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Pumpkin spice season gets a lot of flak and… we sort of get it. Every year, the glut of pumpkin spice products hits the shelves earlier and earlier, and each year, the number of things that become pumpkin spice-infused that shouldn’t be gets longer. But clearly, there are a good number of people who can’t get enough of this stuff; it’s not some conspiracy put on us by Big Pumpkin.

But if somehow we were able to eliminate every single pumpkin spice product from market shelves and cafe menus except for one, what would it be? You thought “pumpkin pie,” right? Because any other answer is wrong.

Pumpkin pie is the best pumpkin spice-infused food and it’s not even close. It’s a top-five Thanksgiving dinner staple, and if you’ve been tasked with pie duty this year, you’re probably going to want to show up to the dinner with the very best. That’s why — each November — we round up all the grocery store pumpkin pies we can find every year and put them to the blind taste test.

So here they are, the best grocery store pumpkin pies blind taste tested and ranked to help you win Thanksgiving.

Methodology:

To make this blind taste test as useful as possible, we targeted pumpkin pies from market chains with a multi-state presence. We did hit up one local So-Cal chain, Vons, but Vons’ parent company is Safeway, which is scattered across 16 states and carries the same products. So consider Vons, Safeway!

This year, Target unfortunately didn’t have a bake case pumpkin pie, so we picked up a Marie Calendar’s frozen pie to represent the brand.

Here is the full list of markets we hit up:

• Aldi
• Costco
• Sprouts
• Target (Marie Calendar’s Frozen Pie)
• Trader Joe’s
• Vons
• Walmart
• Whole Foods

Once we had all the pies rounded up, I had my girlfriend serve me a slice at random with a dollop of whipped cream, dug my fork in, and wrote down my initial impressions. For each slice, I made sure to focus on both the pumpkin custard and the pie crust.

Here are the results.

Part 1: The Grocery Store Pumpkin Pie Blind Taste Test

Taste 1:

A really nice balance of clove and cinnamon with a slightly dry, semi-mealy custard. I really like the bouquet of sweet, spicy, and slightly bitter notes, but the custard is really detracting from the experience. The crust is also a bit flat-tasting and bland. Not a great start to this taste test.

Taste 2:

Alright, things are looking up a bit here. The custard has a nice cinnamon and nutmeg vibe with a soft texture, and the crust is flakey but a little boring in flavor. All in all, this is a decent, if unremarkable pie.

Taste 3:

I’m torn on this one. The custard is the best I’ve had so far, it has clove, allspice, cinnamon, a touch of nutmeg, and ginger. It’s nuanced and full of flavor, but the crust is a straight-up travesty. It’s gummy, raw, and flavorless. The gap between how good the custard is and how bad the crust is is so wide.

Taste 4:

There is a dark, spicy vibe to this pie that makes it a real standout. I’m getting heavy doses of ginger and clove here, with a bit of brown sugar, cinnamon, and cardamom. Very fragrant in both smell and flavor.

The crust is interesting. It has an incredibly soft chew to it, and it’s noticeably thicker than the other pies I’ve tried so far, but the flavor is a bit neutral. If this had a more pronounced crust flavor, I’d like it much more.

Taste 5:

This pie has a lot going for it — the custard is the perfect texture, it’s silky and smooth, while the crust has a great flaxy texture and a butter-forward flavor. But the spice mix just doesn’t wow me. This pie tastes exactly how pumpkin pie should taste, but it doesn’t offer a flavor that needs to be experienced. All in all, it’s a good, not great pie.

Taste 6:

A great mix of spicy cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg, with a nice butter, crumbly crust, but there is a funky, weird, lingering aftertaste that kind of ruined this one for me.

Taste 7:

Heavy on the cinnamon and clove on the initial taste which slowly morphs into having a spicy ginger and nutmeg finish. The custard has a great firm texture, and the crust is butter-forward, a bit toasty, and perfectly flakey. It might be too early to call it, but I think we have a winner here!

Taste 8:

This pie is incredibly wet. Just staring at it, I can see the glossiness of the surface, and that visual wetness translates to the texture as well. The custard is incredibly soft, almost soupy, with a ginger and cinnamon-forward flavor with a strange funky aftertaste.

