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Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and Camila Cabello have all appealed to their millions of followers to take coronavirus more seriously, as other artists are criticised for continuing tours

Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande are among the pop stars using their considerable clout with fans to appeal for behavioural change during the coronavirus outbreak.

Eilish delivered a five-minute Instagram story to her 57 million followers, saying: Ive seen a lot of young people out in the world, all over the place, going to the club or going to the beach or just going out and hanging out, and its really irresponsible. She highlighted that young fans could pass it to more vulnerable relatives, and added: Please take responsibility for your endurance of this.

Swift spoke to her 128.2m Instagram followers to say: I love you guys so much and need to express my concern that things arent being taken seriously enough right now Im seeing lots of get-togethers and hangs and parties still happening. This is the time to cancel plans. Dont assume that because you dont feel sick that you arent possibly passing something on to someone elderly or vulnerable to this.

On Sunday, Grande wrote to her 72m Twitter followers: I keep hearing from a surprising amount of people statements like This isnt a big deal it is incredibly selfish and dangerous to take this situation that lightly. The We will be fine because were young mindset is putting people who arent young and/or healthy in a lot of danger. You sound stupid and privileged and you need to care more about others. Like now.

Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande)

please pic.twitter.com/N9WkKyVNn1

March 15, 2020

US singer Camila Cabello said: Especially as young people, even if we are healthy, its important to practice compassion and help others that could be suffering. We are in this together, lets not be indifferent to others risk. She advised her 48m Instagram followers to practise meditation to help quell any anxiety.

Their appeals come as other music stars have been criticised for going ahead with concerts during the crisis. Welsh indie band Stereophonics played a series of arena concerts over the weekend, attracting tens of thousands of fans, and defended the decision by saying: The UK governments position was that at this phase there was no need for a ban on large public gatherings. Acting on this guidance, we continued with the last three shows of our UK tour on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, as did many other events across the entertainment industry.

Lewis
Music stars including Lewis Capaldi, pictured performing in London last week, have been criticised for going ahead with concerts. Photograph: Burak ng/Redferns

Scottish pop singer Lewis Capaldi used the same reasoning for playing an arena concert after Scotland announced the cancellation of large-scale events but before the ban came into force.

A spokesperson said of the Scottish governments advisory document: The advice applies from Monday March 16, and is not expected to have a significant impact on the spread of Covid-19, and this is not its purpose, but that it aims to relieve pressure on public services, including emergency services. Security, first aid, medical and welfare teams were paid for by the organisers as normal and the venue had additional signage in place to highlight best practice on hygiene during the event.

Tens of major tours have been cancelled, including those by Elton John, Foo Fighters and Celine Dion.

Stars are now looking to livestreaming as an alternative. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin took to Instagram Live yesterday to perform his bands songs as well as a cover of David Bowies Life on Mars. Maybe 9/11 was the last time I felt like we were all together, he said.

The performance was part of a new initiative from the World Health Organization and Global Citizen called Together, at Home. John Legend is the next performer lined up for the series.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/mar/17/pop-stars-criticise-fans-over-coronavirus-inaction-billie-eilish-taylor-swift-ariana-grande-camila-cabello

Billie Eilish and Lizzo are competing for a string of the top prizes, but could the likes of Ariana Grande, Lana Del Rey and Rosala cause upsets?

Noise threatens to drown out the music at the 2020 Grammy awards. A line had been drawn under the tone-deaf leadership of Neil Portnow, who had presided over the ceremony since 2002 between 2013 and 2018, Grammy winners were 91% male, but, after a 2018 ceremony where men swept the board again, Portnow said it was on women to step up and create opportunities for themselves.

A woman, Deborah Dugan, replaced him; a taskforce was appointed, and in December they published their report, calling for greater diversity in the Academy voters. Any hopes that they had moved on, though, were scotched last week by Dugan being suspended for alleged misconduct; Dugan countered by saying she had been sexually harassed, that the Academy had covered up an alleged rape by Portnow, and that the voting was corrupt.

So we go into this years ceremony more jaded than ever, but the irony is that, no matter how poisonous the Academy is and regardless of whether it is rigged or not, we ended up with a much more diverse range of nominees this year. Leading the pack are Lizzo with eight noms and Billie Eilish and Lil Nas X with six each a vibrantly youthful and non-conformist trio. But will the Academy members shake off the past and vote for the future?

Record of the year

Bon Iver Hey, Ma
Billie Eilish Bad Guy
Ariana Grande 7 Rings
HER Hard Place
Khalid Talk
Lil Nas X ft Billy Ray Cyrus Old Town Road
Lizzo Truth Hurts
Post Malone & Swae Lee Sunflower

Aside from the merely pleasant HER and Khalid tracks, this is a strong field. While lots of eyes are on Lizzo and Eilish, this could perhaps be Ariana Grandes year. Its her first time with nominations in the big four categories rather than being patronised in the pop awards and, with its My Favourite Things melody, doddering Academy voters might listen to 7 Rings and say: Hey, its one I know! Triumphant earworm Old Town Road is the longest-running No 1 in US history; Bad Guy is a showcase of the kind of fiendish genius usually employed by Hollywood horror movies to construct elaborate ways for teenagers to get killed. But an Academy eager to telegraph its modernity might go for Lizzo: Truth Hurts is a great underdog story, reaching No 1 two years after release, and her charisma is near universally infectious.

