Zedd is rumored to be bringing out country star Maren Morris during his Coachella performance this Sunday (April 13), continuing his tradition of collaborating with high-profile surprise guests for his sets. The DJ has a history of thrilling Coachella audiences with special appearances during his past festival sets – including Katy Perry, Kesha, and Morris – and this year is expected to be no different. Zedd and Morris’ 2018 smash hit collaboration, "The Middle," propelled Morris into the mainstream and went on to receive Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance nominations at the 2019 Grammy Awards. “‘The Middle’ was a once-in-a-lifetime song,“ Morris told Rolling Stone in 2022. “It’s definitely one of the biggest songs I’ve been a part of, and it really opened me and my work up to a much larger audience.” The duo also worked together again on 2022’s "Make You Say." Morris is set to release her highly-anticipated new album, Dreamsicle, on May 9, which features her just-released single, “Carry Me Through.” (Rolling Stone)

ERNEST and Snoop Dogg just teamed up to record "Gettin' Gone," a cross-genre collaboration that combines the country musician's Nashville roots with the rapper's West Coast vibes. The track marks the inaugural offering from ERNEST's new DeVille Records imprint via Big Loud, and the new label head was surprised Snoop wanted to take part in the music video shoot. “When Snoop called, he was like, 'We need to do a music video,’” ERNEST recalls. “I was like, 'Bro, I was just planning on doing like an animated video, not taking any more of your time. He was like, 'No, I'll come and shoot the real thing.'” The two artists rolled through the streets of Nashville in what the hip-hop legend called a “Snoop DeVille,” with everyone in town trying to get a look at them. ERNEST said Snoop was greeted "like he was everybody's favorite uncle, which is obviously the case. Everybody from homeless people to dudes in suits knew who Snoop Dogg was.” (People)

Fans are abuzz with speculation as a cryptic Coachella billboard hints at a possible comeback from Frank Ocean, tying in with a newly-launched Instagram account, @kikiboyyyyyyy, believed to be the supposed private account from the reclusive musician. The brown billboard was spotted along the route into the Coachella Valley in the Colorado Desert, reading “KIKI BOY 2025,” sparking excitement and curiosity among Ocean’s fans that he will be returning with new music sometime this year. The mysterious Instagram account only has eight followers, including Ocean's public profile, @Blonded, and collaborators like SZA and Michael Uzowuru. As the music world eagerly waits for clarification, Ocean's possible return to the Coachella stage is a topic of intense speculation, especially since the musician's headlining set in 2023 was plagued by technical difficulties, causing him to cancel his second weekend performance. Ocean’s last official releases were 2016’s dual projects, Blonde and Endless, which were both released simultaneously. (Rolling Stone)

Lorde surprised fans by dropping a snippet of an unreleased song on TikTok on Wednesday (April 9), fueling anticipation that her highly-anticipated fourth album is arriving sometime soon. The New Zealand pop superstar shared a 15-second clip of the track while she was strolling through Washington Square Park in New York City. This unexpected teaser, her first post on the platform, left fans excited that new music is iminent, especially as her official website has gone blank and she also wiped her Instagram, except for a sole IG Story featuring a screenshot of a perplexed fan’s comment, “WAIT WHAT?????” The two-time Grammy winner’s last album was 2021’s Solar Power, which reached No. 5 on the Billboard 200. Since then, she has been sharing occasional hints on social media that she was working on new music, with producer Jim-E Stack (Charli XCX, Haim, Bon Iver) confirming that he and Lorde were working together back in August. (Billboard)

During a recent appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast, Ed Sheeran fondly reminisced about his longtime friendship with Taylor Swift, and their time spent together when was the opening act on her 2013 Red Tour. “I literally spent almost every single day with her for about six months,” Sheeran said. I lived in Nashville and she lived in Nashville and we used to fly to and from the gigs together.” While the demands of being a music superstar keeps the good friends from seeing each other as frequently these days, Sheeran says they still make time for each other. “I see her when I see her,” he said. “I probably see her like four times a year and instead of catching up the whole time, we have like proper sit down, six hour catch ups. And I think that that’s like a really nice way to do it.” During Swift's Eras Tour stop at London’s Wembley Stadium last year, she performed a special medley of hits with her old friend Ed. (Rolling Stone)

