During weekend two of Coachella, Dave Grohl surprised the crowd on Saturday (April 19) by joining conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic for orchestral renditions of Foo Fighters' tracks "The Sky Is a Neighborhood" and "Everlong." This marked Grohl's first public performance of Foo songs since the rock legend revealed last fall that he had fathered a child outside his marriage. Dudamel and LA Phil’s star-studded set also featured guest appearances by the Oscar-nominated Wicked actress Cynthia Erivo, who joined the orchestra for a soulful cover of Prince’s “Purple Rain.” Other special guest vocalists included Natasha Bedingfield, Laufey, and Argentine duo Paco Amoroso and Ca7riel, which followed weekend one guest appearances by Becky G and LL Cool J, who all helped make the LA Philharmonic’s first Coachella appearance a memorable experience during Dudamel’s final year as music and artistic director. 

On Saturday (April 19), Megan Thee Stallion took to Instagram to announce that her new single, "Whenever," is set to be released on April 25. Meg also shared the movie poster-style artwork for her upcoming track, along with a link allowing fans to pre-save the song on various streaming services. “WHENEVER. APRIL 25. ⏱️ PRE-SAVE NOW HOTTIES,” Meg captioned her post. The announcement arrived during Coachella weekend two, where Megan performed on Sunday night (April 20), following her weekend one set that featured surprise guest appearances by Queen Latifah, Victoria Monét and Ciara. Meg recently gave fans an update on her next album, Act III, on TikTok, where she revealed, “‘Act III’ is being made. I’m really just trying to figure out who do I want to do features with at this point in life.” ‘Act III’ follows the Grammy-winning Houston rapper’s previous releases, Megan and Megan: Act II. 

On Friday (April 18), Kendrick Lamar became the first musician to be featured in a Gatorade commercial, as he took part in their new “Lose More. Win More.” ad campaign. The Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper delivered a motivational speech in the clip that is set to his track "Peekaboo," a standout on his chart-topping album, GNX. The commercial includes appearances by athletes like Luka Dončić, Jason Taytum, A’ja Wilson, and Caitlin Clark. “How much are you willing to lose?” Lamar asks at the start of the commercial, before recounting the company’s storied history with the University of Florida football team, with the ad closing with a  sweat-covered image of Kendrick's face. Gatorade's Chief Brand Officer Anuj Bhasin said the company chose to pair with Lamar “because of his mindset of hard work, resilience and pushing boundaries.” Lamar triumphantly kicked off his Grand National Tour with SZA on Friday night in Minneapolis, with the duo set to perform 39 stadium shows across North America and Europe throughout the spring and summer. 

Only days after announcing his forthcoming new album, Echo, BTS member Jin has unveiled plans for his debut solo world tour, the  #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR, named after his YouTube variety show Run Jin. The tour will hit nine cities throughout the summer, including a series of eight shows in the U.S. in late July at arenas in Anaheim, Dallas, Tampa, and Newark, with each city hosting a two-night stand from the K-pop superstar. The run of shows will start in South Korea and Japan before heading to the U.S., with the tour set to wrap up in London and Amsterdam. Echo is set for release on May 16, and according to the record’s press release, it “showcases his versatile vocals across a spectrum of moods and styles. It reflects a deeper layer of vocal maturity and personal storytelling that underscores Jin’s evolving artistry.” 

Jennifer Lopez is set to star in Netflix’s adaptation of Liv Constantine’s best-selling book The Last Mrs. Parrish, from director Robert Zemeckis. The psychological thriller follows a cunning con-artist who targets a wealthy couple, the Parrishes, scheming to replace the wife. Additional casting details are pending, and the screenplay is currently being written. Lopez is also working on director Bill Condon’s highly-anticipated Kiss Of The Spider Woman musical remake. Zemeckis, whose diverse filmography includes Back To The Future and The Polar Express, most recently helmed the 2024 fantasy drama Here. 

On Tuesday (April 15), Ice Cube announced the dates and details of his Truth to Power: 4 Decades of Attitude North American Tour, marking his first headlining domestic trek in over a decade. Cube’s 22-date jaunt – which will showcase the Compton rapper’s legendary career from his time in N.W.A. to his solo work – kicks off in Brooklyn on September 4, visiting cities such as Baltimore, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Oakland, before finishing on October 9 in Toronto. “Truth to Power is more than a tour — it’s a 40-year celebration,” Cube said in a statement. “The world needs truth. The people need power. And that’s what my music brings. It’s gonna be next level to go from city to city with a major production unlike anything I’ve ever done before.” Pre-sale starts on Wednesday (April 16), with general on-sale beginning on Friday (April 18), with a variety of VIP packages available, including meet-and-greet opportunities with the hip-hop icon and signed vinyl offerings. 

On Monday (April 14), Lil Nas X shared an Instagram video from a hospital bed revealing he's experiencing a mysterious case of partial facial paralysis. The Grammy-winning musician did not disclose the cause of his ailment, but he maintained a positive attitude despite the scary ordeal. “I can’t even laugh right, bro,” Nas said while showing off his lopsided smile, revealing more of his paralysis via his Instagram Stories. The "Old Town Road" hitmaker eventually making a request of his fans, “Stop being sad for me! Shake ur ass for me instead!” The rapper later provided an update that he had returned home after a short stint in the hospital, and he eventually regained some movement in the right side of his face. Prior to this incident, Nas had been busy at work on his upcoming album, Dreamboy, and is scheduled to headline the Outloud Festival in Los Angeles this summer alongside Lizzo and Kim Petras. 

