Piers Morgan, who is all ride-or-die for the British Royals, isn’t thrilled at all that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry spoke with Oprah Winfrey to tell-all. As a result, he ended up getting thrashed by a Black Good Morning Britain colleague after he bashed the couple and defended the Royal Family despite some racist remarks (about the color of Archie’s skin) by unidentified members. Never mind that Meghan and Harry were essentially muzzled for years, and they fled the U.K. for California to escape what they considered an unendurable situation. Nope, Piers was standing firm on his stance that Meghan is not to be believed, and Piers further argued that Harry is behaving in a “shameful” manner for co-signing the “vile destructive self-serving nonsense” from Meghan.
Let’s just say that the situation was primed for another colleague to come for Piers, and that’s what happened on Tuesday morning’s Good Morning Britain. Co-host Alex Beresford spoke about how Prince Harry was shaped by losing his mother at a young age and standing in front of her coffin while on the world stage. Alex suggested that this experience helps to inform Harry’s life decisions (including defending his wife), and then he accused Piers of having a very personal beef. “I understand you don’t like Meghan Markle, you’ve made it so clear a number of times on this program, a number of times,” Beresford said to Piers. “And I understand you’ve got a personal relationship with Meghan Markle, or you had one and she cut you off.”
Alex was making reference to how Piers has previously discussed (as detailed by THR) how he went on a “pub” date with Meghan in 2015 before she dated Harry. “Has she said anything about you since she cut you off?” Beresford asked in front of the Good Morning Britain audience. “I don’t think she has, and yet you continue to trash her.” And with that Piers had enough and fled the scene.
Piers Morgan just walked off the Good Morning Britain set (!!!) after co-presenter Alex Beresford defended Harry and Meghan and condemned Piers’ treatment of them in yesterday’s programming pic.twitter.com/mH75J8ND4O
Piers’ grouchy exit didn’t stop Alex from accusing his colleague of “diabolical behavior.” Alex continued: “Piers spouts off on a regular basis, and we all have to sit there and listen, 6:30-7:00 yesterday was incredibly hard to watch.”
Well, it was clear from the beginning of the GMB episode that Piers was still ready to rumble over the Royals, and the tension in the studio was palpable.
Piers had only been hosting for <10 minutes but the atmosphere in the GMB studio is palpable pic.twitter.com/zciBTHSjzV
The Royal Family’s cheerleader also tweeted a quote: “‘I would rather die of passion than of boredom.’ Émile Zola.” Very true: No one has accused Piers Morgan of being boring.
WandaVision gave us a series finale worthy of the Marvel Cinematic Universe last week, but we still have an entire multiverse-worth of questions that need answering. Luckily, the show dropped a few clues as to the direction of the Scarlet Witch’s future story arc, and the roles some of the supporting characters might play in future MCU movies.
So, put on a kettle of tea and project your astral form because we’ve got a lot of thoughts about where Marvel should go after the events in Westview and nothing but time — an entire year in fact — to theorize on how Doctor Strange, Captain Marvel, and Spider-Man might fit in.
Disney+/Marvel
Bow Down To The Most Powerful Avenger
If Kathryn Hahn is telling us Wanda Maximoff aka Scarlet Witch is now the most powerful Avenger, stronger even than the Sorcerer Supreme, then that’s the MCU gospel and it’s above reproach. But even if Agatha Harkness didn’t spend the show’s finale harping on about Wanda’s limitless chaos magic and cackling over her chance to score some of that sweet red juice, what Scarlet Witch was able to do — reverting Westview back to its former glory, spelling runes to keep her enemy in check, crafting a sick-looking costume for herself, and retreating to the woods to do some Darkhold studying — proves there’s a new magic-user on top. (Sorry, Stephen Strange.)
The problem is, now that Wanda’s discovered what she really is, it’s likely other beings have to. Of course, chief among them should be Doctor Strange, whose whole job is to monitor threats from magical entities. There’s no way he didn’t feel that disturbance Wanda caused in Westview, and with Scarlet Witch in possession of one of the forbidden ancient tomes, it’s likely he’ll be seeking her out (or vice-versa) when the Multiverse Of Madness kicks off. We know Elizabeth Olsen is slated to appear in that movie, and we’re betting that her character’s recent embrace of her seemingly unchecked power might have stirred more interest from some seedy characters, ones that probably don’t come with their own cutesy theme song and aren’t as deliciously wicked as Agatha.
Yes, we’re talking about Mephisto, the Satanic villain who caused all kinds of hell in Marvel’s comic book series. We had good reason to believe he might pop up during WandaVision, but the show smartly stuck to giving us one baddie (Kathryn Hahn doesn’t need an evil sidekick anyways) this time around. That might be because Marvel already has plans to introduce Mephisto in the Doctor Strange sequel. After all, they’re going to need someone who can go toe-to-toe with both the Sorcerer Supreme and Scarlet Witch which means their roster of genocidal maniacs is severely limited. If Mephisto has been hanging around with nothing to do and no worlds to destroy, the battle between Agatha and Wanda might’ve landed on his magical radar which makes Agatha’s prediction that Wanda will need her help soon feel even more ominous.
Disney+/Marvel
Not The Baby (Arms)!
In the second post-credit scene of the WandaVision finale, while Wanda brews herself a cup of tea and gives us major cottagecore vibes, the astral form of Scarlet Witch is downloading all of the information the Darkhold has to offer. (Side Note: We know a bunch of college kids who would kill for this ability come finals week.) Before the screen cuts to black, the voices of Tommy and Billy (Wanda’s twins who she had to say goodbye to so that her spell over Westview could be lifted) can be heard begging their mother for help.
