Month: February 2024

As tweeted by Zoë Rose Bryant during the 2024 Grammys on Sunday night, February 4, “Taylor Swift has 48 hours in a day.” It’s the only explanation for Swift’s superhuman ability to churn out eight albums (including four re-recorded albums) since 2019, some of which while conducting her unprecedented The Eras Tour and becoming one-half of America’s favorite couple (or least favorite, depending on who you ask).

One of them, Midnights, from 2022, earned Swift her fourth-ever Album Of The Year Grammy — the most such Grammys owned by any artist in history — at the 2024 Grammys, but before that, Midnights also won Best Pop Vocal Album, and that’s when Swift announced her next album, The Tortured Poets Department.

Will Taylor Swift’s New Album Come Out In 2024?

“This is my 13th Grammy, which is my lucky number; I don’t know if I’ve ever told you that,” Swift said during her Best Pop Vocal Album acceptance speech. (She has told us that.) “I want to say thank you to the members of the Recording Academy for voting this way, but I know that the way that the Recording Academy voted is a direct reflection of the passion of the fans, so I want to say thank you to the fans by telling you a secret that I’ve been keeping from you for the last two years, which is that my brand-new album comes out April 19.”

She continued, “It’s called The Tortured Poets Department. I’m gonna go and post the cover right now, backstage.”

And moments later, the album’s cover art and poem insert populated Swift’s online accounts, as seen below:

So, yes, Swift’s new album (her 11th original studio album, excluding re-records) will arrive in 2024. And in what feels like not a coincidence at all, The Tortured Poets Department will drop on National Cat Lady Day.

The Tortured Poets Department is out 4/19 via Republic. Find more information here.

It took Bijan Robinson three years to beat Iowa State during his stellar collegiate career at Texas. Perhaps unsurprisingly, that final matchup during his junior year in 2022 was the first where someone other than Brock Purdy was under center for the Cyclones. Purdy and Robinson go back — the two went to high school about 90 minutes from one another in Arizona, and both were named the state’s Gatorade High School Player of the Year — and in Robinson’s eyes, it’s not a shock that Purdy is where he is now.

“I think Brock’s always had that fire of, ‘I want to be the best on the field,’ and that dominance of, ‘I’m gonna get the job done, no matter what it takes,’” Robinson tells Uproxx Sports. “It’s more so grit and mentality that he brings to the game, and obviously he’s very talented. But I think what sets him apart is just his mentality and how he approaches the game.”

Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers, of course, are in Las Vegas as they prepare to play against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII next Sunday. Robinson has also made his way out there as part of a partnership with Courtyard by Marriott that is celebrating a pair of frans ahead of the game. And before his old high school buddy tries to take down Patrick Mahomes, Robinson caught up with Uproxx Sports to discuss Purdy, his partnership with Courtyard, his rookie year, the Falcons hiring Raheem Morris, and much more.

What do you have going on with Courtyard?

Yeah, so this is the ultimate upgrade with Courtyard by Marriott, their Super Bowl sleepover, and we’re surprising two fans, Jametta and Chance. They’re here right now. They have a literal room in the stadium, and they’re gonna stay here for a couple of nights before the Super Bowl.

It’s such a big opportunity — Chance, his [Unforgettable Soles] foundation, his donations with shoes, it’s been such a big thing and his mom, Jametta, she took the time, took the courage to try to get him something special, get something nice, and Courtyard by Marriott was, I feel, the best thing that she got for him. Just the opportunity and the appreciation that she gave to him, it was so huge. But yeah, man, that’s why I’m here, and I love to give back — to make people happy, make people smile — and this is definitely an amazing opportunity for them, for Courtyard by Marriott, and just for everybody that was involved in this. So, that’s why I came.

Obviously, you’re out in Vegas because the Super Bowl is going to be there next week. What are your thoughts on the matchup, because these are two teams that you didn’t get a chance to play against this year, correct?

