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By Konner Hines
From Beyoncé kicking off her “Cowboy Carter World Tour,” the 2025 Met Gala, and Lady Gaga’s powerful performance in Brazil amid a thwarted bomb plot, May has been filled with headline-making moments across the entertainment world.
New Music Releases
In new music, Ed Sheeran released his latest single, “Old Phone,” from his upcoming album Play, while Summer Walker dropped “Spend It,” the lead single from her highly anticipated project Finally Over It. Doja Cat unveiled a standalone track titled “Crack,” clarifying on X that it’s not related to her next album. She later teased another song, “Jealous Type,” in a Marc Jacobs campaign.
Tyla shared her new single “Bliss,” and Lizzo released a demo version of “Still Bad,” revealing that earlier versions were altered based on outside feedback. Tate McRae launched her Miss Passive tour in Portugal, and Doechii teamed up with The Weeknd and Playboi Carti for a remix of “Timeless.” PinkPantheress released her latest mixtape, Fancy That, while Rihanna announced her new single “Friend of Mine,” set to appear in the upcoming Smurfs movie.
Miley Cyrus premiered her new single “More to Lose” from her forthcoming album Something Beautiful, which will feature Naomi Campbell and Brittany Howard. Speaking at a Spotify event in NYC, she described the project as “not only my best album, but my gayest.”
Beyoncé’s New World Tour, Controversy, and Family Spotlight
Several artists made headlines this month with major career milestones and standout performances. Beyoncé officially launched her Cowboy Carter World Tour amid reports of low ticket sales. Her label, Parkwood Entertainment, swiftly responded with an Instagram post reading “SOLDOUT,” shutting down the speculation.
She also faced legal pushback from the owners of the Las Vegas Sphere, who issued a cease-and-desist order over a visual in which Beyoncé appears to be holding the venue in her hand. Although she hasn’t publicly addressed the matter, the Sphere was quietly removed from the visuals and replaced with Allegiant Stadium, where she’s scheduled to perform later this summer.
Despite the surrounding controversy, Beyoncé delivered a powerful moment by bringing her daughters on stage. Blue Ivy Carter performed as a backup dancer, joined by her younger sister Rumi, both featured during a performance of Beyoncé’s heartfelt track “Protector.” Additionally, rumors are swirling that Beyoncé is in advanced talks to perform in Copacabana in 2026.
Film & Performance Highlights
In film and television, Ryan Coogler’s latest film, Sinners, starring Michael B. Jordan, made a strong box office debut. Lady Gaga delivered a high-profile performance of her new album, Mayhem on Copacabana Beach, Brazil. Despite Brazilian authorities thwarting a bomb plot targeting the event, Gaga went ahead with the show and shared an emotional message on social media, saying, “I wish I could share this feeling with the whole world.” In another highlight, Tina Knowles released her memoir Matriarch, which quickly became a #1 bestseller.
Song Resurgences & Industry Shifts
Other cultural moments include ABBA’s “The Winner Takes It All” gaining renewed popularity, and Duolingo announcing it is going “AI-first,” phasing out contract workers in favor of artificial intelligence. The company launched 148 AI-generated courses in under a year, previously a 12-year effort, sparking backlash from users online. After 22 years, Skype officially shut down, marking the end of an era in digital communication.
2025 Met Gala Recap
This year’s Met Gala was packed with memorable fashion and notable absences. LeBron James, originally slated as a co-chair, missed the event due to a knee injury. Stars such as Zendaya, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Doja Cat, Cardi B, Stevie Wonder, Kim Kardashian, Diana Ross, Angela Bassett, Sabrina Carpenter, Madonna, Joey King, Pusha T, and even former Vice President Kamala Harris made appearances.
When asked whether her pregnancy would delay her long-awaited ninth studio album, Rihanna responded, “No, maybe a couple music videos, but I can sing.” Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce were invited but skipped due to scheduling conflicts; they were later spotted vacationing together. Rising rapper Doechii addressed backlash over a viral video of her demanding an umbrella at the event. She jokingly responded via a TikTok trend and later posted a heartfelt thank-you to her glam and Louis Vuitton teams, calling it a dream come true.
Credit : TIZIANA FABI/AFP via Getty / People
Global Figures & Philanthropy
Industry news continues to evolve, with the Golden Globes announcing a new “Best Podcast” category debuting in 2026. Bill Gates made headlines with his pledge to donate 99% of his $108 billion fortune to the Gates Foundation, which works to improve global healthcare, education, and poverty reduction. Another historic moment came with the announcement of Robert Francis Prevost as the new Pope, the first American-born Pope, hailing from Chicago. He is 69 years old and a Virgo, born on September 14.
