Elton John is celebrating the ongoing success of "Step Into Christmas," his 1973 Christmas song co-written with lyricist Bernie Taupin. Earlier in December, officials at the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) announced that "Step into Christmas" had been certified platinum for sales of one million units, and the Rocket Man took to Instagram on Dec. 23 to post a photo showing himself posing with two RIAA platinum record plaques. "A special Christmas present to me!" he exclaimed in the caption. "Step Into Christmas has gone platinum in the US and 4 platinum in the UK. To think a song released over 50 years ago is still part of so many people's festivities (and even sat in the UK Top 10 again this year!) is very special." The 78-year-old music icon wrapped his message with an expression of gratitude to his fans: "Thank you to everyone who keeps stepping into Christmas, year after year!" "Step into Christmas" peaked at No. 9 in the U.K. singles chart this year, behind songs by Mariah Carey, Wham! and Kylie Minogue. In 2024, Elton dropped a new video for "Step into Christmas," with Cara Delevingne taking on John's role, donning oversized glasses and a waistcoat. - Music-News.com, 12/24/25...... 
Queen's Brian May has shared previously unreleased Christmas song recorded by the pre-Queen band Smile. During his Planet Rock Christmas Special in the U.K. on Dec. 22, May revealed the lost Christmas song recorded in 1974, informing listeners that the particular version he played had never been heard before and that it is slated to be part of an upcoming 2026 re-release of the band's 1974 LP Queen II. "People might possibly have heard a bootleg version of 'Not for Sale (Polar Bear)' by Smile, it's a song that goes back a very long way, but to my knowledge no one has ever heard this version," said May. May added that the song was a "work in progress," and said he decided to "sneak" it into his holiday special because he's "fascinated to know what people think about it." Although the gentle acoustic ballad doesn't have an overtly Christmas-y vibe, late singer Freddie Mercury's yearning, wistful vocals give it the feeling of sad-eyed holiday nostalgia so familiar from other blue Christmas yuletide classics. "In the bright shop window sits the polar bear/ Makes the children's eyes light up to see him there/ Amongst the tinsel he gives everyone a smile," Mercury croons over acoustic guitars and brushed drums. "He's not for, not for, not for sale," he adds on the angelic chorus. "Not for Sale (Polar Bear)" can be streamed on YouTube. - Billboard, 12/23/25...... Priscilla Presley has celebrated her family's "unbreakable" bond with a new holiday photo on Instagram. Priscilla, who was married to the King of Rock & Roll from 1967 to 1973, posted a snap showing her blended family sitting around a dinner table. The image includes Priscilla, longtime friend Jerry Schilling, Michael Lockwood, Danny Keough, Riley Keough holding a baby, and 17-year-old twins Harper and Finley Lockwood. "Holiday 2025 & unbreakable family bond' - P," the 80-year-old wrote in the caption, crediting her relative, Barbara Iverson, for the photo. Though it's not clear exactly when the photo was taken, it displays a united front after the family hit headlines earlier in December when two of Priscilla's former business partners alleged that Riley is the biological mother of John Travolta's youngest son, Ben Travolta. In response, Priscilla's lawyers called the allegations "shameful" and said they will "absolutely will be addressed in court." - Music-News.com, 12/24/25...... Pink Floyd have shared the official video for their 1975 track "Wish You Were Here," 50 years after its release. The video, which can be viewed on YouTube, opens with a clip of the moon, before a string of disorientating images begin to flash on the screen, including sperm racing toward an egg, an eye filled with flames, and lights zipping through darkness. It then cuts to intimate shots of the band, showing nostalgic footage of them in the studio and running through a subway station. Throughout, psychedelic animations of a figurine floating through time and space are also featured. Earlier in December, the classic 1975 Wish You Were Here album was given a deluxe reissue with new digital and physical editions for its 50th anniversary, and on Dec. 19 it was announced that the reissued record had topped the UK's Official Albums Chart in time for Christmas. The record also topped the charts on its original release in 1975, and its success means that Pink Floyd are now the artist with the longest span between their first and last U.K. Number One albums, clocking in at 2,620 weeks, or over 50 years. - New Musical Express, 12/24/25...... 
On Dec. 22 Barry Manilow revealed that his doctor had found a "cancerous spot" in one of his lungs, and he'll be postponing his January concerts for treatment. "As many of you know, I recently went through six weeks of bronchitis followed by a relapse of another five weeks," Manilow posted on his Instagram account. "Even though I was over the bronchitis and back on stage at the Westgate Las Vegas, my wonderful doctor ordered an MRI just to make sure that everything was OK. The MRI discovered a cancerous spot on my left lung that needs to be removed. It's pure luck (and a great doctor) that it was found so early. That's the good news," he added. The 82-year-old "Mandy" singer continued that now his Christmas shows are done, he is undergoing surgery to have the cancer removed. "The doctors do not believe it has spread and I'm taking tests to confirm their diagnosis," he shared. "So, that's it. No chemo. No radiation. Just chicken soup and I Love Lucy reruns." Manilow went on to apologize to fans for having to postpone his previously scheduled January shows. "In the meantime, I'm counting the days until I return to my home away from home at the Westgate Las Vegas for our Valentine's weekend concerts on February 12-13-14 and throughout 2026," he added. "Something tells me that February weekend is going to be one big party!" He concluded his post by urging fans to take care of their health. "I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year," he wrote. "And remember, if you have even the slightest symptom get tested!" - Billboard, 12/22/25..... Paul McCartney has "got back" to the top of the US touring chart with a $51 million-plus gross in November. According to figures reported to Billboard Boxscore, McCartney grossed $51.7 million and sold 150,000 tickets across 11 shows during his Got Back Tour in November, earning the highest grossing tour of the month. It's his second time at No. 1, after leading in May 2022. Even though McCartney's last triumph was three and a half years ago, it's all contributing to the same tour. He launched the Got Back Tour in Apr. 2022, and has continued with legs in the fall of 2023, 2024 and now 2025. Altogether, the tour has earned $410.7 million and sold 2.4 million tickets. Both of McCartney's monthly victories were from shows in the U.S., but Got Back has been a global affair. In between the tour's book-ending domestic legs, he went to Australia ($37.3 million) and Brazil ($36.3 million) in 2023, Latin America ($59.1 million) and Europe ($23.8 million) in 2024, and repeated in Mexico in both of those years ($37.9 million). Now beyond the $400 million and 2 million ticket thresholds, Got Back is the highest grossing and bestselling tour of McCartney's career. He has always been a reliable sell-out act, but has typically broken out his tours into one- or two-year endeavors. The 83-year-old star's ongoing post-COVID set is seemingly indefatigable, with stronger results in 2025 than its initial run in 2022. - Billboard, 12/23/25...... Elsewhere on the Fab Four front, Sean Ono Lennon says it's possible that future generations could lose touch with the music and legacy of the Beatles, a thought he admits once felt unimaginable. Appearing on CBS Sunday Morning on Dec. 21, Lennon, 50, reflected on his role as a steward of his late father John Lennon's legacy -- a responsibility he says has increasingly come into focus as culture, technology and listening habits continue to shift. "To forget about it? I do, actually," Sean said when asked if he believed younger generations could one day move on from the Beatles' catalogue. "And I never did before." Sean explained that while he has "technically" stepped into the role of caretaker for his father's work, following decades of stewardship by his mother Yoko Ono, he views the legacy as something shared with the wider world. "Obviously the world is also the custodian of his legacy," he said. "I'm just doing my best to help make sure that the younger generation doesn't forget about the Beatles and John and Yoko. That's how I look at it. My parents gave me so much that I think it's the least I can do to try and support their legacy in my lifetime. I feel like I just owe it to them. It's a personal thing," he added. Reflecting on the message at the core of his parents' work, Sean described their legacy as rooted in more than idealism alone. "It's peace and love," he said, "but it's also an attitude toward activism that's done with humor and love." Sean has continued to engage with his parents' work in contemporary ways. In 2023, he collaborated with filmmakers Dave Mullins and Brad Booker to release the animated short War Is Over!, inspired by John and Yoko's 1971 song "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)." The film won win an Academy Award for short film (animated) in 2024. - Billboard, 12/23/25...... 