Will win: Lizzo Truth Hurts
Should win: Billie Eilish Bad Guy

Album of the year

Bon Iver i, i
Lana Del Rey Norman Fucking Rockwell!
Billie Eilish When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
Ariana Grande Thank U, Next
HER I Used to Know Her
Lil Nas X 7
Lizzo Cuz I Love You (Deluxe)
Vampire Weekend Father of the Bride

This is Grandes best chance of a big win. Thank U, Next is a superbly realised almost-concept album about heartache, grief and moving on that can be witty, even caustic, but never cruel it sealed her as one of the three or four definitive pop stars of our time. Lizzo, HER and Lil Nas X are hampered with too much 6/10 material across their albums; Lana Del Rey was the critical hit of the year and will certainly beat out fellow Pitchfork darlings Bon Iver and Vampire Weekend, but may not cut through to the more august and mainstream Academy members. Eilish was the inescapable pop-cultural breakthrough of the year, and her album has such terrific range and invention. She will, hopefully, squeak this.

Will win: Billie Eilish
Should win: Billie Eilish

Song of the year

Lady Gaga Always Remember Us This Way
Billie Eilish Bad Guy
Tanya Tucker Bring My Flowers Now
HER Hard Place
Taylor Swift Lover
Lana Del Rey Norman Fucking Rockwell
Lewis Capaldi Someone You Loved
Lizzo Truth Hurts

Piano-driven ballads dominate the songwriting category, including Taylor Swifts only big nomination. Lover is such classic American songcraft, though Lewis Capaldis powerful Someone Like You is the best of these ballads and it would be a British win to remember. Eilish is streets ahead in terms of songwriting innovation and should win for that Duh! alone. But, while Truth Hurts most famous lyric (I just took a DNA test, turns out Im 100% that bitch) may have been plagiarised and its British author later added to the credits, Lizzo has this sewn up. The lyrics are hilarious, and it is a massively successful example of that new school of songwriting where a single melody is repeated over and over until the brainwashed public is involuntarily chanting it and then clawing hopelessly at their faces.

Will win: Lizzo Truth Hurts
Should win: Billie Eilish Bad Guy

New artist

Black Pumas
Billie Eilish
Lil Nas X
Lizzo
Maggie Rogers
Rosala
Tank and the Bangas
Yola

Nice to see some country-soul curveballs here in the excellent Black Pumas and Yola, though the less said the better about the tune-free Tank and the Bangas at any rate, theyre all making up the numbers. Maggie Rogers didnt really break beyond her fanbase with her underrated debut album, and Im sure the Academy will see Lil Nas X merely as a two-hit wonder. Lizzos debut album came out in 2013, whereas Eilish has only just turned 18 and feels like the rightful owner of this award. But you can bet than every Latinx voter is going to be going for the astoundingly talented Rosala, who won big at the Latin Grammys and could cause an upset here.

Will win: Billie Eilish
Should win: Billie Eilish

Pop solo performance

Beyonc Spirit
Billie Eilish Bad Guy
Ariana Grande 7 Rings
Lizzo Truth Hurts
Taylor Swift You Need to Calm Down

Just as performances where you cry, shout and climb inside the carcass of a bear win you Oscars, the leading pop award rather behoves you to give it some welly not for nothing has Adele won it three times. Eilish and Grandes variously murmured and chatted performances will appear to the Academy like weirdo arthouse choices here, and even Swift is in a relatively conversational mode. Beyoncs ponderous Spirit was the lame old wildebeest eaten by the younger jackals on the Lion King soundtrack, so this is Lizzos to lose.

Will win: Lizzo
Should win: Billie Eilish

Rock performance

Bones UK Pretty Waste
Gary Clark Jr This Land
Brittany Howard History Repeats
Karen O & Danger Mouse Woman
Rival Sons Too Bad

Anyone looking for evidence of backroom dealing in the Academy might well make Bones UK their exhibit A: Pretty Waste is the kind of creative vacuum beloved only of nihilistically cocaine-addicted LA music industry execs looking for something to soundtrack rock bottom. The rest is pretty good. Rival Sons riffs and hollering make them the most tangibly rock thing here Karen O essays 60s pop, and Brittany Howards History Repeats is a kind of bluesy funk tune, but with mainstream rock stranded out on a sandbar while rappers and pop stars taunt it on jetskis, they need to blur the genre lines. Gary Clark Jr could edge this with his politically charged This Land, half-rapped over a heavily skanking backing.

Will win: Gary Clark Jr
Should win: Rival Sons

Rap performance

J Cole Middle Child
DaBaby Suge
Dreamville feat JID, Bas, J Cole, Earthgang & Young Nudy Down Bad
Nipsey Hussle feat Roddy Ricch & Hit-Boy Racks in the Middle
Offset feat Cardi B Clout

Many voters hearts will go with Nipsey Hussle, whose murder last year robbed the world of a skilful, soulful MC who united backpacker hip-hoppers and mainstream rap fans. Racks in the Middle also features Roddy Rich, who has broken through spectacularly over the last year. But the track pales next to two others here: DaBabys Suge is a slowly prowling piece of minimalism that makes Offset sound fussily overworked in comparison; its ridiculous that DaBaby isnt up for best new artist. He is rather damaged goods after a series of run-ins with the law, however. That could hand Middle Child the win, on which J Cole raps as if hes high-stepping across the surface of a lake, his triplet time full of balletic grace.

