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Super Yacht USHER charter brief: USHER (46.9m / 154’), previously Terrible, is a custom-built luxury motor boat, launched by the US Shipyard Delta of Seattle back in 2007.  Her superlight, composite material exterior superstructure was designed by the in-house Delta Design Group.  With an amazingly beautiful interior created by Juan-Carlos Espinoza of Espinoza Yacht Design Studio, this high-performance yacht has a very distinguished, albeit contemporary styling that invokes a sense of utmost leisure, full relaxation and best of adventures.  USHER is a genuine super yacht with great facilities on board, providing luxury environment throughout, with the flybridge, main deck and all guest areas serviced by an elevator, which is unique within family oriented motor yachts offered for luxury yacht charter vacations in the Caribbean.  USHER can accommodate up to 12 guests in 5 luxury suites including 1 master and double cabins.  Her super yacht crew of up to seven are usually offering luxury crewed yacht charter itineraries around the East Caribbean throughout the winter seasons with an option of luxury crewed yacht charter cruises being offered in the Bahamas, Florida, New England and Chesapeake during summer season.   Tip:   Super charter yacht USHER is an amazing boat throughout.  Winner of World SuperYacht Awards in 2008 as the best semi-displacement or planning yacht above 40m, she is an impressive, uniquely styled, high performance, luxury mega charter yacht like no other. Highly recommendable !!

About Super Yacht USHER: USHER is a luxury motor yacht with dramatic yet contemporary exterior lines enhanced with smoked glass and a very sleek profile.  She is offered for super yacht charter holidays in the East Caribbean and Virgin Islands during the winter and in the Bahamas, Florida or NEW England during the summer yacht charter season.  As a high-performance motor yacht with contemporary styling, she was entirely built out of composite materials which provided her with strong but lightweight construction enabling her to travel at speeds of well above 20kn.  Her beautifully designed interior with Polynesian styling is very unique and invites all yacht charter guests to enjoy pure leisure and relaxation time while on board. The interior artistry is infused with elegant art deco touches such as tropical glasswork, rich exotic woods of African Walnut, Wenge (dark African hardwood), Bubinga, Bamboo and Koa.   One of the most distinguishing features is USHER's functional central staircase crafted of Bubinga and accented with Wenge and stainless steel, which creates a dramatic focal point and accentuates the impressive luxury found throughout this fine charter yacht.   One hallmark of USHER is the elegant woodwork that spans the interior spaces, from the African walnut flooring to the Bubinga ceiling beams.  The whole of the USHER's interior layout is open, airy and light with splashes of colour being incorporated in the hand carved floral inlay carpet and fine upholstery, which is a contrast against the neutral walls.  The walls themselves are made with rich tropical woodwork and a number of opulent grains, all polished to the highest standards achievable.  Bamboo, woven woods, leather hides and textured fabrics are some of the fine materials integrated into the interior design. M/Y USHER’s exterior is spacious with several entertaining areas. The fly bridge, which features a full steering station, is a favourite hangout with a hot tub, wet bar and one of two onboard margarita machines. The fly bridge also boasts a convenient retractable 50-inch plasma screen television and floating wireless remote. The aft deck features a large Bubinga and Wenge table with wicker chairs, the perfect setting for alfresco dining. Infrared heat panels offer warmth if needed during evenings spent under the starry skies. Apart from the casual, informal dining options on sundeck and aft deck, the guests can also enjoy fabulous formal dinners in the dining salon. With space for up to 14 guests, this lovely area is framed by a magnificent chandelier made with an abstract of botanical forms and brushed aluminium fronds, providing an absolutely stunning, prime dining experience.  Motor yacht USHER has a fantastic selection of water sport toys for charter guests to enjoy. She is also a fishing vessel in a true sense of the word as the clients can embark on Tuna, Marina or Dorada hunting grounds on request, thanks to a full fishing cockpit located on the main deck, featuring a live bait tank and rod locker.  Additional amenities onboard also include an elevator for access to all deck, zero-speed stabilizers at anchor, and a very useful VSAT constant wireless internet.

Accommodation: Luxury mega yacht USHER can accommodate up to 10+2 guests in 5 luxuriously appointed cabins. The guests will have a total of 5 double cabins, two of which have Pullmans. Master Cabin:  Located on the main deck forward, the master suite is a very intimate apartment with richly textured tropical woodwork throughout.  Above the amazingly beautiful walk-around king sized bed you can enjoy the view on a lovely nautical-inspired stained glass that provides day light at the touch of a button. There are also a settee, a desk in a separate office area and walk-in wardrobe within the apartment.  The en-suite features bronze and black glass mosaic tiles, wood basin, twin hand-turned wood sinks and a very opulent, hand hammered copper soaking tub with a separate shower and private head.  The owners cabin features a luxury entertainment system with surround sound, a 50’ retractable TV/DVD and Kaleidescape system.

Guest accommodation:  The remaining guest cabins are based on the lower deck and accessed via the spiral staircase. Each suite features a similar design style that prevails throughout USHER’s unique interior, yet all are finished in four separate colour palettes. All staterooms are equipped with Pullman berths for children and the two VIP suites include a settee.  VIP Stateroom is located amidships to Port and has walk-around queen size bed plus Pullman (for smaller children only), settee and desk/vanity, the entertainment system with surround sound, 36’ TV/DVD and Kaleidescape system. En-suite features twin sinks, private head, and Jacuzzi tub with shower overhead. 2 nd VIP Stateroom, is located amidships to starboard with same features. The final two guest Staterooms are forward or starboard or to port and both feature a walk-around queen-size bed plus Pullman, and desk/vanity, the entertainment system with surround sound, 36’ TV/DVD and Kaleidescape system. Both en-suite feature a sink, head, and stall shower with 3ft. bench seating.  All staterooms have a private safe, sound proof privacy doors, individual climate control, complete blackout on windows and portholes, robes, reading lights, hairdryers, and iPod docking stations. As usually, all cabins are en-suite and with their own individual air con and Stereo entertainment systems.  Super Yacht USHER charter prices: USHER super yacht charter prices start at 175,000 US$’s per week in low season, while high season prices are as high as 225.000 US$’s per week plus APA expenses.  In some locations VAT can be charged on top and prices can be higher on special days such as NEW YEAR or during special events such as Boat shows.   Special offers, negotiated deals and last minute discounts are available on request. Luxury motor yacht USHER is fully air conditioned throughout. This is a non-smoking vessel. USHER´s experienced super yacht charter crew of up to 7 including the captain, have a separate head and shower and companionway. Guests may not be allowed to bring pets on-board.

Super Yacht TENDER: Private charter yacht USHER has a fabulous 19.8’ tender  with 220hp outboard At times, mostly during the high season, the owner also allows his private 54’ Grand Bans Eastbay to be used for free and as a day tender Super Yacht itineraries: Luxury motor yacht USHER is usually offering yacht charters around the  East Caribbean during the winter season. Her favourite luxury crewed yacht charter destinations are Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, and Leeward and Windward Islands.  She can also cruise in Florida and the Keys throughout the year.  Summer season itineraries take this lovely Super charter yacht around the New England and the Chesapeake usually. Please enquire !

Technical data

Specifications

Accommodation, water sports.

Luxury Super yacht USHER  has an amazing selection of water sport toys on board. These include: - 1 x 54’ Grand Bans Eastbay on request - 1 x 19.8’ / 6m tender with 220hp engine - 1 x 18’ / 5m tender with 115hp outboard - 2 x Waverunners - 4 x inflatable SUP paddle boards - Full fishing gear (fishing cockpit, live bait tank, rod locker, 4 trolling rods/4 bait rods) - Spearfishing equipment on request - 3 man towable inflatable couch - Inflatable and Towable toys - Water skis - Wakeboard - Snorkelling equipment - Fishing equipment - Rendez-vous diving only - Dive compressor and 6 full diving sets - Underwater camera – still or video broadcasting the action beneath the transom live - Swimming platform aft ------------------------------------------- - Waverunner, Jet Ski’s, FlyJetBoard, Sea Bobs and other toys available on request. - Windsurf, Kayaks, SUP paddle boards, Mountain Bikes etc, available on request - Floating pools, Superyacht Water slides, Waterparks could be arranged on request - Giant inflatable MANTA RAY - Inflatable raft, toys and water animals, Halyard flying, Spinnaker pole swinging all on request - Cabanas, Trampolines, nets, balance beams, swings and slides or sea-rockers can be arranged on request - Submarine and Sub Aqua Toys, SeaBobs and other similar toys can be arranged on request - A massage therapist can be invited on board throughout the charter as well

Entertainment

Luxury motor yacht USHER has an excellent selection of entertainment facilities on board: This includes: - Large SAT LCD TV in saloon - State of the art audio/visual systems - Extensive DVD / CD library   - iPod / iPhone dock - Board games and cards - Games and table in skylounge - On-deck Jacuzzi - Deck shower - Water maker / Icemaker Communication: - Radar - Marine VHF & Cell Phone - SATCOM - Navtex – Weather Fax RECEIVER - GSM Mini M / Phone-Fax-E-mail - Sat Phone - EPIRB - VSAT, Wi-Fi and Internet Charter Flights: On request, we can arrange private charter flights for all yacht charter guests on board of the USHER private charter yacht.

