Music news summaries — Page 2
Essential facts and source links for recent music stories.
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Madonna wins 2026 VMA Artist of the Year, recalls manager saying her career was over
Madonna won Artist of the Year at the 2026 MTV VMAs on Sept. 27. She recalled that after a stiletto fell off during her 1984 “Like a Virgin” performance, a recovery move exposed her butt cheek; backstage, her manager told her that her career was over. -
Blackpink’s Lisa wins VMA pop-video award; Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter take collaboration
Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter won the MTV Video Music Award for best collaboration with “Bring Your Love,” which they performed to open Sunday’s ceremony in Los Angeles; Blackpink’s Lisa took best pop video for her solo song “Dream.” -
Grohl, Novoselic and Smear accept Nirvana’s 2026 MTV Video Vanguard Award
Nirvana received the 2026 MTV Video Vanguard Award at the VMAs on Sept. 27, with Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear accepting. The honor recognized the band’s influence on music, culture and MTV; it came 34 years after Nirvana’s first VMA appearance in 1992. -
Taylor Swift returns to the VMAs wearing her wedding and engagement rings
Taylor Swift returned to the MTV Video Music Awards on Sept. 27 for the first time since marrying Travis Kelce on July 3, wearing her wedding band beside her engagement ring. She was set to receive the inaugural Artist Director Honors. -
Madonna returns to the VMAs in a red bustier for first performance since 2003
Madonna opened the 2026 MTV VMAs with her first performance at the ceremony since 2003, singing a medley from her new album, Confessions II. Sabrina Carpenter joined her for “Bring Your Love,” and Charli xcx appeared for the debut of their “Danceteria Afterhours” remix. -
Madonna launches the 2026 VMAs with her first performance there in 23 years
Madonna opened the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards on Sept. 27 with her first live VMAs performance in 23 years, joined by Sabrina Carpenter and Charli xcx. Julia Garner, Seth Rogen and Sombr also made cameos; Madonna led all artists with 11 nominations. -
Madonna returns to the VMA stage after 23 years for record fifth opening
Madonna returned to the VMA stage for her first performance in 23 years, opening the 2026 show with “Bring Your Love” alongside Sabrina Carpenter and “Danceteria Afterhours” with Charli xcx. Billboard reported it was her record fifth time opening the ceremony. -
Madonna Returns to the VMAs After 23 Years, Opens With Carpenter and Charli xcx
Madonna opened the 2026 MTV VMAs on Sunday with Sabrina Carpenter and Charli xcx, marking her first performance at the awards in 23 years. The two-song set paired her with Carpenter at the piano and included Charli in the “Danceteria Afterhours” remix. -
At the 2026 VMAs, Taylor Swift wears muted-pink lipstick and lower-lash liner
Taylor Swift arrived at the 2026 MTV VMAs on Sept. 27 with a muted-pink lip, shorter wing and subtle liner beneath her lower lashes, rather than her usual red lipstick and dramatic wing. She was set to receive the first-ever Artist Director Honors. -
People's 2026 VMAs roundup showcases 11 red-carpet outfits
People highlighted 11 looks from the 2026 MTV VMAs blue carpet, including Taylor Swift in Tamara Ralph Couture, Teyana Taylor in a feathered Zuhair Murad Couture coat-gown and Sombr shirtless in ERL. Charli xcx, Slayyyter and others were also featured. -
Lisa Rinna honors Madonna ahead of pop star’s first VMAs performance in 23 years
Lisa Rinna said her short, spiky blonde hair and white gown with a breastplate featuring fake nipples paid tribute to Madonna at the 2026 MTV VMAs. Madonna is set to open the show with her first live performance there in 23 years and leads this year’s nominations with 11. -
Teyana Taylor's 2026 VMA look pairs black lace with feather trim
Teyana Taylor wore a black Zuhair Murad gown with lace, a plunging neckline and feathered cuffs and collar at the 2026 MTV VMAs on Sunday, Sept. 27. She was nominated for Best Collaboration with Lucky Daye for “Hard Part” and was set to present. -
Madonna and RAYE set to perform at 2026 VMAs; Tyla among presenters
