Category: Trending

Sebastian Stan was once [cough] forced to discuss an eventual end for Bucky Barnes (and he previously discussed the subject on a more humorous basis), but the Winter Solder’s MCU run isn’t over yet. Bucky is, as revealed by a D23 Brazil trailer, a substantial part of the Thunderbolts* movie (due out in May 2025), and he also might appear in Avengers: Doomsday (which has been ambitiously scheduled for May 2026) from the Russo Bros.

Does that leave room for Bucky to visit his frenemy-turned-BFF in Captain America: Brave New World? The two grew awfully close by the end of Disney+’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier series, and it was strongly suggested that Bucky and Sam Wilson’s sister, Sarah, were turning into an item. So, it would make narrative sense on a few levels to see a Bucky cameo in this next MCU movie, but Sebastian Stan isn’t about spill the goods before Cap’s shield (wielded by Anthony Mackie) returns to theaters.

The A Different Man star, while riding high on his recent win, understandably steered the conversation to an unclear place when Variety recently broached the subject. It doesn’t sound, however, like we shall see Bucky and Sam reunited in Brave New World:

Regarding if he’ll appear in the upcoming “Captain America” sequel: “[Filming] ‘Thunderbolts*’, let me tell you, it was a much quieter year for me because I didn’t see Anthony Mackie. So, I’ll say that. Although I miss Anthony Mackie like daily, and it’s something I don’t like to admit.”

The begrudging respect is mutual, and at least we’ll always have this Entertainment Tonight video (from the Golden Globes) of Mackie crashing Stan’s backstage glow while shouting, “We won!” And Stan’s “That’s right. Captain America and the Winter Soldier, we’re coming back!” proves the sheer love between these guys.

Captain America: Brave New World arrives in theaters on Feb. 14, probably without the bromance factor.

A lot of bands like they’re to say they’re all best friends, and don’t mean it. But I absolutely believe the members of Horsegirl are best friends.

In the video for “Switch Over,” the latest single from the indie rock group’s forthcoming album Phonetics On And On, Nora Cheng, Penelope Lowenstein, and Gigi Reece watch themselves perform in a grand home. They give their exact counterparts an ovation, as if to say that they would still support each other even if they hadn’t formed a band.

Phonetics On And On is described as “an exploration of the lines between pop, minimalism, and playful experimentation. With the help of [producer Cate] Le Bon, Horsegirl expands into bright and clear sonic territories utilizing new tools, including violins, synths, and gamelan tiles, to bring this world to life.”

You can watch the “Switch Over” video above and find Horsegirl’s tour dates below.

Horsegirl’s 2025 Tour Dates

2/22/2025 – Chicago, IL @ Metro (Record Release Show) ^
3/21/2025 – Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church %
3/22/2025 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat %
3/23/2025 – Raleigh, NC @ Kings %
3/24/2025 – Richmond, VA @ The Warehouse %
3/26/2025 – Hamden, CT @ Space Ballroom %
3/27/2025 – Somerville, MA @ Arts at The Armory %
3/28/2025 – Woodstock, NY @ Bearsville Theater %
3/29/2025 – Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw %

^ with Lifeguard and Answering Machines
% with Free Range

Phonetics On And On is out 2/14 via Matador Records. Find more information here.

Last year, Jontay Porter received a lifetime ban from the NBA for violating the league’s gambling rules. The former Raptor had worked with bettors to purposefully remove himself from games with injuries in order to hit the unders on various prop bets in an effort to clear his own gambling debts.

They got caught because those bets were flagged by sportsbooks — in a shocking turn of events, Jontay Porter props suddenly getting hit with $20,000 bets raises some red flags — and a federal investigation uncovered Porter was in on the plan and was purposefully removing himself from game action. Porter has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, but on Sunday another co-conspirator was arrested at the Las Vegas airport, leading to further discovery being revealed in court documents.

In those documents, which were uncovered by Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic, it is revealed that Porter was not just in contact with the bettors, but at one point sent text messages to them during a Raptors game on January 22 to alert them that he wasn’t likely to play anymore while he got his eye examined (via Vorkunov).

This really has to be the easiest case to prosecute of all time because they all communicated via text message and explicitly laid out the crimes they were going to commit. We might need Charles Barkley to give an addendum to his “do not commit crimes with checks” advice to include not explaining the crimes you are committing in text form. Porter is still awaiting sentencing, and every update on this story makes it extremely clear that this was not exact Ocean’s 11 when it came to planning.