Will win: J Cole
Should win: DaBaby

Country solo performance

Tyler Childers All Yourn
Ashley McBryde Girl Goin Nowhere
Willie Nelson Ride Me Back Home
Blake Shelton Gods Country
Tanya Tucker Bring My Flowers Now

If you scoff at country, youll probably always scoff at country, but this spread of songs shows off the admirable breadth of the genre and may pique your interest yet. Willie Nelsons song is a bit something-and-nothing; Tanya Tuckers Bring My Flowers Now is nominated in the song of the year category, and its live-for-today message and simple piano backing will appeal across the Academy, but its rather workmanlike. Ashley McBryde outdoes her in the ballad stakes, but its Tyler Childers and Blake Shelton both strongly channelling the gospel and soul music that not so secretly underpins country who are the strongest here. Childers song would make for a classy first wedding dance, while Sheltons stirring ode to proud Christian labour, while deeply unfashionable, will have you gazing soulfully across a cornfield.

Will win: Tanya Tucker
Should win: Tyler Childers

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/jan/24/grammys-2020-who-will-who-should-win-lizzo-billie-eilish-ariana-grande-lana-del-rey-rosalia

Ariana Grande fans break free from the stereotype that young people dont vote and tell us about which causes matter to them

Last month, Ariana Grande endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders for 2020 president on Twitter. MY GUY, Grande wrote, posting a picture of herself in her signature pony tail with the presidential candidate backstage at her show.

Grande has been vocal about wanting young people to register to vote, and has partnered with the non-partisan organization HeadCount to register fans on her Sweetener World Tour. Grande said over 30,000 people registered or pledged to vote at her shows alone. The Guardian caught up with some of them.

Asia Collier, 21, Lewisville

Asia
Photograph: Misty Keasler/The Guardian

What causes do you care most about that will influence your vote?
I think its crazy that people still dont believe in climate change. Were all on this Earth together. Were a united nation thats a mix of all groups and we need to stand together.

How did the 2016 election impact your life?
It showed us a lot of people didnt vote. It was all talk and no action. It impacted me by checking to make sure people I knew were involved. I found out five people close to me didnt vote. I thought you couldve changed so much. You have so much to say, but you didnt vote so your voice wasnt heard.

Thats the biggest takeaway from 2016. You are an influence to your closest people so talk to them. Make sure they know what to do and that they are involved in whatever community they want to be in so they can actually have an affect on their world because your community actually affects the world around you.

Who are you voting for in 2020?
I still want Bernie. I know people are swaying different ways but I love him.

Emily Lehmberg, 22, Beeville

Emily
Photograph: Misty Keasler/The Guardian

What causes do you care most about that will influence your vote?
Female reproductive rights is really important to me. I just feel that we all should choose what we want to do with our body. Thats so, so important. Nobody else should be able to make decisions for you.

Who are you voting for in 2020?
I want to vote for Bernie. I dont know if hell end up there, but thats what I want. Warren would be my number two pick.

Amanda Perez, 22, Beeville

Amanda
Photograph: Misty Keasler/The Guardian

How did the 2016 election impact your life?
I work at a very Hispanic-dominant school and I remember going to school the next day with my kids and they were hiding under their desks because they thought someone was going to come get them. They were like hes going to come take us. It was heartbreaking. Everybody needs to vote this time.

What causes do you care most about that will influence your vote?
My number one is education. The person in charge of education right now is not doing a good job. We have so many new rules from someone who has never been in the education system. Im a first-grade student teacher; I graduate in May and hopefully Ill be at that school that Im at right now.

Also definitely womens rights because we deserve so much more than what we have. Pay is still not equal and we should definitely be fighting for that.

Immigration, because we were built as a country where you could come here and find your life. Now, were not letting anybody come here.

As of right now, who will get your vote in 2020?
Right now, Id vote for Bernie if he got to the primaries. Warren would be my number two.

Abigayle Jose, 20, San Antonio

Abigayle
Photograph: Misty Keasler/The Guardian

What causes do you care most about that will influence your vote?
One of the major ones Im advocating for back in my home town is environmental awareness: climate change, pollution those things are detrimental to us and should be focused on.

As of right now, who will get your vote in 2020?
I appreciate that Ariana supports Bernie Sanders because I do as well.

Manuel Juarez, 25, Laredo

Manuel
Photograph: Misty Keasler/The Guardian

What causes do you care most about that will influence your vote?
I live on the border and Im going to be one of the people directly affected by the wall. I work for an environmental organization protecting the river, the Rio Grande. This is our only source of drinking water for 6 million people on both sides of the border so any construction, any debris, would really fuck us over.

There are no environmental studies being done. There are about 30 environmental laws being waived and ignored to expedite this process including the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Clean Air Act and the Endangered Species Act.

I also care very deeply about LGBTQ rights. I am a proud bisexual man.

How did the 2016 election impact your life?
The way our president conducts himself, his irrational and inappropriate behavior. Ive had family members who have been affected by sexual assault and rape, so having his really insensitive and boorish comments about women and womens rights really rubs me the wrong way.

With the border wall and white nationalism, theres some really scary stuff going on these days, but everyone being aware of whats going on is the first step to combatting that and creating a positive change.