It was announced on Wednesday (April 9) that twenty-five sound recordings, including Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black, Elton John’s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, and the Hamilton Original Cast Album, have been inducted into the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry. The annual honor is a way to showcase the diverse music history and culture of America through iconic albums and songs. This year’s registry also includes Tracy Chapman’s 1988 self-titled LP, Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew, Mary J. Blige’s My Life, and songs by Steve Miller Band (“Fly Like an Eagle”), Celine Dion (“My Heart Will Go On”), as well as Brian Eno’s Microsoft Windows reboot chime, and the Minecraft: Volume Alpha soundtrack. “These are the sounds of America – our wide-ranging history and culture. The National Recording Registry is our evolving nation’s playlist,” said Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden in a statement. (Rolling Stone)

Jennifer Lopez is set to return as both host and performer for this year’s American Music Awards, airing live from Las Vegas on Memorial Day, May 26, on CBS and streaming on Paramount+ in the U.S. This marks Lopez’s second time hosting the ceremony, following her role in 2015 where she opened the show with a performance of her Grammy-nominated hit, “Waiting for Tonight.” Lopez has performed on the AMAs over 10 times, and has collected three awards over the years. “We are thrilled to welcome Jennifer Lopez back to host the American Music Awards,” Jay Penske, CEO, Dick Clark Productions, said in a statement. “Jennifer’s incredible talent and incomparable stage presence make her the ideal host of the show.  We know she will bring her one-of-a-kind energy to the official kick off celebration of summer.” The upcoming broadcast will be the first regular American Music Awards broadcast in two and a half years, and the first AMAs to air on CBS, which previously aired on ABC from 1974 to 2022. (Billboard)

Pete Best, the original drummer of The Beatles who performed with the band in the early 1960s, has announced his retirement from appearances and performances due to what his daughter calls “personal circumstances." News of Best’s retirement was revealed on X on Saturday (April 5) by the drummer's brother, Roag Best, who shared a photo of the musicians together. "Well what an absolutely wonderful ride we’ve had. However, everything comes to pass,” he wrote. Pete shared Roag’s post, and wrote, “I had a blast. Thank you.” Best, who is often referred to as the "fifth Beatle," made his debut with the band in Hamburg, Germany and was later replaced by Ringo Starr. Despite the harsh circumstances of his departure, Best reflects on his time with the band with no regrets. "I think I’m a lucky guy,” he told The Irish Times in 2020. “I’m very proud of what I’ve achieved as a person, of the examples I’ve set to people to get on with your life, to pick yourself up." (People)

A tragic incident occurred at the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, as the roof collapsed during a live performance early Tuesday (April 8), resulting in at least 79 confirmed deaths and 160 injuries. Rescuers were attempting to reach around 100 people still trapped, with more than 300 individuals in the club at the time of the collapse, with authorities initiating extensive search and rescue efforts in collaboration with national police. Among the injured is merengue singer Rubby Pérez, who was performing in the club at the time of the incident. Among the dead is former Major League Baseball pitcher Octavio Dotel, and Nelsy Milagros Cruz Martinez, the governor of Monte Cristi, who was also the sister of former Seattle Mariners player Nelson Cruz. Jet Set issued a statement on Instagram: “The loss of human lives leaves us in a state of profound sorrow and grief. In this difficult moment, our prayers are with each of the affected families. We share their pain as if it were our own, as we too are in mourning.” (Billboard)

During a recent appearance on the On Purpose With Jay Shetty podcast, Lizzo opened up about taking a "gap year" from her music career, while also sharing how she is handling her fame. The four-time Grammy winner explained the importance of taking that time for quiet introspection in order to reconnect with her true self and protect her peace. She also reflected on the challenges she has faced, including blowback from a harassment lawsuit and struggles with public perception. “I think what I learned about fame is, even if that’s really me, it just becomes kind of like a fictional story, it’s a character, it’s a brand, it’s a thing that now doesn’t belong to you anymore,” she shared. “Whoever Lizzo is to the world is not really even me. And that disconnect is depressing. And I think the only remedy to that is continuing to be myself.” Lizzo will release her new album, Love in Real Life, later this year, and previewed the LP with two singles, the title track and “Still Bad.” (Rolling Stone)