Luxury Airport transfers: Luxury helicopter or limousine and de-luxe air-conditioned van transfers from the airport, directly to the nearest bay or port for all our yacht charter guests is available when required.

Photos credit to Kenneth J Gill

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USHER is a 46.94 m Motor Yacht, built in the United States of America by Delta Marine and delivered in 2007.

Her top speed is 23.0 kn, her cruising speed is 20.0 kn, and she boasts a maximum cruising range of 3500.0 nm at 12.0 kn, with power coming from two MTU diesel engines. She can accommodate up to 10 guests in 5 staterooms, with 7 crew members waiting on their every need. She has a gross tonnage of 465.0 GT and a 8.74 m beam.

She was designed by Delta Design (22 other superyachts designed) and Espinosa Yacht Design (38 other superyachts designed).

The naval architecture was developed by Delta Design , who has architected 31 other superyachts in the BOAT Pro database, and the interior of the yacht was designed by Espinosa Yacht Design (24 other superyacht interiors designed) and Delta Design (10 other superyacht interiors designed) - she is built with a Teak deck, a GRP hull, and GRP superstructure.

USHER is in the top 30% by LOA in the world. She is one of 518 motor yachts in the 45-50m size range, and, compared to similarly sized motor yachts, her cruising speed is 4.52 kn above the average, and her top speed 4.25 kn above the average.

USHER is currently sailing under the United States of America flag, the most popular flag state for superyachts with a total of 1972 yachts registered. She is known to be an active superyacht and has most recently been spotted cruising near United States of America. For more information regarding USHER's movements, find out more about BOATPro AIS .

Specifications

• Name: USHER
• Previous Names: MR. TERRIBLE
• Yacht Type: Motor Yacht
• Builder: Delta Marine
• Naval Architect: Delta Design
• Exterior Designer: Espinosa Yacht Design , Delta Design
• Interior Designer: Espinosa Yacht Design , Delta Design

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YOU CAN SEE THIS 154-FOOT, LOCALLY OWNED SHIP AT MIAMI YACHT SHOW. IT HELPS THE ECONOMY.

• Posted 02-13-2020
• Economy  
• Florida   Boat Show  

Local tech executive Michael Saylor’s 154-foot luxury motor yacht is called USHER.

No, the name has nothing to do with the R&B singer — though the vessel’s Polynesian and Art Deco interior does give it flair.

For Glen Allen, who oversees Saylor’s boats — yes, he owns several — the story of USHER and the other megayachts at this year’s  Miami Yacht Show  is not another wealthy Miami-area resident with a large ship.

Rather, it’s the story of how these ships comprise an essential part of the Miami-area economy. And USHER, the largest locally owned boat in this year’s show, which opens Thursday, is a textbook example, he says.

USHER was commissioned in 2007 by Seattle-based Delta Marine — “one of the last quality American large yacht builders left in the U.S.,” Allen says. Its first owner, Jerry Herbst, had built up a series of gas stations and casinos under the  Terrible Herbst brand , and decided to christen it “Mr. Terrible.”

Its eventual fate in Herbst’s hands was indeed unfortunate. Herbst was forced to sell the vessel in 2009 shortly after his company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as the global financial crisis hit. The ship went without a new owner until 2013, when Saylor purchased it after catching sight of it at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. The biggest reason for the purchase was also the simplest, Allen says: With just a 7 1/2-foot draft, it would fit in the dock behind Saylor’s Miami Beach residence on Indian Creek. The name USHER comes from the name of a software product sold by Saylor’s company, MicroStrategy.

The vessel’s cruisings over the years have taken it up to the Washington, D.C., area, where MicroStrategy is based, as well as to the Caribbean, the Bahamas, and New England. Saylor entertains corporate clients in addition to friends and family, Allen says. It also plays host to scientific research projects as part of the The International SeaKeepers Society.

Given the multi-hour effort it takes to get the boat out of Indian Creek and into open water, the yacht show will represent one of the rare occasions where a local can catch a glimpse of the vessel up close.

Allen says the boat should not just be viewed as a local attraction — its impact is much wider.

“We’re supporting the local economy through vendors that service the yacht,” he said. “It really is a commerce-producing platform for the local economy.”

These vessels also create or support jobs; in USHER’s case, 12 directly, Allen says. And when one considers how many boats like USHER are docked in the Miami area, Allen says, it becomes clear how these yachts perform a vital function in the local economy.

“I’ve heard people say, ‘Well, there’s that big rich guy with that big fancy yacht — why spend so much money on that?’ They don’t realize how much goes into that boat, and goes to support the local economy.”

According to Informa, the 32,000 visitors expected at the five-day yacht show will have a statewide economic impact of $486 million, including 3,576 jobs supported. In 2018, total estimated sales by Florida companies during the show reached $252.6 million; Miami-Dade companies contributed more than $64.9 million in estimated sales of marine products. In 2018, the total excise and sales taxes generated within Florida from the show came to an estimated $31.8 million.

The Miami Yacht Show is being held concurrently with the Miami International Boat Show, which features a wider variety of boat products geared toward more mainstream buyers. Together, the two shows will feature more than 2,000 boats on display, representing the largest marine showcase in the world.

Vessels featured at this year’s yacht show include:

• The U.S. debut of SilverYachts’ 278-foot BOLD
• The world debut of Hatteras Yacht’s GT65 (65 feet)
• The world debut of Monte Carlo Yachts’ MCY 70 Skylounge (70 feet), the first model of the new MCY Collection

Azimut Yachts will also showcase 18 yachts, including three U.S. debuts: The Azimut 78 (78 feet), Azimut S8 (80 feet), and Azimut Grande 32 Metri (105 feet). The show will also serve as the world premier of the Azimut Verve 47 (47 feet).

Meanwhile, the boat show will feature:

• The Scarab 285 ID from Benteau, billed as the largest recreation jet boat on the market, topping out at 54 miles-per-hour and zooming from 0 to 30 miles per hour in less than five seconds.
• Lexus’ LY 650, a 65-foot yacht from the luxury carmaker.
• The world debut of Nautitech’s 47 Power Cat catamaran, which reaches a top speed of 25 miles per hour thanks to two Volvo 300hp engines.

Article Author: Rob Wile

Article URL: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/article240191322.html

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Tech Mogul Michael Saylor, Owner of Entourage Party Yacht, Starts Fractional Superyacht Ownership Program

Back in January we reported that the cast of the upcoming Entourage movie was filming some wild party scenes with topless models in Miami aboard the impressive $30 million  Usher superyacht. Now the vessel’s owner, tech billionaire Michael Saylor, is using the luxury yacht as the crown jewel in a new company called Fleet Miami that he’s positioning as, according to a post on his Facebook timeline as reported by  Pursuitist , “NetJets for yachts, albeit more exclusive and less ambitious." Saylor intends to sell memberships starting at $250,000 per year, which will give cardholders access to the 154-foot  Usher, as well as Saylor’s other yachts — including the 147-foot Feadship Harle , the 87-foot Warren Yacht Moksha , and the 36-foot cruiser Julia .

“Michael Saylor saw a big need to simplify not only the ownership of yachts but also the need to streamline the charter process,” Captain Glen Allen, fleet captain of Fleet Miami, tells The Superyacht Owner . “Mr. Saylor hates inefficiency. He looked at how when we added a second and then third yacht to his stable, the crew became much more efficient. He saw that with multiple yachts we could utilise the crew much more efficiently. But then the inventory of available days of use grew and he was not able to fill those days — he felt we needed a system to take advantage of that.”

Can’t afford a full membership? Saylor is also selling seven-day charters through the Florida Keys for $70,000 to $280,000, depending on which yacht you choose. Usher , which had been available for charter at $225,000 per week, is a high performance motor yacht built by the renowned Delta Marine shipyard in 2007. It features one of the most distinctive interiors of any vessel, with a tropical-themed design scheme that includes custom glasswork, bamboo, leather and rich exotic woods (like Wenge, Bubinga and Koa). Perfect for partying, it features a hot tub, wet bar and two onboard margarita machines. Saylor, once the richest person in Washington, D.C., lost an estimated six billion in a single day during the tech bubble in 2000, but has since recovered a fair amount of his fortune. 

