Latest news with #Idol
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Who is Benson Boone and why is Katy Perry worried about him?
If you do not know Benson Boone by now, where have you even been? The 22-year-old singer behind the chart-topper Beautiful Things is the new sad-boy icon of this generation. He shot to fame via TikTok, amassing a loyal fanbase and heart-melting streaming numbers. But plot twist—his big break almost came from American Idol. The audition that could have changed everything In 2021, Boone auditioned for American Idol and absolutely floored judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie with his soulful piano performance. Katy even told him she saw a winner in him. But instead of riding the wave, Benson bounced. After reaching the Top 24, he bailed from the show before most even noticed. Katy Perry was secretly glad he quit Turns out, Katy Perry had no hard feelings. In fact, she thought quitting was genius. According to Benson, the two reconnected at an awards show two months ago where she gushed over his success but also voiced genuine concern for him. She told him straight-up that leaving the show was 'the best thing' he ever did. Why was Katy Perry worried? Katy was not just throwing compliments. She expressed serious worry about how fast Benson's fame was rising. From online hate to clingy opportunists, she knows how nasty the industry can get. Benson said she was just 'checking in' and made it clear she was looking out for him—like a true pop queen mentor. From college kid to Grammy nominee Benson confessed that back in 2021, he had no clue if music was even his thing. During COVID, Idol producers reached out after seeing a few of his videos online. He went for it just for fun. Flash forward—he is performing at Coachella, nominated at the Grammys, and dropping his debut album American Heart on June 20. The mentor-friendship we did not see coming Despite the Idol exit, there is no beef between Benson and the show. He clarified that Katy's comment was not shade, just honesty. She simply understood. Now, their unlikely mentor-mentee bond is giving us major wholesome energy in an industry known for anything but.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rock Icon, 69, Looks Youthful in Bold Outfit at NYC Documentary Premiere
Rock Icon, 69, Looks Youthful in Bold Outfit at NYC Documentary Premiere originally appeared on Parade. When it comes to rock stars with style, no one does it better than Billy Idol. On Tuesday, June 10, the 'White Wedding' singer, 69, arrived at the New York City premiere of his documentary, Billy Idol Should Be Dead, rocking an all-black look complete with a skirt, blazer, and trendy boots. Idol completed the look with chunky silver jewelry. As always, his signature bleach blonde hair was spiked to perfection. Billy Idol Should Be Dead is a documentary about the musician's rise to fame in the late 1970s and 1980s. As for the somewhat shocking title of the film, Idol found it quite fitting. 'Well, it's one of those things that people usually say when they don't realize I'm still alive. They actually say that: 'Isn't he dead?' Yeah, I should be dead with everything that I did to myself. But it just made me laugh; the idea of that as the title,' he revealed during an interview with The Ankler earlier this month. 🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬 'I think the documentary has got a depth to it, as we really worked on it over quite a long period of time, mainly because the coronavirus was going on while we were making it. It kept getting stopped for one reason or another from the different waves of the virus,' Idol continued. 'But actually it really helped the documentary in the sense that we were able to massage it and really look at what we had and realize what we needed,' he added. 'I think we've got something really good. I think it's a really great documentary that shows a lot of aspects of my life.' Following the red carpet and premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival, Idol is set to Icon, 69, Looks Youthful in Bold Outfit at NYC Documentary Premiere first appeared on Parade on Jun 10, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
NDTV
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
What BTS Helped Me Learn About Strength, Self-Love, And Restart In Life
