May 4, 2025 2:53 PM EDTBenson Boone made a big move during his debut as a musical guest on Saturday Night Live—and no
we’re not talking about one of his signature backflips off of a piano
On the May 3 edition of the NBC late-night show
the 22-year-old American Idol alum did showcase his backflipping skills during a performance of his song
“Sorry I’m Here for Someone Else.” But he added a unique touch that isn’t usually seen on the show
After being introduced by show host Quinta Brunson
Boone started his performance by doing a flip off a white table
with Brunson giving Boone a flirty look over her shoulder before he headed onstage to a mic stand that was set up in front of his band
Fans reacted with comments on a YouTube clip of the performance, with some noting it is rare to see the musical guest interact with the SNL host until the “goodnights” at the end of the show
“Other than Ian McKellan jamming out to Kylie Minogue’s 2003 performance of ‘Can’t Get You Outta My Head’ on SNL
I cannot remember a host being visible during even a few seconds of the performance of the musical guest,” one viewer noted
While Brunson may have been mesmerized by his serenade, this wasn’t the only time Boone boasted his backflipping skills to the Abbott Elementary star. Earlier in the week, the duo taped an SNL promo with cast member Sarah Sherman
While Boone pulled off a perfect flip during the spot
In December, Boone told Z100 New York he doesn’t mind all of the attention he gets for his athletic moves onstage
He also claimed he has never totally missed the mark when attempting a backflip during a performance
“So far I’ve hit it every time
so far,” Boone said in the interview
a couple times I've had like a landing that isn't my favorite
but never one that's like noticeably like ‘wow
So I'm hoping that day doesn't come
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Would he zag when we’re all expecting a zig
and instead do some other agility skill check like aerial silks or some shit
Turns out Boone did exactly what we were expecting and no more
He did one (1) flip during his first musical performance
who didn’t not look like she feared for her life
If you count the promos from earlier in the week
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The "Abbott Elementary" star and creator returns for the second time as host
Tony Robertson
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TOLAMI BENSON stole the show as she attended a concert
Benson, who is dating Arsenal ace Bukayo Saka
was seen in a stunning all-black outfit complete with leather trousers for the occasion
She shared pictures of her mesmerising look seemingly at a Central Cee performance
The award-winning rapper performed at the O2 Arena in London as part of his Can't Rush Greatness World Tour in late April
Benson shared snaps of herself cuddling a cute dog before posing for pictures in a lounge area and by a wall-side counter
She also posted a snap from her seat during the performance for her 206,000 followers
One Instagram follower said: "Stunning."
A fourth added: "Sensationallllll."
Benson and Saka keep their relationship super under wraps and do not follow each other on social media
But that has not stopped her from jetting around to support her boyfriend
She was famously seen at Euro 2024 as part of England's Wag contingent at the tournament in Germany
More recently, Benson was seen cheering on Saka and Co during last month's Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu
Saka missed a penalty early on during that game before he went on to score the opening goal of the game in the second half as the Gunners won the match 2-1 to secure their spot in the semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain
Arsenal played the first leg of that tie on Tuesday, losing 1-0 off of an early Ousmane Dembele goal
However, on Wednesday, Saka will lead his team-mates out at the Parc des Princes in the hopes of overturning the first leg defeat and securing a first spot in the final of the Champions League for Arsenal since 2006
Arsenal have never won Europe's most coveted club competition before, having lost in the 2006 final to Barcelona
who Saka is rumoured to have been dating since 2020
will almost certainly be there to support him
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has been announced as the editor of a new literary magazine and platform for working-class writers
Supported by Faber and actor Michael Sheen
the Bee aims to "fight the increasing marginalisation of working-class writers
and of working-class people in publishing"
a podcast and a literary magazine publishing both fiction and non-fiction
The organisers will also run an outreach programme
seeking out new writers from working class backgrounds and supporting their professional development
"Justice and fairness demands that people from the less well-off sections of society have the chance to tell their stories
Much of the important writing being done today
and so many of the best-loved stories come from ordinary working people
it’s stories from the working classes that express what’s really happening in the world."
The initiative was borne out of A Writing Chance
a UK-wide programme for working-class writers
the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Northumbria University
and produced by the writing development charity New Writing North
said: "There’s never been so much debate about class in the creative industries but nothing has changed and things are actually getting worse and inequality more entrenched
The dates will follow the release of his second album 'American Heart' in June
Benson Boone has announced an arena tour for North America to take place this autumn – see the full list of dates below
The singer followed up his Coachella 2025 sets last month by confirming the release of his second studio album ‘American Heart’
which will be out on June 20 via Night Street Records/Warner Records
he unveiled a list of 30 dates across North America that he will be hitting later this year as part of his ‘American Heart’ arena tour
The shows kick off at the Xcel Energy Center in St Paul
before eventually winding up at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City
Tickets go on pre-sale for American Express cardholders at 10am local time on Wednesday (May 7), with a fan pre-sale taking place at the same time on Thursday (May 8). General on-sale begins at 10am on Friday (May 9) and you will be able to find yours here.