Jared Paul Stern

Jared Paul Stern, JustLuxe's Editor-at-Large, is the Executive Editor of Maxim magazine and has written for the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, the New York Times' T magazine, GQ, WWD, Vogue, New York magazine, Details, Hamptons magazine, Playboy, BlackBook, the New York Post, Man of the World, and Bergdorf Goodman magazine among others. The founding editor of the Page Six magazine, he has al... (Read More)

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Superyacht Usher Available For Charter At Reduced Rates

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By Louise Marsh   3 April 2013

The 46.94 meter motor yacht Usher is being offered for charter in Florida, the Bahamas and the Caribbean at special rates.

Having only recently been sold and had her name changed from Mr Terrible, Usher was built in 2007 by Delta Marine who also did her naval architecture and exterior design. She is ABS classed and MCA compliant.

Adriel Rollins designed her interior, bringing together Polynesian and Art Deco themes, and won the 2008 World Superyacht Award for Newcomer of the Year for it. She can accommodate up to 12 guests in a master suite and four additional staterooms, along with two Pullman berths.

Her twin 3650hp MTU engines provide her with a cruising speed of 18 knots, a top speed of 22 knots and a range of 2,700 nautical miles at 14 knots. She carries a multitude of water toys on board to keep everyone entertained, from water skis, kayaks and towable toys to fishing equipment and snorkelling and scuba diving equipment. In addition, she also carries two tenders, to allow for easy and swift transport from yacht to shore and back again.

The main features that make her perfect for chartering consist of a two-person elevator, providing easy access to three decks, an underwater camera fixed underneath the the transom, an on-deck Jacuzzi and zero-speed stabilisers to guarantee the smoothest cruise possible to all on board.

Usher is available for charter in Florida, the Bahamas and the Caribbean at a reduced rate of $175,000 per week, plus expenses.

Usher has all the amenities and facilities you could possibly want or need from a charter yacht.

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47m Delta Marine 2007 / 2019

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Diddy’s Latest Lawsuit: Why Are People Speculating About Meek Mill and Usher?

While neither artist's name is visible in the 73-page complaint, supplementary details have led to speculation about the allegations.

As discussion about the latest lawsuit and allegations against Diddy continues, two names have been speculatively brought up on social media in connection with the 73-page complaint: Meek Mill and Usher .

To be absolutely clear, neither artist is accused of an outright crime in the suit brought by Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones this week. Furthermore, neither artist's name is visible in the documents made available to the public . On Diddy’s end, a lawyer quickly responded to the latest accusations against their client, calling Jones a "liar” who’s "shamelessly looking for an undeserved payday."

While we've already broken down who was named in the newest suit, social media users have been discussing Meek and Usher in connection with the complaint because of some redactions in the filing.

In the lawsuit an unnamed “rapper” is mentioned as having been on Diddy’s yacht, where they were allegedly seen “consorting with underaged girls, sex workers,” as seen below:

Rapper (REDACTED) on Mr. Combs yacht consorting with underaged girls, sex workers

Further down in the complaint, the person whose name was redacted is described as “a Philadelphia rapper who dated Nicki Minaj.” Meek Mill is from Philadelphia and he did in fact date Nicki Minaj from 2014 to 2016.

However, the same “Philadelphia rapper who dated Nicki Minaj” description is used again in connection with Jones’ allegations centered around producer Stevie J . As previously reported , Jones claims that Diddy's connection to Stevie J was used as part of an alleged promise regarding the Grammys. Jones alleged that Diddy used his “admiration” of the Bad Boy Records Grammy winner to groom him for sex. Included in the suit are screenshots purporting to show Stevie J having sex with a white man.

Those screenshots have been widely called into question . An adult film star came forward saying that the images in question actually show him, not Stevie J. The producer also spoke out about the accusations, saying in a statement to TMZ this week that the “false allegations” were being handled by a lawyer.

At any rate, this week’s lawsuit further alleged that Stevie J “engaged in sexual intercourse” with Diddy.

Also mentioned are an unnamed rapper and an unnamed R&B singer. The rapper, as mentioned above, is described in a footnote as “a Philadelphia rapper who dated Nicki Minaj,” while the R&B singer is described as someone who “performed at the Superbowl [sic] and had a successful Vegas residency.”

Here's how it's worded:

Mr. Combs informed Mr. Jones that he had engaged in sexual intercourse with rapper (REDACTED), R&B singer (REDACTED), and Stevie J.

Again, Usher obviously recently played the Super Bowl and had a residency in Las Vegas which is why people think the lawsuit is referring to him.

Neither Meek nor Usher have directly publicly addressed any of the ensuing speculation. But Meek Mill did get into a social media spat with DJ Akademiks after the latter read off the allegations in the lawsuit on a livestream.

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Camila Cabello On Expanding 'C,XOXO,' Using Art As Self-Care & Binging Taylor Swift

After unveiling four new songs on the deluxe version of her latest album, Camila Cabello details why 'C,XOXO' was "so important" for her musically and mentally.

For many pop stars, reinvention can be seen as key to staying relevant. But for Camila Cabello , reinvention is just another word for change — and, in turn, growth.

Her genre-bending fourth studio album , C,XOXO , was an unexpected turn for what people assumed of Cabello. After years of crafting pop hits often with a Latin flair, the Cuba-born, Miami-raised star ventured into unchartered musical territories like hyperpop and rap. Her sonic shift was mirrored with an appearance change, too; as she launched the C,XOXO era in March, Cabello unveiled new bleach-blonde locks, a stark difference from her natural brown.

It's all part of an evolution that, as Cabello tells GRAMMY.com, is about "embracing the fact that life is always going to change." She's experienced change very publicly since her Fifth Harmony beginnings in the early 2010s, but especially in recent years, as her love life became the subject of countless media headlines and social media scrutiny. While she's the first to admit that navigating that attention hasn't been easy, Cabello found solace in writing C,XOXO — a journey of heartbreak, self-exploration and acceptance. And two months after the album's release, Cabello revealed there's more to the story. 

Featuring four new tracks, Magic City Edition — an homage to her beloved hometown — is even more assured and confident than the "baddie" character Cabello embodies on C,XOXO . She breathlessly sings about teasing an ex in "baby pink"; playfully asks a past lover to prove to her that they've changed in "Come Show Me"; blurs the line between friends and lovers in "can friends kiss?"; and ends the album by waving a toxic relationship goodbye in "GODSPEED." 

Together, C,XOXO and the Magic City Edition tracks see Cabello expressing herself more unabashedly than ever. In doing so, she's been able to make peace with life's inevitable changes — and channel, as she puts it, the "monster and bravado" within.

Below, Cabello discusses how C,XOXO and its new Magic City Edition helped her learn to let go of other people's perceptions, and why these new songs needed to be written — and heard.

Let's get into the process behind the deluxe songs, specifically "GODSPEED" because it is really poignant and I want to know where your head was at when you were writing it.

"GODSPEED" was probably the first song that I wrote for this album that made me think, "Oh, this feels like it's going to be on the album." Everything about it sonically set up the world for C,XOXO. Starting from "Never Be The Same" from my first album, I realized that my favorite songs are dark sonically. I think synths are like what the inside of my heart sounds like — kind of raw and a little bit dark. 

I remember with [ C,XOXO co-producer] El Guincho, after I first started working with him, I felt really inspired. I kept asking for some beats and it was the beat of "GODSPEED" that kicked off the collaboration between him, Jasper [Harris] , and I. I was so obsessed with that beat and he sent me another, and shortly after he said we should work with Jasper because he felt that I was gravitating towards that sound. 

At first, "GODSPEED" was kind of about this relationship I was in. I wrote the second verse and more recently it ended up being this larger song about letting go of suffering and toxic relationships and people in your life. It's about protecting yourself. 

We debated on the outro for such a long time because I was so passionate about it but others weren't. The lyrics, "I let you go and I feel more like me/ I wish you well but far away from me" sums it up. I wish you well but far away from me because you caused me damage and I'm not putting up with it anymore. It's this build-up of feeling hurt and anger that has come from protecting yourself. 

That song really, really means a lot to me, especially when I listen to it during a hard time. I wouldn't say it summarizes my journey because it's not as heavy as that song sounds, but it captures a part of my journey over the last 10 years — learning to let go of things, people and situations that no longer serve me. 

