Latest news with #Man'sBestFriend
Nahar Net
34 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Nahar Net
Grammy category created for album covers as Sabrina Carpenter's takes spotlight
by Naharnet Newsdesk 13 June 2025, 15:34 The Recording Academy has tweaked some of its rules for the 2026 Grammy Awards, including carving out a stand-alone category for best album cover — a day after Sabrina Carpenter sparked considerable discourse unveiling what is believed to be the cover for her next album. The academy on Thursday announced that the best recording package and the best boxed or special limited edition package categories will be combined into the best recording package category, with best album cover spun out on its own. The last Grammy for best recording package went to "Brat," the Charli xcx album whose distinctive cover was immediately embraced by pop culture and meme creators. "The Academy's top priority is to represent the music people that we serve each year," Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy said in a statement. "That entails listening carefully to our members to make sure our rules and guidelines reflect today's music and allow us to accurately recognize as many deserving creators as possible." Carpenter revealed the title and release date for her new album, "Man's Best Friend," on Wednesday. The image shows Carpenter, dressed in a black dress and high heels, kneeling on the ground in a dog-like pose while an unseen person pulls her by the hair. On social media, some fans said the image was demeaning while others argued it was satirical. The album would be eligible for the new category if she releases "Man's Best Friend" on Aug. 29, as promised. The Grammy eligibility period closes the next day. Other Grammy changes include the creation of a best traditional country album category, while the existing best country album category has been renamed best contemporary country album. (Beyoncé won best country album at the 2025 Grammy Awards for "Cowboy Carter.") The best new artist category has also been expanded to include acts who were featured on previous album of the year nominees, so long as they fall below 20% of the album's music. The Grammys will be held Feb. 1 at Arena in Los Angeles, with nominations set to be announced on Nov. 7.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Grammys' launch 'suspicious' new category amid outrage over Sabrina Carpenter's shocking album art
The Grammys has announced a surprising, some say ridiculous, new category for the 2026 Grammy Awards: Best Album Cover, spun out from the broader packaging award. In an era dominated by streaming, where album art is often just a tiny thumbnail on a screen, this feels like a strange throwback. But what really makes this timing eyebrow-raising is that it arrives just as Sabrina Carpenter's latest album cover has ignited a storm of backlash online. Last week, pop-star of the moment, Carpenter unveiled the artwork for her upcoming album Man's Best Friend, and it didn't take long for opinions to explode. The cover shows the star in a provocative, dog-like pose with an unseen figure pulling her by the hair, which is an image some fans have called demeaning, triggering, and wildly inappropriate. A woman's aid charity has also slammed it. Others argue it's a bold, satirical take on toxic relationships and power dynamics. Whatever the take, the cover has become a lightning rod for fierce social media debates, thrusting Carpenter back into the headlines amid a slew of recent controversies. The star's past scandals have included heated arguments over her political views, provocative social media posts, and a reputation for courting attention with boundary-pushing visuals. This latest album art only adds fuel to the fire, raising questions about where art ends and shock tactics begin. Against this backdrop, the Grammys' decision to give album covers their own standalone trophy has struck some fans on social media as baffling and encouraging artists to be gratuitously outrageous . With physical album sales plummeting and streaming ruling the music world, insiders wonder if this is an award anyone really asked for - especially when the first major contender is such a polarising image. Industry insiders have questioned whether a separate award is really necessary, especially at a moment when the category is spotlighted by a cover that many find deeply divisive. The last award for Best Recording Package went to Charli XCX's album Brat, whose distinctive cover was widely embraced. Beyond the album art prize, the Recording Academy is also tweaking other categories, including splitting country music into 'traditional' and 'contemporary' divisions and expanding eligibility for Best New Artist to include featured performers who contributed less than 20% of an album's music. The 2026 ceremony is set for February 1 in Los Angeles, with nominations announced November 7. Should Carpenter release Man's Best Friend on August 29 as promised, she'll be the inaugural nominee in this odd new category ensuring that both she and the Grammys will be talking points for months.
