Karol G Receives Two Wax Figures from Madame Tussauds 

Karol G is waxing nostalgic… 

The 33-year-old Colombian Grammy-winning singer-songweriter has officially received two of her very own wax figures at the renowned Madame Tussauds wax museum.

Karol GKarol G was present at the recent grand reveal in New York City, where she reacted to her two figures: one that captures the Colombian-inspired outfit and signature blue hair that she rocked during her 2022 Coachella performance; the other is one of her looks from the “TQG” music video with Shakira, where she had her striking red locks.

“Wow, how impressive!” Karol said in a press statement. “My first impression was I love my smile, and the color of my eyes […] I hope when my fans meet the figures that it’s a manifestation for them that one day they will meet me.”

Karol G Wax FiguresHer Coachella wax figure will remain at the Madame Tussauds in Times Square, whereas her “TQG” wax figure will be relocated to the Madame Tussauds in Las Vegas at the end of October.

“Karol G is one of our generation’s greatest living Latina performers,” added Eliza Rose, marketing manager at Madame Tussauds New York. “Her figure is a beautiful addition to our museums, and a testament to her talent, influence and the love her fans have for her.”

The “Bichota” singer—who’s a 17-time finalist at the 2024 Billboard Latin Music Awards and whose “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” has spent 12 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart—joins Maluma, Anitta, Selena, Bad Bunny, Shakira and other Latin acts with their own wax figures.

Nicky Jam to Perform as Part of Good Morning America’s Annual Summer Concert Series

Nicky Jam is helping to wake up America this summer…

Good Morning America‘s annual Summer Concert Series is returning in July, with the The 43-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American urban singer-songwriter part of the lineup.

Nicky JamNicky Jam will appear from Central Park on the ABC morning show on Friday, August 9.

This year’s genre-spanning lineup also includes rockers Green Day celebrating the 30th anniversary of Dookie and the 20th anniversary of “American Idiot,” country star Carrie Underwood and more.

The annual concert series kicks off its run of eight shows on July 19 with Kane Brown in New York City’s Central Park, and includes rapper G-Eazy on August 16 at the show’s Times Square studio, and closes September 6 with country band Old Dominion, also at GMA‘s studio.

Here’s the full list of GMA‘s Summer Concert Series shows:

July 19: Kane Brown, Central Park
July 26: Green Day, Central Park
Aug. 2: Carrie Underwood, Central Park
Aug. 9: Nicky Jam, Central Park
Aug. 16: G-Eazy, Times Square studio
Aug. 23: Sofi Tukker, Times Square studio
Aug. 30: Megan Moroney, Times Square studio
Sept. 6: Old Dominion, Times Square studio

The performances set for Central Park will take place at Rumsey Playfield. For those interested in the shows in the park — which will be free and open to the public — information on how to attend is available on Good Morning America‘s website.

The concerts held at the Times Square studio will not have a live audience.

All of the performances will air between 7:00 and 9:00 am ET during the morning show’s broadcast, though some will air at 1:00 pm ET on GMA3: What You Need to Know, as well as 4:00 pm ET and 6:00 pm ET during ABC News Live.

Last year’s concert series kicked off with BTS superstar Jung Kook in Central Park. Carly Rae Jepson; Fat Joe with Busta Rhymes, Remy Ma and Bia; Tim McGraw and more also performed for the morning show.

Shakira Performs Surprise Concert For 40,000 Fans in New York City’s Times Square

Shakira is recovering from an epic performance…

The 47-year-old Colombian superstar surprised her followers with a “pop-up” concert in New York City’s Times Square to celebrate her first LP in seven years, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran, which was released last Friday.

ShakiraAnnounced just hours earlier on her social media accounts, Shakira’s impromptu concert drew about 40,000 fans, according to figures provided by the organizers.

A huge electronic billboard that covered part of a skyscraper announced the free show with a clock counting down to its start.

At around 7:30 p.m. ET, the crowd enthusiastically chanted from ten to zero and two large doors hidden in the jumbotron opened to reveal the TSX Stage, and Shakira opening with her No. 1 Hot 100 hit “Hips Don’t Lie.”

Hola New York! Oh my God, this is amazing, absolutely insane,” she said immediately after in Spanglish. “It’s so awesome to see you again, to sing for you… Nothing compares to this. Thank you so much for all the love that you’ve been giving me this week during the release of my new album Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran. And thank you, thank you, thank you for showing up.”