In a new interview with Classic Rock magazine, Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson said he is "very far from wanting to retire." Anderson, 78, said he hopes he will still be capable of recording and performing for some time because he still has the energy and desire to keep going. "Who knows what the future holds? I hope to be physically capable for a few more years and mentally capable beyond that," he said. "What I can tell you is that, in terms of energy and commitment, I'm very far from wanting to retire." While Jethro Tull released a new album, Curious Ruminant -- their third record since 2022 -- in 2025, Anderson said Tull doesn't yet have any further new music in the pipeline but thinks whatever comes next will be "a bit different." "In the months to come, I may well get the itch again, call our record company and say, 'How about another one?' but it all depends how well Curious Ruminant does," he noted. "If we do make another record, it will necessarily have to be a bit different. I can imagine a reversal to something quite basic -- not all the way back to our blues roots, but maybe something more stripped-down. I sometimes toy with the idea of a four-piece band." Ian is also hoping to see some of his earlier work "changed for the better" with plans to reissue some of his previous albums. "There are certainly a few more that Warner Music have the rights for and are intent on doing," he said. "Crest of a Knave is being talked about and could have some changes for the better in the right hands. Something like Under Wraps, I'd like to see improved upon too, because there's some really great playing on there, particularly from [guitarist] Martin Barre." Meanwhile, Jethro Tull has announced they'll be playing three shows in the U.K. in 2026 -- in Newcastle on Apr. 23; Sheffield on Apr. 29; and Southampton on May 15. - Music-News.com, 12/24/25...... Bob Dylan has offered a unique description of his friend and fellow music icon Willie Nelson for an article on the country legend, describing him as an "Ancient Viking Soul" among other things. In a The New Yorker profile on Nelson titled "How Willie Nelson Sees America," the folk legend was asked to describe the veteran artist, whom he worked with on the 1993 song "Heartland" and recently coheadlined the 2025 Outlaw Music Festival tour. "How can you make sense of him?" Dylan replied. "How would you define the indefinable or the unfathomable? What is there to say? Ancient Viking Soul? Master Builder of the Impossible? Patron poet of people who never quite fit in and don't much care to? Moonshine Philosopher? Tumbleweed singer with a PhD? Red Bandana troubadour, braids like twin ropes lassoing eternity? What do you say about a guy who plays an old, battered guitar that he treats like it's the last loyal dog in the universe?" In April, just before his 92nd birthday, Willie Nelson released Oh What A Beautiful World, his 154th studio album in total, and his 77th solo effort. Dylan's interview with the New Yorker can be watched on YouTube. - NME, 12/23/25...... Peter Gabriel has personally thanked the director of the new film Marty Supreme for including his song "I Have The Touch" on its soundtrack. Director Josh Safdie's movie stars Timothe Chalamet as the American table tennis prodigy Marty Mauser, a character loosely inspired by the real-life ping pong champion Marty Reisman. Although set in the 1950s, the film includes a number of anachronistic songs on its soundtrack, including tracks by Tears For Fears, New Order, Public Image Ltd. and Gabriel's "I Have The Touch" from his 1982 fourth solo album. Gabriel wrote on his official Instagram page, "I was delighted that 'I Have The Touch' was chosen for the soundtrack of Marty Supreme. The song is rarely asked out for a dance and I have always loved table tennis. Now there seems to be a real buzz about the film. Thank you to the director Josh Safdie!" Chalamet's promotion campaign for the movie has been making countless headlines, including him collaborating with UK rapper EsDeeKid, and thereby quashing rumours that he was actually the real-life identity behind the anonymous musician. As for Gabriel, his WOMAD Festival has announced a Glasgow edition for 2026, to go alongside its Wiltshire event in July. - NME, 12/21/25...... The legendary Scottish rock band Nazareth has announced a new lead singer after splitting with its longtime frontman. Nazareth bassist Pete Agnew announced on Dec. 21 that "Carl Sentance and Nazareth have come to a parting of the ways, and he is no longer with the band." Sentance had been the group's lead vocalist since 2015. "We would like to introduce you now to our new lead singer, Gianni Pontillo," Agnew said. "Those who have seen and heard Gianni will already know what an incredible voice he has, and those of you who haven't are in for a wonderful surprise when you come to see us in 2026." Agnew continued: "Next year is going to be one of the busiest in Nazareth's history, so there is a good chance to see the new lineup, and we can't wait to introduce you to this man's amazing talent. See you in rock." Sentance had been with Nazareth for the past decade, most recently completing the band's 2025 tour dates in Berlin, Germany, on Dec. 17. No reason was given for his departure, but Sentance also worked as a solo artist, releasing the album Silent Angels in 2024. Pontillo has been the lead singer of the German hard rock band Victory since 2019. Co-founded by Agnew in 1968, Nazareth is a Scottish hard rock / heavy metal band best known for '70s and '80s hits like "Love Hurts," "Hair of the Dog," "This Flight Tonight," "Dream On" and "Where Are You Now." Agnew, who turns 80 in 2026, leads the band's current lineup. The original lineup included singer Dan McCafferty, guitarist Manny Charlton and drummer Darrell Sweet, who have all died. Nazareth's upcoming tour dates, which were previously billed as a "farewell" tour, include two U.S. concerts: May 2 at Family Arena in Saint Charles, Mo.; and May 8 at Treasure Island Resort & Casino in Welch, Minn. Both shows will also feature Foghat, which recently announced it will kick off its "Twang and Bang Tour" on Jan. 9 in Fort McDowell, Ariz. - Syracuse.com, 12/22/25...... 