A post shared by Benson Boone (@bensonboone)
Last month, Boone opened up about his Mormon childhood, stating that it made him feel “confused and frustrated”
Elsewhere, Boone recently hit out at the people who “hate” him or dislike his music
saying they should “at least have a good reason” for doing so
The world’s defining voice in music and pop culture: breaking what’s new and what’s next since 1952
Benson Boone had the time of his life at Studio 8H
The Beautiful Things hitmaker made his debut on Saturday Night Live on May 3
appearing in the episode hosted by Abbott Elementary star Quinta Brunson
the 22-year-old pop sensation took to Instagram to relive the experience
posting a carousel of behind-the-scenes photos with cast members and crew
Screaming crying peeing throwing up that was the best night of my life holy," he captioned the post
The In the Stars singer brought his signature flair to the NBC comedy sketch stage
making a jaw-dropping entrance that included a flip over Brunson
earlier he did the acrobatic stunt during the show’s promo segments
He also performed two high-energy tracks: Sorry I’m Here for Someone Else and Mystical Magical
both singles from his upcoming sophomore album American Heart
It is pertinent to note that the performances came just weeks after his breakout set at Coachella
adding to his fast-rising fame and influence
Boone announced the biggest news of his career so far: the American Heart tour
kicking off August 22 and packed with 29 shows
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Kicking off on August 22 at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul
the tour includes stops at Madison Square Garden in New York
and many more before wrapping up at Delta Center in Salt Lake City on October 8
American Express is providing Card Members access to Amex Presale Tickets™ for shows in North America, available for purchase HERE starting Wednesday
May 7 at 10am local time before the general public on-sale
This is one of the many entertainment benefits American Express Card Members can access across the arts
sports and music through Amex Experiences™
A special fan presale goes live Thursday, May 8 at 10am local time, with public on-sale beginning on Friday, May 9 at 10am local time. Tickets will be available HERE
As part of the tour, Boone is partnering with Google Maps to exclusively share his favorite local spots for fans to check out before or after the show
and help concert-goers find the best way to get to the venues
the performance immediately soared across social media
generating tens of millions of views overnight
“Beautiful Things” was the #1 most streamed song in the world last year
earning Boone the IFPI Global Single Award for 2024
the chart-conquering track has now surpassed 2 billion streams on Spotify and nearly 4 billion total streams since its release last year
Featured on his acclaimed, Platinum certified debut album Fireworks & Rollerblades
the viral smash logged an impressive 7 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Global 200 chart
and vaulted to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart
It also earned Boone two Billboard Music Awards
an iHeartRadio Music Award, and multiple global accolades
he opened for Taylor Swift’s ERAS Tour in London at Wembley stadium
following a performance with Lana Del Rey at Hangout Festival in May
He also embarked on his fully sold-out Fireworks & Rollerblades Tour
With the upcoming release of American Heart
performances at landmark festivals across the globe
and a highly-anticipated arena tour on the horizon, Boone is on track for another record year in 2025
NY — The Governors Ball Music Festival
Switzerland — Montreux Jazz Festival
France — Monte-Carlo Summer Festival
KY — Bourbon & Beyond Music Festival
Benson Boone is taking his show on the road
Grammy-nominated pop artist announced the American Heart Tour on May 5
ahead of an upcoming album of the same name
will stop in major cities across North America
before closing out in Salt Lake City on Oct
The tour announcement follows a busy week for Boone
who made his musical guest debut on "Saturday Night Live" on May 3 and played the RiverBeat Music Festival in Memphis
More: Who is Benson Boone, the backflipping singer nominated for Grammys best new artist?
whose success has snowballed over the past year
also recently released "Mystical Magical," his second single from "American Heart," following up the release of "Sorry I'm Here For Someone Else" in February
Boone debuted his latest track at Coachella, where he also went viral alongside Queen's Brian May for a raucous cover of the band's signature anthem "Bohemian Rhapsody.
who was nominated earlier this year for best new artist at the Grammy Awards
is best known for his chart-topping song "Beautiful Things," which became the top-streamed song in the world in 2024
More: Benson Boone pays homage to Queen during Coachella set with help of guitarist Brian May
Benson Boone will perform at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena on Aug
1 most streamed song in the world and has now surpassed two billion streams on Spotify
I’m sure almost all of us have seen Benson Boone’s acrobatic skills go viral online
or on Saturday Night Live this past weekend
now’s your chance to see both his aerial and vocal finesse in concert this summer in Toronto
On May 5, the 22-year-old Grammy-nominated pop star announced he will be bringing his American Heart tour to Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena on Aug
Last year, his song “Beautiful Things” was the No. 1 most streamed song in the world and has now surpassed two billion streams on Spotify
Aside from his Grammy Awards performance in February and last month’s Coachella gig with Queen’s Brian May breaking the internet
Boone is also known for fan favourites like “Slow It Down,” “Cry,” “What Do You Want,” and “Pretty Slowly.”
His next album American Heart will be released on June 20 with his tour kicking off on Aug
A post shared by Scotiabank Arena (@scotiabankarena)
Boone has previously opened for Taylor Swift on the Era’s tour in London at Wembley Stadium
The bodysuit loving heartthrob was also the musical guest on May 3’s episode of Saturday Night Live — making his debut on the show and hitting a backflip
The American Heart tour will be making two other stops in Canada
Boone will also headline New York’s Madison Square Garden on Sept
But fans are already excited for the tour to hit Toronto. “Finally Benson in Toronto. Can’t wait,” a fan says online
American Express card members can access Amex Presale tickets for the show on May 7 at 10 a.m. online. A special fan presale will also go live on May 8 at 10 a.m. and tickets will be on sale to the public online on May 9 at 10 a.m
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It’s been more than a year since “Beautiful Things” singer Benson Boone skyrocketed up the charts with his breakout hit — one of the biggest songs of 2024 — and his star only continues to rise
On Monday, Boone announced his first headlining arena tour, including an Oct. 5 homecoming concert at Climate Pledge Arena. Tickets go on sale to the general public 10 a.m. Friday, May 9, through Ticketmaster
Various presales through American Express and the venues begin Wednesday and Thursday
The Seattle show will mark the penultimate date of the Monroe-raised pop star’s American Heart Tour
“American Heart” is set to arrive June 20 through Night Street Records
imprint helmed by Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds
After turning heads on “American Idol” in 2021
Boone dropped out of the competition show and eventually signed with Reynolds’ label
The 23-year-old heartthrob was among a particularly strong class of pop newcomers to have breakout years in 2024, releasing his debut album “Rollerblades & Fireworks” a month before a spring date at Showbox SoDo last May
The flamboyant, back-flipping showman has already made a splash this year with several high-profile performances, bringing out Queen guitarist Brian May for a “Bohemian Rhapsody” cover at Coachella and knocking out “Beautiful Things” at the Grammys
Boone made has “Saturday Night Live” debut over the weekend
performing his new singles “Sorry I’m Here for Someone Else” and “Mystical Magical.” He also found his way into a skit
playing an Applebee’s waiter during the Weekend Update segment
The opinions expressed in reader comments are those of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of The Seattle Times
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BY Alex HudsonPublished May 5
Benson Boone will be backflipping into cities around North America this summer and fall
as he has announced a tour behind his upcoming album American Heart
Fresh off his SNL performance over the weekend
Boone has expanded his tour plans with a lengthy leg stretching from August to October
This includes Canadian stops in Toronto (August 29)
Montreal (August 30) and Vancouver (October 4)
This shows are in addition to a previously announced performance at Quebec City's FEQ festival
followed by a fan presale begins on Thursday (May 8)
with tickets going on sale to the general public on Friday (May 9) at 10 a.m
Be the first to get our biggest stories delivered to your inbox.