During an appearance on The Tonight Show on Monday (March 7), Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine revealed that his band will release an album and embark on a tour later this year, while confirming the rumors that they have new music on the way. The group is set to drop a single at the end of the month, followed by an album release in the summer, and a tour in the fall. During the interview with Jimmy Fallon, Levine also reminisced about working with producer Benny Blanco on Maroon 5’s smash hit, “Moves Like Jagger," crediting Blanco for bringing fresh perspectives to the band’s writing process. The forthcoming new album will be a follow-up to Maroon 5’s last release, 2021’s Jordi, which featured collaborations with artists like Megan Thee Stallion, Stevie Nicks, H.E.R., YG, and the late rappers Juice Wrld and Nipsey Hussle. (Rolling Stone)

Amazon Music has renewed its partnership with Stagecoach, announcing that for the third straight year they are the exclusive livestream provider for the sold-out 2025 edition of the country music festival. Livestream coverage will commence at 4 p.m. PT each day from April 25-27 via Prime Video, the Amazon Music app, or Twitch, airing content from different stages on the festival grounds in Indio, California. Stagecoach’s headliners include Zach Bryan, Jelly Roll, and Luke Combs, with their sets starting at 9:30 p.m. PT on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday respectively, while after-hours performances featuring acts like T-Pain, Creed, and the Backstreet Boys will continue the festivities. Lana Del Rey's highly-anticipated country-themed set will take place from 8:10-9:10 p.m. PT on Friday, with a diverse lineup of artists such as Sturgill Simpson, Nelly, Ashley McBryde, and others set to grace the stage during the three-day event. Kelly Sutton and Amber Anderson of the Country Heat Weekly podcast will host the livestream and conduct artist interviews between performances. (Variety)

Slipknot's Corey Taylor played an impressive acoustic set during the Spookala horror convention in Florida over the weekend. Taylor performed a series of Stone Sour and Slipknot classics, including “Song #3,”“Taciturn,””Bother,””Through Glass,” and “Snuff,” as well as covers of rock anthems like Foo Fighters’ “Everlong,” Incubus’ “I Miss You,” Nine Inch Nails' “Something I Can Never Have,” and Violent Femme's “Add It Up.” But it was his unexpected cover of Chappell Roan’s current Billboard Hot 100 Top 5 hit, “Pink Pony Club” that truly surprised the crowd. The event also included appearances by horror icons like Saw actor Tobin Bell, and The Lost Boys star Kiefer Sutherland, along with Taylor, an avowed horror enthusiast. Slipknot will hit the road this summer, with numerous festival dates scheduled throughout Europe, and on July 19 they are set to headline Inkcarceration in Mansfield, Ohio. (Louder Sound)

Ahead of the launch of his Breezy Bowl XX Tour this summer, Chris Brown is speaking out to advise his fans against wearing red bandanas to his upcoming live shows due to their possible gang affiliations. In a recent post on Instagram Stories, the R&B singer wrote, “I see a lot of the fans collectively telling team breezy to wear red bandannas to the concert. I would highly advise yall to NOT do that! 🤣!” He then suggested an alternative fashion choice for fans, “Just get brown bandannas so yall won’t run into any problems. YALL KNOW IM BRIS BREEZY but WE PROMOTING POSITIVITY ON THIS TOUR!” Brown’s upcoming tour will mark the 20th anniversary of his Grammy-nominated 2005 self-titled debut, and will feature guests such as Summer Walker, Bryson Tiller, and Jhené Aiko. Breezy Bowl XX kicks off in Amsterdam on June 8, with the North American leg starting on July 30 in Miami. (NME)

Taschen Books has just published 75 Years of Atlantic Records, a massive new coffee-table book honoring the record label’s illustrious history. The book, weighing a hefty 11 pounds and measuring 14" x 14", features stunning photos by celebrated photographers like Annie Leibovitz, Anton Corbijn, and David LaChapelle, who captured striking images of legendary musicians in the studio and on stage, from music icons like Aretha Franklin, Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, John Coltrane, and Otis Redding, to modern stars like Ed Sheeran, Janelle Monae, Hootie & the Blowfish, Jewel, and Cardi B. Digging into Atlantic Records' archives, the book offers a visual journey through music history. In addition to the stunning collection of photographs, the book also features essays by award-winning writers like David Ritz, Ben Ratliff, and Barney Hoskyns, with a foreword by Bruno Mars. “The Atlantic crew changed the way records were made and how people heard them,” Mars writes. “It was an explosion in Sound, and it was pure magic.” (Variety)