I was going through your Instagram and something I really love and admire about you is just how open and vulnerable you are about your feelings and what you're going through. You don't pretend to be perfect.

Honestly, I struggle a lot, especially now at this point in my life, in pretending. I just don't think that's as interesting. I truly love art that's messy and raw. Yesterday I was listening to "Anti-Hero" by Taylor Swift nonstop, and that song is the opposite of being shiny and perfect. 

My favorite art exposes the dark and shameful underbelly of being human. I don't know if I've always felt like that, but I definitely feel like that more as I grow up because those are the things I'm most interested in. There's a fine line between overexposing yourself on social media, but at the same time… Writing those mini excerpts as captions is a way of expressing myself. 

In one of your posts, you talked about how difficult it is to pour from an empty cup, which is something I and so many people can relate to. Is that something you've had to work on and recognize so you can make sure you're taking care of yourself?

Totally. I think I'm getting so much better recognizing that alarm bell in me that's like, "You're feeling heavy, you're feeling depressed, you aren't at peace." I pick it up so much faster now. For example, I've noticed I was feeling super stressed, and when I'm stressed, I get sick. It's my body letting me know that I need to relax. I instantly delete Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and anything else so I can take care of myself. 

I think that's been such an amazing thing about getting older, because when I was younger, it would've taken me so long to get to a place where you even know what you're feeling enough to do something about it. When I'm in a bad mood, 98 percent of the time I just need to get off the internet, see people in real life, and go and do some things that make me happy, like watching "Sex and the City." It's moments like those when I'm like, "Okay, I have to take care of myself."

What's your "get out of a funk" care package? Some books, albums, movies, or anything else that helps you?

That's a great question. It depends on what I need. For me, it's amazing art. When I get caught up in stuff as a quote unquote "celebrity" and the pop culture-ness of it all, that's when I hate everything and I'm in a terrible f—ing mood. But when I'm watching amazing classic movies by incredible directors, and I get to go through an entire catalogue, it's really inspiring. It reminds me of the better parts of humanity that make me feel good and that there was a time when that happened.

As for great albums, I've been listening to Taylor [Swift] a lot. I love "My Tears Ricochet" and "Anti-Hero," I've been listening to them nonstop. Afrobeats can really get me out of a funk because it just connects me with my body. I listen to a lot of rap, like Drake and Latto . I loved JT's new album. That music makes me feel confident just by tapping into what rap music gives you. 

You're wearing a "The Paris Review" baseball cap as we speak — I have to ask, what are you reading as of late?

I just read Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner, who is Japanese Breakfast , and that was so good. I found it super inspiring because it makes you think about your own life when you read someone's memoir. I love musicians that do more than one thing because that's something I want to do when I'm older. I've always loved writing and I would love to get more into writing essays. I really loved her book. 

I loved the movie Problemista by Julio Torres. I told my mom the other day that it was one of the first times I saw somebody so close to my experience. He's an immigrant and the relationship he has with his mom, the way he hustles, and the magical realism of it all is something that's so deep in Latin American books, culture, and films. I felt really connected to it. 

I also really get recharged from my culture. Being in Mexico was so recharging for me. I went to the Frida Kahlo museum where she lived. It might sound corny, but I've always loved living in the arts more than living in reality. It's like medicine for the soul. 

I don't think that's corny at all, Camila! It's why creatives go into creative fields — we see something reflected in a piece of art.

Yeah, when I'm not making something, I'm in a bad mood. Even if I'm not actively getting inspired — which, to me, is a part of making something — I can get in a bad mood. Whenever I find myself in the s—ty headspace, I know it's probably because I'm not actively researching or learning something new, or cooking something in the back of my brain.

You said C,XOXO is a diary entry of your life, trying to live authentically and boldly. Over the last year, what are some things you've been doing to lean further into authenticity and joy?

It's really the little things. It's embracing the fact that life is always going to change. I love the Buddha terminology of different winds passing through your life and they'll bring great opportunities, and sometimes they'll bring challenging things and you learn a lesson. I've learned those are the best lessons because that's when you really learn who you are and you learn what makes you feel good in a way that's not dependent on anything. So for me, it's people and finding friends and people that I feel like have my back, that I can trust, and that make me feel safe, loved, supported. 

This album was so important for me. I know I don't know you, but I feel like we're similar in this way, but I feel like sometimes when you're more sensitive or introverted or emotional, especially as a woman that's been in the industry for so long, you have to build this armour of confidence and bravado. There's something about C,XOXO and when I put on my blue ski mask, I feel like I'm the s— no matter what. So many female artists have always given me that feeling, like the work Beyoncé puts out. C,XOXO is both of those — being vulnerable and channelling that monster and bravado in you that has a bit more teeth.

Read More: Camila Cabello's Sonic Evolution To 'C, XOXO': How She Went From Pop Princess To Club Star

Is it crazy for you to think that fans use your music to get into that mindset?

I love that. The videos I've seen of fans putting on lip gloss while listening to "Chanel No.5" just reminds me that is what it's all about. I make music because it brings me joy and I need it for myself, but once it's out there… I love that it can give people confidence. There's so many ways to positively affect people's lives, and I have fans of mine that have met their best friends or girlfriends from being in a fan community. It's an amazing honor. 

I feel like that when listening to "baby pink." I love the second verse.

"I'm dressed to kill/ Just got a new army." I love that energy and the play on words. There's something about rap that gives you this feeling of being in control. My favorite rappers are so witty and smart. As a human, you don't always feel like that [in the song] but music is fun to help practice the feeling. 

How do the deluxe songs add to the overall story of C,XOXO ?

They add tremendously to the overall story, especially "baby pink" and "GODSPEED." "baby pink" is where the album title came from — "See my letter at your door, signed it C,XOXO." They are like the thesis statement of C,XOXO , so I felt terrible excluding these songs. I've always liked a shorter album, but they are such a necessary part of the album and they're some of my favorite songs. 

When we finished "baby pink," we put on a visual from the movie Spring Breakers , and it became a huge visual inspiration for the album. That visual went so well with the song. The two songs really crack the code sonically and lyrically, in addition to being the voice of the character for this album, are "baby pink" and "Chanel No. 5."

You've been playing festivals over the summer, like Coachella, Glastonbury and Rock in Rio, where you debuted "can friends kiss?," another track from your deluxe album. How has it been seeing these songs come to life and have other people sing them back to you?

It's the best. I haven't toured in so long because COVID happened during the Romance Tour. I just took some time off the road to just close to a normal life. This time around, I feel so differently about touring. I must tour this album — there's nothing that brings me as much joy as the shows. I will be working all day and the shows become my decompression time. It doesn't feel like work. That hour and a half feels like it's my time to have fun.

It also feels like therapy for me right now because I've had such a s—ty time on the internet, and even feeling the energy of the perception of myself on the internet… Sometimes you think that's all there is and you can walk around feeling like you're disliked or not "popular" or whatever. Then you go to the shows and that narrative is shattered. 

I feel so much love when I do these shows and I see my people. I feel so lucky to do what I do. It just feels like the internet is fake and I forget that because I haven't toured in so long. When you're with people in real life and they're singing the songs back to you, or they have their blue ski masks on and they are dressed in the color palette of the album, that is when I remember that it is real life. I am loved and appreciated. I've actually gotten that advice from music friends of mine after texting them that I feel like people are just wanting to f—ing hate me and they say, "You need to go play shows." 

It's tangible — you see people in real life versus just a comment on a screen.

That's the best advice I ever got. I literally felt like nobody's going to come to my shows or I was going to get booed, and then you go to the show and you play and see people having a good time. It's been so important for me. All I want to do is tour C,XOXO . I feel like I need it for myself.

Lastly, what are you hoping to manifest for yourself this year?

That's a great question. This might sound silly, but I really am hoping to manifest hair health. All I do is look for hair tips online because my hair is so f—ed from this bleach. Nobody told me the three shade lift limit, which is when you should only go three shades above or below your natural hair. I'm definitely in my wellness and pretty girl era.

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New Music Friday: Listen To New Songs By Linkin Park, Halsey, Megan Thee Stallion & RM And More

The start of September is full of musical surprises, long-awaited albums and star-studded collabs. Check out 11 dynamic new releases here.

August has given way to September, and while the leaves may not be ready to start changing quite yet, the fall release schedule promises to be filled with music as colorful and diverse as the soon-to-be autumn leaves.

New albums released this week include Paris Hilton 's long-awaited sophomore effort Infinite Icon , Danielle Bradbery's self-titled Danielle and Jackson Dean 's On The Back Of My Dreams , while blink-182 and Camila Cabello drop deluxe editions of their latest LPs, ONE MORE TIME…PART-2 and C,XOXO - Magic City Edition , respectively. 