While I find the custard pretty off-putting, the crust is on point. It’s buttery, toasty, and flakey.

Taste 9:

This pie is incredibly rich and decadent. It has a strong ginger and nutmeg character, a firm texture, and a rich, toasty crust. It’s a little drier than all the other pies I’ve tried today, but that’s a small complaint.

Part 2: The Grocery Store Pumpkin Pie Ranking

9. Walmart — No Sugar Added Pumpkin Pie (Taste 6)

The Pie:

I hate to be the guy that says the one pie with no sugar added was the weakest of the bunch but, it is what it is. Now, I will say this about the NSA Walmart pumpkin pie — it’s not awful. If you’re watching your sugar intake, but still want the experience of eating pumpkin pie this holiday season, this is going to get the job done.

It tastes just like a regular pumpkin pie, the only thing that makes it obvious that its NSA is the weird cracked texture of the custard, and the slightly strange aftertaste.

The Bottom Line:

It’s a compromise, but it’s still far from an awful pumpkin pie.

8. Whole Foods — Pumpkin Pie (Taste 1)

The Pie:

This one came as a surprise to me, Whole Foods Pumpkin Pie was just fine. It has a great balance of spicy flavors, but the mealy, gritty custard and bland crust really hold it back.

For that, we can’t recommend it.

The Bottom Line:

This pie is a straight-up skip. Whole Foods is pricier than every other market on this taste test, and you’re not getting more flavor for the inflated price.

7. Costco — Pumpkin Pie (Taste 8)

The Pie:

This is going to anger all the Costco fans but I just didn’t love this pie. That’s due to the weird soupy texture of the custard, and that funky tangy aftertaste.

Having said that, for just $5.99 you’re getting a pie that is twice the size of the competition, so there is definitely value to be had here, just don’t expect to wow anyone at the dinner table with the flavor of this pie.

The Bottom Line:

A perfectly serviceable pie that offers some real value. But there are definitely better options out there.

6. Aldi — Bake Shop Pumpkin Pie (Taste 3)

The Pie:

As I said in the tasting notes, I really love the spicy, cinnamon, and clove-heavy taste of the custard, and the texture is smooth and silky. But ultimately, we’re ranking this one sixth because of the bland flavor and the weird gummy texture of the crust.

Crust should crumble or be flakey, this one was, unfortunately, gummy and came across a bit raw.

The Bottom Line:

If you’re a weirdo who doesn’t like pie crust, you’ll like this pie. But if you’re looking for the whole package, this one is a bit lacking.

5. Marie Calendar’s — Frozen Pumpkin Pie (Taste 9)

The Pie:

This one came as a straight-up shock to me. I had assumed because this was a frozen pie, it would be severely lacking, but it wasn’t. The flavor was well-balanced and wonderfully spicy, and the crust had a great texture, and toasted buttery flavor.

It was just a tad bit drier than the pies we’ve ranked higher. Maybe that comes down to a baking error on my part, but I followed the directions to a tee, so I doubt that.

The Bottom Line:

Better than you might expect. Don’t write this one off just for being frozen. It comes through in a pinch.

4. Wal-Mart — Pumpkin Pie (Taste 2)

The Pie:

In past years, Wal-Mart has performed pretty poorly in our annual pumpkin pie taste test, I’m not sure if they’ve altered their recipe, or I just happened to get a good one this time around, but I thought this pie was pretty good.

But it’s not the sort of pie that is going to wow anyone, it merely gets the job done.

The Bottom Line:

If you can find a deal on it, pick it up, but if you’re looking for a pie that is going to compete with the best dishes on your Thanksgiving spread, this one is probably going to fall short.

3. Vons (Safeway) — Jessie’s Pumpkin Pie (Taste 5)

The Pie:

I feel the same way about Vons’ pumpkin pie as I did Walmart. This is a good, but not great pie.

But compared to Walmart, I think this one had a better blend of pumpkin spice flavors, and a much better, buttery crust.

The Bottom Line:

A very good pumpkin pie, but not quite great.

