Category Archives: Entertainment

CBS to Broadcast Christina Aguilera’s Holiday Special, “Christina Aguilera: Christmas in Paris”

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Christina Aguilera is spreading holiday cheer with a little help from CBS.

The network will air Christina Aguilera: Christmas in Paris, a new holiday special from the the 44-year-old half-Ecuadorian American Grammy-winning pop star.

Christina Aguilera

It marks the 25th anniversary of her holiday album My Kind of Christmas.

The special will air on Monday, December 22 at 9 p.m.

It follows a two-night theatrical run; it debuted in theaters on December 14 with more showings on December 21 and is accompanied by a special live performance album, Christmas in Paris.

Christina Aguilera: Christmas in Paris was filmed in front of a small audience above the Musée du Quai Branly, with Aguilera performing holiday classics and her other hits against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower, fashioned into a Christmas tree. It features special guests Sheila E. and Yseult, with Aguilera also sharing her thoughts on love, motherhood and her career.

The special is produced by Vertigo Live in association with Roc Nation. Sam Wrench directs and exec produces via his Next of Kin banner, which he launched in partnership with EverWonder Studio.

On CBS’ schedule, it will follow the second part of the Everybody Loves Raymond 30th Anniversary reunion, which airs at 8:00 pm that night.

Kirstin Maldonado & Pentatonix Earn First No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary Chart with Frank Sinatra-Collaboration “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm”

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Kirstin Maldonado has earned a special first on the Billboard charts.

The 33-year-old Spanish & Mexican American Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and her Pentatonix group mates’ Frank Sinatra collaboration, “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm,” is the new No. 1 song on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart, surging four spots to the top of the list dated December 20.

Kirstin Maldonado & Pentatonix

The carol, from Pentatonix’s new album, Christmas in the City, marks Pentatonix’s first No. 1 on Adult Contemporary — or any Billboard airplay chart.

Sinatra, who died in 1998, adds his seventh Adult Contemporary No. 1 — and first since the chart dated September 30, 1967, when “The World We Knew (Over and Over)” wrapped a five-week reign. He linked five No. 1s in a row, with that single following “Somethin’ Stupid” with daughter Nancy, “That’s Life,” “Summer Wind” and “Strangers in the Night.” He first led with “It Was a Very Good Year” in February 1966.

For “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm,” the Frank Sinatra Estate allowed Pentatonix to mix its vocals with a previously unreleased vocal take of Sinatra singing the Irving Berlin-penned classic.

“Frank Sinatra is truly the blueprint for vocalists,” Pentatonix’s Scott Hoying tells Billboard. “Being connected to his music is beyond an honor, and we feel endless gratitude for this mind-blowing opportunity. We hope to make the Sinatra family proud and truly honor his culture-altering legacy.”

The Chairman of the Board ends the longest break between Adult Contemporary No. 1s: 58 years, two months and three weeks. He also claims the longest span of ruling the chart: 59 years, 10 months and two weeks, dating to the first week at No. 1 for “It Was a Very Good Year.” Plus, he boasts the longest span of appearing on the list overall: 64 years and five months, as he placed on the inaugural edition dated July 17, 1961.

Sinatra bookends Billboard chart archives, as he sang on the No. 1 song — “I’ll Never Smile Again,” billed as by Tommy Dorsey — on the first nationwide sales chart, the National List of Best Selling Retail Records, published in the July 27, 1940, issue.

Juanpa Zurita’s Docu-Reality Series “The Worst Trip Around the World” Renewed by Hulu & Disney+ for Second Season

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Juanpa Zurita is preparing for his next worst trip…

Hulu and Disney+ (internationally) have renewed their comedy docu-reality series The Worst Trip Around the World for a second season, with the 29-year-old Mexican internet personality, actor and model returning to host.

Juanpa Zurita

The 8-episode series follows Zurita as he attempts to circumnavigate the globe in a single-engine plane (with no bathroom) alongside record-breaking pilot Matt Guthmiller, inviting his influencer friends to join him in crazy and extreme adventures in each country he lands in.

His guests included Chinguamiga, Facundo, Lele Pons, Esen Alva, Daniela Rodrice, Jair Sánchez, Harold Azuara and Daniel Sosa.

Across the show’s first season, Zurita traveled to Las Vegas, Cuba, Costa Rica, Iceland, Morocco, Romania, Vietnam, and Japan.

