Music news summaries — Page 3

Essential facts and source links for recent music stories.

1. 
   People2026-09-27

   Taylor Swift’s video guest roster ranges from Ice Spice to Farrell and Johnson

   Taylor Swift released a 13-second “Patient Zero” teaser with Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson on Sept. 24; the full video was set to premiere Sept. 27 at the MTV Video Music Awards. The roundup covers cameos in 13 earlier videos, from “Opalite” to “Bad Blood.”
2. 
   People2026-09-27

   Carly Rae Jepsen links her 2014 ‘Cinderella’ debut to ‘10 Things I Hate About You’ musical

   Carly Rae Jepsen says she doesn't think the upcoming 10 Things I Hate About You musical would have happened without her 2014 Broadway debut in Cinderella. She is writing its music and lyrics with Ethan Gruska; performances are scheduled to begin Aug. 17, 2027.
3. 
   People2026-09-27

   Taylor Swift enters 2026 VMAs tied with Beyoncé at 30 wins

   Taylor Swift enters the Sept. 27, 2026, VMAs tied with Beyoncé as the most-awarded musician, with 30 wins each. She has 11 nominations and is set to receive the inaugural Artist Director Honors; if she wins another award, she will hold the record outright.
4. 
   HITC2026-09-27

   Taylor Swift’s ‘Cleveland!’ draws mixed reviews before Chiefs-Dolphins game

   Taylor Swift’s “Cleveland!”, about Travis Kelce and his hometown, drew divided reviews before the Kansas City Chiefs’ Week 3 game against Miami. The Guardian called it “appalling”; USA Today’s Maggie Ruggieri praised its campy chorus.
5. 
   The Sporting News2026-09-27

   Rio singer Pedro Sampaio to join Ricky Martin for Brazil NFL halftime show

   Brazilian singer Pedro Sampaio will join Ricky Martin’s halftime show at Sunday’s Baltimore Ravens–Dallas Cowboys game in Brazil. The 28-year-old Rio de Janeiro native is set to perform in his hometown, with Martin headlining.
6. 
   NJ.com2026-09-26

   Reba McEntire says she missed Dolly Parton’s call before her death

   Reba McEntire said she missed Dolly Parton’s late-July call while in a meeting and could not reconnect. She later learned Parton had died and said she still does not know why Parton called; Parton’s publicist said she died after a brief battle with cancer.
7. 
   USA TODAY2026-09-26

   Knocked Loose and Pierce the Veil top Four Chord’s 12th-year Pittsburgh bill

   Four Chord Music Festival drew thousands to Pittsburgh’s F.N.B. Stadium for its 12th year, with nearly 30 acts performing across two stages Friday and Saturday. Knocked Loose headlined Friday, and Pierce the Veil topped Saturday’s bill.
8. 
   Hello!2026-09-26

   From solo careers to reunions: the paths of 11 ’90s hitmakers

   The acts behind 11 memorable ’90s hits took different paths: Everlast and Linda Perry built solo careers, while Lisa Loeb, Lou Bega and Eagle-Eye Cherry remain active. Some reunited or kept recording; others stepped out of the spotlight.
9. 
   Forbes2026-09-26

   Stray Kids’ ‘This & That’ retakes U.S. sales-chart lead with 22,200 copies

   Stray Kids’ “This & That” returned to No. 1 on Billboard’s U.S. Top Album Sales chart in its fifth week, selling 22,200 copies, Luminate reports. Ariana Grande’s “Petal” ranked second with 12,000 copies; “This & That” sales fell 5,000 from the prior week.
10. 
    People2026-09-26

    Red Hot Chili Peppers recorded ‘Blood Sugar Sex Magik’ in a house rumored to be haunted

    Red Hot Chili Peppers recorded “Blood Sugar Sex Magik” in a Laurel Canyon house rumored to be haunted. Producer Rick Rubin had urged them to work outside a studio; released Sept. 24, 1991, the album, including “Under the Bridge,” sold millions and propelled the band to fame.
11. 
    Forbes2026-09-26

    ‘Mark on Me’ reaches U.S. stores after &TEAM’s career-best sales

    Japanese group &TEAM’s second Korean EP, “Mark on Me,” reached U.S. stores Sept. 25. South Korea’s Circle Chart reported the EP moved nearly 1.3 million physical copies in its first week, a career best for the group and its fourth consecutive million-selling project.
12. 
    People2026-09-26

    Ella Langley playfully turns down TikToker’s date request while dating Tucker Wetmore

    Country singer Ella Langley jokingly told TikToker Tiki that no number of likes could get him a date with her after he asked her out in a video. She is dating fellow country singer Tucker Wetmore, a relationship confirmed to People by multiple sources this week.
13. 
    The Big Lead2026-09-26

    Knoxville jokes he’d listen to McAfee’s album if Missouri loses

    Johnny Knoxville joked on ESPN’s “College GameDay” that he would listen to Pat McAfee’s new album on repeat until Halloween if Missouri lost to Mississippi State. The “Jackass” performer appeared as the show’s celebrity guest picker before Tennessee-Texas.
14. 
    Variety2026-09-26

    Hayley Kiyoko’s dream screen project is a lesbian pirate adventure

    Hayley Kiyoko said her dream project is a lesbian pirate show or movie, describing it as “Keira Knightley, but gay” and “very gay and fantastical.” She shared the idea Thursday at a Beverly Hills panel on queer media that raised money for Outfest.
15. 
    Wealth of Geeks2026-09-26

    Reba McEntire says she may never know why Dolly Parton called

    Reba McEntire says she missed a late-July call from longtime friend Dolly Parton while she was in a meeting and could not reach her afterward. McEntire learned on Aug. 25 that Parton, 80, had died; she says she may never know why Parton called.
16. 
    Forbes2026-09-26