Marvel’s done some pretty awful things — killing Black Widow, making us suffer through Hawkeye’s mohawk for an entire movie — but getting rid of Tommy and Billy just when we were starting to really love the rascals is cruel, even for Kevin Feige and company. Our bet is that the boys are stuck in the multiverse somewhere, which might be what spurs Wanda to seek Doctor Strange’s help in rescuing them. That theory also ties into a comic book storyline that sees Mephisto (this guy, are we right?) absorbing their powers and using their tiny bodies as his new arms. Graphic novels can obviously get away with weirder plot points, but the idea that Mephisto might seek out Tommy and Billy, wherever they are, to not only gain their abilities but also lay a trap for Wanda — who’s the most powerful being in the MCU right now — isn’t that far-fetched. And really, who doesn’t want an encore of that “Boys, handle the military. Mommy will be right back,” scene, right?
Disney+/Marvel
Will The Real Vision Please Synthezoid Up?
It’s a rare thing when a climactic epic superhero battle can take a pause and give us a philosophical lesson using two synthezoids who like reading about ships but that’s exactly what WandaVision did when it had Wanda’s Vision and Hayward’s Vision square off in the town hall. The Ship of Theseus thought experiment asks the question: If an object has all of its parts replaced, does it remain the same object? The two bots ponder this for a bit while Wanda and Agatha throw hex bombs outside, but eventually, Wanda’s Vision is able to use some of the powers from his Mind Stone to unlock memories Hayward has kept from the being that’s now referred to as White Vision. As soon as he’s able to remember everything up until Thanos destroyed him, White Vision flies off to parts unknown but there’s no way the MCU is going to let Paul Bettany glide off into the sunset after he put so much work into making “attraction to synthezoids” a new sexual orientation.
This new Vision has popped up in both the West Coast Avengers comic series and in Tom King’s “The Vision,” so there’s material to pull from should Marvel want to give the character a completely new look. The biggest question will be this: how do you keep that suit clean?
Disney+/Marvel
Monica “Un-Grounded” Rambeau
WandaVision gave us one of the more compelling superhero origin stories when they introduced Monica Rambeau to audiences as both a kick-ass S.W.O.R.D. agent and Wanda’s unofficial, non-licensed therapist this season. Monica was the only character who could empathize with the overwhelming loss and suffocating sense of grief the young Avenger was feeling and she inadvertently gained some extraordinary powers when she broke through the Hex in an attempt to save her friend from herself. The finale’s first post-credits scene saw Monica being called to Westview’s abandoned theater by an unknown S.W.O.R.D. official who turned out to be a Skrull in disguise. She told Rambeau, “He heard you’d been grounded. He’d like to meet with you,” before pointing up to the sky. Monica gives her a little smirk, likely signaling she knows who this mysterious “he” is. We do too. It’s Nick Fury, who’s been chilling in space ever since Spider-Man: Far From Home’s end-credits revealed he’d swapped places with Skrull leader Talos for some intergalactic R&R. It’s likely Monica will head to the Skrull’s base where she’ll learn more about her new abilities and reunite with Auntie Carol aka Captain Marvel. Their current relationship seems a little strained but it’s nothing a good space battle and super-powered training montage can’t fix, right?
Disney+/Marvel
Pietro Fake-Out
Okay, we refuse to believe Evan Peters came back as Pietro Maximoff just for the payoff to be a pretty weak boner joke. Maybe this “Ralph” wasn’t the real Quicksilver, but that doesn’t take the X-Men tie-in option off the table entirely. In fact, it seems strange that WandaVision dedicated an entire episode to revisiting Wanda’s childhood trauma and revealing she had powers before her HYDRA experiment kicked off, to just nullify all that potential crossover work for some crude high school locker room humor.
Other Marvel works like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. have implied there are people with dormant abilities whose powers can be awakened, and Agatha referred to this herself when she said Wanda’s magic might have “died on the vine” if it hadn’t been charged up by an Infinity Stone. Maybe the key to bringing about mutants to the MCU isn’t the multiverse, but all of the energy released by the stones post-Blip?
Whatever happens in the future, WandaVision has been a worthwhile experiment for Marvel. It’s given fans a needed deep-dive into specific characters so that they could make emotional connections to these heroes — similar to what those early origin story films did for Captain America and Iron Man — and whether everything connects or some storylines are just contained to these spin-off series, this feels like a fresh, new future for the MCU.
We’re all tired of winter. Even though the first day of Spring 2021 isn’t until March 20th, we’ve already got that spring feeling when it comes to the beers we choose. But with the weather in much of the country still pretty chilly, we can’t dive directly from stouts and porters into IPAs, pale ales, and wheat beers.
We have to find a middle ground. And today that means reaching for the goat.
No, we don’t mean Brady or LeBron. We mean bock beers. Bock is the German word for goat and these darker, strong lagers have been brewed for centuries to be imbibed in the spring. While there are different versions, including doppelbocks, maibocks, and even weizenbocks, we’re going to stick to the classic, malty American craft bock this month.
Below, you’ll find ten of our favorite bock beers for spring sipping. Grab one and celebrate the changing seasons a few days early.
This American take on the traditional German-style bock has been brewed since 1951. Sipping on this malty, rich, bold beer is the perfect way to bridge the gap between winter and spring.
