“Saturday Night Live” Alum Fred Armisen to Appear on “SNL:50 The Anniversary Special”

Fred Armisen is returning to Studio 8H.

The 58-year-old half-Venezuelan American actor, comedian, musician, writer and former Saturday Night Live cast member will be appearing on SNL:50 The Anniversary Special.

Fred ArmisenArmisen is among a roster of SNL alums returning for the show’s 50th anniversary special.

He starred on the late-night sketch comedy and variety series from 2002 to 2013.

Some of Armisen’s iconic SNL characters include Garth and Manuel Ortiz. He’s also known for his impressions of Barack Obama, Steve Jobs, Ira Glass, Prince and Michael Bloomberg.

Other former/current cast members and guests set to appear on the show include

Adam Sandler, Amy Poehler, Andy Samberg, Chevy Chase, Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy, Garrett Morris, Jane Curtin, Jason Sudeikis, Jimmy Fallon, Kate McKinnon, Kenan Thompson, Kristen Wiig, Laraine Newman, Maya Rudolph, Molly Shannon, Pete Davidson, Seth Meyers, Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, Will Ferrell, Will Forte and more.

They join previously announced A-listers Adam Driver, Ayo Edebiri, Bad Bunny, Dave Chappelle, John Mulaney, Kim Kardashian, Martin Short, Miley Cyrus, Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Pedro Pascal, Peyton Manning, Quinta Brunson, Robert De Niro, Sabrina Carpenter, Scarlett Johansson, Steve Martin, Tom Hanks and Woody Harrelson.

The live three-hour telecast from Studio 8H in Rockefeller Center is set for Sunday, February 16 at 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT on NBC and simulcast on Peacock.

Ahead of Sunday’s special, Peacock will livestream the SNL50: The Homecoming Concert from Radio City Music Hall, hosted by Jimmy Fallon, on Friday, February, 14 at 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT.

Executive produced by Lorne Michaels and Mark Ronson, the concert will include performances by Arcade Fire, Backstreet Boys, Bad Bunny, Bonnie Raitt, Brandi Carlile, Brittany Howard, Chris Martin, David Byrne, DEVO, Eddie Vedder, Jack White, Jelly Roll, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Mumford & Sons, Post Malone, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Robyn, The B-52s, The Roots and more to be announced.

Saturday Night Live is produced in association with Broadway Video. The creator and executive producer is Lorne Michaels.

Jacob Elordi in Early Talks to Star in Ridley Scott’s “The Dog Stars”

Jacob Elordi is the top dog for a coveted role…

The 27-year-old half-Spanish Australian actor is in early talks to lead The Dog Stars, Ridley Scott’s post-apocalyptic thriller for 20th Century Studios, based on the 2012 novel by Peter Heller.

Jacob Elordi,Elordi looks to step in for Scott’s Gladiator II star, Paul Mescal, who was forced to depart due to scheduling conflicts after being tapped to star in Sam MendesBeatles anthology, where he’s rumored to be playing Paul McCartney.

Scott first hinted at the possibility of Mescal’s exit in a December conversation with filmmaker Christopher Nolan on Gladiator II.

Set in a near future where an unnamed pandemic has decimated American society, The Dog Stars will have Elordi playing Hig, a civilian pilot living a lonely life on an abandoned Colorado airbase with his dog and a tough ex-marine. The two men couldn’t be more mismatched but depend on each other to fend off roaming invaders. When a random transmission beams through the radio of his 1956 Cessna, the voice ignites a hope deep inside the pilot that a better life exists outside their tightly controlled perimeter. Risking everything, he flies past his point of no return and follows its static-broken trail.

Mark L. Smith penned the script for the film, which is the next on Scott will direct.

Known for starring on HBO’s Euphoria, Elordi is due to shoot that series’ final season next year, along with Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights for Warner Bros, where he stars opposite Margot Robbie.

This year, he’ll be seen playing the title role in Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein for Netflix.

Other upcoming projects include On Swift Horses, the Daniel Minahan drama co-starring Daisy Edgar-Jones, which premiered at TIFF, and Prime Video’s Australian miniseries The Narrow Road to the Deep North.

Fito Páez Reschedules Performance at Mexico City’s Zócalo for January 18

Fito Páez is preparing for a massive concert in Mexico’s capital city.

The 61-year-old Argentine rock & roll musician and filmmaker has set a new date for his free concert in Mexico City’s Zócalo, which was originally postponed due to having an accident in September that resulted in fractured ribs.