    ‘Am I the Drama?’ gives Cardi B two albums with yearlong Billboard 200 runs

    Cardi B’s “Am I the Drama?” has spent 52 weeks on the Billboard 200, falling from No. 105 to No. 113 this week. It is her second album to remain on the chart for at least a year; “Invasion of Privacy” has logged 226 weeks.
17. 
    Forbes2026-09-26

    Grande has three albums on Billboard 200 as Thank U, Next reaches 200 weeks

    Ariana Grande’s Thank U, Next has become her first full-length album to spend 200 weeks on the Billboard 200, where it holds at No. 186. She has three albums on this week’s chart: Petal at No. 7 and Eternal Sunshine at No. 119.
18. 
    The Independent2026-09-26

    Jose Iglesias credits Mets’ ‘OMG’ with helping him reach Broadway

    Former New York Mets shortstop Jose Iglesias is starring as the Narrator in Broadway’s “Buena Vista Social Club,” where he sings and dances. His six-week run has been extended through Nov. 15, offering a chance to reconnect with Mets fans.
19. 
    Forbes2026-09-26

    Ella Langley’s ‘Choosin’ Texas’ ties BTS’s 18-week Billboard Digital Song Sales record

    ‘Choosin’ Texas’ by Ella Langley has spent 18 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Digital Song Sales chart, matching BTS’s runs with ‘Dynamite’ and ‘Butter.’ Luminate reports 6,000 copies sold this week; Langley may become the chart’s first 19-week No. 1 in days.
20. 
    Forbes2026-09-26

    The Beatles’ ‘1’ and ‘Abbey Road’ reenter separate U.S. charts

    The Beatles returned to two U.S. Billboard charts this week: compilation “1” reentered the Billboard 200 at No. 190, while “Abbey Road” returned to Top Album Sales at No. 50. Their runs on those rankings now stand at 556 and 326 weeks, respectively.
21. 
    People2026-09-26

    Taylor Swift’s 10 Kelce-linked songs include new track “Cleveland!”

    Taylor Swift’s songs linked to Travis Kelce include “The Alchemy,” “So High School,” “Opalite” and “Cleveland!” The latter, released Sept. 25 on The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore, references Kelce’s hometown and the couple’s July 3 wedding.
22. 
    Chron2026-09-26

    David DiDonato gives silent classic 'Metropolis' an industrial score

    David DiDonato spent about four years creating an industrial soundtrack for Fritz Lang’s 1927 silent film “Metropolis” and now performs it live with the movie. He says the score reflects its themes of class struggle and conflict between humans and machines.
23. 
    People2026-09-26

    The Beatles split in 1970 amid personal, creative and professional rifts

    Abbey Road, released Sept. 26, 1969, was the Beatles’ last album recorded together; Let It Be had been recorded earlier. Lennon told the band he was leaving in September, and McCartney announced the breakup in April 1970 amid personal, creative and professional differences.
24. 
    HITC2026-09-26

    Portnoy ranks Taylor Swift’s new songs, with ‘Patient Zero’ his top pick

    Dave Portnoy ranked Taylor Swift’s four new songs, putting “Patient Zero” first and “Cleveland!” last. He called “Cleveland!” a Travis song that gave him the “ick” and made little sense; he described the release as decent but said it had no smash hits.
25. 
    The Big Lead2026-09-26

    Olivia Rodrigo starts ‘Unraveled’ tour with 24-song Hartford set

    Olivia Rodrigo opened her 86-stop “Unraveled Tour” at Hartford’s PeoplesBank Arena on Friday with a 24-song set divided into Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, followed by a three-song encore. “Drop Dead” opened the show; “Expectations” closed it.
26. 
    HITC2026-09-26

    Ken Carman mocks Taylor Swift’s “Cleveland!” song for Travis Kelce

    Cleveland Browns analyst Ken Carman mocked Taylor Swift’s song “Cleveland!”, described as a tribute to her husband Travis Kelce. He imagined a divorce-themed follow-up about a river on fire; the couple’s split was only hypothetical in his remarks.
27. 
    The Sporting News2026-09-26

    San Juan, Puerto Rico, is Ricky Martin’s hometown

    Singer Ricky Martin was born and raised in Puerto Rico and is from San Juan. His family moved from Segovia, Spain, to the island in the late 1700s. Martin is set to perform with Pedro Sampaio at halftime of the Cowboys-Ravens matchup in Brazil.
28. 
    The Sporting News2026-09-26

    Ricky Martin, 54, is slated for Ravens-Cowboys halftime show in Rio

    Ricky Martin, 54, is slated to perform at halftime of the Ravens-Cowboys NFL game at Rio’s Maracanã. He joined Menudo in 1984, released his solo debut in 1991 and, The Sporting News reports, has sold more than 70 million records.
29. 
    The Big Lead2026-09-26

    Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘melting’ dress change goes viral at tour opener

    Olivia Rodrigo opened The Unraveled Tour at PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford on Friday, Sept. 25. During “the cure,” rain poured over the stage as her dress appeared to “melt” away, revealing a red dress; video of the wardrobe change quickly went viral.
30. 
    People2026-09-26

    Jay-Z says a ‘4:44’ lyric captured how he asked Beyoncé to be his girlfriend

    Jay-Z says the “don’t embarrass me” lyric in his 2017 song “4:44” accurately recalls how he asked Beyoncé to be his girlfriend: he was too immature and afraid to be vulnerable to say “be mine.” He shared the story in episode three of his HBO docuseries.