“He apologizes … the kid is OK,” shooting guard Jordan Clarkson wrote via Instagram Stories on Saturday, November 7, alongside footage of Kolek, 25, singing Swift’s “Blank Space” in the locker room after the Knicks bested the Cleveland Cavaliers. “He’s a Swiftie.”

Kolek made waves on a Thursday, November 5, livestream when he claimed Swift, 36, was among the team’s “fakest” celebrity fans.

“At the Knicks games, I would say it’s very performative because they just want to be seen at the game. They’re not necessarily fans,” he said, before singling out the Grammy winner by name. “Maybe Taylor Swift. I don’t know if I’ve seen her at any other games.”

Knicks Star Tyler Kolek Questions Whether Taylor Swift Is Really a Fan

A spokesperson for the Knicks later clarified Swift’s status as a fan in a statement.

“Taylor Swift has been a Knicks fan for many years, has a long history with Madison Square Garden,” the rep told Us in a statement of Swift, who even hosted her wedding to Travis Kelce at the venue this summer. “We are incredibly appreciative of her support of the organization.”

Swift, who has not publicly addressed Kolek’s now-controversial comments, notably attended two Knicks playoff games last season. Swift and Kelce, 37, made a joint appearance at the Knicks vs. Cavaliers — his hometown team — game in the Eastern Conference Finals.

“I’ve been a Cleveland sports fan for my entire life,” Kelce noted on his “New Heights” podcast afterward. “Getting Tay back to Cleveland and showing her my roots is always something I love doing. I showed her The Heights … not this time [but] previously before. We came in this time strictly just for the game, but getting back to Cleveland is always something I love doing.”

Weeks later, Swift was joined by the Haim sisters and Mariska Hargitay at Game 4 of the Knicks’ NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs.

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“I got home and was like, ‘You gotta stop screaming, you’re screaming too much, you’re screaming instead of talking, you’re too excited,’” Swift recalled in her Songwriters Hall of Fame induction speech the next day, noting she yelled for “100 percent” of the matchup. “Then I got to witness the amazing performances I saw tonight, and I just kept screaming.”

She added at the time, “I never stopped screaming and this is what you get. I make no apologies for that. I’ve had a blast.”

Swift admittedly had no knowledge of sports until she started dating the Kansas City Chiefs tight end in 2023, and now, she’s a knowledgeable fan.

Swift made her first appearance at a Kansas City Chiefs game in September 2023, watching them defeat the Chicago Bears from the Kelce family’s private suite. After cheering alongside the tight end’s mom, Donna Kelce, she and Travis celebrated the win together at a private event with his teammates.

Swift was in the stands once again during the Chiefs vs. Jets game in New York the following month with cameras showing Swift’s reactions throughout the game.

While discussing the NFL’s heavy coverage on his and brother Jason Kelce‘s “New Heights” podcast that month, Travis said, “I think it’s fun when they show who all’s at the game. I think it brings a little more to the atmosphere, brings a little bit more to what you’re watching.”

Swift, meanwhile, told TIME in December 2023, “You have no idea when the camera is putting you in the broadcast, so I don’t know if I’m being shown 17 times or once.” She noted, “I’m just there to support Travis.”

Swift and Travis got married in July 2026, nearly two months before his return to the Chiefs for his 14th season.

Scroll down to see all the times Swift has cheered on Travis:

“Thank you Tampa, that’s the end of the North American stadium tour,” Sheeran, 35, wrote via Instagram on Sunday, November 8, sharing footage from his Florida concert the night before. “See you soon Chile, Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil and Mexico.”

In the footage, the Grammy winner took a bow in front of thousands of cheering fans.

Sheeran’s Loop Tour has been embroiled in scandal after opening act Macklemore was dismissed by the touring company for chanting “Free Palestine” at two September concerts in New Jersey. Several of Sheeran’s opening acts, including Finneas and Lukas Graham, left the tour in solidarity with Macklemore, as did the “Thinking Out Loud” crooner’s backing band.

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Sheeran denied personally firing Macklemore, 43, from the roster as he tried to distance himself from the political commentary surrounding the scandal.

“I’m used to my music being criticized, and I’m always happy to take that because I’m lucky. A lot of you like my stuff, and to be honest, I’m surprised. I’m not surprised that I’ve even done it. You know, it’s normal,” Sheeran said during his September 19 show, addressing the backlash. “This week, the criticism was about something much more important, and I’ve had to take [it in] and make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes, and I’m so so sorry.”

The British performance further stressed that he never wants to “disappoint fans” but hasn’t thought of himself as an activist.

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“This has put me in the middle of an important, passionate argument about freedom of speech on the most complex issue on the planet,” Sheeran continued. “[My music] has always been a safe space for everyone. That matters hugely to me. Honoring my commitment to my fans is also completely essential to who I am. That is why I’m here tonight — on my own — continuing my own tour.”

Sheeran continued his Loop Tour as scheduled, enlisting a new backing band and support acts.

“I just want to say before they come onstage, they said yes to being onstage with the knowledge that the world thought I was a certain type of person,” he said in September of his new band. “They said yes with the knowledge that the world may hate them too for standing on stage with me, and I am so grateful for them being here tonight and standing on stage with me in front of you guys.”

Macklemore, for his part, has pledged to keep advocating for the Palestinian cause and performed three European benefit concerts last month. He is hoping to bring the shows across the pond but has yet to find venues to host the shows. 

“Maybe I should dispel a rumor at this point,” Timberlake, 45, teased during a Thursday, November 5, interview with Complex’s Re-Rank.

Fans have long suspected that Timberlake wrote “What Goes Around… Comes Around” as a pseudo-sequel to 2002 single “Cry Me a River”, which is widely interpreted to be a shady reaction to his split from Spears, 44, that same year.

“Is this the way it’s really going down? Is this how we say goodbye? Should have known better when you came around. That you were gonna make me cry,” Timberlake sings in the FutureSex/LoveSounds track. “It’s breaking my heart to watch you run around. ‘Cause I know that you’re living a lie. But that’s okay, baby, ’cause in time you will find … what goes around, goes around, goes around comes all the way back around.”

