Tag:

Leon

Norah Jones, Leon Bridges Team Up on 'This Christmas I’m Coming Home' 
Music

Norah Jones, Leon Bridges Team Up on ‘This Christmas I’m Coming Home’ 

by jummy84
written by jummy84

Bridges will follow the release with “A Merry Black Christmas” on Nov. 14

Norah Jones and Leon Bridges teamed up for a holiday single, “This Christmas I’m Coming Home.” The song was written by Jones and Leon Michels, and produced by Michels, and nods to Bridges’ 2015 track “Coming Home.”

The festive song sees Jones and Bridges trading verses about returning home for the holidays. “I wanna leave the world behind for now/ And forget about the trouble on my mind,” the pair sings. “I can sit by the fire and lose myself for a while/ And remember what was so hard to find.”

The track is the first of two holiday singles from Bridges. The musician will release “A Merry Black Christmas” on Nov. 14. His most recent album, Leon, arrived in 2024. Earlier this year, Jones teamed up Charley Crocket for with the Crooner & the Cowboy Tour, which wrapped in September.

Trending Stories

Jones has shared numerous Christmas tunes over the years. In 2021, she dropped her first holiday album, I Dream of Christmas, a collection of both classics and originals. The LP was produced by Michels, who also worked on this new collaboration.

“I’ve always loved Christmas music but never had the inclination to make a holiday album until now,” Jones said at the time. “Last year I found myself listening to James Brown’s Funky Christmas and Elvis’s Christmas Album on Sundays during lockdown for a sense of comfort. In January 2021, I started thinking about making a Christmas album of my own. It gave me something fun to work on and look forward to.”

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Who Is Leon Thomas III? 5 Things on the 2026 Grammys Nominee – Hollywood Life
Hollywood

Who Is Leon Thomas III? 5 Things on the 2026 Grammys Nominee – Hollywood Life

by jummy84
written by jummy84

Image Credit: Billboard via Getty Images

Here’s everything to know about Leon Thomas III, from his early days and creative collaborations today.

He Got His Start on Broadway as a Child

Leon began performing at a young age, showing his talent long before he became a familiar face on TV. Born on August 1, 1993, in Brooklyn, New York, he made his Broadway debut at just 10 years old as Young Simba in The Lion King.

He went on to appear in several stage productions, including Caroline, or Change and The Color Purple, earning early praise for his powerful vocals and stage presence — skills that would later define his music career.

He Rose to Fame on Nickelodeon’s Victorious

Leon became a household name after landing the role of Andre Harris on Nickelodeon’s hit series Victorious, which ran from 2010 to 2013. His character — a talented musician and loyal best friend to Tori Vega (played by Victoria Justice) — showcased Leon’s real-life musical ability, as he often performed original songs on the show. The role not only made him a fan favorite but also helped him transition naturally into a recording and producing career after the series ended.

He’s Nominated at the 2026 Grammys

Leon’s hard work in music has officially paid off. His 2024 album MUTT earned him multiple Grammy nominations at the 2026 Grammy Awards, including nods for Best Progressive R&B Album and Best R&B Performance. The project has been praised for blending neo-soul, alternative, and modern R&B influences, solidifying Leon as one of the most exciting new voices in the genre.

He’s Also an Acclaimed Songwriter and Producer

Outside of his own music, Leon is a Grammy-winning producer and songwriter with credits spanning some of today’s biggest hits. As part of the production duo The Rascals, he has co-written and produced tracks for Grande, Post Malone, Kehlani, and Giveon. Most notably, he earned a Grammy Award for his work on SZA’s hit single “Snooze.”

He’s Collaborated With Artists Like Drake and SZA

Leon’s creative fingerprints are all over modern R&B and hip-hop. He collaborated with Drake on the song “Pipe Down” from the rapper’s 2021 album Certified Lover Boy and has continued working closely with SZA, contributing both vocals and production to several of her projects.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Grammys 2026: Addison Rae, Leon Thomas, and More Nominated for Best New Artist
Music

Grammys 2026: Addison Rae, Leon Thomas, and More Nominated for Best New Artist

by jummy84
written by jummy84

Addison Rae, Leon Thomas, Lola Young, and Alex Warren are among the nominees for Best New Artist at the 2026 Grammy Awards. Also in the running are Katseye, the Marías, Olivia Dean, and Sombr. Find the full list of 2026 Grammy nominations here.