Meanwhile, on the new song front, Post Malone teams up with Dwight Yoakam for their first official recording together, "I Don't Know How To Say Goodbye (Bang Bang Boom Boom)"; Tanner Adell unveils "Silverado"; Toosii gets an all-star assist from Gunna on "Champs Eleysee"; and Above & Beyond reunite with Richard Bedford for "Heart of Stone."

Below, GRAMMY.com details 11 other new releases worth parsing through this weekend, including the surprise reforming of Linkin Park , a full-length 10 years in the making for LL Cool J and a pulsating collaboration between Alesso and David Guetta that will give you one last reason to hit the dance floor before summer is officially through.

Linkin Park — "The Emptiness Machine"

Seven years after the devastating passing of Chester Bennington , his bandmates announced on Thursday (Sept. 6) that Linkin Park would be making music again — complete with new co-vocalist Emily Armstrong of Dead Sara and drummer Colin Brittain.

"The Emptiness Machine" serves as not only the two-time GRAMMY winners' first original release since 2017, but it's also the lead single of the band's forthcoming eighth album, FROM ZERO , which is slated to drop Nov. 15 via Warner Records. Armstrong's voice adds a dynamic new counterpoint to Mike Shinoda 's vocals as she snarls, "Going around like a revolver/ It's been decided how we lose/ 'Cause there's a fire under the altar/ I keep lying to" before launching into the hard-charging chorus.

LL Cool J — 'The FORCE'

It's been more than a decade since LL Cool J last graced the world with a full-length studio set, and he's assembled quite the impressive entourage to help usher in his latest body of work, The FORCE.

In addition to previously released singles with Rick Ross and Fat Joe ("Saturday Night Special") and Saweetie ("Proclivities"), the five-time GRAMMY Awards host's 14th album features a star-studded track list that includes everyone from Snoop Dogg (opener "Spirit of Cyrus") and Eminem ("Murdergram Deux") to Nas ("Praise Him"), Busta Rhymes ("Huey in Da Chair") and trio of hip-hop upstarts Mad Squablz, J-S.A.N.D. and Don Pablito ("The Vow").

Halsey — "Ego"

"I really thought this album might be the last one I ever made," Halsey confessed just last week in the trailer for her studio set The Great Impersonator . And the mood on "Ego" — which the singer released 24 hours after officially announcing the album's Oct. 25 release date — is just as dire.

On the track, the nonbinary pop savant leans into both '90s alt-rock and 2000s emo as she wails, "I think that I should try to kill my ego/ 'Cause if I don't, my ego might kill me/ I'm all grown up and somehow lately/ I'm actin' like a f—in' baby/ I'm really not as happy as I seem." "Ego" is the latest taste of the decade-jumping concept album, following Britney Spears homage "Lucky" and the hard-rocking "Lonely Is the Muse."

Queen Naija — "Good Girls Finish Last"

Queen Naija drapes her silken voice in a dreamy soundscape reminiscent of classic R&B on latest single "Good Girls Finish Last."

Over gorgeous strings and vintage production, the Capitol Records signee laments, "No matter what I change/ It's clear I can never change your mind and/ I thought it'd get better with the time, but/ It's finally time to say goodbye" as she walks away from a relationship that's not working despite her best efforts. 

The single marks the one-time "American Idol" competitor's first release since her 2023 YoungBoy Never Broke Again collaboration, "No Fake Love," and should certainly whet fans' appetites as they wait for a full-length follow-up to her 2020 debut album, Misunderstood .

Megan Thee Stallion & RM — "Neva Play"

Just days after first teasing another collab with RM , Megan Thee Stallion has reunited with the BTS star for "Neva Play," a chant-ready back-and forth that finds both rappers racking up points in a digital video game and anime-inspired soundscape in the accompanying music video.

"One, two, three, fo'/ Five, six, seven, eight/ Let 'em know we on the way/ Countin' zeros every day/ You know dat we neva play," Meg brags before the K-pop idol steps in to deliver icy, final boss-level flow with his verse: "You know that we neva play/ Yeah, we gon' forever slay/ Me and Megan on the way/ For Asia, man, we paved the way." Consider it a T.K.O. — and for a 2x combo this Friday, check out "BBA," the Queen of the Hotties' brand new song with Paris Hilton on Infinite Icon , too.

Read More: How Paris Hilton Reclaimed Her Narrative With 'Infinite Icon'

Alesso, David Guetta & Madison Love — "Never Going Home Tonight"

Earlier this summer, Alesso and David Guetta each remixed Shaboozey 's breakout hit "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" before it began its ongoing reign atop the Billboard Hot 100, and now the two DJs have joined forces on new single "Never Going Home Tonight."

The emotive track features vocals from Madison Love, who recently helped Kesha pen her comeback single "Joyride" and declares early in the first verse, "DJ, play that sad song one more time." From there, the two EDM titans build tension over an undulating piano line before the beat drops and whips the chorus into a whirlwind of hypnotic ecstasy — complete with Love's repetitive refrain of the song's escapist title.

Rex Orange County — 'The Alexander Technique'

The Alexander Technique , Rex Orange County's fifth studio album, finds the artist born Alexander O'Connor stripped down to his most vulnerable parts. From the very first line of lead single (and album opener) "Alexander," the English troubadour lays bare his innermost thoughts on jealousy, chronic pain, wanderlust, the unrelenting passage of time and much more over understated, introspective soundscapes filled with gentle guitar, plaintive keys and — on the track list's lone collaboration — chill-inducing harmonies with James Blake .

Rex Orange County will bring The Alexander Technique to life in major U.S. cities and London, FINALLY: A Theatre Tour by Rex OrangeCounty. The trek will kick off with two shows in Chicago on Oct. 4 and 5.

Ashe — 'Willson'

With the release of her new album Willson , Ashe completes the personal triptych she began with 2021's Ashlyn and continued on 2022's Rae — with the trio of titles making up the full name behind her stage persona. (Ashlyn Rae Willson…get it?)

However, Willson also marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in the indie pop darling's career as her first full-length as an entirely independent artist. It's also the first for Ashe to appear entirely on her own across its 12 gauzy, confessional tracks, with past collaborators like FINNEAS , Niall Horan and Diane Keaton nowhere to be found.

G Herbo — 'Big Swerv'

G Herbo 's latest mixtape, Big Swerv , may take its title from one of his many alter egos, but the rapper born Herbert Randall Wright III is exploring all kinds of fresh new ground on the 14-track project.

Rather than revisit some of the darker, more tumultuous themes on past albums like 2020's PTSD , 2021's 25 and 2022's Survivor's Remorse , the Chicago MC shifts into party mode with help from collaborators like 21 Savage ("In the A"), Sexyy Red ("Ten") and Chief Keef ("No Pics").

Joss Stone — "Loving You" featuring Shaggy

Fresh off celebrating the 20th anniversary of her 2003 debut album The Soul Sessions , Joss Stone reinvents her latest single "Loving You" with a little help from Shaggy .

On the remix, the two GRAMMY winners ride a sultry groove as the slow jam unfolds into a heartfelt letter full of unrequited love. "Won't you come back to me?/ I'm the girl of your dreams/ I sure try to be/ 'Cause I be loving you," Stone yearns in between Shaggy's spoken word adlibs before tossing the mic to the reggae artist for his own laidback verse.

Photo: Brian Ziff

How Paris Hilton Reclaimed Her Narrative With 'Infinite Icon'

Eighteen years after her debut album, Paris Hilton is telling her own story like never before. The pop culture trailblazer details how a new perspective on her fame and legacy inspired 'Infinite Icon.'

At the beginning of last year, Paris Hilton received a fortuitous affirmation from her longtime friend Sia : "You were born to be a pop star."

The duo were flying back to Los Angeles from Miami, where they had joined Miley Cyrus on stage for the "Flowers" singer's NBC holiday special, "Miley's New Years Eve Party," the night before. It had been the "Hannah Montana" star's idea to have Hilton perform her signature 2006 hit, "Stars Are Blind," and the surprise appearance had the crowd — and the internet — in a frenzy. But it wasn't until Sia asked Hilton why she had stopped making music that the star took a moment to reconsider her dormant pop music career.

"I explained to her that I was so busy focusing on my brands and all my businesses, and I just didn't really take the time," Hilton recalls to GRAMMY.com from her palatial estate in Beverly Park, California. "And she was like, 'Well what if I was executive producer and I wrote the album with you?'" 