Both tracks are taken from his upcoming album
Benson Boone performed ‘Mystical Magical’ and ‘Sorry I’m Here for Someone Else’ on Saturday Night Live last night (April 3) – watch footage below
The singer-songwriter Benson made his debut on the show with two tracks taken from his upcoming album ‘American Heart’
which is due for release on June 20 via Night Street Records/Warner
and Boone’s rendition of it on the show saw him sing a few lines to host Quinta Brunson before joining the band on stage
He then took on ‘Mystical Magical’, which he debuted at Coachella earlier this month in a performance that saw him bring out Brian May for a cover of Queen’s classic hit ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’
with surprise guest May sticking around for a special rendition of ‘Beautiful Things’
Fans have suggested that the May collaboration at Coachella came in response to recent comparisons to Freddie Mercury
given Boone’s flamboyant performances often employ his signature call and response
and his outfits often appear to have been inspired by him
Following the Coachella slot, Boone addressed his critics in a recent post on TikTok – suggesting they should be more constructive, advising: “If you hate me or my music, at least have a good reason for it”
“I just read a comment that said ‘idek [I don’t even know] why I hate Benson Boone but it feels right.’ Like WHAT!!
How am I supposed to improve after reading that?”
Boone, who is known for his trademark backflips and energetic live performances
continued: “At least say something valid like ‘he low-key just flips everywhere[.] can he [do] anything else?’”
the star added: “Or even ‘I just don’t like his songs even though I’m basing my opinion off the only one that I’ve heard over and over’ (super valid).”
Benson Boone has finally made "the biggest announcement" of his life after keeping fans guessing with nonstop teasing and it was worth the wait
the Beautiful Things singer has unveiled the American Heart Tour dates
Taking to his official Instagram account on Monday
the the 22-year-old pop sensation revealed he will be kicking off his second solo tour on August 22 in Saint Paul
packed with his infectious energy and signature backflips
two shows in Ohio and one show each in 14 other states
and Australia were notably left off the list
the In The Stars singer is set to take his tour to Canada
with one show each in three provinces: Ontario
Boone will be going on tour to support his upcoming album American Heart
which he announced during his debut Coachella gig last month
he has already released two singles from his upcoming sophomore album
The legendary Queen guitarist helped Boone perform the band's 1975 rock opera hit at the California festival over the weekend
Brian May said he was "reeling" from his performance of Bohemian Rhapsody with Benson Boone at Coachella
The legendary Queen guitarist joined the American singer-songwriter at the festival on Friday (11th April) and helped him pay tribute to the band and their late singer Freddie Mercury with an unforgettable performance of the 1975 anthem.
Boone donned a regal cloak as a nod to Mercury for the rendition, which began on the piano. He later threw off the attire to reveal a customary sparkly jumpsuit as he performed his impressive forward flip off the instrument.
Watch a snipped of their performance below courtesy of Coachella Festival:
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Coachella (@coachella)
Taking to his own Instagram after the performance, May wrote: "I'm still reeling from last night at Coachella. Thanks to all of you folks who made it feel so special --- you know who you are !!!! And this particular way of concluding Bohemian Rhapsody will be hard to beat in the years to come !!! Thanks. And for Benson and his entire team, I have no words. I'm awestruck. Photo by Allen J. Schaben, I understand. Aeronautics by Benson Boone, esq. Bri".
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sir Brian May (@brianmayforreal)
Brian May even previously teased the performance with the pair sharing what looked like a private jet together.
The 77-year-old rocker wrote: "Look who I bumped into - on the way to the fabled Palm Springs ... 💥💥💥💥 Maybe something will happen ?!"
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sir Brian May (@brianmayforreal)
The We Will Rock You singer also joined Boone for a electrifying rendition of his viral hit Beautiful Things
which came complete with glorious choir and plenty of pyrotechnics
Watch a snippet of the rousing performance below:
Benson Boone has hinted the Coachella crowds may not have quite been worthy of a performance from the Queen guitarist
the 22-year-old shared a clip which saw him lip-synching to some of Bo Rhap's famous lyrics with a banana
with the caption: "Me trying to get the crowd at Coachella to understand what an absolute legend Brian May is and the cultural impact he has on music and THE WORLD."
The clip sees Benson trying to ask for enthusiasm and cheers
before eventually tossing the banana down and giving up
Coachella continues this weekend from Friday 18th April to Sunday 120th April
See more More on Queen
Johnny Vaughan
Radiohead
Depeche Mode
The Queen guitarist performed with Benson at the LA festival on Friday
Benson Boone has criticised the crowds at Coachella for seemingly not recognising Queen icon Brian May when he made a surprise appearance at the festival
During Benson’s Coachella performance on Friday
the ‘Beautiful Things’ singer performed a wonderful rendition of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and as an extra treat brought Sir Brian onto the stage to play the guitar
The amazing moment marked Brian’s first major performance since suffering a minor stroke in 2024
after which he was left temporarily unable to use his left arm
Sir Brian’s excellent recovery and return to the stage was a huge moment
but one which many fans felt wasn’t appreciated by the somewhat quiet and seemingly unenergised crowds which greeted him at Coachella
Brian May) - Bohemian Rhapsody - Live at Coachella 2025
Benson seems to have agreed with the critics. The star later took to TikTok and posted a video of him pretending to be back at his set, getting frustrated at not being able to get the crowd to cheer loudly.
“Me trying to get the crowd at Coachella to understand what an absolute legend Brian May is and the cultural impact he has on music and THE WORLD,” he captioned the video.
