Bonnie Tyler — the smoky-voiced Welsh belter who turned heartbreak into arena-sized bombast with &#8220;Total Eclipse of the Heart&#8221; — <a href="https://apnews.com/article/bonnie-tyler-singer-died-11b043ebdb4fa946daa42aad804ce4a1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">died Wednesday</a> in a Portuguese hospital. She was 75.
The singer, born Gaynor Hopkins in the coal-mining village of Skewen, Wales, had been battling an illness and passed away in Faro, where she&#8217;d made her home for decades, her family confirmed in a Facebook post.
Her road to that final night was tough. Back in May, Tyler underwent emergency surgery on a perforated intestine, was placed in an induced <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/total-eclipse-of-the-heart-singer-wakes-up-from-coma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">coma</a>, and spent weeks fighting for her life in intensive care before doctors believed she was turning a corner.
Tyler&#8217;s raspy, whiskey-and-cigarettes voice — the product of throat surgery she had in 1977 to remove vocal nodules — became one of pop&#8217;s most distinctive instruments, and she leaned into it hard. &#8220;I can&#8217;t help it if I&#8217;ve got a husky voice,&#8221; she once <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/09/arts/music/bonnie-tyler-dead.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shot back</a> at critics who compared her to Rod Stewart.
That voice found its perfect vehicle in 1983&#8217;s &#8220;Total Eclipse of the Heart,&#8221; a Jim Steinman-penned monster originally dreamed up for a Nosferatu musical. The song was practically destined for Meat Loaf — until he lost his voice during recording and Tyler swooped in. The track shot to No. 1, sold millions, and hasn&#8217;t left the culture since, still racking up karaoke nights and eclipse-season streaming spikes more than four decades later. &#8220;
“After it was a hit,” she remembered, Meat Loaf “always used to say: ‘Dang. That song should have been mine!’” She told The Telegrapgh last year, “How can you ever possibly imagine it would still be so big today and people who weren’t even born then would be singing it at karaoke?”
Tyler followed up with &#8220;Holding Out for a Hero,&#8221; the synth-pop banger that soundtracked &#8220;Footloose&#8221; and blared out of gyms and movie screens throughout the &#8217;80s. She racked up three Grammy nominations along the way, though she never took one home.
The daughter of a coal miner and one of six kids, Tyler credited her mother with instilling the grit that carried her out of Wales and onto the world stage, once recalling her mom&#8217;s blunt advice: believe in yourself, because nobody else will do it for you.
She went on to represent the United Kingdom at Eurovision in 2013, released more than a dozen albums across her career — her last, &#8220;In Berlin,&#8221; dropped in 2024 — and was honored with the Order of the British Empire in 2022 for her contributions to music.
Tyler is survived by her husband, Robert Sullivan, a former Olympic judo competitor turned property developer, whom she married back in 1973. A full list of survivors was not immediately available.

Bonnie Tyler In Montreux

Bonnie Tyler, Famed For ‘Total Eclipse Of The Heart,’ Dies At 75

Bonnie Tyler

Death

Music

Notorious anti-Trump singer Bruce Springsteen claims that criticizing President Trump actually makes him a patriot.
“I believe in critical patriotism,” the New Jersey-based entertainer said during his recent PBS special, “Bruce Springsteen: Finding America in Song.”
He added, “I believe that’s the definition of a patriot, you know, that you love your country so much that you are willing to look at it clearly, recognize its faults, encourage it to be a better place, and believe that you carry in your heart the country that is waiting.”
Springsteen recently ended his “Land of Hope and Dreams” tour, which was filled with political protest and Trump-bashing galore, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nobody-cares-bruce-springsteen-mocked-for-tirade-against-trump">reported</a>.
The far-left singer, 76, made endless political statements during the tour, both on and off the stage. “There’s some very weird, strange, and dangerous sh*t going on out there right now,” he said during his Manchester stop.
“In America, they are persecuting people for using their right to free speech and voicing their dissent. This is happening now. In America, the richest men are taking satisfaction in abandoning the world’s poorest children to sickness and death.”
On the topic of the Trump administration targeting illegal aliens for deportation, Springsteen said, “They are removing residents off American streets and without due process of law, are deporting them to foreign detention centers and prisons.”
“In my country they’re taking sadistic pleasure in the pain they inflict on loyal American workers. They’re rolling back historic civil rights legislation that has led to a more just and plural society,” the singer said at another point. “They are abandoning our great allies and siding with dictators against those struggling for their freedom. They are defunding American universities that won’t bow down to their ideological demands.”
But Trump has not accepted the criticism in silence. Recently, the president made his opinion known, calling for a MAGA boycott against Springsteen and his shows.
“Bad, and very boring singer, Bruce Springsteen, who looks like a dried up prune who has suffered greatly from the work of a really bad plastic surgeon, has long had a horrible and incurable case of Trump Derangement Syndrome, sometimes referred to as TDS,” the president <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116334990675013056">wrote</a>, echoing what many on social media were saying. “The guy is a total loser who spews hate against a President who won a Landslide Election, including the popular vote, all Seven Swing States, and 86% of the Counties across America.”

Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen’s Trump Obsession Gets A New Excuse

Springsteen Insists His Trump Bashing Is 'Patriotic'

Celebrities

Donald Trump

Entertainment

Trump Derangement Syndrome

Country music&#8217;s biggest stars packed Nashville&#8217;s Nissan Stadium on Saturday night to celebrate Alan Jackson as he performed the final concert of his legendary career.
The 67-year-old singer-songwriter put on his last set alongside George Strait, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Jon Pardi, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Riley Green, Cody Johnson, Lee Ann Womack, and other artists who gathered to honor Jackson. The event was filmed for an NBC concert special celebrating Jackson ahead of his retirement. 
Jackson performed many of his well-known hits, including singles “Gone Country,” “Livin’ on Love,” “Summertime Blues” and “Midnight in Montgomery.” He also played “Little Bitty,” “Country Boy,” “Good Time,” and his post-9/11 anthem, “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning).” Fireworks lit up the sky during “Chattahoochee,” according to the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/alan-jackson-final-concert-george-strait-72ebb2f87fdca2c2ae8a7308278c9b9b">Associated Press</a>.
Jackson addressed the crowd, saying the experience was “overwhelming” before joking that he wouldn&#8217;t spend much time on “last show stuff” because he’s “not dead.”
Jackson announced last year that he would retire from touring, telling fans during a concert in Milwaukee that it would be his &#8220;last roadshow.&#8221; 
“It’s been a long, sweet ride; it started 40 years ago this September. My wife and I drove to Nashville with an old U-Haul trailer and chased this dream,&#8221; Jackson said. &#8220;It’s been a crazy ride. I lived the American Dream, for sure. So blessed. Thank you all so much for all your support of my music and attending my shows.” 
The announcement came four years after Jackson revealed that he had been diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a neurological disorder.
“I’ve been reluctant to talk about this publicly and to my fans, but it’s been a while, and it’s starting to affect my performance onstage a little bit where I don’t feel comfortable,” Jackson said in 2021.
“I just wanted the fans and the public to know if they’ve come to see me in the last few years or if they come to see me in the future if I play anymore, what’s going on. I don’t want them to think I’m drunk onstage because I’m having problems with mobility and balance.” 
While Jackson said the condition is not fatal, he acknowledged it would eventually make performing more difficult.
“This is not a condition that I would be complaining about typically, but it is going to affect me performance-wise onstage, and I don’t know how much I’ll continue to tour,” Jackson said at the time.
Jackson is known for blending traditional honky-tonk with mainstream country, creating a signature sound. With more than 60 million albums sold, 35 number-one hits, and numerous awards, including Grammys and CMA honors, he’s one of country music’s most enduring and respected artists.

Alan Jackson

Country Legends Unite For Farewell Show

Country Music

Nashville

Tennessee

U.S.

Recording artist Noah Kahan is weighing in on the viral video of a concertgoer seemingly skipping the bathroom in favor of letting it all go right there.
The singer was reacting to an incident at the Philadelphia stop of his &#8220;Great Divide World Tour&#8221; over the weekend. After the show, Kahan shared a now-expired backstage selfie that blurred out his pants, saying, &#8220;Holy sh*t, Philly.&#8221;
&#8220;If that’s what tour is going to be like, I’m going to need to buy significantly more boxers,” the singer <a href="https://x.com/NoahKahan/status/2070895009621033173">joked</a>. 
He also posted a plea for fans to head to the facilities if nature calls. 
&#8220;If you have to poop at a show please dear god just go to the bathroom lmao,&#8221; Kahan <a href="https://x.com/NoahKahan/status/2070905805465940425">wrote</a> in an X post. &#8220;I&#8217;ve pooped my pants as much as the next 29 year old but you guys gotta understand there&#8217;s a venue worker out there with a 1000 yard stare after dealing with that.&#8221;
“I sh*t myself onstage in Charlottesville but that’s because I am dedicated to my craft,” he added in a follow up. 
This all came after a video started circulating of a person appearing to defecate on the floor during the show. 
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Context for everyone: <a href="https://t.co/HQvJykc2sq">pic.twitter.com/HQvJykc2sq</a>
— Noah Kahan Archive (@KahanArchive) <a href="https://x.com/KahanArchive/status/2070920339358457932?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 27, 2026</a></blockquote>
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The witness wrote of the experience, “Ok so the person who did this was one row in front of me in section AA. I guess they didn’t want to miss a couple songs to use the bathroom so they just straight up sh*t themselves.”
The <a href="https://x.com/KahanArchive/status/2070925639981388285">post</a> went on, “[They] started picking actual pieces of poop out of their butt and put it on the floor. She started trying to waffle stomp the turds and acted like nothing happened but we flagged down security. One of the most unreal concert experiences I’ve ever witnessed.”
Some commenters who claimed they were there said the individual was escorted out by security.
Bathroom incidents at concerts have been in the headlines lately. Singer Olivia Rodrigo said some of her fans allegedly wear diapers to avoid missing anything or losing their spots in the front row. “I have been to certain concerts and certain festivals where people wear diapers so that they can be front row of the show, and that’s been an experience as a performer that I have … smelled,” the artist said, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pop-singer-reveals-disgusting-habit-her-fans-cant-quit">reported</a>.