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In this week’s interview, Timberlake suggested that “What Goes Around… Comes Around” was actually based on a friend’s experience in a bad relationship.

“[The rumor] has gone around forever, which is like, [the song] is not a personal story from mine,” he said. “It’s actually a personal story from a friend. I asked permission.”

Timberlake recalled that a pal was “just going through it and he was telling me what had happened.”

“I said, ‘Do you mind if I write about this?’ And I quote, my friend said, ‘Yeah, torch that bitch. What goes around comes around.’ And I was like, ‘I have to go. Thank you,'” he quipped.

Timberlake recalled that the lyrics to “What Goes Around… Comes Around” flowed out of him in “damn near 20 minutes,” adding that he’d rank the track as “one or two” in his discography.

“The interlude that goes with it … and then you put the video with it, there’s a 10-minute video we shot for it, like this just hit on all cylinders for me,” he said.

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Spears acknowledged in her 2023 memoir The Woman in Me that she cheated on Timberlake with choreographer Wade Robson during their three-year relationship, though she alleged that her ex-boyfriend was also unfaithful.

The “Toxic” singer subsequently “apologized for some of the things [she] wrote about” in her autobiography before walking back the statement days later.

“Someeone told me someone was talking s*** about me on the streets !!! Do you want to bring it to the court or will you go home crying to your mom like you did last time ??? I’m not sorry,” she wrote via Instagram in February 2024.

In January 2024, Timberlake defiantly told told a New York City concert crowd that he was going to “apologize to absolutely f***ing nobody.”

Fans may learn more about Timberlake’s split from Spears in an upcoming four-part Apple TV+ docuseries about his life in career, slated to debut in December. Acclaimed documentarian Fisher Stevens has directed the project, which will reportedly feature an interview with Janet Jackson about her and Timberlake’s scandalous 2004 Super Bowl performance.

“A lot of you have been asking about U.S. dates for The Free Palestine benefit tour, and I wanted to give you an update,” Macklemore, 43, began a Friday, November 6, Instagram statement. “The shows in Dublin, Paris and London were three of the most beautiful I’ve ever been a part of.”

He continued, “From the beginning, our plan was to bring this tour home to the U.S. but after weeks of reaching out, nine major American arenas have turned us down.”

Macklemore announced in September that he was embarking on The Free Palestine Tour, donating all proceeds to the movement, weeks after he was let go as a support act on Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour. (Macklemore was dropped by Sheeran’s touring company earlier that month after he chanted “Free Palestine” during two concerts at MetLife Stadium. Sheeran, for his part, attributed the decision to the tour’s promoters, noting in a statement, “I would never let down the fans who had made plans, nor would I abandon the touring crew and the other support acts and musicians who rely on me for work and to make a living.”)

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As the “Thrift Shop” rapper began cultivating his tour, he claims he “received available dates” at multiple arenas throughout the year.

“Once they found out these were my benefit shows for Palestine, those dates were suddenly off the table,” Macklemore claimed. “The doors were closed. The conversations were all different, but the result was the same. The shows were not going to be allowed to happen in these venues.”

He added, “In over 20 years of touring, I’ve never experienced anything like this. But this is not an isolated incident. For decades, activists, poets, writers, musicians and entertainers who have stood in solidarity with the Palestinian people have faced consequences for doing so. Many have paid a far greater price than I have.”

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Macklemore specifically claimed Madison Square Garden in New York City stopped talks about a tour stop.

“We have some of the busiest venues in the world with extremely limited availability and he’s not an arena level act,” a spokesperson for MSG Entertainment tells Us in a statement.

As for Macklemore, he is holding steadfast onto his values.

“At this point, I’m three years past giving two s***s about maintaining any relationships, business or personal with anyone that isn’t riding for a Free Palestine,” the musician stated. “I’d rather lose every opportunity in this industry than spend another day protecting people who value their business relationships with Israel more than they value Palestinian human life.”

While Macklemore refuses to apologize for vocalizing his beliefs, he still plans to perform his benefit concerts.

“There will be more shows for Palestine. We’ll keep working with other artists and organizers, conjuring where we left off in Europe,” he said. “Well probably just take that s*** outside where it belonged in the first place. Our commitment to raising funds and standing in solidarity with the Palestinian people remains the same.”

Macklemore concluded, “There comes a point when the world changes, not because those in power give us permission, but because the people stop asking for it. We will build our own stages. They may own the arenas, but they do not own the people who fill them. And they never will.”

“He’s the reason, man. He’s the reason I recorded any songs ever at all,” Bryan, 30, told Matthew McConaughey in the “Young Manhood & Other Donatable Organs — On The Porch” conversation released last month.

The “Lies” singer confirmed that he gives Alba a cut of his song royalties, saying, “I thought it was justified, man. He’s the reason I have any music at all.”

Bryan, who sat down with McConaughey, 57, in support of his latest EP Young Manhood and Other Donatable Organs, noted that his time in the U.S. Navy shaped him as a man and musician. He enlisted at the age of 17 and served eight years from 2013 to 2021, achieving the rank of Aviation Ordnanceman Second Class.

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“I wouldn’t be who I was without him f***ing looking at me and saying I can record those songs,” Bryan shared of his military guru. “His kids call me their uncle, he comes to shows all the time and I give him a percentage of every song that I release.”

The Grammy winner explained that thanks to the royalties, Alba is “living well now” and retired from the Navy.

“Because that’s how much that meant to me. Him believing in me enough to do that for me,” Bryan said. “We see each other when we can.”

The “Oklahoma Smokeshow” hitmaker released his first two albums, 2019’s DeAnn and 2020’s Elisabeth, and two EPs while still enlisted.

He received an honorable discharge from the Navy in 2021 to pursue his music career full-time, following the success of his hit song “Heading South.” Bryan has since released four more studio albums and three EPs.

Bryan reflected on his time in the Navy during his sit down with McConaughey, speaking his truth about his upbringing while sitting on his porch in the hills of Appalachia.

