Bad Bunny turned the Super Bowl 60 halftime show into a vibrant celebration of Puerto Rican history and resilience, performing entirely in Spanish while weaving symbols of island life, politics and pride into a star-studded spectacle that included Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin.
Category: Music
Posted inENTERTAINMENT
Bad Bunny makes Grammy history as Lamar, SZA and Olivia Dean lead night of milestones
Bad Bunny made history at the 68th Grammy Awards, winning album of the year for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” the first all-Spanish-language project to earn the top prize, while Kendrick Lamar and SZA captured record of the year for “luther.” Lamar also became the most-awarded rapper in Grammy history with 26 wins, and British singer Olivia Dean was named best new artist as the ceremony highlighted both musical achievement and social commentary.
Posted inMusic
Pharrell calls for empathy from US leaders after being honored at Black Music Collective event
Pharrell Williams was honored with the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award at the Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective event on Jan. 29, 2026, where he called on U.S. leaders to show empathy, grace, and mercy. The evening also celebrated Brandy and Kirk Franklin, featured performances by Justin Timberlake, Tyler, the Creator, John Legend, and Coco Jones, and included a special tribute to Eve for her contributions to The Roots’ hit “You Got Me.”
Posted inMusic
All-star tribute honors Mariah Carey as MusiCares Person of the Year
Mariah Carey was celebrated as MusiCares Person of the Year on Jan. 30, 2026, in Los Angeles, where an all-star lineup paid tribute to her five decades of genre-spanning hits — including surprise performances from her once-secret 1990s grunge project. Foo Fighters, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Kesha and others reimagined Carey classics, while the singer watched from her table and joined briefly in the finale of “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” The emotional evening honored both her musical legacy and philanthropy ahead of the Grammy Awards.
Posted inBaltimore News
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Morgan State University choir honor MLK Day with community concert
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a powerful community concert at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. Featuring the Morgan State University Choir, the program celebrated the civil rights leader and his legacy through music by Black composers.
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
John Forté, creative force behind ‘The Score’ and voice of redemption, dies at 50
John Forté, the Grammy-nominated Brooklyn-born artist and producer who helped shape the Fugees’ landmark album “The Score,” died Jan. 12 at age 50. After rebuilding his life following a federal prison sentence that was later commuted, Forté became a voice of redemption through music, film and public speaking centered on accountability and renewal.
Posted inObituaries
Richard Smallwood, gospel icon, to be honored at Jan. 24 celebration of life
The celebration of life for legendary gospel artist Richard Smallwood will take place Jan. 24 at First Baptist Church of Glenarden International in Upper Marlboro, Md. Smallwood, 77, died of complications from kidney failure on Dec. 30, 2025.
Posted inDMV News
D.C.’s ‘Black Broadway’ comes alive as fans celebrate 50 years of go-go music
By D. Kevin McNeirSpecial to the AFRO The old magic of “Chocolate City” returned on Tuesday, Jan. 6, at the Lincoln Theatre in Washington, D.C. The theatre, located in the U Street corridor known as “Black Broadway,” is where legendary entertainers musicians like Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and Louis Armstrong once showcased their musical prowess […]
Posted inENTERTAINMENT
Beyoncé enters billionaire ranks few Black Americans have reached
By Stacy M. Brown Beyoncé Knowles-Carter has joined the small and closely watched group of Black American billionaires, a milestone that places her alongside a handful of individuals who built vast wealth in a country where Black ownership has long been restricted, delayed or denied. According to Forbes, Beyoncé is now worth at least $1 […]
Posted inWord In Black
Richard Smallwood: ‘I’m looking forward to singing with you in heaven’
The death of Richard Smallwood, the legendary gospel composer and musician whose work reshaped Black church worship, on Dec. 30 at age 77, has prompted tributes across congregations and the music world. Best known for “Total Praise” and other modern hymns, Smallwood blended classical training with gospel tradition, leaving a lasting spiritual and musical legacy that continues to resonate across denominations and generations.
Posted inENTERTAINMENT
Gospel giant Richard Smallwood, composer of timeless hits, has died at 77
Richard Smallwood, the eight-time Grammy-nominated, classically trained gospel composer and recording artist whose work reshaped contemporary gospel music, died Dec. 30 at age 77 from complications of kidney failure. Over a five-decade career, Smallwood blended classical, pop and gospel traditions, creating enduring songs like “Total Praise,” “I Love the Lord” and “Center of My Joy,” while influencing generations of artists across gospel, R&B and popular music.
Posted inDMV News
Go-go, D.C.’s signature sound, to celebrate 50 years
By D. Kevin McNeirSpecial to the AFRO The Go-Go Museum and Café will celebrate 50 years of go-go music at the 2026 Go-Go Awards, on Tuesday, Jan. 6. The awards will be hosted at the Lincoln Theatre in D.C.’s Shaw neighborhood, historically known as the city’s ”Black Broadway.” This year’s theme, “Returning to Our Roots and Embracing the Diaspora,” promises to […]