2. Trader Joe’s — Pumpkin Pie (Taste 4)

The Pie:

Last year we named Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Pie as the best grocery store pie, and while I would’ve loved to give this the top spot again, that’s just not how this blind taste test played out.

So what held it back? I’d say the soft and neutral-tasting crust. It’s a small gripe to have, but we’re relying on small nuances to separate the good from great, and while I think this is a delicious pumpkin pie, I don’t think it’s the best you can buy this year.

The Bottom Line:

Dark, rich, and clove forward. Trader Joe’s pumpkin pie is excellent, but there is a better pie out there.

1. Sprouts — Pumpkin Pie (Taste 7)

The Pie:

Here it is folks, the best pumpkin pie you can buy in 2024. Sprouts pumpkin pie wins for having a perfect blend of pumpkin spice flavors, a perfect smooth custard, and a wonderful buttery crust. This is the only pie I tasted today that didn’t have any noticeable shortcomings.

As soon as I had my first bite of this pie, I had a strong suspicion it would end up on top. If you’re looking to win Thanksgiving this year, hit up Sprouts and pick up this pumpkin pie. Hell, get two!

The Bottom Line:

A great balance of clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger, with a perfect silky custard and a rich buttery crust.

Big news for Blackpink fans: Rosé is set to appear on a new episode of Hot Ones that premieres tomorrow (November 7) at 11 a.m. ET. First We Feast shared a teaser clip today, and in it, Rosé breaks down the chorus of her new Bruno Mars collaboration “APT.”

In the clip (found here), she explains that the chorus is derived from “a Korean drinking game” called “APT.” She then simulates what it’s like, alternating putting one hand on top of the other as she chants the songs chorus. She ends it with a “one, two, three, four, five, six” before explaining, “and whoever gets on the top takes the shot.”

She previously discussed this in a press release, saying, “‘APT.’ is actually my favorite Korean drinking game that I play with my friends back home. It’s so simple, puts a smile on your face, and breaks the ice at any party. One night in the studio I taught my crew how to play the game. Everyone was fascinated, especially when I started the chant, so we played around with it and I said we should make a song out of it… and after Bruno joined the track, the rest became history!”

That history is currently in the making, as the song has so far peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making it her first top-10 single in the US as a solo artist.

LeBron James is in his 22nd season in the NBA, and has been part of the national basketball consciousness since he was, at least, a junior in high school. His presence as one of the most prominent figures in basketball hasn’t just meant he’s been part of the sports conversation for the last quarter century, but he also became the reference point for basketball in the music world as well.

Similar to Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, and Allen Iverson, LeBron has been regularly mentioned by artists in the hip-hop world and beyond. You can find hundreds if not thousands of songs that name-drop LeBron, both positively and negatively, and here we wanted to look at 23 notable examples of LeBron’s impact on the music world by way of the lyrics that shout him out, starting from 2003 all the way to 2024.

“Gangsta Sh*t” — G-Unit (2003)

I keep a holster on my shoulder like I’m John Wayne/Shooting these n****s lights out like LeBron James

One of the first LeBron mentions on a track came early in his rookie year in 2003, when Young Buck says he’s shooting like LeBron, which I have to note is a little funny given shooting was the one thing LeBron rather famously wasn’t very good at as a rookie.

“Gettin It In” — Jadakiss ft. Kanye West (2004)

N****s tryna figure out, since Kan’ came/Who the rookie of the year, me or LeBron James?

Kanye West, fresh off the release of “College Dropout” earlier that year, boasts his rookie season is as strong as LeBron’s in his verse on this Jadakiss track.

“Dough Is What I Got” — Lil Wayne (2006)

When it comes down to this recording/I must be LeBron James if he’s Jordan/No, I won rings with my performance/I’m more Kobe Bryant of an artist

Lil Wayne wouldn’t release “Best Rapper Alive” until 2008 on Tha Carter II, but his remix of Jay-Z’s “Show Me What You Got” two years prior asserted that position in the midst of his iconic mixtape run. To illustrate that fact, he made a reference to LeBron but became one of the first artists to use that as a bit of a jab, saying he’s more Kobe than LeBron because he “won rings with my performance.” I’m not sure what the first RINGZ argument was to be used against LeBron, but I have to imagine Lil Wayne doing so three years into James’ career was one of the earliest.

