Katy Perry perked the ears of her beloved #KatyCats in April when she teased that she was ‘due for a tour‘ to interact with fans who couldn’t make it to Las Vegas to see her top-selling Play‘ residency.

Doubling down on the notion during a recent chat with ‘People,’ the GRAMMY nominee made clear that she’s never stopped plotting a global jaunt despite not having hit the international tour circuit in over 5 years.

“When I do put out [new] music in a big way, then I want to go around the world and do a big world tour and stuff like that,” Perry shared with the mag in June. “I’m excited for the next interval of music, and I think that that music, obviously, is coming from a really loving space.”

Katy lovers hoping for an official announcement about the follow-up to 2020’s ‘Smile‘ album will have to keep that prayer on pause if new ‘American Idol‘ reports are to be believed, however.

Details inside.

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ICU,’ the breakout hit of singer-actress Coco Jones, had already proven itself to be one of the year’s biggest R&B hits by the top of summer thanks to the traction it courted for weeks at the height of its popularity.

Going on to win her industry awards (BET Awards, etc.), become her first Gold-certified single at the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and her inaugural #1 hit on the genre’s Billboard chart, ‘ICU’ – despite slipping off the Hot 100 entirely by mid-July – was still a force to be reckoned with.

Given an unexpected lifeline by a Justin Timberlake-assisted remix unveiled July 14, the DJ Camper-produced tune’s not only rebounded on the refreshed Pop chart but has landed in a position that marks a career high for the rising songstress.

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As its parent film dominates the movie box office, the official ‘Barbie‘ soundtrack is on its way to doing the same on music charts thanks to what’s predicted to be one of the year’s most handsome openings on the Billboard 200.

In addition to singles ‘Dance the Night‘ (Dua Lipa) and ‘Barbie World‘ (Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice), the album’s out-of-the-box success is due in part to the contribution of GRAMMY and Academy Award-winning songstress Billie Eilish (who contributed the hit song ‘What Was I Made For?‘).

Also like Lipa and Minaj, ‘What’ enjoyed top 40 success on the Pop chart – so far peaking at #34 on the coveted count.

In a bid to lift the Finneas-produced tune to even higher Hot 100 heights, Eilish has lifted the lid on a behind the scenes look at the tune’s official music video (which she also directed).

See the action inside.

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Congratulations are in order for Ari Lennox. 

For, the R&B belle has announced that she is now 7 months sober after a long struggle with addiction to “liquor.”

Full story below…

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Travis Scott has announced a titan-sized rollout for his forthcoming album ‘Utopia.’

And central to the launch will be a visual that is set to impact theaters across the US.

Full story below…

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Nene Leakes stepped back into the spotlight for a two-part sit-down interview with Carlos King. 

Renowned for being the breakout star of the ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta,’ the show’s original anchor has experienced quite the rollercoaster. From serving as a firm fan favorite to sharing the most personal corners of her private life to her well-documented fallout with execs that led to her exit from the show. Nene, for better or worse, has been synonymous with RHOA.

Waxing all sorts of candid on the Reality With The King platform, Nene opened up about feeling like the show is her “baby” having taped its unseen pilot, not initially gelling with the likes of Cynthia Bailey and Phaedra Parks, and feeling like Kenya Moore‘s arrival ushered in a negative change in direction.

Nene also addressed her son’s Bryson drug addiction and his recent arrest.

Watch part 1 after the jump…

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Beyonce‘s ‘Renaissance World Tour’ is attracting praise from all corners – including from her peers.

For, Jill Scott was in the building at the blockbuster trek’s latest stop in Chicago and was blown away by the extravaganza.

Full story below…

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Kid Cudi is hitting back at those making homophobic jabs at him.

The rapper has long expressed himself and his comfortability in self in such a way that has seen him amass millions of loyal fans worldwide.

However, according to the star, a sect of “haters” have been congregating on his social media posts making homophobic remarks and insult-laden inferences about his sexuality.

And Cudi has had enough.

Full story below…

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Having conquered TV and Web with their respective solo ventures over the last few years, mother-daughter duo Toya Johnson-Rushing and Reginae Carter are tag-teaming to repeat the feat together courtesy of a new WE tv reality show.

Titled ‘Toya & Reginae,’ the six-episode series is set to give viewers a deeper look into the personal and professional endeavors of Johnson-Rushing and Carter as they balance their relationship with each other with the other demands of their busy lives (see: love, the pursuit of business ventures, and more).

“On each episode of Toya & Reginae, fans will get to peek behind the curtain and see who they truly are – what’s happening in their love lives, how they balance those relationships along with their exciting and demanding careers, and of course their relationship with each other,” the official plot description says. “As happy as they appear on social media, in reality, their lives are unpredictable and full of chaos as they navigate their complex family dynamic.”

Ahead of its August 24 premiere (with new episodes coming to the ALLBLK streaming service every Monday following), look inside to check out the official trailer.

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‘Turning Point’ hitmaker Mario has reached just that in his 21-year career thanks to a new record deal between his imprint, New Citizen, and Epic Records.

Having spent most of the last decade distributing his music independently, the move to Epic marks an epic milestone for the 36-year-old as it’s not only his return to the Sony Music umbrella but also his first major-label deal since 2013.

Promising to use the new partnership to “bring R&B back” (as revealed in a statement announcing the venture), the first fruit of the union comes courtesy of a revamp of his 2022-released single ‘Main One‘ (which originally featured embattled emcee Tory Lanez).

“I know you wanna be the main one / I got a whole list of names on the way / I ain’t f-ckin’ with the same one / Ooh, I love when you drop it down low / But you’re still high maintenance,” he croons on the cut that now features Hip-Hop superstars Tyga and Lil Wayne.

Hear it in full inside.

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Michael Blackson has been bringing the funny to film and stages for over 25 years, but now the world renown comedian is finally doing so as the center of his own scripted television series.

The eponymous venture, streaming exclusively on BET+, sees the 50-year-old star as a history teacher who wants to mold young minds by day but can’t seem to escape the drama of his terribly funny personal history outside of the classroom.

Starring Clayton English and April Parker Jones, hop inside to see the official ‘The Michael Blackson Show‘ trailer before it charges to screens on July 27.

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Singer Tori Kelly has been rushed to hospital, per a new report.

Full story below…

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