Who are you voting for in 2020?
Im really interested in what
Elizabeth Warren brings to the table. I still need to do more research on each candidate, but shes definitely on my radar.

Rylea Walsh, 20, Arlington

Rylea
Photograph: Misty Keasler/The Guardian

What causes do you care most about that will influence your vote?
Im a college student so thats big for me. Tuition is crazy. Also healthcare is ridiculous. Really, I just want someone thats caring, open, not rude and that doesnt tweet his problems out to everyone in the United States.

How did the 2016 election impact your life?
Directly, [the election] didnt impact me that much because Im white. For a lot of my friends, its scary to see someone tweet or even speak about things that hurt a lot of people. It hurts. It hurts a lot.

Who are you voting for in 2020?
Bernie.

Lerato Mtowa, 19, Dallas

Lerato
Photograph: Misty Keasler/The Guardian

What causes do you care most about that will influence your vote?
Gay rights and immigration. I was born in America but I know a lot of people who werent. Seeing peoples family getting taken away from them, being separated, the camps they have people in its not right. Police brutality is another major one.

How did the 2016 election impact your life?
A lot of the things [Trump] says hurts. His words are louder than his actions. America is diverse and we have more rights than other places. We could do better as a united front.

Who are you voting for in 2020?
I have no idea but Kamala Harris can go. There was something sketchy about her. I feel like if your vibe is off, then youre out.

Kiara Ganison, 18, Richardson

Kiara
Photograph: Misty Keasler/The Guardian

How did the 2016 election impact your life?
This election has awakened my eyes to see how much stupidity can really impact the world. Seeing cases of children at the border, having the flu and dying in their cells and not even having the humanity to take care of them is kind of sickening. It does make my blood boil.

Who are you voting for in 2020?
I think Bernie.

Jared Gallegos, 21, Amarillo

Jared
Photograph: Misty Keasler/The Guardian

What causes do you care most about that will influence your vote?
Gay rights and healthcare. Too many relatives have been lost to cancer. Ariana lost her grandpa to cancer and I lost my grandpa to cancer in the same exact way recently. Fuck cancer.

Who are you voting for in 2020?
I think Bernie is the right person for Democrats because he listens. Im definitely not voting conservative. Go Democrats.

Marisa Vargas, 25, San Antonio

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/dec/21/ariana-grande-fans-talk-about-the-2020-candidates-if-your-vibe-is-off-youre-out

Lizzo scores eight nominations with Eilish and Lil Nas X on seven, but British artists largely snubbed in major categories

The 17-year-old pop sensation Billie Eilish has become the youngest artist to be nominated in all four of the most prestigious Grammy award categories: record, album and song of the year, and best new artist.

Her gothic, innovative single Bad Guy, which topped the US charts, is nominated in the song and record categories, while her similarly chart-topping album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? is nominated for the album prize. She completed a sweep of the top categories with a best new artist nomination, and has six nominations in all. Her album engineers got a nod in the best engineered album category, including her brother and collaborator Finneas, who received three nominations.

The most nominations were for Lizzo, who received eight, including in the top four categories. The powerhouse Minneapolis singer, known for her vociferous support of body positivity as well as her showboating flute solos, has been a slow-burn success, first releasing music in 2013 but scoring breakthrough hits this year with Juice, Tempo and US No 1 hit Truth Hurts.

Lil Nas X received six nominations, including three in the top categories, predominantly for his song Old Town Road. It is indisputably one of the most successful songs of the year, breaking a US chart record with its 19 consecutive weeks at No 1 Mariah Carey and Boyz II Mens duet One Sweet Day had held the honour since 1996. All three of Eilish, Lizzo and Lil Nas X have never received a Grammy nomination before.

Ariana
Ariana Grande, who receives five nominations. Photograph: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

R&B singer HER scored five nominations, including record, album and song of the year, with Ariana Grande also earning five, including record and album of the year her first appearances in the major categories. Wisconsin singer-songwriter Bon Iver was nominated four times, including record and album of the year, while Beyonc in a relatively minor year with no solo album release still managed to secure four nominations, for her Lion King soundtrack work as well as her Coachella concert film, Homecoming.

While recent years have seen Grammy success for the likes of Ed Sheeran and Adele, British artists were mostly shut out of the top four categories. Lewis Capaldi received a nomination for song of the year for his ballad Someone Like You, which has topped the charts on both sides of the Atlantic. Bristol country-soul singer Yola was nominated for best new artist, and received three further nominations in American roots categories.

Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke earned three nominations in specialist categories, with Chemical Brothers scoring three, and two for R&B singer Ella Mai. Other nominated Brits include the 1975, Bring Me the Horizon, James Blake and Elvis Costello. A surprise inclusion was Bones UK, a Camden rock band who, despite their low profile, secured a nomination for best rock performance with their song Pretty Waste.

Lil Nas X also crops up in the rap categories, this time with his single Panini in the running for rap/sung performance. The genres biggest prize, best rap performance, features a posthumous nomination for Nipsey Hussle, the LA star who was shot dead in April.

Snubs include to Taylor Swift, who might have expected more than just one nomination in major categories song of the year for Lover, the only song in the category to feature a single songwriter and Ed Sheeran, whose collaborative album No 6 Collaborations Project only generated one nomination, for pop vocal album. Sam Smith received no nominations for their major US hit Dancing With a Stranger, nor did Halsey, whose single Without Me spent 29 weeks in the US Top 10 and went five times platinum.