“Make Tha Trap Say Aye” — OJ Da Juiceman ft. Gucci Mane (2008)

Banana donk Chevy interior like the Lakers/LeBron James wrist when I’m f**kin’ with that caper

What did OJ Da Juiceman know in 2008 when he referenced the Lakers and LeBron James in back-to-back lines??? An aside, OJ Da Juiceman is an underrated Atlanta artist, and this isn’t even his best NBA reference off this album (“Nah Ming” is a classic).

“Empire State of Mind” — Jay-Z ft. Alicia Keys (2009)

Me? I gotta plug Special Ed, “I Got It Made”/If Jeezy’s payin’ LeBron, I’m payin’ Dwyane Wade

Probably the LeBron reference that pops into most people’s heads first when it comes to a rap lyric. By this point, LeBron had passed Michael Jordan in terms of being synonymous with the number 23 in pop culture. The reference is to Jeezy’s “23, 24” in which he says “I used to pay Kobe (24), but now I pay LeBron (23)” in the chorus, with Jay-Z noting that if Jeezy’s paying 23, he’s just paying Dwyane Wade (3). I have to say, there’s no way this was a profitable venture for Jay-Z’s plug if he was getting bricks for $3,000. Also, in hindsight, it’s kind of wild Jay-Z put this bar down a full year before LeBron left Cleveland for Miami to play with Wade.

“Dead Presidents II” — J. Cole (2009)

I’m nothing like these ho-like rappers, my whole life practice/To be the one, what’s it like to be LeBron

Another artist who has frequently made mention of LeBron (and plenty of other NBA stars), J. Cole compares himself to LeBron with shouldering expectations to be the greatest in this track off 2009’s “The Warm Up”.

“Popular Demand” — Clipse ft. Pharrell and Cam’Ron (2009)

Used to have this white b**ch, she looked like Madonna though/Heard that she f**king LeBron, but s**t, I don’t know/Like that, Bron-Bron? I had that long time ago

As mentioned in the intro, not every LeBron reference was the most positive and this was the time where LeBron fatigue had set in a bit. This one, however, had nothing to do with James’ failures to land a ring by 2009, but instead Pusha T offered up some allegations of impropriety in what I have to imagine is one of LeBron’s least favorite mentions he’s ever gotten.

“Gotta Have It” — Jay-Z and Kanye West (2011)

West: Sorry I’m in pajamas, but I just got off the PJ/And last party we had, they shut down Prive
Jay-Z: Ain’t that where the Heat play? (Yup)/N****s hate ballers these days (Yup)
West: Ain’t that like LeBron James?
Jay-Z: Ain’t that just like D-Wade? Wait

We probably could’ve pulled 23 references about LeBron just by these two, but in their triumphant track off “Watch The Throne”, Jay-Z and West go back-and-forth with a shoutout to the two stars of the Miami Heat at the time.

“Martians vs. Goblins” — The Game ft. Tyler, the Creator and Lil Wayne (2011)

Fall back like LeBron’s hairline against the Mavericks…he lost

Leave it to Tyler, the Creator to have one of the funnier bars about LeBron James, making both a hairline joke and a Heat losing to the Mavs in the Finals joke all in one line on this track with The Game.

“Believe It” — Meek Mill ft. Rick Ross (2012)

I ball hard like LeBron James/And Rozay D-Wade n****

The LeBron/Wade pairing made for a lot of song references in their time in Miami, this time with Meek Mill comparing he and Rick Ross to the Heat duo — these two also are frequent LeBron name-droppers.

“Timber” — Pitbull ft. Kesha (2013)

Club jumpin’ like LeBron now, Voli/Order me another round, homie

One of the biggest songs in terms of popularity to feature a LeBron reference, courtesy of Mr. Worldwide (formerly Mr. 305), who shouts out the then Heat star in one of his biggest hits.

“LeBron James” — Yo Gotti (2013)

I’m LeBron James, you a f**kin rookie

There are a lot of songs that name-check LeBron but Yo Gotti was one of the first major artists to release a song with James’ name as the title, using his name as a main part of the chorus.

