Is This Why Lorde Isn’t Performing at the 2018 Grammys?

Jan 29, 2018

The 2018 Grammys have a pretty stellar lineup of performers — including Kesha, Kendrick Lamar, Childish Gambino, Elton John and Miley Cyrus, Bruno Mars and Cardi B, SZA, and Lady Gaga — but one major name is missing from the list: Album of the Year nominee Lorde.

Lorde is the only female artist in the category, which also includes nods for Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN, Childish Gambino’s Awaken, My Love!, JAY-Z’s 4:44, and Bruno Mars’ 24K Magic. And according to new reports, she was also the only one who wasn’t asked to do a solo performance.

Sources told Variety and TMZ that the Grammys approached the “Green Light” singer about performing with other artists as part of a tribute to Tom Petty, but that, unlike the rest of her fellow Album of the Year nominees, she was not offered an opportunity to perform her own music. As a result, she reportedly declined to take the stage at all (which is totally understandable).

JAY-Z is the only other artist in the category who has not been confirmed for a performance, but both Variety and TMZ report that he was asked to do a solo set. The other three nominees — Kendrick Lamar, Childish Gambino, and Bruno Mars — are all due to take the Grammys stage during Sunday’s ceremony.

Lorde herself has not commented on the reports, but her mom, Sonja Yelich, tweeted a telling excerpt from a New York Times article about the Grammys, which noted that Lorde wouldn’t perform and that only nine percent of the nearly 900 people nominated over the last six years have been women. “This says it all,” Yelich wrote.

this says it all –@nytimes January 26, 2018 pic.twitter.com/R3YdHwieXf
— Sonja Yelich (@sonjayelich1) January 26, 2018

Lorde previously spoke about being the only female artist in the category, telling Billboard, “It’s crazy I’m the only woman in my category, and I feel very proud of that. I’m wearing that mantle for sure. But I’m also stoked that I’m in there with four incredible artists of color — it’s a big moment for the Grammys. It’s exciting when these institutions move in the right way. To me, that is a huge victory.”

What do you think about the reports that Lorde wasn’t asked to perform her own music? Tell us @BritandCo.

(photo via Steven Ferdman/Getty Images)

Taylor Swift Accepted iHeartRadio’s Innovator Award With This Inspiring Speech

Get excited Swifties – our favorite singer-songwriter just accepted iHeartRadio’s Innovator Award, and her speech was *chef’s kiss*.

Every year, the award is given to artists who have “impacted global pop culture throughout their career,” and Taylor Swift has certainly done that. A bejeweled Swift accepted the award onstage at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre alongside a tribute video filled with some of our favorite celebs – Dolly Parton, Selena Gomez, Simu Liu, Simone Biles, and Ed Sheeran, just to name a few.

www.youtube.com

Taylor Swift Acceptance Speech - Innovator Award | 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards

“I never woke up, a single time, and thought to myself, ‘I’m gonna go innovate some stuff today,’” Swift jokingly said. “I really want everyone to know, especially young people, that the hundreds or thousands of dumb ideas that I’ve had have led me to my good ideas… You have to give yourself permission to fail.”

www.tiktok.com

shes so cute #phoebebridgers #taylorswift

Swift received the award from Phoebe Bridgers, the four time Grammy nominated singer-songwriter and Swift’s soon-to-be opening act on her Eras Tour, which started March 17 and runs until August 9.

In her introduction, Bridgers talked about her childhood dreams of songwriting, and discovering Swift while listening to country radio with her mom. “I heard a girl not much older than me singing a song about her own life, and that song was really good,” she said. “Taylor has always told the truth. She’s written songs from exactly where she is. Her music shifted genre in the same way life does—in the same way being 16 is totally incomparable to being 18, 22, 25, 28. I’m grateful that I’ve grown up in a world with Taylor Swift in it. Or, ‘The World (Taylor’s Version).’”

Image via Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup for FOX

Taylor Swift receiving the iHeartRadio Song of the Year Award for "Anti-Hero" from fellow artists Ice Spice and PinkPantheress.

Swift won six(!) other awards, including Song of the Year for “Anti-Hero” and “Best Pop Album.” These wins *officially* crowned her the most awarded artist in iHeartRadio Music Award history, with a total of 19 awards over her career.

www.tiktok.com

#taylorswift#swifttok#taylornation#swiftietiktok#swifttoker#swifttoks#swiftliketaylor#taylorswiftlover #iheartradiomusicawards#iheartradio#iheartradioawards#iheartradiomusicawards2023

The 12 time Grammy winner and honorary doctorate was nominated in several additional categories, including Artist of the Year, Best Lyrics (“Anti-Hero”) and Best Music Video (“Anti-Hero”).

