Pop Shots – Big Time

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 Shakira’s big win in court, to Rod Stewart making a big announcement, to the Jonas Brothers revealing their next big project, and since this is Pop Shots you know everything is seasoned with a little bit of attitude.

* Shakira won an eight year tax battle when Spain’s National Court acquitted her in a tax fraud case, and ordered the government to return 60 million euros ($69 million) to her, plus interest, and legal costs. So apparently not only do her hips not lie, neither does her accountant!

* After U2 completed a video shoot in Mexico, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she would like to continue to collaborate with the band. No one is sure what that collaboration will look like, but I’m betting on a lecture about the environment while they’re all stepping off a private jet.

* Soulja Boy made a claim that he, not Drake, was the first hip-hop artist to release three albums on the same day. The internet, however, quickly corrected him, noting that Gucci Mane did it before both of them. Kudos to Soulja Boy for finding a way to insert himself into a conversation about Drake, but never has anyone fought this hard for a participation trophy.

* Rod Stewart told the UK’s talkSPORT soccer chat show that he’s probably going to stop touring after next year. Man, do you think he has enough saved up for retirement?

* The Jonas Brothers have launched a podcast named Hey Jonas! in partnership with iHeartPodcasts. I think … yes, I’m receiving word … literally everyone now has a podcast.

* Madonna, Shakira, and BTS will all perform during halftime of the World Cup final, Sunday, July 19th, at MetLife Stadium. I predict the show takes a weird turn when Madonna tries to either adopt, or date, at least three of the members of BTS.

* Dua Lipa has turned her three-show run in Mexico City into a concert film, and live album. Ah yes, another proud graduate of the Taylor Swift School for Never Wasting an Opportunity to Squeeze More Money Out of Your Fans. I think we all know what’s going to come next – eighty million variants.

* 50 Cent and Eminem were seen sitting courtside at a Detroit Pistons playoff game. The rest of G-Unit and D12 were sitting behind an obstructed view … at a bar … waiting for an order of chicken fingers.

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