“Bitch Better Have My Money” — Rihanna (2015)

Pay me what you owe me/Ballin’ bigger than LeBron

Rihanna was once a regular courtside at NBA games and a noted LeBron fan, so it came as little surprise when she mentioned James in the opening verse of her 2015 hit single.

“Sleep Walking” — Migos (2015)

I’m a fool with the rock like LeBron James

For a time there were few groups that were more prevalent at NBA games and All-Star Weekends than the Migos, and Offset led off their 2015 track with a LeBron mention in the opening verse.

“Trap Trap Trap” — Rick Ross ft. Young Thug and Wale (2017)

Renzel got me all day, I’m Kyrie, he LeBron James

By 2017, the references to James and a fellow star teammate had flipped from Dwyane Wade and LeBron to Kyrie and LeBron, which pops up in another Rick Ross track, this time in Wale’s verse.

“Nonstop” — Drake (2018)

Catch me cause I’m gone (Outta there, I’m gone)/How I go from 6 to 23 like I’m LeBron?

Another artist with plenty of references to LeBron in songs through the years, Drake’s 2018 hit is probably the biggest with a LeBron mention, as he plays off both of LeBron’s numbers from Miami and Cleveland (and L.A.).

“RNP” — Cordae ft. Anderson Paak (2019)

Cordae: I bought a Moncler coat for the times we were broke
Paak: I’ma wear it in the summer on LeBron James’ boat

This might be one of my favorites because it has nothing to do with basketball, it’s just Paak flaunting that his life is dope enough he might get invited to hang out on a yacht with LeBron.

“Disco S**t” — 03 Greedo and Kenny Beats ft. Freddie Gibbs (2019)

Dope game, brought the kilos on the plane/23, LeBron James, got my package on the airline, yeah, now

A decade after Jeezy’s “23, 24” and Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind”, LeBron remained the go-to reference for the number 23 in rap, as Freddie Gibbs proved again on his verse here.

“Está Cabrón Ser Yo” — Bad Bunny and Anuel AA (2020)

LeBron James, cabrón, yo juego toa’ la’ posicione’/Michael Phelps tirao’ pa’ atrá’, nadando en mi’ millone’

LeBron’s influence in the music world isn’t stateside, as he has been regularly mentioned by Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny, including in this 2020 track (along with Michael Phelps).

“All In” — Lil Baby (2020)

I go LeBron when it’s crunch time, it ain’t no holdin’ me

One thing you notice when you lay these lyrics out chronologically is how the narrative around LeBron changed constantly. If someone had rapped “I go LeBron when it’s crunch time” in a song in, say, 2009 it would’ve had a wildly different meaning than in 2020 when Lil Baby said it boastfully.

“Dynamite” — BTS (2020)

Sing-song when I’m walkin’ home/Jump up to the top, LeBron
Further cementing LeBron’s status as a global superstar, he found his way into one of the biggest K-Pop hits with a reference in the opening verse of BTS’ massive 2020 hit.

“The Scenic Route” — Dr. Dre ft. Rick Ross and Anderson Paak (2021)

Ross: In them funny pants, I had a gun in mine
Dre: LeBron James numbers, go ‘head, analyze ’em

By 2021, LeBron had climbed to the top of most pages in the NBA’s record books which Dr. Dre referenced in his boastful track going back-and-forth with Rick Ross.

“Meet The Grahams” — Kendrick Lamar (2024)

Hey, LeBron, keep the family away, hey, Curry, keep the family away

The most sinister of the LeBron mentions comes on Kendrick Lamar’s scathing diss track on Drake from this year, in which he leaves no doubt his feelings on the Toronto star and warns LeBron, Stephen Curry, and others to “keep the family away.”

Ahead of the 2024 election, Cardi B surprisingly endorsed Kamala Harris for President after previously declaring she would not vote in the election because of her disappointment in Joe Biden. However, despite co-signs from stars like Beyoncé, Eminem, and Rihanna, Harris’ campaign was unable to overcome America’s 200-year legacy of bigotry and sexism, allowing 34-time felon Donald Trump to return to the Oval Office in January 2025.