Noah Kahan

Viral Noah Kahan Concert Moment Has Singer Begging Fans To Use The Bathroom

bathroom

concert

singer

Witnesses are still in shock after an apparently “intoxicated” Connecticut man fell 150 feet to his death during a concert at Madison Square Garden on Saturday. 
The deceased man was identified as Paul Kueker, a 51-year-old father of two. Witnesses told the media that he appeared “intoxicated” and “under the influence” before he tumbled over the glass and into the seats below. 
One traumatized witness, who was struck in his leg by Kueker, <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/06/23/us-news/witness-recounts-nearly-being-struck-by-tragic-leaping-msg-concertgoer-paul-kueker/">recounted</a> his experience to The New York Post. “Wild,” he said. “That’s why I’m trying to figure out what hit me, and my friend was one seat further away and got hit by something, so I want to figure out what that was, too.”
According to video footage exclusively shown to the Post, Kueker went head-first over the four-foot-tall glass barrier in the 300s section of the east balcony. The witness described hearing a loud bang followed by people screaming. Witnesses nearby were unclear as to whether he fell or jumped over the glass.
“His head was like a foot to the left of my shoes,” the witness said. “Within a few seconds, I was standing in blood.”
The concertgoers who he fell on suffered minor injuries, witnesses reported. The fall occurred during intermission, which was when 25 to 50% of people were seated. Kueker was unresponsive and unconscious after hitting the ground, the police <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/06/22/us-news/video-shows-msg-concertgoer-paul-kueker-jumping-to-his-death-with-witnesses-saying-dad-of-two-appeared-intoxicated/?utm_campaign=nypost&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter">said</a>. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. 
Kueker and his wife, Kristen Lomme Kueker, attended the Goose concert to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. His wife was three sections away from the incident and was not aware her husband had died until she was told by authorities. She believed he had gone to the bathroom.
On Monday, the New York City medical examiner’s office <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/madison-square-garden-concert-fall-connecticut-father">said</a> they are still investigating Kueker’s cause of death and conducting a toxicology report.
“While we await the police report on the tragedy at last night’s Goose concert, we are deeply saddened by the loss of a fan’s life at Madison Square Garden,” Madison Square Garden said in a statement to Fox News Digital. &#8220;Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the concertgoer.”
The band’s members, Rick Mitarotonda, Trevor Weekz, Peter Anspach, and Cotter Ellis, were unaware of the incident until around midnight when their concert ended. They were informed of the tragedy as they left the stage.
“We are deeply saddened and heartbroken to learn of the tragic event that occurred at tonight’s show,” the band <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DZ1cRthtjya/?hl=en">said</a> in a statement on Instagram. &#8220;We extend our deepest sympathy to everyone affected. Thank you to the emergency personnel and venue staff who stepped in with care and support.”
Kueker’s daughter created a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-loving-memory-of-paul-kueker">GoFundMe</a>, which has already raised almost $60,000. “The sudden loss of our dad has left our family heartbroken,” the fundraiser said. “We are struggling to process this unimaginable tragedy while facing the expenses that come with laying him to rest.”

