Shakira, Madonna, BTS for Half-Time Show, Doja's Hiatus, Bridgerton S5.

Shakira, Madonna, and BTS Set for Historic World Cup Half-Time Show

FIFA is officially taking a page out of the NFL playbook. In a massive announcement on Thursday, football’s governing body revealed that pop icons Shakira, Madonna, and K-pop titans BTS are locked in to headline a Super Bowl-style halftime extravaganza at the World Cup final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium. Curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin, the mega-concert marks the first time a World Cup final will feature a mid-game musical production. FIFA President Gianni Infantino promised the event will be "befitting the biggest sporting event in the world," while also teasing plans to completely take over New York’s Times Square during the final weekend.

The show is rolling ahead for a good cause, with proceeds supporting FIFA’s Global Citizen Education Fund to raise $100 million for children worldwide. To top off the hype, Shakira just teased the new official World Cup anthem with a video filmed at Brazil's iconic Maracanã Stadium, proving the countdown to the June 11 kickoff is officially on.

Doja Cat Plots Three-Year Hiatus Post Tour

Doja Cat is already planning her grand escape from the music industry, and it involves a lot of interior design. In a new interview with ELLE UK, the rapper and singer revealed that she is looking to step away from the microphone for a massive three-year break once her ongoing Tour Ma Vie World Tour wraps up in December 2026. After years of non-stop hits, viral moments, and relentless touring, Doja admitted she is craving some aggressive downtime to just exist outside of the pop star machine.

Instead of writing hooks, the artist wants to pour her energy into some long-neglected creative and domestic projects. "I want to just do whatever," she told the outlet, listing painting another mural and finally furnishing her house as top priorities. "I’m going to furnish this whole upper area of my house because there’s literally nothing in here and there’s been nothing in here for four years or five," she joked.

ICYMI:

• Dylan Sprouse and Barbara Palvin are expecting their first child together.

• Dua Lipa has announced the release of her ‘Live From Mexico’ tour film and live album. The film releases on May 21st, with the album dropping on May 22nd.

Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, and Weezer Inducted Into National Recording Registry

The Library of Congress has added 25 more titles to the National Recording Registry, bringing the total to 700. This year’s class includes Taylor Swift’s 1989, Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies,” and José Feliciano’s “Feliz Navidad,” all recognized for their cultural and aesthetic significance. To qualify, recordings must be at least 10 years old.

The 2026 inductees also highlight major milestones and family legacies. Weezer earned a spot with their Blue Album, while Ray Charles became one of the few artists with two separate entries. Rosanne Cash’s The Wheel was honored more than two decades after Johnny Cash’s At Folsom Prison, making them the first father-daughter duo in the registry. From Chaka Khan to The Go-Go’s, this year’s list reflects the music that has shaped generations.

POP FACT: On this day in 2013, Daft Punk released ‘Get Lucky.’

Bridgerton Season 5 Confirmed for 2027

The painful two-year wait between Bridgerton seasons is history. Netflix’s chief content officer, Bela Bajaria, delighted fans by announcing that Bridgerton will break its traditional release cycle to return next year in 2027 with Season 5. Production has already kicked off in the UK on the eight-episode installment, which will adapt Julia Quinn’s novels to put the spotlight on introverted middle daughter Francesca (Hannah Dodd). Picking up two years after the sudden loss of her husband John, the upcoming season will follow Francesca as she re-enters the marriage market, only to have her practical plans completely upended by the return of John’s cousin, Michaela Stirling (Masali Baduza), anchoring the franchise's very first central queer romance storyline.

ICYMI:

• TMZ reports a trespasser was arrested at Chris Brown’s house after allegedly attempting arson.

• Scarlett Johansson has been confirmed to star in ‘THE BATMAN PART 2.’

• Twenty One Pilots have announced that they are set to perform their biggest show to date at the Ohio Stadium in October.

— Katie Macbeth

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