The total lack of nominations for Solanges acclaimed album When I Get Home, or Bruce Springsteens Western Stars, is also surprising the Guardian has asked their record labels if their albums were put forward for nomination.

A
A British success story … Yola. Photograph: Alysse Gafkjen

Grammy nominations 2020: the major categories

Album of the year
Bon Iver
i, i
Lana Del Rey Norman Fucking Rockwell!
Billie Eilish When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
Ariana Grande Thank U, Next
HER I Used to Know Her
Lil Nas X 7
Lizzo Cuz I Love You (Deluxe)
Vampire Weekend Father of the Bride

Record of the year
Bon Iver Hey, Ma
Billie Eilish Bad Guy
Ariana Grande 7 Rings
HER Hard Place
Khalid Talk
Lil Nas X ft Billy Ray Cyrus Old Town Road
Lizzo Truth Hurts
Post Malone & Swae Lee Sunflower

Song of the year
Natalie Hemby, Lady Gaga, Hillary Lindsey & Lori McKenna, songwriters (Lady Gaga) Always Remember Us This Way
Billie Eilish OConnell & Finneas OConnell, songwriters (Billie Eilish) Bad Guy
Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth, Tim Hanseroth & Tanya Tucker, songwriters (Tanya Tucker) Bring My Flowers Now
Ruby Amanfu, Sam Ashworth, D. Arcelious Harris. H.E.R. & Rodney Jerkins, songwriters (HER) Hard Place
Taylor Swift, songwriter (Taylor Swift) Lover
Jack Antonoff & Lana Del Rey, songwriters (Lana Del Rey) Norman Fucking Rockwell
Tom Barnes, Lewis Capaldi, Pere Kelleher, Benjamin Kohn & Sam Roman, songwriters (Lewis Capaldi) Someone You Loved
Steven Cheung, Eric Frederic, Melissa Jefferson & Jesse Saint John, songwriters (Lizzo) Truth Hurts

Best new artist
Black Pumas
Billie Eilish
Lil Nas X
Lizzo
Maggie Rogers
Rosala
Tank and the Bangas
Yola

Best pop album
Beyonc The Lion King: The Gift
Billie Eilish When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
Ariana Grande Thank U, Next
Ed Sheeran No 6 Collaborations Project
Taylor Swift Lover

Best rock album
Bring Me the Horizon Amo
Cage the Elephant Social Cues
The Cranberries In the End
I Prevail Trauma
Rival Sons Feral Roots

Bon
Bon Iver. Photograph: Publicity Image

Best alternative music album
Big Thief
UFOF
James Blake Assume Form
Bon Iver i, i
Vampire Weekend Father of the Bride
Thom Yorke Anima

Best urban contemporary album
Steve Lacy Apollo XXI
Lizzo Cuz I Love You (Deluxe)
Georgia Anne Muldrow Overload
Nao Saturn
Jessie Reyez Being Human In Public

Best rap album
Dreamville Revenge of the Dreamers III
Meek Mill Championships
21 Savage I Am > I Was
Tyler, the Creator Igor
YBN Cordae The Lost Boy

Best R&B album
BJ the Chicago Kid 1123
Lucky Daye Painted
Ella Mai Ella Mai
PJ Morton Paul
Anderson .Paak Ventura

Best dance/electronic album
Apparat LP5
Chemical Brothers No Geography
Flume Hi This Is Flume (Mixtape)
Rfs Du Sol Solace
Tycho Weather

Best country album
Eric Church Desperate Man
Reba McEntire Stronger Than the Truth
Pistol Annies Interstate Gospel
Thomas Rhett Center Point Road
Tanya Tucker While Im Livin

Best Americana album
Calexico and Iron & Wine Years to Burn
Madison Cunningham Who Are You Now
Keb Mo Oklahoma
JS Ondara Tales of America
Yola Walk Through Fire

Best Latin pop album
Luis Fonsi Vida
Maluma 11:11
Ricardo Montaner Montaner
Alejandro Sanz #ELDISCO
Sebastian Yatra Fantasa

Best gospel album
Kirk Franklin Long Live Love
Donald Lawrence Presents the Tri-City Singers Goshen
Gene Moore Tunnel Vision
William Murphy Settle Here
CeCe Winans Somethings Happening! A Christmas Album

Best pop solo performance
Beyonc Spirit
Billie Eilish Bad Guy
Ariana Grande 7 Rings
Lizzo Truth Hurts
Taylor Swift You Need to Calm Down

Best pop duo/group performance
Ariana Grande and Social House Boyfriend
Jonas Brothers Sucker
Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus Old Town Road
Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello Seorita

Best traditional pop vocal album
Andrea Bocelli S
Michael Bubl Love (Deluxe Edition)
Elvis Costello and the Imposters Look Now
John Legend A Legendary Christmas
Barbra Streisand Walls

DaBaby.
DaBaby. Photograph: Earl Gibson III/REX/Shutterstock

Best rap performance
J Cole Middle Child
DaBaby Suge
Dreamville ft JID, Bas, J.Cole, Earthgang and& Young Nudy Down Bad
Nipsey Hussle ft Roddy Ricch and Hit-boy Racks in the Middle
Offset ft Cardi B Clout