Showing his appreciation for Brian, Benson wrote in another social media post: “[Brian] I have no words. You are easily one of the most legendary musicians of all time and I cannot thank you enough for coming out.”
Queen's greatest music videos: Brian May breaks down band's biggest hits | Smooth's Video Rewind
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sir Brian May (@brianmayforreal)
“Still can’t get over this,” the starstruck 22-year-old later penned on a photo of him and Brian on stage together.
Sir Brian himself was clearly delighted with his time at Coachella performing with Benson, who he called “a truly golden 22-year-old prodigy.”
“I’m still reeling from last night at Coachella,” he wrote after the show. “Thanks to all of you folks who made it feel so special – you know who you are !!!!”
See more More from Queen
Freddie Mercury
See more Latest Music News
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George Michael
— While BYU men’s volleyball fans have chorused “Luuuuuke!” for the final time at the Smith Fieldhouse
Cougar senior Luke Benson has earned one last accolade
has been awarded a 2025 AVCA All-America Honorable Mention
the association announced Monday afternoon
Benson led the Cougars in kills with 342 this season
The senior led BYU in kills in 13 different matches this season
featuring a season-high 23 kills against No
tied for the 11th most career aces in the BYU men’s volleyball rally scoring era
Benson was also among one of eight players named to the 2025 All-MPSF First Team on April 22
This is Benson’s second recognition from the AVCA
as he was named an Honorable Mention All-American in 2024 as well
who is married to BYU gymnast Mina Margraf
majored in Molecular Biology at BYU and is seeking a career in pediatric medicine
BYU men’s volleyball has had 39 student-athletes receive a total of 84 All-America honors
The 2025 lists include 24 players — 12 each on the first and second teams — from 11 schools
UCLA leads the way with three players on the first team
and Pepperdine University all have three players on the first or second teams
and Parker Van Buren of Loyola Chicago all become three-time All-Americans
The 2025 Newcomer of the Year is Moni Nikolov of Long Beach State
The remarkable freshman averages 9.99 assists per set and has helped The Beach post a nation-leading .396 hitting percentage heading into the 2025 NCAA Championship quarterfinals
his 94 aces established both school and Big West single-season records
Player of the Year and Coach of the Year will be announced later this week
3 seed in the MPSF Tournament but was upset by No
the Cougars have lost in the MPSF Tournament in five sets four straight seasons
the NCAA Tournament began last Thursday as Penn State advanced with a sweep of Daemen University
The remainder of the tournament takes place at the Covelli Center in Columbus
with the quarterfinal round beginning Thursday
All quarterfinal and semifinal matches will be streamed on ESPN+ and the championship match can be seen on ESPN2 on Saturday at 5 p.m
Quarterfinals at Covelli Center in Columbus
Long Beach State-Fort Valley State winner vs
LLC | www.heraldextra.com | 1200 Towne Centre Blvd
Grammy-nominated artist Benson Boone has announced his second studio album
During his performance at Coachella on Friday evening, Benson Boone broke the news of his forthcoming album which will follow last year's debut, Fireworks & Rollerblades
he brought out surprise guest Brian May of Queen for a special performance of "Bohemian Rhapsody"
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Benson Boone (@bensonboone)
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After the performance, Benson took to TikTok to jokingly address the crowd reaction to Brian’s appearance, which on video seemed to be pretty quiet. He posted: “Me trying to get the crowd at Coachella to understand what an absolute legend Brian May is and the cultural impact he has on music and THE WORLD.”
Queen’s official account then commented: “You did great, Benson!”
You can see pro-shot videos of both songs below:
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The 77-year-old guitarist, who recovered from a stroke last year, also played on Boone’s own ‘Beautiful Things’
also played on Boone’s own ‘Beautiful Things’
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Benson Boone was joined by surprise guest Brian May of Queen as he covered “Bohemian Rhapsody” in suitably epic fashion at Coachella
The 22-year-old singer-songwriter from Monroe
Washington was performing at the Californian festival for the first time
Towards the end of his 11-song set, Boone donned an ermine-fur cloak reminiscent of Queen singer Freddie Mercury’s famous ensemble from his band’s farewell tour in 1986.
He then sat at the piano to begin performing Queen’s classic 1975 single. When the song reached the guitar solo, 77-year-old May rose up out of the stage on a platform to play it.
The guitarist was lowered back into the stage and disappeared from view after the solo before reemerging to finish the song
Boone leapt over his head while he continued playing
May then remained on stage to perform on Boone’s final song
the singer’s own 2024 breakthrough single “Beautiful Things”
Earlier this week, May’s wife Anita Dobson said her husband is “very well, back to his old self” following his stroke last year.
May revealed in an Instagram post last September that he had lost control of one arm after a “minor stroke”
He said the health scare had been “a little scary” in a video posted to Instagram on September 4
but in recent months had appeared to have recovered
posting updates on social media of him going on trips
Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music
Earlier in the day at Coachella, Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong made a surprise appearance with The Go-Gos, joining the reunited band for an exuberant performance of their 1984 single “Head Over Heels”.
Green Day will headline the Saturday night of the festival in Indio, California tomorrow.
Attendees at this year’s festival have complained about long queues and a lack of facilities, branding the experience of arriving at Coachella as “worse than Fyre Festival.”
Those not attending the festival in person can livestream performances on Coachella’s YouTube channel or via the new Coachella Livestream app, beginning at 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET each day.
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
On Monday, "Beautiful Things" singer Benson Boone announced he'll be taking his show on the road
Grammy-nominated pop artist is headed out on his "American Heart Tour" ahead of an upcoming album of the same name
the tour will bring Boone to Nashville's Bridgestone Arena
Toronto and more before closing out in Salt Lake City on Oct
The tour announcement follows Boone's "Saturday Night Live" musical guest debut on May 3 and an appearance at Memphis' RiverBeat Music Festival on May 4
Boone also recently released his track "Mystical Magical," the second single from the forthcoming "American Heart," which follows the release of his tune "Sorry I'm Here For Someone Else" in February
Boone debuted his latest track at Coachella, where he also went viral for his performance alongside Queen's Brian May in a cover of "Bohemian Rhapsody."