After years bubbling under the surface of mainstream pop, Rae landed with her debut album, Addison, back in June, and Warren is riding into contention off the back of You’ll Be Alright Kid and hit single “Ordinary.” Thomas, too, has been in the pop-cultural conversation for some time, acknowledged here for his perceived breakout album, Mutt, which follows 2023’s Electric Dusk. British artists Olivia Dean and Lola Young are nominated in tandem with their second and third albums, respectively, while Bad Bunny collaborators the Marías are recognized 18 months after releasing second album Submarine. The multinational girl group Katseye may not have an album to their name, but their Beautiful Chaos EP has bestowed them some pop bona fides as they level up from their status as Netflix reality stars. Aside from Rae, Sombr is the only artist to release a debut album in the eligibility window.

Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, Doechii, and Raye were among last year’s Best New Artist nominees. Roan ended up taking home the trophy. Other recent winners include Samara Joy, Olivia Rodrigo, Megan Thee Stallion and Billie Eilish.

The 2026 Grammy Awards will air live, on Sunday, February 1, 2026, from Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena. Follow along with all of Pitchfork’s coverage of the 2026 Grammy Awards, and revisit “Who Should Be Nominated at the 2026 Grammy Awards.”

Best New Artist
Addison Rae
Alex Warren
Katseye
Leon Thomas
Lola Young
The Marías
Olivia Dean
Sombr

Grammy Nominations 2026: See the Full List Here
0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Snowfall Season 6, Episode 4 (l-r) Isaiah John as Leon Simmons, Gail Bean as Wanda.
TV & Streaming

‘Snowfall’ Spinoff on Leon and Wanda Ordered to Series by FX

by jummy84
written by jummy84

FX has ordered an untitled Snowfall spinoff set on Leon (Isaiah John) and Wanda (Gail Bean) to series.

The coming spinoff hails from Malcolm Spellman and the producers of Snowfall: Dave Andron, Thomas Schlamme, Julie DeJoie, Michael London and Trevor Engelson. The series will stream on Hulu.

“Set in ‘90s Los Angeles soon after the end of the original series, a recovering addict strives to take West Coast rap mainstream — while gang wars erupt and record labels move to exploit hip hop culture for their own gain,” the synopsis reads.

In Snowfall, Leon and Wanda are a couple who eventually get married.

“This new series takes us back to one of the most formative eras in music with the birth of the West Coast rap revolution,” said Nick Grad, the president of FX Entertainment. “We worked with Malcolm Spellman on the documentary series Hip Hop Uncovered and he has encyclopedic knowledge of this material. This is a breakout starring role for Gail Bean and, as always, Isaiah John is terrific along with the ensemble cast. Snowfall was one of the most successful FX dramas ever and we’re excited that Dave Andron, Thomas Schlamme and other veterans of the Snowfall creative team are on board.”

Bean and John will be joined on the spinoff by Asante Blackk, Peyton Alex Smith and Simmie Sims III. The spinoff series will be produced by FX Productions.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Taylor Swift, Luke Combs, Leon Thomas & More
Music

Taylor Swift, Luke Combs, Leon Thomas & More

by jummy84
written by jummy84

Billboard’s Friday Music Guide serves as a handy guide to this Friday’s most essential releases — the key music that everyone will be talking about today, and that will be dominating playlists this weekend and beyond. 

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

This week, Luke Combs is feeling wistful, Leon Thomas is feeling vindictive, and of course, the most anticipated pop release of the entire year is finally upon us. Check out all of this week’s picks below:

Taylor Swift, The Life of a Showgirl

Yes, Taylor Swift‘s finally back doing big pop, and yes she’s got Max Martin and Shellback in tow again — but 1989, Pt. 2 this ain’t. The Life of a Showgirl has some of the big drums and plenty of the big hooks of this trio’s extended collaboration a decade earlier, but the songwriting and sonic palette are both updated for the mid-2020s, with many tracks based around an organic-skewing pop-rock sound more reminiscent of Fleetwood Mac than Forever Your Girl. Plenty of its songs seem destined to impact on a similar scale though: “Actually Romantic” and “Wood” will be the headline-grabbers for their provocative subject matters, but “Ruin the Friendship” and “Eldest Daughter” may end up the fan favorites for their personal lyrics and wistful melodies.

