Lauren Anderson and Makenzie Phipps delivered a soulful rendition of Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats” during The Voice Battles, leaving coach Snoop Dogg with a tough decision between the two aspiring artists.
Both Anderson and Phipps brought their own take to the multi-week chart-topper, commanding the stage and even getting Snoop out of his chair dancing along. Fellow coaches, including Niall Horan and Michael Bublé, were clearly enjoying the performance, with Bublé smiling from ear to ear and Horan playing the air drums.
Horan admitted he was thankful he didn’t have to choose a winner.
“I love a good old school Voice battle! That is what you call that,” he said. “Mackenzie, you performed a song in a completely different way. In your part, you kept yourself to yourself, did your thing, hit some crazy notes. And Lauren, you’re a powerhouse. That scream that you did… you did that. You were like, ‘ah!!!’ me and Bublé looked at each other, ‘like what?!’ I don’t even know where to start with who you choose. That is so 50/50, it’s beyond belief. Well done ladies.”
Reba McEntire also praised both contestants and noted she believed Carrie Underwood herself would approve of the performances.
“You gals are terrific singers, performers, you get into it, you commit. Carrie doesn’t record easy songs. She’s going to be so proud. Lauren, you came out of the gate ready, Mackenzie, great performance too. I’m very proud of you both, that if I had to make a decision, I think it would be Lauren,” McEntire revealed.
Bublé agreed with McEntire’s choice.
“Mackenzie, I love your voice. Sweet and so smooth, and you were perfect on the notes. I mean, it was perfection. There’s nothing to critique. Lauren, you were doing this and then all of a sudden you went like this and you went and you spun and I went like, ‘whoa.’ I would move towards Lauren just because of that awesome sprinting move,” he explained.
Ultimately, it was up to Snoop Dogg to decide who would advance in the competition.
“Mackenzie, you are a superstar,” he said. “The way you sing, the way you move, the way you talk, the way you look, you got the whole get out. I just love to hear you talk. You remind me when Ms. Reba talks, how many people you going to inspire and motivate based off of where you come from. Blue Field, Virginia, who’s going to be inspired by what you did tonight.”
Then he addressed Lauren Anderson: “Such a strong performance, the way you came out the gate and the way you assisted your little sister. I love the sisterhood. This is what I love more than anything when you all become a family and you showed me why you are a great vocalist. Thank you for what you did.”
Lauren Anderson; Photo by: Griffin Nagel/NBC
In the end, Snoop Dogg chose Lauren Anderson as the winner, sending her through to the next round.
Cooper Alan’s world is changing in all the best ways as he’s simultaneously preparing to release his debut album Winston-Salem and become a dad for the first time. In June, he and his wife, Hally, announced that they were expecting their first child and now, he’s reflecting on how this chapter has already changed his life as the due date quickly approaches.
The couple shared the news that they had a baby on the way using a cinematic video that found them debuting the sonogram images and dancing around with pure joy radiating off their faces. Alan confirmed to Country Now that the excitement seen in that moment is as real as it gets.
“Oh, I’m so excited. I didn’t even realize quite how ready I was until we found out Hally was pregnant. [We] started talking about things and planning stuff and everything that goes along with it and we’re super, super stoked,” he admits. “I’ve got two nieces and a nephew, so I’ve been around the kids and I’m excited to do it myself.”
Photo Courtesy of Cooper Alan
Of course, along with that anticipation comes some natural nervousness as this will be the first time Cooper Alan has experienced having a child of his own to care for. He credits his wife for being the guiding force in this transition for them.
“I’ve got no idea what I’m doing, but my wife really does know what she’s doing,” he gushed. “She’s really, really good at this stuff and it’s just such a rock for us and kind of the backbone of the family. So as long as she is leading the way, then I have a whole lot more to be excited about than nervous about.”
Shortly after dropping the major life update with the world, they added to the excitement by revealing that they are having a girl. They opted to do a gender reveal in the sweetest way, with cupcakes backstage at the Grand Ole Opry. After a collective “cheers,” the couple took a bite and saw pink frosting inside the sweet treat and instantly burst into joy and laughter.
“I think our daughter can look back one day and be like, maybe my parents aren’t cool now, but at one point in their lives they were cool enough to do this,” he said of the idea to learn the news at the historic venue.
Alan also shared that while he would have been just as excited to have a boy, he had a feeling he was destined to be a girl dad and he is “stoked” about it. He has already proudly been sporting his new title on stage with his “girl dad” hat.
