Kirstin Maldonado & Her Pentatonix Group Mates to Guest Star in “The Simpsons” Holiday Special

Posted on December 11, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Kirstin Maldonado is getting animated…

The 32-year-old half-Mexican, part-Spanish American singer and her Pentatonix group mates will appear as animated versions of themselves in the upcoming The Simpsons holiday special.

In addition Maldonado and her group makes, the episode titled “O C’mon All Ye Faithful,” will also feature another experienced Christmas caroler: Patti LaBelle.

The a cappella group and “On My Own” singer will deliver musical performances in the double episode premiering December 17 on Disney+, exactly 35 years after the original Simpsons holiday special aired in 1989.

The streaming platform also shared a trailer for the project, showing Homer wreaking havoc on Springfield after famed mentalist Derren Brown hypnotizes him into thinking he’s Santa Claus.

“Celebrate the holidays with a double-episode holiday special,” the teaser reads in between shots of the Simpsons patriarch riding on a parade float with a white beard, getting tased by police on the street and crashing his homemade sleigh into Moe’s Tavern.

The trailer doesn’t show Pentatonix — which is comprised of Scott Hoying, Mitch Grassi, Maldonado, Matt Sallee and Kevin Olusola — or LaBelle, nor has Disney+ revealed details about their performances.

Pentatonix is known for their Christmas music, with the vocal group’s A Pentatonix Christmas spending two weeks atop the Billboard 200 in 2016.

Pentatonix has also dropped two new holiday singles in 2024: “Meet Me Next Christmas,” which arrived in November, and “Christmastime Is Finally Here” with A Great Big World, released Dec. 6.

Kirstin Maldonado & Her Pentatonix Group Mates Taking on Wilson Phillips on This Week’s “Celebrity Family Feud”

Posted on September 18, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Kirstin Maldonado is feudin’ for a cause…

The 29-year-old half-Mexican, part-Spanish American singer and her Pentatonix group mates are facing off against Wilson Phillips on Sunday night’s new episode of Celebrity Family Feud.

In a clip from the upcoming episode of the primetime ABC game show, premiering exclusively on Billboard, host Steve Harvey introduces the Grammy-winning a cappella group.

“Y’all can sing,” Harvey tells the quintet.

Harvey introduces each individual member — Scott Hoying, Maldonado, Matt Sallee, Mitch Grassi and Kevin Olusola — and pays special attention to the “smooth” pronunciation of beatboxer Olusola’s last name.

Pentatonix recently released a deluxe edition of their latest album The Lucky Ones on September 10, via RCA Records, following up the album’s initial February 12 release with seven additional songs.

One of those new tracks is “Midnight in Tokyo,” for which PTX joined forces with all-female Japanese vocal group Little Glee Monster and released a music video along with the deluxe edition.

Tune in to Celebrity Family Feud at 8:00 pm ET on Sunday night on ABC to see Pentatonix take on Wilson Phillips for harmonic supremacy.

Kirstin Maldonado & Her Pentatonix Mates Release Mash-Up of BTS’ “Dynamite” & “Butter”

Posted on August 21, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Kirstin Maldonado is K-poppin’ it like it’s hot…

The 29-year-old half-Mexican, part-Spanish American singer and her Pentatonix group mates have released a mash-up of two Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits from BTS.

Cutting into the group’s rendition of Jung Kook‘s hook on “Dynamite,” Scott Hoying slides in like a “criminal undercover” with the first verse of “Butter.”

Pentatonix’s colorful jackets and suspended newspaper props had a more serious air once the video turned black-and-white, like the official “Butter” music video. But don’t get it twisted: Hoying led the group into a groove that was anything but serious.

Eventually Matt Sallee and Mitch Grassi took the lead when the two got back into Pentatonix’s technicolor “Dynamite” performance before switching back to black-and-white with the group’s airy “Dyn-na-na-na, na-na, na-na, ayy” harmonies smoothly flowing into “Get it, let it roll!”

In late July, Pentatonix asked their Twitter fans in a poll which BTS song they should cover between “Butter” and “Dynamite,” and even though the former single took the lead, the quintet decided why not just go for both?

Kirstin Maldonado & Her Pentatonix Group Mates Release Genre-Bending “12 Days of Christmas”

Posted on December 1, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Kirstin Maldonado is counting down to Christmas in an entertaining way…

The 28-year-old Mexican & Spanish American singer and her Pentatonix group mates are ringing in the annual countdown to the season but with a sonic twist in their new “12 Days of Christmas” music video.

Starting midway on the sixth day of Christmas, the five golden singers in the Grammy-winning a cappella group – Maldonado, Scott Hoying, Mitch Grassi, Kevin Olusola and Matt Sallee – deliver their verses with a wide range of genres, including hip-hop, electro-pop, island folk and more, predominantly backed by Olusola’s beatboxing.

“The PTX holiday cheer continues as we countdown to Christmas with our version of ’12 Days of Christmas,'” Pentatonix wrote on their social media. “We had fun putting our touch on this iconic Christmas song!”

