It has been an eventful week in music. Sunday was the American Music Awards. Pop superstar Ariana Grande was crowned Artist of the Year, while Selena Gomez was named favorite female artist in the pop/rock category. Drake and Justin Bieber were big winners as well, taking in four awards apiece.
There were plenty of memorable performances at the AMAs, which featured opener Bruno Mars as well as the Weeknd, Lady Gaga, and Sting. However, the most memorable might have come courtesy of Green Day. The band’s politically charged rock opera “American Idiot” came out 2004 when George W. Bush was in office. Now, with a newly-elected President Donald Trump, lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong wasted no time giving their thoughts on the soon-to-be leader of the free world. “No KKK, no fascist USA, no Trump,” Armstrong said.
Outspoken rapper Kanye West announced his support for Trump at a concert recently, a remark that has been met with significant backlash. While West clarified that he didn’t vote in the most recent presidential election, he said he would’ve voted for Trump if he had. Considering the amount of controversy Trump has received for remarks about minorities, including African-Americans, it is no surprise that many took offense to West’s support.
On Saturday, after arriving 90 minutes late to a show in Sacramento, West cut things short after a mere three songs. What was his parting statement? “I’m on my Trump s— tonight.” West then canceled the remainder of his tour, which had dates through the end of the year.
It has been an eventful year for West. He released his latest album “The Life of Pablo” to critical acclaim earlier this year, but he has had some significant problems, including this tour cancellation. He also had to cut one show short in October, when he received news that his wife, Kim Kardashian, was the victim of a robbery at gunpoint in Paris.
Speculation is brewing that Jessica Simpson might be making a comeback. While she was not in attendance at Sunday’s American Music Awards, she did post a clip from her 2001 performance on Instagram, with the caption of “Bring it 2017.” The 36-year old has not released a new album since 2010’s “Happy Christmas” so she most likely is eager to share some new music with us.