Yeah. I think it’s gonna be a great game. Two great teams, two explosive offensive, two great defenses, Pat Mahomes, and I know Brock Purdy personally because we’re both from Arizona, so we’ve talked a lot. I think it’s gonna be a great matchup there, I’m excited to see how it comes about. They’re all obviously in Vegas, so they’re indoors, no elements that they have to worry about and I just know that it’s gonna be a great atmosphere. It’s gonna be a big defensive game, whoever stops them on defense the most, that’s who’s gonna win the game. So, we’ll see how that pans out.

I knew you were from Arizona, originally, not too terribly far from Brock. And obviously, you guys played a ton in college. Did you play against him in high school? Did you know him at all going into college? And what are your thoughts on why he has become a guy who could lead a team to the Super Bowl?

We knew each other in high school, me and him were up for player of the year, like, every year we were in high school. And even just playing him in college, it was awesome as well being able to get to compete with him at the college level, just two Arizona guys going back and forth.

But, to your question, I think Brock’s always had that fire of, “I want to be the best on the field,” and that dominance of, “I’m gonna get the job done, no matter what it takes.” It’s more so grit and mentality that he brings to the game, and obviously he’s very talented. But I think what sets him apart is just his mentality and how he approaches the game. And I feel that when you have a guy like Kyle Shanahan that can put him in the best position possible, he’s gonna be at his best and he’s gonna thrive in all facets of the game. I feel like for him getting a chance to go out there and show what he can do, it’s all been a blessing for him. I feel like that’s why he’ll potentially lead his team to a Super Bowl win.

You’re pretty good running back yourself, so I’m interested in your thoughts on the running backs in this one. Two very different paths to the league and where they are now, but they became two really exceptional players. What do you like when you sit down and watch Christian, and what do you like when you sit down and watch Isiah?

Obviously Christian, he’s a guy that I’m inspired by as far as my game. Whether it’s catching the ball out of the backfield, lining up at receiver and catching the ball, obviously running the ball and just being physical and making the defense uncomfortable. I think that he does a really good job of doing that, and with how they scheme up things for him in the run game, I feel like it’s perfect for his style, just to get downhill as fast as possible and rack up those those yards in a hurry, I love how he takes advantage of it. And now, he can make people miss, make people hesitate coming up to him, that’s what I love.

And then with Isiah, he’s just extremely physical in how he runs the ball. I know that people joke around, saying that he bites rocks when he runs, but I think it’s true! He gets the ball and he’s looking to find content, and he’s looking to create contact. Nowadays, you don’t see a lot of running backs that want to find contact, they want to either make you miss or find a way to get around you instead of go through you. But with him, he’s always trying to find a way to just punish you going through you, and I really respect that with his game.

Are you a prediction guy? Can I get a prediction from you or are you gonna keep that one close to the vest?

I can give you a prediction.

Let’s get it.

I think it’s gonna be the Chiefs, 27-23.

What gets you to that point?

I just know when they get to the Super Bowl, Pat Mahomes and those guys, Travis Kelce, even all the receivers — I feel like all those receivers are gonna be locked in, and they have Isiah to run that ball. I feel like they’re always just locked in when it comes to games like this, and it’s kind of hard to stop them. But then, I feel like the 49ers aren’t gonna let down and they’re gonna give it one hell of a game. They might come back and just win. But I feel it’s two good teams, it’s two perfect teams for the style of play. I don’t think it’s gonna be a big shootout, but I think it’s gonna be one of those games where it comes down to the wire and that fourth quarter is going to be the most important.

Let’s turn the focus to you. Your rookie year has come to an end, what are your general thoughts on how it went for you and how it went for the Falcons?

I thought it was a blessing. I felt God did so many great things for me. And you know, so many learning experiences I went through, from adversity to highs to lows. Me as a rookie, I was glad that happened because I learned a lot, it taught me a lot about patience and understanding that your opportunity comes at the right moment.

