A handful of iconic U.K. artists have taken the world by storm with their latest songs.
Sir Elton John’s latest single “Cold Heart,” with Dua Lipa and remixed by Pnau, burned up the Official U.K. Singles Chart all the way to No. 1 on Friday (Oct. 15), earning him his first No. 1 U.K. single in 16 years.
Adele confirmed her new era and gave us a glimpse of it on “Easy On Me,” her new single ahead of her upcoming album 30, which she detailed as “my ride or die throughout the most turbulent period of my life” in her official announcement.
Take a look at Billboard’s weekly roundup and the “awards” it’s giving to this week’s headlines.
Funniest Music News: Kim Kardashian roasts her whole family during SNL debut
From poking fun at her sister Kourtney and Travis Barker’s PDA to even teasing her divorce with Kanye West and every KarJenner Kontroversy in between, Kim Kardashian didn’t hold back for her first hosting gig on Saturday Night Live on Oct. 9. Watch her opening monologue here and the rest of her skits here.
Sweetest Music News: Both Usher and Lance Bass welcome new babies into their families
Usher announced Tuesday (Oct. 12) that he had recently welcomed his fourth child and his second with his girlfriend Jenn Goicoechea, a baby boy named Sire Castrello Raymond. Meanwhile, Lance Bass and his husband Michael Turchin became first-time dads (times two) with their twin “baby dragons,” a girl named Violet Betty and a boy named Alexander James, on Wednesday (Oct. 13). See Usher’s baby’s first picture here and Bass’ sweet announcement here.
Biggest Music News: Adele releases first single in five years “Easy On Me” from upcoming album 30
Adele has us choking back tears on her new emotional piano ballad “Easy On Me,” which she released Friday (Oct. 15). “Easy On Me” is the lead single from her highly anticipated forthcoming album 30, which she also announced earlier this week would be out Nov. 19. “I’ve learned a lot of blistering home truths about myself along the way,” Adele wrote in her lengthy letter about 30. Listen to “Easy On Me” here, and read our song review here, and find Adele’s new album announcement here.
Most Record-Breaking Music News: Elton John becomes first artist with top 10 hits on U.K. charts across six decades
The Rocket Man made U.K. chart history when his Dua Lipa and Pnau-assisted “Cold Heart” blasted into the top 10 of the U.K. Singles Chart last week, making him the first artist in history to notch a U.K. top 10 single in six different decades. The song finally leaped to the top of the chart on Friday (Oct. 15) after spending three consecutive weeks at No. 2. On the other side of the pond, John extends his span of top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 to five different decades, after “Cold Heart” jumped to No. 32 this week. Learn more here and here.
Most Surprising Music News: Kacey Musgraves’ album deemed ineligible for country album Grammy
Kacey Musgraves’ fifth album star-crossed has been deemed ineligible for the best country album category at the 64th annual Grammy Awards next year after the country screening committee decided it wasn’t the best fit for the genre. But the singer herself made sure to get a word in: “You can take the girl out of the country (genre) but you can’t take the country out of the girl,” she shot back on Twitter. Read more about the Recording Academy’s decision here and here and Musgraves’ response here.
Most Inspiring Music News: Ariana Grande gives away $5 million in free therapy
In honor of World Mental Health Day Sunday (Oct. 10), Ariana Grande partnered with Better Help, an online therapy provider, once more to donate up to $5 million in free therapy. “I wanted to do this again with @betterhelp in hopes of bringing access to a few more people and perhaps inspiring a few of you to try something new and prioritize your own healing,” she wrote on her socials. Learn more about Grande’s free therapy resource here.