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“I do miss the structure of being in the military. It was nice,” the musician confessed. “I was really proud of being in the Navy.”

The “I Remember Everything” singer revealed that his family’s connection to the military made him feel even more connected to the work.

“I was really proud to be in the Navy because I was in the boots of my grandfather and in the boots of my father,” he said. “The Navy made a man out of me.”

Bryan will give fans a deeper look at his years in the Navy, rise to stardom and the past 10 years in his memoir, Young Manhood and Other Donatable Organs, which comes out in January 2027. It goes hand in hand with his latest EP, which features collaborations with Lana Del Rey and the Turnpike Troubadours.

“If you haven’t earned the right to be there then nobody has… disappointing to say the least,” Green, 38, wrote to Kershaw, 68, via Instagram on Thursday, November 5.

Earlier on Thursday, Kershaw penned a lengthy statement claiming that he’d received “some disappointing news and it really hurts me.”

“I have to share my disappointment with the CMA as they have denied my request to walk the red carpet for a few minutes at this year’s CMA Awards, and I have to say I’m pretty sad about it,” he alleged.

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The “She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful” singer explained that the alleged snub was particularly upsetting since he and his wife, Mendy Gregory Kershaw, “don’t get to attend these events very often, due to touring and schedule conflicts.”

“After adjusting my touring schedule, booking our flights and hotels, she was really looking forward to us sharing a special evening together celebrating country music,” he added. “Then, to find out I was denied the red carpet two weeks before the show, after being strung along for several months and expecting we would be attending, WTF?”

Pointing out that he’d been made “a lifetime CMA member” in 1992, Kershaw questioned why he would ever be denied red carpet access by the awards organizers.

“I’m blessed to still be out on tour every year, performing for the greatest fans in the world and doing what I love,” he wrote. “I believe there should be room to recognize the artists who have spent their lives contributing to this organization’s success.”

His statement concluded, “I love country music, but never in a million years would I think that a successful country music entertainer (and I’m not the only one) would not be able to walk the red carpet. It’s extremely hurtful, embarrassing and very disappointing. I guess the next time I attend the CMA’s, it will be in tribute after I’m gone, if I’m lucky.”

Us has reached out to the CMA Awards for comment.

The country music community rallied around Kershaw, with Pearce — who is nominated at the 2026 CMA Awards in the Musical Event of the Year category for her and Green’s collaboration “If I Don’t Leave I’m Gonna Stay” — assuring Kershaw that “many of us wouldn’t be here without artists like you.”

“I’m team Sammy,” three-time CMA Award nominee Jake Owen insisted.

Many fans were upset as well, blasting the CMA Awards’ alleged snub as “crazy” and “BS” in Kershaw’s comments section.

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On top of receiving a lifetime membership in the Country Music Association in 1992, Kershaw also was nominated for a Horizon Award by the CMAs in 1993. (He lost that breakthrough artist award to Mark Chesnutt. The prize has since been renamed New Artist of the Year.)

Kershaw scored a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart with 1993’s “She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful” and also charted with 10 more Top 10 singles, including “Anywhere But Here,” “Third Rate Romance” and “National Working Woman’s Holiday.”

The 60th Annual CMA Awards will air live on ABC and Disney+ Wednesday, November 18, with Lainey Wilson hosting from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville for the third consecutive year.

“Oh, how I love you, and I always will / Forever and ever / ‘Till time’s standing still / Know that you’re with me / Like the air that I breathe / I’ll be beside you / And fight for your dreams,” Cyrus, 65, sings in the track, which was released on Friday, November 6, as part of his The Hill deluxe album. “‘Cause you are my everything / Everything I am because of you / You are my sunshine, my wind and my rain / You are my everything.”

Cyrus originally released the track “My Everything” in October 2007 as part of his album Home at Last. The country singer announced the rerecording of the song on Wednesday, November 3.

“What a year it’s been! ‘You Are My Everything’ is out this Friday,” Cyrus captioned a clip from the music video on Instagram on Thursday, November 5. “Thankful for God’s timing.”

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Cyrus then revealed that his daughter Miley Cyrus inspired him to rerelease the track.

“I remember 20 years ago, as I was driving Miley and me to the Hannah Montana set, and she kept saying to me, ‘Do you hear me? ‘You Are My Everything’ is the best song you’ve ever written … Daddy .. Are you listening with your ears?!’ Haha,” he recalled.

Billy Ray said he recorded the new version with Miley’s brother Braison Cyrus. He dedicated the song to the “Wrecking Ball” singer and her fiancé, Maxx Morando. (Billy Ray shares Miley, 33, and Braison, 32, as well as daughter Noah, 26, with ex-wife Tish Cyrus. He also adopted Tish’s children from a previous relationship, Brandi, 39, and Trace, 37. Billy Ray is also a dad to son Christopher, 34, with ex Kristin Luckey.)

“Wishing you forever love ♥️🦋♥️!!!” he wrote.

Billy Ray concluded by giving a shout-out to Hurley, 61, whom he began dating in early 2025.

“It’s been a magical couple of years,” he added. “Here’s a toast to love ❤️ thank you to my dearest Elizabeth… You Are My Everything.”

Billy Ray’s song comes amid rumors that he and Hurley secretly got engaged. The speculation began in October when the model shared mirror selfies in which she sported a diamond sparkler on her left ring finger. Billy Ray fueled the rumors by including a ring emoji in his own Instagram posts.

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“Forever’s such a funny thing,” he wrote on October 30. “Love can make a diamond 💍 ring. But love’s more like a field of snow.”

Billy Ray and Hurley met in 2022 while filming the holiday movie Christmas in Paradise on the Caribbean island of Nevis. At the time, the “Achy Breaky Heart” singer had recently finalized his divorce from Tish, 59, after 29 years of marriage.

Billy Ray and Hurley later reconnected in 2024 following his divorce from Firerose. (He was also previously married to Cindy Smith from 1986 to 1991.)

