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Jessie J has announced she is cancer-free, saying she “exhaled for the first time in a year” after receiving the news.

The singer revealed in June last year that she had been diagnosed with early breast cancer and she successfully underwent surgery shortly afterwards. Three months later, however, she cancelled a tour as she was scheduled for a further surgical procedure.

Last month, she posted a video on Instagram that showed her going for her annual health checkup after a breast MRI, and she captioned the post with the jubilant news: “RESULTS ARE IN AND I AM CANCER FREE!!”

“I sobbed for hours and then exhaled for the first time in a year,” she added.

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Jessie also brought the positive energy to her return to the Chinese singing competition Singer, the show that she won back in 2018. The hugely popular series is watched by over 100million viewers and Jessie gave passionate performances of Frank Sinatra’s ‘My Way’ and her own song ‘California’, from her recent album ‘Don’t Tease Me With A Good Time’.

Watch those performances here:



At the end of last year, Jessie shared a personal and emotional reflection on her challenging 2025, describing it as “one of the hardest but most magical years”.

“This year has been heavy and hard in many ways for all of us, for me personally one of the hardest but most magical years of my life,” she said at the time. “Personally and professionally. But all the sadness has come up this week, it’s the first time I’ve stopped (working and being in public in months) So I’m crying a lot. Writing shit down feeling really low tbh. The lowest I have felt in a while.”

Last September, Jessie made an emotional return to the stage alongside her two-year-old son at BBC Radio 2 in the Park, just 11 weeks after undergoing surgery. “I’m still very much in the recovery process,” she said at the time. “But I’m just so grateful to be here.”

Her sixth studio album ‘Don’t Tease Me With A Good Time’ was released in November, including the singles ‘No Secrets’, ‘Living My Best Life’, ‘H.A.P.P.Y.’ and ‘I’l Never Know Why’.

She also played at the Mighty Hoopla in London last month, and is set to take the stage at Victorious Festival in Portsmouth later this summer.

The post Jessie J is now cancer-free, returns to stage for ‘Singer’ in China: “I exhaled for the first time in a year” appeared first on NME.

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"synergy," "disruption," "paradigm shift" — cant stand these. theyre so overused they dont mean anything anymore. like when someone says "ai is disrupting traditional workflows" and you're just like yeah, ok, but what does that even look like in practice? its always vague and hand-wavey. also "transformative ai solutions" — every startup slaps that on their landing page now. its like calling every new app "innovative" when half the time its just a slightly tweaked version of something else idk man, maybe im just tired of the hype but these words feel like filler at this point. they dont tell you anything useful. someone says "ai-driven innovation" and you still gotta dig through their site to figure out if theyre actually doing something new or just cashing in on the trend. feels like we need better words that actually describe what the tech is doing instead of sounding like a bad powerpoint slide from 2005

like i get it, teh ocean is big and mysterious and all that, but do we really need another song comparing love to waves or using seagulls as a metaphor for freedom? its not like we’re all out there sailing every weekend half the time i feel like these songs are written by people who’ve seen the ocean twice in their life and just googled 'cool water adjectives.'

maybe im just salty (lol) because i grew up landlocked and the closest thing we had was a muddy lake with too many geese. but seriously, cant we branch out a little? whats wrong with songs about prairies or parking lots or something equally poetic but less cliché? anyway, djs, if you’re taking requests, how about some tracks that ditch the ocean vibes and go for something less wet unless its a really good ocean song, i guess.

Saturday night’s storms (which knocked down power lines and trees, killing a man in Forest Park) also meant it was a rough night for outdoor shows. Governors Ball ended early, cutting several artists from the lineup, and less than four miles away from Flushing Meadows Corona Park at Forest Hills Stadium, there was also a shortened night for Bright Eyes. It was the third and final show of their celebration of 21 years of their albums 2005 I’m Wide Awake It’s Morning and Digital Ash in a Digital Urn, although they were ultimately only able to play the former before the venue was evacuated because of the approaching storm (Built to Spill also had their set, which was to have been between Bright Eyes’ two album sets, cut). I was definitely bummed to miss Digital Ash, but the Wide Awake set was a glorious reminder of the album’s status as a modern classic.