“Both my brothers have had girls first and they’ve just said it’s so awesome. So I was so pumped and hopefully she’s just like Hally, and I bet she will be. And I got to get one of those ‘girl dad’ hats that Barstool sells, which is cool. I wear that on stage like 90% of the time now. So girl dad, life is awesome.”
As he gears up for fatherhood, Alan is channeling that new sense of perspective into his music. His debut album, Winston-Salem, out November 7, captures both sides of his life right now, from the rowdy energy of his 20s to the deeper reflections that come with growing up and starting a family.
His latest release, “Hard Acre” is a “good old fashioned country song” that particularly calls attention to the emotions that come with taking this big step.
“I wrote it with Zach Kale, Derek Bahr, and Joseph Patton, three awesome writers. And we just kind of stumbled on that title and took it in the direction of an older man passing down a house to somebody who’s just kind, starting his adult life, starting his family. And it just kind sums up, I think sort of the stage of life I’m in,” he shared of the storyline.
Since the rising country star is about to turn 30, this album has given him the opportunity to truly reflect on what his 20s looked like and how the steps he took in those years have led him to where he is now.
“When you are about to turn 30 and you’re about to have your first baby, you just kind of put a lot of things in perspective. And I don’t know, life goes really, really fast, which everybody says, but you don’t realize it until you realize it. And it’s really important to enjoy that journey and soak in every moment, especially those younger years of your family. And that’s kind of the advice that this older guy has given in the song and just something that I’ve tried to take to heart,” he admitted.
Cooper Alan; Winston-Salem
Although his little one won’t enter the world until December, he’s found that his songwriting has already been impacted by the new role he will soon take on. Listeners will hear that clearly in the reflective side of his upcoming project.
“I just naturally tend to write about what I’m going through back to getting married and that whole thing…I just don’t really know how to write about anything else and it feel real and authentic to me,” he explained. “So it definitely changed it right away. And I think there are a lot of people that are going through this phase of life right now or have gone through it or are about to go through it soon that can relate.”
Photo Courtesy of Cooper Alan
The Tennessee native is taking a break from touring for the remainder of 2025 and a few months into the new year to help his other half prepare for their upcoming arrival. He won’t return to the road until the very end of March 2026, and when that time comes, Alan explained they are hoping to have their baby girl join them on the road as much as possible.
“Hally and I talked about that when we were talking about having kids and just, we are not going to stop doing this, but of course we’re going to take more time to the dedicated family time. Maybe a little less time on the road, but a whole lot with how it’s looking next year. I don’t know, we’ll just kind of figure it out. And with Hally being such a big part of this and the biggest part of this, I just really am not that worried.”
With a baby girl on the way and his debut album just weeks from release, Cooper Alan’s next chapter is shaping up to be his most meaningful yet. Winston-Salem arrives November 7, marking the start of a new era.
The official trailer for Universal Picture’s adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestseller Reminders of Him has dropped, giving fans the first look into Lainey Wilson’s feature film debut.
Within the nearly three-minute clip, the story unfolds between the main characters Kenna (Maika Monroe) and Scotty (Rudy Pankow), whose romance begins at her workplace once he gains the courage to finally ask her out after his repeated purchases of single yellow plates. Unfortunately, we see their love take a devastating turn one stormy night when Kenna makes a tragic mistake that leads to Scotty’s death and lands her behind bars for seven years.
“There was before you and there was during you,” Monroe says in the narration that plays over the dramatic footage. “For some reason, I never thought there would be an after you.”
Lainey Wilson – Reminders of Him; Photo via YouTube
After her release, Kenna returns to her hometown in Wyoming, where she struggles to rebuild her life with a criminal record. She also learns that nearly everyone in town, including her daughter’s grandparents, Grace and Patrick (Lauren Graham and Bradley Whitford), is determined to keep her from reconnecting with her only child.
While not much is known about Wilson’s character, we do learn that she goes by the name Amy and becomes one of the people who shows Kenna compassion and support when she needs it the most.
The country superstar briefly appears in the trailer when she is seen talking to Kenna about the tragedy she recently faced and how her life has changed for the worse as a result.
“What’s your trauma?” Wilson asks with her signature Louisiana twang that has noticeably softened.
Kenna explains that she can’t seem to find a place that will hire her as she “just got out of prison.”
Wilson responds, “Sh**, you win.”
Kenna also unexpectedly befriends former NFL player and local bar owner Ledger (Tyriq Withers). Other cast members include Jennifer Robertson (Schitt’s Creek) as Kenna’s landlord, Zoe Kosovic (The Smashing Machine) as Kenna’s daughter, Diem, Hilary Jardine (Holidazed) and Nicholas Duvernay (The White Lotus) as Ledger’s bar team, and Monika Myers as Kenna’s neighbor, Lady Diana.