Fito PáezPaez will now perform on January 18, Ana Francis López, the Secretary of Culture of the Mexican capital, confirmed on Friday during a press conference.

His presentation at the so-called Primer Cuadro de la Ciudad de México will precede his shows scheduled at the Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City, on January 21-22, and his concert in Guadalajara, Jalisco, on January 26.

This series of concerts, including the one in the Zócalo, are part of his El Amor Después del Amor 2025 Tour, with which the award-winning Argentine musician celebrates 32 years of his seventh and most emblematic album.

“With 28 albums, three novels, two films as screenwriter and director, 11 Latin Grammy awards and a Grammy, Fito Paéz is more than a musician: he is a storyteller, an icon who has marked generations with his art,” Mexico City’s ministry of culture wrote in a post on social media.

In September, Páez revealed on his social media channels that he had suffered an accident that resulted in the fracture of five ribs, and that his concerts scheduled for that month in Mexico and Colombia would be rescheduled.

Mexico City’s Zócalo — where international artists such as Roger Waters, Paul McCartney and Rosalía have performed — is the country’s main public square and the second largest in the world after Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

So far, the group with the largest attendance at this venue has been the Argentine band Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, which in June 2023 gathered 300,000 people, according to official figures, taking the record away from the Mexican band Grupo Firme, which in September 2022 gathered 280,000 people.

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The Late Jerry Garcia & His Grateful Dead Band Mates Named MusiCares’ 2025 Persons of the Year

The late Jerry Garcia is getting a special posthumous honor…

The half-Spanish American singer/songwriter/guitarist and his Grateful Dead band mates have been named as the 2025 Persons of the Year by MusiCares, with the band’s original members due to be feted at the organization’s annual gala concert and dinner on January 31, two days prior to the Grammys.

Jerry GarciaThe honor will effectively kick off what may turn out to be a yearlong celebration of the 60th anniversary of the group’s founding. As always, the fundraiser for this charitable arm of the Recording Academy will culminate in a series of all-star performances covering the honoree’s catalog.

The evening will take place in its usual location in a vast ballroom at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

In the 33-year history of MusiCares events, this marks only the third time that a superstar group has been selected for the honor instead of an individual. The previous bands chosen were Fleetwood Mac in 2018 and Aerosmith in 2020.

It’s the first time that someone no longer among the living will be officially celebrated as part of the tribute. Garcia, who died in 1995 at the age of 53, will get his posthumous due during the evening, along with the four living Dead members from the original lineup — Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh and Bobby Weir.

Grateful Dead, Jerry GarciaThe four musicians have played in spinoff groups since Garcia’s passing, with Weir and Hart continuing to be active as mainstays of Dead & Company.

That outfit officially retired from touring after a 2023 outing, but went on to play a ravenously well-received residency at Sphere in Las Vegas from May through August of this year.

Fans are hoping for a return engagement or some other live commemoration in the coming year to help mark the 60th anniversary of the Grateful Dead.

Don Was, who just served as musical director of last week’s Robbie Robertson tribute at the Kia Forum, will take up MD duties again for this event. Returning as producers are Lewis & Clark, a live event broadcast outfit made up of Joe Lewis and R.A. Clark.

Laura Segura, executive director of MusiCares, said in a statement that the Dead’s legacy “transcends music, having built a community of fans and collaborators that embody the spirit of connection and support, something that is deeply aligned with MusiCares’ mission.

The band’s passion for the arts and philanthropy, along with their enduring commitment to social causes, has made a lasting impact that goes beyond the stage. It is a privilege to celebrate their contributions to both music and humanity.”

The Dead will be following in the footsteps of MusiCares’ 2024 honoree, Jon Bon Jovi, and a three-decade-long list of previous recipients that includes Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Barbra Streisand, Joni Mitchell, Dolly Parton, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Bono, Elton John, Quincy Jones, Billy Joel, Sting, Stevie Wonder, Neil Young and Paul Simon.

Hart, Kreutzmann, Lesh and Weir collectively issued a statement that said in part, “We are deeply honored to be recognized as MusiCares Persons of the Year. This honor is truly a testament to the legacy of the music, which has always been bigger than us — it’s about the connection between us, the crew, and all those who’ve been on this long strange trip. It’s not just about what we create, but about making sure the people behind it, behind us every night, the ones who quietly make it all happen, get the support they need to keep going, no matter what life throws at them. We’re grateful to stand with MusiCares and hope everyone continues to support this vital mission to ensure music thrives in perpetuity.”