Past recipients of the Innovator Award include Alicia Keys, Pharrell Williams, and Justin Timberlake, ranks in which Swift definitely deserved to join.

Our Swiftie hearts are so full right now, and we cannot wait to see what she wins next.

For now, we’re excitedly awaiting the day when we can finally see Swift IRL, taking the Eras Tour by storm.

Keep up with your fave celebrity news with Brit + Co.

Image via Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup for FOX

Someone Alert Gossip Girl – Ed Westwick And Amy Jackson Have A Baby On The Way

Looks like our Chuck Bass has found his happily ever after. 😌 Ed Westwick, 36, who upholds the Bass namesake inGossip Girl, is now married to actress Amy Jackson. He originally popped the question on a couples-ski-trip-turned-romantic-getaway to Gstaad, Switzerland.

Jackson, 31, posted the news on Instagram, sharing a photo of the duo covered in ski gear, adding an enthused caption: “Hell YES 💍. ”Westwick soon relayed the engagement via an Instagram story of the post, saying “I hit the jackpot xxx.”

And now the couple's family is about to get bigger! Here’s to a lifetime full of love! ❤️ If you’re curious about the pair’s history, read on for a timeline of their sweet relationship.

Ed Westwick + Amy Jackson's Relationship Timeline

Tim P. Whitby / Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival

2021

Westwick and Jackson initially met at Silverstone race track through a mutual friend. The three of them chatted during the racing event and Westwick casually (and so cutely) asked Jackson on a date after the fact.

Westwick asked if Jackson and her poodle, Herbert, were up to meet for coffee with him and his Frenchie, Humphrey. Okay, puppy love!

“He knew how to win me over from the get-go… coffee and dogs,” Jackson told Lifestyle Asiafor a cover story last year.

Tristan Fewings / Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival

2022

Westwick and Jackson were spotted in public more frequently as their relationship started to grow, adventurously attending red carpets, events, and vacations hand-in-hand.

The duo shared some wholesome pics of one another on social media, too, and began commenting on each other’s posts more often to put their feelings on display.

The pair made things officially official in July 2022 and made their first debut as a couple at the Red Sea International Film Festival the following winter, according to India Today.

Commenting on the duo’s ability to keep calm and cool in the wake of fame, Westwick told Lifestyle Asia that “I embrace my public life and it’s always great to meet people and take pictures as long as people are polite, which most of the time they are. I also like to, you know, be away at home, walk my dogs, be with my family and enjoy my privacy. Balance is always good.”

Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images

2023

One of the biggest happenings between Westwick and Jackson in 2023 was their couples’ trip to Mumbai in India, where Jackson had briefly lived in 2012 to 2015 to work on a few films.

Jackson reportedly took Westwick on a tour of the city, stopping at famous landmarks like the Taj Mahal and enjoying local fares from nearby restaurants.

The two of them were featured in acover story for Lifestyle Asia in 2023, where they dished more on their relationship and respective careers in acting.

Westwick told Lifestyle Asia that his love shared with Jackson is similar to what his parents had.

“There was something beautiful. They could always count on each other and had the utmost respect for one other and I think that is the most important thing,” he said.

2023 was also the year that they bought a house together in the countryside. Things were getting more serious!

Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images

2024

That brings us to 2024! Ed Westwick and Amy Jackson got engaged during a ski trip to Switzerland mid-January.

Westwick asked Jackson to marry him on top of the Peak Walk by Tissot, a popular scenic hanging mountain bridge.

Jackson was happily surprised, as the picture of the exact moment shows her with her hands over her mouth. We love!

The couple got married in August and are now prepping for the arrival of their baby, according to People. They shared the sweetest announcement photos on Instagram and were met with tons of congratulatory comments.

Who is Ed Westwick?

Ed Westwick is an English actor best known for his role as Chuck Bass on Gossip Girl, which aired from 2007 to 2012. People named him one of 2008’s Sexiest Men Alive, he won Best TV Villain at the 2008 and 2009 Teen Choice Awards after the show’s success. He’s also in a band called For You, which dropped a single in 2023.

Who is Amy Jackson?

Amy Jackson is an award-winning English model and actress well-known for her acting within Indian cinema. She made her US acting debut with DC Comics’ Supergirl in 2017. Her modeling career was kickstarted after winning the Miss Teen World title in 2009.

Jackson is a mom to a 4-year-old child that she shares with her ex, George Panayiotou.

How long have Ed Westwick and Amy Jackson been together?

Joe Maher / Getty Images

Ed Westwick and Amy Jackson have been together for almost 2 years. They met in 2021, but didn’t make things official until the summer of 2022.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter for more celebrity updates!