Joe Walsh made a surprise appearance during a concert by the indie rock band the War on Drugs at Johnny Brenda's in Philadelphia on Dec. 20. In addition to "In the City" by the Eagles and TWOD's "Under the Pressure," Walsh and the band played a rocking rendition of his 1973 solo hit, "Rocky Mountain Way." During a 2012 interview on The Howard Stern Show, the 78-year-old Walsh opened up about his inspiration for writing "Rocky Mountain Way" not long after he released his debut solo album, Barnstorm. "I'm living in Colorado and I'm mowing the lawn," he recalled. "I look up and there's the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains and there's snow on them in the summer. And it knocked me back because it was just beautiful. And I thought, 'Well I have committed. I'm already in Colorado and it's too late to regret the James Gang. The Rocky Mountain way is better than the way I had, because the music was better.' I got the words. Bam!" In 1985, the song was used as the title to Walsh's 1985 compilation album, which included previously released songs from Barnstorm, The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get and So What. Walsh's performances with the War on Drugs can be streamed on YouTube. - Parade, 12/22/25...... KISS guitarist Vinnie Vincent is pushing back after a fan backlash over his pricey new single, "Ride the Serpent." Fans were left dismayed when learning his new music would cost $200, with Vincent calling them out as "f---ing babies" over their complaints. When announcing the news of "Ride the Serpent," Vincent explained it would be a limited CD release with only 1000 copies available. The CD would also be signed by the guitarist and be priced at $200 each. The KISS guitarist has previously commented on the price tag as a way to stop pirating and illegal downloads of the song. He also explained that refunds would be made available if they didn't meet their expected sales threshold. Despite the explanation, fans were left angered by the cost. "I fear, though, that this price will deter people from truly enjoying your beautiful art in this horrendous economy, especially if it will be this way for each single," a fan said on Facebook. Another fan added that Vincent's new music would be released as a whole album and at the often-seen market price of $18.99. The fan went on to criticize Vincent's lack of economic awareness. The common thread of comments had Vincent fighting back and standing his ground over his reasoning. He claimed artists have a right to set standards for their art. "First of all, consider the analogy to caviar or fine art," he said. "Not everyone can afford it. That simple. Second, I resent your 'personal life's needs ... prices alleviate my burdens' insult. Who the f--- are you to assume such a theory because you can't afford or don't want to pay or don't agree with my price?... Oh but you expect a fair market price of 18.99... That was yesteryear. Welcome to the new agenda. Artists can and will set their own standards and rules for the purchase price of their art, when they've had their fill of being ripped off ... that's (if) there are any or many artists of value left, aside from the standard list. If you don't agree with the price, don't buy it. It's that easy." - Parade, 12/23/25..... Chris Rea, the British blues rocker best known for his 1978 soft rock hit "Fool (If You Think It's Over)" and the wistful, jazzy holiday hit "Driving Home for Christmas," has died at 74. The news was announced by the singer/guitarist's family on his official Instagram page on Dec. 22, where they wrote, "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Chris, who died peacefully earlier today following a short illness. Chris's music has created the soundtrack to many lives, and his legacy will live on through the songs he leaves behind." No additional information was available about when Rea died or the manner of death. Rea released two dozen albums over his 50-year career, including two that reached No. 1 on the U.K. albums charts -- 1989's The Road to Hell and 1991's Auberge -- and landed one song in the U.S. top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, "Fool (If You Think It's Over)," which topped out at No. 12 in the summer of 1978. One of the singer's other most beloved tracks is a seasonally appropriate one, the melancholy 1986 ballad "Driving Home For Christmas," about a wintry trip home for the holidays penned while he was actually driving back from Abbey Road Studios in London through snowy traffic while longing to be in the cozy confines of home. His seasonal classic, originally recorded in 1986, was featured on his 1988 compilation, New Light Through Old Windows, and in the years since it has become an annual favorite, often ending the year as one of the top 10 Christmas singles on the U.K. charts. While he never toured the U.S., Rea was a solid draw in his native country, as well as in Australia and Japan and he earned his first No. 1 album in the U.K. in 1989 with his best-selling album, The Road to Hell. Rea was was also a racing enthusiast who participated in the 1993 British Touring Car Championship, collected and restored classic racing cars and recorded the sweeping, emotional ballad "Saudade" in a tribute to three-time Formula One racing champ Ayrton Senna for the BBC's 1995 documentary about the beloved Brazilian driver's life and tragic death on the course at the San Marino Grand Prix. - Billboard, 12/22/25...... 
Sixties hitmaker Jerry Kasenetz, who with his production partner Jeff Katz was the hottest producer of bubblegum music in the late 1960s, died Dec. 6 in a hospital in Tampa, Fla. He was 82. Born May 5, 1943, in Brooklyn, Mr. Kasenetz was the eldest of five children. He met his fellow Brooklyner Katz when both were undergraduates at the University of Arizona, and the pair promoted a campus concert by the Dave Clark Five. Their first production was for R&B singer Christine Cooper. "S.O.S. Hearts in Distress" bubbled under the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 101 in Feb. 1966. Between 1967-68, Mr. Kasenetz and Katz produced six million-selling singles, including five that reached the top five on the Hot 100: The Music Explosion's "Little Bit o' Soul" (No. 2); Ohio Express' "Yummy Yummy Yummy" (No. 4); and 1910 Fruitgum Co.'s "Simon Says" (No. 4), "1,2,3 Red Light" (No. 5) and "Indian Giver" (No. 5). Their million-seller that missed the top five was Ohio Express' "Chewy Chewy" (No. 15). In 1968, they even had a top 30 hit on the Hot 100 as artists. The Kasenetz-Katz Singing Orchestra Circus reached No. 25 in Dec. 1968 with "Quick Joey Small (Run Joey Run)." The song, written by Joey Levine and Artie Resnick, featured members from the groups they had produced. "Little Bit o' Soul," which was a catchy pop-rock song, but not really bubblegum, was released on Laurie Records. Kasenetz-Katz had most of their successes on Neil Bogart's Buddah Records: Ohio Express, 1910 Fruitgum Co. and their own hit. They sometimes used the nameplate Super K Productions. In 1969, Crazy Elephant (on Bell Records) took "Gimme Gimme Good Lovin," another Kasenetz-Katz production, to No. 12 on the Hot 100. Bubblegum reached its peak of popularity at the same time that hard rock, at the opposite end of the musical spectrum, became a major force. The best-selling single of 1969 was The Archies' "Sugar, Sugar," which was not a Kasenetz-Katz production, but was in their wheelhouse. (Jeff Barry produced that smash, which he co-wrote with Andy Kim.) Nearly a decade removed from their run of hits, Kasenetz-Katz produced one more big hit: Ram Jam's rock-leaning rendition of "Black Betty," a song recorded by Lead Belly in 1939, which hit No. 18 in Sept. 1977. Although Kasenetz and Katz were never nominated for a Grammy, nor are they in the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the pair found their niche and delivered hit after hit. Kasenetz is survived by brothers Iver and Bruce, sons Darren and Brett and two grandchildren. Katz is still living at 82. - Billboard, 12/23/25.
'70s stars Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger and Diana Ross are among the celebrities featured in an initial tranche of documents related to deceased pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein that were released by the US Dept. of Justice on Dec. 19. Epstein was arrested in July 2019 for sex trafficking and was found dead in his jail cell in August of that year, with authorities later determining that he hanged himself. Since his death, there has been a campaign for the full publication of all documents and photos and to reveal high profile names he associated with. Epstein, who was found dead in his jail cell in Aug. 2019, was infamous for his connections across entertainment, politics and business, and the context of images where he is seen alongside artists like Jackson, Jagger and Ross are unclear, as is his level of association with those pictured. One image of Jackson shows him standing with former president Bill Clinton and Ross, who pose together next to multiple other faces who are redacted from the image. Another shows Jagger posing for a photo with Clinton and a woman whose face is redacted. Jagger, Ross and Jackson's estate are yet to comment on the images. Meanwhile, Diana Ross will be among the headliners on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest on Dec. 31. She'll be performing live from Times Square near midnight, when the show's audience is at its peak. (Carrie Underwood filled that prime spot on last year's show.) - New Musical Express, 12/20/25...... 