Vanessa Caswill has been tapped to serve as the director of Reminders of Him, with the screenplay written by Hoover and Lauren Levine. Both of these writers are also producing the film through their production company, Heartbones Entertainment alongside Gina Matthews through her Little Engine Productions. Additionally, Robin Fisichella is executive producing, while Director of production development Christine Sun will oversee the project for the studio.
Reminders of Him
Lainey Wilson’s connection to Universal goes beyond her upcoming film debut. In 2024, her original track “Out of Oklahoma” appeared the Twisters soundtrack, which earned multiple award nominations from the Guild of Music Supervisors and the Society of Composers and Lyricists. The full soundtrack reached No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart and snagged a Grammy nod.
This also won’t be her first time acting, as she previously appeared in a recurring role on Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone. In Season five, she was introduced as a musician named Abby, who was written specifically for Wilson after the show began featuring her music back in Season 2.
First published in 2022, Reminders of Him has sold more than 6 million copies in the United States and has been translated into 45 languages. Universal secured the film rights in a bidding war and is set to release the movie to theaters on March 13, 2026.
The film will mark the third to adapt one of Hoover’s many novels following 2024’s It Ends With Us and Friday’s Regretting You.
ICE Caught In Alleged Deepfake Scandal Targeting Young Black Men
Now, I’m not one for conspiracy theories in 2025, but this whole ICE situation feels like it’s headed straight off the rails. Word on the streets — especially in places like Chicago — is that ICE agents have been rolling deep into Black neighborhoods like it’s some kind of late-night SWAT show. They are harassing and instigating with citizens who were literally minding their business. They are sleeping, and paying taxes. These aren’t even immigration raids on border jumpers. We’re talking about American citizens being zip-tied in the middle of the night. Even kids have zero due process. That’s not law enforcement, that’s trauma. And there is a big word that starts with an F.
It’s not just the raids anymore. There’s a new twist. A few months ago, a young brother posted a regular video online. No politics, no threats, nothing. Content. Just him doing his thing. But fast forward, and he federal government reposted that same clip, except this time, they slapped a whole new headline on it. They claimed these young Black men were plotting an “attack” on ICE agents.
First off, if these brothers were that dangerous, don’t you think we’d have heard about something actually happening by now? Because ICE has been all up in their neighborhoods, and nobody’s seen a single “attack.” Instead, what we’ve seen is patience! The “hood” has shown they have remarkable, saint-level patience as they are pushed to the limit.
The dude in the video is alive, well and extremely online. He jumped right back on social media to clear it all up: “That video was months old. It had nothing to do with ICE, the government, or any kind of plot.” And yet, his face is sitting on a federal website like he’s public enemy number one. WOW!
That’s illegal Straight up. This man has every right to sue, and if the people’s opinion means anything, he probably will. Folks like Joy Anne Reid and D.L. Hughley have already been amplifying his story, and it’s gaining steam fast. Somebody’s trying to stir the racial pot, trying to create a racial confrontation?
Whatever it is, it’s dangerous and unconstitutional. And for anyone saying, “Well, maybe he shouldn’t have dressed like that” or “He shouldn’t have posted that video” — stop it. Seriously, stop. You sound ridiculous. There’s no outfit or Instagram caption that justifies government agencies spreading AI-generated lies about American citizens.
The White House on Tuesday (October 21) firmly rejected claims that President Donald Trump is considering pardoning music mogul Diddy.
The denial came after TMZ reported that Trump was “vacillating” on granting clemency to the convicted entertainer.
“There is zero truth to the TMZ report,” a White House official told NBC News. The official criticized TMZ for not reaching out before publishing what they called “fake news.”
The White House emphasized that “the president, not anonymous sources, is the final decider on pardons and commutations.”
Diddy was convicted in July on federal prostitution-related charges. A jury found him guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. However, he was acquitted on more serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. Those charges could have resulted in a life sentence.
Federal prosecutors alleged Diddy ran a criminal enterprise through his entertainment businesses. They claimed he used Bad Boy Entertainment and other ventures to facilitate illegal activities. The charges centered on allegations that he transported people across state lines for prostitution.
Diddy built his empire starting in the 1990s with Bad Boy Entertainment. The label launched the careers of artists like The Notorious B.I.G., Mase and Faith Evans.
He later expanded into fashion with Sean John clothing and various liquor brands.
The conviction marked a dramatic fall for one of Hip-Hop’s most influential figures. Diddy had previously faced various legal challenges throughout his career, but avoided serious criminal convictions.