As the Los Angeles wildfires continue to burn, it has been reported that the 2025 Grammy Awards, set to go down at LA’s Crypto.com Arena, could be postponed.

Are The 2025 Grammy Awards Postponed?

It turns out, though, that as of now, the show will go on.

As Variety reports, Harvey Mason Jr. (Recording Academy CEO) and Tammy Hurt (the chair of the Academy’s board of trustees) shared a joint statement. In it, they insists the event “will proceed as planned.”

The letter goes on to conclude, “This year’s show, however, will carry a renewed sense of purpose: raising additional funds to support wildfire relief efforts and honoring the bravery and dedication of first responders who risk their lives to protect ours. In challenging times, music has the power to heal, comfort, and unite like nothing else. The Grammys will not only honor the artistry and achievements of our music community but also serve as a platform to amplify the spirit of resilience that defines this great city of Los Angeles.”

Read the full letter below.

“Dear Recording Academy Members,

Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. This city is our home, and we mourn the loss of life and destruction that have come to it in recent days.

In response to this crisis, the Recording Academy and MusiCares launched the Los Angeles Fire Relief Effort last week with an initial $1 million donation to support music creatives and professionals. Thanks to additional contributions, we have already distributed over $2 million in emergency aid to those most in need – and we remain steadfast in our commitment to providing ongoing assistance.

In close coordination with local authorities to ensure public safety and responsible use of area resources, the 67th Grammy Awards telecast on CBS on February 2nd will proceed as planned. This year’s show, however, will carry a renewed sense of purpose: raising additional funds to support wildfire relief efforts and honoring the bravery and dedication of first responders who risk their lives to protect ours.

In challenging times, music has the power to heal, comfort, and unite like nothing else. The Grammys will not only honor the artistry and achievements of our music community but also serve as a platform to amplify the spirit of resilience that defines this great city of Los Angeles.

With heartfelt concern,
Harvey Mason jr.
Recording Academy & MusiCares CEO
Tammy Hurt
Chair, Board of Trustees.”

As Los Angeles’ wildfires continue to burn — and firefighters bring them under control — the city’s music community has begun to count up the heavy toll. In addition to the studios where some of music’s biggest albums were recorded, many stars’ homes were also lost to the fires, including singer Jhené Aiko and producer Madlib.

The producer, who has worked with such names as Freddie Gibbs, Mac Miller, MF DOOM, and more, announced the loss in a crowdfunding campaign post, revealing that Madlib’s family has lost “their home, decades of music, and equipment in the devastating LA fires.”

The past several years have revealed that, contrary to popular belief, most musicians and other entertainers don’t necessarily live the lives of comfortable luxury that their fans often assume they do. The fires that have destroyed so much over the past week highlighted how such losses can create setbacks for artists who rely on continual output to support themselves and their families — as well as the workers in the entertainment industry whose livelihoods depend on performing the basic administration and logistics of getting that work in front of the public. That the damage has come so soon after the equally destructive pandemic shutdowns only exacerbates the harm these disasters have caused.

HBO’s 2025 slate includes new seasons of The Last of Us, Peacemaker, and The Righteous Gemstones, as well as the premieres of It prequel Welcome to Derry, Game of Thrones spin-off A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and Tim Robinson’s The Chair Company. But the most anticipated series of them all might be The White Lotus, which returns for season 3 next month.

Here’s everything we know about the Thailand-set season of the anthology series, including plot details, the cast, and a premiere date.

Plot

Let’s begin with the official logline for The White Lotus season 3, courtesy of HBO: “The social satire is set at an exclusive Thai resort and follows the exploits of various guests and employees over the span of a week.”

So true. If there’s one thing The White Lotus loves, it’s exploits, whether it’s scary teens or ginormous dongs or “these gays, they’re trying to murder me.” Beyond that, however, the new season will be “a satirical and funny look at death and eastern religion and spirituality,” according to creator Mike White. He also told Entertainment Weekly that “it’s going to be a supersized White Lotus. It’s going to be longer, bigger, crazier. I don’t know what people will think, but I am super excited, so at least for my own barometer, that’s a good thing… I’m super excited about the content of the season.”