Best traditional R&B performance
BJ the Chicago Kid Time Today
India.Arie Steady Love
Jerome Lizzo
Real Games Lucky Daye
Built For Love PJ Morton & Jazmine Sullivan

Best rap/sung performance
DJ Khaled ft Nipsey Hussle & John Legend Higher
Lil Baby and Funna Drip Too Hard
Lil Nas X Panini
Mustard ft Roddy Ricch Ballin
Young Thug ft J Cole & Travis Scott The London

Best rap song
Chancelor Bennett, Cordae Dunston, Uforo Ebong and Daniel Hackett, songwriters (Ybn Cordae ft Chance the Rapper) Bad Idea
Noel Cadastre, Aubrey Graham, Anderson Hernandez, Khristopher Riddick-tynes, William Leonard Roberts Ii, Joshua Quinton Scruggs, Leon Thomas Iii and Ozan Yildirim, songwriters (Rick Ross ft Drake) Gold Roses
Jermaine Cole, Dacoury Natche, 21 Savage & Anthony White, songwriters (21 Savage ft J Cole) A Lot
Ermias Asghedom, Dustin James Corbett, Greg Allen Davis, Chauncey Hollis Jr and Rodrick Moore, songwriters (Nipsey Hussle ft. Roddy Ricch and Hit-boy) Racks in the Middle
DaBaby, Jetsonmade and Pooh Beatz, songwriters (DaBaby) Suge

Best R&B song
Dernst Emile Ii, David Swagg Rcelious Harris, HER and Hue Soundzfire Strother, Songwriters (H.E.R. Ft. Bryson Tiller) Couldve Been
Emily King and Jeremy Most, Songwriters (Emily King) Look at Me Now
Chris Brown, Tyler James Bryant, Nija Charles, Aubrey Graham, Anderson Hernandez, Michee Patrick Lebrun, Joshua Lewis, Noah Shebib and Teddy Walton, songwriters (Chris Brown ft Drake) No Guidance
David Brown, Dernst Emile Ii & Peter Lee Johnson, Songwriters (Lucky Daye) Roll Some Mo
PJ Morton, Songwriter (PJ Morton ft Jojo) Say So

Best rock performance
Bones UK Pretty Waste
Gary Clark Jr This Land
Brittany Howard History Repeats
Karen O and Danger Mouse Woman
Rival Sons Too Bad

Best metal performance
Candlemass ft. Tony Iommi Astorolus: The Great Octopus
Death Angel Humanicide
I Prevail Bow Down
Killswitch Engage Unleashed
Tool 7empest

Best country solo performance
Tyler Childers All Yourn
Ashley McBryde Girl Goin Nowhere
Willie Nelson Ride Me Back Home
Blake Shelton Gods Country
Tanya Tucker Bring My Flowers Now

Best country duo/group performance
Brooks and Dunn with Luke Combs Brand New Man
Brothers Osborne I Dont Remember Me (Before You)
Dan and Shay Speechless
Little Big Town The Daughters
Maren Morris ft Brandi Carlile Common

Brandi
Brandi Carlile. Photograph: Brandi Carlile/Alysse Gafkjen

Best country song
Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth, Tim Hanseroth and Tanya Tucker, songwriters (Tanya Tucker) Bring My Flowers Now
Jeremy Bussey & Ashley Mcbryde, songwriters (Ashley McBryde) Girl Goin Nowhere
Miranda Lambert, Hillary Lindsey, Lori Mckenna and Liz Rose, Songwriters (Miranda Lambert) It All Comes Out in the Wash
Eric Church, Clint Daniels, Jeff Hyde & Bobby Pinson, Songwriters (Eric Church) Some of It
Shay Mooney, Jordan Reynolds, Dan Smyers and Laura Veltz, songwriters (Dan and Shay) Speechless

Best rock song
Danny Carey, Justin Chancellor, Adam Jones and Maynard James Keenan, songwriters (Tool) Fear Inoculum
George Daniel, Adam Hann, Matthew Healy & Ross MacDonald, songwriters (The 1975) Give Yourself a Try
Ezra Koenig, songwriter (Vampire Weekend) Harmony Hall
Brittany Howard, Songwriter (Brittany Howard) History Repeats
Gary Clark Jr., Songwriter (Gary Clark Jr) This Land

Producer of the year, non-classical
Jack Antonoff
Dan Auerbach
John Hill
Finneas
Ricky Reed

Best compilation soundtrack for visual media
Various artists The Lion King: The Songs
Various artists Quentin Tarantinos Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Taron Egerton Rocketman
Various artists Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper A Star Is Born

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/nov/20/lizzo-billie-eilish-and-lil-nas-x-top-2020-grammy-nominations

What does it take to become a Disney Princess? Is it all about being beautiful and kind? Being born as a princess or marrying a prince?

Probably all girls dreamed of becoming a princess while watching the famous Disney movies in childhood. Even though at first most of the princesses were mistreated, their charm, beauty, and kindness saved them from a rough life in the end.

If you are as kind-hearted as Blake Lively, as charming as Amanda Seyfried or as beautiful as Emilia Clarke, you don’t have to be royal. Russian artist Helen Morgun decided to imagine how her favorite celebrities would look if they were the Disney princesses and the result is truly amazing!

Scroll down the page and see if you like this glamorous cast!

