Welcome back to another week of pop culture updates - with this edition addressing many events escalating over the past couple of weeks: from Ariana Grande's upcoming hiatus coinciding with the start of her UK tour today, to Madonna and Kylie Minogue's remix storming the charts, as well as some exciting new updates with other music and TV icons, it has been a hectic week. Further apologies from myself for the lack of pop culture updates last week - it's been a busy couple of weeks even for me, not just within the culture scene itself!
Ariana Grande's upcoming hiatus... after her UK tour begins
Ariana Grande announced a hiatus last week addressing the persistent criticism of her current public image, notably on her significant weight loss which has been the main topic during her time on tour, especially spread through the potence of social media. Grande went on to address the reason behind her decision to take a break from the public eye at her show in Chicago on August 4th, debunking fans' thoughts that these comments had led to her need to take a hiatus. She expressed how:
"Sometimes when a story comes out that's not directly from me, it becomes a little blown out of proportion. So I just wanted to speak to my fans directly tonight because I love you so much.
"So basically, the announcement that was made yesterday was not a reactive or impulsive thing. It is something that I have decided, a plan that I have quietly made a long time ago, and it's a decision that was made from a thoughtful and empowered place. And I want you to know that many, many things can be true at the same time. I want to share this because I heard that my fans were worried that negativity was ruining things for me, but I just have to say that could not be more the f--k opposite. I promise you this is not what matters. Multiple things can be true at the same time. Boundaries can need to be set, human beings can need a break sometimes, and also, this can be and will continue to be the greatest experience of my professional career. Nothing is getting in the way of that or will get in the way of that. So I just wanted to make that quite plain.
"No matter what noises exist out there, nothing will ever be able to distort my reality or be more real to me or louder to me than this love that we share - or than how it feels to make art with the people that I love and respect - absolutely nothing will change that or distort that. I wanted you to hear that from me. I love you. This is what I will always take with me, have with me, because the rest of that s--t is not mine to carry so I don't carry it. I want you to hear that from me. I needed to get out here and differentiate that from my truth for you all because I love you and this tour has been the most healing, beautiful, corrective, magnificent, special experience of my life. And so has putting out 'petal.' It's been extraordinary. I needed you to know. That felt good. I wish that words were enough to articulate just how much I love you all and how much you mean to me."
(Transcript courtesy of nbcchicago)
With this in mind, fans' concerns were put to rest ahead of her sold-out residency in London which begins tomorrow, August 15th, with the UK leg of the Eternal Sunshine Tour spanning ten nights, concluding on the 1st of September. This follows the recent release of her eighth studio album 'Petal' on July 31st, which was received to mixed reviews, and from the setlist it seems that Grande will be only adding a couple of tracks onto the setlist, namely the album's title track, as well as the track 'Like I Do' which has equally been gaining some traction.
Post courtesy of @arianagrande on Instagram
Madonna and Kylie Minogue finally collaborate
After years of friendship and coinciding careers, pop-disco veterans Madonna and Kylie Minogue finally released their first collaboration last Friday with a remix of Madonna's 'Love Sensation' off her latest album Confessions II. The album released on July 3rd and has been met with critical acclaim, being named Madonna's best work since the original release of Confessions on a Dance Floor back in 2006.
Kylie jumped on the track with Madonna shortly after the release of the album, debuting the remix at Amsterdam Pride on August 1st, with the studio version being released that Friday. As of now, the track has secured number 2 on the UK Top 40 chart, and is on track to be Madonna's 65th, and Kylie's 37th, top 10 single on the main chart this week.
On top of this, fans have been speculating a potential collaboration between the two icons in regards to live shows, with rumours of Madonna planning a record-breaking three night residency at next year's BST Hyde Park. Furthermore, Kylie has confirmed that she will be touring for the 25th anniversary of her iconic Fever album, featuring the global smash hit 'Can't Get You Out of My Head', as well as 'In Your Eyes' and 'Come Into My World'.
With this, hopefully this is only the beginning of the collaborations between the duo - both being two of the most celebrated female artists of all time, and rightfully so!
Post courtesy of @madonna and @kylieminogue on Instagram
Phoebe Bridgers releases Lost Weekend
As possibly the most prominent and most recognisable front of the indie music scene, Phoebe Bridgers rose to fame with the release of her 2017 album Stranger in the Alps, featuring one of the most defining songs of her career, 'Motion Sickness'. Since then, Bridgers has released just one album back in 2020, Punisher, with fans eagerly awaiting her return to the music scene at any point.
With little to no updates on even the whereabouts of Bridgers, random pop-up concerts began to spawn around the USA, ultimately alluding to the imminent release of new music from the Indie veteran. Bridgers released her first single in six years, 'Lost Boys' to critical and fan acclaim, with her album Lost Weekend to follow soon after - and today is the day that fans are finally able to access fifteen other brand new songs within Bridgers' discography.
Already, fans and critics alike are speculating that this will be an album worthy of the highest reviews of the year, with Pitchfork awarding an astonishing rating of 8.4, alongside naming it 'Best New Music'.
To celebrate the album's release, Bridgers compiled a series of planetariums across the world where fans could listen to the album early in 'album listening parties', an event that has become increasingly popular within recent years to allow the most devoted fans of artist's to experience new material before anybody else. With that, it can only be conspired that this album is to be an unworldly experience, with Bridgers sure to take us through a journey with her ethereal and enchanting music, as by the folky and whimsical theme of her single.
Post courtesy of @phoebebridgers on Instagram
In other pop culture news...
- The Eurovision Song Contest confirmed that 2027's competition will be held in the city of Burgas, Bulgaria.
- The 2026 Strictly line up has concluded with the announcement of Gavin and Stacy star Melanie Walters joining the rest of the celebrities.
- Perez Hilton reportedly continues to be in recovery following his hugely controversial livestream on TikTok last week.
- Pitchfork rate rapper Tyga's new album $TARFACE a 0.0 due to AI usage - their first in 19 years.
- Elton John and Dua Lipa celebrate the fifth anniversary of their hugely successful collaboration 'Cold Heart (PNAU remix)'.
Another packed week full of pop culture updates - join me once again next week for a new fixing of all things music related!
Album cover image courtesy of Phoebe Bridgers / Dead Oceans under Fair Use
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