Exterior Night View Of Madison Square Garden In New York

Witnesses In Shock After Father Of Two Falls To His Death At New York Concert

Legendary music producer Clive Davis passed away on Monday at the age of 94. 
Davis made history in the music industry as the founder of Arista Records and president of Columbia Records. He was known for creating some of the most iconic stars in modern music. He died peacefully from age-related illness following a recent hospitalization for respiratory issues.
Among Davis’s many protégés are Whitney Houston, Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, and Neil Diamond. He won five Grammy Awards during his 59-year career.
“He discovered, mentored, and championed the greatest artists in modern music history, leaving an indelible mark on culture that will endure for generations,” said a family statement released after his death.
His annual pre-Grammy party was one of the most significant social events of the year, and regularly featured the most influential stars in the industry. He was inducted into the Rock &amp; Roll Hall of Fame as a non-performer in 2000. 
Raised in Brooklyn, Davis was a Harvard Law Graduate and never planned on a career in music. He began as a corporate lawyer for Columbia Records before transitioning into music. “I was thrust into it,” he once <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/22/entertainment/clive-davis-death">remarked to CNN</a>, “Never knowing I had a natural ear and gift for music that would become the passion of my life.”
Many of his stars have posted tributes to him on social media, crediting him for their success. 
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&#8220;Clive Davis convinced me to sign with Columbia Records many years ago. He recognized the talent of great musicians and understood the power of contemporary music. I will always be grateful to Clive for his recognition of the critical importance of songwriting. He undoubtedly enhanced the stature of the music industry during his tenure as president of Columbia Records,&#8221; Billy Joel commented.
Carlos Santana added, &#8220;Clive Davis was a visionary. He could hear the intangible before anyone else could see it. He believed in Santana from the beginning, and years later he believed in us again. That kind of faith is a beautiful blessing, and I will always be grateful.&#8221;
Davis is survived by his four children — Fred, Doug, Mitchell, and Lauren — as well as eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. 
“To his family, Clive was Dad and Granddaddy, the steady presence at the center of our lives, the source of wisdom, strength, encouragement, and unconditional love. No matter how extraordinary his professional accomplishments, he never lost sight of what mattered most: the people he loved,” said the family statement.

Clive Davis and the Recording Academy Pre-GRAMMY Gala & GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Avery Lipman & Monte Lipman – Inside

Legendary Music Exec Clive Davis Dead At 94

Music Industry

Singer Olivia Rodrigo revealed one disgusting habit some of her fans allegedly participate in.
The 23-year-old recording artist discussed the phenomenon during a recent interview with Kiss FM. Hosts Tyler West and Chloe Burrows asked Rodrigo about the worst place she’s had to use the restroom, and the pop singer responded by talking about all the times she’s suspected that concertgoers were wearing adult diapers so they could get and keep the best spots at her shows.
“I can’t think of anything for myself,” Rodrigo said. “But I have been to certain concerts and certain festivals where people wear diapers so that they can be front row of the show, and that’s been an experience as a performer that I have … smelled.”
“That is insane behavior!” Burrows said with a gasp. “I cannot believe that.”
She said it’s not that surprising as it’s a known trend among New Year’s Eve revelers in New York City.
“It’s also like in the ball drop in New York for New Year’s Eve,” Olivia continued. “Everyone is wearing diapers, they sit there all day.”
“You’re pranking us,” West said in response. Rodrigo insisted that it’s true, though. “No, that’s a thing. I think about it kind of often.”
The reactions online were ones of disgust. One viral <a href="https://x.com/crazyinIqve/status/2067297946777878646">response</a> on X, which has close to 2 million views, says, “stop wearing diapers to concerts u weirdos yall making my girl smell ur piss on stage omg.”
Another person <a href="https://x.com/likesrosies/status/2067307745444073697">agreed</a>, writing, “this is insane if she could smell someone&#8217;s piss from all the way on stage just imagine what the people standing around that person were dealing with&#8230; no amount of being in the front row is worth humiliating yourself like this please BRING BACK SHAME!”
This isn’t the first time there have been rumors of adult diapers being worn at concerts. Legend has it that Taylor Swift fans do the same thing so they don’t miss a single note of her songs while waiting in line to use the facilities.