#1 Rihanna As Tiana

“Gorgeous Riri as Tiana! I think that someday I will draw her again because she’s perfect and she looks gorgeous. Also, I am really impressed with Tiana and her story that she did not sit and wait for her prince to come.”

#2 Margot Robbie As Elsa

“My first attempt to drawing this actress was not very successful. But I believe in a second chance. Hope you guys like it!”

#3 Amanda Seyfried As Rapunzel

“For this illustration, I have tried a new background format. I love this cartoon and I especially love the soundtrack of it.”

#4 Lucy Liu As Mulan

“I wanted to paint her for a really long time. But I had to redraw it twice. At first, I wanted to depict the moment when Mulan cuts her hair off with a sword but something went wrong in the process and I decided to do a slightly different version of her.”

#5 Blake Lively As Aurora

“I love the film “The Age of Adaline” with Blake Lively for its banal plot and the pleasant aftertaste after watching.”

#6 Billie Eilish As Kida Nedakh

“To be honest, I have learned about her on Instagram. Currently, my music taste is 99% songs from my childhood.”

#7 Emma Stone As Merida

“Have you ever shot a bow? I have twice in my life and I should admit that I really enjoyed it. The feeling when you hit the bull’s eye is certainly overwhelming! Of course, I shot at a static target and I can hardly imagine what it’s like to shoot at a moving target.”

#8 Mila Kunis As Esmeralda

“The lovely Mila Kunis as Esmeralda. Let’s talk about beauty! Beauty, of course, is a terrible power, but how important is it for you? Do you consider yourself beautiful? On a scale from 1 to 10, how much would you rate yourself?

There is a wonderful stand up on this topic by Jim Jeffrey. If you have not seen it yet, I recommend you watch it. I would rate myself as a 7 with my makeup. I admit that I like to look at beautiful people – in crowds, movies, or even Instagram. But for me, a person doesn’t need to have classical beautiful features. Charm is much more important to me.”

#9 Lily Collins As Snow White

“Beautiful Lily Collins as Snow White! Is this apple poisoned? Who will be next? Jasmine? Or maybe Ariel?”

#10 Megan Fox As Megara

“Many people asked me to draw Megan Fox. Therefore, I chose her.”

#11 Emilia Clarke As Belle

“I decided to choose Emilia Clarke because her nature is quite romantic and very suitable for this picture.”

#12 Selena Gomez As Moana

“Charming Selena Gomez as Moana! She’s one of my favorite princesses because the whole theme of the ocean, the beach, and palm trees is very close to me. I love to be in the sun and listen to the sound of the waves. I’m probably not the only one who loves that!”

#13 Leigh-Anne Pinnock As Pocahontas

“When I was a teenager, I had a dream to have a raccoon as a pet. But now when I watch videos on YouTube about raccoons, I am glad that my dream did not come true.”

#14 Sophie Turner As Ariel

“That is how Sophie Turner would look if she was Ariel. I hope you will like her in this role.”

#15 Camila Cabello As Jasmine

“In this picture, it is the beautiful Camila Cabello as Jasmine.”

#16 Cara Delevingne As Anna From Frozen

“And here’s my Anna from Frozen. Do you recognize the actress?”

#17 Naomi Scott As Jasmine

“Beautiful Naomi Scott as Jasmine (live action 2019). I made a mix of the old and new style so I hope you guys like it. Who else is looking forward to the premiere?”

#18 Ariana Grande As Vanellope

“This is how Ariana Grande would look if she was Vanellope. Just a proud and innocent girl! I like the first part of Ralph but unfortunately, I did not see the second part.”

#19 Rachel Mcadams As Cinderella

“Amazing Rachel McAdams as Cinderella.”

#20 Amber Heard As Alice

“You chose beautiful Amber Heard for Alice in Wonderland. So here it is! I hope you like it. Do you believe in mystical events and prophetic dreams?”

Read more: http://www.boredpanda.com/illustrations-disney-princesses-helen-morgun/

It’s enough to drive music fans/armchair physicist mad. How exactly is Ariana Grande balancing on that stool in that pose?

Image via Republic Records/Wikipedia

The photo comes from her 2014 album My Everything ,and even though it’s over three years old now, BuzzFeed writer Jesse McLaren ignited a small storm on Twitter when he stated that the cover was somehow fake.

Clearly, people weren’t just going to let such a statement stand. McLaren had issued a challenge, and Twitter loves a good challenge.

They began by questioning his scientific method.

For what it’s worth, Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas weighed in, and although, as a gymnast, she probably could have put this argument to bed instantly, she chose to react solely to McLaren’s hairdo.

That’s it. She just popped in and left. No talk about the benefits of core strength and how it relates to balance or anything. Let that be a lesson to all of us. When Gabby Douglas says “I’m doneeee,” she means it.

That left the photo defenders no choice but to recreate the album cover themselves.

It’s a bit beside the point, but “I strive for perfectionist” might be the best sentence anyone has ever typed into a computer.

It’s just too bad Grande herself never saw the tweet and reacted to it so we could know the truth… oh wait she totally did.

She just didn’t resolve anything.

It turns out that might be because she’s not sure herself. As one intrepid tweeter noted, Grande already addressed this issue on Alan Carr’s show not long after the album first came out.

That’s right. It turns out Grande herself has no idea how she pulled off such an amazing feat of acrobatics. It’s just another pop music mystery, like how Lemonade didn’t win best album or T. Rex isn’t in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Some things can just never be explained.

