Music

Taylor Swift turned the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards into the premiere stage for “Patient Zero,” a dark new music video starring Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell. Cara Delevingne and Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford also appear in the visual, which Swift directed with Oscar-winning cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki behind the camera.

Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” has made Billboard history again. The country hit has now spent 24 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, extending its record as the longest-running chart-topper in the 68-year history of the all-genre chart. The milestone comes just days after the song passed Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” which previously held the record with 22 weeks at No. 1.

Taylor Swift may have skipped the 2026 Emmys in person, but she still found a way to become part of the ceremony. The pop star made a surprise appearance alongside host Mariska Hargitay in a pre-recorded “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” sketch that turned an investigation into Swift’s whereabouts into potential hints at the singer’s next move. 

Ed Sheeran’s “Loop” tour has lost its entire remaining supporting lineup after every opener withdrew in solidarity with Macklemore, who was removed from the tour following backlash over his “Free Palestine” speech onstage. Finneas, Lukas Graham and Aaron Rowe all announced their departures Tuesday, while Sheeran’s touring band Beoga also withdrew from the remaining dates.

Mother Monster has truly become a mother. The 40-year-old singer has just welcomed her first child with fiancé Michael Polansky. The couple was first photographed with their newborn in Northern California. The pair have kept the news private, and details about the baby’s name, sex and birth date have not been disclosed.

Macklemore has been removed from the remaining U.S. dates of Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour after his pro-Palestinian remarks at MetLife Stadium sparked a political firestorm. The rapper’s removal comes after several venues reportedly refused to host shows with him on the bill, forcing promoter Messina Touring Group to make a change that will leave Sheeran’s remaining American concerts without their original opening act.

Fresh off of the release of their latest album “Deadline”, three of the four BLACKPINK members are returning to the scene – separately this time – with Jennie, Lisa and Jisoo all releasing new solo music within days of each other. Jennie kicked things off with her three-track EP “Fallen Angel,” which arrived August 28, while Lisa will release “SaWaDiKa” on September 3 and Jisoo will follow with her new single “CLICK” on September 4. The releases come weeks after all four BLACKPINK members reunited in Seoul for the group’s 10th-anniversary celebration.

Sarah McLachlan, Stevie Nicks and Alanis Morissette joined Olivia Rodrigo at Great Park in Irvine, California, for the inaugural Daisy Chain Fields, a festival created to celebrate women in music and raise money for organizations that support women and girls. Drawing inspiration from McLachlan’s Lilith Fair, the event drew about 45,000 people to a women-led bill that included Chappell Roan, Doechii, Mitski, Bikini Kill, Garbage and the Breeders. 

BTS members RM and J-Hope are facing backlash after attending a Chris Brown concert in Toronto and sharing moments from the show online. The two K-pop stars were photographed with Brown after his August 12 performance at Rogers Stadium, while J-Hope posted videos from the concert that showed him and RM enjoying the set. Brown later shared a photo of himself with the pair, which quickly drew criticism from parts of the BTS fanbase, known as ARMY.

Madonna and Taylor Swift will enter the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards with plenty at stake. Madonna leads this year’s nominations with 11 nods, her highest total for a single VMA ceremony, while Swift follows with nine. Both are nominated for Video of the Year and Artist of the Year, with Madonna recognized for “Confessions II – The Film” and Swift for “The Fate of Ophelia.”