Olivia Rodrigo

Pop Singer Reveals Disgusting Habit Her Fans Can’t Quit

New Year's

This article is part of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/introducing-upstream-a-lifestyle-and-culture-section-of-the-daily-wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Upstream,</a> The Daily Wire’s new home for culture and lifestyle. Real human insight and human stories — from our featured writers to you.
***
Grammy-winner Phoebe Bridgers just announced her concert dates for the end of the year. But unlike most arena circuits, it will feature one unique detail. 
“I’m going on tour no phones,” Bridgers posted on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DZNSNKxFqyX/?img_index=1">Instagram</a>. Cue expressionless Gen Z chaos. 
All manner of tech, including smartwatches, smartphones, digital cameras, and other portable recorders, will be corralled into neoprene Yondr pouches designed to block functionality, providing the artist with a distraction-free space while fans maintain possession of their personal effects. The pouch locks and unlocks outside the designated perimeter, or in an assigned Phone Use Area within the venue.
Even if you don’t recognize Phoebe Bridgers from her other bands, Boygenius and Better Oblivion Community Center, I&#8217;m guessing you already formed an opinion on locking your phone in koozie prison. 
“If any of you figured out how to stick an Apple Watch up your a** or whatever to record, just please don’t put it on the internet,” <a href="https://archive.is/kgQl5#selection-423.0-423.133">Bridgers announced</a> on stage.
Bridgers tested the Yondr pouch strategy at a sold-out show at Madison Square Garden this month, where not even a <a href="https://www.gq.com/story/phoebe-bridgers-no-phones-msg-show">pencil</a> and paper were allowed, lest fans transcribe unreleased lyrics and post them online, spoiling future album releases and shows. Sad-girl indie lovers who paid <a href="https://atwoodmagazine.com/live-phoebe-bridgers-madison-square-garden-nyc-2026-concert-review/">as little as $1</a> for lottery-style entry seemed to be largely on board with acting as a human popemobile to protect Bridgers&#8217; divine intellectual property. 
“All of you are gonna be happy,” two fans gushed on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/byspencerthomas/reel/DZMQ7Xvg-Ih/?hl=af">Instagram</a> after the show. “It was beautiful and perturbing … the songwriting was there.”  
Another awestruck <a href="https://youtu.be/DURK9Jj7B10?t=8">girl recalled</a>, “My jaw was open the entire time, it was absolutely incredible.” Her friend added, “It was insane not seeing any phones there. People brought out lighters halfway through … I didn’t even know that was a thing people did, still.” 
Reviews were intentionally murky and slightly confusing. Many sounded like someone trying to get you to taste a food for the first time. Maybe that&#8217;s the point. You have to be there. You have to experience it for yourself. No janky livestream could ever do it justice.
Meanwhile, one rogue audience member reportedly found a way to hack the Yondr sitch to document the no-phones show. “Girl on the bus recorded the entire Phoebe Bridgers MSG concert through her Yondr pouch and is currently listening to the audio file,” an <a href="https://x.com/meh_sofia/status/2062728066804203879">X user</a> reported. Signs point to audio sounding like it was recorded underwater. 
Back in the day, not filming concerts was a normal thing. Thirsty for every last note from iconic artists, fans produced the first bootleg in 1969 featuring <a href="https://www.avclub.com/a-brief-history-of-live-concert-bootlegging-1798284737">Bob Dylan</a> sessions that had never officially been released. It’s still <a href="https://www.romanolaw.com/is-it-legal-to-record-and-publish-live-performances-key-considerations-for-content-creators-and-concert-goers/">technically illegal</a> to publish someone else’s live performance without their consent, but fair use rules around commentary and education blur the lines. Still, rebels remain, even when the no-phones vibe appears to be largely consensual.
“Hill I’ll die on: phone free concerts are utter bullsh*t in this economy,” one <a href="https://x.com/RAGNAROKNR0LL/status/2062908976191201354?s=20">X user</a> wrote. “For what you’re charging me … i’ll record whenever and whatever i want … i have to right to take pics, videos, MEMORIES.”
“It’s an artists job and the fans PAY THEM TO PLAY,” a <a href="https://x.com/fictionalangst/status/2063280199232368710?s=20">Bridgers fan</a> posted. “Concerts are not about what an artist wants or being as good as possible for the artist. It’s about the fans experience, that’s the whole reason the show is being put on.” 
Plenty of other commenters noted that no one’s forcing anyone to buy concert tickets.
Bridgers follows other major acts that have enacted the same policy. <a href="https://www.ebony.com/we-got-a-seat-inside-bruno-mars-no-phones-las-vegas-residency-and-nightclub-heres-what-went-down/">Bruno Mars</a> famously banned phones from his Las Vegas residency. One fan recalled that he said on stage, &#8220;Yes, I made you lock your phones up … I just want us to be able to forget about all that is going [on] in the world right now and have a good time.” Or something like that.
<a href="https://www.nme.com/news/music/jack-white-bans-phones-gigs-2227093">Jack White</a> was doing this almost a decade ago, advising audiences, “Enjoy a phone-free, 100% human experience,” and telling them to repost official Jack White social media content as desired. As if that would ever satisfy the like economy.
Still, maybe Bridgers could have softened the statement into something sounding more like an organic suggestion. Bridgers’ friend, <a href="https://x.com/BBCR1/status/1145413016785170435?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1145413016785170435%7Ctwgr%5E7f3aaa1ac332f1ca132933b951907dd0174864e5%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.teenvogue.com%2Fstory%2Fbillie-eilish-glastonbury-performance">Billie Eilish</a>, made a similar request at Glastonbury in 2019. “All I ask is that we all try to live in the moment,” Eilish told the crowd. “Look at me in my eyes … We’re never gonna be right here, this second, on this day, and this age ever again.” 
Other musicians have enacted alternative vibe checks. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1712883046417355">Morgan Wallen</a> ripped a phone out of a venue security worker’s hands and threw it across the stage during one recent performance. And Misfits singer <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Danzig/comments/1h2pagl/danzig_kicking_cell_phone_out_of_fans_hand/">Glenn Danzig</a> unapologetically kicked a phone out of a fan’s grasp, mid-set. 
Rowdy concertgoers throwing phones on stage and injuring <a href="https://ew.com/riley-green-wanted-to-dive-into-the-crowd-after-a-fan-hit-him-phone-11989104">Riley Green</a> and <a href="https://abc7.com/post/drake-chicago-hotline-bling-fan-throws-phone-on-stage/13471963/">Drake</a> only further escalate the tension between artists and audiences. Metal band Bring Me the Horizon frontman <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/music/music-news/bring-me-the-horizon-singer-concussion-phone-throw-concert-1236594029/">Oli Sykes</a> endured a concussion from a projectile phone in May — and continued the show.
After sharing intimate details about her life during lockdown, Bridgers was forced to learn how to protect herself from in-person verbal attacks and invasions of her personal space by followers who assumed a too-familiar relationship. “There’s a higher chance that you’ll meet a fan that you hate than a fan that you love,” <a href="https://archive.is/kgQl5#selection-1425.500-1425.589">she said</a>. Maybe this plays into the phone thing, too.
The drive to control outrageous fan behavior makes sense. And who really wants to pay $200 to look through a sea of screens hovering over general admission? Instead of filming and posting footage during the show, maybe you sing along with Phoebs on older songs and listen as she rolls out new ethereal tracks. Sip a $25 beer, vape if it’s your thing, and sway to the tune of a musical conversation in the present tense.
Bridgers plans to donate <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DZNeqoWlXpQ/">$1 from every ticket</a> sold on her North American leg to anti-abuse organization RAINN. But with fans reporting $500 price tags for the better seats, some of Bridgers’ followers may be left out in the cold. One person claimed Bridgers’ younger contingent may be too broke to afford her solo shows, while <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/phoebebridgers/comments/1u15z40/comment/oqncpao/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=web3x&amp;utm_name=web3xcss&amp;utm_term=1&amp;utm_content=share_button">another posted</a>, “Guys. Can’t call her indie anymore.”
Still, with fans posting about everything but actual shows — and selling the heck out of the vibe, like kids who went nuts on the Dole Whips at Disney World — maybe “no phones” offers the best way to drum up enough FOMO to sell out a two-month tour. At least Phoebe Bridgers seems to think so.
“It’s so sick,” <a href="https://youtu.be/DURK9Jj7B10?t=74">said a fan</a>, still reeling from a phone-free Phoebe Bridgers set. “It’s really cool.”
In an age where most of us feel lost without our devices, ditching our phones for a couple of hours might be the greatest gift we could give ourselves. Even better if you get to do it while listening to your favorite song.

