Lady Gaga says she's ‘just getting started' while being honored at iHeartRadio Awards
Lady Gaga has seven studio albums under her belt and says that she's not even close to being done.
The 'Abracadabra' singer was honored with the Innovator award during the iHeartRadio Awards on Monday night and during her acceptance speech spoke about how much she appreciated the recognition – even though she didn't know what to think about winning an award that honored her entire career at 38 years old, calling it a 'hard thing to get my head around.'
'On the one hand, I feel like I've been doing this forever and on the other hand, I know I'm just getting started,' she said while on stage accepting her award. 'So even though the world might consider a woman in her late 30s old for a pop star, which is insane, I promise that I'm just getting warmed up.'
Innovation, she continued, isn't about breaking rules – it's 'writing your own and convincing the world they were theirs all along.'
'If I have learned anything in (the) three decades I've been at this, it's that the most powerful innovation is your authenticity,' she said. 'Every time I was the only woman in the room, the loudest voice was inside my own head telling me not to compromise. Listening to that voice always showed me exactly where I belonged.'
Lady Gaga took some time to thank people who inspired her during her speech, including her 'fiercely brilliant' grandmothers, who she said 'reinvented their destinies with nothing but strength and dreams and determination.'
She also name-checked other major artists who inspired her, including Carole King, Madonna and her late collaborator Tony Bennett, 'who taught me to embrace the classics but never be bound by them.'
She also thanked the LGBTQ+ community, who she said 'taught me bravery before the world was ready to listen.'
'Your love, your creativity, your willingness to innovate alongside me is my greatest strength,' she added.
The iHeartRadio Music Awards aired on FOX on Monday night.
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"There were some people in the industry who knew [I was thinking of coming out] and warned me against it, saying it would be a risk," Bain says. "And of course I thought about the risk - that we might lose fans. "But then I thought, society is changing… I might gain more than I might lose." That's the big question: has he thrown open the door to change in an industry that has become global but remains deeply rooted in a conservative South Korea? Bain, whose real name is Song Byeonghee, says he was in secondary school, about 12 years old, when he realised he was gay. Shortly afterwards, he decided to become a K-pop trainee but he kept his sexuality a secret - he felt like being gay was "not allowed". "It wasn't something I questioned… I just thought I had no choice," he says. "There was no-one else [around me that was gay]. I thought I could just pretend and keep going." Wealthy, modern South Korea is still traditional in many ways. Powerful yet conservative churches often see homosexuality as a disability or sin. And same-sex marriage is not legally recognised. In 2021, Bain made his debut as part of a six-member boyband, Just B. They have released several albums and have taken part in reality shows, earning a dedicated audience. But through it all, the years of hiding a part of himself took a toll on Bain. "I was so overwhelmed, I thought maybe I can't be an idol at all. I felt I'd been hiding so much. I decided to talk to Mom." That was about three years ago. His mother was the first person in his family to find out: "We talked for an hour, and I finally said, 'I like men more than women.' That's when she knew." Her reaction was difficult for him. "Honestly, she didn't like it - not at first. She said she thought I could overcome it, that maybe I'd someday like women. She felt sad... that I'd now face bad reactions from others. But [she] said, 'You're my son, so I love you, I support you, I love you.' It was mixed. I was sad, but in the end grateful she said she loves me." Then his team members and company began encouraging him to take the leap - and tell the world. Earlier this year the band began a world tour, and on the last stop of their US tour, Bain decided to come out on stage. Since then, the band has been thrust into the spotlight - with Bain giving countless interviews as he quickly became the new face of the Korean LGBTQ community. "I feel like I've changed a lot since coming out. I feel more confident. When I meet someone new, I show who I am immediately," he says. "But I also feel sad that my identity is such a big deal now." Over time, he hopes, people will stop saying "oh, he's gay, but rather, oh, that's just who he is". When South Korean actor Hong Seok-Cheon came out as gay in 2000, LGBTQ representation truly entered the country's mainstream. He was the first Korean celebrity to open up about his sexuality - and it came at a cost. 