Boone, who was recently nominated for best new artist at February's Grammy Awards, is best known for his chart-topper "Beautiful Things," which was the top streamed song in the world in 2024
How to buy tickets to Benson Boone's Nashville showAn Amex Presale Tickets for North American shows begins on Wednesday, May 7 at 10 a.m. CT at https://amex.aegpresents.com/bensonboone/
A fan presale kicks off on Thursday, May 8 at 10 a.m. CT at bensonboone.com.
Audrey Gibbs is a music reporter at The Tennessean
You can reach her at agibbs@tennessean.com
so that's an achievement that won't be missed by us
but we know we've got three more games to keep building on that."
Henry Pollock and his band of brothers pulled off a remarkable heist in Dublin on Leinster to make them believe anything's possible
Northampton Saints have emerged as shock front-runners to land Clermont Auvergne fly-half Anthony Belleau
who has been looking at a move to the Premiership when his contract runs out this summer
who started his career with six seasons at Toulon
so he has switched his attention to finding a club on the other side of the English Channel
who has also played at inside centre and full-back
moved to Clermont three years ago and has scored 110 points in 21 games this season
He has been sharing fly-half duties with soon-to-be retired veteran Argentinean star Benjamin Urdapilleta
Clermont are bringing former French under-20 international Tom Raffy in on loan from Pro D2 high flyers Brive, while one-cap All Black Harry Plummer is arriving at the club from Super Rugby side the Blues
Northampton produced a blistering display as they warmed up for their Investec Champions Cup semi-final with a 48-31 demolition of Bristol
Bayonne are in the market for a 10, but even though Belleau is JIFF-qualified, reports in France say they are not interested in the player who has been in international exile for the last six years
Premiership champions Saints, who are set to surrender their crown, have so far only confirmed the arrival of Italian international loosehead Danilo Fischetti from Zebra and Zimbabwean tighthead Cleopas Kundiona from Nevers
Saints have been looking for another fly-half to back up England international Fin Smith and Charlie Savala
who has been mainly used in the centres this season
Scottish international inside centre Rory Hutchinson has also filled in and captain George Furbank can play there
but Saints want someone to help take the workload off Smith and provide specialist cover when he is away on international duty
Saints did have talks with Jamie Benson, but he has decided to stay with Harlequins, where he caught the eye with his goal-kicking in the spectacular win over Saracens at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Saints boss Phil Dowson was sent back to the drawing board and has come up with Belleau, who won the last of his 12 test caps off the bench in a defeat in Ireland in March 2019
Anthony Belleau appears to be on his way out of Clermont Auvergne this summer
and whispers from across the Channel suggest he could be looking at a move to the Premiership amid a lack of opportunities in the Top 14
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he's less of a running threat than a 39 year old
Join free and tell us what you really think
Henry Pollock and his band of brothers pulled off a remarkable heist in Dublin on Leinster to make them believe anything's possible
Is the Queensland boss the right man to lead Australia forward
And will Joe Schmidt be tempted to stick around for Rugby World Cup 2027
Northampton Saints found a way of beating the fabled Jacques Nienaber blitz and inflicting another 'horrific' Champions Cup loss on the Leinster giants
I am as neutral as can be but I agree with your reservations
He was D coach for the Boks in 21/22 and their record in those years on D was shocking in 21
50% wins and a draw and in 22 when his should have come into his own a few wins early season against Wales
Argentine and Somoa followed by six losses in the last seven games
Can Les give the Wallabies the Kiss of Life?',1);"> Well Nick you have to wonder what the long term plan is for RA
I cannot think that they would appoint Kiss only to have Schmidt back in 2027 but then it is a world cup year on home soil so perhaps that is the plan
I reckon RA need to target the 2027 world cup as it seems like their best opportunity
2031 is so far away and who knows what the state of the game in Aus will be like at that point
Also the squad isnt exactly bursting with talent which you could confidently say will be there come 2031 especially when you consider how young players are being hunted by foreign clubs
2027 must be the target and I just wonder if Kiss is the right man to win it all in 2027
He has not shown enough at Ulster or London Irish to be considered the main man and his Reds side while really good are hardly pragmatic and are prone to some whacky reversals like the one suffered in Fiji
For me Kiss is not the man for 2027 yet he has the top job but he will bring continuity and wont tear up the gameplan so at least they wont be starting from scratch with a new coach
In a way he was just about the only appointment they could make at this stage
Can Les give the Wallabies the Kiss of Life?',1);"> He’s a loose cannon on D TL
The unpredictability can be a great addition on attack but on D you need someone to be reliable and disciplined
It would be asking a huge amount from Les to lead Aussie into a WC with a 15-month runway
which is why I feel Joe has not quite let go yet
I think McCarthy is a very over-rated player
14-man French team in 2024 is all he has done
Prendergast I feel sorry for - a few good games at u20s and because he plays for Leinster he gets the international gig
Aki and Ringrose are first choice and have been for years
Henshaw cannot affect an 80 minute match anymore
multi-phase power game doesn’t work he doesn’t have the pace
Keenan looked the fittest player in rugby two years ago
but in last years game v England and this weekend he looks well off the pace
not being picked for the Lions really helped Ireland in 2022 as Sexton
Lowe and Ryan had storming seasons if I remember rightly
If those players were picked for the Lions would they have won that series
England players suffered a lot in 2018 after the 2017 Lions
so while its nice to have your teams players get Lions recognition
it might not be the worse thing if they aren’t there either
Can Les give the Wallabies the Kiss of Life?',1);"> I think they need Joe’s overview there JS
You don’t want a novice head coach at a home WC
As you say both of Les’ teams at Irish and Queensland have tended to attack well but the output is uneven
Mistakes in specific areas can come in bunches
without correction - look at my previous pieces on the Reds’ lineout and exit strategy
They often do not change even when something is not working
At risk of flattering the Reds/Wallabies too much
I fear they are at risk of potentially turning into a Scotland-esque team under LK - i.e.