New Delhi: What does music mean to you? For some, it is just music - a good beat. For others, it is something deeper. It becomes a companion of sorts that helps you find company when you are alone, comfort when you're hurting, and strength when you need it the most. For some, it may feel like an exaggeration, but others think of it as a way to find solace, and that's what BTS became for me. They showed me that music not only transcends entertainment, but also transcends language. Before I dive into my story with BTS and their music, here's a little background for you. Who Is BTS? BTS, which is an acronym for Bangtan Sonyeondan, roughly translates to Bulletproof Boys. The legendary South Korean band includes the leader RM (Kim Nam-Joon), alongside Jin (Kim Seok-Jin), SUGA (Min Yoon-Gi), J-hope (Jung Ho-Seok), Jimin (Park Ji-Min), V (Kim Tae-Hyung), and Jungkook (Jeon Jung-kook). The septet was officially introduced in the K-pop industry in 2013 and has since rocketed to global stardom. While songs such as Idol put them on global charts, their fan group - called ARMY - have loved them way before that. The First Encounter I first came across BTS in 2016 on a cold afternoon at home when my cousin nudged me to listen to this K-pop band. I didn't know they would become such a big part of my life. At the time, it was casual - a YouTube video here, a song there. I was drawn in by their rhythm, charisma, and of course, the sharp choreography that made my dance-loving heart race. I didn't know their names, the stories behind the songs, or the language. But the sound, it stayed with me. Once I started peeling back the layers of their music, I realised that they weren't just a K-pop band. Their lyrics held meaning when I understood the meaning through translation, something deeper than what I used to listen to. Songs like Blood, Sweat and Tears spoke of growth and making choices even in difficult situations. Year after year, their songs became more relatable and I became a part of their "Universe". They were talking about themes I wasn't used to hearing about in music - self-love, anxiety, burnout, loneliness, and healing. A Newfound Love And Companion What began in 2016 as just another music lover chasing good beats, soon became a BTS ARMY who couldn't stop listening to their music. Their each lyric gave me strength through tough times, enouraging to just 'trust myself' and 'love myself'. An advocate for mental health, BTS has always been vocal about their personal experiences and struggles. Out of their amazing discography, it is difficult to pick one that resonates with me. In 2018, I lost someone close to me. Grief is hard to deal with as it is, but putting it in words is even harder. Talking about it was not easy, I couldn't openly share what I was feeling. There was this silence that crept in. But BTS's music, oddly enough, kept playing. Their voices filled the emptiness, not as a cure, but as company. Songs like Paradise and Whalien 52 spoke directly to feelings I hadn't yet figured out how to talk about. "Butterfly" felt like a warm hug. While their songs didn't promise instant healing, they acted as a way forward - even if it meant inching forward at my own (slow) pace. The Beginning Of Loving Myself With Each Passing Day Around the same time of dealing with grief, a health condition that I always struggled with started deteriorating. The condition demanded more rest than I could afford. My job was physically demanding, and there were days when my body just couldn't keep up. While I was always chubby, I gained more weight at the time. I was struggling to make peace with what was going on. I was exhausted, frustrated, and tired. In those days, BTS songs such as Reflection from their album Wings or Epiphany from Love Yourself - Answer, among others, became my friends who never judged me. Their song Not Today kept me going - "If you can't fly, then run. Today we will survive". That defiance in the face of exhaustion fuelled me. Mental health awareness and self-love are recurring themes in BTS's music. Their "Love Yourself" series and the "Love Myself" campaign, in partnership with the UNICEF, are examples. A lot of their songs emphasise one's flaws and loving oneself first to be able to love others. Their message was loud and clear. Like many of their fans, I also found BTS at a time when I needed them, probably the most. While their songs made a difference in my life, their variety show RUN BTS made me laugh when nothing else could. Whether they were failing cooking missions or getting competitive over games, their goofy and genuine side seemed relatable. It brought a sense of joy, which at the time, didn't come easy or naturally to me. I don't listen to BTS every single day anymore, but I carry their message like mantras tucked away in my soul. BTS didn't fix my life but they made me believe that it was worth showing up for. Like in his 2018 speech at the United Nations for their #ENDviolence programme to protect children and young people all over the world from violence, RM said, "No matter who you are, where you're from, your skin colour, your gender identity: speak yourself." After completing their mandatory military service, BTS is preparing to reunite and embark on a new chapter. The septet is set to celebrate the 12th anniversary of their debut in the K-pop industry on Friday (June 13). The ongoing BTS Festa 2025 marks the group's comeback after their 18-month military service. The theme of the year draws inspiration from the group's 2020 track Zero O'clock. This is a song about healing, resilience and the beginning of something new. For fans like me, it is much more than a comeback, it's a promise of hope.