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Bain has certainly helped raise awareness, he agrees. "It's a slow process but we're seeing more public figures speaking up or content being created around these LGBTQ issues." But any immediate change in K-pop or the entertainment industry is unlikely, according to him. "It's not just a social issue - it's a market issue. Male idols usually have a much larger female fanbase… [and] if you find out your favourite male idol is gay, that can shatter the illusion that you could one day be the object of his affection," said Min Yong-Jun, a pop culture columnist. "So if they do [come out] they risk shaking the foundation their fandom is built on." Bain, however, says his decision would be worth it if even "one person in K-pop gains strength or interest" from it. "I've spent so long pretending… I realised that because I came out, others felt safe to do so too." The day he came out, he recalls, several fans approached him, saying they were gay or lesbian, talking about their own identity. "They thanked me and I thought to myself 'I should have done this sooner'." How jealous K-pop super fans try to dictate their idols' private lives 'She said I don't need a son like you' BTS is back - but K-pop has changed How a North Korean went from begging to K-pop
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'Proud to be gay': K-pop star on coming out to the world
Bain was halfway through his band's Los Angeles concert on a crisp April night when the music stopped. In an oversized fur coat and black sunglasses, the 24-year-old K-pop star told thousands of fans: "Before I start the next song - I want to share something with you guys." A brief pause and then: "I'm [expletive] proud to be part of the LGBTQ community!" The crowd erupted in applause and screams as Bain broke into Lady Gaga's pride anthem: "Just put your paws up, 'Cause you were born this way, baby". In that moment, as he came out to the world, he was not nervous, he tells the BBC in an interview at his studio in Seoul - rather, he had been trying to "sound cool". A handful of K-pop artists have come out as gay in recent years - but none as publicly as Bain. Even in 2025, that is a bold move in South Korea's entertainment industry, where stars are held to impossible standards. Admitting to even a heterosexual relationship is scandalous. "There were some people in the industry who knew [I was thinking of coming out] and warned me against it, saying it would be a risk," Bain says. "And of course I thought about the risk - that we might lose fans. "But then I thought, society is changing… I might gain more than I might lose." That's the big question: has he thrown open the door to change in an industry that has become global but remains deeply rooted in a conservative South Korea? Bain, whose real name is Song Byeonghee, says he was in secondary school, about 12 years old, when he realised he was gay. Shortly afterwards, he decided to become a K-pop trainee but he kept his sexuality a secret - he felt like being gay was "not allowed". "It wasn't something I questioned… I just thought I had no choice," he says. "There was no-one else [around me that was gay]. I thought I could just pretend and keep going." Wealthy, modern South Korea is still traditional in many ways. Powerful yet conservative churches often see homosexuality as a disability or sin. And same-sex marriage is not legally recognised. In 2021, Bain made his debut as part of a six-member boyband, Just B. They have released several albums and have taken part in reality shows, earning a dedicated audience. But through it all, the years of hiding a part of himself took a toll on Bain. "I was so overwhelmed, I thought maybe I can't be an idol at all. I felt I'd been hiding so much. I decided to talk to Mom." That was about three years ago. His mother was the first person in his family to find out: "We talked for an hour, and I finally said, 'I like men more than women.' That's when she knew." Her reaction was difficult for him. "Honestly, she didn't like it - not at first. She said she thought I could overcome it, that maybe I'd someday like women. She felt sad... that I'd now face bad reactions from others. But [she] said, 'You're my son, so I love you, I support you, I love you.' It was mixed. I was sad, but in the end grateful she said she loves me." Then his team members and company began encouraging him to take the leap - and tell the