Jennifer Coolidge isn’t expected to return following the events of season 2 finale, but Natasha Rothwell is reprising her role as spa manager Belinda from season 1. “I gasped out loud a minimum of five times, and this was just me reading them,” she told Vanity Fair about reading the scripts. “The scripts are a testament to Mike’s skill and ability to tell the most smart and entertaining stories. I mean, everything that he does is like a lesson to me as an actor and a performer. And as a writer myself, he takes folks on a journey. Everyone needs to buckle up, because it’s going to get real!”

The cast hasn’t given many specifics about season 3, other than it’s “extraordinary,” “really special,” and, according to Carrie Coon, “very, very challenging.” She continued, pointing towards :a lot of obstacles because we had to keep moving around every time there was bad weather. I think we moved around nine times, so the logistics were tough because who wants to see rainy, cold Thailand?” But hey, at least she got to hang out with Lisa!

Cast

In season 3, the world’s best job belongs to:

-Leslie Bibb, Carrie Coon, and Michelle Monaghan as Kate, Laurie, and Jaclyn, three long-time friends who reunite on a girls’ trip

-Walton Goggins as Rick, “a rugged man with a chip on his shoulder,” and Aimee Lou Wood as Chelsea, his much younger girlfriend

-Jason Isaacs and Parker Posey as rich couple Timothy and Victoria Ratliff, and Sarah Catherine Hook, Patrick Schwarzenegger, and Sam Nivola as their kids, religion studies major Piper, nepo son Saxon, and high school senior Lochlan

-Lalisa Manobal (a.k.a. Blackpink’s Lisa) as health mentor Mook

-Lek Patravadi as Sritala, “one of the owners of The White Lotus and the visionary behind its wellness program”

-Tayme Thapthimthong as security officer Gaitok

-Natasha Rothwell as Belinda, returning from season 1.

Release Date

The White Lotus season 3 premieres on HBO and Max on February 16. Happy belated Valentine’s Day!

Trailer

Check out The White Lotus season 3 teaser trailer below.

Julien Baker and Torres are up to something, although at this point, it’s not entirely clear what. They’ve performed live together (including on The Tonight Show) and released the song “Sugar In The Tank,” but a joint album hasn’t been announced yet.

Given all their goings-on, though, it would seem one is on the way. Well, that confirmation isn’t here yet, but today (January 13), the pair shared a video for “Sugar In The Tank.” The fun visual sees the pair performing for a group of line dancers, and the clip was made in partnership with queer country dance party Stud Country.

In a statement, Baker and Torres said of the video, “We were really honored that the Stud Country folks were willing to have fun with us and prepare this line dance for the song! Everyone involved is so talented and they were patient and sweet with us while we learned the moves. For us it’s particularly special to find someplace and some people to do cowboy sh*t with here in NYC.”

Stud Country co-founder Sean Monaghan also said, “We were so excited to cast people from our community including Geo [Jedlicka] who has been dancing in NYC for three decades. Having established artists like Julien and Torres, who’ve actually been to our events, collaborate with us during this country revival is incredible.”

Watch the “Sugar In The Tank” video above.

While Lonzo Ball returned to the Chicago Bulls this year after missing two full seasons due to injury and LaMelo Ball is one of the top vote getters among Eastern Conference All-Stars, the Ball brother who has gotten headline after headline over the last month is the one who is not currently in the NBA. LiAngelo Ball has blown up in recent weeks due to his song “Tweakers,” with the track going from something you heard on TikTok to a fixture in locker rooms across the world of sports.

This has led to Ball, who performs under the name Gelo, getting some pretty remarkable opportunities, like a spot on the lineup for Rolling Loud California this March. And now, one of the biggest labels in music wants to get in on the fun, as it was reported on The Breakfast Club that Ball got signed to an $8 million deal by Def Jam. Not long after, Shams Charania of ESPN confirmed the report, and added some context to what Ball is getting from the label.

“LiAngelo Ball has signed a deal with Def Jam and Universal Music Group, a representative from his label Born2Ball Music Group says,” Charania wrote on Twitter. “Sources said the deal is worth as much as $13 million, with $8 million guaranteed, and gives Ball full ownership of music and his own record label.”

Ball recently received praise from the man widely regarded as the best rapper in the NBA, Damian Lillard, who praised “Tweakers” during a postgame interview.

Psych-rock trio Khruangbin saw their most successful year yet in 2024, releasing their fourth studio album, A LA SALA, and playing to the biggest crowds of their career on the accompanying tour. They look to carry that success into 2025 with a global extension of the A LA SALA tour, the dates of which they announced today alongside a video for the single, “Pon Pon.”