MusiCares cited the group’s charitable efforts as one reason for their selection, noting how “Garcia’s involvement with the Rex Foundation, Hart’s work in music therapy and brain health, Weir’s advocacy for addressing climate change and combating poverty, Kreutzmann’s ocean conservation efforts, and Lesh’s Unbroken Chain Foundation underscore the band’s commitment to making a difference beyond the stage.”

MusiCares’ mission is to offer musicians in need a network of preventive, emergency and recovery programs.

Karol G to Co-Headline This Year’s Rock in Rio Festival

Karol G is ready to rock

The 33-year-old Colombian Grammy-winning singer/songwriter will co-headline this year’s Rock in Rio, one of the biggest music festivals in Brazil.

Karol GKarol G has been added to the line-up, which will include performances from Mariah Carey, Ludmilla and many other artists. 

The very first Rock in Rio festival took place in 1985. The line-up included music icons like Queen, Tina Turner, AC/DC, Rod Stewart and Iron Maiden. Since then, many other global stars like Britney Spears, Shakira, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Dua Lipa, Paul McCartney and Drake have performed at the multi-day festival.

This year, Rock in Rio will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of the festival in a big way. The event will take place over two weekends, Sept. 13 to 15 and 19 to 22, at the Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro.

Karol G was added as a co-headliner to the September 20 date. She’s currently touring Latin America with her Mañana Será Bonito Tour. The tour will visit Brazil on May 10 in São Paulo. Her fans in Brazil will get a second chance to see her in Rio de Janeiro for Rock in Rio. She’ll headline the Palco Mundo (World Stage) that day with Katy Perry, Cyndi Lauper and Ivete Sangalo.

Brazilian superstar Ludmilla is one of the co-headliners on the September 13 date. She recently performed on the main stage of the Coachella music festival. Travis Scott, 21 Savage, and Matuê, Teto & Wiu will also headline the Palco Mundo. Mariah Carey will headline the Palco Sunset (Sunset Stage) on September 22. Other performers to look out for over those two weekends include Lulu Santos, DENNIS, Gloria Groove, Iza, Ed Sheeran, Charlie Puth, Imagine Dragons and One Republic.

Next month, the 2024 Rock in Rio Lisboa will first take place. From June 15 to 16 and 22 to 23, Camila Cabello, Jonas Brothers, Aitana, Doja Cat, Sheeran and many others will perform at the precursor festival to the one later happening in Rio de Janeiro.

Pitbull to Perform During “Keep The Party Going: A Tribute to Jimmy Buffett” Concert at Hollywood Bowl

Pitbull is hitting the Buffett line…

The 43-year-old Cuban American rap superstar will take part in Keep The Party Going: A Tribute to Jimmy Buffett, which will take place at the Hollywood Bowl on Thursday, April 11.

PitbullThe one-night tribute concert will celebrate the iconic singer-songwriter’s life and career.

Buffett passed away at the age of 76 on September 1, 2023.

In addition to Pitbull. the show lineup will include performances by Paul McCartneyEaglesJon Bon Jovi, Zac Brown, Jackson Browne, Brandi Carlile, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Sheryl Crow, Scotty Emerick, Jack Johnson, Caroline Jones, Mac McAnally, Jake Owen, Jake Shimabukuro and The Coral Reefer Band.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, March 15, at 10:00 am PT at Ticketmaster.com.

American Express Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Wednesday, March 13, at 10:00 am through Thursday, March 14, at 10:00 pm. A variety of other presales will also be available during this time.

With a recording career that spanned more than 50 years and included hits such as Margaritaville, Come Monday, and It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere, Buffett filled arenas with “Parrot Heads.”

He released more than 30 albums, nine were certified platinum or multiplatinum. In addition, Buffett was a best-selling author, actor, and entrepreneur.

Grupo Frontera to Perform in Mexico City’s Zócalo During This Year’s Grito de Independencia

Grupo Frontera will be making a special visit to Mexico’s most iconic plaza…

The Regional Mexican group will perform at Mexico City’s Zócalo — the country’s most important public square — on September 15 for the annual Grito de Independencia event, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has announced.

Grupo Frontera“The members of Grupo Frontera will be there on September 15 at night in the Zócalo,” said the Mexican president at the end of his usual morning conference, where he played Frontera’s cover of “No Se Va,” originally by Colombian group Morat.

López Obrador reiterated his taste for the music of the Regional Mexican group, which he has included in his playlist to challenge corridos tumbados, a musical genre that although he has said he will not prohibit, he considers to glorify drug traffickers.

