Lady Gaga, Mariah Carey to Receive Special Honors at 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards
Nominations for the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards were revealed Wednesday and in the same announcement, organizers shared that Lady Gaga will receive the Innovator of the Year honor. “Gaga has created music that topped the charts for years at multiple formats, while architecting groundbreaking tours and delivering powerful and versatile performances in film and TV,” a portion of the announcement read. Mariah Carey will also be recognized with the Icon Award celebrating her decades-long career when the ceremony airs live on March 17 at 8 p.m. ET on Fox. Taylor Swift and Morgan Wallen are tied for the most nominations at 10 each, while Post Malone, Kendrick Lamar, and Sabrina Carpenter boast nine apiece.
Naomi Girma Reportedly Headed to Chelsea in Record Transfer Deal with San Diego Wave
Multiple reports indicate that San Diego Wave FC defender Naomi Girma will set a new record in the women’s game to cross the pond and play for Chelsea. Should the deal go through, it would be the most expensive transfer fee for a pro women’s soccer player, valued at $1.1 million. Girma’s current contract with the Wave is set to expire in 2026. Chelsea currently sits top of the WSL table with a seven-point lead over Arsenal and are through to the knockout round of the Women’s Champions League.
Netflix to Open Restaurant in Las Vegas in February
A new restaurant by Netflix is opening on the Las Vegas strip next month. Per a Wednesday release from the company, Netflix Bites will welcome guests beginning Feb. 20 at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino. Labeled as a “unique dining adventure that brings the magic of the screen to the table,” dishes are inspired by popular shows like Stranger Things, Bridgerton, Squid Game, Chef’s Table, and more. The streaming giant’s expanded business plan comes in the same week as it reported a strong Q4 performance and announced that it will increase its subscription rates for the first time since 2023.
George Clinton, Doobie Brothers Headline 2025 Songwriters Hall of Fame Class
Inductees to the 2025 Songwriters Hall of Fame were announced Wednesday, and this year’s class includes individuals behind some of the most notable songs in music history, including The Beach Boys front Mike Love, The Doobie Brothers, Tony Macaulay, George Clinton, Ashley Gorley, and Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins. The ceremony is scheduled for June 12 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.
Mike Tirico Returning to NBA Desk Next Season as NBC’s Play-by-Play Commentator
Veteran announcer Mike Tirico, the voice of NBC’s Sunday Night Football, is returning to his post as an NBA play-by-play commentator when the league returns to NBC for the 2025-26 season. Tirico is set to work a limited number of games to begin the campaign due to his previous commitments to calling weekly Sunday games throughout the NFL season and hosting the 2026 Winter Olympics in February. He will then begin to call multiple NBA games per week. Tirico previously called NBA games for ABC, ESPN, and ESPN Radio from 2002-2016.
Sabrina Ionescu, Randy Moss, & More Tapped for Michelob Ultra Super Bowl Ad
Some famous faces are teaming up with Michelob Ultra to help the beer brand deliver yet another epic Super Bowl ad. The company unveiled a 15-second teaser trailer on Wednesday that stars Willem Dafoe, Catherine O’Hara, WNBA champion Sabrina Ionescu, Olympic shot put and discus gold medalist Ryan Crouser, and NFL legend Randy Moss. Titled “Anticipation,” the advert takes place on a pickleball court, and from the looks of things, the competition will be fierce. The full minute-long spot airs on Super Bowl Sunday on Feb. 9.
JetBlue Becomes First Airline to Accept Venmo Payments for Flight Bookings
JetBlue confirmed Tuesday that travelers can now use Venmo to purchase plane tickets, a first for any airline. Customers in the US can purchase flights using their Venmo balance or linked bank accounts, debit cards, or credit cards. The feature is already available on the JetBlue website and will be rolled out soon on the company’s mobile app.
Fanatics to Open Flagship Store in London in Spring 2025
The first Fanatics Collectibles storefront is set to open this spring in London, the sports memorabilia platform announced Wednesday. The massive, 8,647-square-foot store flagship is located on Regent Street and will feature several unique interactive areas for collectors and fans, including a state-of-the-art breaking studio. While trading cards remain the focus, the store will also sell Topps-branded apparel, Fanatics-owned Mitchell & Ness apparel, signed kits, jerseys, balls, etc, and trading card supplies.