“I didn’t even know the number, and it’s like, ‘Hey, it looks like life might be a little bit tough and just wanted you to know I’m in your corner. You got a friend in your corner,’” Billy Ray said on Apple Music Country’s The Ty Bentli Show in April 2025, days after he and Hurley debuted their relationship via Instagram.

He continued, “I go, ‘Who is this?’ And it’s, like, ‘Elizabeth Hurley.’ All the people to reach out to me in that second that maybe I needed most.”

“The label has made the decision to postpone our shows in Chicago and Minneapolis as Megan is recovering from a concussion,” read a Thursday, November 5, statement posted via the group’s Instagram Story.

Katseye was scheduled to perform at the United Center in Chicago on Thursday and the Target Center in Minneapolis on Saturday, November 7. Earlier this week, the band canceled their Detroit show just 30 minutes before it was set to begin.

“We are incredibly sorry to disappoint our fans,” continued Thursday’s statement. “We know how much you’ve been looking forward to these shows and that many of you have traveled long distances to be there. We don’t take that lightly, and we’re truly sorry for the disappointment.”

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The statement concluded, “We’ll announce the rescheduled dates as soon as possible, so please hold on to your tickets. We can’t wait to see you in both cities again soon. Thank you for your continued love, support and understanding.”

“I am so sorry that our Detroit, Chicago, and Minneapolis shows have been postponed. I currently have a concussion and am doing everything I possibly can to recover from it so I can be on stage for you all again,” Skiendiel, 20, wrote in her own Instagram Story upload on Thursday. “I wanted to try my best to still make the show happen, but I’ve been strongly advised by medical professionals that I need to take this time to fully recover and come back safely. I love you all so much, I deeply appreciate your understanding, and I am devastated to have to do this. I cannot wait to make it up to you, Eyekons, and give you the show you deserve.”

Katseye’s Tuesday, November 3, show at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit was pulled as doors opened due to Skiendiel suffering an undisclosed illness.

“We’re so sorry to share that tonight’s show at Little Caesars Arena has been postponed due to illness,” the group shared via an Instagram Story Tuesday. “Unfortunately, Megan is unwell and unable to perform tonight, and we want to make sure she has the time she needs to rest and recover.”

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Katseye was first formed in 2023 through the reality competition show Dream Academy. The six-piece girl group has been forced to perform as a four-piece in recent months after Manon Bannerman went on hiatus in February and Sophia Laforteza took a leave of absence to focus on her health in August.

The “Hootie Frutti” singers began their Wildworld Tour in Europe in September with Skiendiel, Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj and Yoonchae forming the lineup.

In October, Katseye’s record label, Hybe x Geffen, announced Laforteza will rejoin the group in 2027.

“We are happy to share that Sophia will resume group activities with KATSEYE beginning the first week of January 2027,” the label said in a statement posted via the band’s Weverse.

The statement continued, “Sophia has been prioritizing her health and well-being with our full support and resources. While Sophia will not be participating in THE WILDWORLD TOUR in North America or promotional activities for the remainder of this year, we look forward to welcoming her back as KATSEYE continues this next chapter together in 2027.”

Bannerman’s status within the group remains unknown. In April, a source exclusively told Us that the Swiss singer is not expected to return to the band.

They may not always have the lead role, be the team captains or have millions of Instagram followers, but something about these individuals catches our attention and has Us googling them shirtless for more.

We’ve always known Zac Efron has it going on, but Dylan Efron’s unexpected rise to prominence on Traitors had Us looking up his Instagram — only to find it’s stock-full of thirst traps. (Thank you, Dylan Efron.)

Sure, Jalen Hurts is all the rage, but the Eagles’ run to the Super Bowl championship suddenly had Us drooling over Saquon Barkley’s “Saquads” and tuning into the Big Game.

And yes, John B. (a.k.a. Chase Stokes) is the obvious crush on Outer Banks, but series villain Drew Starkey’s nuanced and erotic performance in Queer had Us looking at the actor in a whole new light.

Keep scrolling for more of Us’ weekly picks for People We Googled Shirtless:

“We’re so sorry to share that tonight’s show at Little Caesars Arena has been postponed due to illness,” the girl group wrote via a Tuesday, November 3, Instagram Story. “Unfortunately, Megan is unwell and unable to perform tonight, and we want to make sure she has the time she needs to rest and recover.”

The band, who are currently on their global Wildworld Tour, acknowledged the efforts fans had made to get to the night’s performance. “We know so many of you have traveled, made plans, and been looking forward to tonight,” the statement continued. “We are incredibly disappointed that we won’t get to see you, and we’re truly sorry for the inconvenience.”

The statement concluded, “Thank you for your patience, understanding, and for always showing us so much love. We love you and can’t wait to see you soon.”

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The cancellation comes less than three months after the Los Angeles-based pop group pulled out of a scheduled performance at Olivia Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Fields festival after Skiendiel, 20, sprained her ankle.

Fans took to social media to share their own disappointment on Tuesday night, with some firing up over the news. “Katseye just canceled their Detroit [show] 30 minutes before the start! Just disgusting,” wrote one X user alongside a screenshot of the band’s cancellation post. “My daughter is so disappointed. I want my $889 I spent back.”

Another X user acknowledged how unfortunate the situation was while empathising with the band. “I was there, too, already bought a $25 drink and $12 of food and was so disappointed,” the second fan wrote. “But I also sympathize with the girls. They’re only 18-22, it’s a lot on them physically.”

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The second fan also speculated as to what had happened to Skiendiel. “It’s rumored Megan fainted backstage before the show, which if true, [is] really uncontrollable,” they wrote.

The band have attracted multiple headlines in recent months over non-musical matters. In August, original member Sophia Laforteza announced via social media that she would be stepping away from the group temporarily.

“It truly breaks my heart to have to miss out on a lot,” Laforteza, 23, wrote via her Instagram Stories on August 7. “You know how much I love being on stage, performing, and sharing these moments with you.”

She also hinted to her own health concerns at the time. “Making this decision wasn’t easy, but I’m learning that health has to come first,” Laforteza continued. “I’m realizing that if I don’t take care of my mind and body now, I won’t be able to keep doing what I love the most for so long.”