While Cardi shared (and deleted) a few spur-of-the-moment reactions, her official statement wound up being a consolatory message to Kamala Harris. On Twitter, Cardi prefaced her statement with an acknowledgement: “Before Kamala joined the race, we knew how this country is set up and what was probably going to happen,” she wrote, “but it was so inspiring how she fought and changed so many minds, including mine.” You can read Cardi’s full message below:

To Vice President Kamala, no matter what they’ve said to bring you down or belittle your run for presidency they can never say you didnt run your race with honesty and with integrity! You really put up a fight against all the odds that were already stacked against you! You never accepted defeat as an option which says so much about your strength and about your heart. You really wanted better for ALL of us! This may not mean much but I am so proud of you! No one has ever made me change my mind and you did! I never thought I would see the day that a woman of color would be running for the President of the United States, but you have shown me, showed my daughters and women across the country that anything is possible. Thank you for being an example, thank you for being empowered, thank you for being a real example of what the American dream should be!

As Howard University’s 100th Homecoming celebration gets closer, pressure to put on a spotlight-stealing show and live up to the legacy of legendary hip-hop producer, Just Blaze, begins to weigh on the “Showtime” Marching Band and Director Chancellor Mills.

“Make me look good,” Blaze pleads with the band, who look exhausted from rigorous practice in the second video of the Howard Halftime series above. But they are determined to make the mogul proud, one up their rivals, and bring the school’s band program into a new era. Though the reaction to the planned performance is mostly love, Mills has gotten a bit of trepidation from alums worried about “protecting certain traditions.” He’s not deterred though, “This yields an opportunity to say ‘Look, I got it.’”

Blaze, on the other hand, couldn’t be more excited about the collab. “I’ve been waiting for this moment all my life, and didn’t even realize it until now.” He’s not the only person thoroughly anticipating a great performance. Denise Saunders Thompson, Assistant Dean to the Chadwick Boseman College of Fine Arts, takes time out of her busy schedule to meet Mills, Blaze, and the band on the field to complement and encourage their progress. “Were gonna break the internet with this performance,” she tells the group, hoping to manifest this new standard-setting moment with her words.

Check out this and future installments of the series to see if the dream becomes reality.

Since 2014, Ariana Grande has released six albums and generally been a pop titan. As for her next ten years… well, it appears Grande might dial it back some on the music front.

On a new episode of Matt Rogers and SNL star Bowen Yang’s Las Culturistas podcast, Grande said:

“I am gonna say something so scary. It’s going to scare the absolute sh*t out of my fans and everyone, but I love them and they’ll deal and we’ll be here forever. I’m always going to make music, I’m always going to go on stage, I’m always going to do pop stuff, I pinky-promise. But, I don’t think doing it at the rate I’ve been doing it for the past ten years is where I see the next ten years.

I love acting, I love musical theater. I think reconnecting with this part of myself, who started in musical theater and who loves comedy […] it really does [feed me], in a different way than songwriting and writing about my own pain, because it’s just kind of like constantly re-living that one thing that you wrote the song about.”

Elsewhere on the same episode, Grande busted out an exemplary Hermione Granger impression.

Earlier this spring, Ariella shared her debut single, “Blindsided.” That song, featured on her first studio record, CryBaby, encapsulates the various key attributes of her music: soft folk guitars, gentle vocals, and warm banjo. Throughout the rest of the album, Ariella abides by this core template while branching out into other sonic terrains.

On “Cold,” her heavily AutoTuned voice conjures Bon Iver’s Vocoder experiments and Alex G’s recent, occasional flirtations with hyper-pop. “Hot Toddy – Interlude” gradually swells from a muted instrumental palette into a 6/8 percussive swing. Ariella’s voice may be relatively new, but it already sounds well-established.

Following the record’s release in October, Ariella sat down with Uproxx to talk about Alex G, her green thumb, Asheville, and more in our latest Q&A.

What are four words you would use to describe your music?

Vulnerable, emotional, cowboy, earnest.

It’s 2050 and the world hasn’t ended and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?

I’d want my music to be remembered for its emotional honesty and for helping people feel less alone during difficult times, like a diary that listeners can return to for comfort and healing.