great set plays - but lacking the killer physicality/X factor to beat the top teams
Can Les give the Wallabies the Kiss of Life?',1);"> I thought Ryan had a shocker Nick and those clips make it explicit
Hopefully the problem is sorted over the next few weeks or they’ll be cooked
Interestingly there was a lot of emphasis from Waugh about winning between world cups and getting the system right
Their D is better than UBB’s so grounds for hope Ed
Squad will need a utlility back who can play both
Ah
they would have taken the 3 - Leinster teams of the recent past have prob erred more on the roll of the dice from short-range lineouts
If he wasn’t injured I’d have James R starting with McCarthy
Mostert works harder and is more reliable G
Yes the pre-game commentary def did Leinster no favours
Players and coaches say they don’t read the media but they do
Surprising since the video they should have been watching was last year’s narrow squeak v the same opponents
I’d still take Saints over Bath with both on their best day Ed
Bath are good but they are not that good - c.f their result v Leinster compared to Saints
The lad is overhyped
Needs a season or two solely at club level to learn how to play the sportl as he struggles in almost every aspect of the game
Shouldn’t be anywhere near the Irish squad
Can’t lace Crowley's boots at this stage and pretty much the sole reason Ireland lost the Grand Slam
To be fair to him though - it is a common problem of the D4 player
Never as good as their thicko supporters tell you they are
They love to spew inordinate amounts of ignorant 💩 - much like the Saffas and the other SH thickos
I wouldn’t put it down to arrogance but there is def some sort of mental block there
Leinster have had tourneys with all home ties in Dublin at the knockout stage - as in 2023…
he is to thick to see it or just don’t/want to remember…….
its not because that’s what they do….
How many URC/Champions cups have they choked in not even to talk about WC’s….
you get your facts straight…… Ireland should wear their choking tag with pride
I think it’s more about winning the tournaments you have a realistic shot at winning
Leinster have been quite capable of wining the laat four EPCRs and Ireland had as much chance as anyone of winning the 23 WC
Can Les give the Wallabies the Kiss of Life?',1);"> I really do hope they manage JS to stay on at least in a formal consultancy role
Les seems to be a very capable coach but I suspect he may lack the gravitas Schmidt seems to have with the players - the kind you only get from coaching and winning at the top level for so long
Purely impressionistically (I do not have your data or powers of analysis NB!)
the Reds under Kiss seem to have some of the attacking hallmarks of a JS coached team (i.e.
but I fear they are lacking the discipline/control/mindset which JS seemed to be building with the Wallabies at the end of last year
I hope JS has enough time with the Wallabies
to instil that control/discipline before Kiss comes in
Australia does not suffer from the same problem Scotland seems to - i.e.
lacking the athletes to compete notwithstanding the team being a well-oiled machine
It would be a shame to see our physical ‘resources’ not used properly (e.g
Yup - it may have been better to start with Jordie with RG on the bench and bring him on last 25 minutes
which may be why he has been on the bench when Mostert has been fit
Despite reports of a disappointing crowd reaction
May later took to Instagram to say being a part of the show left him "awestruck"
Benson Boone has clapped back at the Coachella crowd for their lukewarm reaction to his special guest, Brian May
Taking to the stage on Friday (April 11) decked out in a Freddie Mercury-esque cape
the ‘Slow It Down’ singer launched into ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ on piano before May emerged from the top of the stage to join him on guitar
standing alongside Boone’s band to play his hit ‘Beautiful Things
complete with Queen-style guitar riffs and fireworks
Speaking to the Californian crowd about his Friday night slot at the fest
Boone said: “It has changed my life this year and I hope you enjoy it.”
it seems fans at the festival didn’t respond as expected
In a new video shared to his TikTok account
Boone sang with a banana and did mock attempts to stir a crowd
joking: “Me trying to get the crowd at Coachella to understand what an absolute legend Brian May is and the cultural impact he has on music and THE WORLD.”
“It was an AMAZING performance and Brian May was THE surprise guest of the century,” assured one TikTok user
“You perfectly planned out everything except for the fact Coachella crowds are boring
writing: “The fact that they didn’t lose their minds is insane,” while others speculated that if Boone had gone to “every other place in the world other than America”
Elsewhere, after Boone’s performance, many speculated the May collaboration came in response to recent comparisons to Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, given Boone’s flamboyant performances often employ his signature call and response, and his outfits often appear inspired by him.
A post shared by Sir Brian May (@brianmayforreal)
May later took to Instagram to say being a part of it left him “reeling”
writing: “Thanks to all of you folks who made it feel so special — you know who you are !!!
And this particular way of concluding ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ will be hard to beat in the years to come !!
I’m awestruck.” Check out the post above
‘American Heart’ would be out on June 20 after playing the title track
He later went on to share the cover artwork
which sees him stood in front of an American flag
Benson Boone is officially hitting the road later this year for the “American Heart Tour.”
The “Beautiful Things” singer announced his first headlining tour, which will see him travel across North America to perform for hundreds of thousands of fans in the United States and Canada.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Benson Boone (@bensonboone)
This news comes as Boone is set to release his second album, American Heart, on June 20. He’s already released two singles off the album: “Sorry I’m Here For Someone Else” and “Mystical Magical.”