world. Earlier this year the band began a world tour, and on the last stop of their US tour, Bain decided to come out on stage. Since then, the band has been thrust into the spotlight - with Bain giving countless interviews as he quickly became the new face of the Korean LGBTQ community. "I feel like I've changed a lot since coming out. I feel more confident. When I meet someone new, I show who I am immediately," he says. "But I also feel sad that my identity is such a big deal now." Over time, he hopes, people will stop saying "oh, he's gay, but rather, oh, that's just who he is". When South Korean actor Hong Seok-Cheon came out as gay in 2000, LGBTQ representation truly entered the country's mainstream. He was the first Korean celebrity to open up about his sexuality - and it came at a cost. He was dropped from TV shows and advertisements. Attitudes have certainly changed since then. A Pew survey from 2019 showed that the number of people who accepted homosexuality has risen to 44% from 25% in 2002. And yet, only a handful of other celebrities have come out. In 2018, Holland became the country's first openly gay K-pop artist and, in 2020, Jiae, a former member of girl group Wassup, came out as bisexual. Both have said they found it hard to sign with a record label as a result. Bain's announcement, however, has been celebrated by both fans and South Korea's LGBTQ community. "When someone like an idol comes out, it gives people like me a sense that we are not alone," says a 26-year-old Korean transgender woman, who does not want to be named. "It brings comfort…makes me think, maybe I'm ok the way I am." Online too, a majority of the comments have been positive. One gay fan in a YouTube comment wrote how he was encouraged by Bain, after feeling "so much despair" over "the hateful comments" and discrimination. "But thanks to Bain, I've found the courage to keep going." International fans have especially cheered him on: "After the initial shock, I started to cry," said Lia, a K-pop fan from the US who identifies as lesbian. "Knowing that Korea still has some repression against LGBTQ people, the bravery and courage he displayed by coming out…[was] admirable." South Korea's cultural footprint has been growing globally, and that has brought fans from everywhere, with their own perspectives and beliefs. They may well reshape the K-pop industry. But that will take time. And that is evident in the range of comments in response to Bain's announcement - disapproval to apathy. For one, the country has seen a rise in right-wing, often avowed anti-feminist beliefs in young men, who seem to oppose any challenge to traditional gender roles. And those roles remain strong in South Korea. The government and the church champion conventional family values, encouraging young people to marry and have children so they can boost birth rates, currently the lowest in the world. Given all that, it may not be a surprise that homosexuality is still a taboo, even in a global industry like K-pop. This is a world where even straight couples don't talk about their private lives, says critic Lim Hee-yun. "K-pop has spent nearly 25 years avoiding the topic of sexuality [altogether]. Even heterosexual relationships are hidden to protect fan fantasies." Bain, he adds, has "challenged that silence in a symbolic and powerful way. I believe it marks a major moment". But he believes fans may have reacted very differently - "it might have been explosive" - if a member of a global boyband had come out as gay. "Bain's case was significant, but his group isn't as famous [so] it didn't cause as much stir domestically," Mr Lim says. Bain has certainly helped raise awareness, he agrees. "It's a slow process but we're seeing more public figures speaking up or content being created around these LGBTQ issues." But any immediate change in K-pop or the entertainment industry is unlikely, according to him. "It's not just a social issue - it's a market issue. Male idols usually have a much larger female fanbase… [and] if you find out your favourite male idol is gay, that can shatter the illusion that you could one day be the object of his affection," he says. "So if they do [come out] they risk shaking the foundation their fandom is built on." Bain, however, says his decision would be worth it if even "one person in K-pop gains strength or interest" from it. "I've spent so long pretending… I realised that because I came out, others felt safe to do so too." The day he came out, he recalls, several fans approached him, saying they were gay or lesbian, talking about their own identity. "They thanked me and I thought to myself 'I should have done this sooner'." How jealous K-pop super fans try to dictate their idols' private lives 'She said I don't need a son like you' BTS is back - but K-pop has changed How a North Korean went from begging to K-pop