The 2026 VMAs lineup includes Madonna, RAYE, Sienna Spiro, Lisa, Shaboozey and Gunna. Kacey Musgraves will pay tribute to Dolly Parton; RAYE, Sombr and Teddy Swims will honor George Michael. It airs live on CBS at 7:30 p.m. ET Sunday, with an MTV simulcast. -
Robyn's 'Dancing On My Own' may be Portola's biggest singalong in five years
Robyn closed her Portola Music Festival headlining set with “Dancing On My Own,” following “Call Your Girlfriend.” When the music dropped out at the chorus, the crowd sang it in full, creating what was likely the biggest singalong in the festival’s five-year history. -
DJ Shadow gives ‘Endtroducing’ songs their first proper live outing in 30 years
DJ Shadow played much of his 1996 album “Endtroducing” at Portola Music Festival, marking the first proper live performance of its songs in 30 years. He said the missing MPC sampler and multitracks resurfaced six months ago, making the performance possible. -
After Nirvana’s split, Grohl formed Foo Fighters as Novoselic pursued music and politics
Nirvana disbanded after Kurt Cobain died by suicide in 1994. Dave Grohl formed Foo Fighters, Krist Novoselic pursued music and politics, and former drummer Chad Channing formed Can of Clouds in 2024; the group released its debut album in 2025. -
Portola Saturday brought local DJs, Robyn and Soulwax to Pier 80
Saturday at San Francisco’s Portola Music Festival began with local DJs and ran through sets by Tricky, DJ Shadow, Robyn and Soulwax at Pier 80. Despacio drew a line of festivalgoers, Robyn led a sing-along to “Dancing On My Own,” and Soulwax closed the night. -
Taylor Swift releases four-song 'Encore' EP before 'Patient Zero' video debuts at VMAs
Taylor Swift released The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore, a four-song EP led by “Patient Zero,” on Friday. Its music video is set to premiere at tonight’s MTV Video Music Awards, where Swift will receive the inaugural Artist Director Honors. -
Taylor Swift’s inaugural Artist Director honor will break her VMA tie with Beyoncé
Taylor Swift is set to receive the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honors at tonight’s ceremony, which would give her 31 Moon Person awards, one more than Beyoncé. Swift is also scheduled to premiere the “Patient Zero” music video during the show. -
Madonna set to open 2026 VMAs as Taylor Swift debuts ‘Patient Zero’ video
The 2026 MTV VMAs are scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 27, at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater, airing 7:30–9:30 p.m. ET on CBS and MTV and streaming on Paramount+ Premium. Madonna is set to open the show; Taylor Swift will premiere her “Patient Zero” video. -
Jhené Aiko and Kendrick Lamar’s “So Good” is the Global 200’s only new entry at No. 89 this week
Jhené Aiko and Kendrick Lamar’s “So Good” is the only song to debut on this week’s Billboard Global 200, entering at No. 89. It also opens at No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B Streaming Songs chart and debuts on eight other rankings. -
Pat Benatar honored Dolly Parton with a live ‘Heartbreaker’ dedication
Pat Benatar dedicated “Heartbreaker” to her late friend Dolly Parton at the Sept. 26 One805LIVE! event. The pair reworked the song as a duet for Parton’s 2023 album “Rockstar”; Parton died at 80 on Aug. 25 after a brief battle with cancer, her representatives said. -
Rodrigo’s third album sets personal highs with 13 weeks atop two Billboard charts
Olivia Rodrigo’s third album, “You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love,” has spent 13 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Alternative Albums and Top Rock & Alternative Albums charts, surpassing her previous highs with “Guts” of 12 and nine weeks, respectively. -
Travis Kelce to miss Taylor Swift’s 2026 VMAs as Chiefs face Dolphins
Travis Kelce will miss the 2026 VMAs on Sept. 27, when he is scheduled to face the Miami Dolphins with the Kansas City Chiefs. Taylor Swift is set to receive the inaugural Artist Director Honors, and the official video for “Patient Zero” will premiere at the ceremony. -
‘Dracula’ gives Tame Impala its first Radio Songs No. 1 as ‘Loser’ debuts at 49
Tame Impala’s “Dracula,” a collaboration with BLACKPINK’s Jennie, climbed one place to No. 1 on Billboard’s U.S. Radio Songs chart, giving both artists their first No. 1 there. “Loser” debuted at No. 49, becoming Tame Impala’s second entry.