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Benson Boone (@bensonboone)
The American Express pre-sale begins on Wednesday at 10 a.m
local time and is available to American Express cardholders
An exclusive fan pre-sale begins on Thursday at 10 a.m
and the general sale opens on Friday at 10 a.m
American Heart is available for pre-order here
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Posted in: NBC, Peacock, Review, TV | Tagged: saturday night live, snl
and the SNL cast and writers welcomed viewers back with a return show that hit hard
From James Austin Johnson's Donald Trump celebrating his first 100 days with another round of executive orders
to host Quinta Brunson offering a look at the tragic (and masochistic) life and times of overlooked boxing legend Jerry "Jackrabbit" Tulane
there was a whole lot to like (if not love) about this weekend's return episode of NBC's Saturday Night Live
We had an opening monologue that turned into a musical number honoring short folks (with Sabrina Carpenter
"Weekend Update" anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che going all-in on the cringe (and we liked it)
and musical guest Benson Boone living up to his hype and blowing past it with two incredible performances
If it's sounding like we don't have any complaints
Everything hit to varying degrees – no misses – during what was an excellent return show
Here's a look at the five sketches that stuck out the most:
"Will and Todd's Radical Experience": Harriet Tubman (Brunson) and Frederick Douglass (Kenan Thompson) make it clear to a pair of "Bill & Ted" wannabes (Andrew Dismukes
Marcello Hernández) that they're more than fine staying where they are in the present
so much so that we found ourselves laughing at a "Bill & Ted" sketch in 2025
Brunson and Thompson shine (we need to see more of them together) as an elderly couple explaining the details of their very unique life insurance policy to their kids (Ego Nwodim
They remained convincing even as the details got a bit more graphic
and props to Nwodim and Walker for offering great reactions for them to work off of
Our highly creative and very agitated drivers are back
with Chloe Fineman riding shotgun as Day's seemingly very experienced daughter and Thompson as Brunson's father
Anticipating how each of them is going to "charades" what they're saying is worth the price of admission alone
with Brunson displaying some great facial reactions that heightened the laughs
a Gorilla": A twisted take on the current "Who would win between 100 men and a gorilla?" social media debate
the abusdity of it all was anchored by the team-up we were hoping to see
Brunson and Nwodim's characters have black belts when it comes to verbal beatdowns
and the two played off of one another with ease
Assuming they survived the ending (tombstones don't mean anything
2025 @ 11:00 PM EDTBenson Boone: American Heart Tour is coming to Kaseya Center on September 14th 2025
Boone is partnering with Google Maps to exclusively share his favorite local spots for fans to check out before or after the show
The tour announcement arrives on the heels of Boone’s latest anthem
“Mystical Magical,” the second single from American Heart
He first debuted the track on stage at Coachella
where he also brought out surprise guest Brian May of Queen for a special performance of “Bohemian Rhapsody.” In addition to garnering widespread critical acclaim
Boone first introduced American Heart with “Sorry I’m Here For Someone Else,” his first release of the year
It followed his show-stopping performance of smash hit “Beautiful Things” at the 67th annual Grammy Awards in February
where he was nominated for Best New Artist
where he made his debut as musical guest performing “Sorry I’m Here For Someone Else” and “Mystical Magical.”
“Beautiful Things” was the #1 most streamed song in the world last year
earning Boone the IFPI Global Single Award for 2024
the chart-conquering track has now surpassed 2 billion streams on Spotify and nearly 4 billion total streams since its release last year
Platinum certified debut album Fireworks & Rollerblades
the viral smash logged an impressive 7 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Global 200 chart
and vaulted to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart
It also earned Boone two Billboard Music Awards
Fireworks & Rollerblades also includes the Platinum certified hit “Slow It Down” and fan-favorites “Cry,” “What Do You Want,” and “Pretty Slowly.”
With the upcoming release of American Heart
and a highly-anticipated arena tour on the horizon
Boone is on track for another record year in 2025
For tickets and more info head over to Ticketmaster.com or click HERE!
May 5, 2025 9:59 AM EDTBenson Boone shared big news with fans. Hours after making his debut as musical guest on Saturday Night Live
the 22-year-old singer announced he is hitting the road for a new tour
In a post shared to Instagram on May 5
Boone announced his upcoming American Heart Tour
shows for the fall arena tour will kick off on Aug
and will wrap on October 8 in Salt Lake City
Boone will make pit stops in New York City
On sale this Friday at 10am in your time zone but sign up on my site to get tix earlier🤭,” Boone captioned the post
Last spring, Boone was on the road for his Fireworks & Rollerblades World Tour. The American Idol alum also opened for Taylor Swift during the London dates of her Eras Tour last August. More recently, he performed at Coachella 2025
where he made headlines for a rendition of the "Bohemian Rhapsody" with Queen legend Brian May as a special guest
Boone made his debut on Saturday Night Live
The Grammy nominee performed two tracks from his forthcoming album
American Heart, “Sorry I’m Here for Someone Else” and "Mystical Magical.”
Boone also did one of his signature back flips to announce his arrival to the SNL stage, and offered up a brief serenade moment with show host Quinta Brunson
the organisation that represents the recorded music industry worldwide
has announced that Beautiful Things by Benson Boone is the winner of the IFPI Global Single Award for 2024
The IFPI Global Single Award is presented to the artist with the world’s best-selling single of the year across all digital formats – including paid subscription streaming
Benson Boone’s Beautiful Things took the #1 spot in this year’s IFPI Global Single Chart
his first appearance in an IFPI Global Chart Top 10
has won accolades at the Billboard Music Awards
Boone won Best New Artist at the MTV Europe Music Awards (EMA’s) and was nominated for Best New Artist at the 2025 GRAMMYs
where he gave a high-energy performance of Beautiful Things
The year was marked by breakout and breakthrough artists
with each of the top three tracks (and four of the top five) coming from artists making their first appearance in an IFPI Global Chart this year.
Sabrina Carpenter was also a new entry into the charts with her single Espresso at #2 and Teddy Swims with Lose Control at #3
Nine of the Top 10 places in the chart were taken by US artists with the exception coming from Ireland’s Hozier with Too Sweet at #6
marking a return to the IFPI Global Single Chart for the first time since Take me to Church reached #19 in 2015
featured once in the Top 10 with Cruel Summer
at #9 following a resurgence in popularity of her older catalogue thanks to her record-breaking Taylor Swift |The Eras Tour
says: “We are delighted to present the IFPI Global Single Award to Benson Boone
this is an amazing achievement to produce a truly worldwide hit
his team and Warner Records for this incredible accomplishment
“It is also fantastic to see so many other newcomers to the industry shine through in the IFPI Global Singles Chart
It is a wonderful reflection of how emerging artists – working in partnership with their record labels – are finding international success.”