Tasting Notes:
On the nose, you’ll find hints of sweet toffee and rich vanilla. The sip is filled with buttery caramel, toasted malts, and a nice, subtly hoppy backbone.
Bottom Line:
This easy-to-drink spring staple is well-suited for that time of the year when the weather outside can’t decide whether it wants to stay winter or move on to spring.
There’s no American brewery known more for bock beer than Texas’ Spoetzl Brewery. Its Shiner Bock has been brewed the same way (using roasted barley and hops sourced from Germany) since its inception more than 100 years ago in 1913.
Tasting Notes:
Take a whiff and you’ll find yourself immersed in hints of brown sugar and toasted malts. On the palate, you’ll find sticky toffee, caramel, vanilla, and fresh-baked bread. It all ends with a nice, mellow, sweet finish.
Bottom Line:
If you only drink one American bock beer this spring, make it Shiner Bock. Its low-ABV makes it a highly crushable spring sipper.
This malty brew from Houston’s Karbach brewing was made to pay tribute to the famed Crawford Boxes in the outfield at Minute Maid Park (home of the Houston Astros). It was created to pair with springtime, baseball, and everything that comes along with that.
Tasting Notes:
On the nose, expect hints of toasted malts, caramel, and sweet yeast. The palate delivers flavors of toffee, sweet vanilla, fresh grains, fresh bread, and a nice, subtle tart finish.
Bottom Line:
The baseball season starts soon. There might be no better bock beer to pair with the “national pastime”.
Anchor is well-known for its Steam Beer and Liberty Ale, but its Bock is perfectly suited for spring drinking, especially on cooler days. This strong, dark German-style bock is brewed with specifically selected malts and whole-cone hops. The result is a robust, warming, dark bock that also has the fresh hop flavor of a spring beer.
Tasting Notes:
Take a moment to give this a proper nosing and you’ll find aromas of roasted barley and caramel. The sip is bursting with a combination of chocolate, vanilla, and a nice final hint of resinous hops.
Bottom Line:
Anchor is one of the oldest breweries in America for a reason. Its other beers are more well-known, but its Bock is not to be missed.
Rogue is fairly well-known in the craft beer world. But, its most popular beer is Rogue Dead Guy. This German-style bock is made with the brewery’s own Pacman yeast and a nicely balanced mix of malts and hops.
Tasting Notes:
This amber-colored brew begins with aromas of sweet honey, roasted malts, and butter caramel. The sip has hints of toffee, creamy vanilla, and a subtle, pleasing bitter finish.
Bottom Line:
This beer might have a spooky name and an even spookier label, there’s nothing intimidating about this easy sipping classic spring beer.
This potent double bock is available year-round but is most suited for late winter/early spring drinking. Made with chocolate, Pilsner, and Munich malts, and German Northern Brewer, and Magnum hops, this robust spring brew packs a solid punch.
Tasting Notes:
On the nose, you’re greeted by aromas of roasted espresso beans, sweet caramel, and rich malts. The palate is loaded with crisp hops, dark malts, and buttery vanilla. The finish is a perfectly balanced combination of bitter hops and sweet malts.
Bottom Line:
This bock deserves respect. This highly warming brew is double the ABV of most beers and should be treated as such.
This Wisconsin-style honey bock is the sweeter version of the classic German style. It’s lighter in flavor and appearance than most bock beers and it’s flavored with clover honey, along with Wisconsin sourced barley and hops from Germany.
Tasting Notes:
Take a moment to breathe in the aromas of sweet honey, subtle bitter hops, and roasted malts. Your palate will be delighted to encounter notes of caramel, clover honey, and sticky toffee. It all ends with a nice, final mix of citrus hops and sweet honey.
Bottom Line:
If you’re looking for a change of pace from the usual American-style bocks, this honey-laden offering will add a little extra sweetness to your day.
Pipeworks calls its offering “Genuine Bock” and keeps that promise. Made simply with malts, hops, and a respect for the German-style, it’s a classic example of the style.
Tasting Notes:
On the nose, you’ll find aromas of toasted malts, rich caramel, and just a hint of bitter, piney hops. The sip is full of dried fruits, rich malts, brown sugar, and a final kick of bitter, spicy hops at the very end.
Bottom Line:
If you’re looking for a classic, no-frills, fresh bock, this is the beer for you. Crack one open and sip it as you watch the snow melt outside your window.
Every Spring, Saint Arnold releases this seasonal, German-style bock made with authentic German hops. This lager is brewed for its rich malty, subtly sweet, and easy-to-drink flavors.
Tasting Notes:
On the nose, you’ll find notes of raisins, toasted malts, and caramel apples. Take a sip and you’ll pick up notes of butter cookies, brown sugar, fresh bread, and a final finish of ripe, fresh fruity hops.
Bottom Line:
Saint Arnold is dedicated to making classic, European-style beers. Its bock, only available in the spring, is one of its best.
Stevens Point Bock has been brewed the “old-time way” since 1938. From 1942 until the end of WWII production ceased. But, since then this seasonal, rich roasted, full-flavored brew has landed on shelves every spring.
Tasting Notes:
On the nose, you’ll find aromas of roasted malts, grass, and fresh-baked bread. The sip is a medley of caramelized sugar, vanilla, malts, and a final hint of subtly bitter hops.
Bottom Line:
If you’re a fan of bock beers, this is the classic, old-style brew you’ve been eagerly looking for. It’s made in a traditional way and sure to become a spring tradition for you.