This post has been updated.

entertainment gossip girl celebrity couples relationships celebrity news

Michelle Obama’s Mom Sent Her the Funniest Shady Texts After the 2019 Grammys

Michelle Obama stole the show with her surprise appearance at the 2019 Grammy Awards, and while the audience cheered so loudly that the former first lady could barely speak, her mom, for one, wasn’t that impressed.

The Becoming author took to Instagram on Tuesday, February 12, to share screenshots of a hilarious post-Grammys text message conversation with her mother, Marian Robinson. “When your mom doesn’t think you’re a ‘real’ celebrity,” Obama captioned the exchange. “Tonight in Phoenix, I shared this text thread from my mom from #Grammys night, and I just had to share it with all of you. #TextsFromMom.”

As seen in the screenshots, Robinson began by writing, “I guess you were a hit at the Grammys,” with a smiling, tongue-sticking-out emoji. Obama replied that the text “is so typically you,” then asked her mom if she watched the show.

“I saw it because Gracie called me,” Robinson responded, before subtly shading her famous daughter. “Did you meet any of the real stars or did you run right after you were done?”

After insisting (despite Robinson’s claims to the contrary) that she told her mom she was going to be on the Grammys, Obama ended the conversation by writing, “I am a real star… by the way…” to which Robinson simply replied, “Yeah.”

View this post on Instagram
When your mom doesn't think you're a "real" celebrity...Tonight in Phoenix, I shared this text thread from my mom from #Grammys night, and I just had to share it with all of you. #TextsFromMom 😂
A post shared by Michelle Obama (@michelleobama) on Feb 12, 2019 at 10:35pm PST

Obama appeared alongside host Alicia Keys, Lady Gaga, Jada Pinkett-Smith, and Jennifer Lopez at the 61st annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, February 10, to speak about the impact music has had on their individual lives as well as its universal appeal. Obama’s presence in particular inspired a surprised and uproarious reaction from the star-studded audience, who gave a standing ovation and cheered over her when she began to speak.

“All right, you guys, we got a show to do!” she joked to the crowd to settle them. She then spoke about the importance of perspective and storytelling in music — a topic that also came up with regular frequency in her recent hit memoir, Becoming.

“Whether we like country or rap or rock, music helps us share ourselves, our dignity and sorrows, our hopes and joys,” she said. “It allows us to hear one another, to invite each other in. Music shows us that all of it matters — every story within every voice, every note within every song.”

What do you think of Michelle Obama’s mom’s texts? Let us know @BritandCo!

(Photos via Win McNamee/Getty Images + Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

grammy awards awards shows

'The Traitors' Season 3 Release Date Is Here!

Nothing says reality TV like drama, intrigue, and betrayal. At least, according to The Traitors! The hit TV show is back for season 3 and the star-studded cast is so good, I'm sure this will be the best season yet. Host Alan Cumming returns, along with 21 reality TV stars who will be competing for up to $250 thousand.

But according to the official synopsis, "hidden amongst the Faithful contestants are the Traitors, whose goal is to eliminate the Faithful and claim the prize for themselves. Under the cover of darkness, the Traitors ‘murder’ contestants one by one, but if the Faithful can banish all the Traitors before the end of the game, they’ll split the incredible prize." Here's everything you need to know about The Traitors season 3.

The Traitors season 3 coming back to Peacock with Alan Cumming as host.
The show will premiere in January 2025.
The Traitors cast includes Dylan Efron, Dorinda Medley, Chrishell Stause, Tom Sandoval, and Gabby Windey.

When can I watch The Traitors season 3?

Chris Haston/NBC

The Traitors Season 3 Release Date

The Traitors season 3 premieres on Peacock on January 9, 2025. Season 1 premiered in January 2023, while season 2 premiered in January 2024, so the timeline makes sense!

Who is on Traitors season 3?

www.youtube.com

The Traitors | Season 3 Cast Reveal | Peacock Original

The Traitors Season 3 Cast

The Traitors season 3 cast includes Bachelor in Paradise's Wells Adams, actor Sam Asghari,The Real Housewives of Dubai's Chanel Ayan, RuPaul's Drag Race's Bob the Drag Queen, Real Housewives of New Jersey's Dolores Catania, Survivor's Jeremy Collins, Real Housewives of Potomac's Robyn Dixon, Dylan Efron, Total Divas' Nikki Garcia, The Biggest Loser's Bob Harper, Big Brother's Britney Haynes, Survivor's "Boston" Rob Mariano,Real Housewives of New York City's Dorinda Medley, Summer House's Ciara Miller, Royal Lord Ivar Mountbatten, Big Brother's Danielle Reyes, Vanderpump Rules' Tom Sandoval, Selling Sunset's Chrishell Stause, Survivor's Tony Vlachos, Survivor's Carolyn Wiger and The Bachelorette's Gabby Windey.