USA Today
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
'American Idol' winner Jamal Roberts speaks out about judge Carrie Underwood
'American Idol' winner Jamal Roberts speaks out about judge Carrie Underwood Show Caption Hide Caption Jamal Roberts on being 'American Idol' winner, going home to daughters Jamal Roberts won "American Idol" Season 23, but he's about to get even busier after recently welcoming a baby girl. "American Idol" winner Jamal Roberts is addressing the discourse surrounding his relationship with judge Carrie Underwood. Roberts made the remarks when journalist Nate Vinson asked him about the "very strong narrative online" around Underwood's first season as a judge. "People who watch the show that felt like she really wasn't supportive of you like other judges or other people," Vinson said. Roberts, 27, responded by saying that "Carrie is a country singer and she likes country music. I mean, I don't think she likes every genre for real. She had her picks, and she had her (choice) of who she really liked, and she stuck with it. "We applaud her for sticking to her roots and sticking to who she liked, but I feel like the better person won," Roberts continued in the red carpet clip from a BET 45th anniversary dinner. 'American Idol' finale reveals 2025 winner: Is it Jamal, John or Breanna? USA TODAY reached out to reps for "American Idol," Roberts and Underwood for comment. Last month, the Mississippi gym teacher prevailed on the singing competition show over a pair of country singers, John Foster and Breanna Nix. The conversation surrounding Roberts and Underwood, the show's Season 4 winner in her own right, took place all season long. At the BET 45th Anniversary Dinner, 'American Idol' winner Jamal Roberts responded to fans calling out judge Carrie Underwood for her lack of support for Roberts across the season. 'I don't think she likes every genre for real,' he shares. #BETAwards — reporting for duty. (@TheGreatIsNate) June 11, 2025 In his "Idol" audition, Underwood told Roberts that he needed to "loosen up" and find some "swagger." Despite the backlash she experienced for her perceived treatment of Roberts by some, the "Before He Cheats" hitmaker wished Roberts well after his May 18 win. "Congratulations to the newest winner of @americanidol !!! I'm so proud of @officialjamalroberts and all he has accomplished this season and I can't wait to see what mountains he climbs next! He's going to do great things!" Underwood wrote in an Instagram caption. Underwood also told USA TODAY she had some nerves around the winner announcement, reminiscent of her own moment she'd experienced two decades ago. "My heart was pounding when Ryan was looking at the card and doing the pause thing," Underwood said. "There are a lot of moments that take me back to my time on the show." Contributing: KiMi Robinson
New York Post
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Billy Idol reveals he nearly died from a heroin overdose — and more bombshells from his new doc
His new documentary, which premiered at NYC's Tribeca Festival on Tuesday night, is called 'Billy Idol Should Be Dead.' And the snarling punk-rocker indeed suffered a near-fatal heroin overdose in 1984 after becoming an early MTV sensation with hits such as 'Dancing with Myself,' 'White Wedding' and 'Rebel Yell.' 'There was a moment there where, you know, I'd done what I set out to do,' Idol recalls of conquering the US after moving to New York in 1981. 'I was coming back to England … in triumph, and I nearly ruined it. 7 Billy Idol survived a near-fatal heroin overdose in 1984. 'I was basically dying, I was turning blue,' he says in new doc. Sonia Moskowitz Gordon/ZUMA / 'We flew to London where we met a load of our pals that we knew,' he continues in the doc. 'They had some of the strongest heroin, Persian brown I think it was. Everybody did a line or so, and they all nodded out, except for me and this mate of mine. We kind of went, 'Well, that's funny.' So we did a few more lines.' But the overdose nearly turned deadly for him. 'I was basically dying. I was turning blue,' he recalls. 'So they put me in an ice cold bath, and I remember them walking me around on the top of the building, you know, on the roof.' Indeed, the artist born William Broad had been seduced by heroin as the '80s rock god known as Billy Idol. 'That's what was going on. The scene had embraced hard drugs really,' he reflects. 'A number of people were on it. [So] you know, you're wide open for it.' 7 Billy Idol rocked the red carpet at the Tribeca Festival world premiere of his new documentary. Sonia Moskowitz Gordon/ZUMA / 'A lot of the people we loved were all heroin addicts,' adds Idol. 