Even just my teammates, those are the best teammates that I’ve ever had, and I’ve had amazing teammates in college and high school and Pop Warner. Having those guys back and having their support for me, it was definitely a big deal. Obviously, we wanted to do a little more, do things different, make the playoffs, win a couple more games and get to the playoffs and have an opportunity to be here. But I believe that everything is in God’s timing and everything happens for a reason. Now that we have a new coach and a new OC, and potentially a whole bunch of new, other pieces to help us win these games, that’s why I feel last season had to happen the way it did.

You mentioned the new coach in Coach Morris. He’s a guy who’s actually spent time in Atlanta very recently. Have you gotten a chance to speak to any of the vets on the team who have been around him from that last stint that he spent there? And if you have, what have you heard about him?

I even talked to him myself, we talked right after he got hired. He’s an amazing dude, like, an amazing guy. He’s the perfect player coach, you definitely want to play for him, play your heart out for him. And then even just talking to the guys, they’re saying you’re gonna love this dude, you’re gonna love this dude, you’re gonna love to come to work every day and put in the work, and you’re gonna love the environment that he’ll bring around the whole facility. The whole environment change is gonna be super awesome, those guys really loved him when he was here. Even just talking to coach Sark, they’re best friends, so he was saying you guys hit the nail on the head with this one. Just hearing that from him, and how much I respect coach Sark, that was a big deal for me. So, I’m definitely really excited to get to be with him.

And then my last question: Did you have a welcome to the NFL moment? And if you did, what was it?

I think my welcome to the NFL moment was when I played the Jets and I tried to chip Quinnen Williams. And you know how big he is, and then there’s me. He got through the line pretty quick, and I tried to just give him a chip. And he kind of blasted me. My feet left the ground. I got up really quick so people didn’t see it, and so I thought I was slick. But I felt it all, I felt all 310 pounds of him just come right through me. And I was like, man, this is crazy. But I think that was probably my only welcome to the NFL moment where I was like, yeah, this is a real dude right here.

Dune: Part Two isn’t out yet, but Zendaya is already thinking about Dune: Part Three.

“I feel like it’s heartbreak,” the Euphoria actress explained to Comic Book about the ending to the sequel to 2021’s Dune, and how it sets the stage for a potential trilogy. “You know, there’s heartbreak. There’s betrayal. There’s loss and confusion, and, I feel like, it’s a quite painful ending. It doesn’t end like, ‘someone won,’ it’s not that. Broken dreams and hearts.”

Florence Pugh, who joined the cast as Princess Irulan for Dune: Part Two, revealed her reaction when she read the end of the script. “I think, for me, when I read that final few pages, it made me suddenly go, like, ‘Oh, she’s far more knowledgeable than I thought she was,’ from Princess Irulan’s perspective,” she said. Pugh added, “So there’s a lot going on underneath everything. You’re right. It doesn’t feel good, which surely makes you ready for what’s going to happen next, which is very, very exciting.”

Of course, this assumes that Dune: Part Three — likely with the same title as author Frank Herbert’s second Dune book, Dune Messiah — gets made. Director Denis Villeneuve hasn’t received the go-ahead from Warner Bros (at least not publicly), but he’s hopeful. “Dune Messiah – which, Dune 3, the title would be Dune Messiah – we’ll see the day when the screenplay will be ready and I want to make sure that there will be no compromise,” he told Comic Book. “It has to be tremendous. All is there to make the fantastic film, and I don’t want to mess it up.” Villeneuve is batting 1.000 so far.

Dune: Part Two comes out on March 1.

(Via Comic Book)

Yellowstone has never been nominated for Outstanding Drama Series at the Emmys, but it should win Outstanding Behind-The-Scenes Drama Series every year for the next five years.

You already know about the tiff between star Kevin Costner and creator Taylor Sheridan (if you don’t, ask your dad). Now Puck is reporting that cast members Cole Hauser (Rip), Kelly Reilly (Beth), and Luke Grimes (Kayce) are asking for huge raises to star in a present-day Yellowstone spinoff that’s being set up in the final episodes of the original series. Complicating matters is salary negotiations (“Reilly initially asked for a whopping $1.5 million an episode, according to two sources, at or above the very top tier of TV stars, though in recent communications that number has come down to $1.2 million”), as well as Reilly and Hauser wanting top billing over above top potential newcomers to the Yellowstone universe: Matthew McConaughey and Michelle Pfeiffer.