This Concert Rule Is Sending Gen Z Into Meltdown Mode

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The White House issued a response to pop singer Ariana Grande on Thursday after she slammed the Trump administration for using one of her songs in a social media video about ICE arrests.
&#8220;We’ll say this one last time: what’s actually barbaric, inhumane, and heinous are the criminal illegal aliens who have injured and murdered innocent American citizens,&#8221; White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/white-house-fires-back-ariana-grande-told-never-use-music-ice-deportation-video">told</a> Fox News Digital in a statement. 
This was in response to the “Wicked” actress commenting on a TikTok video put out by the White House by saying, &#8220;please do not ever use my music in relation to this barbaric, inhumane, heinous nonsense. f*ck ice.&#8221;
The music appears to be removed from the video as of Thursday, as the outlet noted.
<blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@whitehouse/video/7649426430756916511" data-video-id="7649426430756916511" data-embed-from="oembed" style="max-width:605px; min-width:325px;">
<section> <a target="_blank" title="@whitehouse" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@whitehouse?refer=embed">@whitehouse</a> 
Bye-bye 👋 President Trump has delivered the most secure border in history 
 <a target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - The White House" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7649426470075026206?refer=embed">♬ original sound &#8211; The White House</a> </section>
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Like many other celebrities, Grande has made anti-ICE statements in the past. She conflated illegal immigration with lawfare attacks against President Donald Trump to her more than 270 million Instagram followers last summer.
“Could someone explain which crimes get you deported and which ones get you elected president? It’s so confusing,” she wrote at the time, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-ice-men-cometh-and-hollywood-comes-unglued">reported</a>.
Then last September, the “Thank U, Next” singer shared an Instagram post that said, &#8220;immigrants have been violently torn from their families and communities have been destroyed.&#8221;
The same month, she called out Trump voters with a snarky, sarcastic post on Instagram, asking if they were happy with their decision to select the Republican candidate to lead the country.
“I want to check in with trump voters. I have one very genuine question: it’s been 250 days. Now that immigrants have been violently torn from their families and communities have been destroyed, now that trans people have been blamed for virtually everything and live in fear, now that free speech is on the brink of collapse for us all — has your life gotten better?” the singer’s Instagram story said. 
Grande publicly endorsed Kamala Harris ahead of the 2024 election and subtly mocked fellow recording artist Carrie Underwood for performing at Trump’s presidential inauguration in January.