On Monday (April 7), it was officially announced that Sabrina Carpenter's avatar will be featured in Season 8 of the Fortnite Festival. The move will allow fans to virtually perform the pop superstar’s hits in the game's Festival mode starting on April 8. Gamers can play Carpenter's songs such as "Juno" and "Nonsense" as Jam Tracks by unlocking the season eight Music Pass, with additional hits like "Please Please Please," "Taste," "Espresso," and "Feather" available on the Fortnite Shop. The game also offers various skins inspired by Carpenter's Short n’ Sweet Tour outfits, as well as emotes and accessories like a blinged-out purse and her microphone and guitars. Carpenter joins an impressive lineup of musicians who have previously participated in Fortnite Festival, including The Weeknd, Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, Metallica, and Karol G, along with Travis Scott's groundbreaking “Astronomical” virtual concert in 2020, which drew 12.3 million players at its peak. (Billboard)

On Sunday (April 6), Justin Bieber received thousands of responses to his Instagram post which the pop superstar captioned, “Dm me if u wanna make music together.” The most surprising comment came from Drake, who claimed that Bieber didn't initially respond to his earlier direct message about a potential collaboration. “I DM’d but no reply,” Drake commented, joining other high-profile artists who responded to his open invitation, including Big Sean, Kehlani, Bailey Zimmerman, and Jaden Smith. The exchange gained a lot of attention from fans on social media, and while many of them were hopeful for a future collaboration, some speculated that Drake's comment was sarcastic after Bieber allegedly unfollowed him on Instagram. The two Canadian music superstars previously collaborated on "Right Here" in 2012, which was featured on Bieber’s chart-topping third studio album, Believe. (Billboard)

Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “Luther” is No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart for a seventh consecutive week, marking the longest chart-topping reign for a rap hit in more than four years. Only 24kGoldn’s “Mood,” featuring Iann Dior, eight-week rule in 2020-21, and Roddy Ricch’s “The Box” 11-week run in 2020 have spent more time at No. 1 as a rap hit this decade. “Luther” also just climbed to the top of the Radio Songs chart, becoming Lamar’s third No. 1 – and first in a lead role – and SZA’s second on the all-format airplay ranking.

Elsewhere in the Hot 100 Top 10, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With a Smile” holds at No. 2, while Drake’s “Nokia” jumps four places to No. 3 on the strength of the March 31 video premiere, claiming his record-extending 42nd Top 5 hit of his career. Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” drops one spot to No. 4, Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club” keeps its peak position of No. 5, Teddy Swims’ “Lose Control” remains at No. 6, ROSÉ and Bruno Mars’ “APT.” vaults three spots to No. 7, while Morgan Wallen places two songs back-to-back in the Top 10, with “Just in Case” falling four places to No. 8 after debuting at No. 4, and “I’m the Problem” jumping up two spots to No. 9, and Billie Eilish’s “Birds of a Feather” moves up two slots to No. 10. (Billboard)

Chappell Roan's "Pink Pony Club" claims the top spot on Billboard's Pop Airplay chart this week, achieving the feat five years after its initial release. The track becomes the second chart-topper of the pop superstar’s career, following her previous No. 1 hit back in September of 2024, “Good Luck, Babe!” In addition to leading the Pop Airplay chart, “Pink Pony Club” also just reached a new peak of No. 5 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. Roan co-wrote the song with its sole producer, Daniel Nigro, marking the Grammy-winning Producer of the Year’s fourth chart-topping hit of his career, following his work on “Good Luck, Babe!” and Olivia Rodrigo’s “Drivers License” and “Good 4 U” in 2021. Roan’s new single, “The Giver,” is currently climbing on multiple airplay charts after debuting at No. 5 on the Hot 100 while also topping the Hot Country Songs chart. (Billboard)

Eminem is now a grandpa, as the rapper’s daughter, Hailie Jade Scott, and her husband, Evan McClintock, announced on Instagram on Friday (April 4) that they recently welcomed their newborn son, Elliot Marshall McClintock. The baby’s middle name pays homage to his grandfather’s given name, Marshall Mathers, while the newborn’s initials, EMM, is another subtle nod to the hip-hop superstar. While the couple just announced the birth over the weekend, the baby was actually born back on March 14. Scott shared their collective joy in the caption to her post, “happy due date//3 weeks earthside little e 🤍.” Although Eminem has yet to comment publicly on the birth, a video for his 2024 ode to Hailie, "Temporary," revealed his excitement about her pregnancy announcement, while featuring the rapper proudly holding a "GRANDPA" football jersey along with the baby's sonogram. (Rolling Stone)