Rob LeDonne is a Brooklyn-based culture and humor writer who has written for Billboard, GQ, Rolling Stone, TIME, The New York Times and many others. He has also penned comedy for Jimmy Fallon, Jay Leno and The New Yorker. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram: @RobLeDonne
According to Conan Gray, his entire career has led up to his fourth album, Wishbone. "When you're in early adulthood, you try on so many versions of yourself," he explains to GRAMMY.com. "My second and third albums were both me trying to figure out exactly who I was. I think I came to a bit of a conclusion of maybe…
Music icon, funk pioneer and artistic trailblazer Sly Stone passed away on June 9 at the age of 82. Stone's immense impact ricocheted throughout generations, altered the charts, and broke barriers — both as the frontman for his superstar eponymous group Sly and the Family Stone, and as a singular figure all his own. Calling his influence "undeniable," his family…
Fifteen years ago, Wiz Khalifa broke out as hip-hop's clown prince — a smooth rapper whose persona embodies a good party, performing with an effortless confidence that draws you in. It's a foundation he's built on in the years since, and his latest project brings the 10-time GRAMMY nominee back to where it all began. 2010's Kush & Orange Juice…
Watch highlights from the 2025 GRAMMYs on live.GRAMMY.com. The 2025 GRAMMYs telecast has been reimagined to raise funds for MusiCares Fire Relief, a dedicated campaign to support the people affected by the recent wildfires in the Greater Los Angeles Area. Donate now. On stage at the 2025 Clive Davis' & the Recording Academy's Pre-GRAMMY Fundraising Event, Harvey Mason jr. conceded…
When the news broke that Liam Payne passed away at the age of 31 at a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Oct. 16, it marked the end of a singular pop era drenched in immense success. Throughout his career, the English singer captured hearts around the world, both as part of the beloved boy band One Direction and as…
There's a moment at the end of Adam Sandler: Love You, his new meta Netflix stand-up special, that packs an emotional wallop. Guitar in hand, the comedy superstar sings a heartfelt appreciation for the craft he's conquered over the past four decades. The song is a tribute to humorists past and present, as well as the healing power of laughter.…
July 5, 1994 was the day Darius Rucker's life forever changed. That was when his band, Hootie and the Blowfish, released their seminal debut, Cracked Rear View. Within a matter of months, the album went on to launch his band into the mainstream stratosphere. By mid-1995, Cracked Rear View topped the Billboard 200 — where it stayed for eight weeks…
When Camila Cabello unleashed the singles "I LUV IT" and "HE KNOWS" from her highly anticipated fourth album C, XOXO this past spring, it was obvious that the pop superstar had completely flipped her previous sound on its head. Decidedly hyper-pop, the album is tailor-made for the club, with Cabello saying it's all sonically dedicated to the late-night culture of…
Every June, Pride Month offers a time for the LGBTQIA+ community to reflect and raise awareness — but also, to party it up. While there were plenty of Pride anthems to pack playlists prior to this year, the past 12 months have seen some flawless new additions from a mix of fresh talent and long-standing stalwart artists that the queer…
Over the past five years, Dylan Minnette, Cole Preston and Braedan Lemasters — together, known as alternative rock band Wallows — have acutely constructed a sonic landscape of earworm guitar hooks, snappy drums and sing-along lyrics. And their third album, Model, helps lift their career into a new sphere of guitar-driven stardom. Wallows' growth from the indie-pop breakouts of 2019's…
If there's one way to describe Benson Boone's breakthrough year, look to the title of his debut album, Fireworks and Rollerblades. While the name was borrowed from a lyric on the LP, Boone sees it as a metaphor for his life: "I feel like things have taken off for me like a firework tied to a rollerblade, all very quickly."…
She will survive, indeed! As a poster child for the disco era, an advocate for the power of resilience, and an artist who has mastered the craft of the comeback, Gloria Gaynor has proven that her triumphant classic, "I Will Survive" isn't just her signature hit — it's become her mantra. In addition to her triumphant classic (which won the…
In an era when nobody wants to be pigeonholed, diversity is an important facet when it comes to the musical cultural zeitgeist. Case in point: the 2024 GRAMMY Nominees for Best New Artist. At the 66th GRAMMY Awards, the General Field Category was a zig-zagging array of budding superstars who are the epitome of their respective genres. From the bopping…
Who better than Tom Hanks to say it best? "Clive Davis has provided us with the soundtrack of our lives, our emotions and our inspirations," the legendary actor said of the night's premiement host; the legendary music executive, passionate advocate for the power of song and noted discoverer of artists. "Music is the food [of the soul], give us excess…
It was at a rollicking Guns N Roses concert in Philadelphia in the late 1980s when Michelle Jubelirer, the Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Capitol Music Group, first knew she wanted to forge her life in music. "They were my first real concert and I can still remember and feel that excitement and energy emanating from the stage and…
A variety of tenacious artists, industry observers and experts in independent music descended upon GRAMMY House: Growing Wild Independent Music Community Panel on Thursday, Feb. 1, to discuss industry trends and share career strategies and tips days before the 2024 GRAMMYs. Speakers and panelists included Stan Founder and CEO Denisha Kuhlor, independent recording artist Cocoa Sarai, Splice CEO Kakul Srivastava,…
Few artist-producer collaborations in contemporary pop music have been as successful as Olivia Rodrigo and Dan Nigro. Since the singer burst onto the scene with her record-breaking debut single, "drivers license" in 2021, she's been an unstoppable force, with three No. 1s, a streak of Top 10 singles, and three GRAMMYs — and Nigro has been integral in that success.…
When Sabrina Carpenter was 9 years old, she posted her first video to YouTube: a cover of Taylor Swift's "Picture To Burn." Fifteen years later, Carpenter isn't just a pop force to be reckoned with in her own right — she's sharing the stage with Swift. While Carpenter certainly hasn't been a stranger to the spotlight before this year —…
As one of the world’s most beloved vocalists, the Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli has built a legendary career over 15 solo albums, a regular schedule of blockbuster tours and five GRAMMY nominations, most recently for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for Si in 2020. Originally setting his dreams onto a career as a soccer player, life set Bocelli on a…
As one of the longest-running and biggest selling bands in music history, GRAMMY-winners Chicago have staked a claim as the ultimate “rock band with horns” since their debut album was released over a half-century ago. Since those early days and throughout a run of instantly-recognizable songs from “25 or 6 to 4” to “You’re the Inspiration” and “If You Leave…