Matthew McConaughey is still the top choice to star, but reports of his commitment to the project are overstated; he won’t sign on until he sees a script, which hasn’t happened yet, per his agent. But producers are much closer on Michelle Pfeiffer, who is in negotiations for the female lead and should either close a deal or walk away in the next week or two… Oh, and Reilly and Hauser also asked to be in first position on the call sheet — above McConaughey and Pfeiffer (or whoever play the leads). That’s probably never happening.

It was previously reported that McConaughey was this close to exiting the spinoff due to, among other issues, potential concerns about working with Sheridan. “Taylor’s got a reputation for being a jerk with a God complex,” an insider said. “Matthew doesn’t particularly like behind-the-scenes drama.”

Yellowstone will return — with or without Costner — in November 2024.

(Via Puck)

Taylor Swift owned the 2024 Grammys last night (February 5) for multiple reasons, but the most notable one was the fact that she, completely out of nowhere, announced a brand new album (not a Taylor’s Version like some suspected might be the case). It’s called The Tortured Poets Department, and it’s coming out soon.

What Is Taylor Swift’s New Album Release Date?

The project is currently set for release on April 19, so just over a couple months from now.

Swift announced the album during her acceptance speech for the Best Pop Vocal Album award (her 13th Grammy win, as she noted). As part of her thank-you’s, Swift said, “I want to say thank you to the fans by telling you a secret that I’ve been keeping from you for the past two years, which is that my brand new album comes out April 19th. It’s called The Tortured Poets Department. I’m going to go and post the cover right now, backstage.”

That’s just what she did a few minutes later, also sharing a poem on social media that reads:

“And so I enter into evidence
My tarnished coat of arms
My muses, acquired like bruises
My talismans and charms
The tick, tick, tick of love bombs
My veins of pitch black ink.

All’s fair in love and poetry…
Sincerely, The Chairman
of The Tortured Poets Department.”

So, there you have it: The Tortured Poets Department, coming soon.

Find the full list of 2024 Grammys nominees and winners here.

The Tortured Poets Department is out 4/19 via Republic. Find more information here.

Drake has had a contentious relationship with the Grammys over the past few years. His and 21 Savage’s album Her Loss spawned four nominations at the 2024 ceremony, which Drake, who has withdrawn Grammy nods before, presumably only allowed to not deprive Savage of the opportunity. He didn’t show up to last night’s (February 4) show, but he had a message for those who did.

In an Instagram Story posted shortly before the ceremony started, Drake wrote, “All you incredible artists remember this show isn’t the facts it’s just the opinion of a group of people who’s name are kept a secret (literally you can google it) congrats to anybody winning anything for hip hop but this show doesn’t dictate sh*t in our world.”

Drake’s message was shared alongside a clip of his acceptance speech at the 2019 Grammys, when he won Best Rap Song for “God’s Plan” (his most recent Grammy win). He said, “We play in an opinion-based sport, not a factual-based sport. […] You’ve already won if you have people who are singing your songs word for word, if you’re a hero in your hometown… Look, if there’s people who have regular jobs who are coming out in the rain, in the snow, spending their hard-earned money to buy tickets to come to your shows, you don’t need this right here, I promise you. You already won.”

As for who won in hip-hop, Killer Mike had a big night, taking home all three awards for which he was nominated.

Find the full list of 2024 Grammys nominees and winners here.

The 2024 Grammy Awards were with exciting moments. During the ceremony, history was made on several fronts. Firstly, Joni Mitchell made her debut on the event’s stage alongside Brandi Carlile. While several other artists, including Victoria Monét, Miley Cyrus, and more, took home their first gramophone.

But nothing quite topped seeing Celine Dion in good health. The legendary recording artist made a surprise appearance tonight (February 4) to present the award for Album Of The Year (which went to Taylor Swift for Midnights). As Dion made her way to the microphone, she was greeted with a standing ovation.