Who’s the person who has most inspired your work, and why?

Bon Iver was the first music I felt like I discovered on my own without my parents or my siblings as a kid. I was completely blown away by the use of production as composition and electronic elements in folk music. For Emma has stuck with me forever.

Where did you eat the best meal of your life and what was it?

The best meal I’ve ever eaten was at Amiga Amore, a family owned Mexican-Italian restaurant in the Highland Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. I’d never had anything like it but there is nothing on the menu that won’t blow your mind.

Tell us about the best concert you’ve ever attended.

The best concert I’ve ever attended was Alex G at Prospect Park in Brooklyn in 2023. It was such a good crowd with a great energy. He played at sunset with great weather and it was just an amazing show.

What song never fails to make you emotional?

“In My Arms” by Alex G.

What’s the last thing you Googled?

“Bike for sale in Los Angeles”

Where’s the weirdest place you’ve ever crashed while on tour?

This might be more cool than weird, but when we were in Nashville last March, we got to stay in a barn a little outside the city.

What’s your favorite city in the world to perform and what’s the city you hope to perform in for the first time?

My favorite city I’ve ever played in was Asheville, NC, and the destruction the city has recently faced is absolutely heartbreaking to see. I am sending out love and prayers to all the folk out there who have been affected by Hurricane Helene. I hope the city and its communities receive the aid they need to rebuild and restore their home. I also hope to eventually get out to Montreal one day. I have never been to Canada, and Montreal seems like such a unique city.

What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?

I would tell my 18-year-old self to trust the process, and that things happen the way they are supposed to.

What’s one of your hidden talents?

This year, I have been gardening quite a lot and I’d say I’ve developed a bit of a green thumb!

If you had a million dollars to donate to charity, what cause would you support and why?

If I had a million dollars I would use it to support having more free and accessible youth arts programs here in the United States. I believe music and the arts are extremely therapeutic and an essential part of child development– and accessible art programs are often underfunded and far and few between.

What are your thoughts about AI and the future of music?

AI in music makes me a bit uneasy because, while I understand it can offer a more affordable and accessible option for creating music, which benefits consumers, it also poses challenges for the people behind the scenes—like mastering engineers, session players, and musicians. When music is made without human involvement, it risks making it harder for those who rely on their craft to continue thriving in the industry.

You are throwing a music festival. Give us the dream lineup of 5 artists that will perform with you and the location it would be held.

My dream lineup would be Wednesday, Big Thief, MJ Lenderman, Rilo Kiley, and Slow Pulp. And it would be in a lavender field in Santa Fe, NM.

Who’s your favorite person to follow on social media?

@bug_girl_69

What’s the story behind your first or favorite tattoo?

I only have one tattoo and it was a tattoo my neighbor gave me for free. He was building a camper for the back of his truck and said if I helped him he’d give me a tattoo. I said I wanted a mustache on my finger. He thought I was kidding and made me ask him formally three times before he’d believe I was serious.

What is your pre-show ritual?

The day of the show I like to keep a clear head. I feel the most prepared when I can get at least an hour of relaxation in before the show. Whether that is a nap in the car on the road or at home, I like some moments of quiet before each show.

Who was your first celebrity crush?

My first celebrity crush was definitely Danny Phantom. Even though he is only a cartoon character, I remember thinking he was so cute!

You have a month off and the resources to take a dream vacation. Where are you going and who is coming with you?

My dream vacation would be going to Death Valley when the pools are filled with water. I would love to get all my friends together and stay in some sort of off-grid clay home.

What is your biggest fear?

Losing my ability to create music or express myself through sound. It’s such a huge part of how I process my emotions and I don’t know what I would do without it.

CryBaby is available now via Lauren Records. Find more information here.

For years, Addison Rae was a name that I recognized, but refused to learn why she was famous. I knew it had something to do with TikTok, but I, a millennial without an Instagram account, was content making that None Of My Business. My ignorance extended to her debut single, “Obsessed,” released in 2021 to scathing reviews. But then it was announced she was working with Charli XCX, and suddenly, I was forced to learn who Addison Rae is. I’m glad I did.