Their funky-yet-festive rendition of “12 Days of Christmas” is the first song on their sixth holiday set We Need a Little Christmas, which peaked at No. 4 on Billboard‘s Top Holiday Albums chart, dated November 28.

The five-piece group also released holiday visuals for “Thank You” and “Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)” off the Christmas album.

Kirstin Maldonado & Her Pentatonix Mates Release Inspirational “Amazing Grace” Cover

Posted on November 7, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Kirstin Maldonado is bringin’ a little grace to the holiday season…

The 28-year-old Mexican & Spanish American singer and her Pentatonix group mates have surprised the world with the release of the music video for their new cover of “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone).”

In the Jimmy Bates-directed clip, Maldonado and her Pentatonix mates infuse the enduring gospel classic with their trademark a capella harmonies while wandering through a stunning outdoor church in the misty woods.

“My chains are gone/ I’ve been set free/ My God, my savior has ransomed me/ And like a flood/ His mercy reigns/ Unending love/ Amazing grace,” Mitch Grassi belts, while his bandmates provide crashing percussion and background vocals. Maldonado then takes over lead vocals on the next pitch-perfect stanza.

The track will serve as the lead single for the band’s upcoming sixth holiday album, We Need a Little Christmas, which is slated to drop November 13 via RCA Records.

While Pentatonix has yet to reveal the studio set’s complete track list, it will follow The Best of Pentatonix Christmas, their 2019 holiday compilation which featured collaborations with Tori Kelly (“Winter Wonderland/Don’t Worry, Be Happy“), Kelly Clarkson (“Grown Up Christmas List“), Maren Morris (“When You Believe”) and Jennifer Hudson (“How Great Thou Art“), as well as a posthumous duet with the late Whitney Houston on “Do You Hear What I Hear?”

Previously, the Christmas-loving a capella group has also released 2012’s PTXmas, 2014’s That’s Christmas to Me, 2016’s A Pentatonix Christmas and 2018’s Christmas Is Here!

Their next non-holiday full-length, titled The Lucky Ones, is currently expected to hit shelves, digital retailers and streaming services on February 12, 2021.

Kirstin Maldonado & Pentatonix to Launch World Tour in May

Posted on April 2, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Kirstin Maldonado is going global…

The 26-year-old half-Mexican/part-Spanish American singer and her Pentatonix group mates will be hitting the road this spring for their upcoming world tour, and they spilled all the details of what fans can expect in a new video, premiering exclusively on Billboard.

In the clip, the five singers sit down with Live Nationto answer questions about the tour and get quizzed about their fellow bandmates.

“A lot of new music!” Maldonado says of what to expect, while Scott Hoyingpromises “fun,” “choreo” and “belting” at each show.

Next, the a cappella group plays a rapid-fire round of superlatives, naming which of their bandmates is the biggest prankster (Kirstin), the messiest (a toss-up) and always late (also Kirstin, though beatboxer Kevin Olusolapoints silently to himself).

Another fun fact? If the band could change their name, original members Maldonado, Hoying and Mitch Grassiall agree it would be — wait for it — Fifth Harmony! The girl group may have announced their indefinite hiatus in March 2018, but it’s a good thing CamilaCabello & Co. laid claim to the moniker during The X Factor back in 2012.

Pentatonix: The World Tourkicks off May 11 at the Oracle Arenain Oakland, California.

PENTATONIX: THE WORLD TOUR Dates

05/11/2019	Oakland, CA	Oracle Arena
05/14/2019	Fresno, CA	Save Mart Center
05/16/2019	Inglewood, CA	The Forum
05/19/2019	Denver, CO	Pepsi Center
05/21/2019	Tulsa, OK	BOK Center
05/23/2019	San Antonio, TX	AT&T Center
05/25/2019	Huntsville, AL	Von Braun Center
05/26/2019	Louisville, KY	KFC Yum! Center
05/30/2019	Greensboro, NC	Greensboro Coliseum Complex
06/01/2019	Orlando, FL	Amway Center
06/02/2019	Augusta, GA	James Brown Arena
06/04/2019	Allentown, PA	PPL Center
06/06/2019	New York, NY	Madison Square Garden
06/08/2019	Worcester, MA	DCU Center
06/09/2019	Atlantic City, NJ	Mark G. Etess Arena
06/11/2019	Montreal, QC	Centre Bell
06/13/2019	Uncasville, CT	Mohegan Sun
06/15/2019	Grand Rapids, MI	Van Andel Arena
06/16/2019	Columbus, OH	Nationwide Arena
06/18/2019	Milwaukee, WI	Fiserv Forum
06/20/2019	Nashville, TN	Bridgestone Arena
06/22/2019	Moline, IL	TaxSlayer Center
06/23/2019	Green Bay, WI	Resch Center
06/25/2019	St. Paul, MN	Xcel Energy Center
06/26/2019	Fargo, ND	Fargodome
06/28/2019	Calgary, AB	Scotiabank Saddledome
06/30/2019	Edmonton, AB	Rogers Place
07/02/2019	Vancouver, BC	Rogers Arena
07/03/2019	Tacoma, WA	Tacoma Dome
07/06/201907/07/2019	Las Vegas, NVStateline, NV	Mandalay Bay Events CenterLake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys +
08/11/2019	Maryland Heights, MO	Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
08/13/2019	Kansas City, MO	Starlight Theatre
08/14/2019	Springfield, IL	Illinois State Fairgrounds +
08/15/2019	Highland Park, IL	Ravinia Festival +
08/17/2019	Des Moines, IA	Iowa State Fair +
08/19/2019	Brandon, MS	Brandon Amphitheater
08/20/2019	Orange Beach, AL	The Wharf Amphitheater
08/22/2019	Tuscaloosa, AL	Tuscaloosa Amphitheater
08/24/2019	Jacksonville, FL	Dailey’s Place
08/26/2019	Columbia, MD	Merriweather Post Pavilion
08/27/2019	Canandaigua, NY	Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center: CMAC
08/29/2019	Gilford, NH	Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion
08/31/2019	Bethel, NY	Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
09/01/2019	Canfield, OH	Canfield Fair +