Ariana Grande

White House Responds To Ariana Grande Over Absurd ICE Video Criticism

White House Responds To Ariana Grande's ICE Video Criticism

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Comedian and HBO host Bill Maher ripped into artists who have abandoned plans to perform for America&#8217;s 250th birthday celebrations, arguing that they&#8217;ve played into President Donald Trump&#8217;s hands.
Maher, during his show on Friday, said that when musicians declared that they would not take part in the festivities, they were making it look as though they did not love the United States — which is exactly the position Trump and others have accused them of taking.
WATCH:
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Bill Maher SLAPS AROUND the artist that PULLED out of the Freedom 250 Concert: “They all pulled out. This is a question of what looks best for the Democrats because I don’t think that looks good. It looks like you are just what people say about you: you don’t really love America.… <a href="https://t.co/DJP35wbT1P">pic.twitter.com/DJP35wbT1P</a>
— RedWave Press (@RedWavePress) <a href="https://x.com/RedWavePress/status/2063344878566662324?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 6, 2026</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;I think these people — they all pulled out,&#8221; Maher said. &#8220;They all pulled out. This is a question of what looks best for the Democrats because I don’t think that looks good. It looks like you are just what people say about you: you don’t really love America. It looks like you think that Trump is more important than the country itself.”
“Now it’s just a big MAGA rally, this whole thing, because they all pulled out,&#8221; Maher complained. &#8220;So now it&#8217;s just Trump and Lee Greenwood.&#8221;
&#8220;Wouldn’t it have been better to play this gig?&#8221; he asked. &#8220;It&#8217;s a month-long gig, lots of people, like — just celebrating America. Can’t we all just celebrate America itself and leave Trump out of it?&#8221;
Nineties rap icon <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/vanilla-ice-blows-up-the-america-250-boycott-narrative">Vanilla Ice</a> — who has not withdrawn from the America 250 celebrations — made a similar case earlier in the week.
&#8220;All we’re doing is celebrating the birthday of our country, what’s the big deal here? And as far as entertainers, I don’t think it’s fair to put any of us on a pedestal like that as far as politics goes because, you know, it shouldn’t matter: we’re just here to play,&#8221; he said.