Some of his adventures included exploring underground caves, handling crocodiles, being a part of a Viking battle re-enactment, and practicing Sumo wrestling.00:024:53

“Disney+ renewing a creator-produced show for season 2 confirms that we aren’t limited to just vertical videos. Our ideas can adapt to any shape, and it is Disney who’s betting on us now. Thanks for supporting every dream, even if it’s the worst ones,” Zurita said.

Destinations for Season 2: Alaska, Ireland, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Colombia, Riviera Maya, and Korea. Disney+ teases that a Season 1 guest returns to bring the adventure to a full-circle moment.

All episodes from the first season are available to stream on Disney+.

The Worst Trip Around the World is produced by Non Stop and Zurita’s ARCO Entertainment Media, with Zurita serving as executive producer.

Zurita is a content creator, host and producer whose career began on Vine, where he first gained international recognition before migrating to YouTube and later expanding his presence across all major social platforms, where he reaches more than 89 million followers worldwide.

His early success in short-form comedy and digital storytelling laid the foundation for an evolution into a multi-hyphenate career spanning long-form, premium content developed for streaming services.

He is the co-founder of ARCO Entertainment, a production company focused on unscripted, documentary, and narrative storytelling, with projects developed in collaboration with platforms including Disney+, Roku, Spotify and Prime Video.

Zurita is based in Mexico.

Mariah Carey Reclaims Record for Longest Reign on Billboard Hot 100 Chart with “All I Want for Christmas is You”

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Mariah Carey is breaking records…

The 56-year-old half-Venezuelan American Grammy-winning singer’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” achieves a record-breaking 20th week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, rewriting the mark for the longest reign over the chart’s 67-year history.

Mariah Carey

The song, originally released in 1994, surpasses the No. 1 runs of two hits that led the Hot 100 over one release cycle each: Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” in 2024, and Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road,” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, in 2019.

Carey claims the Hot 100’s No. 1 longevity record for a second time — In 1995-96, her and Boyz II Men’s “One Sweet Day” dominated for 16 weeks, a mark that stood on its own for more than 23 years, until it was tied by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s “Despacito,” featuring Justin Bieber, in 2017, and then passed by “Old Town Road.” (She, thus, breaks the record with a song released before “One Sweet Day.”)

Plus, “All I Want for Christmas Is You” logs its 77th week on the Hot 100, tying Dua Lipa’s “Levitating” as the longest-charted title ever by a woman artist.

A week earlier, “All I Want for Christmas Is You” returned to No. 1 on the Hot 100 to lead in a record-extending seventh holiday season. It arrived on Carey’s album Merry Christmas in November 1994 and, as streaming has grown and holiday music has become more prominent on streaming services’ playlists, it hit the top 10 for the first time in December 2017 and the top five for the first time in the 2018 holiday season. It led at last, prior to the past two weeks, over the holidays in 2019 (for three weeks), 2020 (two), 2021 (three), 2022 (four), 2023 (two) and 2024 (four). (Older holiday songs are eligible to appear on the chart each season.)

“All I Want for Christmas Is You” became Carey’s 19th Hot 100 No. 1, the most among soloists and one away from the Beatles’ overall record 20. It also made Carey the first artist to have ranked at No. 1 on the chart in four distinct decades (1990s, 2000s, ‘10s and ‘20s).

Ice Spice’s “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants” Character Revealed

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Ice Spice is heading under the sea…

Nearly three years after releasing her “Bikini Bottom” single, the 25-year-old half-Dominican American singer is set to make her voice-acting debut in The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants when the sequel hits theaters via Paramount Pictures on December 19.

Ice Spice

Billboard obtained an exclusive first look at Ice Spice’s animated character in Bikini Bottom, which sports her signature orange hairstyle.

“Don’t make me call security,” she says in a Bronx accent.

Ice Spice, SpongeBob

As a longtime fan of the Nickelodeon series growing up, Ice Spice believes she willed to life the role in The SpongeBob Movie.

“I think I manifested this,” she said in the Derek Drymon-directed film featurette. “It was a challenge, but it was really fun, new and different. I never did anything like this.”

Ice Spice is set to star alongside Regina Hall, Sherry Cola, Arturo Castro and George Lopez in The SpongeBob Movie sequel.

The rapper also contributed an original song to the soundtrack, which arrived last week. Ice teamed up with right-hand producer RIOTUSA for the kid-friendly bop “Big Guy.”