The difference is, Baldwin misrepresented her Spanish heritage (she’s from Boston), while Anderson was born in the United States, moved to London at an early age, and has traveled back and forth ever since. “I grew up in both places, so it depends on who I’m talking to,” The X-Files and Sex Education star said last year about her accent. “So usually when I’m talking to Brits, it slides into British, and vice versa for American.”
Anderson was initially unaware of Baldwin’s tweet, as she doesn’t have social media on her phone (lucky). “A couple people texted to say that something was going on,” she told Entertainment Tonight. “I didn’t pay any attention to it because it’s just something that I live. I grew up between two countries and so depending on who is in my ear is which direction my accent goes. So I’m so used to it that it’s kind of old news for me.” After being told what the 30 Rock actor tweeted about her, Anderson replied, “It’s so not a newsworthy item, but I’m sad that it’s caused him so much distress.”
That droll, cheeky response should only be read in an English accent.
The 2021 Grammys are less than a week away (airing on March 14), and the nominations are a reflection of 2020’s whirlwind. In a year that was riddled by heartache and isolation, artists either dug deep into quarantine-induced loneliness that birthed relatable tunes or went the opposite route to provide cheerful music to give fans some temporary relief.
This time around, Beyoncé leads the charge with nine nominations. This brings the most nominated artist in history’s career total to 62. She’s up both as a solo artist (among others, “Black Parade” is up for four categories including Record Of The Year) as well as her “Savage” collaboration with Megan Thee Stallion (also up for Record Of The Year).
Following Beyoncé are Taylor Swift (whose total now rises to 41), Dua Lipa, and Roddy Rich, with six nods each. But there are still other artists who could walk away with some trophies, including Fiona Apple, Phoebe Bridgers, and Nas. While there are a few deserving names missing from this year’s nominations (The Weeknd, Summer Walker, and The Chicks were among the most shocking), the Grammys continue to make improvements on its diversity efforts. BTS made history as the first K-pop act to be nominated and women rightfully dominated the country and rock categories.
Check out our predictions below for how the biggest and most coveted categories could play out.
Best Rap Album
D Smoke – Black Habits
Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist – Alfredo
Jay Electronica – A Written Testimony
Nas – King’s Disease
Royce Da 5’9″ – The Allegory
Who Will Win? Nas
Who Should Win? Freddie Gibbs
With all the standout rap albums released last year, it was quite surprising when The Recording Academy opted to nominate more traditional, older artists instead of highlighting the genre’s newcomers. Nevertheless, this category is filled with decades of remarkable talent. While D Smoke, Jay Electronica, and Nas were all favorites for the “rappity rap” sector of music lovers, it’s Freddie Gibbs’ Alfredo that is an immediate standout. Linking up with esteemed producer The Alchemist, Gibbs doesn’t waste a single breath on his tight bars while dishing out a rap master class.
Best Rap Performance
Big Sean Featuring Nipsey Hussle – “Deep Reverence”
DaBaby – “Bop”
Jack Harlow – “What’s Poppin”
Lil Baby – “The Bigger Picture”
Megan Thee Stallion Featuring Beyoncé – “Savage”
Pop Smoke – “Dior”
Who Will Win? Megan Thee Stallion and Beyoncé
Who Should Win? Lil Baby
This category features all strong contenders, from the late Pop Smoke’s “Dior” continuing his posthumous reign to Jack Harlow’s “What’s Poppin” showcasing just how effortless his flow is. And of course there’s “Savage,” which finds Megan Thee Stallion teaming with her idol Beyoncé. The latter seems like the promising win here based on how massive it was, but Lil Baby shouldn’t be ignored. The rapper is at his most vulnerable on “The Bigger Picture,” as he sheds light on police brutality occurring both in his native Atlanta and across America. But what makes this protest anthem so insightful is that Lil Baby turns the mirror on himself and tries to correct the wrongs he’s done with his own violent lyrics.
Best Alternative Music Album
Fiona Apple – Fetch The Bolt Cutters
Beck – Hyperspace
Phoebe Bridgers – Punisher
Brittany Howard – Jaime
Tame Impala – The Slow Rush
Who Will Win? Fiona Apple
Who Should Win? Fiona Apple
2020 proved that alternative music still has a deserved place in mainstream music, with all five artists in this category creating some of the strongest tunes of their esteemed careers. The Slow Rush is Kevin Parker at his most refined as he imagines lush soundscapes, and both Brittany Howard’s Jaime and Phoebe Bridgers’ Punisher are graciously intimate. But not much else compares to the shocking rawness of Fiona Apple’s Fetch The Bolt Cutters. Of course, honesty has been Apple’s M.O. since her 1996 debut, but she turns the volume on max on her latest record. The most beautiful moments of Fetch The Bolt Cutters are its messiness, from Apple’s crackled, unedited vocals to the clamoring production. That kind of “zero f*cks given” energy should be commended.