Bill Maher

Bill Maher Rips Artists For Pulling Out OF America 250 Concerts

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At least 12 people were shot at an Ohio music festival on Saturday — and two suspects, according to local police, have not yet been apprehended.
The Old West End Festival, billed as a family-friendly event, came to a screeching halt when two suspects — believed to be shooting at each other — opened fire and sent bystanders fleeing in all directions. According to several reports, around sixteen shots were fired around 5:4o pm local time — and at least 12 people were shot.
Ohio State Rep. Josh Williams (R) shared video that showed the chaos unfolding on the scene.
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What should have been a day to celebrate our community and enjoy family activities in Toledo’s Old West End was once again marred by senseless gun violence. Enough is enough. We need tougher penalties for violent offenders, which is exactly why Ohio must pass HB5. <a href="https://t.co/k1msAtir5M">pic.twitter.com/k1msAtir5M</a>
— Rep. Josh Williams (@JoshWilliamsOH) <a href="https://x.com/JoshWilliamsOH/status/2063489839115244009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2026</a></blockquote>
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According to a CNN <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/06/us/old-west-end-festival-toledo-ohio-shooting?Date=20260607&amp;Profile=CNN&amp;utm_content=1780796424&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter">report</a>, Toledo Police Deputy Chief Joe Heffernan said Saturday that authorities believe the shooting began as a dispute between the two suspects who were &#8220;probably shooting at each other,&#8221; neither of whom have yet been apprehended.
Police Lt. Dan Gerken spoke at a news conference on Saturday evening, saying that he&#8217;d spoken to the victims — who range in age from 14 to 61 — and that he believes the suspects can be found with some help from the local residents.
&#8220;If we get help from the community, it’ll be hopefully sooner than later. There’s kids out there that probably know more than all of us standing here,&#8221; he said.
Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz told reporters that all of the victims in Saturday&#8217;s shooting were expected to survive, although two remain critical according to a <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/06/06/us-news/multiple-people-rushed-to-hospital-after-shots-fired-at-family-friendly-ohio-festival/">report</a> from The New York Post.
Festival organizers responded to the tragic turn of events in a Facebook post, ultimately announcing that the remainder of the festivities scheduled for Sunday, June 7, would be canceled.
&#8220;Too often we turn on the news and learn of a celebration somewhere that turns into a tragedy. Now, that news comes from our own neighborhood. We are heartbroken about those that were injured at the Old West End Festival. Many people want to know how we proceed from such a dark place,&#8221; the post read. &#8220;After discussion with festival organizers, law enforcement and the City of Toledo, we feel that it would not be compassionate, responsible or possible to continue festival. Therefore, all festival events for Sunday June 7th are cancelled.&#8221;
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Festival Horror: At Least 12 Shot As Hunt For Suspects Intensifies

At Least 12 Shot At Music Festival, Suspects Still At Large

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Thank God For Country Music. That’s what Lakelin Lemmings is saying as she heads into her second CMA Fest, the Country Music Association&#8217;s annual festival in Nashville, this week, just up the road from where the 20-year-old grew up with a guitar in her hand.
The West Tennessee native’s ties to country music began the day she was born. Her father toured in a band, and when Lakelin wanted to get involved in the music industry, he knew just who to call.
Ash Bowers, the lead singer of her father&#8217;s band, had already established himself as a hit songwriter, securing cuts with Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, and Dustin Lynch, before getting into the management side.
Bowers, who is now the executive vice president for Quartz Hill Music Group, signed Lemmings at 19 years old, making her the record label’s youngest artist.
Since signing her deal, Lemmings has released a flurry of songs, with her single &#8220;Get Around Boy&#8221; landing on a prestigious list as a &#8220;Top 5 Most Added&#8221; song in April.
&#8220;I just want to make good music that if you&#8217;re six years old, you can listen to, if you&#8217;re 90 years old, you can listen to it,&#8221; Lemmings told The Daily Wire.
&#8220;I&#8217;ve been called to do this. I just felt like it&#8217;s only right that I mention the guy that got me here,&#8221; she said.
The artist draws on her faith, penning the song &#8220;Life of Mine,&#8221; which echoes the melody of the beloved hymn &#8220;This Little Light of Mine.&#8221;
&#8220;My faith is super important to me,&#8221; Lemmings said. &#8220;And not only was this like a dream of mine as a child &#8230; growing up, but I remember I felt the calling by God to pursue this.&#8221;
&#8220;There [are] so [many] drinking songs and cheating songs and all this kind of stuff, and some of them are great, but I feel like there was a need for just positive, good country music.&#8221;
She&#8217;s putting an album out this summer, and you can expect her southern roots to shine through on tracks like &#8220;American Dreamin,&#8221; which drops later this June, focusing on the things that shaped her in her small Tennessee town: family, faith, and the obvious… country music.
&#8220;It kind of leans a little bit faith-based, but I like to say that I&#8217;m not a country Christian artist, I&#8217;m just a country artist that&#8217;s Christian,&#8221; Lemmings said.
As she’s already started making her CMA Fest rounds, which Lemmings says is surreal, knowing she’s playing at the premier Nashville country fest she’s grown up coming to since she was a little girl.
&#8220;Going to the free things like the Riverfront Stage, and then in 2023 to have actually saved up some money to go to Nissan Stadium to see it, which was super fun … but as an artist, CMA Fest means a lot just because it&#8217;s a way to connect with fans.&#8221;
Lainey Wilson and Ella Langley are just a couple of big names in country music who, not too long ago, were playing a small stage for an even smaller number of fans. Lemmings is aware of their rapid trajectory and is prepared to work hard to headline CMA Fest one day, too.
&#8220;I think for me that goes to show that I need to buckle up because it can happen quicker than you think,&#8221; she said.
Lemmings self-titled album drops in July.

Credit: Noah Johnson

‘I Felt The Calling By God To Pursue This’: Lakelin Lemmings On Faith And Country Music

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