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Kate Hudson reveals why she was told to ‘divorce' parents Goldie Hawn and Bill Hudson as a teen
Kate Hudson was almost famous under different circumstances. The actress, 46, recently revealed that as a teen, she was told to get emancipated from her parents, Goldie Hawn and Bill Hudson, in order to land more work in Hollywood. 'I had gotten this part that they wanted me to basically divorce my parents so that I could work as an adult,' Hudson said while on the 'Awards Chatter' podcast at the Newport Beach TV Fest earlier this month. 10 Kate Hudson attends Newport Beach TV FEST. Getty Images for Newport Beach TV FEST 10 Kate Hudson speaking at the Newport Beach TV FEST. Getty Images for Newport Beach TV FEST 'My mom was like, 'No – never happening,'' she confessed. 'But then I got the 'Party of Five' and it was so great.' The Fox drama debuted in 1994 and followed the lives of the five Salinger siblings after their parents died in a car crash. The series starred Matthew Fox as the eldest sibling and guardian, Charlie Salinger, Scott Wolf as Bailey Salinger, Neve Campbell as Julia Salinger, Lacey Chabert as Claudia Salinger and Jacob Smith as Owen Salinger. 10 Goldie Hawn and daughter Kate Hudson on July 11, 1992. Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images Hudson guest-starred on Season 2 episode 21, titled 'Spring Breaks: Part 1' in 1996. She played Cory, a co-worker of Michael Goorjian's character Justin Thompson. Thompson was Julia's love interest at the beginning of the show. 'Party of Five' marked Hudson's first role on a television series, and she recalled Goorjian, 54, being 'so sweet' and 'so kind' on set. 10 Goldie Hawn and Bill Hudson. Penske Media via Getty Images 'It was like two days of shooting,' she explained, 'and I missed two days of school and my mom actually allowed me to do it.' 'I was 16 and obsessed with 'Party of Five,' so walking onto that set was like, I couldn't believe that I was going to have a guest role on it, a day player role,' Hudson gushed. 'I was like, oh. It was so fun.' While on the live podcast episode, the 'Running Point' star also touched on why she turned down an acting job at the age of 16. 10 Kate Hudson in 'Party of Five.' Fox At the time, Hudson had begun seriously auditioning for roles and her stepdad, Kurt Russell, suggested she try out for the part of a young girl in his 1996 movie 'Escape from L.A.' 'I went in and auditioned and got that part, and I sort of realized, 'Oh, this is when you start to make choices that will define your career,'' the singer recounted. 'And, 'Do I want to be defined by being Kurt's daughter who got this part? No.'' '[It doesn't] matter if I got it because I was good enough,' continued Hudson, 'it would never be what people would ever think. And I knew that and was like, 'No, I can't.' So I ended up saying no to that, too.' 10 Goldie Hawn and Bill Hudson. Redferns After working on 'Party of Five,' the 'Glass Onion' alum, played Larraine Cahill on Season 1 episode 9 of 'EZ Streets,' titled: Neither Have I Wings to Fly' in 1997. Then, in 2000, Hudson rose to fame as Penny lane in 'Almost Famous.' Which was inevitable, as the Hollywood vet always knew she wanted to be an actress. 10 Goldie Hawn attend the Premiere of 'Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.' FilmMagic 10 Kate Hudson arrives at the Los Angeles Official Emmy FYC Red Carpet For 'Running Point.' FilmMagic Hudson also recalled visiting Russell, 74, on location as a young child, which spurred her love of acting. 'My dad's sets were the fun sets,' she elaborated. 'It was like 'Big Trouble in Little China' and we had slides that would go down into rubber fish, and these amazing costumes.' 'And the thing is, when you grow up on a movie set, it's not that fun,' Hudson confessed. '[There] is a lot of waiting around, so you realize you really love it when you don't want to get off the movie set.' 10 Kurt Russell, Goldie Hawn and Kate Hudson attend the 20th anniversary celebration of the Goldie Hawn Foundation. Getty Images 10 Kurt Russell, Goldie Hawn and Kate Hudson. Getty Images Hawn, 79, first started dating Russell in 1983, and the 'Bride Wars' actress shared that in order to be on set with either of her parents, she had to take a job on the film. 'Performing was always something I knew I was going to do,' Hudson noted. 'There was never a question, but really falling in love with the circus was something that I don't think all kids actually have when they're on a set.'