“Being part of the SpongeBob soundtrack is such a full-circle moment for me,” she said in a statement. “It’s crazy to see my music in a movie that’s been part of so many people’s childhoods, including mine.”

Ice is staying busy on the movie side in 2025, as she made her acting debut in Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest alongside Denzel Washington and A$AP Rocky in August.

Tom Segura Completes Filming of Latest Netflix Special “Teacher” for December Release

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Tom Segura is preparing to play teacher….

The 46-year-old half-Peruvian and part-Spanish American comedian/actor recently wrapped a two-day shoot over the weekend for his latest special, Tom Segura: Teacher, with plans for an unusually quick turnaround.

Tom Segura

The special is set to be released globally on Netflix on December 24.

No word yet on what Segura covers in the hour.

It marks his fifth original for the streamer, following Sledgehammer (2023), Ball Hog (2020), Disgraceful (2018) and Mostly Stories (2016) — though his relationship with Netflix began via a licensing deal for a sixth special, 2014’s Completely Normal.

Segura’s latest hails from YMH Studios. He executive-produced alongside Ryan P. Hall and Molly Mandel.

Netflix has played a major role in the career trajectory of Segura, who has spoken publicly on many occasions about getting into business with the streamer before he understood what a dominant platform it would become.

He released two albums prior to his first special with Netflix — 2010’s Thrilled and 2012’s White Girls with Cornrows — but it was after Completely Normal began circulating on Netflix that his career exploded.

Segura has stayed in business with Netflix ever since. The platform is also home to Bad Thoughts, the sketch series in which he brings some of his darkest and most twisted comedic fantasies to life.

It earned him his first Emmy nomination for his work on the show this year and will debut a second season in 2026.

Segura launched the project independently, self-financing a pilot before establishing it at Netflix as creator, writer, director and EP.

As discussed in a July episode of our podcast Comedy Means Business, Segura has recently gone all-in on filmmaking, between Bad Thoughts and El Tigre, the R-rated comedy marking his first feature starring vehicle.

Alongside his wife Christina Pazsitzky, Segura is behind production company YMH Studios and continues to appear on its podcasts, including Your Mom’s House and 2 Bears 1 Cave.

Xochitl Gomez Lands Recurring Role on CBS’ “Boston Blue”

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Xochitl Gomez is feelin’ Blue…

The 19-year-old Mexican American actress has been cast in CBS‘ freshman police procedural Boston Blue in a recurring role.

Xochitl Gomez Gomez will join the Blue Bloods spinoff starring Donnie Wahlberg as Penny, a quick-witted, charming young woman with a mysterious past who crashes into Sean’s life, a role played by Mika Amonsen.

Gomez will make her debut in the drama on the episode airing Friday, November 21, at 10:00 pm ET/PT.

Gomez made her acting debut on Disney Channel’s Raven’s Home (2018) and broke out when she starred in the first season of the Netflix series The Baby-Sitters Club in 2020.

In 2022, she joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Latina superhero América Chávez in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

She also competed in ABC’s Dancing with the Stars Season 32, winning the Mirror Ball Trophy alongside dance partner Val Chmerkovskiy.

Boston Blue premiered in October of this year on CBS, expanding the Blue Bloods universe following its 14-season run.

The series follows Wahlberg reprising his role as NYPD Officer Danny Reagan as he takes a position with the Boston PD. Once in Boston, he is paired with Detective Lena Silver (Sonequa Martin-Green), the eldest daughter of a prominent law enforcement family.

The series also stars Maggie Lawson as Sarah Silver, Marcus Scribner as Jonah Silver, Gloria Reuben as Mae Silver and Ernie Hudson as Reverend Peters.

Boston Blue is produced by CBS Studios in association with JBTV. Brandon Sonnier & Brandon Margolis showrun and executive produce. Jerry Bruckheimer, KristieAnne Reed and Wahlberg will also serve as executive producers.

Bad Bunny Tops Billboard’s Top Latin Albums of the 21st Century Chart with “YHLQMDLG”

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Bad Bunny has the top album of the century…

The 31-year-old Puerto Rican Grammy-winning superstar’s YHLQMDLG rules as the No. 1 Latin album on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums of the 21st Century chart.

Bad BunnyThe retrospective is based on performance on the Top Latin Albums chart from the start of 2000 through the end of 2024.

The collection, released via Rimas Entertainment, is the longest-running No. 1 in the survey’s 32-year history, with 70 weeks at the summit in 2021-22.