Tickets for the 2025 dates go on sale Friday, January 17 at 10 AM local time, while Khru Club presales begin on Tues, January 14. You can purchase tickets and find more information here. You can watch the video for “Pon Pon” above and see the tour dates below.

Khruangbin 2025 A LA SALA Tour Dates

02/20 – Christchurch, NZ @ Christchurch Town Hall^
02/22 – Christchurch, NZ @ Electric Avenue Music Festival
02/25 – Melbourne, VIC @ MCA%
02/26 – Melbourne, VIC @ MCA%
03/2 – Brisbane, QLD @ Riverstage%
03/5 – Sydney, NSW @ Hordern Pavilion%
03/6 – Sydney, NSW @ Hordern Pavilion%
03/7 – Sydney, NSW @ Hordern Pavilion%
03/10 — Adelaide, SA @ WOMADelaide
04/9 – Grand Prairie, TX @ Texas Trust CU Theatre at Grand Prairie *
04/12 – Houston, TX @ The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion *
04/15 – Charleston, SC @ Firefly Distillery *
04/16 – St. Augustine, FL @ The St. Augustine Amphitheatre *
04/18 – Clearwater, FL @ The BayCare Sound *
04/19 – Miami, FL @ FPL Solar Amphitheater at Bayfront Park *
04/22 — Austin, TX @ Moody Amphitheater *
04/23 – Austin, TX @ Moody Amphitheater *
05/18 – San Diego, CA @ Wonderfront Festival
05/21 – Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl #
05/22 – Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl #
05/23-25 – Napa Valley, CA @ Bottlerock Festival
05/24 — Buena Vista Lake, CA @ Lightning in a Bottle Festival
05/27 – Seattle, WA @ WAMU Theater #
05/28 – Bend, OR @ Hayden Holmes Amphitheater #
05/29 – Boise, ID @ Outlaw Field at Idaho Botanical Garden #
05/31 – Denver, CO @ The Outside Festival
06/20 – Highmount, NY @ Mountain Jam Festival
06/21 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE Outdoors #
06/22 – Rothbury, MI @ Electric Forest Festival
06/24 – Shelburne, VT @ Ben & Jerry’s Concerts on the Green #
06/27 – Boston, MA @ The Stage at Suffolk Downs #
06/28 – Hartford, CT @ The Capitol Groove Festival
06/29 – Portland, ME @ Thompson’s Point #
08/6 – Oslo, Norway @ Oya Festival
08/7 – Copenhagen, Denmark @ Syd for Solen
08/8 – Gothenburg, Sweden @ Way Out West Festival
08/10 — Helsinki, Finland @ Flow Festival
08/15 – London, United Kingdom @ Gunnersbury Park^^
08/19 – Cologne, Germany @ Tanzbrunnen
08/24 – Halifax, United Kingdom @ The Piece Hall
08/26 – Istanbul, Turkey @ Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theatre
08/27 – Istanbul, Turkey @ Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theatre
09/12-14 — Louisville, KY @ Bourbon & Beyond Festival

^ With Troy Kingi & The Galactic Chiropractors
% With Hermanos Gutiérrez
* With Helado Negro
^^ With TV On The Radio
# With John Carroll Kirby

Mike McCarthy’s tenure as Dallas Cowboys head coach has come to an end after five seasons and a 49-35 record, as NFL media’s Tom Pelissero reported on Monday that the two sides could not agree to terms on a new contract and McCarthy will look elsewhere for a new coaching job.

McCarthy took the Cowboys to the playoffs three times in his five seasons at the helm, but went 1-3 in the postseason and never got past the Divisional round. Still, there was clearly some interest from Dallas in retaining McCarthy, but they apparently weren’t willing to give him the long-term commitment he was seeking and so he will look for a new opportunity in coaching free agency. That feels like the right thing for both parties, as the Cowboys and McCarthy seemed stuck in a rut of sorts — his five years in Dallas felt more like a decade.

The Cowboys blocked McCarthy from interviewing with the Chicago Bears last week, so one would assume he will now speak with the Bears about their opening, while the Jets, Saints, Jaguars, and Raiders are all also looking for a new head coach. As for the Cowboys, one would assume they will get in the mix for any of the top current assistants but also, knowing Jerry Jones, explore options for an established head coach with a big name at either the pro or college level. At minimum, we will get one more round of Deion Sanders to the NFL rumors.