TMZ stood by their reporting despite the White House denial. Casey Carver, a TMZ spokesperson, told NBC News: “We stand by our story.”
Presidential pardons can completely erase federal convictions. Commutations reduce sentences without clearing the underlying conviction. Trump has constitutional authority to grant either form of clemency for federal crimes.
Diddy’s time already served will count toward his sentence. This means he could be released in approximately three years if Trump does not set him free and his appeal fails.
Attorney Ronald Sweeney, who once represented Lil Wayne and played a key role in the rapper’s long legal battle with Cash Money Records, is not backing down despite recent reports. The industry veteran has issued an exclusive statement to AllHipHop addressing recent reports that he lost a lawsuit to the Grammy-winning artist.
Sweeney, a high-powered lawyer, has worked with the likes of Eazy-E, Sean “Diddy” Combs and was instrumental in helping Lil Wayne secure his freedom. He helped broker a major financial settlement from Cash Money and Universal Music Group worth over a reported $100 million.
Recent stories circulating online claimed that Sweeney’s lawsuit against Wayne was dismissed and that he had been ordered to pay the rapper $20 million. However, Sweeney says those reports are false and misleading.
Below is Ron Sweeney’s statement in full, printed as requested – without editing:
“Contrary to some reports, the court did not dismiss my lawsuit against LIl Wayne nor was I ordered to pay him $20 Million Dollars. In January of 2023 the New York Court of Appeals dismissed Wayne’s $20 Million dollar lawsuit against me and said that his lawsuit against me was meritless.
At Wayne’s direction, his attorneys filed a baseless lawsuit aimed at attacking my name and reputation without doing any due diligence whatsoever. Among the false claims, I was accused of receiving an additional 10% from the settlement of the Cash Money Universal lawsuit. The truth is, I negotiated with the litigator to reduced Wayne’s litigation costs by 10%, saving him tens of millions of dollars in the process.
I sued Wayne for the money owed me for work that I completed on his behalf as an attorney, personal manager and as a record executive for Young Money Records – one of the most successful labels in the industry. For over 13 years, Wayne and I had an agreement based on mutual trust and he paid me 10% without any hesitation. It was a handshake deal, and I honored it every step of the way.
I’m from the streets of South Central LA. I was taught that your word is your bond. I gave my word, and I delivered for Wayne. As a result of my services and operating his businesses on his behalf, he received more than $300 Million Dollars. Wayne acknowledged during his deposition that I never stole from him or lied to him.
Notwithstanding my different responsibilities, the court ruled that all of my services should be held to the standard of an attorney. Since I did not have a written agreement with Wayne, under California law Wayne had the right to void our agreement, but I still have the right to be paid the “reasonable value of my services”. My case against Wayne is still very much alive and is heading towards a jury trial. The overwhelming evidence and my witnesses will substantiate all of my claims.
Based on the extraordinary services I rendered and the incredible result that I got for Wayne, I’m certain that at trial, after the jury reviews the evidence and the testimony of my witnesses, the jury will rule that I’m entitled to my 10% as the “reasonable value of my services”.”
Sweeney remains steadfast that his lawsuit is ongoing and that he expects a jury to vindicate his position.
The dispute between Lil Wayne and Sweeney stems from a long professional relationship that began during Wayne’s turbulent years battling Cash Money co-founder Bryan “Birdman” Williams over unpaid royalties and control of Young Money. Sweeney helped lead the legal and business restructuring that ultimately allowed Wayne to gain ownership stakes and significant payouts before their partnership soured.
As the case moves toward trial, Sweeney says he stands by his record and reputation: a man of his word who helped deliver one of the biggest settlements in modern hip-hop history.
Memphis rapper Finesse2Tymes is a free man after he was arrested in Dallas-Fort Worth on Monday (October 20).
The 33-year-old artist faces eight separate charges, including possession of controlled substances from penalty groups 1 and 2. He also faces charges for marijuana possession and tampering with evidence.
The most serious charge involves tampering with physical evidence. This felony suggests Finesse2Tymes may have tried to destroy or hide materials during the investigation.
Another count accuses him of possessing prohibited items while in custody.
Court records show Finesse2Tymes faces two counts under Penalty Group 1 or 1-B. These typically involve high-risk drugs like cocaine or opioids. He also has two charges under Penalty Group 2, which often includes substances like ecstasy or hallucinogens.
Additional charges include misdemeanor marijuana possession under two ounces. Finesse2Tymes also faces a count for possessing dangerous drugs, usually prescription medications, without authorization.