“Thank you all who believed and who continue to believe in me,” Bad Bunny told Billboard in 2020 upon the album’s chart arrival. Echoing the meaning of its title, he said, “I do what I want, and it’s based on feelings. I don’t think about it. I do it for you and for the faith you have in me.”

At the time, Benito’s groundbreaking album became the all-genre Billboard 200’s highest charting all-Spanish-language album and scored the biggest streaming week ever for a Latin album and the largest week for a Latin title since Billboard began tracking albums by equivalent album units in December 2014.

It’s one of four Bad Bunny albums in the Top 10.

Bad Bunny’s debut album, X 100PRE, comes in at No. 3.

The release marked a significant moment in reggaetón and Latin trap music. One of its standout tracks, “MIA,” featuring Drake and produced by DJ Luian, La Paciencia, Mambo Kingz and Tainy, not only ruled Hot Latin Songs for 16 weeks in 2018-19 but also hit No. 5 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100.

Bad Bunny’s Un Verano Sin Ti comes in at No. 6.

With his fourth solo studio album, Bad Bunny set a new record for the biggest streaming week ever for a Latin album — surpassing the debut of his own YHLQMDLG.

On Hot Latin Songs, all 23 of the LP’s tracks charted upon its debut. The latter half of the album embraces Latin alternative sounds, punctuated by guests Bomba Estéreo, Buscabulla and the Marías.

And coming in at No. 10… Bad Bunny’s El Último Tour del Mundo.

It made history as the first all-Spanish-language release to claim the No. 1 spot on the overall Billboard 200 since its inception in 1956. The concept album that sees Benito experimenting with alternative sounds arrived as a surprise drop on November 26, 2020, at 11 p.m. ET (marking the end of Thanksgiving Day in the United States). The set houses the enduring “Dakiti,” with Jhayco, a 27-week No. 1 on Hot Latin Songs.

Maxwell Among Artists Set to Appear at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 40th Annual Induction Ceremony

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Maxwell has a date with Fame…

The 52-year-old half-Puerto Rican singer, songwriter and record producer has been revealed as one of the artists set to appear at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 40th annual induction ceremony in November.

MaxwellMaxwell forms part of an initial lineup of presenters and special guests that includes Doja Cat, Elton John, David Letterman and Olivia Rodrigo.

Taking place on November 8 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, the induction ceremony will also feature presenters and performers Beck, Brandi Carlile, Flea, Iggy Pop, JID, Killer Mike, Missy Elliott, Questlove, Raye, Sleepy Brown, Taylor Momsen, Teddy Swims and Twenty One Pilots.

Additional special guests will be announced later.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees this year are Bad Company, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Cyndi Lauper, Outkast, Soundgarden and The White Stripes in the Performer category, along with Salt-N-Pepa and Warren Zevon for Musical Influence, Thom Bell, Nicky Hopkins and Carol Kaye for Musical Excellence, and Lenny Waronker for the Ahmet Ertegun Award. 

Disney+ will stream the induction ceremony live coast to coast on Saturday, November 8, at 5:00 pm PT/8:00 pm. ET, and will be available to stream following the ceremony.

ABC will also air a primetime special with performance highlights and standout moments on Thursday, January 1, available next day on Hulu.

Aubrey Plaza Writing, Executive Producing & Starring in the Animated Series “Kevin”

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Aubrey Plaza is getting animated…

The 41-year-old half-Puerto Rican Emmy-nominated actress will write, executive produce and star in Prime Video’s upcoming adult animated series Kevin.

Aubrey PlazaPlaza will star opposite Joe Wengert. Jason Schwartzman, Whoopi Goldberg, John Waters, Aparna Nancherla, Gil Ozeri and Amy Sedaris in the animated comedy.

Per the logline, loosely inspired by a real life break-up and the cat who was caught in the middle, Kevin is a hilarious and heart-warming story about finding where you belong in the world. After the unexpected break-up of his human “owners,”

Kevin moves into a local pet rescue in Astoria, Queens where a chaotic band of misfit animals will help him to figure out what he really wants out of life.

Plaza is Dana, a confident and career-driven young woman, Dana makes the grown up decision to end things with her boyfriend… but is blindsided by Kevin’s choice to venture out and live on his own.

Kevin is created and executive produced by Plaza and Joe Wengert, the latter also serving as showrunner.

The series is produced by Titmouse, Evil Hag Productions and Amazon MGM Studios.