Dressed in black pants and top with silver embellishments, the self-proclaimed She-Wolf delighted the crowd by singing live — along with a band and a group of dancers — songs such as “Te Felicito”, “TQG”, “Cómo Dónde y Cuándo” and “Puntería”, before closing with the mega hit “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53.”

“I’m happy to be here surrounded by my Latin people,” said the 14-time Latin Grammy and three-time Grammy winner. “Thank you New York. Until next time. I love you very much.”

Tuesday’s show was co-produced by TSX Entertainment, with presenting partners ViX, Vinfast and Sony Music Latin.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3bxt6r3zq8

Maria Becerra to Perform in Times Square as Part of Univision’s “¡Feliz 2024!”

Maria Becerra will be ringing in 2024 in the Big Apple

New York City’s Times Square is gearing up to host its annual New Year’s Eve celebration, which includes the televised ball lowering during the countdown to the new year, with the 23-year-old Argentine singer and former YouTuber set to perform.

María Becerra,

The tradition, which has been celebrated for 120 years now, will boast Becerra and Mexican reggaeton artist Yng Lvcas will perform a medley of their biggest hits at the Center Stage.

Becerra will perform at 10:04 pm as part of Univision’s ¡Feliz 2024! program.It will air live on Univision and the Times Square New Year’s Eve webcast.

Meantime, Yng Lvcas will perform a medley of his hit songs as part of Univision’s ¡Feliz 2024! Program from 11:02 to 11:07 pm.

Jared Leto’s Thirty Seconds to Mars to Perform During “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2024”

Jared Leto will be rockin’ into the New Year…

The 51-year-old part-Spanish American actor/singer’s rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars has been announced as part of the lineup for Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2024.

Jared Leto, Shannon Leto, Thirty Seconds to MarsLeto and his brother Shannon’s Thirty Seconds to Mars joins a lineup that includes Aqua, Doechii, Ellie Goulding, Green Day, Janelle Monáe, Loud Luxury x Two Friends with Bebe Rexha, Ludacris, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Paul Russell and Reneé Rapp with Coco Jones.

Jeannie Mai and Rita Ora join Seacrest as new co-hosts for the upcoming 52nd edition of the venerable holiday telecast. While Mai will emcee the Hollywood party in the Pacific Time zone, Ora will be live in Times Square.

Ringing in the new year at midnight in the Atlantic Time zone (11pm ET), New Year’s Rockin’ Eve will once again feature a Spanish language countdown with Dayanara Torres returning as co-host from Puerto Rico’s Convention Center.

Eliminated from the lineup is the Central Time zone countdown from New Orleans, which had been part of the show since 2017. (Last year, Rockin’ Eve also added a Disneyland location to kick off Disney’s 100th anniversary celebration, which is not coming back.)

The changes come in Rockin’ Eve’s first year under new ownership at DCP, which was acquired in January by Penske Media Eldridge. The annual program was recently renewed through January 1, 2029.

The No. 1 New Year’s Eve special for over 30 years, Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2023 drew 13.8 million total viewers and averaged 4.1/29 among adults 18-49 last year. It peaked at 17.9 million viewers and a 5.3 18-49 rating in the midnight quarter-hour.

Airing December 31, live on ABC at 8:00 PM EST, Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2024 will feature more than 5 1⁄2 hours of music performances, guests and a look at New Year’s celebrations around the globe.

Lin-Manuel Miranda to Take Part in “Broadway for Biden” Fundraising Event

Lin-Manuel Miranda will be performing on Broadway with a special purpose…

The 43-year-old Puerto Rican Tony-winning songwriter, actor, filmmaker and playwright will be taking part in a Broadway fundraising concert next month for President Joe Biden.

Lin-Manuel Miranda In addition to Miranda, who created the Tony-winning musicals Hamilton and In The Heights, will feature some of theater’s other biggest stars, including Josh Groban, Ben Platt, Sara BareillesCynthia Erivo, Leslie Odom Jr. and Laura Benanti, among others, with the president himself scheduled to attend.

There’s at least one detail being kept under wraps for the moment – the Broadway venue in Times Square has not been identified – the date has been set for Monday, September 18, with ticket prices ranging from $250 for rear mezzanine seats to $7,500 for orchestra center front.

The seating chart at the ticket website indicates that the concert will take place at an indoor theater rather than outdoors in Times Square.