Best Pop Solo Performance
Justin Bieber – “Yummy”
Doja Cat – “Say So”
Billie Eilish – “Everything I Wanted”
Dua Lipa – “Don’t Start Now”
Harry Styles – “Watermelon Sugar”
Taylor Swift – “Cardigan”
Who Will Win? Dua Lipa
Who Should Win? Doja Cat
This entire category is filled with fun pop moments, with Harry Styles inviting us to blissful paradise on “Watermelon Sugar” to Billie Eilish giving another dose of relatability on “Everything I Wanted.” Dua Lipa’s catchy earworm “Don’t Start Now” seems to be the biggest contender here, but Doja Cat’s “Say So” was just as inescapable. 2020 was a major year for the triple-threat, and it was partly due to the virality of “Say So.” After it dominated TikTok (whose dance challenge creator Haley Sharpe was featured in the video), the single literally soared onto the charts. Tacking on remix queen Nicki Minaj, “Say So” became both rappers’ first No. 1 single and also made history as the first collaboration by two female rappers to top the Hot 100. Doja Cat’s genre-bending talents combined with this song’s sheer ubiquity are surely worthy of that golden gramophone.
Best Pop Vocal Album
Justin Bieber – Changes
Lady Gaga – Chromatica
Dua Lipa – Future Nostalgia
Harry Styles – Fine Line
Taylor Swift – Folklore
Who Will Win? Taylor Swift
Who Should Win? Dua Lipa
Dua Lipa, Taylor Swift, and Harry Styles arguably gifted us with the best albums of their career in 2020, but something’s telling me that The Recording Academy will award Swift’s beloved Folklore. But let’s not rule out Lipa, who was one of the few artists in recent memory who perfectly executed a proper album era. Not only did Future Nostalgia redefine what ‘80s and ‘90s pop mean in a millennial age, but the promotion — from the visually stunning videos to the accompanying remix album that was just as good as the original — took the compelling songs to new heights.
Best Progressive R&B Album
Jhené Aiko – Chilombo
Chloe x Halle – Ungodly Hour
Free Nationals – Free Nationals
Robert Glasper – F*** Yo Feelings
Thundercat – It Is What It Is
Who Will Win? Jhené Aiko
Who Should Win? Chloe x Halle
R&B has been in the shadows of rap for the past few years, but the genre surpassed its sibling in 2020. That hasn’t been made more clear than with this category, whose name changed from Best Urban Contemporary Album to Best Progressive R&B Album to dismiss the negative connotations the word “urban” brings. Jhené Aiko’s Chilombo being an industry favorite makes it a predicted winner here, but the brilliance of Chloe x Halle’s Ungodly Hour is too hard to surpass. The duo’s sophomore album is a journey of their grown womanhood, as they explore sexuality, rising above failed relationships, feeling petty in the moment, and embracing their imperfections. And it’s all tied together with heaven-sent harmonies, otherwordly production that continues the Afro-Futurism conversation, and smart songwriting. Now, who dared to question if R&B is dead again?
As Record Of The Year is awarded for the final recorded product of a single, it’ll be fair for Megan Thee Stallion and Beyoncé’s “Savage” remix to take the win. The teamwork is between not only the two artists but also the producer and engineer, and it gave way to the catchiest song of 2020. “Savage” was already a standout from Megan’s Suga EP, which was followed by a massively viral moment once TikTok got hold of it and a new dance craze was born. So when Beyoncé decided to hop on the remix months later, the world was stopped once again. What’s better than the two biggest mainstream artists from Houston reveling in all things classy, bougie, and ratchet? But as we bring up catchiness, Dua Lipa’s “Don’t Start Now” also deserves a major hat tip.
Best New Artist
Ingrid Andress
Phoebe Bridgers
Chika
Noah Cyrus
D Smoke
Doja Cat
Kaytranada
Megan Thee Stallion
Who Will Win? Phoebe Bridgers
Who Should Win? Megan Thee Stallion
There are so many deserving artists in this category, including Kaytranada, Chika, and Doja Cat. But Phoebe Bridgers growing into such a major indie darling may give her the win here, and The Recording Academy has a history of shocking the audience when it comes to Best New Artist wins. Still, Megan Thee Stallion’s unwavering dominance in 2020 cannot be ignored. She’s grown into more than just a rapper: she is an advocate for Black women, a businesswoman who has scored multiple partnerships, a philanthropist who gives back to her community, and is leading the charge of unapologetic new-gen women rappers.
Song Of The Year
Beyoncé – “Black Parade”
Roddy Ricch – “The Box”
Taylor Swift – “Cardigan”
Post Malone – “Circles”
Dua Lipa – “Don’t Start Now”
Billie Eilish – “Everything I Wanted”
H.E.R. – “I Can’t Breathe”
JP Saxe Featuring Julia Michaels – “If The World Was Ending”
Who Will Win? Taylor Swift
Who Should Win? Dua Lipa
Like Record Of The Year, this category is also overflowing with strong contenders that range from timely matters of racial inequality to heartbreaking ballads. Seeing as this win is for songwriters though, Taylor Swift getting a gramophone for “Cardigan” makes the most sense. But let’s not knock out Dua Lipa too quickly; the sheer pop perfection of “Don’t Start Now” should get the recognition here. An unofficial sequel to 2017’s “New Rules,” the lead single to Future Nostalgia captures the album’s nu-disco spirit while elevating Lipa to new pop star territory.