'Lou Reed wrote the song 'Heroin.' The New York Dolls were all heroin addicts practically. So we weren't thinking how dangerous it was. In fact, you're thinking quite the opposite. Maybe this could unleash something.' But, at 69, Idol has survived his severe drug addiction and lived to tell the tale. And he's still going strong, taking off his shirt to reveal a ripped torso after finishing a five-song set with longtime guitarist Steve Stevens — including 'Dancing with Myself,' 'White Wedding,' 'Eyes Without a Face' and 'Rebel Yell,' plus new song 'People I Love' — following his doc's premiere. Here are five more of the biggest revelations from 'Billy Idol Should Be Dead.' He wrote 'Dancing with Myself' after, yup, seeing someone dancing by themselves. Idol's breakout 1981 US hit, which was originally recorded with his band Generation X, was inspired from a night out on the club scene in Japan. 7 'Billy Idol Should Be Dead' traces the singer's rise from Generation X to solo stardom in the '80s. Serial Pictures 'We were standing having a drink, and we were watching this kid dancing with his reflection in the mirror of walls in this club,' recalls Gen X bassist Tony James, who co-wrote the song with Idol. 'And Billy went, 'Wow, look at that kid. Look, he's like dancing with his reflection.' And I went, 'Yeah, dancing with myself.' I'm like, 'Billy, that's gonna be a great name for a song.' ' True enough, Idol came up with the beginnings of a tune to go with that title. 'Literally, in the space of like two minutes, we wrote all the lyrics, just the two of us,' says James, 'and by the afternoon, we'd recorded the demo.' While trying to kick heroin, he turned to crack. Idol, who once even lived next door to his drug dealer, hid out at the Park Meridien hotel in Midtown Manhattan while trying get off heroin. 7 Billy Idol's longtime guitarist Steve Stevens is among those featured in the punk-rocker's new documentary. Serial Pictures 'And it's only when I really tried to give up heroin that I did start to smoke crack,' he says. 'And, yeah, it was a nightmare. I mean, it's horrible because I was seeing and hearing things. Like, people in the next room talking about me or above me.' Shortly after that, friends convinced him to go to the hospital to detox, and his father flew in from London to clean house. 'My dad believed everybody was a drug dealer,' says Idol, who is now 'California sober.' He finally kicked heroin after one wild final binge in Bangkok — and a run-in with Mel Gibson. Idol and his friend Harry Johnson went on vacation to Bangkok, Thailand in 1989, with the idea that it would be a drug-free trip. 'We started out just drinking and stuff, but after a week or so of that, we asked a cab driver if he could get us some coke,' recalls Idol. 'But he brought back this long, thin vial of this white stuff' that turned out to be heroin. 7 Billy Idol and Steve Stevens performed five songs after the premiere of the singer's documentary. Serial Pictures 'It was so strong that … you only needed a pin prick, and you were just as high as a kite,' he says. During his long 'zombie' trip, Idol had a strange celeb encounter. 'At one point, I passed out in the elevator with the elevator doors closing on me, and Mel Gibson was there with his family on holiday, horrified,' he recalls. 'The silver lining was I did put heroin behind me,' he says. 'It was too horrible, the whole experience. It actually really put me off.' He almost lost a leg in a motorcycle accident — and did lose a big role in 'Terminator 2.' Idol was hit by a car when he ran a stop sign at a Hollywood intersection on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle in 1990. He broke his right leg, which was so badly damaged between his knee and ankle that he had to have a steel rod inserted, and fractured his left wrist in the horrific accident that required seven hours of surgery. 7 The documentary 'Billy Idol Should Be Dead' had its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival on Wednesday night. Serial Pictures It also cost Idol a big role in 1991's 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day,' with him being originally cast to play Arnold Schwarzenegger's Terminator T-1000 rival. But the singer couldn't do the required running. 'I just had a really bad limp, so I couldn't do it,' he says. 'But I wish I could've done it, it would've been incredible. And you never know where that would have led?' He discovered that he had another son several years ago. Idol, who has never gotten married, raised son Willem, 36, with former partner Perri Lister and daughter Bonnie, 35, with ex-girlfriend Linda Mathis. But several years ago he found out that he had a second son, Brant, 39, from a weekend fling. 7 Billy Idol originally recorded his breakout hit 'Dancing with Myself' with his band Generation X. Getty Images The discovery was made through a 23andMe DNA test that Bonnie did. 'And then a few weeks later, I get the results back on the app and open it, and I'm like, 'Who is this? This Brant,'' she says in the doc. A DNA test had also raised questions about who Brant always thought was his biological father. 'I was like, 'Mom, is there a chance Mark might not be my biological father?'m' he recalls in the doc. 'And she's like, 'Well, it's pretty crazy, but back in the day, we broke up and I actually spent a weekend with Billy Idol.' '