Other stars to be featured at the concert are Annaleigh Ashford, Josh Gad, Alex Edelman, Christopher Jackson, LaChanze, Ruthie Ann Miles, Andrew Rannells and Aaron Tveit.

The one-night-only concert fundraiser is being hosted by Broadway producers and supporters Jeffrey Seller, Thomas Kail, Luz & Luis Miranda, Bruce Cohen & Gabe Catone, Tom Healy & Fred P. Hochberg, Barbara Marcin & Orin Kramer, Stacey & Eric Mindich, Karen & Gary Rose, Janet & Marvin Rosen, Alexandra & Eric Schoenberg, Ted Snowdon & Duffy Violante, Henry Tisch & Sean Walsh.

The Broadway for Biden event is being described by organizers as both a celebration of Biden’s political career and “a call to action, emphasizing the importance of his reelection in 2024.”

Demi Lovato to Perform on CNN’s “The Fourth in America” Special

Demi Lovato is celebrating America’s independence in a special way…

CNN will be hosting an Independence Day special, The Fourth In America, that will include a performance by the 30-year-old half-Mexican American singer/actress.

Demi LovatoIn addition to Lovato, other performers will include Post Malone, Zac Brown Band and Leon Bridges.

Dana Bash, Boris Sanchez, Victor Blackwell and Cari Champion will host the special, which also will include Sheryl Crow, Darius Rucker, Alanis Morrisette, Duran Duran, Flo Rida, Smash Mouth and The Plain White Ts.

This will be the fourth year that the network has scheduled a Fourth of July special, following CNN’s long running tradition of New Year’s Eve coverage from Times Square.

The special also will include a performance by the United States Air Force Band, as well as fireworks shows from around the county, including Washington, D.C.

Karol G’s Shakira-Collaboration “TQG” Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs Chart

Karol G’s hot streak continues…

The 32-year-old Colombian singer has notched another No. 1 debut to her account, as “TQG” (“Te Quedé Grande”), with Shakira, arrives at No. 1 on the Hot Latin Songs chart dated March 11.

Shakira & Karol GIt’s the third pair-up by two female artists in a lead role to debut at No. 1 since the tally launched in 1986 — and they’ve all been Karol G collaborations.

Karol G’s new album Mañana Será Bonito’s large streaming first-week sum spurs 13 debuts on Hot Latin Songs. Those, plus three titles also striding up the list, take over the multimetric ranking.

In total, 16 songs of the 17-track set rank on this week’s chart, while “Provenza,” now off the tally, ruled for one week in May 2022 (Karol G’s only No. 1 as a soloist among six champs).

With 16 tracks on the chart concurrently, Karol G makes history as the woman with the most simultaneous songs since the ranking began. Only two other acts have scored more songs: Bad Bunny with between 17 and 24 concurrent songs throughout different periods and Ozuna with 21 titles in September 2018.

Plus, with five songs in the top 10, Karol G now holds the record for the most simultaneous top 10s among women.

The No. 1 start for “TQG” is powered by streaming activity. It logged 29 million clicks in the U.S., during the February 24-March 2 tracking week, according to Luminate, becoming the most-streamed Latin song of the week.

Karol G first summoned fans to Times Square for the Shakira collab announcement through social media on February 22, where the song was teased on the big screens. The joint effort by the Colombian stars, plus buzz generated about the narrative of the song (heartbreak and moving on after high-profile breakups), have helped “TQG” bow atop Hot Latin Songs.

It becomes just the eighth song by a female act to debut at No. 1 since the chart launched in 1986. Here’s the recap:

Debut Date, Title, Artists
Jan. 14, 2012, “Hotel Nacional,” Gloria Estefan
Feb. 28, 2015, “Mi Verdad,” Mana Featuring Shakira
Nov. 19, 2016, “Chantaje,” Shakira Featuring Maluma
Oct. 13, 2018, “Taki Taki” DJ Snake Featuring Selena Gomez, Ozuna & Cardi B
Nov. 23, 2019, “Tusa,” Karol G & Nicki Minaj
August 8, 2020, “Un Dia (One Day),” J Balvin, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny & Tainy
Feb. 26, 2022, “MAMIII,” Becky G X Karol G
March 11, 2023, “TQG,” Karol G & Shakira

Further breaking down the big debut, “TQG” earns multiple achievements:

-It’s the sixth title with a female act in a lead role to debut at No. 1 since the chart launched in 1986.

-It’s the fifth title by a Hispanic female act on a lead role to debut at No. 1 since the chart’s inception. (Hispanic relating to Spanish-speaking countries, especially those in Latin America and/ or artists with Latin ascendancy).