Luke Combs, “Days Like These”

“When the sky is blue/ And the grass is green/ How much better can it be?” Luke Combs has always had a knack for expressing simple lyrical sentiments as profound truths — particularly when he relies on the power of his voice to carry the song, rather than dulling it with radio-ready overproduction. “Days Like These” features just Combs and an acoustic guitar singing this ode to the core pleasures that make up life — and you can bet country radio will still find it absolutely undeniable.

Leon Thomas, “Just How You Are”

Despite the title’s similarity to classic pop love songs from Billy Joel and Bruno Mars, don’t expect Leon Thomas in a sentimental mood on his new single. “I wrote all these songs about you/ And you never even said a word/ Not even just to say you heard/ I guess ‘congrats’ is your least favorite word,” the R&B singer-songwriter seethes over an airtight soul-funk groove. The wedding ballads can wait; this nasty jam should still get the dancefloor packed in the meantime.

Louis Tomlinson, “Lemonade”

We haven’t heard much from Louis Tomlinson since 2022’s Fate in the Future, but in September he announced he’d be back with the full-length How Did I Get Here? in January 2026. The first taste of that record was delivered this week with lead single “Lemonade,” in which Tomlinson does his best Adam Lambert strut over a muscular disco-rock bounce. No one’s going to be bringing the chorus (“She’s so bitter/ She’s so sweet/ Lemonade”) into Language Arts class anytime soon, but there’s never been a song called “Lemonade” that wasn’t mostly irresistible, and this one is no exception.

Kali Uchis feat. Mariah the Scientist, “Pretty Promises”

After teaming up for one of the year’s most sublime collabs with “Is It a Crime?” from Mariah the Scientist‘s Hearts Sold Separately album, it’s time for Kali Uchis to play host on the deluxe edition of her 2024 LP Sincerely, entitled Sincerely: P.S. The two reconvene for the equally lovely “Pretty Promises,” as the two swear that their word is bond over an underwater groove that they swim around like mermaids. If these are gonna be the results every time this duo teams up, they should really start thinking about doing a full album together.

Fred again.. & Amyl and the Sniffers, “You’re a Star”

Of all the artists you might expect producer phenomenon Fred again.. to team up with for one of his overwhelmingly emotional dancefloor anthems, Australian indie-punk band Amyl and the Sniffers would probably be fairly low on the list, if it made the cut at all. But sure enough, the artist born Frederick John Philip Gibson enlisted Amy Taylor and company for his drum n’ bass-inflected latest single, harnessing the group’s energy and then exploding it with Gesaffelstein-like sirens and typically all-over-the-place vocal triggers. Unexpected but effective — and that’s why he’s a star.


Billboard VIP Pass

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Weekly Drop Watch: Dieux Teams Up With Eckhaus Latta, Aimé Leon Dore Collaborates With The North Face and More
Fashion

Weekly Drop Watch: Dieux Teams Up With Eckhaus Latta, Aimé Leon Dore Collaborates With The North Face and More

by jummy84
written by jummy84


For our Weekly Drop Watch column, Fashionista scours the market to curate the most noteworthy releases from our favorite fashion and beauty brands. Keep scrolling for this week’s highlights. Released Sept. 15, Repetto has partnered with Comme des Garçons Comme des Garçons on a limited edition …

Continue reading

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Maná Tops Latin Airplay With Carin León Collab ‘Vivir Sin Aire’
Music

Maná Tops Latin Airplay With Carin León Collab ‘Vivir Sin Aire’

by jummy84
written by jummy84

Maná returns to the top of Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart for the first time in nearly nine years, with a new version of the 1992 hit “Vivir Sin Aire,” with Carin León (ranking dated Sept. 13).

The reimagined version of “Vivir Sin Aire” rallies 14-1 on the overall Latin Airplay list after a 60% boost in audience impressions, to 9.4 million, earned in the United States, in the week ending Sept. 4, according to Luminate.