The very next day, Sia sent her over 60 ideas for songs — and Paris Hilton the Pop Star was officially reborn.

More than 18 months later, Hilton's long-awaited sophomore studio album, Infinite Icon , is finally arriving on Sept. 6. The project is full-circle in many ways for Hilton, particularly its home of 11:11 Media, the global media company the multi-hyphenate founded in 2006 (and rebranded from Paris Hilton Entertainment in 2021) to steer her ever-evolving business empire.  

The 12-track collection of sparkling, electro-fueled dance-pop features guest appearances by Rina Sawayama (anthemic lead single "I'm Free") and close pal Meghan Trainor (the bouncing declaration of independence "Chasin'") as well as production by the likes of Kid Harpoon and Tyler Johnson — Harry Styles ' GRAMMY-winning collaborators on 2022's Harry's House — and songwriting credits from titans like Greg Kurstin and Caroline Ailin, Dua Lipa 's trusty right-hand woman.

With its glitzy, high-fashion sheen and club-ready sound, the album is exactly what Little Hiltons (as the singer's fans lovingly call themselves) have been anxiously waiting upwards of two decades to hear, whether Hilton is stepping into her power on liberated opener "Welcome Back," gushing over her happily ever after with husband Carter Reum on starry-eyed cut "Infinity" or trading verses with Argentinian star María Becerra on bilingual banger "Without Love."

But Infinite Icon is much more than just a sophomore album for the superstar — it's another chance to take her story back from the clutches of the media. 

The last time Hilton released a full-length studio set — her 2006 debut album, Paris — her life looked very different. The socialite was still filming her hit reality series with bestie Nicole Richie, "The Simple Life"; the show had turned Hilton into one of the most famous faces in the world since its 2003 premiere, largely thanks to her persona as a ditzy wild child from one of L.A.'s wealthiest and most powerful dynasties. That quickly pigeonholed her as a spoiled party girl who was only famous for being, well, rich and famous.

As the characteristically ruthless Y2K-era press doggedly constructed a scandal-ridden narrative about her life and famous friends like Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan ( The New York Post 's " Bimbo summit, " anyone?), Hilton turned her fame into a full-blown empire. She leveraged her celebrity into media ventures and brand deals galore, including a fragrance collection that contains more than 30 products as of 2024 and has reportedly generated more than $3 billion in revenue since its 2004 inception; she also continued blazing a trail on reality TV with popular shows like the global "Paris Hilton's My New BFF" franchise and 2011's "The World According to Paris."

Hilton unapologetically embraced her public persona on Paris , creating a soundtrack of slick, candy-coated confections like "Turn It Up," "Screwed," "Nothing in This World," and, of course, the aforementioned "Stars Are Blind." The LP, which featured production by heavyweights like Scott Storch, Fernando Garibay and Kara DioGuardi, even came with a breathy, baby-voiced cover of Rod Stewart 's "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" to close out the track list for good measure.

The self-titled studio effort served as another reminder of Hilton's star power, becoming a surprise success for Warner Records when it peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard 200; it eventually sold more than 600,000 copies around the world. "Stars Are Blind" also became a cult hit in its own right, notching Hilton with a Top 20 single on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as a No. 1 on multiple dance charts.

While Hilton views "Stars Are Blind" as "such a defining moment in my career," she alludes that the version of Paris on Paris is far removed from the Paris on Infinite Icon . "My first album was definitely just about being fun, about going out, partying, being hot. I don't know, it was just very me at that time," she says.

"Now, in my life, I feel like I've been through so much. It's been this whole journey, and I've just lived through so many different phases of my life," Hilton — now a wife and mother of two — adds. "So I wanted to make this album something that was deeper and more introspective, and just celebrate everything that I've learned in life and reflect the evolution of who I've become."

Part of that evolution includes a new perspective on the years she spent chasing validation and fulfillment through the public's adoration. In fact, the first taste of her musical comeback came with one of Infinite Icon's boldest and most surprising statements: "Fame Won't Love You."

The synth-drenched power ballad — a duet with Sia, which was also included on the nine-time GRAMMY nominee's latest album, Reasonable Woman — finds the woman once notoriously derided as being famous for simply being famous dissecting her global stardom with an unflinching and surprisingly vulnerable eye.

"I searched in your eyes for some glimmer of light/ Tap dancing for one million miles/ I looked for the smiles, hoping in them I'd find/ Validation for my futile existence," she sings on the second verse. Sia joins in on the surging chorus, "Little dreams come crashing, let them wave in passing/ 'Cause fame won't love you like a mother, like a father should/ And you may wish for Oscars, GRAMMYs and blockbusters/ 'Cause fame won't love you like a lover, like a brother should."

Calling the song "deeply personal," Hilton explains, "It really captures the truth that I've lived and learned over the years. And I just wanted people to understand that fame can never replace real love or true happiness. 'Cause when I was younger, I thought that fame was everything — it just seemed like the ultimate validation. But over time, I've realized while fame can bring you attention and opportunities, it really can't fill the voids in your heart or bring you the deep connections that we all need in life. It's just a reminder that the world can love your image, but it's really the love from within and from those who truly know you that matters the most."

"Fame Won't Love You" is hardly the only song on the album where Hilton showcases an inspiring amount of soul-searching and personal growth, either. She casts off stigmas and opens up about turning her lifelong struggle with ADHD into her own personal "superpower" on the appropriately titled "ADHD" ("That is a song that I needed to hear when I was a teenager," she says), gives sweet insight into the private life she's created behind the public fantasy on "Legacy," and even questions her own mortality and the legacy she'll one day leave behind on glittering standout "Stay Young."

Infinite Icon also affirms that Hilton is proudly aware of the impact she's had on today's modern celebrity culture, specifically on the outrageously fun "BBA," which includes a Hottie-approved guest appearance by Megan Thee Stallion .  

The runway-ready romp shows Paris is more than happy to school the next wave of celebrity influencers and aspiring socialites: "Step one: when you're gettin' ready, look hot/ Step two: gotta catch a cab to the bar/ Step three: get a drink with a cherry and tie it in a knot/ Step four: dance your ass off/ Welcome to the Bad Bitch Academy," she coolly instructs her fame-chasing pupils over a pulsating beat.

"I feel really proud being the OG It Girl and the blueprint for modern celebrity," she says. "It was about redefining what it means to be famous in the digital age. Just pioneering a new kind of celebrity -— someone that blends fashion and media and business and pop culture all into a powerful personal brand. It's really cool that I was the first to turn my life into something where I've shaped trends and set standards, and inspired so many to embrace their own unique star power.

"I didn't just follow the rules, I created them," the business mogul continues. "I was at the forefront [of] showing the world that you can be glamorous, you can be fun, you can be a businesswoman. My journey is more than just about fame, it's really about building a lasting impact and empowering others."

Years before Hilton even considered making her sophomore album, her lasting impact as a pop culture icon was further proven when a then-unknown Kim Petras asked her to appear in the music video for her debut single, 2017's "I Don't Want It At All." The unabashed Little Hilton kicks off the visual by praying at an altar dedicated to her idol, with Paris then appearing like a high-fashion fairy godmother to make all the young starlet's designer-laden dreams come true. (The two blonde bombshells became fast friends, and later collaborated on the 2023 re-recording of "Stars Are Blind (Paris' Version)." Hilton now adoringly considers the GRAMMY-winning trailblazer "like my little sister.")

More recently, metal-pop newcomer Scene Queen also cited Hilton as a direct inspiration and "very much the aesthetic drive" behind her own alternative stage persona. "She talks about how she put on this voice and everything, because people were just gonna assume that she was dumb anyway," the singer born Hannah Collins told GRAMMY.com in July . "So she completely capitalized on that and was like, 'That's fine, I'll take your money and make my career successful. If you're already gonna assume negatively about me, then that's my superpower.'"

"I love that I can inspire people that they can really just be authentic and fearless, follow their dreams and make them happen," Hilton says of the artists and influencers following in her footsteps. "I would have loved to have someone like that to look up to when I was a teenager, and I didn't. So it's cool I can be that person for others… I know that teenage Paris would be very proud, 'cause I would never have been thinking this back then when I was a kid."

As Hilton's loyal fans know, Infinite Icon is just one of many ways the multi-hyphenate is inspiring future generations as well as working on her own healing.

With the release of her 2020 documentary This Is Paris and publication of 2023's Paris: The Memoir , she publicly recounted the heartbreaking years she spent at Provo Canyon School, an involuntary treatment center for troubled teens in Provo, Utah. She openly detailed the physical, verbal, emotional and sexual abuse she suffered there, as well as the suffocating PTSD and trauma that has subsequently followed her into adulthood and megastardom. 