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She concluded her statement by thanking fans for their support. “Thank you for being so patient, understanding, and always showing me so much love. It means more to me than I could ever say. I promise I’m going to work as hard as I can to get through this, heal properly, and come back stronger,” she wrote. “‘Til then, please continue to be kind and give Katseye all your love and support as we fulfill our promise to show up for you in every way we can. I’ll be here as one of the “Eyekons” in the meantime with y’all. See you soon.”

Us reported in April that fellow band member Manon Bannerman left the band for good after taking temporary leave in February due to health concerns of her own.

“I’ll probably be totally deaf by the time the tour’s over,” Mellencamp, 75, shared on the Thursday, October 29, episode of the “Nepo, Baby” podcast. “I wear earplugs and stuff, but I do not ever, will I ever get hearing aids.”

The “Jack and Diane” singer wrapped his Dancing Words Tour — The Greatest Hits run of shows this past August after nearly 20 dates. He currently doesn’t have any shows listed on his website.

As for why he doesn’t want to sign up for hearing aids, the Grammy winner said he won’t forget what his relatives used to say.

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“My grandmother said, ‘John, don’t ever get hearing aids because once you get them, you can’t live without them,’” he recalled on the podcast. “She said, ‘If you think chasing around a pair of glasses is a drag, wait till you start chasing around a pair of glasses and some hearing aids.’”

During the podcast taping, which featured his son and Mellencamp Whiskey founder Hud Mellencamp, John said he struggles with pulsatile tinnitus.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, the condition creates a thumping or swooshing noise in your head. The noise seems to keep time with your heartbeat.

“I don’t like going out [to eat] ‘cause I can’t hear. Right now, my ears are ringing like crazy, and I have pulsatile tinnitus, which is, I hear, my heartbeat,” John shared. “And we go into a restaurant and it’s just like, ‘Well, I’m out.’ Because I can’t hear anything, because I hear all this noise and stuff and you know, I’m sure people don’t want to keep [yelling] in my face or… so just add tinnitus on top of that and it’s impossible.”

As John continues to spend time in Indiana, he would never object to having more family members move closer.

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During a January episode of the Today show, John expressed wishes that daughter Teddi Mellencamp would consider saying goodbye to California.

“I’m going to go out and see her [in Los Angeles],” John shared on the morning show.  “I’ve tried to talk her into moving back home. I said, ‘Move back to Indiana, bring the kids and just come back and live in Indiana,’ but she won’t do it.”

Despite any distance, John remains extremely close with his family, as evident by Teddi’s speech for her dad at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards.

“We’re celebrating the icon, the artist, a man the whole world shows is John Mellencamp,” she said in March. “A man I get to call Dad and my best friend.”

“Forever’s such a funny thing,” Cyrus, 65, wrote via Instagram on Friday, October 30. “Love can make a diamond 💍 ring. But love’s more like a field of snow.”

The singer continued, “Ya have to know when to Let Her Go. THE HILL Deluxe Album 11.6.26.”

While the post may just be a simple tribute to one of his latest singles, it also comes as fans question whether Cyrus is engaged to Elizabeth Hurley.

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Earlier this month, Hurley, 61, took to Instagram to share two mirror selfies in which she wore nothing but a white robe and a diamond ring on her left ring finger.

While both Cyrus and Hurley are staying mum on their exact relationship status, things appear to be stronger than ever between the two as the actress films the upcoming season of The ‘Burbs in Los Angeles.

In the October 23 episode of the “Off Air with Jane & Fi”  podcast, Hurley pointed out that she and Cyrus are about to experience a relationship milestone when they are “going to live together out there.”

“He never spent any time here [in England], just briefly on tour and stuff,” she explained. “He spent most of the summer here last year, and on and off we were here this summer — we had to go to America quite a bit — and he loves it. Absolutely adores it.”

Hurley went on to share her theory as to why Cyrus fell in love with the English countryside.

“He grew up in Kentucky but lives in Tennessee, and their summers are pretty brutal compared to ours,” she shared. “They’re very hot and very humid and it rains a lot — so, for him to have our beautiful air and just the beauty of our countryside, I think is beautiful for him.”

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Hurley and Billy Ray met in 2022 while filming the holiday movie Christmas in Paradise on the Caribbean island of Nevis.

The pair later reconnected and went public with their romance in 2025 after Billy Ray finalized his divorce from Tish Cyrus after 29 years of marriage.

“I didn’t even know the number, and it’s like, ‘Hey, it looks like life might be a little bit tough and just wanted you to know I’m in your corner. You got a friend in your corner,’” Billy Ray said on Apple Music Country’s The Ty Bentli Show in April 2025 when recalling a call from Hurley. “I go, ‘Who is this?’ And it’s, like, ‘Elizabeth Hurley.’ All the people to reach out to me in that second that maybe I needed most.”

“Well, I didn’t perform with [Taylor] at her wedding,” McGraw, 59, clarified during a Wednesday, October 28, appearance on Esquire‘s “What I’ve Learned” podcast, adding, “I didn’t perform at her wedding. That was a rumor.”

McGraw joked, “Surprise! The internet is not always correct.”

McGraw and his wife, Faith Hill, were among a star-studded lineup of guests — including Jennifer Lopez, Tom Brady, Reese Witherspoon and Sabrina Carpenter — who were present when Swift, 36, and Kelce, 37, exchanged vows inside the “world’s most famous arena” on July 3.

Swift has a long-term friendship with McGraw, having named her 2006 debut single in his honor. The “Patient Zero” singer served as an opening act on McGraw and Hill’s Soul2Soul II Tour in 2007 and has since collaborated with both on multiple occasions.

“We were there [at the wedding],” McGraw confirmed on the “What I’ve Learned” podcast. “Taylor has always been close to our family, our girls [Gracie, 29, Maggie, 28, and Audrey, 24]. She’s been to our house and hung out with our girls.”