TLC's celebrated creative journey will come to life on stage in the upcoming CrazySexyCool – The Musical, set to premiere at Arena Stage in Washington, DC, in June 2026. The project will be produced by Bill Diggins' Diggit Theatrical Group, with Kwame Kwei-Armah (One Love: The Bob Marley Musical) writing and directing the piece. CrazySexyCool will portray the Grammy-winning trio's – featuring Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas – rise to fame and their impact on the music industry. TLC’s celebrated career included nine Top Ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100, and four No. 1 singles: "Creep", "Waterfalls", "No Scrubs", and "Unpretty.” “Bringing this story to the stage is a dream come true,” says T-Boz. “We have performed in a lot of different venues all over the world throughout our career, but bringing our story and music to the theater is a totally new and exciting challenge.” CrazySexyCool is set to run for eight weeks next summer as part of Arena Stage’s 75th anniversary season. 

In a new interview with The Australian, Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst revealed that he has been battling pancreatic cancer for the past two years. The 69-year-old musician, who co-founded the celebrated Australian rock band, shared his diagnosis publicly for the first time while opening up about the ongoing medical treatments he has been receiving. Hirst was diagnosed with cancer six months after Midnight Oil wrapped up the Australian leg of their 2023 farewell tour, and he’s been receiving constant medical care ever since. “So it’s ongoing,” Hirst told the publication. “I’ve had pretty much every treatment known to man – every scan, ultrasound, MRI. I’ve kind of had ‘the works.’” Hirst hopes to raise awareness about pancreatic cancer, while emphasizing the importance of early detection. “Coming up to two years, I thought I just need to get this, literally, off my chest,” Hirst explained. “If you do have any of that kind of symptom, just go and get a simple blood test. It could be life-changing, and life-extending.” 

Pop superstar Katy Perry and CBS Mornings anchor Gayle King were part of an all-female crew who took part in a space voyage on Monday (April 14) aboard Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin spacecraft. The New Shepard rocket took off at 9:30 a.m. ET from the company’s West Texas launch facility, and eventually reached a height of over 62 miles into the atmosphere, allowing the passengers to experience moments of weightlessness and stunning views of Earth. The autonomous rocket then landed successfully, bringing all its passengers safely home, which included Bezos’ fiancé Lauren Sánchez, engineer Aisha Bowe, activist Amanda Nguyen, and producer Kerianne Flynn. Perry sang Louis Armstrong’s classic, “What a Wonderful World,” during the flight, saying, “It’s not about me. It’s not about singing my songs. It’s about a collective energy and making space for future women. It’s about this wonderful world that we see right out there and appreciating it. This is all for the benefit of Earth.” Perry and King both kissed the ground after the safe landing.

On Friday (April 11), Lana Del Rey surprised fans with the release of the twangy lead single, "Henry, Come On," from her upcoming 10th studio album. That highly-anticipated project was originally titled, The Right Person Will Stay, and was slated for a May 21 release, but in a since deleted Instagram reel, Lana hinted that the record is now delayed and the title has changed. “You know it’s not going to come on time, right?” Del Rey asked in the clip. “Should I even tell you that the name changed again? Should I tell you that now, while you’re so happy that you even have a song? Yeah, maybe I’ll wait.” This would be the second name change for LDR’s upcoming record, which was previously titled Lasso. Del Rey also teased the upcoming arrival of another new single, "Blue Bird," ahead of her upcoming country-flavored performance at Stagecoach festival on April 25. “My band is so excited. I’m really excited, and I’m really happy for this album to be moving along,” Lana said. 

On Thursday (April 10), 5 Seconds of Summer bassist Calum Hood announced the details of his debut solo album, Order Chaos Order, which is set for release on June 13. Hood, the primary songwriter in 5SOS, also released the lead single, “Don’t Forget You Love Me,” along with an Andy DeLuca-directed music video. “Diving into this project has been a liberating, healing, painful, enlightening experience,” writes Hood. “It’s been a journey into parts of myself I didn’t even know I hadn’t explored until they became this music, and I’m excited to open up this part of me to you.” Hood collaborated with Day Wave’s Jackson Phillips, David Burris, and TMS on his solo album, which follows the previous individual projects from the other three members of 5SOS. “There are things I’ve never been able to sing about in the band — my upbringing, my family, the places life has taken me,” Hood shares. “This album is about laying those things to rest and allowing listeners to connect in their own way.” 

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

Photo: Joseph Okpako

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

On Tuesday (April 8), Blink-182 announced the dates and details of their upcoming Missionary Impossible Tour, where the SoCal pop punk trio will bring their infectious hits to arenas across the United States this fall. The 20-date tour will kick off in Hollywood, Florida on August 28, and make stops in cities such as Buffalo, Cincinnati, St. Louis, and Kansas City, before finishing up in Palm Desert, California on October 4, with a string of festival stops along the way. Alkaline Trio, fronted by former Blink member Matt Skiba, will be the opening act for the entire tour. Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge, and Travis Barker will “lean into Blink-182’s punk roots” by performing a setlist featuring the group’s entire catalog, according to the tour’s press release. Tickets go on sale on April 11, with pre-sale starting on April 8.

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

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