Album Of The Year
Jhené Aiko – Chilombo
Black Pumas – Black Pumas (Deluxe Edition)
Coldplay – Everyday Life
Jacob Collier – Djesse Vol. 3
Haim – Women In Music Pt. III
Dua Lipa – Future Nostalgia
Post Malone – Hollywood’s Bleeding
Taylor Swift – Folklore Who Will Win? Taylor Swift
Who Should Win? Taylor Swift
Ah, Album Of The Year, the coveted Grammy that nearly every artist vies for at some point in their career. It’s also one of the most unpredictable categories as it can either go to the year’s most popular artist (see Adele in 2017 and Bruno Mars in 2018) or the year’s underdog (Kacey Musgraves in 2019 and Billie Eilish in 2020). Taylor Swift is often seen as both, with her likability swaying from overhyped to not credited enough. But there’s a reason why UPROXX chose Folklore as 2020’s best album. Jacob Collier, Haim, and Dua Lipa are all strong contenders here, yet Swift’s effort finds her at her most vulnerable. The singer-songwriter’s pen has always been sharp, and on Folklore she strengths her storytelling while also providing comfort (for herself and other listeners) in the wake of 2020’s darkness.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
“Bodak Yellow” was a huge moment for Cardi B, as the No. 1 single launched her career as a music superstar. The track quickly went on to become one of the most commercially successful hip-hop songs of all time, and now it has passed an amazing milestone: It is now the first single by a female rapper to ever achieve Diamond certification from the RIAA, which means it has reached at least 10 million sales in the US.
The RIAA confirmed the news this morning and Cardi alluded to it in a video she shared last night, in which she said, “I’ve been rehearsing all day today and I’ve been really stressed out and my body’s aching, yada yada yada. So then at rehearsal, they telling me, ‘Oh, you gotta go meet up with Atlantic.’ I’m like, ‘Yo, I’m f*cking tired. I don’t want to f*cking talk about no Grammys, I don’t want to talk about no album, I’m just tired. And then, I still got drove to a restaurant. I’m like, ‘Are you f*cking kidding me?’ I’m trying to go home, see Offset, f*ck him. Then I’m here and I just got this crazy surprise and I think you guys are going to find out tomorrow. And I just want to say thank you guys so much because without you guys, this wouldn’t have happened. This really made my day and really uplifted me for this crazy performance, and um… wow. I know you guys are going to be really happy, like really, really happy.”
It seemed like her fans already knew what was happening, though, as Cardi quickly followed up, “WTFFF !!! How the heiiilllll yall already [know] ???I can’t. I’ll be back later .DEUM YA BE KNOWING EERRTHANG !” She also added, “I need a moment guys… I’ll talk to you guys tomorrow and I’ll be reposting .I’m too emotional to see all these beautiful tweets.”
WTFFF !!! How the heiiilllll yall already now ???I can’t . I’ll be back later .DEUM YA BE KNOWING EERRTHANG !
Seth Rogen, king of quarantine productivity, visited Jimmy Kimmel to promote his weed company, Houseplant, and it was a pretty fantastic interview. Granted, this one scored entertainment points right away because Rogen and Kimmel were in the studio together. This was not a Zoom interview, and Rogen seemed thrilled while joking, “I don’t know how to conduct myself out in the world” as he reflected upon his attire (which Kimmel likened to “kind of like if Mr. Rogers got high”). That sounds about right.
The An American Pickle star had plenty to offer, of course, during this 15-minute interview, including remarking that, if Harry and Meghan could use some weed, they know where to find him. Then at around the 13-minute mark, the discussion hit a crescendo when the perpetually-high Rogen started talking about edibles, which he considers a whole different ballgame (than smoking weed) with “very scattershot experiences.” Edibles affect him so much more differently than smoking weed, in fact, that Bryan Cranston noticed something was amiss at an awards show. Uh-oh.
“I had one experience at the Golden Globes many years ago that was pretty bad, yeah. There are times with edibles where I thought I was fine, but I was not. And that’s what’s scary about edibles… [that] you don’t even know what they are doing to you,” the Pineapple Express writer and actor related. “And I was at the Globes, which is a nightmare, so I had a weed lollipop throughout the show. And I thought, in my head, ‘I’m really high, but I’m keeping it together.’ Like, that was what I kept thinking in my head, like ‘Man, this thing is f*cking me up, but at least I look and I’m acting totally normal.’”
Normal? Not so much. When Rogen slid into an afterparty, he encountered the actor who played the most notorious meth kingpin on TV. Things did not go well because the Breaking Bad star was concerned. “The first thing he said to me was, ‘Are you okay?‘””
Rogen noted that this was “an alarming question to be asked when you think you are okay. Like, if you bump into something, and you’re hurt, and someone’s like, ‘Are you okay?’ You’re like, ‘Thank you, I’m okay.’ But when you just think you’re doing good, and someone looks at you, like, very scared and says, ‘Are you okay?’ It’ll really bring you back down to earth.”
That’s when Rogen decided to cut and run because, yeah, when Bryan Cranston looks “scared,” that’s not a good sign! “That guy’s seen some things,” Rogen remarked. “I was alarming to Walter White. I must have been f*cked up…. I turned around and left.”
Doja Cat may have released her showstopping album Hot Pink back in 2019, but thanks to TikTok, much of the LP’s songs have seen an uptick in popularity. Her track “Say So” even soared to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts with help from TikTok users and a verse from Nicki Minaj. Now that “Streets” has also resurfaced on the charts in recent weeks, Doja Cat is now offering fans a video alongside the revitalized track.
The increased attention to “Streets” is in part due to the popular “Silhouette Challenge” on TikTok, which is also how she opens her sultry video. Featuring an audio mashup of Paul Anka’s 1959 “Put Your Head On My Shoulder” and “Streets,” the challenge sees users quickly changing from their bedtime clothes to posing pin-up style behind a deep red filter.