McGraw heaped praise on Swift for being a “special person,” going on to say, “[She’s] one of the most talented people I’ve ever met. What I always go back to with Taylor is, she’s the biggest artist in the world … [and] I think the core reason for that is she is a genius songwriter. I think that’s the biggest thing that maybe gets overlooked sometimes.”

“The way that she writes to connect with her audience is such an incredible thing and the way she’s able to span generations with her music,” McGraw continued. “You have Swifites who are 7, 8 years old who love her because their mom is bringing them to it because they were Swifties when they were 10 years old. I couldn’t be more proud of her.”

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McGraw recalled how he and Hill, 59, spent time “every night” talking to Swift about her career ambitions when they toured together in 2007.

“She’s very smart about wanting to find out about the industry and how to go about things,” he remembered. “We just felt that she was a special artist and a special person — and we still feel that way. We couldn’t be happier for her to find Travis, who is a cool guy as well.”

An insider exclusively revealed to Us that Swift and Kelce were able to maintain an “intimate” vibe for their July 3 wedding even though they had more than 1,000 guests on hand in Madison Square Garden.

“The whole night felt really intimate and personal despite being in an arena and how star-studded the guest list was,” one source told Us at the time. “There were about 1,000 guests there, but it felt intimate.”

The newlyweds chose an “enchanted garden-inspired” theme for the evening, complete with soft blush and light peach as a color palette.

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“They transformed the venue into an elegant and unique wedding experience that reflected both their personalities,” a second insider shared with Us. “It was decorated elegantly, incorporating their down-to-earth style mixed in.”

Kelce broke his silence about his wedding at the Kansas City Chiefs’ training camp on August 12, describing it as “the best night of my life.”

“MSG, man, I always told myself I’d go for a playoff game when the [New York] Knicks were rocking, and my wife went when I was stuck in minicamp,” Kelce said. “I didn’t get the opportunity to go then, so it’s kind of cool to get to live out my childhood dream of being in that venue, the mecca of all sports venues, being able to get married in there.”

The “My Heart Will Go On” singer, 58, earned a staggering $125.5 million for her 16 recent concerts in Paris — which amounts to approximately $7.8 million a night, according to figures obtained by Billboard on Thursday, October 29.

The magazine reported that Dion sold a total of 539,000 tickets to the first leg of her residency at Plenitude Arena, which took place from September 12 to October 17. She is set to return to the arena for 10 more shows in May 2027.

While the five-time Grammy winner just broke the record for the fastest-grossing residency in history, she is no stranger to making big bucks. Her first Las Vegas show, A New Day…, grossed $385.1 million in 714 nights from 2003 to 2007, per Billboard, while its follow-up, Céline, brought in $296.2 million in 427 dates from 2011 to 2019.

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After Dion announced her Paris residency in March, a source exclusively told Us she had already been “hard at work” at putting the concerts together.

“She missed her fans so much,” the insider shared after the powerhouse vocalist’s 2022 diagnosis with stiff-person syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that causes muscle stiffness and painful spasms, sidelined her from performing for several years. “She’s finally feeling like herself again — physically, mentally and vocally. She always knew deep down that she’d come back, but she’s so grateful that the time is here. It’s a dream come true. She isn’t taking it for granted for a second.”

Ahead of opening night last month, a second source told Us that the “I’m Alive” singer had put in “constant, consistent work” to regain her strength and return to the stage.

“She trains almost every day on top of physical therapy,” the insider shared. “Céline is incredibly resilient and strong-willed, but she is also very tender and playful. She can laugh at herself and her circumstances.”

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The source also assured Us that Dion never would have “taken this on if she didn’t feel she could deliver” an unforgettable show for her fans.

Sure enough, the queen of power ballads received acclaim from both critics and concertgoers after her triumphant first performance.

“Finally, here we are. Look at us. We are all here,” she told the sold-out crowd. “I made a promise to be back on stage, and here I am, singing for you, singing for me, singing live.”

“We have some news for you. We are going to be taking a break from The Shires,” Rhodes, 37, revealed via Instagram earlier this month, confirming that it was her choice to step away from the British country band for some time. “It’s a decision that I made. I didn’t make it very easily.”

Rhodes, who is the group’s lead singer, explained, “It was quite a hard decision to make, because, obviously, The Shires have been our life for 13 years. We recorded and released six albums. It’s literally been our every day for all those years.”

She noted, “It’s not been made lightly, but I want to take some time with my family and be at home for a little while.”

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Earle, 39, said he completely had Rhodes’ back and “totally” gets her decision to step back from touring and focus on her role as a mom.

“I totally support it. Being on the road is so tough and making music and stuff,” he told fans, reassuring them that he’ll “still be making music. Doing radio as well.”

Earle, who sings harmony vocals and plays piano and guitar, added, “Who knows, one day we might come back and make some music together,” confirming that he and Rhodes “haven’t fallen out. We’re still friends. We’re still very good friends.”

The Shires’ hiatus, however, won’t happen overnight. In fact, the duo confirmed that they are still planning to perform at their Full Band Tour next month with shows throughout the U.K.

“This next tour will be our last one for the foreseeable future, for a very long time,” Earle said in the video.

Rhodes teased that the tour is something they are “very excited about” and will include “the whole band” with “glittery outfits.”

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Although the tour is bittersweet, both Rhodes and Earle expressed joy and thanks to their fans after finding so much success over the past decade.

“Thank you so much for all the love over the years as well. It’s been incredible. We have the best fans. We feel so blessed,” Earle said.

Rhodes agreed, adding, “We couldn’t have done any of this without you guys. So thank you very much for all of your support. We love you.”

The Shires reiterated their reason for splitting up in the post’s caption, explaining, “With two young daughters at home, Crissie will be taking a well-deserved break to focus on family life and spend more time with her quickly-growing girls. It’s a bittersweet decision, one that Ben completely understands and supports as a parent himself.”

The musical duo insisted that they will “both be cheering each other on for whatever our next chapters hold and who knows, maybe one day we’ll be making music and touring again.”

Rhodes and Earle noted that for now they are excited to see fans on the road and “sing, dance and make some beautiful memories together on this tour, as we celebrate the amazing journey we’ve all been on together.”