IFPI’s Global Charts provide the most complete picture of artist
downloads and physical formats in every country directly from the participating record labels
which is then converted using IFPI’s unique methodology to a single
global chart figure. The methodology
developed in partnership with IFPI’s member record labels
reflects global commercial success by combining the most exhaustive reporting of unit sales and streams with the country-level economics of each consumption type
This chart includes consumption of a track (including remixes and alternative versions) and considers single track downloads and streaming across both free and paid platforms
translated into chart units by IFPI according to a rigorous methodology based on the relative economics of each format in each region globally
an enhancement was made to this methodology to better account for the economics of subscription streams across regions – therefore the Global Subscription Stream Equivalents outlined below are not directly comparable with IFPI Global Single Chart results from previous years
A hi-res image of the Top 10 IFPI Global Singles Chart and hi-res images of Benson Boone with the IFPI Global Singles Award are available on request. Contact press@ifpi.org
Follow us on X @IFPI_Org and on Instagram @IFPI_org
IFPI is the voice of the recording industry worldwide
representing over 8,000 record company members across the globe
We work to promote the value of recorded music
campaign for the rights of record producers and expand the commercial uses of recorded music around the world.
press@ifpi.org | +44 (0)20 7878 7979
A TikTok sensation and one of pop music's freshest artists will take his best hits on the road for an arena tour
Following his debut performance on "Saturday Night Live," Benson Boone announced his fall 2025 "American Heart" arena tour
The Grammy nominated pop artist will kick off the tour Aug
The announcement comes over a month before the June 20 release of his newest album
who got his start on "American Idol," opened for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour in London
performed with Lana Del Rey and completed a fully sold-out "Fireworks and Rollerblades" tour in 2024
In addition to tracks from his upcoming album
fans can expect to hear hit tracks like "Beautiful Things," "Sorry I'm Here For Someone Else" and "Mystical Magical."
Trending features reporter Amani Bayo can be reached at abayo@dispatch.com
has announced his Fall 2025 American Heart arena tour
This series of North American dates will follow the release of his highly-anticipated album
"American Heart," which is set to arrive on June 20 through Night Street Records/Warner Records
Following a summer full of festival appearances
and will arrive at Nationwide Arena just three days later
Tickets for that show are scheduled to go on sale Friday
Boone will then play Cleveland's Rocket Arena the following night
The tour also will include stops at iconic venues such as Madison Square Garden in New York
It will conclude at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Oct
Pop star Benson Boone will perform at the Toyota Center on September 18
Rising pop star Benson Boone will capitalize on his breakout year in 2024 with the upcoming American Heart arena tour
which will include a stop at the Toyota Center in Houston on Thursday
Fresh off his debut performance on Saturday Night Live
Boone will embark on a huge 30-city North American tour
Boone will also perform in Austin on September 19 and Fort Worth on September 20
The tour will be in support of his sophomore album
That album is a quick turnaround from his 2024 debut album
which went platinum and rose to as high as No
Boone garnered a big number of award nominations and wins in 2024 and 2025, including a nomination for Best New Artist at the 2025 Grammy Awards, at which he showed off his now-signature flip while singing his hit song
Ticket sales for the tour will start with an Amex Presale for American Express Card Members on Wednesday
A special fan presale takes place on Thursday, May 8 from 2-10pm on Ticketmaster.com with unlock code: BEAUTIFUL
Benson Boone 2025 American Heart North American Tour Dates
KY @ Bourbon & Beyond Music FestivalSept
Scott Gertner, one of the most prominent figures in Houston’s music and nightlife scenes, has unexpectedly passed away
A brief statement by the musician’s family did not share a cause of death
and stated that funeral details would be shared soon
[Update: A representative for the family tells CultureMap that Gertner died of natural causes
luring people in with live grooves and a mouth-watering menu
In my previous life as a nightlife reporter
Gertner was the person I usually contacted whenever I needed intel on jazz clubs in the city
I surprised him one day with a 12-inch single he recorded in the late ‘80s for CBS Records
a lost item I picked up at a nearby record store.)
But I know I’m not the only person who has sparkling memories featuring Gertner
I reached out to a few friends and asked them what they’ll remember the most about the late
film critic/radio personality: “We had many fantastic CBS Radio Houston Christmas parties at the Skybar
Scott was always the most gracious host and fun performer
two of my close friends went to high school at HSPVA with Scott
Scott was playing at the old Ruggles on lower Westheimer
back when everyone cruised that area on the weekends
my friends and I would scream ‘Gertner’ out the car window
like he was going to hear us and come out and say hi
The boys were so excited Scott had a real gig.”
music producer/former Skybar bartender: “When I tell you I wouldn’t know half the people I know — I wouldn’t have made a good deal of the money I’ve made in my life — and not have had many of the experiences (too many!) that made me who I am if not for this man
“But there’s so much more to remember about the guy
I soaked up so much game about music and nightlife
a course more valuable than any class I could’ve taken
To know him personally was a privilege not to be taken lightly; he’d hit you with that smile that always said everything his words didn’t
he supported me in and outside the nightlife
we’d still text each other on our birthdays since they were 11 days apart
I was always welcome wherever his venue was located and
jazz guitarist: “One of the first times I heard Scott play was back in the heyday of Cody’s
when he was on bass and vocals with Paul English’s incredible band
That group was something special — Paul on piano
Kirk Whalum and Johnny Torres on saxophones
and Scott bringing his unique energy and voice to the mix
Scott held down Wednesday nights at Cody’s in the Village
Scott was making more money that one night than the club owner was making all week
That’s the kind of draw and charisma he had
Scott opened the Skybar at the original Cody’s location on Montrose
and I was honored when he hired my Flamenco Jazz trio to play a Wednesday night series there
We alternated Wednesdays with Joe Carmouche’s excellent trio — great times
He also was the gracious host for the CD release party for my first album
way before Skybar and those Village Cody’s Wednesdays
Scott and I played together at the legendary Blues Jam with Ardis Turner (RIP) at Live Bait on Greenbriar — me on guitar and Scott on bass
“There was a weird kind of synchronicity with Scott — I’d run into him all over Houston
The last time I saw Scott was at the Rhythm Room last year
He was extremely interested in hearing details about some health issues that I had firsthand knowledge about
Scott Gertner enriched Houston’s music world