H/T Billboard

Read more: https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/ariana-grande-stool-conspiracy/

BTW

Ariana Grande tweeted Monday about the Las Vegas shooting that left more than 50 people dead and 500 people injured.

“My heart is breaking for Las Vegas,” the pop star wrote. “We need love, unity, peace, gun control & for people to look at this & call this what it is = terrorism.”

Stephen Paddock, 64, opened fire on a country music festival Sunday night from his room at the Mandalay Bay hotel. The Washington Post reported that police are “not treating the tragedy as terrorism.”  

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Monday “it would be premature to weigh in” on whether the shooting would be considered domestic terrorism, according to the Post.

In May, Grande’s concert in Manchester, England, was the target of a suicide bomber who killed 22 people and injured dozens more. The attack was investigated by authorities as an act of terrorism, and the Islamic State claimed responsibility.

Singer Jason Aldean, who was performing at the time of the Las Vegas shooting, released a statement via Instagram. He said the night was “beyond horrific.”

“It hurts my heart that this would happen to anyone who was just coming out to enjoy what should have been a fun night,” Aldean wrote.

H/T Stereogum

Read more: https://www.dailydot.com/upstream/ariana-grande-las-vegas/

BTW

Ariana Grande‘s benefit for Manchester on Sunday was a star-packed celebration of pop music and its ability to inspire and elate young people. But it was a fleeting, televised cutaway that summed up the night’s successful ability to heal factions by bringing them together: Just check out this Manchester officer dancing like no one’s watching with a bunch of adorable children.

On May 22, at a Grande concert in the same city, a suicide bomber attacked that carefree joy and murdered 22 civilians.

As Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Coldplay, Miley Cyrus, Pharrell, Liam Gallagher, and more livestreamed in solidarity with the United Kingdom, the event went off without a hitch. Grande stunned as host, popping in every 20 minutes or so to perform a hit—and even a moving cover of “Over the Rainbow.”

Now if we could just figure out how to get those bickering Oasis brothers onstage…

Read more: https://www.dailydot.com/upstream/manchester-officer-dances-ariana-grande/

BTW

Less than two weeks after a suicide bombing rocked her concert in Manchester, England, leaving 23 people dead and more than 100wounded, pop star Ariana Grande has returned to the United Kingdom for the One Love Manchester benefit concert on Sunday.

“Fear will never divide us,” Grande’s manager Scooter Braun said onstage.

While shes the featured performer, shes far from the only big name in attendance: Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, Coldplay, Pharrell, and Justin Bieber are also reportedly in attendance, among others. Together the performers will raise funds to support the victims of the Manchester bombing and their families, all in the immediate aftermath of another, separate attack in London this weekend.

Its Grandes first performance since the Manchester tragedy, although not her first time back out in publicshe visited some of the victims of the attack at the Royal Manchester Childrens Hospital on Friday. As theGuardiandetailed, the father of one of the victims, Peter Mann, was overjoyed that Grande took the time to help soothe his daughter Jaden.

This means more to us than all the amazing things people have done this week. When your daughter asks after her 2nd operation: Is Ariana OK? So happy she came i could burst! Never seen Jaden so happy! Even cried again myself.

The show beganat 2:00pm ET, and people who arent in attendance can still watch the whole thing, as its being streamed live and for free, viaYouTube. Check it out below:

Read more: https://www.dailydot.com/upstream/ariana-grande-benefit-concert/

Eminem joined a growing list of celebrities lending support to the victims of the bombing in Manchester. As of Tuesday, he helped raise almost 2 million for the Manchester Evening News Just Giving appeal.

The rapper shared a tweet on May 25 that asked his followers to join him in donating to Just Giving, as well as the British Red Cross. Funds raised by the charities would benefit victims of the bombing at Manchester Arena, which took place during an Ariana Grande concert on May 22. The bombing killed 22 people and injured more 60.

Fans responded favorably. Some shared that his tweet inspired them to donate, while Manchester locals thanked him for the support. Even the Manchester City Council sent him a response.

Other celebrities have asked fans and followers to help raise funds, as well. Justin Timberlake joined Eminems fundraising efforts. Ed Sheeran has also pledged his support, according to the British Red Cross. Actor Tom Hardy raised 35,000 in a separate Just Giving appeal. Russel Brand also reportedly donated all the proceeds from his latest standup gigto theanti-Islamophobia organization MEND, which has raised almost16,000 for Manchester victims.

Manchester clubsManchester United and Manchester City pledged 1 million to the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund, while United captainWayne Rooneyhas donated 100,000 from his own foundation, according to the Independent.

Benefits shows were also planned in Manchester.Oasis Liam Gallagher said all profits from his opening show date at the Manchester Ritz on Tuesday will benefit victims. Peter Hook, Badly Drawn Boy, A Certain Ratio, Denise Johnson, and more will play a separate benefit concert hosted by People Over Borders on June 4.

The gig was going to happen anyway and we all have to do what we can, Gallagher said. I want to try and help pick people up. People like me, doing what we do, its our duty to give people a good time.

Immediately following the bombing, celebrities including Nicki Minaj, Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, Lorde, and Harry Styles tweeted their condolences.

Read more: https://www.dailydot.com/upstream/eminem-manchester/