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They concluded, “Thank you for all the love you’ve given us, we’ll hold onto it forever.”

Rhodes and Earle formed The Shires in 2013, releasing their debut album Brave two years later. Their second album, My Universe, was the fastest-selling British country album in history when it was released in 2016.

The duo has since released four more albums, including 2026’s Bonfire. They also recorded one compilation album and one EP during their time together.

Lopez, 57, told Variety on Wednesday, October 28, that she recently wrote and recorded “Proof of Love,” which will be included as a bonus track on the first-ever vinyl release of her 2011 album, Love?

“[Kids] take up such a big part of your brain for so long, and when they’re gone, which is devastating and sad and scary, you’re facing a life that’s totally different now, and you’re like, ‘What am I going to do with this space and this time?'” she said.

Lopez shared that after becoming an empty nester this fall, she decided to return to the recording studio to begin work on her 10th studio album.

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“I’ve written some of the best songs that I’ve ever written, and I’m really excited,” she teased. “It’s a very happy-era album. It’s some of the most joyous, beautiful songs that have just a tad of a tear in them.”

Lopez described “Proof of Love” as a “dance song” that reflects on the “duality” of loving her children while simultaneously navigating the “pain and grief” of them growing up and leaving home.

“I wanted to make that a happy thing,” she noted. “I wanted to make that a marker instead of this devastating thing.”

Lopez revealed on Wednesday that she will release three vinyl editions of Love? — each with different cover artwork and colored records — in January 2027. The LPs feature the album’s original 12 songs, including the hit singles “On the Floor” and “I’m Into You,” in addition to “Proof of Love” and four more bonus tracks.

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Lopez shares Max and Emme with her ex-husband Marc Anthony, to whom she was married from 2004 to 2014.

Earlier this year, Lopez proudly gushed that both of her kids were accepted into all five colleges to which they had applied — and received scholarships to each.

“They just worked hard,” she told Extra in June. “They have ADHD, and so they need to learn differently, and there were struggles and times [of hardship], and I’m just so proud of them because they did what they said they were going to do, and they’re good people.”

Lopez penned a sentimental tribute to Max and Emme in honor of their 18th birthday in February.

“When I would hold you as infants, I honestly felt as if I were holding two angels sent straight from heaven above,” she wrote via Instagram. “My life was changed forever. I cannot believe you are now adults…18 years old! You are both so kind-hearted, generous, and loving. How lucky the world was on this day 18 years ago when God decided to send you here with all of your talents and spirit and heart to make this world a better place, because that is what you do for me and anyone who is lucky enough to know you both every day. ‘I love you’ could never encapsulate the depth of feeling, affection, and care that I have for you, my coconuts.”

“I did something that ruined my entire day,” Kevin, 38, revealed on the Tuesday, October 27, episode of iHeartRadio’s “Hey Jonas!” podcast. “I don’t even know how to start this. … This is my trauma.”

According to Joe, 37, the brothers have a longstanding group text with a “couple of friends” who are all New York Giants fans. When news broke that J.J. McCarthy was going to start as quarterback, things accidentally got a little spicy.

“Kevin sends through a picture to the group chat,” Nick, 34, shared. “It’s a TV, and it’s got the announcement on it, and nobody thinks much of it.”

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Kevin replied, “Guys, dick’s out. The photo has mirrors, and I didn’t clock it, and it was in our bathroom, and I took the photo as I’m getting into the shower.”

At first, the group swears they didn’t even notice that they had received a questionable image in the thread. Joe was busy playing video games while Nick was getting a casual haircut.

Kevin, however, quickly got to work and started begging his friends to delete the photo.

“I’m sorry. Cuck my life,” his texts read. “F***. Delete the thread. I’m such a moron.”

View this post on Instagram

The brothers tried their best not to laugh the entire time they shared the story. Perhaps it was even funnier because the trio was celebrating Halloween with Joe dressed as a hot dog wiener during the podcast taping.

“You have a massive TV in your bathroom, but there are mirrors surrounding the TV and you can only see… it’s like the greatest thing that you didn’t know happened,” Joe said. “There’s a big TV and right below it is a mirror, and it’s only your dick. It’s literally just your wiener. It’s funny for me to say that as I’m dressed as a weiner.”

Kevin added, “I just need this to end. I just came from the gym. The room is 62 degrees.”

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During the podcast, Kevin revealed that after his wife, Danielle Jonas, learned of the penis photo drama, her reaction was priceless. As he recalled, “She goes, ‘Oh no.’”

Ultimately, the show must go on as the brothers proceeded to chat with special guest Josh Peck.

As for the wild text thread, something tells Us the brothers aren’t done laughing about the surprising chain of events. As Kevin said, “Dicks out for J.J. McCarthy.”

“[Ed] missed a massive, beautiful opportunity there: just cancel the whole f***ing tour, then play for free outside each venue, raise a bunch of money, rather than let a f***ing billionaire tell you what to do,” Antonoff, 42, suggested in a Guardian profile published on Sunday, October 25. “The reason it’s not an anomaly or niche issue is because we all live in a world where billionaires are constantly telling us what to do. So stand the f*** up!”

In September, Macklemore, 43, was controversially removed as a support act from Sheeran’s Loop Tour for shouting “Free Palestine” and playing his protest song “Hind’s Hall” during two shows at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Sheeran, 35, alleged that his tour partners made the decision to drop Macklemore after receiving pressure from Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft and others ahead of scheduled shows at major venues. (Sheeran’s two Gillette Stadium shows were ultimately cancelled due to weather concerns.)

Macklemore’s fellow Loop Tour support acts Finneas O’Connell, Aaron Rowe and Lukas Graham all pulled out of the shows, as did Sheeran’s backing band Beoga. Sheeran ultimately resumed his tour with a brand new backing band on September 19 in Philadelphia, where he also addressed the controversy in person for the first time.

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“I’m used to my music being criticized, and I’m always happy to take that because I’m lucky. A lot of you like my stuff, and to be honest, I’m surprised,” he told fans. “I’m not surprised that I’ve even done it. You know, it’s normal. This week, the criticism was about something much more important, and I’ve had to take [it in] and make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes, and I’m so so sorry.”

