Pop Shots – Ringing Endorsements

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 Billboard honoring Taylor Swift and Morgan Wallen, to Jack Osborne clearly loving fatherhood, to Gwen Stefani’s new pay to pray partnership, and since this is Pop Shots you know everything is seasoned with a little bit of attitude.

* Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl took home Billboard’s top album honors for 2025. Thank God, because if it hadn’t she’d have released 75 more variants.

* In more Billboard year-end news, Morgan Wallen was named Billboard’s top artist of 2025. It was the first time a male country artist had taken home the honor in over 30 years, and you can be sure it isn’t the only way he’d like to see the south rise again. 

* During an appearance on the Jennifer Hudson Show, Christina Aguilera said that while fans shouldn’t expect any old music to be released from her vault, new music will be on the way eventually. Wait, Christina Aguilera has a vault? Did she get it from Disney, and was it filled with old VHS tapes?

* Jack Osborne announced his fifth child is on the way. Upon hearing the news, Nick Cannon immediately figured out his new year’s resolution.

* Shirley Manson went absolutely nuclear on a fan who had a beach ball at one of Garbage’s recent shows. There’s no word on if she added, “… and don’t even get me started on sand castles!”

* The idiot who spent time in jail for charging at Ariana Grande on a red carpet found himself in trouble again, getting kicked out of a Lady Gaga concert. The guy is apparently a serial stage-crasher who’s rushed the stages of Katy Perry, The Chainsmokers, and The Weeknd. You know, if we could just inspire him to rush the stage at a punk rock show, or at a hardcore show, this entire situation takes care of itself.

* Liam Gallagher responded to a fan’s request on X (formerly Twitter) for Oasis to announce some 2026 tour dates, by writing, “We’re not doing anything in 2026 mate.” Oh man, a full year? He and Noel are gonna hate each other again by the time 2027 rolls around, aren’t they?

* Two Metallica fans have been handed lifetime bans from Perth’s Optus Stadium after climbing a speaker tower during the band’s recent show there. Metallica, however, should invite them to every f*cking date of the tour!

* Gwen Stefani posted a paid partnership advertisement on her Instagram for Hallow, which is a prayer app that includes monthly, and annual paid subscription versions. You know you can still pray for free with MC Hammer, right?

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