Pop Shots – Going Places

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’s going to bed with the Backstreet Boys, to where Lorde’s merch sales from two Minneapolis shows will be headed, to Mya making her triumphant return, and since this is Pop Shots you know everything is seasoned with a little bit of attitude.

* The Backstreet Boys are coming to a crib near you. This is because on February 13th Rockabye Baby! will release a Lullaby Renditions album of bedtime versions of BSB songs. Don’t be surprised when a significant number of adult fans without children purchase the album, as it will be the closest any of them get to sleeping with a member of the Backstreet Boys.

* PETA, in yet another bid for attention, came after Sabrina Carpenter for having a live bird on stage with her during her Grammy Awards performance. Gotta love that on a show that featured a tribute to Ozzy, PETA went after Sabrina’s treatment of a small, winged creature.

* Lorde announced via Instagram that she’s donating her merch sales from her two Minneapolis shows, a total of $204k, to Minnesota Immigration Rights Action Committee + Immigrant Defense Network. That’s great, but I gotta ask – how f*cking much were t-shirts if Lorde is making over $100k a night in merch sales???

* E-40, and Too Short performed at the 2026 NFL Honors, which were hosted by Jon Hamm. In a related story, Jon Hamm now has an entirely new vocabulary.

* Bruce Springsteen released an anti-ICE song titled “Streets of Minneapolis.” This is not to be confused with the anti–Ice songs rappers released in 1990 that were diss tracks aimed at Vanilla Ice.

* Chappell Roan drew a lot of attention to herself at the Grammys by showing quite a bit of skin, and for her next act she’ll be the Fortnite Festival icon for the video game’s 13th iteration. Isn’t this the woman who just a year and a half ago said she was trying to “pump the brakes” on fame? I guess she has something to sell again.

* Bruno Mars has been named Record Store Day’s ambassador for 2026, because apparently nothing says independent record stores like Bruno Mars.

* Mya will be releasing her first new studio album in eight years this spring. The Reptar Wagon is reportedly fully tuned up, and waiting for her to tour. (I actually really like Mya, but couldn’t resist the reference)

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