The "Paris in Love" star now proudly counts political activist and children's safety advocate among her long list of accomplishments, having introduced the Stop Institutionalized Child Abuse Act into Congress in April 2023 to reform the largely unregulated troubled teen industry that stole her adolescence.

"I want to be remembered for that," she says of her advocacy work. "Fame and all that is whatever, but to be remembered for making a difference in children's lives and being the hero I needed when I was a child, that means more to me than anything."

Whether she's in the recording booth, testifying before Congress or on stage in front of thousands of adoring fans, Hilton remains dedicated to telling her own story, in her own way and on her own terms.

"Every song on this album is a piece of my truth and a reflection of my journey," the pop icon says of Infinite Icon . "It's allowed me to reclaim my narrative and share who I am beyond the headlines and the persona people think that they know. 

"This album isn't just about making music," she continues. "It's really about owning my story, embracing my past and showing the world the woman that I've become."

Photo: Mike Rosenthal

John Legend On How His Kids, "The Voice" & Sufjan Stevens Helped 'My Favorite Dream' Come To Life

On the heels of releasing his first children's album, John Legend details how his latest passion project came to be.

There are few things 12-time GRAMMY winner John Legend has not achieved. Six years after achieving EGOT status, Legend has conquered a new goal: releasing an album of sing-alongs and lullabies. 

Legend's debut children's album, My Favorite Dream , is the result of a creative partnership with Sufjan Stevens . Yet the album's true origins can be traced to an Instagram video of Legend singing Fisher Price's "Maybe" to his wife Chrissy Teigen and their youngest daughter, Esti. The video has been viewed 9.3 million times on the platform since Teigen posted it in November 2023. 

"As soon as Chrissy posted me singing that song, all the parents who have had young kids with Fisher Price toys were like, 'Oh, my God, you're doing this song that we have known for years, and we love,'" Legend tells GRAMMY.com. "'Why don't you make more songs like this for parents out there?" 

Teigen then suggested that her husband make a lullaby album. Fisher Price reached out and followed suit, and so did Legend's label. "Everybody was saying, 'John, you got to make a children's album.' And so I started to think about it." 

My Favorite Dream features 15 tracks: nine originals written by Legend, one solo piano track, and five covers (yes, including a full recorded version of "Maybe"). True to form, Legend put a unique touch on childhood favorites such as "You Are My Sunshine."

"When you listen to the lyrics, there's a hint of sadness that goes through, especially the second verse," he says of the reimagined track. "I wanted to capture some of that as well, the idea that you're sad when you miss someone that you love, someone who is your sunshine." And when it came to crafting the nine originals, his inspiration was simple: "the things me and Chrissy like to talk to our kids about, concepts we like to teach our kids, and messages we like to share with our kids, how we like to inspire them and motivate them." With that in mind, Legend channels imagination and love throughout the new songs. "Deep In The Ocean Blue" transports kids and parents alike to the wonders beneath the ocean's surface, while "We're A Family" and "When I Feel Sad" explore the undeniable strength of a family bond. "Always Come Back" combines both, interpolating the Willy Wonka classic "Pure Imagination" to soundtrack Legend's heartfelt promise to his kids that he's never too far away: "I may ride the planes and trains and distant highways/ But I know I'll be finding my way home… I'll always come back to you."

There's even a personal touch on the album's rhythmic lead single, "L-O-V-E," which features background vocals from Tiegen and their two oldest children, Luna and Miles.

By expanding his musical repertoire with My Favorite Dream , Legend has put his artistic versatility on full display. The album is an amalgamation of the distinctive features that form Legend's musical calling card — from his enchanting piano playing that listeners were first introduced on his 2004 debut, Get Lifted , to the raw and soulful lyrics of his 2013 smash "All of Me," to the richness of textures he explored on 2020's Big Love . Legend's musical abilities empowered him to create a children's album that is not only timeless, but deeply meaningful in its themes and narratives. While Legend wrote all of the original songs on his own — a career first — he insists My Favorite Dream wouldn't have been as impactful without Stevens' production. Legend was first introduced to Stevens' work through his critically acclaimed 2005 LP, Illinois. "It's such an iconic album, and it has some of that whimsy music and some of those dreamy soundscapes you would want for a children's album. The more I listened to him, the more I was like, 'You know what? He's the only person I could imagine producing this album the way I want it to sound.'" Legend and Stevens viewed the album as two halves, each with its own distinct sound. As Legend explains, the duo wanted the tone of the first half of the album to be more uptempo: "we wanted to sound like a Muppet band, just fun, playful sounds that were very musical, but also very fun and adventurous at the same time." The second half of the album centers on soothing, timeless lullabies. The hypnotic "Go To Sleep" encapsulates the idea of a whimsical and dreamy soundscape; "Safe" is a tranquil tune that explores the comfort and security of the bond between parent and child. The latter's baroque pop background vocals — a characteristic of Stevens' unmistakable sound — complements Legend's rich baritone voice, serving as a testament to their fruitful partnership.

The passion behind My Favorite Dream is undeniable, but it's also a smart business move on Legend's part. In the past decade, some of YouTube's most viewed videos were children's songs, bringing in over a combined total of over 40 billion views . As a father of four, Legend knows firsthand the role that music plays in parenting — and made a conscious effort to ensure that the album's songs appeal to both kids and their parents. 

"For the kids, I wanted it to be lyrically appropriate [and reflect] things that we legitimately would say to them. At the same time, I wanted it musically to be something that everybody would want to listen to, that felt timeless and classic, and that parents would enjoy just as much as their kids would." 

Judging by the reactions to "L-O-V-E" alone, Legend succeeded in his mission. As one YouTube commenter wrote, "Us grown ups need this song just as much as the kiddos do!" Whether or not more children's music is in Legend's future, he hints that he may explore more new genres with forthcoming projects. He attributes his time as a coach on the popular competition series "The Voice" for expanding his musical horizons. "You hear such a cross-section of music," he says of the show. "And I think that really has helped me become a more complete songwriter. It's definitely prepared me well for all the things I've been writing lately." 

After seamlessly producing his debut children's album, Legend has proven that his versatility and talents are boundless — and now, he just might have fans old and young waiting to hear what's next. 

Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/WireImage

A Pirate Looks At Infinity: Jimmy Buffett's Legacy In 15 Songs

A year after his untimely passing, look back at the songs that point most convincingly back to Jimmy Buffett — the man, the artist and now, the never forgotten legend.

When Jimmy Buffett passed away on Sept. 1, 2023 at age 76, the decorated singer/songwriter, performer, author and entrepreneur left behind a legacy that unified a swath of musical genres and people.

The man behind "Margaritaville" — the song and later the brand — and so many other tunes that bridged folk sensibilities with country and rock touches, sometimes called "Gulf & Western," was much more than the beach-obsessed character he played in song. Although he had plenty of industry successes, notching 13 Billboard Hot 100 hits, a pair of GRAMMY Award nominations, while selling more than 20 million albums, his fans loved him for how he made them feel.

In song, he was a true storyteller that was clever, funny and introspective; in performances, he was the quintessential Parrothead to the core. As the ringleader of the party, he was generous enough to share the spotlight with members of his Coral Reefer Band as well as the fans who dressed up, tailgated outside the venues and spread their joy to others.

Both sides of Buffett were crucial building blocks in the business empire he built around his persona as the laid-back, casually philosophical beach bum. The Margaritaville restaurant and resort chains, his Landshark Lager beer and many other ventures made him a billionaire, while his storytelling prowess made him one of few authors to top both fiction and nonfiction bestsellers' lists. While his legacy may be both musical and merchandisable, the endearing qualities of the Parrothead personality he created is the real reward for his fans.

Below, remember Buffett's illustrious career through 15 classic songs — just a glimpse of his genius that made it okay for country singers to loosen up, for rockers to pick up an acoustic guitar, and for the Parrotheads to while away their days in the sun.

"Why Don't We Get Drunk," 'A White Sports Coat and a Pink Crustacean' (1973)

While Buffett's first two albums showed glimpses of the celebrated artist he would become, his songwriting largely hewed close to the earnest observations typical of early-seventies folkies. By his third album, though, he had grown into his winking style of satire and breezy, Nashville-meets-Key West flair.

This cut from A White Sports Coat and a Pink Crustacean combined both, and created the template for hundreds of bleary-eyed sing-alongs to follow. "The Great Filling Station Hold-Up" may have been the proper album single, but "Why Don't We Get Drunk," its controversial B-side, became the bigger tune — and the one featured on his seven-times Platinum compilation, Songs You Know By Heart .