The first sign that I underestimated Rae was her 2023 EP, AR. The cover has her blowing a bubble with gum, an appropriate choice for the deep appreciation of bubblegum pop — and shiny electropop — in “I Got It Bad.” (One of the song’s producers is Rami Yacoub, who worked on “…Baby One More Time.”) “2 Die 4” features Charli XCX and wouldn’t sound out of place on Brat, while “Nothing On (But The Radio)” — originally intended for Lady Gaga — would have been blasting out of every radio in the 2000s. Instead, AR did well on Spotify, and Rae was beginning to win over the doubters.

Earlier this year, Rae appeared on Charli XCX’s “Von Dutch” remix (it’s good to be friends with Charli; she’s like Adam Sandler in that respect). She also released “Diet Pepsi,” her first song since signing with major label Columbia Records. Once again, I was skeptical, although this time for a different reason: Diet Coke > Diet Pepsi. But “Diet Pepsi,” the song, is a promising turning point for Rae. She isn’t as expressive a vocalist as Lana Del Rey, but there are breathy Lana-like inflections to “Diet Pepsi” (no references to how a certain part of her body tastes, however). But whereas LDR is interested in exploring a curdled Americana, Rae is here for a good time, possibly a long time. It seems silly to call a song about having sex in the backseat of a car “mature,” but “Diet Pepsi” is an artist demanding to be taken seriously.

It’s always interesting when an artist is asked to define their sound. What is “Addisoncore” to Addison Rae? It’s “lots of laughs, a good time, and openness.” In other words, it’s “Aquamarine.” The ethereal follow-up single to “Diet Pepsi” is gloriously unsubtle — “The world is my oyster / Baby, come touch the pearl” — but subtly isn’t what we’re here for. “Aquamarine” is hot girl music (complimentary). It’s the sound of smoking two cigarettes at once or a dance routine in a grungy alley in a glamorous city, just because it looks cool.

Maybe the best word to describe Rae is unapologetic. I think back to an interview she did with Interview where she was asked when she feels the hottest. “I definitely feel the hottest after a workout or when I have a tan,” she said. “When I have a tan, I feel hot and sexy and with no makeup. But I love the post-gym moment, like looking at my body naked after a workout, taking off my clothes, my hair’s wet. I have super flushed cheeks and I can tell my body just worked so hard for me. I feel like that’s when I feel the sexiest.”

Most people would feign humility here or make up something about how they feel hot when they’re reading a book with a cup of tea, or whatever. But not Addison Rae. She’s answering truthfully, confidently, unapologetically. As Charli XCX told Vogue, “She was like no one I’d ever met really. Not jaded. Not faking. Not uncomfortable. Not trying to be anything other than herself.” First with the AR EP and now in “Diet Pepsi” and “Aquamarine,” you can hear Rae’s conviction in herself extending to her increasingly dynamic music.

Addison Rae has won me over, and if you give her a chance, she’ll make a believer (or “Sunrae”) out of you, too.

Ariana Grande recently reminded the world how hilarious she can be with a terrific Saturday Night Live hosting appearance. On the show, she busted out a pair of great impressions, of Jennifer Coolidge and Celine Dion.

It turns out she had another impression in her bag that she didn’t bust out: Emma Watson as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter movies.

On a new episode of Las Culturistas — the podcast hosted by Matt Rogers and SNL favorite Bowen Yang — Yang asked Grande to do her Hermione impression. Grande responded with a pretty fantastic impersonation, putting on an exasperated voice and telling Harry about some predicament Ron Weasley finds himself in.

Check out the clip here.

Grande has showed off her Harry Potter fandom on numerous occasions over the years. In a 2014 tweet, she wrote, “when in doubt…. reread the entire harry potter series.” In 2015, Draco Malfoy actor Tom Felton said he thought Grande would be a Gryffindor, and she responded on Twitter (now X), “pottermore said slytherin but i’ll take it.”

Then, in 2017, she responded to a JK Rowling tweet about a spider with a very inside-baseball reference. Grande also has multiple Harry Potter-inspired tattoos, including the word “Lumos” (a spell from the books) and “9 ¾,” a nod to the iconic Platform 9 ¾ where wizards can board the Hogwarts Express.