Bright Eyes are still making vital music — their most recent album, 2024’s Five Dice, All Threes, was one of our favorites of that year — but 2005 may have been the height of their mainstream popularity and critical acclaim, especially off the strength of the folk-inspired Wide Awake. 21 years later, it remains just as relevant (although who knew in 2005 that the advent of the iPhone two years later would soon make the idea of getting lost on the way from the East Village to Brooklyn basically obsolete?), and timeless love song “First Day of My Life” and the haunting “Lua” (which has, since its release, been covered by the likes of Mac Miller and Kevin Devine, among others) have lost none of their shine. Also hitting just as hard in 2026 are the political references on Wide Awake, and the talk of wars fought over nothing got some of the biggest cheers of the night. “Poison Oak,” meanwhile, may be Wide Awake‘s emotional peak, and I wasn’t the only one crying during it on Saturday night.

Emmylou Harris’ harmony vocals on “We Are Nowhere and It’s Now,” “Another Travelin’ Song,” and “Land Locked Blues” are one of the many highlights of Wide Awake on record, and while she hasn’t appeared at any of these shows in person to reprise that contribution, Nashville-based singer-songwriter Emma Ogier has been performing them in her place, and sounding fantastic in the process. Another memorable touch: bookending the Wide Awake set were a group of children dressed in white running onstage, first dressed as parts of a plane, a lightning bolt, and clouds to act out the plane crash in the intro to “At the Bottom of Everything,” and later in safety vests and hard hats, wielding bats, to smash toy instruments at the end of “Road to Joy.”

For those who weren’t there in person, the show also streamed live on Veeps. Check out pictures and a video clip below.


Bright Eyes (photo by Amanda M Hatfield)

Bright Eyes (photo by Amanda M Hatfield)

Bright Eyes (photo by Amanda M Hatfield)

Bright Eyes (photo by Amanda M Hatfield)

Bright Eyes (photo by Amanda M Hatfield)

Bright Eyes (photo by Amanda M Hatfield)

Bright Eyes (photo by Amanda M Hatfield)

Bright Eyes (photo by Amanda M Hatfield)

Bright Eyes (photo by Amanda M Hatfield)

Bright Eyes (photo by Amanda M Hatfield)

Bright Eyes (photo by Amanda M Hatfield)

Bright Eyes (photo by Amanda M Hatfield)

Bright Eyes (photo by Amanda M Hatfield)

Bright Eyes (photo by Amanda M Hatfield)

Bright Eyes (photo by Amanda M Hatfield)

Bright Eyes (photo by Amanda M Hatfield)

Bright Eyes (photo by Amanda M Hatfield)

Bright Eyes (photo by Amanda M Hatfield)

Bright Eyes (photo by Amanda M Hatfield)

Bright Eyes (photo by Amanda M Hatfield)

Bright Eyes (photo by Amanda M Hatfield)

Bright Eyes (photo by Amanda M Hatfield)

Bright Eyes (photo by Amanda M Hatfield)

Bright Eyes (photo by Amanda M Hatfield)

Bright Eyes (photo by Amanda M Hatfield)

Bright Eyes (photo by Amanda M Hatfield)

Bright Eyes (photo by Amanda M Hatfield)

Bright Eyes (photo by Amanda M Hatfield)

Bright Eyes (photo by Amanda M Hatfield)

Bright Eyes (photo by Amanda M Hatfield)

Bright Eyes (photo by Amanda M Hatfield)

Bright Eyes (photo by Amanda M Hatfield)

Bright Eyes (photo by Amanda M Hatfield)

Bright Eyes (photo by Amanda M Hatfield)

