Britney Spears duet "Me Against the Music," while MJ was at #100 with "One More Chance."

If you can't swing a trip to France this fall to see Céline Dion's Paris residency, maybe you can make it to Canada to see her dress. Starting Friday, the McCord Stewart Museum, located in Céline's hometown of Montreal, will be exhibiting the dress she wore to sing at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Called Céline in Dior: A Dazzling Moment, the "immersive experience" features an up-close look at the Christian Dior Couture gown, which required more than 1,000 hours of work to complete. 

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


It's their moment: A 'KPop Demon Hunters' world tour is happening

'KPop Demon Hunters' world tour (Courtesy Netflix)

In the not-so-distant future, tickets for a KPop Demon Hunters world tour will be going up, up, up for sale.

Ahead of the one-year anniversary of the record-breaking, Oscar-winning Netflix animated film and its award-winning, chart-topping soundtrack, the streamer has announced a KPop Demon Hunters global concert tour.

The tour is described as a "live experience" that will "bring elements of the global phenomenon to life in dynamic and unforgettable ways for fans around the world," but there aren't any details beyond that. For example, the involvement of the singers behind the movie's two main groups, HUNTR/X and Saja Boys, is unknown at this time.

More information about which cities the tour will visit and when tickets will go on sale will be announced later this year, but you can join a wait list to be notified at KPopDemonHunterslive.com.

KPop Demon Hunters debuted on Netflix on June 20, 2025, and became the most-watched original title in Netflix history. Its soundtrack dominated the Billboard charts, including the #1 hit "Golden," the first K-pop song in history to win a Grammy Award and the first to win an Academy Award. The film also won the best animated feature film Oscar.

Since the movie became a success, EJAE, Rei Ami and Audrey Nuna, the voices of HUNTR/X, have performed together on TV and live, and were named Women of the Year at Billboard's annual Women In Music gala.

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