This arrest marks Hampton’s second drug-related incident in Texas within two months. In September 2025, Smith County authorities arrested him during a traffic stop in Tyler.
During that search, officers found 0.7 ounces of marijuana, 12 oxycodone pills, and seven methylphenidate pills. Hampton’s girlfriend, Halie Buckingham, was also arrested in that incident.
Drake delivered a cryptic message to his 142 million Instagram followers Sunday, signaling the start of what he calls his newest chapter.
The Toronto superstar posted a photo series with the caption “Welcome to the era of every action has a reaction…video” while showcasing himself shirtless on a luxury apartment balcony.
The 38-year-old rapper is setting the stage for his highly anticipated album Iceman, which has been generating buzz throughout 2025.
His latest Instagram dump included images of him playing tennis, enjoying mozzarella sticks and spending time with women during what appears to be a Bahamas getaway.
Drake’s message comes as an unexpected collision occurs between Hip-Hop’s most contentious rivalry and America’s pastime, positioning the Canadian superstar’s hometown, the Toronto Blue Jays, against Kendrick Lamar’s Los Angeles Dodgers in what promises to be more than just a championship battle.
Meanwhile, Kendrick Lamar represents Los Angeles through his support of sports teams like the Lakers, Rams and of course, the Dodgers.
The Blue Jays seek to restore Canada’s baseball glory after three decades away from the World Series, while the Dodgers chase consecutive championships – a feat not accomplished since the Yankees’ late-1990s dynasty.
This creates a narrative of established dominance versus hungry determination, especially in the wake of Drake’s second loss to Kendrick after his “Not Like Us” defamation lawsuit was thrown out of court.
Meanwhile, Drake’s Iceman project follows recent single releases, including “What Did I Miss” and “Which One,” both of which have kept fans speculating about the album’s direction.
The Iceman album represents Drake’s ninth studio project and his first major release since navigating various industry controversies throughout 2025.
Black Thought opened up about his decades-long admiration for Redman during a candid Rolling Stone Musicians on Musicians conversation that showcased the deep respect between two Hip-Hop legends.
The Roots frontman and the Newark native spent nearly two hours discussing their parallel journeys through Hip-Hop culture, revealing how they’ve influenced each other’s artistry since the 1990s.
“Me and Malik [B], who, rest in peace, was the other MC earlier on in the Roots — in college, all we used to listen to was your s###!” Black Thought told Redman during their filmed discussion. “I had a suspicion that you were a Roots fan. But when you dropped that line, ‘I love to burn to the roots’ [on LL Cool J’s 1997 song ‘4, 3, 2, 1’], that was it.”
Redman, 55, reciprocated the praise while discussing his creative process during the making of his classic 1996 album Muddy Waters. “I can honestly say, bro, on the Muddy Waters album, when me and [Method Man] did this song called ‘Do What Ya Feel,’ that whole round was inspired from you,” he revealed. “If you listen to it, you’ll hear how I caught your flow a little bit.”
The conversation touched on their recent performance collaborations, including appearances at Roots Picnic events in Los Angeles and Philadelphia.
These performances have included Method Man, Common and other Hip-Hop veterans.
The 2024 Roots Picnic featured a particularly notable performance where Black Thought, Common and Freeway joined Method Man and Redman for a remix of LL Cool J’s “4,3,2,1.”
Black Thought also shared that The Roots are nearing completion of their first album since 2014.
Outkast will mark the milestone on October 30 with a celebration at Cascade, the famed Atlanta skating rink, where the duo will host an adults-only night of music, giveaways and special appearances from 7 p.m. to midnight.
The event is free but limited to skaters 21 and older who RSVP in advance.
The announcement came straight from their Instagram page, where the duo shared the RSVP link and revealed the event’s location. The night of skating and sound lands just one day before the official anniversary of Stankonia, which dropped on October 31, 2000.
The record, a genre-bending force in Southern Hip-Hop, earned Andre 3000 and Big Boi three Grammy Awards, including Best Rap Album and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for “Ms. Jackson,” which also took home Song of the Year.
The album helped solidify Atlanta’s place in Hip-Hop’s national landscape and pushed the boundaries of sound and style in the early 2000s.
In addition to the party, Outkast will team up with Live Thrive for a “So Fresh, So Green” electronics recycling drive on October 29. That event runs from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Headland Delowe Shopping Center, a nod to the duo’s early beginnings in East Point.
The celebration also comes ahead of another major honor for the group. Outkast is scheduled to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on November 8, 2025, cementing their legacy beyond Hip-Hop.
The skating party falls on the 25th anniversary of Stankonia reaching No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart.