While Doja Cat is revisiting some of her Hot Pink tracks, the singer has been busy working on a handful of projects, including drumming up excitement for her next release, Planet Her. Most recently, Doja Cat teamed up with Saweetie for their buoyant collaboration “Best Friend.” She also appeared alongside Megan Thee Stallion on a sultry remix to Ariana Grande’s “34+35.”
Even with a recent tariff freeze, good scotch is always going to be more expensive than a good bourbon. We’re closing in on the $100 mark in our quest to find the best Scotch whisky at every price range and we’re only now getting into special limited releases, unique mashes, and finishings. We’re still squarely in the mid-range stuff — in fact, one of the bottles on this list is a standard 14-year-old release.
While we’re not the rarefied heights that Scotch whisky is known to reach just yet, you can rest easy knowing you’re getting something special and damn tasty for just under a hundy. And over the next couple of price rungs, things will get really interesting and unique.
As always, these prices are taken on average. Prices are always in flux. Trade wars, import costs, local state taxes, and retailer whims are going make some of these bottles a little more expensive or a little cheaper depending on where you are. Let’s dive in!
This limited edition expression from last year’s Diageo Distillers Edition is expertly crafted whisky. The Lowland juice has a finishing maturation in a specially made barrel which is constructed from used and new American oak that’s then filled with Amontillado sherry for a month. Once that fortified wine is dumped, the whisky goes in for its final maturation.
Tasting Notes:
There are hints of very soft wood next to berries steeped in honey with a light vanilla edge. The taste dips into a slight black pepper with a note of brie rinds or, maybe, a cheese cellar. The end is slow and leaves you with a nice, warm buzzing in your senses and a real feeling of velvet roundness.
Bottom Line:
This was one of our favorites when we tasted them on Expression Session earlier this year. It’s a great sipper that goes down almost too easily (even without ice).
This is a great gateway to both Oban and scotch to have on hand. The juice is classically made and then matured in the Oban storehouses for 14 long years — all within a stone’s throw of the sea.
Tasting Notes:
Citrus, salt, and a billow of peat smoke open this one up in classic fashion. That citrus carries on as a foundation for mild spices, a note of honey, hints of pears, and plummy dried fruits mingle on the tongue. The oak spice and extremely mild peat smoke meet on the end with a slight malty sweetness as the sip fades.
Bottom Line:
We have a soft spot for this tiny Highland distillery nestled in the middle of a quaint seaside town. The whisky really is one of the most accessible on the market while still packing serious sweet-leaning notes. It also pairs perfectly with a plate of raw oysters or a nice chowder.
The Macallan might be the most famous Highland malt there is. This special limited edition release drops every year and highlights the casks specifically. Whisky Maker Polly Logan hand-selects sherry barrels for the maturation of this whisky. Those barrels are then hand-selected by Logan after aging and bottled as is.
Tasting Notes:
There’s a holiday cake vibe on the nose touching on candied orange zest, dried fruit, nuts, and plenty of eggnog spices. The palate dials in on the spices, highlighting the orange zest and fresh ginger juice sharpness while the oak lingers in the background with the malts. The end doesn’t last too long and leaves you with a velvet honeyed sweetness.
Bottom Line:
These yearly releases have been excellent sippers. What you’re paying for with this bottle is the masterful craft that goes into single malts marrying sherry casking and how that can really shine.
A’bunadh (ah-boon-arh) means “the original” in Gaelic and the juice in this Highland bottle represents that for Aberlour. The whisky is matured in old Olorosso sherry casks exclusively. The juice then goes into the bottle at cask strength, unfussed with.
Tasting Notes:
That sherry plumminess is evident right up top, with hints of bright orange oils, clumps of dark chocolate, honey, and nuts, and a hint of oak. The taste shines with notes of dark, ripe cherries, prunes, more bright orange zest, dark chocolate, and a good measure of svelte vanilla. The slow finish leaves you with a creamy mouthfeel next to bitter chocolate next to sweet cherries and plums, all of which leads towards a warming spice on the tongue at the end.
Bottom Line:
This is a damn-fine sipper. A little ice or few drops of water really helps to open up the deeper bitter chocolate and vanilla edges while holding onto all those fruits. Price aside, this also makes a killer cocktail.
This whisky is named after the world’s second-largest whirlpool, which spins in the inky seas between the isles of Islay and Jura off the coast of Scotland. The juice is classic Ardbeg distillate that is aged exclusively in fresh French Limousin casks. That juice is then married to the ten-year-old Ardbeg and bottled at cask strength.
Tasting Notes:
This is a big whisky with hints of pine resin, smoked bacon fat, worn briny ropes, blue and blackberries, dark spices, and a hint of minty dark chocolate on the nose. The palate is straight-up chewy with black pepper coated bacon fat next to heavily roasted coffee beans and salted almonds all while still holding onto those dark berries as a sweet counterpoint. The end is a mix of dark berries, bitter coffee or chocolate, and that fatty and peppery smoked meat with a seaspray edge that lasts a very long time.
Bottom Line:
This is a great candidate for someone who doesn’t want to go all-in on a peat monster but still is interested. It’s very smoky, yes, but there’s a nuance to that smoke and the fatty, peppery, sea spray vibe can be really enticing (think old barbecue houses), especially when you cut this with a little water or ice.
Glenmorangie dropped this release on the North American market last year. The juice is made from Highland barley grown exclusively on the 440-acre Cadboll Estate, which surrounds the distillery. The juice is then filled into French casks which held Muscat and Sémillion wines. It’s then left alone for 15 years to mature.
