Pop Shots – It’s Getting Old In Here

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 the music of MLB’s All-Star Game, to Kid Rock’s #1 drunk dial, to Kylie Minogue embodying one of her songs from over two decades ago, and since this is Pop Shots you know everything is seasoned with a little bit of attitude.

* Jennifer Hudson, Patti LaBelle, and Boyz II Men will all be performing at the 2026 MLB All-Star Game on July 14th. It’s all part of MLB’s effort to attract the youth market … of local retirement communities (and yes, I realize I qualify!).

* Harry Styles now has the record for the longest residency by a musician at Wembley Stadium after his recent tour’s 12 night run at the venue. Twelve nights? How cute. Billy Joel had a TEN YEAR residency at MSG. Piano Man for the win!

* In an interview with Sky News Australia, Kid Rock said that he frequently has a few drinks and then calls up President Trump. Nothing says your groupie situation has gone to hell like your go-to drunk dial being to a portly octogenarian.

* The body of a 28 year old man reported missing after this year’s Electric Forest Festival was found by Michigan State Police in the woods near where the event was held. No foul play is suspected, as they’ve determined the death was a suicide. It marks the second dead body found at this year’s Electric Forest Festival, the first being a deceased newborn discovered in a porta-potty. At the rate they’re going, next year’s festival should be held at Jonestown.

* The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, which is a non-profit organization cofounded by the late Pete Seeger, had their boat kicked out of the fourth of July parade of ships in New York Harbor due to officials saying the banners on their mainsail, which touted environmental advocacy, were in violation of the rules against “political, or politically charged” messages. Yeah, because what could possibly be political about Independence Day, right?

* Yungblud received support from his peers after being accused of being an “industry plant.” The “industry plant” accusation is always hilarious to me, because don’t you think if the music industry could actually pull something like that off they’d be doing it WAY more often? The only real industry plant is the ficus in Lyor Cohen’s office that needs to be watered.

* Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce contributed a total of $26 million to a bevy of charities across the United States right before their wedding, sparking a strange outrage on the internet, with people claiming the donations were just for PR, or tax purposes. The vociferous critics then returned to their busy lives of doing absolutely nothing for those in need.

* Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made a public apology after an appearance on a comedy podcast where he nominated Kylie Minogue for all three categories during a game of “shag, marry, date.” I guess he can’t get her out of his head.

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