-It’s the third pair-up by two female artists in a lead role to debut at No. 1, all including Karol G.

Here’s a look at all the songs from Mañana Será Bonito on the current Hot Latin Songs chart:

Rank, Title, Artist (if other than Karol G)
No. 1, “TQG,” with Shakira (debut)
No. 4, “X Si Volvemos,” with Romeo Santos
No. 8, “Mientras Me Curo El Cora” (debut)
No. 9, “Gucci Los Paños” (debut)
No. 10, “Tus Gafitas” (debut)
No. 11, “Gatúbela,” with Maldy
No. 13, “Cairo,” with Ovy on The Drums
No. 14, “Per Tú,” with Quevedo (debut)
No. 16, “Ojos Ferrari,” with Justin Quiles and Angel Dior (debut)
No, 17, “Besties” (debut)
No. 19, “Mañana Será Bonito,” with Carla Morrison (debut)
No. 24, “Amargura” (debut)
No. 25, “Karmika,” with Bad Gyal and Sean Paul (debut)
No. 26, “Mercurio” (debut)
No. 29, “Dañamos La Amistad,” with Sech (debut)
No. 33, “Carolina (debut)

“TQG” also records activity in the other two metrics that influence the Hot Latin Songs chart: radio airplay and song sales. On Latin Airplay, it debuts at No. 27 with 4.29 million in audience impressions. It also accrues 7,000 downloads for a No. 1 start on Latin Digital Song Sales and No. 4 on the overall Digital Song Sales.

Howie Dorough & Fellow Backstreet Boys Release Claymation Video for “Christmas in New York”

Everything’s a-oclay for Howie Dorough

The 49-year-old half-Puerto Rican singer and his fellow Backstreet Boys have released a new music video for their holiday track “Christmas in New York.”

Howie Dorough, BSB, Backstreet BoysThe sweet and sentimental visual sees the quintet — Nick Carter, Dorough, AJ McLean, Brian Littrell and Kevin Richardson — passionately singing the holiday track while their claymation counterparts explore a twinkling New York City during Christmas time.

The claymation dolls of the boy group witness and participate in classic scenes.

One features a dressed up Santa with an elf at his side ringing a bells and asking for donations with a big red bucket. The dolls head down to the TV-decorated intersection of Times Square, take a horse-drawn carriage ride in Central Park, view the holiday windows at Macy’s 34th street and go ice-skating in Rockefeller Center.

“All the elves are busy/ On Macy’s eighth floor/ It’s good to know there is still a miracle on 34th/ But what I love the most/ Is holding you this close/ This is what they made the Season for/ Oh, spending Christmas in/ Oh, another Christmas in/ Oh, yes, another Christmas in New York,” Littrell closes out the song with the rest of the members.

“Christmas in New York” hails from the boy band’s A Very Backstreet Christmas. The LP — which marked the group’s first collection of yuletide songs and its first studio effort in three years — was released on October 14 via BMG. The set charted at No. 17 on the Billboard 200 following its release.

In addition to “Christmas in New York,” other holiday tracks like “White Christmas,” “Silent Night,” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” are included on the album.

“Christmas in New York” is one of three original Christmas songs on the album; the others are titled “Together” and “Happy Days.”

Karol G to Perform During ABC’s “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest”

Karol G will be ringing in the New Year in the Big Apple

The 30-year-old Colombian singer is set to perform at this year’s 50th anniversary edition of ABC’s holiday staple Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest

Karol G

Karol G will perform from Manhattan, alongside new additions to the bill Rock Hall of Famers Journey and R&B singer Chlöe.

LL Cool J will play a pre-midnight set in Times Square, and Emmy-winning Pose alum Billy Porter with perform a medley aboard the riverboat Louis Armstrong on the Mississippi River as part of the annual NYE show.

They join previously announced performers including Daddy Yankee in Puerto Rico and a Los Angeles bill that includes Ciara, Avril Lavigne & Travis Barker, Big Boi, OneRepublic and French Montana.

Ryan Seacrest will host New Year’s Rockin’ Eve for a 17th year from Times Square, joined by rookie co-hosts Porter from New Orleans, Liza Koshy in NYC and Roselyn Sanchez in Puerto Rico — the inaugural destination for the show’s first Spanish-language countdown.

ABC’s 50th annual Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest starts at 8:00 pm on December 31.