Tasting Notes:
There’s a sense of buttered scones with lemon curd next to a good dose of vanilla and a touch of savory herbs on the nose. The palate really holds onto that biscuity nature while adding in a caramel candy note next to a bit of butter with a white sugar cube vibe. That lemon comes back on the short finish with hints of old straw and strawberry jam.
Bottom Line:
This is an interesting one-off. This really doesn’t feel like an everyday sipper, as it leans a little sweet (for us), but we can see how this could be someone’s jam with all that lemon/strawberry/buttered biscuit depth.
This drop from last fall is the first in a new line from the Orkney Island’s distillery. The juice is a blend of single malts that are aged exclusively in old American oak that held sherry. The barrels are married and bottled as is to assure you’re getting all the nuance and flavor of their malts meeting that oak.
Tasting Notes:
There’s a light sense of wildflowers on the nose with a rich vanilla husk that leads towards a touch of peat. The taste is surprisingly silken (for a cask strength) with rich and buttery toffee next to honeysuckle, eggnog spices and creaminess, and a small dose of orange zest as a counterpoint. The end holds onto the creaminess and spices as the peat just edges in with a whisper of resinous pine smoke.
Bottom Line:
This is another great option for someone looking to just dip their toes in the peat world. There’s definite smoke in play, but it takes a backseat to the finer points of the dram, especially when a little water is added. You’ll get this dark chocolate sense with a bit of a wet forest vibe.
Tamdhu continues to quietly put out award-winning whiskies. Their limited-edition releases in their Batch Strength series always wow. The juice was aged for 15 years in American and European oak that held sherry in Spain. The whisky is then bottled from batched barrels with zero fussing.
Tasting Notes:
The nose has vanilla beans mixing with walnut shells, dark spices, and a note of sherried oak. The palate veers away from that with highlights of buttery biscuits, orange oils, bright red berries, more spice, and a creamy mouthfeel. The end is medium-length and hits on that spice, oak, and fruit one last time, leaving you with a sweet finish.
Bottom Line:
This one will be a little harder to source but worth the effort. It’s a special bottle that’d work well as a gift or just a slow weekend sipper.
Deanston is renowned for making unique expressions. Their 15-Year Orange Whisky uses barley that’s certified organic by the Organic Food Federation. The barrels are only batched with other 15-year-old Highland malts from Deanston that offer the same certification to assure a purely organic whisky.
Tasting Notes:
There’s a blend of sweetgrass next to vanilla pods, sweetbread, and apple orchards. That apple turns into pear on the palate as vanilla becomes creamy and a little spice-laden with a hint of that sweetgrass and oak lurking in the background. The end is light yet long as a cedar note arrives to sort of house all that vanilla, orchard fruit, and spice.
Bottom Line:
This is just an interesting palate expander, especially if you’re looking for a bridge between bourbon and scotch. If you can find it, give it a shot in our favorite bourbon cocktails or on the rocks.
This Highland single malt continues to wow. The juice is aged in ex-bourbon white oak before it’s batched and transferred to port pipes. The pipes are sourced from the iconic port distiller W&J Graham’s. The results are then remarried, proofed with soft Highland water, and bottled.
Tasting Notes:
You’re greeted with a nutty and plummy oak next to spicy stewed dates with a rich toffee and vanilla cream. The palate delivers on that while offering a counterpoint of bright orange zest and dark coffee bitterness with a hint of apricot. The end leans back into the toffee, vanilla, and plummy spice while the orange darkens to a tobacco chew and a final hint of syrupy cherries arrives on the long finish.
Bottom Line:
This is a super-rich and silken dram of whisky that feels like a real treat — like you get a bottle once a year and really enjoy it slowly. A little water or ice will amp up the coffee and cherries while highlighting the orange tobacco vibe.
Just a few days after a 2013 investigation alleged inappropriate interactions between then-LSU head coach Les Miles and female students, he is no longer the head coach at the University of Kansas. The school announced on Monday that Miles was being replaced by Mike DeBord on an interim basis while a “national search” for a replacement begins, with Kansas saying they “have mutually agreed to part ways effective immediately.”
“I am extremely disappointed for our university, fans and everyone involved with our football program,” Kansas Director of Athletics Jeff Long said in a statement. “There is a lot of young talent on this football team, and I have no doubt we will identify the right individual to lead this program. We will begin the search for a new head coach immediately with an outside firm to assist in this process. We need to win football games, and that is exactly what we’re going to do.”
Miles exits after just two seasons in Lawrence, posting an overall record of 3-18. Kansas was winless in 2020, losing all nine of its games.
“This is certainly a difficult day for me and for my family,” Miles said in an official statement. “I love this university and the young men in our football program. I have truly enjoyed being the head coach at KU and know that it is in a better place now than when I arrived. To our student-athletes, I want you to remember that you came to play for KU and earn a degree here. So, I implore you to stay and build on what we started and do all of the things we talked about doing together. There is a bright future for all of you and for KU Football.”
The 2013 investigation, released released by USA Today (and which can be read in their entirety (with redactions) here) include allegations that Miles made female students feel “uncomfortable” and even the allegation that he kissed a student twice in his car. From there, LSU stepped in to ban Miles from being alone with students and prompted him to attend sessions with an attorney.
Additional fallout could certainly transpire for Miles and LSU. However, Kansas made the decision to take the first step to part ways and, in “news dump” fashion, they announced the choice deep into the night on a Monday evening in March.
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single award! 