The thunderous reception was not only because of their crowd’s love for Dion. It was partly due to Dion’s stiff person syndrome diagnosis. Prior to the announcement of her forthcoming Amazon Prime documentary, I Am: Celine Dion, the last update the public received was grim.

During an interview with 7 Jours, Celine’s sister, Claudette Dion, led readers to believe that Celine lost full control of her muscles. Thankfully, as she presented Swift with her record-setting trophy, Dion seemed to be in good spirits and health.

View the full moment below courtesy of Hollywood Reporter.

View Uproxx’s complete coverage of the 2024 Grammy Awards here. Check out the complete list of winners during the evening here.

The 2024 Grammy Awards field for Album Of The Year included some stiff competition, even as the number of nominees in the “Big Four” General Field categories was reduced from ten to eight. From Jon Batiste to Taylor Swift to SZA, all of the albums could easily qualify for the award and put up a sturdy argument for winning it. But in the end, only one artist could walk away with the gold gramophone: Taylor Swift for her album Midnights.

During her speech, Swift gave praise to Lana Del Rey, who stood nearby, but downplayed the award, saying that she got the same feeling for every small achievement when it comes to songwriting and recording. With the award win, the Midnights singer became the most-awarded Album Of The Year winner with four wins. She has won for Fearless (at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards), 1989 (at the 58th Grammy Awards), Folklore (at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards), and now, Midnights. Ironically, earlier in the evening, Jay-Z read the Recording Academy the riot act while accepting the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, criticizing the sheer number of snubs of his wife Beyoncé.

Watch Taylor Swifts’ Album Of The Year acceptance speech above and check out the rest of Uproxx’s 2024 Grammy coverage here.

It was a tough race at the 2024 Grammy Awards for the coveted Record Of The Year award. Nearly all of these songs were inescapable over the course of the past year, and we couldn’t resist singing along. But only one could be the winner. And that winner was Miley Cyrus with her hit single, “Flowers.”

First released last January, “Flowers” became an anthem of self-empowerment and overcoming heartbreak. With its viral presence on TikTok and its powerful hold on radio, it’s no surprise Cyrus and “Flowers” won the coveted award.

This is Cyrus’ second Grammy of the night, the first, also for “Flowers,” being Song Of The Year. Though she now has two Grammys to her credit, Cyrus remains humble.

“My life was beautiful yesterday,” she said in her acceptance speech. “Not everyone in the world will get a Grammy, but everyone in this world is spectacular.”

She continued, thanking her teams at Crush and Columbia records, as well as her mother and her sister. She also thanked her “main gays” for making sure she looked good.

“I don’t think I forgot anyone, but I might have forgotten underwear,” see said, concluding her speech.

You can watch Cyrus’ acceptance speech above.

Each year, music fans and critics alike try their best to guess who will walk away with a trophy during the Grammy Awards. This year was quite exhausting, considering the massive number of categories (98 in total). The 2024 Grammys most nominated acts, like SZA and Victoria Monét are shoo-ins for several major categories. But, the Best New Artist category is elusive.

During this year’s ceremony, Victoria Monét took home the win (as most predicted). The “On My Mama” singer beat out Coco Jones, Gracie Abrams, Fred Again, Ice Spice, Jelly Roll, Noah Kahan, Victoria Monét, and The War And Treaty.

As she headed to the stage to accept the award, she couldn’t help but hold back tears. In her speech, she thanked her collaborators, including producers Deputy, D Mile, and more. When the nominations were first announced, Victoria and her family shared their live reactions to hearing that she secured seven nods (which made her the second most nominated act).

Earlier in the evening, Victoria’s Jaguar II album snagged two wins for Best R&B Album and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical.

Last year’s winner, jazz prodigy Samara Joy, did the honors of handing Victoria the ward this year.

View Uproxx’s complete coverage of the 2024 Grammy Awards here. Check out the complete list of winners during the evening here.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.