"Come Monday," 'Living & Dying in ¾ Time' (1974)

As Buffett pulled away from his folk sensibilities, Nashville-style balladry became a big part of his sound. "Come Monday"  brings orchestral strings into the mix to help express the yearnings he felt while stuck in "a brown L.A. haze," pining for his love back home. The song resonated with new fans, becoming his first Top 40 single, as it peaked at No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100.

"A Pirate Looks at Forty," 'A1A' (1974)

It probably wasn't a stretch for Buffett to sing so convincingly from the perspective of a seafaring, modern-day pirate. He considered his own later entrepreneurial forays an adventure on the high seas of life. But back in '74, he was so inspired by the real-life stories of a Key West smuggler and rapscallion he befriended that he wrote "A Pirate Looks at Forty" from his perspective. 

A key cut on his second long-player of '74, A1A , "Pirate" is empathetic to the dashed dreams and yearnings of a man looking back at his wins and losses. And despite the eventual billionaire fortunes of Buffett himself, his narrator determines the balance is a draw.

"Margaritaville," 'Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude' (1977)

Buffett's next album, Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude , launched his music career into the stratosphere — and its success had a lot to do with "Margaritaville," a Top 10 hit and the basis of the global brand he later built.

Essentially, "Margaritaville" established the beach-boho lifestyle as an aspiration for millions. Against a backdrop of tropical instruments like steel drum and marimba, Buffett sang of the quiet pleasures of an unhurried life, unconcerned with the tides and buoyed by his favorite blender drink. In 2016, the tune was voted into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame, while the Library of Congress added it to the National Recording Registry in April 2023. 

"Son Of A Son Of A Sailor," 'Son Of A Son Of A Sailor' (1978)

Whether Buffett's soft and breezy music can be considered "yacht rock" is a subject of debate, but he certainly rocked a yacht or two in his day — and he dressed the part for the cover of his album Son Of A Son Of A Sailor . The title track is a definitive take on his love of the wandering life, untethered from the anchors many cling to and always in search of the next port of call. A master of ballads whimsical and wistful, Buffett manages to be both at once here.

"Cheeseburger in Paradise," 'Son Of A Son Of A Sailor' (1978)

Before it was a menu item at his Margaritaville-branded restaurants and resorts, "Cheeseburger in Paradise" was a mirage Buffett dreamed about while marooned at sea. As the story goes, a misadventure in the Caribbean left Buffett with only meager rations to survive. And when he finally struck a landing on dry ground, his first meal inspired one of his most enduring songs: an easy-rockin' Top 40 hit about cheeseburgers that somehow isn't a novelty cut — a hat trick only Buffett could pull off.

"Fins," 'Volcano' (1979)

As the lead tune from his 11th album, Volcano , "Fins" entered the pantheon of Buffett concert staples immediately and helped inspire plenty of Parrothead ephemera, as well as the title of the 1990 live album Feeding Frenzy and his Landshark Lager brand. But none of that would be important if not for Buffett's song about a hapless woman who travels to the beach to relax, but instead is encircled by "sharks that can swim on the land." With "fins" to the left and right of her, she's "the only bait in town."

"Boat Drinks," 'Volcano' (1979)

Buffett had a knack for coining phrases — and "Boat Drinks" certainly qualifies among the best. What makes a boat ride better? Boat drinks, of course.

An album cut from Volcano (also featured as a B-side to the single "Survive"), Buffett ironically wrote the song while on a winter sojourn in Boston, exiled from his native habitat and wishing the city's fresh blanket of snow were the sugar-white sands of Florida. Musically, the tune is a quintessential cut from his whirlwind late-seventies period, when Caribbean themes and sonic textures became his calling card.

"It's My Job," 'Coconut Telegraph' (1981)

Long before Mac McAnally joined Buffett as a sideman in the Coral Reefer Band, Buffett sent the young artist a note praising his songwriting. Then, for his 1981 album, Coconut Telegraph , Buffett boosted his new friend's fortunes by recording "It's My Job," a tune McAnally wrote about taking pride in your work — however menial or miserable it may be — while working on a hot Mississippi highway in the summertime. The tune reached No. 57 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking Buffett's last appearance on the chart until 2003 (more on that later).

"One Particular Harbor," 'One Particular Harbor' (1983)

The 1980s were the beginning of Buffett's transition from chart champion to blockbuster concert draw. But he still had plenty of gas in the songwriting tank, as songs like "One Particular Harbor" proved.

Inspired by his travels in Polynesia, Buffett sings in Tahitian about the "abundance of the sea" after leaving behind the mainland. While the song was a minor hit on Adult Contemporary radio, it became a fan favorite and a mainstay of live shows from the era. 

"Jamaica Mistaica," 'Banana Wind' (1996)

Like on "Cheeseburger in Paradise," Buffett's penchant for seeing the humor in the unfortunate dustups of his real life shines on the Banana Wind cut "Jamaica Mistaica." In this case, Jamaican police opened fire on his plane, believing he was a smuggler or criminal straight out of his own song "A Pirate Looks at Forty." Set to a reggae beat, though, Buffett lets listeners in on the joke — an endearing quality that earned him the love not only of Parrotheads, but also an official apology from the Jamaican government.

"It's Five O'Clock Somewhere," Alan Jackson's 'Greatest Hits Volume II' (2003)

By the dawn of the new century, Buffett's beach-bum aesthetic had conquered Nashville, the town he left in the early '70s to find his identity as an artist in Key West. And "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere," recorded with country star Alan Jackson and featured on his Greatest Hits Volume II , was exactly the new Buffett-style anthem Music City needed.

It was also what Buffett's 21st century career needed: "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" earned the veteran singer his first No. 1 on Billboard 's Hot Country Songs chart as well as his first GRAMMY nomination (in the Best Country Collaboration With Vocals Category) and his first Country Music Association Award (for Vocal Event of the Year). Later, the song notched the No. 3 song of the decade on Billboard 's Hot Country Songs chart, proving Buffett's staying power amid shifting musical trends.

"Bama Breeze," 'Take the Weather With You' (2006)

After Hurricane Katrina made matchsticks of Buffett's home territory in 2005 — the beachfront bars of Mississippi, Alabama and Florida where he cut his teeth — he responded with the album Take the Weather With You and its leadoff track, "Bama Breeze." The country-rock tune extols the virtues of the so-called "Redneck Riviera" and coming of age as the sun came up outside the dive bars of the Gulf Coast, many of which were now ruined. The song also nods to the fans who have stuck by him since the beginning: "At the Bama Breeze, you're one of our own down there/ You'll never drink alone down there/ Good god, I feel at home down there."

"Knee Deep," 'You Get What You Give' (Zac Brown Band, 2010)

One of the most rewarding markers of a mature career in music is the respect paid by each successive generation of musicians. Newly minted country star Zac Brown paid homage with "Knee Deep," which was written with Buffett in mind and borrows heavily from his long-established beachbound, escape-by-tropics aesthetic. But it truly takes off when Buffett himself takes the second verse and then harmonizes the choruses with Brown. And the combination proved sweet for both acts: the song was certified triple Platinum and landed at No. 1 on Billboard 's Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts.

"Bubbles Up," 'Equal Strain On All Parts' (2023)

Although the public wasn't aware at the time, Buffett was dealing with the effects of Merkel cell carcinoma — the disease that claimed his life — throughout his final years of touring and recording music. Released two months after he passed, Equal Strain On All Parts , his 32nd and final album, arrived like a comforting voice from beyond to Parrotheads and casual fans alike.

On "Bubbles Up," Buffett was in a particularly reflective mood, facing his own mortality in his most measured, reassuring manner. The title phrase came from his survival training — if he were to find himself submerged in water, either from a boat or plane wreck, his trainers advised him to follow the bubbles up to the surface. "They will always point you toward home," he sings, "no matter how deep or how far you roam." 

For a songwriter and performer who spent his life showing the world how to relax, enjoy life and see the humor in life's challenges, the reassuring sentiment — to quote the title of his 2004 album — underscores that a License to Chill has no expiration date.

• 1 Camila Cabello On Expanding 'C,XOXO,' Using Art As Self-Care & Binging Taylor Swift
• 2 New Music Friday: Listen To New Songs By Linkin Park, Halsey, Megan Thee Stallion & RM And More
• 3 How Paris Hilton Reclaimed Her Narrative With 'Infinite Icon'
• 4 John Legend On How His Kids, "The Voice" & Sufjan Stevens Helped 'My Favorite Dream' Come To Life
• 5 A Pirate Looks At Infinity: Jimmy Buffett's Legacy In 15 Songs