What is The Traitors about?

Peacock

The Traitors Season 3 Plot

The Traitors is all about who can out-trick their components in the dreamiest murder mystery game. A variety of celebs gather in a Scottish castle, along with host Alan Cumming, to complete a series of missions and have the chance to win up to $250 thousand. While the Traitors are trying to "murder" the Faithful one by one, the Faithful work to unmask and banish the Traitors. Only one team can win!

How many seasons of Traitors are there?

Chris Haston/NBC

There are currently two seasons of The Traitors available to stream on Peacock now. You can stream season 3 starting January 9!

Let us know your thoughts and hopes for The Traitors season 3 on Facebook and check out The Best Reality TV Shows To Watch Right Now!

This post has been updated.

pop culture entertainment tv

After Addressing Sexuality, Shawn Mendes Says Camila Cabello Is Still "Teaching Me What Love Means"

Out of all the celebrity breakups I wasn't expecting, Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes definitely tops the list. They were clearly very close, and Shawn even admitted that all of his songs are about Camila, even the ones he released before they dated! (Okay, cute). The couple split at the end of 2021, but after a very buzzy summer following rumors that Sabrina Carpenter's Short 'n Sweet references their love triangle, Shawn Mendes revealed Camila is still one of his closest friends.

Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes dated from 2019-2021, then reportedly reconnected in 2023.
Shawn recently opened up about how Camila is "one of my closest best friends."
He also reveals she's still the first person he would call in an emergency.

What does Shawn Mendes say about Camila Cabello?

Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for MTV

In a new interview with The New York Times, Shawn Mendes reveals just how much Camila Cabello means to him, and that it “bugs” him that the internet thinks they're “against each other in a weird way.”

"[She's] one of my closest best friends...I have nerves just even speaking about it, just what people would say," he reveals. “But honestly, if something was to happen in my family and if something was to happen to me, she’d probably be the first person I call, to this day...Our relationship is teaching me what love means, in a big way.”

The interview comes after Shawn Mendes spoke on his sexuality (something that, for some reason, has been a topic of conversation on the internet for years), and after the duo was in the spotlight following the release of Sabrina Carpenter's Short 'n Sweet, which seems to reference a love triangle between the three of them. Fans analyzed lyrics like "Oh I leave quite an impression" in "Taste" after Camila Cabello dyed her hair blonde, and "Your car drove itself from L.A. to her thighs" in "Coincidence" when Camila teased a lyric from "June Gloom" that says "If she's so amazing, why are you on this side of town?"

Have Shawn Mendes and Camila broken up?

Kevin Winter/Getty Images for dcp

This isn't the first time the pair has broken the internet, and one of my favorite moments was when they performed "Señorita" at the AMAs in 2019. The chemistry! The vocals! The audience reactions!

And in November of 2021, the pair made a joint statement (which was posted to their individual Instagram stories) announcing their breakup.

"Hey guys, we’ve decided to end our romantic relationship but our love for one another as humans is stronger than ever,” the statement said. “We started our relationship as best friends and will continue to be best friends. We so appreciate your support from the beginning and moving forward. Camila and Shawn.”

Are Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello together again?

Theo Wargo/Getty Images

Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes might have broken up, but they're definitely still in each other's lives. And there were rumors in 2023 that they had romantically reconnected. “They’ve practically moved in with each other,” an US Weekly sourcesaid last summer. “They each have their own places, but they’re spending every day they can together and traveling together.”

The pair has been spotted together more and more frequently, at Coachella, then at Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, and even in the middle of New York City. The Us Weekly source also mentions that “it feels like a new relationship.”

However, according to a new source, the pair has broken up again — this time for good. “Shawn and Camila have a lot of history and they tested the waters again after coming back into each other’s lives," the source told The Sun. "In reality, both of them know they aren’t right for each other romantically and now they just want to move on.”

Despite the will-they-won't-they of it all, it seems like Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello will always be in each other's lives!

When did Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello date?

Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Global Citizen

After being friends for years (and that steamy VMAs performance), Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello dated from 2019-2021.

How old are Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello?

JC Olivera/Getty Images

Shawn Mendes is 26 years old and was born on August 8, 1998, while 27-year-old Camila Cabello was born on March 3, 1997. There's just a one-year age gap between them!

What do you think about Shawn's comments on his relationship with Camila? Let us know in the comments and follow us on Facebook for more breaking celebrity news.

This image has been updated.

camila cabello shawn mendes celebrity relationships pop culture celebrity news