Gaga's Countdown and Underwood's Glitch

Carrie Underwood Faces Technical Difficulties at Trump’s Inauguration

Carrie Underwood’s performance of “America the Beautiful” at President Donald Trump’s 2025 inauguration encountered technical difficulties, forcing the country music star to continue a cappella.

After the swearing-in ceremony on Monday, the 41-year-old singer, known for her American Idol win and country music success, was invited to perform in the Capitol Rotunda. Standing before Vice President Kamala Harris and other dignitaries, Underwood was ready to begin with the band. However, just moments into the performance, the audio system malfunctioned, causing an awkward silence.

Rather than pausing, Underwood swiftly decided to continue the song without accompaniment. “If you know the words, help me out here,” she encouraged the audience. She was joined by the Armed Forces Chorus and the United States Naval Academy Glee Club, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

Elsewhere at the pre-inauguration rally, President Trump danced alongside The Village People during their iconic performance of “YMCA,” a song that has become a staple at his campaign events.

Lady Gaga Posts Mysterious Countdown On Her Website, Ahead of ‘LG7’ Release

Lady Gaga has ignited excitement among fans with a cryptic countdown on her official website. This mysterious timer, set against a hazy blue backdrop, is teasing a major announcement scheduled for 11AM EST / 8AM PST on Monday, January 27th  

Initially, clicking a "target" icon within the countdown revealed "LG1," reminiscent of the signature font from her iconic The Fame era. However, the target has since evolved, now displaying "LG2" in the style of The Fame Monster. Further investigation through source coding has uncovered a fascinating detail: all six-and-a-half of Lady Gaga's previous albums are set to feature in this rotating display. This intriguing development has fueled speculation that Lady Gaga is poised to announce her highly anticipated seventh studio album at the culmination of the countdown.

The pop superstar has been dropping hints about the new album in recent months, much to the delight of her dedicated fanbase. Last July, she offered a tantalizing preview of fresh music during an impromptu performance outside her hotel in Paris, shortly after her electrifying appearance at the Olympics opening ceremony.   

This upcoming album will mark Lady Gaga's first full-length solo release since 2020's Chromatica, which boasted the chart-topping singles "Rain On Me" and "Stupid Love."

To aid in the recovery efforts following the devastating California fires, Lady Gaga will perform live at a benefit concert in Los Angeles on January 30th. All proceeds will go towards relief efforts.

Rachel Sennot and Bowen Yang to Announce 97th Oscar Nominations

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced that actor-writer-comedians Rachel Sennott and Bowen Yang will have the honor of revealing the nominees for the 97th Academy Awards.   

Known for their sharp wit and comedic timing, Sennott and Yang are sure to bring a unique and entertaining energy to the proceedings. The dynamic duo will unveil the contenders across all 23 categories in a live presentation from the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater on Thursday, January 23rd.

The announcement will be streamed live globally on Oscar.com, Oscars.org, and the Academy's social media channels. The original nomination announcement was postponed due to the recent California wildfires. The Academy expressed gratitude to Sennott and Yang for their willingness to step in and bring their comedic talents to this important event.   

ICYMI

• Justin Bieber has stated that someone unfollowed Hailey Bieber from his Instagram account. In a story post, he said: “Someone went on my account and unfollowed my wife, sh*t is getting suss out here.”

• JADE has revealed that her debut solo album is currently set for release near May.

• Trevor Noah has been announced as the host for the Grammys, it is his fifth consecutive year as host.

• Jennifer Anniston is reportedly eyeing to cast Ariana Grande, Zendaya, and Sydney Sweeney for a ‘9 to 5’ remake. Aniston is rumored to star in the film, alongside producing the remake. 

— Katie Macbeth

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