The new No. 1 ends Mana’s hiatus from the summit since the band last ruled with “De Pies a Cabeza,” with Nicky Jam, in 2016. In sum, the band has banked 12 champs on Latin Airplay, including two eight-week rulers, “Labios Compartidos” and “Lluvia Al Corazón” in 2006 and 2011, respectively.

As the new song takes over, Maná ties with Gloria Estefan and Juanes for the fifth-most rulers among Latin pop acts since Latin Airplay began in 1994. They trail Enrique Iglesias (32), Shakira (24), Ricky Martin (18) and Luis Fonsi (13).

For León, the collaboration marks his fifth time reigning the chart, with three of those landing in 2025. Curiously, León’s path to No. 1 on Latin Airplay No. 1 seems to follow an “M” formula: from “Llorar y Llorar,” with Mau y Ricky (2012), “Según Quién,” with Maluma (four weeks atop in 2023) and now his team-up with Maná, the letter “M” has become a lucky charm in his collaborations.

“Vivir Sin Aire” surges to No. 1 assisted by three Univision stations: KCSA (Los Angeles), WOJO (Chicago), and KLNO (Dallas) are leading the charge as the song’s biggest promoters during the tracking week.

All three cities are part of Maná’s Vivir Sin Aire Tour which kicked off Sept. 5, in San Antonio. In addition to two nights in Chicago, the group sports four dates at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, Calif. (Los Angeles area) in November.

Beyond its coronation on the overall Latin Airplay chart, the song also rules the Regional Mexican Airplay with 6.6 million audience impressions, up 95%. Plus, it jumps 3-1 on the Latin Pop Airplay ranking.

All charts (dated Sept. 13, 2025) will update on Billboard.com tomorrow, Sept. 9. For all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.

It’s free Billboard charts month! Through Sept. 30, subscribers to Billboard’s Chart Beat newsletter, emailed each Friday, can unlock access to Billboard’s weekly and historical charts, artist chart histories and all Chart Beat stories simply by visiting the newly redesigned Billboard.com through any story link in the newsletter. Not a Chart Beat subscriber? Sign up for free here.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Leon Thomas, GELO Perform at Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players Show
Music

Leon Thomas, GELO Perform at Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players Show

by jummy84
written by jummy84

When word got out that the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players event would be taking over Webster Hall for a free concert on Friday (Sept. 5), New Yorkers from all walks of life consumed three blocks waiting — and hoping — to get inside. Those lucky enough to gain entry celebrated every second of the night, as DJ Ohso meticulously spun through hip-hop bangers, sultry afro tunes and a little bit of Paramore to keep the crowd energized, engaged and hungry for a showcase from Billboard‘s Rookies of the Year.

Armanii kicked the night off with his signature blend of dancehall and hip-hop grooves, as fans swayed to “8:00 PM,” “JUMP (Bounce)” and others. Attendee’s workday blues than completely vanished thanks to Billboard‘s Hip-Hop Rookie of the Year GELO, who swaggered about the stage and ignited the party with the littest cuts off his debut album, League of My Own. While fans cheered and supported the newer tracks, it of course was his viral hit “Tweaker” that fully locked the crowd in with its unifying “woah’s” and “ahh’s.”

After a short breather, Odeal‘s presence was immediately felt throughout Webster’s Hall, as people erupted just at the mere sight of the African Rookie of the Year. There were dozens of diehard supporters in the audience, who screamed out every syllable of “Soh-Soh,” “London Summers” and of course “Miami,” with the soon-to-appear headliner Leon Thomas. Before that, though, Ravyn Lenae floated onto the stage to quickly transport the crowd to a more mystical realm. Lenae gracefully sang through her biggest hits including “One Wish” and “Love Me Not,” sprinkling pixie dust along the way like an R&B fairy godmother.

But it was Thomas that really brought the house down. He railed on the drums, shredded on the guitar, sang his absolute heart out — firing off every firearm in his musical arsenal and leaving no survivors. The crowd, admittedly a bit worn after such a lengthy showcase, rallied behind Thomas and fully came back to life as Ty Dolla $ign casually strutted out while singing his verse on “Far Fetched.” The DJ then queued up “Carnival” right after, the Ye (formerly Kanye West) and Ty’s Vultures 1 cut that hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart back in 2024. As Ty sang through the single and hyped up the crowd, Leon and his band — for lack of a better term — rocked the f—k out. Then, almost like a fever dream, the night was over, leaving the crowd sweaty and satisfied in every way.

Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox


Sign Up

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
How Leon Thomas Is Using His Fender Strat To Hold Down R&B
Music

How Leon Thomas Is Using His Fender Strat To Hold Down R&B

by jummy84
written by jummy84

Leon Thomas is well aware that R&B is not the first style of music that comes to mind when the guitar takes the lead. Now, as a member of the 2025 Fender Next class, the 32-year-old is excited to bring his Fender Stratocaster along for the journey as he continues to evolve in the genre.

“Coming up being a fan of music, I was a big fan of Jimi Hendrix, and he always played a red Strat. The red Fender Stratocaster has been a potent part of my sound on R&B since the inception of my career. It’s my favorite guitar to play live on stage, so working with Fender was just a no-brainer, and to be recognized by them is definitely legendary to me,” the New York native explained to VIBE on a friendly Zoom call. He later declared that this would be the only guitar of his choice.

“It was so cool to see my picture up there with a lot of different rock stars. In R&B, guitar is one of those instruments that makes its appearance here and there, but it’s nice to be one of the few guys out there in my generation and in my class of R&B that actually plays plays.”

Kofi Ansah-Agyei

And he’s right. His breakout single “Mutt” widened his audience as listeners latched onto his strong musicality and unique style. In fact, the song and the album of the same name, were ranked VIBE’s top R&B offerings of 2024. With his star rising, Leon Thomas is always armed with the Fender Strat in his uniquely paved lane.

“I think the first time I picked up a guitar was the first time I ever wrote a song. It’s synonymous to everything that is me as an artist. It’s not something I really tried to do. It’s just me kind of being at this point,” he explained.

“So respect to everybody, but I know for me personally, I like to feature a lot of live instrumentation throughout my records because I’m not just writing on a lot of the songs. I’m also co-producing, so it’s nice to kind of have those elements that feel authentic to me featured on the record. Now you’re seeing the effects of that. As I promote it, as I’m on those stages, I don’t really feel comfortable hitting the stage without my baby.”

Leon Thomas wearing black jacket

Leon Thomas III at the Nickelodeon 2025 Kids’ Choice Awards held at Barker Hangar on June 21, 2025 in Santa Monica, California.

Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images

The former Nickelodeon star continued to detail how his creativity translates to energetic live shows.

“It’s just a part of my process as an entertainer. I’m not hitting a bunch of choreography like Chris Brown. I’m not rapping like Kendrick [Lamar] or anything, so I got to find a way to really make a crowd go wild. I think my wow factor lives not just in what I’m doing vocally but also what I’m able to do on those instruments,” he relayed.

“I just want to make people smile. I want to make them feel good when they come to see me. It’s not cheap to buy a ticket to a show these days. I definitely respect the amount of work people are putting in outside of coming to see me live. If they spent that dollar, I want to make sure that they’re getting a show that’s worth it.”

Leon Thomas performing

Leon Thomas III performs onstage at the VVIP Superlounge Experience during Day 2 of the 2025 ESSENCE Festival of Culture presented by Coca-Cola at Caesars Superdome on July 05, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Josh Brasted/Getty Images for ESSENCE

While last year may stand as his biggest yet, 2025 brought the Grammy winner the BET Award for Best New Artist, and a full-circle Kids’ Choice Award nomination for Favorite Male Breakout Artist. He is also nominated at the upcoming 2025 MTV VMA awards for “Mutt” remix with Freddie Gibbs.

“It’s a beautiful thing, man,” he reflected on the nomination.

He continued to joke, “They gave us like $20 to shoot them videos, so I’m excited. We’re even up there amongst all of those crazy other budgets that other people had. So, I’m just blessed to be mentioned in that category. It’s a real pleasure. I’m super excited to pull up. I’m still picking out my fit, but I’m going to grace that carpet, and I’m going to have a good time.”

And his career is just getting started. Thomas is set to release an EP, Folks, which he notes as “continuing to push the needle, and “a little bit more experimental.”

He continued to assure, “I think I’m just going to continue to be as creative as I can be, and I’m going to continue to take risks and chances in popular music. I hope the world really understands me.”

Listen to MUTT below.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail