In case you missed it...
The iHeartRadio Music Festival went down at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas this weekend, and it was two days of great music and great performances. Among the Friday highlights….
- Pitbull got the crowd off their feet with a set that featured such hits as "Hotel Room Service," "Fireball," and "Timber,” as well as “Can’t Stop Us Now,” and “Give Me Everything.”
- Sam Smith offered up the live debut of their new song “Unholy,” bringing out his collaborator Kim Petras. Sam also treated the audience to such classics as "Stay With Me," "I'm Not The Only One,” “How Do You Sleep?” and more.
- Lionel Richie celebrated 50 years in the business with a set of hits including "Dancing On The Ceiling,” which he mashed up with Van Halen’s “Jump,” “You Are,” “Brick House” “Hello” and “All Night Long.”
- Black Eyed Peas brought the hits with such songs as “Let's Get It Started" "Boom Boom Pow," "Pump It,” “I Gotta Feeling" and "Where Is The Love?" along with news tunes "Ritmo," "Mamacita" and "Don't You Worry."
- Soon-to-be Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo performed such classics as “All Fired Up,” “Promises in the Dark,” “Love is a Battlefield,” and “Heartbreaker.”
- Big cheers came as Morgan Wallen took the stage to perform such tracks as “Sand in My Boots,” “Wasted On You,” “More Than My Hometown,” “Still Goin Down” and “Whiskey Glasses.” He also returned to the stage later in the evening to join Diplo for their 2020 collaboration “Heartless,” performing the song live for the first time. Earlier in the day he revealed that he likes to pump himself up before going out on stage by listening to "Me VS Me" by Moneybagg Yo, noting, "I'm a huge fan of Memphis rap. Like, I always have been."
- The Black Keys brought the rock to the T-Mobile Arena, with a set that featured "Howlin' for You,” “Wild Child, “Tighten Up,” "Gold on the Ceiling,” “Little Black Submarine” and their hit track “Lonely Boy.”
Saturday highlights included:
- Halsey took the stage promising fans that she had “a few special songs” to perform. She treated the crowd to such tunes as “You Should Be Sad,” “So Good,” “Bad at Love,” “I Am Not A Woman I’m A God,” and “Without Me," and noted she was celebrating her birthday early (it's Thursday).
- Megan Thee Stallion treated fans to several songs off her latest release “Traumazine,” including "Ungrateful" featuring Key Glock, "Her," and “Plan B,” along with hits “WAP,” "Body," "Thot Sh*t,” and "Freak Nasty" and “What’s New.”
- LL Cool J rocked the classics, with such songs as "Rock The Bells," "Jack The Ripper" and "Headsprung,” along with "Doin It," "Lougin'" and "Jingalin Baby."
- Sean "Diddy" Combs, who dedicated his set to those in his life he lost, including Kim Porter, Heavy D and Notorious B.I.G, got the crowd pumped with "Victory" followed by Biggie's "Juicy" and "Mo Money Mo Problems,” along with "Bad Boy 4 Life" and "Been Around The World.’ He also brought out his son King Combs for “Can’t Stop Won’t Stop,”
- Maren Morris’ set featured her latest single “Circles Around This Town,” along with “My Church,” “The Bones,” and more, including her new Zedd collaboration “Make You Say.” She also brought out hubby Ryan Hurd for “I Can’t Love You Any More.”
- Luke Combs treated the audience to his many hits including “The Kind of Love We Make,” “When It Rains It Pours,” “Forever After All” and more, wrapping the set with his classic “Beer Never Broke My Heart.”
- Marcus Mumford hit the iHeart stage to perform songs from his debut solo album, including “Prior Warning,” “Dangerous Game,” “Better Off High,” “Grace” and “Better Angels.”
- Avril Lavigne brought her punk-pop hits to the iHeart stage, with songs like "Girlfriend,” “Bite Me,” “My Happy Ending,” “I’m With You” and “Sk8er Boy.”
If fans missed any of this year’s festival they’ll have a chance to relive it soon. The CW will air a two-night TV special featuring highlights on October 7th and 8th.
Taylor Swift fans were in a tizzy this weekend at speculation she would headline the 2023 Super Bowl half-time show, but it turns out their excitement may be for nothing. The speculation began after it was announced that Apple Music was taking over from Pepsi as the new sponsor for the half-time show. Considering Taylor has a sponsorship deal with Coke, many Swifties felt this would pave the way for her to headline. Plus, with a new album, “Midnights,” coming out October 21st, and a possible tour for next year, fans felt it just made sense. But if you believe TMZ sources, while Taylor was offered the half-time gig, she actually turned it down. According to the insider, Taylor was offered the gig months ago, but said no because she didn’t want to perform until she’s finished re-recording her first six albums, in order to regain control of them. So far she’s only released two, “Red” and “Fearlesss,” with “"Taylor Swift," "Speak Now," "1989," and "Reputation” still to go. The source does add that half-time producers are looking for a female pop star to headline next year, with TMZ now reporting that Rihanna is in talks to headline.