Cher made her first appearance as musical guest on Saturday Night Live in 38 years on Dec. 20 by delivering a spirited performance of "DJ Play a Christmas Song" and a rocking cover of Chuck Berry's "Run Rudolph Run." Both tracks appear on Cher's 2023 holiday album, Christmas, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Holiday Albums chart that year and blends classic holiday tunes with original tracks, featuring guest appearances from Michael Bublé, Cyndi Lauper, Darlene Love, Tyga and Stevie Wonder. Her "DJ Play a Christmas Song" and "Run Rudolph Run" performances can be viewed on YouTube. Cher's last SNL appearance as a musical guest was on Nov. 21, 1987. Cher has also made two cameos on the show: once during a Nicolas Cage-hosted episode in 1992 and again earlier in 2025 for the program's 50th-anniversary special. Near the end of the Dec. 20 show, Cher also appeared in a sketch in which she performed a rendition of the Eagles' "Please Come Home for Christmas" with host Ariana Grande. The show also paid a brief tribute to late actor Rob Reiner, honoring the filmmaker's early and influential role in the show's history. Reiner hosted the third-ever SNL episode on Oct. 25, 1975, at a time when the series was still defining its identity. Unlike the show's first two hosts, George Carlin and Paul Simon, Reiner fully participated in sketches throughout the episode, helping establish the host-as-performer format that would become central to SNL's structure. The episode is now considered a foundational moment in the show's evolution. - Billboard, 12/21/25...... Elvis Presley's ex-wife Priscilla Presley has responded after being hit with another shocking claim amid her legal battle with two former business advisor who have now alleged that Riley Keough -- the granddaughter of Elvis and Priscilla -- is the biological mother of John Travolta's son. Priscilla's former business advisors Brigitte Kruse and Kevin Fialko first sued her in Feb. 2024 over accusations of unfair business conduct. Now they are claiming in court documets that Travolta and his late wife, Kelly Preston, used the Daisy Jones & The Six actress' donated eggs to conceive their now 15-year-old son. In exchange, Keough allegedly received "an old Jaguar" car and up to $20,000 in payment. Before, Travolta and Preston -- who shared two other children together -- had allegedly been using eggs provided by Elvis and Priscilla's late daughter, Lisa Marie Presley (Keough's mother), to try to conceive, according to the documents. The lawsuit also claims that Michael Lockwood, who was married to Lisa Marie, provided the alleged information to Kruse and Fialko. "Brigitte Kruse and Kevin Fialko are heartbroken that they have been forced to file their most recent amended complaint. They have been accused of horrific acts that are not supported by any evidence whatsoever," the plaintiffs' lawyers told TMZ.com. In a statement shared with Billboard, Priscilla's lawyers Marty Singer and Wayne Harman said, "These recent outrageous allegations have absolutely nothing to do with the claims in this case. The conduct is shameful, and it absolutely will be addressed in court." - Billboard, 12/18/25...... Pink Floyd's David Gilmour has celebrated his band's 1975 LP Wish You Were Here landing the 2025 UK Christmas Number One spot with a post on Instagram on Dec. 19. "Raising a glass to the wonderful news that Wish You Were Here is the UK's Christmas Number 1 album," the singer/guitarist posted. A deluxe Wish You Were Here 50th anniversary edition was released on Dec. 12, and on Dec. 19 it was announced that it had topped the UK's Official Albums Chart for Christmas. The album did not top the UK charts on its original release in 1975, and its success means that Pink Floyd are now the artist with the longest span between their first and last UK Number One albums, clocking in at 2,620 weeks, or over 50 years. The reissue is Floyd's second Number One album of the year, following Pink Floyd At Pompeii - MCMLXXII, the live album of a 1971 show that was released as a concert film in 1972 and re-released with newly mixed audio earlier in 2025. While it is the iconic prog-rock band's first UK Christmas Number One album, they did land the coveted Number One single in 1979 with "Another Brick In The Wall, Pt. 2." - NME, 12/20/25...... It appears the "sweet emotions" between Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler and his longtie girlfried Aimee Preston have come to an end. According to TMZ.com, the couple has called it quits on their relationship with multiple sources telling them the couple have broken up -- though it's unclear when they separated and what led to the split. Steven hired Aimee as his personal assistant back in 2012. They started dating in 2014 but waited until the 2016 Oscars to go public with their romance, holding hands at Elton John's AIDS Foundation Oscars viewing party. The couple made things work for over a decade despite a 39-year age gap, and Aimee was often by Steven's side at Hollywood events, premieres, and the like. - TMZ.com, 12/19/25...... 
To celebrate the 26th edition of his House Full of Toys holiday benefit concert, Stevie Wonder said in a promo video earlier in the year that he was "switching things up" in 2025. Instead of performing for one night, the Grammy-winning Motown legend would perform across four nights -- Dec. 18, 19, 20 and 21 -- at the Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, however, Wonder is canceling his "big idea" owing to "little time" -- with plans to present the benefit concert again next Christmas. In a statement Wonder read on his L.A. radio station KJLH, he explained, "A week and a half ago I came up with the idea of doing four nights at the Fonda Theatre to raise money for House Full of Toys. Big idea. Little time. So because of that little time, I've decided to cancel all four shows. Yet still I will this year put my money where my heart is by giving a substantial donation for the children for House Full of Toys. And next year, we will again do House Full of Toys with the big idea and enough time to put it together." Refunds are being offered to those who already purchased tickets. Wonder's annual benefit concert asks that attendees bring an "unwrapped toy or unwrapped gift of joy." Presented by the singer/songwriter's nonprofit We Are You Foundation, House Full of Toys helps assist children, people with disabilities and families in need. - Billboard, 12/17/25...... A Billy Joel tribute concert is being planned at New York's Carnegie Hall on Mar. 12 where an all-star group of performers will play his songs to benefit music programs for kids. The Piano Man, who is on a break from touring while he recovers from the neurological condition normal pressure hydrocephalus, will be feted by the likes of Rob Thomas, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Train's Pat Monahan, Gavin DeGraw, Bettye Lavette, Matt Nathanson, Joy Oladokun, Tanya Tucker, War & Treaty, Rufus Wainwright and his own daughter, singer Alexa Ray Joel. The show is latest gig from promoter Michael Dorf in support of his Music Of benefit series that has raised more than $2 million for music education programs in New York over the past twenty years. Previous honorees in the series have included Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones, Patti Smith, Prince, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, David Bowie, R.E.M. and more. - Billboard, 12/17/25...... '70s artists Paul Simon, Cher and Chaka Khan are among the artists set to receive a Lifetime Achievement award at this year's Grammy Awards. The Grammys' Recording Academy have announced that Latin rock guitar legend Carlos Santana will also pick up the honor, while Whitney Houston and Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti will be posthumously recognized. Elton John's lyricist Bernie Taupin, record executive Sylvia Rhone and Latin jazz musician Eddie Palmieri -- who passed away in August - will also be honored with the Trustees Award, while classical composer John Chowning will receive the Technical Grammy Award. The awards will be presented at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles on Jan. 31, the night before the main ceremony at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Feb. 1. The Lifetime Achievement award is presented to performers who, during their lifetimes, have made "creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording". It was first awarded to Bing Crosby in 1963, while recent recipients have included The Clash, Prince, N.W.A., Donna Summer and Nirvana. - NME, 12/20/25...... 
