Pop Shots – No Thanks

Welcome to your weekly dose of pop world musings. Covering all things pop culture, this week Pop Shots is hitting you with thoughts on everything from who Kelsea Ballerini didn’t want to be compared to, to who Yung Miami doesn’t want to be with, to why Terrence Howard decided against playing Marvin Gaye in a biopic, and since this is Pop Shots you know everything is seasoned with a little bit of attitude.

* In an interview with Variety, Kelsea Ballerini revealed she felt the need to separate herself from Taylor Swift comparisons early in her career. Yeah, cuz that’s a land mine you really want to sidestep, being compared to most successful artist in the world. Phew. Dodged a bullet there.

* Drake has released his first fragrance. I assume he’s taken a cue from Gwyneth Paltrow, and it smells like his vagina.

* Dave Grohl made a surprise appearance at a benefit show at L.A.’s Oakwood School at Avalon Hollywood. He performed a set of covers, after which he tried to find out how many of the kids at the school are his.

* Rapper Yung Miami shot down speculation that she has any interest in former Colorado Buffaloes QB Shedeur Sanders. Yeah, her, and 31 NFL teams.

* Kylie Minogue had to cancel her tour date in Denver due to the Nuggets and Clippers taking their playoff series to a fifth game. I feel like there could’ve been a compromise here – have Nikola Jokić sing “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” at halftime. Everybody wins.

* Travis Scott closed out his set at Coachella three minutes past 1AM, and that was three minutes too long for the city of Indio, which fined the concert promotion company Goldenvoice $20,000 for the overage. On the plus side, at least everyone got out alive.

* Terrence Howard told Bill Maher that he was once in talks to play Marvin Gaye in a biopic of the legendary singer, but balked at the prospect of a scene where he’d have to kiss a man. Howard told the talk show host, “I would cut my lips off. If I kissed some man, I would cut my lips off.” He claims his stance isn’t based in homophobia, and there’s now a long line of male casting directors who can’t wait to make him prove it.

* Cardi B took to social media to tell the world she has a new man in her life that loves her “from head to toe.” From head to toe? Oh man, she’s dating a member of Cult Jam!

That’s all for this edition of Pop Shots, but come back next Monday for more shots on all things pop.