Bright Eyes (photo by Amanda M Hatfield)

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SETLIST: BRIGHT EYES @ FOREST HILLS STADIUM, 6/6/2026 At the Bottom of Everything We Are Nowhere and It’s Now Old Soul Song (for the New World Order) Lua Train Under Water First Day of My Life Another Travelin’ Song Land Locked Blues Poison Oak Road to Joy

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Wild winds and rain lash the sea of people gathered at Primavera Sound Barcelona’s Occident stage as Cameron Winter croons his way through ‘Au Pays du Cocaine’. It’s the first full day (June 4) of this year’s festival, and Geese are, unsurprisingly, one of the biggest draws of the evening. As it turns out, they’ll also be one of the last to perform on the event’s three biggest stages today, as inclement weather forces the cancellation of sets from Mac DeMarco, Alex G, Massive Attack, Doja Cat and Bad Gyal.

While the weather is out of organisers’ hands, the way things are handled starts this year’s edition of Primavera on a sour note. Communication and updates are scarce, with crowds unsure whether it’s worth sticking it out; later, in replies to disgruntled fans on social media, organisers cite constantly evolving weather conditions “requiring ongoing reviews of operational decisions”. That artists like Doja Cat were announcing they were no longer performing on social media hours before the festival confirm it, though, adds to the frustration. The mess around Massive Attack’s set – no updates until 90 minutes after they were meant to begin, a rescheduling for 12:30am, only for it to ultimately be cancelled at 1am without a single note played – dampens spirits even more.

In many ways, Primavera Sound feels like a festival in a transitional period. It’s evident in these weather-induced difficulties – like many other outdoor events, organisers now have to grapple with increasingly adverse conditions, and how to prepare for and adjust to such situations needs to be a major consideration before next year’s edition.


PinkPantheress live at Primavera Sound Barcelona 2026. Credit: Christian Bertrand

That evolution, though, is also felt in the programming. Over recent years, Primavera’s line-up, which was once predominantly alternative, has been skewing more pop. That’s the case this year, too, with a mix of established alt heroes (Slowdive, The Cure, Gorillaz all deliver brilliant sets across the weekend), underground newcomers like Femtanyl, Fakemink and Korean party-starters Hypnosis Therapy, and acts from the cooler end of the spectrum of pop (and Role Model). Weirdly, though, Primavera Sound itself doesn’t seem to have sussed that a lot of people will want to watch artists in the latter camp – the Cupra stage is overflowing with those wanting to witness PinkPantheress’ triumphant joy on Friday (June 5). While it’s a successful set for the British star, that fans are able to keep flooding the area unimpeded raises concerns about crowd control.


Addison Rae live at Primavera Sound Barcelona 2026. Credit: Primavera Sound

Boil Primavera Sound Barcelona 2026 down to just the music, though, and there’s still plenty of fun to be had (if you can hear any of it over the incessantly, sometimes obnoxiously, chatty crowds). Friday feels like a pure pop fantasy, with Addison Rae inspiring the kind of devotion on her debut album most artists take a few records to reach. On the Occident stage, JADE gets everyone warmed up for a long night ahead with high-energy performances of ‘Plastic Box’ and ‘Gossip’ (plus a reminder of Little Mix’s best bangers in a special medley), while Cara Delevingne makes her bid for pop stardom in the small hours. As you might expect, her set is highly polished, but still packs a punch, as the songs veer from pop lacerated with industrial bursts and skittering electro-pop.


The Cure live at Primavera Sound Barcelona 2026. Credit: Eric Pamies Garcia

An outlier among those acts, headliners The Cure kick off their current European run with a set packed with rarities and greatest hits, on as fine a form as ever, as they put the Estrella Damm field in a heady daze. That feeling returns on Saturday (June 6) as Robert Smith joins Olivia Rodrigo during a short-but-sweet surprise set for the debut of their new collaboration, ‘What’s Wrong With Me’.