Speaking of Donna Summer, the '70s disco queen is the latest songwriter to be inducted posthumously into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Summer, who died in May 2012 at age 63, was honored during an intimate ceremony held on Dec. 15 in The Butterfly Room at Cecconi's in West Hollywood, Calif. Her widower, Bruce Sudano, attended, as did their daughters Brooklyn Sudano and Amanda Sudano Ramirez; her close friends and immediate family; and members of the SHOF West Coast Events Committee. In a statement, Sudano said, "It's important to me because I know how important it was for Donna. The backstory is, with all the accolades that she received over her career, being respected as a songwriter was always the thing that she felt was overlooked. So, for her to be accepted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame I know that she's very happy somewhere." Paul Williams, a 2001 SHOF inductee, led the induction, which celebrated Summer's songwriting contributions and enduring musical legacy. "Donna Summer is not only one of the defining voices and performers of the 20th century, she is one of the great songwriters of all time who changed the course of music," Williams said in a statement. "She wrote timeless and transcendent songs that continue to captivate our souls and imaginations, inspiring the world to dance and, above all, feel love." Summer was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2013 and received a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy in 2024. - Billboard, 12/16/25...... The Rolling Stones have reportedly called off a 2026 U.K./European tour whose dates were never officially announced. According to a Variety report on Dec. 16 which cited an unnamed source close to the band, the Stones have walked back the plans for the outing they had not officially confirmed. Variety cited "reports" that guitarist Keith Richards, who turned 82 on Dec. 18, was unable to "commit" to another rigorous road outing. In a recent story in the British tabloid The Sun, Stones touring pianist Chuck Leavell said that the band were planning their first run of shows since a 20-date 2024 North American run in support of their Hackney Diamonds album after being forced to pull back from plans for a summer 2025 U.K. swing, which was also never confirmed. Leavell suggested that Richards and frontman Mick Jagger, also 82, are not ready to stop touring. "They don't want to hang up the rock 'n' roll shoes yet," Leavell reportedly said. "There's no doubt in my mind." Leavell also reportedly said the band has been working on a new album and that "I am also sure that the band wants to perform." The Variety report pointed to another Sun story that cited an unnamed American music critic, who claimed that Richards told his bandmates that he "didn't think he could commit and wasn't keen on a big stadium tour for over four months." Neither Richards nor Jagger have commented on the reports on their social feeds. - Billboard, 12/16/25..... On Dec. 13 Rod Stewart stopped a concert at the OAKA Sports Hall in Athens, Greece to shout at a fan for "spoiling" the show. Stewart was singing his 1979 hit "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?" when he became annoyed at a spectator and stopped singing. "Out the f---ing way," he said. "You're spoiling the show for everybody. Out the way. Leave. We don't need you here." It appeared the man Rod shouted at was upset that someone else was holding up a sign. "All she's doing is putting up a sign," Rod continued. "It's not hurting you is it, mate?" Fans took to social media to joke that Stewart, 80, star was annoyed that his beloved football team Celtic FC had lost earlier in the day. "Rod Stewart pissed off! What happened?" someone posted on TikTok after sharing the footage of the exchange. Another follower joked, "Probably mentioned St Mirren' and 'His team got beat 3-1 today." After a performance in Abu Dhabi on Dec. 17, Stewart will kick of an American leg of his tour in the US in February. In 2024 the star revealed he was planning to end large-scale tours, but he didn't want to stop performing altogether. "This will be the end of large-scale world tours for me, but I have no desire to retire," he said. "I love what I do and I do what I love. I'm fit, have a full head of hair and can run 100 metres in 18 seconds at the jolly old age of 79." - Music-News.com, 12/17/25...... 
Paul McCartney has paid tribute to Höfner Guitars, the brand behind his iconic bass, after they recently filed for bankruptcy. The guitar and bass manufacturer, most famous for making the Höfner 500/1 Violin Bass guitar -- which has been dubbed the most important bass in history for its role in recording numerous Beatles hits -- filed for bankruptcy in Germany earlier in December, per Guitar.com. The Höfner bass was the first bass McCartney ever bought, purchasing it in 1961 for £30 ($38) in Hamburg, Germany. Taking to Facebook, Sir Paul wrote that he's "very sad" to see them go out of business. "They have been making instruments for over 100 years, and I bought my first Höfner bass in the sixties. I have loved it ever since. It's a wonderful instrument to play: lightweight, and it encourages me to play quite freely," he said. "It also offers pleasing variations in tone that I enjoy. So, commiserations to everyone at Höfner, and thank you for all your help over the years," he added. McCartney's original bass was stolen from the musician in 1972, only to be returned to him in 2024. It came after he and longtime Beatles fans had attempted numerous times to recover the stolen instrument over the course of its 50-plus year absence -- including the Lost Bass campaign, which began in 2018 but only began to make progress in 2023. The bass was originally believed to have disappeared in Jan. 1969 when the Beatles were recording the Get Back/Let It Be sessions. However, during investigations by the Lost Bass Project team, they discovered that it was instead stolen three years later. It was found by Cathy Guest, who found the bass in her attic following the death of her husband Hadyn, who Cathy believes in turn inherited the bass from his brother Graham. The Höfner 500/1 Violin Bass is the same one that can be heard on classic hits including "Love Me Do," "She Loves You" and "Twist and Shout." - NME, 12/19/25...... Rob Shuter's Shuterstack.com is reporting that the funeral for late actor/director/activist Rob Reiner will be a private, carefully guarded ceremony. "They know how many people want to pay their respects," one insider told the gossip columnist, "but this first goodbye is strictly about family and the people who were in their lives every single day." No date has been announced, but now that the Los Angeles Medical Examiner's official report has been released, the funeral is expected to take place within days. Reports indicate the date and time will not be announced to the public, and security will be tight. "The family is in shock," another source said. "They cannot handle a public spectacle right now. This is about dignity, safety, and grief." According to these reports, the guest list will not be large, but it will include big names who were in the Reiner's orbit, including Michelle and Barack Obama, Billy Crystal and Larry David, among others. Rob Reiner's son Nick Reiner has been charged with first-degree murder of his father Rob and mother Michele Reiner and could even face the death penalty. An impromptu memorial service was held for the Reiners one day after their passing, following the Jewish tradition of being buried within 24 hours of passing. Rob's dear friend Albert Brooks, along with Crystal, his wife, Janice, comedians Larry David, Bill Hader and Conan O'Brien, gathered at Brooks' Brentwood estate on Dec. 15, according to Daily Mail UK. - StyleCaster.com/EntertainmentNow.com, 12/18/25...... Texas singer/songwriter Joe Ely died on Dec. 15 in Taos, N.M., from complications of Lewy Body Dementia, Parkinson's disease and pneumonia, according to his spokesperson. He was 78. Amarillo, Tex., native Ely was raised in Lubbock, Tex., and later moved to Austin and was part of an influential wave of progressive country rock artists who helped establish Austin as a live musical capital. His music crossed lines and helped birth the Americana genre. Bruce Springsteen, a longtime friend of Ely's, paid tribute to Ely on Facebook: "Over here, we're deeply saddened by the loss of Joe Ely, a singular American singer, great musician and great artist," he wrote. "I was lucky enough to count Joe as a true friend and I will miss that voice and his companionship. Our hearts go out to his wonderful wife Sharon and the family. We've lost an American classic." Joe Ely opened for The Clash for the first time in 1979 in Texas, then in the United Kingdom in 1980 on the band's London Calling tour. He then opened for the Rolling Stones on several dates in 1981. Ely had multiple charting albums and was honored at April's American Music Awards hosted at the Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music at Monmouth University in New Jersey on Apr. 26. He is survived by his wife, Sharon, and daughter, Marie. - Billboard, 12/15/25...... Actor Gil Gerard, star of the 1979-81 NBC series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, died on Dec. 16 after a battle with "a rare and viciously aggressive form of cancer," his wife, Janet, announced in a Facebook post. He was 82. In 1977 films, Mr. Gerard had played Lee Grant's romantic interest in Airport '77 and had starred as a moonshiner in the Appalachia-set comedy Hooch when he was approached to star in Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, co-produced by Glen A. Larson at Universal Television. Buck Rogers lasted two seasons and a total of 32 episodes through Apr. 1981 before being canceled. Mr. Gerard then toplined a series of telefilms including 1982's highly rated Help Wanted: Male, also starring Suzanne Pleshette, and played a bachelor cop who teaches martial arts skills to a youngster (Ernie Reyes Jr.) on the 1986-87 ABC series Sidekicks. Before appearing in Buck Rogers, he spent the next several years appearing in commercials -- more than 400 by his count -- and played POW turned doctor Alan Stewart on the NBC soap The Doctors from 1973-76. He also appeared with Cliff Robertson in Man on a Swing (1974). Mr. Gerard, who had a long friendship with former president Bill Clinton, was married four times, including once to actress Connie Sellecca (Hotel) from 1979 until their 1987 divorce. In addition to Janet, his wife of 18 years, survivors include his son with Sellecca, Gib. - The Hollywood Reporter, 12/16/25...... 