Legal & Health Headlines
Legal matters also made waves this month. Taylor Swift was subpoenaed in the ongoing legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni over It Ends With Us. Her spokesperson clarified she had no involvement in the film’s production, casting, or creative decisions, and only saw the movie weeks after its release. Incarcerated music artist Tory Lanez was rushed to the hospital after reportedly being stabbed 14 times, suffering injuries to his back, torso, head, and face. Petitions calling for Lanez’s release following his prison altercation have gained traction, with support from prominent figures such as Drake and Chris Brown.
Halle Bailey was granted a restraining order against rapper and streamer DDG, following allegations of domestic violence, including an incident in which he allegedly slammed her face against a steering wheel and broke into her home. The court filings included screenshots of incriminating text messages.
Rondell Sheridan Health Update
Finally, beloved actor and comedian Rondell Sheridan, known for his role on That’s So Raven, revealed he has been diagnosed with severe pancreatitis. In a video shared with fans, he explained, “My pancreas is inflamed and there’s not much I can do about it but wait for the inflammation to go down.”
Sources:
- Vogue. (2025, May 5). Every look from the 2025 Met Gala red carpet.
https://www.vogue.com/slideshow/met-gala-2025-red-carpet
- Grow, K. (2025, May 14). Beyoncé replaces Sphere imagery in ‘Cowboy Carter’ tour after cease and desist. Rolling Stone.
- VanHoose, B. (2025, May 14). Rondell Sheridan says he’s ‘contemplating my own mortality’ amid a pancreatitis diagnosis. People.
https://people.com/rondell-sheridan-contemplating-my-own-mortality-amid-pancreatitis-11734837
- Wong, A. (2025, May 14). Taylor Swift fighting Justin Baldoni’s subpoena amid the Blake Lively feud. Page Six. https://pagesix.com/2025/05/14/celebrity-news/taylor-swift-fighting-justin-baldoni-subpoena-amid-blake-lively-feud/
- Eligon, J. (2025, May 13). Tory Lanez stabbed multiple times in prison attack. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/13/us/tory-lanez-attacked-prison.html
- Associated Press. (2025, May 13). Halle Bailey granted restraining order against DDG amid abuse claims. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/halle-bailey-ddg-restraining-order-4af899a87f09eb62b7624b004661a539
- Duffy, J. (2025, May 10). Going AI-first appears to be backfiring on Klarna and Duolingo. Fast Company. https://www.fastcompany.com/91332763/going-ai-first-appears-to-be-backfiring-on-klarna-and-duolingo
- Halperin, S. (2025, May 9). Lady Gaga performs record-breaking concert in Brazil for ‘Mayhem’ album. The Hollywood Reporter. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/lady-gaga-record-breaking-concert-brazil-mayhem-on-beach-1236206853/
Summary:
The first half of May delivered a wave of entertainment news across music, film, fashion, and tech. Beyoncé launched her Cowboy Carter World Tour amid controversy over visuals and ticket rumors, but stole hearts by bringing daughters Blue Ivy and Rumi on stage. Lady Gaga gave a powerful performance in Brazil despite a thwarted bomb threat, while Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, starring Michael B. Jordan, dominated the box office. New music arrived from Ed Sheeran, Summer Walker, Doja Cat, Lizzo, Miley Cyrus, and more.
Major cultural shifts made headlines as Duolingo transitioned to AI-driven language learning, Skype shut down after 22 years, and ABBA’s “The Winner Takes It All” surged back into popularity. The 2025 Met Gala featured a glittering guest list—including Rihanna, Zendaya, and Diana Ross—while Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce were notably absent. Miley Cyrus called her upcoming album her “gayest” yet, and the Golden Globes announced a new “Best Podcast” category debuting in 2026.
In global news, Robert Francis Prevost was named the first American-born Pope, and Bill Gates pledged to donate 99% of his $108 billion fortune to his foundation. Meanwhile, legal and personal headlines included Taylor Swift being subpoenaed, Halle Bailey obtaining a restraining order against DDG, Tory Lanez’s reported stabbing, and That’s So Raven actor Rondell Sheridan revealing a serious health diagnosis.
Authors Bio
Konner Hines is a Marketing and International Business student at Baldwin Wallace University, a member of the Honors College. Passionate about storytelling and global issues, Knowles explores pop culture, media, and social justice through thought-provoking writing.
