In sad news, it has been announced that singer George Michael has died aged 53 on Christmas Day.

Famed for hits such as ‘Freedom’ and ‘Faith’ the crooner was discovered by Thames Valley Police, who said said South Central Ambulance Service attended a property in Goring in Oxfordshire at 13:42 UK time.

The late star’s publicist released the following statement:

“It is with great sadness that we can confirm our beloved son, brother and friend George passed away peacefully at home over the Christmas period.

The family would ask that their privacy be respected at this difficult and emotional time. There will be no further comment at this stage.”

Michael’s career spanned four decades, during which he amassed sales of over 100 million.

Poetic almost is the day of his passing. Christmas being synonymous with the singer thanks largely to his global [Wham] smash ‘Last Christmas.’

May he rest peacefully.

UPDATE:

The icon’s cause of death has been revealed.

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Given today’s festive focus, the latest instalment of From The Vault comes courtesy of the Christmas Queen herself, Mariah Carey.

We give you 2010’s ‘Oh Santa!’

A “classic Christmas with a modern twist”, ‘Oh Santa!’ picks up exactly where the singer left off with her biggest hit ever ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’. Lyrically, it remains a call for help that she issues Santa’s way. Her wish? That he brings back her lover in time for the holidays.

Produced by frequent collaborators Jermaine Dupri and Bryan Michael Cox, it was the first single from the belle’s second Christmas album, the aptly titled ‘Merry Christmas II You’.
Commercially, the cut reached the number one spot of both the US Adult Contemporary and US Holiday Digital Songs.

Pregnant with “dem babies” at the time of shooting, it didn’t stop the elusive chanteuse from showing a little bit of skin… and we love her for that!

Directed by Ethan Lader, the video with its 60’s mise en scene displays Mariah and her band performing the song to a cheering variety show audience. Much like OutKast in ‘Hey Ya.’

No other pop star has left their mark on Christmas time quite like Mimi has.

With an annual Christmas residency, TV Movies and holiday specials aplenty, it will be interesting to see just how far her and team will continue to push that sleigh in the years to come.

In the meantime, we wish you and your loved ones a happy Christmas.

Your thoughts?

Scribbled in history books for some good and not-so-good reasons, 2016 brought with it some of modern music’s most memorable moments.  Now, as the year draws to a close, TGJ is reflecting on 31 moments that rocked – and to some degree shaped – the Urban and Pop musical landscape as we know it.

Next, let’s recount the Ws of one of Urban music’s most prized stageblazers:  Ciara…

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Ever keen to take you above and beyond the industry’s velvet rope, That Grape Juice has engaged in conversations with some of the world’s brightest stars since its conception almost a decade ago.

From actors to singers, Reality TV producers to directors, we’re proud to say that we’ve interviewed true game-changers whose work has shifted cultures and inspired generations.

However, few of them can say they’ve made half as much impact as the woman we caught up with last week.

As a founding member of Destiny’s Child, LaTavia Roberson‘s run in the group saw her reach global superstardom alongside bandmates LeToya Luckett, Beyonce and Kelly Rowland by way of music and visuals that elevated them to levels  beyond those reached by the En Vogue‘s and TLC‘s of the world.

Much has changed since we were first introduced to Roberson in 1997.

What success means for her now?

Find out below…

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From myself (Sam) and all of us here at That Grape Juice, we take this opportunity to wish you – the TGJ faithful – a very Merry Christmas.

2016 has been especially great for That Grape Juice, yet none of that would have been possible without all of YOUR support. From the longtime readers to those who may be visiting for the first time. To the dedicated commenters. To the RT’ers, the LIKE’ers, the sharers. Everyone!

We are so thankful for you all.

Here’s hoping you soak up all the happiness the holidays have to offer.

Merry Christmas!

Tidbit: Be sure to keep to locked on TGJ today and over the Holidays – we don’t “do” days off! There’s also a lot of cool newness on the horizon 😉

[Pinned: Posts Resume As Normal Below]

With over 120,000 votes cast, the time has finally arrived for the winners of the That Grape Juice End of Year Awards 2016 to be announced!

While some acts maintained a major lead, upon the penultimate cut-off point, the final list brought with it many last minute surprises.

Check out the full list of winners below. Prepare yourselves for what awaits…and sound off!

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Kelly Rowland is no stranger to talent-searches, having starred on ‘The X Factor’ and more recently ‘Chasing Destiny.’

Now, the ‘Motivation’ maven is taking her judging acumen Down Under.

Dive below for details…

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Voting for the That Grape Juice: End Of Year Awards 2016 closes…tonight at 23.59pm PT!

As at writing, over 110,000 votes have been cast and the winners of many categories are presently separated by as little as 1%.

Hence, ensure your voice is heard by voting – and if you have already, feel free to vote again! There is also a festive prize in store for one lucky voter!

Click here to vote!

Click here to vote!

Click here to vote!

The congenial Katy Perry has stepped out to support the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement before the unveiling of her politically-aware new album.

Details below…

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Camila Cabello‘s defection from Fifth Harmony has done little to damage her relationship with bosses at the group’s label Sony Music Entertainment.

In fact, a new report posits that they’re on course to offering her a lucrative solo recording contract.

Good news below…

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New video alert!

Keen to keep interest in her brand alive in an arena inundated with new lady lyricists is Dej Loaf.

Her latest move? The release of a new video shot to support a song named ‘In Living Color’.

Please stop gassin’ these [expletive] before I attack ’em. Came from the bottom, some days I cannot fathom / Went from the ‘jects to a mansion / Took every L, came back a champion.

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As we’ve previously indicated, now is a good time to be a guy named J. Cole.

Indeed, as if seeing his new album, ‘4 Your Eyez Only,’ conquer charts with a whopping 492,000 units moved wasn’t enough (the third largest figure of the year), he made history by seeing every song from the project crack the top 40.

Now, Billboard reports Cole has even more reason to celebrate:

4 Your Eyez Only also logs a big streaming week as it tallied 118,000 in SEA units (equaling 176.9 million streams of the album’s songs), which is the second-largest streaming debut ever for an album. It trails only the bow of Drake’s Views, which launched with 163,000 streaming units in its opening frame (equating to 245.1 million streams of songs from the album that week). 4 Your Eyez Only is just the third album to surpass 100,000 streaming equivalent album units in a single week, following Views and The Weeknd’s Starboy (with its opening frame of 117,000 in SEA units).

Tuck in below to see who joined Cole this week on the refreshed Billboard 200:

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