May Britt, the statuesque Swedish actress who starred in such films as The Blue Angel and Murder, Inc. before becoming the second wife of legendary entertainer Sammy Davis Jr., died on Dec. 11 at Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center, according to her son Mark Davis. She was 91. Spotted and signed by famed Italian producer Carlo Ponti when she was 18, Ms. Britt starred in several films in Italy before she was screen-tested in Rome and signed to a contract by 20th Century Fox in 1957. Often described as a warmer, more approachable Greta Garbo, Ms. Britt came to fame when she starred as the scandalous cabaret entertainer Lola-Lola in The Blue Angel (1959). Ms. Britt and Sammy Davis first met after he performed at the Mocambo nightclub on the Sunset Strip and invited her to a party, according to a 2014 biography written by Tracey Davis, their daughter. Soon after, Davis broke off his engagement to Canadian dancer Joan Stuart. Ms. Britt converted to Judaism (her fiance had converted in 1961), and he announced to the press in June 1960 while in England that they were engaged. Ms. Britt and Davis were married by a rabbi on Nov. 13, 1960, at his home on Evanview Drive in Los Angeles, followed by a reception for about 200 guests at the Beverly Hilton. Frank Sinatra, Davis' partner in the legendary "Rat Pack," served as the best man. She was 26, he was 34. At the time, interracial marriages were illegal in 31 states, and coincidentally or not, 20th Century Fox elected not to renew her contract shortly after their engagement was announced. They received death threats throughout their relationship and at times employed 24-hour armed guards to protect them. Ms. Britt gave up her career while married to Davis and did very little acting after they divorced. She showed up on episodes of The Danny Thomas Hour, Mission: Impossible, The Most Deadly Game and The Partners and starred in the 1976 horror film Haunts. Amid reports linking Davis to singer-dancer-actress Lola Falana, the couple divorced in Dec. 1968, but their daughter told the Los Angeles Times in 2014 that her parents "never fell out of love." Ms. Britt didn't get married again until May 1993, when she wed Lennart Ringquist, an entertainment executive and horse breeder. He died in Jan. 2017. In addition to her sons, survivors include her sister, Margot, and her grandchildren, Andrew, Ryan, Sam, Montana, Greer and Chase. Tracey Davis died in Nov. 2020 after a short illness at age 59. - The Hollywood Reporter, 12/18/25...... British fashion designer Antony Price, who has worked with the likes of David Bowie, The Rolling Stones and Roxy Music, has died aged 80. The legendary designer is also known for his sculptured silhouettes and theatrical styles, such as the pastel suits Duran Duran wore in the vidoes for their hit "Rio." In a statement from the office of Roxy Music frontman Brian Ferry, Alex Fury noted Price's "ground-breaking relationship with musicians," calling him "one of the most significant and influential British fashion designers of the last century." "Price's work with Roxy Music was the first time a fashion designer had collaborated with musicians to refine their visual iconography as a key part of their creative expression, and established a template still shaping both music and fashion industries today," it added. - NME, 12/18/25.
The Hollywood community is in shock over the news of the untimely death of revered actor/director/activist Rob Reiner, who with his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead on the evening of Nov. 14 at their home in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. Authorities are investigating the deaths of Reiner, 78, and Michele, 70, as "apparent homicides" and have arrested one of the couple's three children, 32-year-old Nick Reiner, as a suspect and who is being held without bail. According to witnesses, Rob and Nick, who had a history of addiction problems and temporary homelessness, were arguing earlier in the evening at a Christmas party thrown by Conan O'Brien, causing the Reiners to leave the party early. Their fatally stabbed bodies were discovered at home the next day by their daughter, Romy Reiner. The son of late comedy giant Carl Reiner, Rob went on to become one, himself, as one of the preeminent filmmakers of his generation with movies such as The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally... and 
After the 1985 John Cusack-starred summer comedy, The Sure Thing, Reiner made Stand By Me (1986), The Princess Bride (1987) and When Harry Met Sally... (1989), a four-year stretch that resulted in a trio of American classics, all of them among the most often quoted movies of the 20th century (it was Reiner's mother who delivered the immortal quip "I'll have what she's having" in When Harry Met Sally..., as Meg Ryan faked an orgasm during a date with Billy Crystal). For the next four decades, Reiner, a warm and gregarious presence on screen and an outspoken liberal advocate off it, remained a constant fixture in Hollywood. The production company he co-founded, Castle Rock Entertainment, launched an enviable string of hits, including TV's Seinfeld and the acclaimed prison drama The Shawshank Redemption. By the turn of the century, its success rate had fallen considerably, but Reiner revived it earlier this decade. This fall, Reiner and Castle Rock released the long-in-coming sequel Spinal Tap II: The End Continues. All the while, Reiner was one of the film industry's most passionate Democratic activists, regularly hosting fundraisers and campaigning for liberal issues. He was co-founder of the American Foundation for Equal Rights, which challenged in court California's ban on same-sex marriage, Proposition 8. He also chaired the campaign for Prop 10, a California initiative to fund early childhood development services with a tax on tobacco products. Reiner was also a critic of Pres. Donald Trump, who posted a typical hostile reaction to the iconic liberal's death which has drawn criticism from both sides of the political aisle. By the late '90s, Reiner's films (1996's Ghosts of Mississippi, 2007's The Bucket List) no longer had the same success rate. But he remained a frequent actor, often memorably enlivening films like Sleepless in Seattle (1993) and The Wolf of Wall Street (2013). In 2023, he directed the documentary Albert Brooks: Defending My Life. In an interview earlier in 2025 with Seth Rogen, Reiner suggested everything in his career boiled down to one thing. "All I've ever done is say, 'Is this something that is an extension of me?' For 'Stand by Me,' I didn't know if it was going to be successful or not. 
All I thought was, 'I like this because I know what it feels like." The sudden deaths of Reiner and his wife are being moured by high-profile figures from the worlds of entertainment and politics, including Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Elijah Wood, James Woods, John Cusack, Kevin Nealon, Eric Idle, Kamala Harris and Paul McCartney, who made an appearance in Reiner's final film, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, which was released in September this year. Alongside a photo from the film's shoot, Sir Paul wrote on 
Queen's Brian May has gifted Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi with a version of his homemade left-handed Red Special guitar. May's original Red Special was assembled from scratch in the early 1960s by May with his father Harold, as he was unable to afford a major brand. Built with mahogany from an old fireplace mantle and an oak fingerboard with mother-of-pearl buttons, it remained May's primary guitar on stage throughout Queen's success in the '70s and '80s and became synonymous with the band's sound. Now in an 
In an 
Actor Anthony Geary, an eight-time Daytime Emmy winner who joined the cast of the long running soap opera General Hospital in 1978, died on Dec. 14 from complications following a scheduled operation. He was 78. Geary joined General Hospital for what was supposed to be a 13-week run, but audiences loved his pairing with Genie Francis' Laura so much that producers kept him on. The wedding episode between the two characters drew in 30 million viewers, making it the highest-rated episode in soap opera history. "In the beginning Luke Spencer was a complete bastard," Geary told People in 1980 of his character's introduction which found Luke raping Laura. "He was a cheap little punk who managed a disco and was a doper runner for the Mafia. He was a real killer." But Luke changed as he and Laura fell in love. The fictional couple split in 2001, and moved on with other relationships. "If you look at the way it started, it was sort of fated to end badly," he told ABC News in 2015. Following his retirement from General Hospital in 2015, Geary's character was killed off in 2022 after 44 years, as Luke's widow Tracy Quartermaine (Jane Elliott), told his former flame Laura, that Spencer was killed in a cable car "accident" in Austria. The role earned Geary a record eight Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama. In a statement shared to 
Carl Carlton, the Detroit-bred R&B/soul star best known for his 1981 funk hit "She's a Bad Mama Jama (She's Built, She's Stacked)," died on Dec. 14 at age 72. Carlton, who reportedly suffered a stroke six years ago, was born in the Motor City on May 21, 1953 and began performing at a young age under the name "Little Carl" Carlton. By 1964 he'd released his first singles for Lando Records, "I Think of How I Love Her" and "I Love True Love," scoring local hits the next year with the songs "So What" and "Don't You Need a Boy Like Me." After gaining attention with the first few songs, in 1968, Carlton signed to Back Beat Records, relocating to Houston to be closer to label founder Don Robey to release "Competition Ain't Nothing," which topped out at No. 36 on the R&B chart and quickly became a beloved hit on the U.K.'s Northern Soul scene. Already a budding singing star, Carlton graduated from Detroit's Murray Wight High School in 1970 and scored his first national hit in 1971 with "I Can Feel It." After Robey sold his label to ABC Records, the latter released a compilation of Carlton's early singles, You Can't Stop a Man in Love. Carlton finally broke through in 1974 with his biggest hit, a cover of Robert Knight's "Everlasting Love," a dreamy, yearning disco-tinged soul burner that became his highest-charting, most enduring hit, peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in Nov. 1974. The singer bounced around to a few labels in the late 1970s, landing at 20th Century Records in the early 1980s and releasing his most well-known hit, the lascivious, Leon Haywood-penned R&B jam "She's a Bad Mama Jama (She's Built, She's Stacked)," which earned Carlton a 1982 Grammy nomination for best R&B vocal performance, male. The song peaked at No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 in Oct. 1981 and No. 2 on the Billboard R&B chart. The singer's son, Carlton Hudgens II, reported the news on his 
Testifying before the United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property on Dec. 9, KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons claimed musicians are treated "worse than slaves" because of unpaid radio play. Simmons -- one of several music industry professionals who weighed in on the bill at the gathering on Capitol Hill -- spoke to the "injustice" of U.S. broadcast radio stations freely playing sound recordings without having to pay the performers who created them, a yearslong precedent that the AMFA would reverse if passed by Congress. "If you are against this bill, you are un-American," he said. "You cannot let this injustice continue," he continued. "It looks like a small issue... But our emissaries to the world are Elvis [Presley] and Frank Sinatra. And when [other countries] find out we're not treating our stars right -- in other words, worse than slaves. Slaves get food and water. Elvis and Bing Crosby and Sinatra got nothing for their performance." Currently, radio stations license the music they play over the air from rights organizations such as ASCAP and BMI -- but they are not required to pay record labels or performing artists for the use of their tracks. Songwriters do receive royalties for radio airplay, but the artists who performed on the recordings do not. Simmons' testimony can be viewed on 
Diana Ross will be among the headiners ringing in 2026 on Dec. 31 with a live Times Square NYC performance on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest. The Motown legend, 80, will help anchor one of the most musically diverse telecasts in the show's 54-year history, with a 39-artist roster including the likes of Rick Springfield, New Kids on the Block, 4 Non Blondes, Goo Goo Dolls, Chappell Roan, Post Malone, Leon Thomas and Charlie Puth. Ross is set to perform a medley of her hits including "I'm Coming Out" and "Upside Down." "Together we begin a new year," the singer said in a statement. "Let's embrace a new beginning, new opportunities, new joy -- a celebration of love, where we all come together as we begin 2026." The 2025 edition will mark the longest telecast in the show's history, including an additional 90 minutes of programming compared to last year, with more than 85 songs set to be performed. - Billboard, 12/10/25...... Elton John has hit back at claims his house is "dirty" in a humorous manner after previously showing off a "dirty" oven door in an Instagram Reel. After taking heat from fans after sharing a peek of the door accompanied by snippets of his 1974 hit, "Step into Christmas," Sir Elton, 78, took to social media once again in a comedic bid to rescue his reputation. "Hello people, it's Elton John here," the Rocket Man began. "A couple of weeks ago, I did some videos in this kitchen about how crazy 'Step Into Christmas' was driving me, and it got an incredible response, which I was quite startled about." John went on to describe his shock at fans' reactions to his oven door. "A lot of the response was kind of negative about how dirty my oven was," Elton explained. "My oven door, my oven window. And I can assure you, I don't have anything dirty in this house. I've never had anything dirty. I'm not a dirty person!" Donning a pair of bright pink, feather-trimmed rubber gloves, Elton declared he would redeem himself. "To prove I don't have anything that's dirty, I'm going to do something to show you," he announced. The video was quickly followed by a sequel, captioned simply, "Don't think your comments go unnoticed," in which Elton sprayed cleaner onto his oven door and gave it a scrub. Before slamming the oven door shut, he concluded: "Look, I've got the cleanest oven window in Windsor." - Music-News.com, 12/9/25...... It has been revealed that ABBA's Voyage show has contributed a staggering £2.06 billion to the UK economy. The ambitious virtual show, which features CGI reincarnations (or 'ABBA-tars') of the Swedish pop band, began in 2022 at the purpose-built ABBA Arena in east London. It is currently taking bookings until June 2026. Now, an analysis report has revealed ABBA Voyage's cumulative social and economic impact across the capital and the UK. The document was compiled and assessed by global music, culture and creative economy consultancy Sound Diplomacy. The analysis shows that Voyage has had a significant and positive economic and social impact, not only on London and the local area (comprising the boroughs of Newham, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest), but on the wider UK by contributing £2.06 billion in turnover to the UK economy between May 2022 - May 2025, and 1.14 billion in GVA (Gross Value Added). It has been seen over three million visitors, of whom almost a fifth (18%) travelled from outside the UK. "ABBA Voyage has been an absolute sensation, redefining the possibilities of a music concert and delivering a tremendous boost to our economy," London Mayor Sadiq Khan said in a statement. - NME, 12/10/25...... Bob Dylan announced on Dec. 8 that he's extending his "Rough and Rowdy Ways" tour into 2026 with a 27-date U.S. run, this time hitting smaller markets beginning on Mar. 2 at The Orpheum in Omaha, Neb., then South Dakota, Illinois, Kentucky, South Carolina and Georgia in late winter/early spring. Dylan, 84, will also visit his native Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana before winding down on May 1 with a show at the Abilene Auditorium in Abilene, Tex. The rock bard has mostly been serving up songs from his 39th studio album on the past "Rough and Rowdy" tours, mixed in with some reworkings of classics from his catalog, only taking brief breaks from the 37-year-old road show commonly referred to the Never Ending Tour. In 2024, for the second year in a row, the musician briefly stepped away from his tour to appear alongside fellow touring star Willie Nelson at the Outlaw Music Festival. Dylan's most recent album was 2023's Shadow Kingdom, which featured fresh recordings of songs from the early years of his now nearly 70-year-career. - Billboard, 12/8/25...... David Byrne has announced he is adding more European shows to his summer 2026 world tour behind his latest album, 
Universal Pictures has released the official teaser trailer for the latest Elvis Presley project from director Baz Luhrmann, EPiC: Elvis Presley In Concert. The trailer gives fans a dynamic glimpse into Luhrmann's distinctive, high-energy style, suggesting a blend of archival footage and innovative cinematic techniques to bring Presley's legendary stage presence to life. Known for his maximalist approach in films like Moulin Rouge! and the 
As Dick Van Dyke reaches his milestone 100th birthday on Dec. 13, the beloved American entertainer has shared his secrets for a long, happy life in a People cover story. "People say, 'What did you do right?' I don't know. I'm rather lazy," he says. "I've always thought that anger is one thing that eats up a person's insides -- and hate -- and I never really was able to work up a feeling of hate. I think that was one of the chief things that kept me going." Asked how he's feeling these days, he said: "I have no pain, no discomfort. Short-term memory problems, it's true. I can't remember what I had for breakfast, so I have my wife (Arlene Silver, 54) here, who is in possession of my memory bank. But my long-term memory's pretty good." Van Dyke also credits Arlene for "keeping me in the moment and alive every day...Thank God for that." Asked what he'd like to be remembered for, the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Mary Poppins star responded, "What I've left in the way of children's entertainment and children's music. That's my legacy." And what would he hope to hear at the pearly gates? "Come on in. I hope I make it to the pearly gates and not the other one. I've been a good boy." - People, 12/8/25...... Phil Upchurch, an iconic guitarist and session musician who collaborated with Michael Jackson, Donny Hathaway and countless other music legends, passed away on Nov. 23 in Los Angeles, according to his wife, Sonya Maddox-Upchurch. He was 84. A cause of death was not revealed. Over a remarkable career, Mr. Upchurch recorded nearly 30 albums and appeared on more than 1,000 recordings. Notable contributions include Chaka Khan's 1978 hit "I'm Every Woman," which topped Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for three weeks, and Jackson's "Workin' Day and Night," from his 1979 solo album, Off the Wall. Mr. Upchurch was also featured on all of Hathaway's solo studio and live albums, as well as Curtis Mayfield's soundtracks for the films Superfly, Claudine, Let's Do It Again and Sparkle, the latter featuring Aretha Franklin. The Chicago-born musician also performed or recorded with other music legends, including George Benson, Bob Dylan, Quincy Jones, Luther Vandross, B.B. King, Dizzy Gillespie, John Lee Hooker and Stan Getz. Beyond performing, Mr. Upchurch authored two instructional music books and completed an autobiography, which is set to be released posthumously. - Billboard, 12/6/25.