Grupo Frontera joins a long list of national and international artists who have set foot in the second-largest public square in the world, only behind Tiananmen in Beijing. Musicians such as Paul McCartneyJustin Bieber, Manu ChaoShakira, Café Tacvba and the late icon of regional Mexican music Vicente Fernández, among many others, have performed at the Zócalo.

The attendance record for free concerts held in the so-called Primer Cuadro in the Mexican capital is held by the Argentine rock band Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, which achieved the milestone of gathering 300,000 people on the night of June 3, beating Grupo Firme, who held the record after summoning 280,000 people in September 2022, according to figures from the government of Mexico City.

This week, the sextet scored their first top 10 hit on a Billboard album chart with El Comienzo, which jumped 39-4 on the Top Latin Albums chart on August 19 after its first full week of activity.

El Comienzo also jumped 12-2 on Regional Mexican Albums and debuted at No. 39 on the Billboard 200 all-genre chart.

Los Fabulosos Cadillacs’ Free Mexico City Concert Breaks Zócalo Attendance Record

Los Fabulosos Cadillacs are breaking records… 

The legendary Argentine rockers drew a crowd of 300,000 to their free concert at Mexico City’s Zócalo, on Saturday, June 3, breaking the attendance record set by Grupo Firme last year, according to data supplied by the local government.

Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, ZócaloUp until last night, Grupo Firme, the boisterous Regional Mexican group, had drawn the biggest crowd ever (280,000) to the historic Mexican site.

But last night Los Cadillacs bested Grupo Firme and other seminal acts, including Rosalía, Sir Paul McCartney, Roger Waters, Shakira, the late ranchera icon Vicente Fernández, and even pop star Justin Bieber.

“¡Winds of liberty, blood of a fighter!” tweeted Mexico City mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, quoting the lyrics of Los Fabulosos Cadillac’s famous song “Matador.” “We’ve made history again, breaking attendance records with 300,000 people in the Zócalo of Mexico City, enjoying an epic concert from Los Fabulosos Cadillacs,” she added.

Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Zócalo The band — headed by singer Gabriel Fernández Capello, better known as Vicentico, bassist Flavio Cianciarulo and saxophonist Sergio Rotman — took over the second largest public square in the world (behind Tiananmen Square in Peking) with their blend of rock, ska, reggae and punk.

From early in the morning on Saturday, people from different parts of the city, and the country, lined up at el Zócalo in an effort to get access to the front rows of the stage. By the time the show started in the evening, the crowd was so large and tight, that some opted to move to the back to breath better.

The now-historic performance, which lasted around 90 minutes, is part of the group’s El León del Ritmo tour, which celebrates 30 years of one of its most celebrated albums, 1992’s El León, and three decades since the release of their fabled single “Matador.”

The fact that Cadillacs have been around for so long, and that they perform rock en español – a genre many say is fading — makes their accomplishment even more impressive. “They called them old, they made fun of them, and they answered with 300,000 people,” tweeted one fan.

“What happiness! How enormous and indescribable to be playing for all you! Thank you, eternal thanks. We receive this with our hearts,” said a visibly moved Vicentico to an adoring audience that sang to every song in their repertoire.

Following their performance at Coachella in April, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs will take their El León del Ritmo Tour to different countries, including Mexico, the Viña del Mar Festival in Chile, Spain and the U.S.

Here’s the full set list from their record-breaking performance:

  1. “Demasiada Presión”
  2. “El Muerto”
  3. “Carmela”
  4. “Estoy Harto De Verte Con Otros”
  5. “El Genio del Dub”
  6. “Calaveras y Diablitos”
  7. “Los Condenaditos”
  8. “El Aguijón”
  9. “Nro. 2 En Tu Lista”
  10. “Saco Azul”
  11. “Siguiendo La Luna”
  12. “V Centenario”
  13. “Carnaval Toda La Vida”
  14. “Mal Bicho”
  15. “Matador”
  16. “Mi Novia Se Cayó en un Pozo Ciego”
  17. “Vasos Vacíos”
  18. “El Satánico Dr. Cadillac”
  19. “Yo No Me Sentaría en Tu Mesa”

Christina Aguilera Among Celebrities Urging U.S. Senators to Stop Gun Violence Now

Christina Aguilera is calling for politicians to take action on the issue of gun reform

The 40-year-old half-Ecuadorian American Grammy-winning singer has joined a roster of celebrities who’ve signed an open letter to U.S. Senators urging them stop gun violence now.

Christina Aguilera

Five years ago, amidst a string of deadly attacks at live music venues including the horrific mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2016, the cover of Billboard‘s July 2016 issue featured an open letter to U.S. Congress signed by 200 artists and music industry executives calling for gun reform.

Unfortunately, the need for reform has only grown stronger as shootings have continued around the country at a terrifying rate.

So now, five years later, as venues prepare to reopen after their pandemic shutdown and music fans ready to return to concerts and festivals, we stand again with the music community to ask lawmakers to take swift action to stop the violence. — Hannah Karp, Billboard editorial director

An Open Letter to Senators: Stop Gun Violence Now

As leading artists and executives in the music industry, we are adding our voices to the chorus of Americans demanding change.

Music always has been celebrated communally, on dance floors and at concert halls. But this life-affirming ritual, like so many other daily experiences — going to school or church or work — continues to be threatened, because of gun violence in this country.

The one thing that connects the tragedies like the shootings in Boulder, El Paso, Las Vegas, Parkland and so many other places in America, to the one that happened in Orlando five years ago this June, is that it is far too easy for dangerous people to get their hands on guns.

We call on the Senate to do more to prevent the gun violence that kills more than 100 Americans every day and injures hundreds more: Take action on background checks.

Billboard and the undersigned implore you — the people who are elected to represent us — to close the deadly loopholes that put the lives of so many music fans, and all of us, at risk.

Sincerely,

Christina Aguilera, Tori Amos, Sara Barielles, Aaron Bay-Schuck, Tony Bennett, Selim Bouab, Rob Bourdon, Scooter Braun, Cortez Bryant, Michael Bublé, Vanessa Carlton, Joseph Carozza, Steve Cooper, Tom Corson, Lee Daniels, Ellen DeGeneres, Brad Delson, Diplo, Mike Easterlin, John Esposito, Melissa Etheridge, Fletcher, Luis Fonsi, Becky G, Kevin Gore, Julie Greenwald, Josh Groban, Horacio Gutierrez, Joe Hahn, Halsey, Billy Joel, Craig Kallman, Alicia Keys, Kid Cudi, Carole King, Elle King, Adam Lambert, Cyndi Lauper, Kevin Liles, Dre London, Jennifer Lopez, Macklemore, Zayn Malik, Carianne Marshall, Ricky Martin, Paul McCartney, Julia Michaels, Guy Moot, Jason Mraz, Gregg Nadel, Yoko Ono, Mark Pinkus, Gregory Porter, Prince Royce, Bonnie Raitt, Dawn Richard, RMR, Paul Robinson, Maggie Rogers, Kelly Rowland, Mike Shinoda, Sia, Matt Signore, Britney Spears, Rob Stevenson, Sting, Barbra Streisand, Justin Tranter, Sir Trilli, Sharon Van Etten, Aimie Vaughn-Fruehe, Eddie Vedder, Andrew Watt.

If you’re interested in signing the letter, you can email guncontrol@billboard.com.

Demi Lovato to Appear on Second Season of YouTube’s Music Series “Released”

Demi Lovato is being released

YouTube has renewed its music series Released for a second season, with the 28-year-old half-Mexican American singer/actress among the artists set to appear in future episodes.

Demi Lovato,

The new season will kick off with rapper DDG, with upcoming episodes featuring Lovato and Sub Urban to follow.

A revival of MTV’s TRLReleased premieres every Thursday night at 11:45 pm ET, moments before the artists drop their latest music videos. Each 15 minute episode provides unfiltered access to the week’s featured artist and their new music ahead of its official release on YouTube.

The show also reveals exclusive music news, special announcements, and check-ins with other artists as music fans around the world countdown to the premiere together.

Sub Urban will be the featured artist on March 25 and Lovato on April 1.

Artists who previously joined the weekly YouTube series are BLACKPINK, Miley Cyrus, Dua Lipa and more. Washington D.C DJ Little Bacon Bear hosts the series, which is produced by Den of Thieves and Gunpowder & Sky.

Van Toffler praised the artists for their ability to create new music amidst the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

“We had a great run with the first 20 episodes of Released. From BLACKPINK to Paul McCartney to Dua Lipa to 24kGoldn, all episodes were produced during a global pandemic yet each artist rose to the occasion and chose this show to unveil new music,” the Gunpowder & Sky CEO said. “Released has quickly become the go-to home to discover what’s about to break out in music.”

“No matter the conditions, we are always proud to be part of a show that resonates with viewers at home. To see such huge success with Released after launching during a pandemic is even more thrilling, and we’re excited to continue working with this incredible team to elevate it even further,” added Den of Thieves co-founders Evan Prager and Jesse Ignjatovic.