The “Shape of You” singer said that he was carrying on with the Loop Tour so as not to “disappoint fans.”

“This has put me in the middle of an important, passionate argument about freedom of speech on the most complex issue on the planet,” Sheeran said of the Israel-Palestine conflict. “[My music] has always been a safe space for everyone. That matters hugely to me. Honoring my commitment to my fans is also completely essential to who I am. That is why I’m here tonight — on my own — continuing my own tour.”

Macklemore has since embarked on a Free Palestine Tour, explaining, “There has been a collective awakening around Palestinian liberation, the power of billionaires that try to censor that call, and what we expect from artists right now.”

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“It’s 2026. Being apolitical during a genocide doesn’t work anymore,” he added. “People are asking artists to show up, educate themselves and be in community. To use the stage for more than entertainment. To push back when the call for a Free Palestine is met with attempts to silence it.”

Antonoff — who, like Sheeran, is a close friend and collaborator of Taylor Swift — has frequently voiced his support for the Palestinian cause as a Jewish artist during Bleachers’ tours over the past few years.

Speaking to The Guardian, Antonoff insisted that his support for Palestine is not simply a moral or social choice; it also sends a message to record companies and promoters about censorship.

“[I’ve] felt way more emboldened to say it now, because it’s not in any way a strange, uncomfortable or controversial thing to say, it’s a deeply human thing to say,” he said. “If you think it is [controversial] you’re lost in some other sauce that is so crazy. They’re going to let some f**ing promoter tell me what I can say? Don’t book me. I’ll play for free outside.”

“From Reasonable Doubt to standing on the Super Bowl Halftime stage, this has been a journey,” Jay-Z, 56, said in a statement on Monday, October 26, referencing his 1996 debut album. “Thirty years of music, work and culture on the world’s biggest stage. This run continues to be a dream come true.”

Jay-Z’s entertainment company, Roc Nation, has curated and produced every Super Bowl halftime performance since striking a deal with the NFL in 2019, so the billionaire rapper essentially picked himself to take the stage during the league’s next championship game on February 14 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on ABC.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the timing was right for Jay-Z considering the “extraordinary impact he has had on the Super Bowl halftime show” over the past seven years.

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“When we first reached an agreement with Roc Nation to produce the show, I had just one request: that Jay-Z take the stage himself one day, whenever the moment felt right to him,” Goodell, 67, added on Monday. “I couldn’t be more excited for fans around the world to experience the artistry, creativity and cultural impact he will bring to the Super Bowl stage.”

Jay-Z is currently in the midst of a massive musical comeback. While has not released an album since 2017’s 4:44, the 25-time Grammy winner performed three sold-out shows at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx in July to celebrate the 30th and 25th anniversaries of his classic records Reasonable Doubt and The Blueprint, respectively. He then headlined shows in London and Paris, where he sang “Happy Birthday” to his wife, Beyoncé, a two-time Super Bowl performer herself.

Jay-Z also sat down with music producer Rick Rubin for a retrospective HBO docuseries, Jay-Z in 8, which premiered in September. He most recently had two concerts at SoFi Stadium — notably the 2027 Super Bowl venue — last Friday, October 23, and Saturday, October 24.

Super Bowl LXI will mark the first time that the championship game has ever been played on Valentine’s Day as well as the second time it has taken place at SoFi Stadium. (Super Bowl LVI was held at the Los Angeles-area venue on February 13, 2022, when the L.A. Rams beat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20.)

“We are thrilled to return to the world-class SoFi Stadium for Super Bowl LXI, five years after the Los Angeles Rams lifted the Lombardi Trophy on their home field,” Goodell announced on February 9. “L.A. is our backyard — two franchises, NFL Network, incredible media partners and in 2028, flag football in the Summer Olympics. We have the utmost confidence in the Los Angeles Super Bowl Host Committee to put on another great show.”

The halftime show for the 2026 Super Bowl — which saw the Seattle Seahawks beat the New England Patriots 29-13 — proved to be highly controversial due to the league’s selection of Bad Bunny as its lead performer. (His set featured cameos from Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin.)

Conservatives, including President Donald Trump, called for boycotts of the halftime show since much of Bad Bunny’s music is performed in Spanish. Boxer Jake Paul, meanwhile, was widely criticized for describing Bad Bunny as a “fake American” even though the Puerto Rican artist is a U.S. citizen by birth.

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Bad Bunny (real name Benito Ocasio) made light of the backlash at a February press conference as he joked that viewers “[wouldn’t] even have to learn Spanish” to enjoy his performance.

“It’s better they learn to dance,” he insisted. “There’s no better dance than the one that comes from the heart. That’s the only thing that they need to worry about.”

The late conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s advocacy group, Turning Point USA, infamously held a competing concert — called the All-American Halftime Show — in Atlanta to counter Bad Bunny’s set. (Charlie was fatally shot at age 31 at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, in September 2025. His alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, has pleaded not guilty.)

“It’s powerful because what Charlie always loved and knew is that he wanted to be in the forefront of the culture war,” Charlie’s widow, Erika Kirk, told Fox News in February. “He would be fist-pumping at this. He would be so stoked. And what better way to honor him than to just get in the middle of this and be able to offer an alternative to families.”

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The All-American Halftime Show featured music from Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Gabby Barrett and Lee Brice as well as a tribute to Charlie.

Early viewing figures suggested that the All-American Halftime Show brought in 19 million viewers in its first 24 hours on YouTube while the NFL touted more than 4 billion views for its halftime show across multiple platforms for the same amount of time.

Nevertheless, TPUSA spokesperson Andrew Kolvet described the All-American Halftime Show as a “massive success” as he confirmed plans for a second show in 2027.

“So I can tell you, that’s a shot across the bow,” he said on Fox News’ One Nation With Brian Kilmeade on February 8. “People are paying attention. And if you give us a year to plan this thing, I’m really excited to see what we can pull off.”