More key cast inner circle roles have been announced in director Sam Mendes' upcoming four-part Beatles biopics, including John Lennon's aunt, the Fab Four's press officer, Paul McCartney's dad, Beatles manager Brian Epstein and record producer George Martin. Lennon's beloved Aunt Mimi Smith, his guardian as a child, will be portrayed by Leanne Best (Line of Duty, Star Wars: The Force Awakens who has a Beatles connection herself -- she's the niece of original Beatles drummer Pete Best. In addition, The Walking Dead's David Morrissey will portray Paul McCartney's father, Jim McCartney; James Norton (Bob Marley: One Love) will play manager Brian Epstein; and Harry Lloyd (Game of Thrones) has been confirmed as "fifth Beatle," producer George Martin. Bobby Schofield (Cherry) has been tapped to portray the band's road manager and McCartney and George Harrison's lifelong pal music biz executive Neil Aspinall; Daniel Hoffman-Gill will step into the shoes of road manager and personal assistant Mal Evans; Arthur Darvill (And Mrs) is on board as journalist/publicist and producer Derek Taylor; and Adam Pally (Sonic the Hedgehog 3) is slated to play the band's quarrelsome music manager, Allen Klein. The thespians join the previously announced main cast -- Paul Mescal (McCartney), Harris Dickinson (Lennon), Barry Keoghan (Starr) and Joseph Quinn (Harrison) -- as well as the actresses portraying their wives: Saoirse Ronan (Lady Bird) as McCartney's wife Linda McCartney, Shogun's Anna Sawai as Lennon's wife Yoko Ono, The White Lotus' Aimee Lou Wood as Harrison's wife Pattie Boyd and How to Have Sex's Mia McKenna-Bruce as Starr's wife, Maureen Starkey. The announcement of the latest cast additions can be viewed on 
Paul Rodgers has revealed that he "dodged a bullet" by skipping Bad Company's recent induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Rodgers and Simon Kirke, the two surviving members of the original Bad Company lineup, had been due to perform together for the first time in six years at the Rock Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on November 8, but Rodgers didn't part due to health issues which prevented him from travelling -- and he's now told Rolling Stone that he has no regrets about missing the big monent. "About a week prior to leaving for rehearsals for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction and TV show, my blood pressure was very high and I started to have chest pains and heart palpitations," Rodgers, 75, said. "I saw my doctor, who absolutely forbid me to get on a plane. He recommended that I stay home, rest and remain calm, and I feel that I dodged a bullet by doing that. I am in the zen phase of my life and enjoy being immersed in a peaceful and calm life. I can sing again and play daily to a crowd of one," he added. The singer had previously confirmed he would not be attending in a post on Instagram, writing: "My hope was to be at the Rock Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony and to perform for the fans, but at this time I have to prioritize my health. I have no problem singing, it's the stress of everything else. Thanks for understanding. Simon along with some outstanding musicians will be stepping in for me -- guaranteed to rock." Bad Company's frontman Rodgers, drummer Kirke, late guitarist Mick Ralphs and late bassit Boz Burrell were among the acts saluted at the annual ceremony on Nov. 8. Ralphs died in June at the age of 81 while Burrell passed away in 2006. The band's former vocalist Brian Howe died in 2020 at the age of 66. - Music-News, 12/5/25...... Six months after his death, Ozzy Osbourne has been posthumously with Birmingham's Lord Mayor's Award on what would have been the heavy metal icon's 77th birthday. The prestigious annual honor presented to an individual (group or organization) for "outstanding achievement or exceptional service to the city and people of Birmingham" was an especially fitting tribute to the late rocker given his love for him hometown. In an 
In April 1985, Freddie Mercury released his first solo album outside of Queen, Mr. Bad Guy. The album went on to achieve a gold disc and UK Top 10 success by spawning four hit singles in Britain, "I Was Born To Love You", "Made In Heaven", "Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow" and the UK No.1.charting single "Living On My Own." On Dec. 5, a new 
Legendary guitarist Steve Cropper, who played on seminal recordings by the likes of Otis Redding, Booker T & the M.G.'s, Wilson Pickett and many more, died on Dec. 3 in Nashville. He was 84. Mr. Cropper's son confirmed his father's death on Facebook. "It's with the heaviest of hearts that I share the news that my amazing Dad passed away this morning," Stephen Cropper posted. "He certainly lived an incredible life and enjoyed every minute of entertaining you all. Please lift prayers of comfort for my family." As the guitarist for Booker T & the M.G.'s, which served as Stax Records' house band during the 1960s, Mr. Cropper was an architect of the sound, with his ringing, often spare guitar work and deft touch heard on R&B and pop classics including Redding's "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay," Eddie Floyd's "Knock on Wood," Pickett's "In the Midnight Hour" and Sam & Dave's "Soul Man" (Sam Moore immortalized Mr. Cropper with his "Play It, Steve," ad lib on "Soul Man"). Mr. Cropper, who was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 as a member of Booker T & the M.G.'s, and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005, was also a noted producer, telling The New York Times in 2018 that he finished producing "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" under great duress following Redding's death in a plane crash in 1967. "If I had a week to work on it, it probably would have been overembellished," he said. Instead, he finished it in less than 24 hours. The song earned Mr. Cropper one his two Grammys, winning for best rhythm & blues song at the 1969 ceremony. Mr. Cropper was nominated for nine Grammys, including most recently in 2024 for best contemporary blues album for his set, Friendlytown. In addition to "Dock of the Bay," he won at the 1995 ceremony for best pop instrumental performance for the Booker T. & the M.G.'s track "Cruisin'." Mr. Cropper experienced a renaissance in 1979 when The Blues Brothers emerged. He got a phone call from John Belushi, who was half of the fictional blues duo Jake and Elwood Blues, with his "brother," Dan Aykroyd, and recorded with the pair and made a suggestion that was golden. "What they wanted to do probably would have made it anyway, I don't know, was basically all slow, kind of medium-tempo blues songs. Nothing wrong with blues songs, but there was nothing in there commercial to dance to," Mr. Cropper recalled in an interview for the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum in 2019. "Steve Cropper's offerings to American music are significant but his contribution to soul and R&B music are immeasurable," Soulsville Foundation CEO Pat Mitchell Worley -- which includes the Stax Museum, Stax Music Academy, and Stax Charter School -- said in a statement. Survivors include wife Angel Cropper and children Andrea, Cameron, Stephen and Ashley. - Billboard, 12/3/25.