Olivia Rodrigo live at Primavera Sound Barcelona 2026. Credit: Christian Bertrand

This might be a festival in flux, but a wide spread of sounds is still a solid bet, as Saturday proves. Rising indie-rock star Grace Ives gets the Cupra audience bouncing under the early evening sun, before NME 100 of 2026 act The Sophs merge Spanish guitar licks into punk rock anthems on the Port stage. Gelli Haha builds a surreal, colourful world full of bubbles and dolphins on the Schwarzkopf stage to match her vibrant synth-pop, Sudan Archives slides effortlessly between opening up booty-shaking pits and wowing the crowd with her violin skills, and The xx make a triumphant return with a set that mixes their serene indie with the club-ready beats of Jamie xx, Romy and Oliver Sim’s solo projects.


Gorillaz live at Primavera Sound Barcelona 2026. Credit: Gisela Jane

Across the site this weekend, there are illuminated signs that declare “no war”, but with Massive Attack’s set cancelled, the festival’s political voice feels quieter than it perhaps would have. At least, until Saturday night, when Gorillaz’s headline set is introduced by Palestinian activist Aarab Barghouti, whose father Marwan has been imprisoned by Israel since 2002. “My father is one of 10,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, but for millions of Palestinians, he represents something that Israel cannot imprison: hope,” Barghouti tells the crowd. Later, over at the Occident stage, Kneecap fly the flag for resistance with messages on the big screens in support of Palestine and Lebanon, before bringing out Palestinian rapper Fawzi for their collaboration ‘Palestine’.

By the end of the weekend, with the puddles mostly dried up and a couple of days packed with great artists, it’s easier to feel positive about Primavera Sound. There are issues that still need to be reckoned with, but as the festival continues to evolve, there’s still plenty worth coming back for.

The post Primavera Sound 2026 review: weather-battered festival still delivers another solid edition appeared first on NME.

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noticed this in a rewatch of drive — the way they light gosling in certain scenes makes him seem either menacing or vulnerable depending on the context and it really shifts how you read him. like theyre telling part of the story just through how bright or shadowy his face is. saw something similar in parasite where the lighting in the rich house vs the poor house feels like its own character. does anyone else notice stuff like this? or have examples where the lighting completely changes how you feel about whats going on? links to breakdowns welcome if youve got em.

Madonna is urging her fans to put down their phones while watching live music.

• Read More: The Big Read – Madonna: ”People pick on me. That’s just the way it is”

The Queen of Pop is preparing to release her 15th studio record, ‘Confessions II’, on July 3, the spiritual follow-up to 2005’s ‘Confessions On A Dance Floor’. Pre-order/pre-save the album here.

In the lead-up to the album’s release, Madonna has given several high-profile live performances, including an impromptu show in New York’s Times Square earlier this week, and a surprise appearance during Sabrina Carpenter‘s Coachella headline set.

Now, off the back of those gigs, she has a message for modern audiences. Following the premiere of Confessions II – The Film earlier this week, Madonna spoke in a Q&A about how people now have a “persistent need” to document everything.

“I came to this earth to be a doer, not a watcher,” she told the audience, per Variety.

She then discussed the set with Carpenter, where they debuted their duet, ‘Bring Your Love’. Despite enjoying the experience, she suggested that the “deep tribal experience” of dancing together was ruined as she looked out on a sea of phones instead of faces.

When asked for parting words, she added: “Put your fucking phones down and connect.”


So far, she has shared three tracks from the album – ‘I Feel So Free’, ‘Bring Your Love’ and ‘Love Sensation’.

‘Confessions II’ will be Madonna’s first record since her 14th album ‘Madame X’, which arrived in 2019, and it sees her reuniting with ‘Confessions’ producer Stuart Price.

“When Stuart Price and I first started working on this record, this was our manifesto: We must dance, celebrate, and pray with our bodies,” Madonna explained.