+Not a Live Nation date

Maldonado & Pentatonix Release Music Video for “That’s Christmas to Me.”

Posted on November 19, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Kirstie Maldonado is spreading holiday cheer…

The half-Mexican American/part-Spanish artist and her fellow Pentatonix group mates have released the official music video for their original Christmas song “That’s Christmas to Me.”

Following clips for “White Winter Hymnal,” “Winter Wonderland/Don’t Worry be Happy” and “Mary, Did You Know?” comes the clip for the title track from their upcoming Christmas album, which finds the group — including Maldonado, Scott Hoying, Mitch Grassi, Avi Kaplan and Kevin “K.O.” Olusola — sitting together in a living room, reminiscing about the best times of the holidays.

The most exciting part of the video? It includes what appears to be real-life home-video footage of each member from a merry Christmas morning in their childhoods.

Maldonado & Pentatonix Release Cover of Clean Bandit’s “Rather Be”

Posted on September 18, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

It looks like Kirstie Maldonado has another smash hit cover on her hands…

The half-Mexican American/part-Spanish artist and her fellow Pentatonix group mates have released another catchy reinterpretation.

The Streamy Award-winning a capella group’s upcoming EP, PTX Vol. III, comes out on September 23, and as a tease, their cover of Clean Bandit‘s “Rather Be” has made its way online.

Pentatonix, the winners of NBC‘s singing competition The Sing-Off in 2011, sticks to what they do best in their latest song, and it’s another hit for Maldonado, Scott Hoying, Mitch Grassi, Avi Kaplan and beatboxer Kevin Olusola.

“We’re huge fans of Clean Bandit, and we’re so excited to be covering this!” Grassi told People about the song off PTX Vol. III, which also includes an already-released cover of “Problem” by Ariana Grande.

Maldonado and Pentatonix Release A Capella Cover of Ariana Grande’s “Problem”

Posted on August 13, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Kirstie Maldonado has a series problem…

The half-Mexican American/part-Spanish artist and her fellow Pentatonix members have released a new cover, proving there’s really nothing the quintet can’t sing.

The a capella group, who won NBC‘s singing competition The Sing-Off in 2011, shared a video of them performing their rendition of Ariana Grande‘s summer jam “Problem.”

Maldonado and the gang perform every part of the hit track with Kevin Olusola showing off his impressive beat-boxing skill. Meanwhile, Mitch Grassi spits the verses originally performed by Iggy Azalea in the original.

“Problem” is the lead single off Grande’s upcoming sophomore album, My Everything. The 21-year-old singer has responded to Pentatonix’s cover on Twitter, saying”Omg y’all. my favs. been waiting! better SING i love u,” she wrote.

Pentatonix is currently working on two projects that the group plans to release this fall. Earlier this month, they announced their new EP called PTX, Vol. III will arrive in stores on September 23, marking their first project to be released by RCA Records. It will feature covers of hits and original tracks.

The EP will be followed by their second holiday album, That’s Christmas to Me, which is coming out on October 21. It will include a combination of classic holiday tracks, modern favorites and a one-of-a-kind holiday mash-up.

Maldonado & Pentatonix to Release Two Albums This Year

Posted on August 10, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

It’s back to the studio for Kirstie Maldonado.

The half-Mexican American/part-Spanish artist and her fellow Pentatonix members have released a special teaser video announcing their plans to release new music this year.

Pentatonix will actually release two albums this year.

PTX Vol. 3 will hit shelves on September 23, followed by a second holiday album, That’s Christmas to Me, on October 21.

The upcoming EP from the viral a cappella quintet marks their first project with RCA Records, and will again feature covers of hits and original tracks.

The album will also include a surprise featured guest, as well as a song performed entirely in French.

Maldonado and her fellowGroup members Scott Hoying, Mitch Grassi, Avi Kaplan and Kevin Olusola — who won NBC‘s singing competition The Sing-Offin 2011 — will share the upcoming Vol. 3 tracklist on Aug. 12, when its iTunes and Amazon pre-order goes live with the first of two planned instant tracks.

That’s Christmas to Me, named for an original holiday song penned by the group, will include a combination of classic holiday tracks, modern favorites and a one-of-a-kind holiday mash-up.

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