“To rave is an art. It’s about pushing your limits and connecting to a community of like-minded people,” she added. “Sound, light, and vibration reshape our perceptions, pulling us into a trance-like state. The repetition of the bass, we don’t just hear it but we feel it. Altering our consciousness and dissolving ego and time.”

In the run up to the album release date, Kylie Minogue has responded to rumours of a Madonna collaboration on ‘Confessions II’, and Linda Perry has expressed her desire to produce for Madonna, describing her latest music as “weak” and “trying to compete with Charli XCX“.

Madonna has also been confirmed as one of the co-headliners for the first ever FIFA World Cup halftime show, alongside Shakira and BTS.

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so i was looking into this for my cat because vet bills are no joke but then i saw the fine print and it’s like… is this even worth it? they dont cover pre-existing stuff and half the time you still end up paying a ton out of pocket. is anyone here actually using pet insurance and finding it helpful or is it just another scam to make you feel better until something actually goes wrong? i get the idea but…

rainy days are cozy but what do you actually do?? i always end up trying to do too many things at once and getting distracted by random articles about dwarf planets or some obscure 2000s band no one remembers lol. vote!!

Disney created a “decoy version” of Toy Story 5 to keep Taylor Swift’s involvement a secret, even from the cast and crew.

• READ MORE: Taylor Swift – ‘The Life Of A Showgirl’ review: magical when the songwriter just lets herself be

Yesterday (June 5), Swift shared ‘I Knew It, I Knew You’, a song she wrote and produced alongside Jack Antonoff specifically for the film. The track is written from the perspective of cowgirl Jessie, and it sees Swift going back to her country roots.

The film is released on June 19, but Swift’s involvement was only officially confirmed in recent days, despite the project having been in production for multiple years. It had, however, been the subject of rampant speculation among Swifties in recent months, something that Swift fuelled when she posted a cryptic countdown on her website in May.

Now, Thomas Jordan, who worked as a VFX supervisor on the film, has revealed that even many of those working on the film did not know that Swift had contributed a song.

Speaking at a SXSW London panel, he said only “a very small group” knew about ‘I Knew It, I Knew You’, with Disney and Pixar showing press and staffers a version of the finished film without the song.


“The crew that made Toy Story 5 did not know about this secret until last week,” Jordan said (via Variety), explaining that a “decoy version” was used in early previews.

“Turns out, Taylor Swift is a huge Toy Story fan like many of us,” Jordan added. “She actually saw an early version of the film, she requested to see it before it was finished and she wrote the song and then asked us if we wanted it. And we said, ‘Uh, yes! Yes we do.’ That was in February, so we’ve had to keep it a secret ever since then.”

After the song was finally announced, Swift wrote: “I’ve always dreamed of getting to write for these characters who I’ve adored since I was a five year old kid watching the first Toy Story movie. I fell instantly in love with Toy Story 5 when I was lucky enough to see it in its early stages, and I wrote this song as soon as I got home from the screening. Sometimes you just know, right?”

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She added a video of herself as a child dressed as Jessie, noting: “Writing this song felt like a musical departure and coming home at the same time.

“Creating something for Jessie was a new challenge and also felt like second nature all at once. And being a @toystory kid from the age of five til now… is an adventure I plan to be on, to infinity and beyond.”

The film will pick up after Woody left to stay with Bo Peep at the end of the last movie. Jessie is now the leader of Bonnie’s room, with Buzz Lightyear her second-in-command, but Bonnie is now enamoured with her new favourite toy, a frog-like tablet named Lilypad.

Bad Bunny is another music superstar involved in the project, after it was recently revealed that he will be the voice of a talking pizza slice, ‘Pizza With Sunglasses’, who is described as a forgotten toy living in an abandoned backyard shed.

The post Disney created “decoy version” of ‘Toy Story 5’ to keep Taylor Swift’s involvement a secret appeared first on NME.

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