India Today
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
You're sharing them: Sabrina Carpenter defends racy artwork and lyrics of her songs
"You should stay in my good graces" - the lyrics from one of Sabrina Carpenter's songs - meant so much more when she used it to address the backlash over her bold performances and provocative album artwork. In an interview recently, the popular international artiste claimed that those criticising her songs are people who consume the same work in the first a conversation with The Rolling Stone, the singer spoke about her experiences of navigating public scrutiny as a female artiste in the spotlight. The cover image of her latest album, 'Man's Best Friend', sparked controversy, with people on social media calling it inappropriate and offensive. The artwork portrayed Sabrina in a dog-like pose, next to a person who was grabbing her hair. This prompted some critics to accuse her of catering to the male gaze. However, Sabrina advocated for her choices, shedding light on the irony that the same audience criticising her is also promoting her sexually explicit "It's always so funny to me when people complain. They're like, 'All she does is sing about this.' But those are the songs that you've made popular. Clearly, you love sex. You're obsessed with it. It's in my show,' Sabrina told the 'Espresso' singer also highlighted that her performances, including racy acts during her songs like 'Juno' and 'Bed Chem,' are fan favourites. She claims that they are gaining traction due to public interest in themes of sex.'There are so many more moments than the Juno positions, but those are the ones you post every night and comment on. I can't control that. If you come to the show, you'll also hear the ballads, you'll hear the more introspective numbers,' she pop star pointed out that female artistes continue to face intense scrutiny, especially when expressing their sexuality. She cited icons like Christina Aguilera and Rihanna, emphasising that despite their impact, women in the industry still deal with cultural is gearing up to release her seventh studio album, 'Man's Best Friend', on August 29, following the success of her 2024 record 'Short n' Sweet'. Its lead single, 'Manchild,' was released on June 5 and blended country-inspired pop with a disco-synth twist.
USA Today
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Sabrina Carpenter responds to scandal over being 'scrutinized' for racy songs, album cover
Sabrina Carpenter responds to scandal over being 'scrutinized' for racy songs, album cover Show Caption Hide Caption Met Gala: Sabrina Carpenter wears bodysuit Sabrina Carpenter is giving "espresso" as she wears a stunning pinstripe bodysuit to the Met Gala red carpet. Sabrina Carpenter is talking fame, her evolving artistry and criticism ahead of the release of her new (and already controversial) album, "Man's Best Friend." The pop hitmaker, known for her suggestive lyrics, dismissed scrutiny over expressing her sexuality in a new cover story with Rolling Stone published June 12, arguing that the attention around her racy songs says more about the audience than about her. "It's always so funny to me when people complain. They're like, 'All she does is sing about this.' But those are the songs that you've made popular," she told the outlet. "Clearly you love sex. You're obsessed with it." Although the "Espresso" singer confidently brushed off the criticism, she still shared dismay over the constant backlash women in music face today. "I truly feel like I've never lived in a time where women have been picked apart more, and scrutinized in every capacity," she later added. "I'm not just talking about me. I'm talking about every female artist that is making art right now." Sabrina Carpenter sparks controversy with provocative 'Man's Best Friend' album cover Sabrina Carpenter talks single life amid rumored Barry Koeghan split Elsewhere in the interview, Carpenter stayed coy about her dating life, neither explicitly confirming nor denying being single. "Am I doing the single thing right now?" she said. "I'm doing the 25-year-old thing right now, whatever that means," the now 26-year-old continued. Along with "Man's Best Friend," Carpenter released her latest single, "Manchild," this month. The music video for the synth-pop track drew buzz on social media for Carpenter's bold look, which consisted of a white button-up, baby blue heels and denim "micro" shorts, as well as intrigue over who the lyrics might be about. Some fans suggested Barry Koeghan, who was previously romantically linked to the singer. Celebrities tell all about aging, marriage and Beyoncé in these 10 bingeable memoirs Asked by Rolling Stone which ex the song is about, though, Carpenter quipped: "It's about your dad." She did however address the pressure that women are under while dating in the spotlight, lamenting the often one-sided scrutiny that seems reserved just for women. "People underestimate how tricky it is to navigate being a young woman, having relationships, and then having a bunch of strangers have opinions on them," she said. "If they had the same microscope on their personal lives, I don't think they'd be as eloquently spoken as me. I know it's a tale as old as time. It's just unfortunate that it's still a tale." Contributing: Edward Segarra
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Grammys to split country album into two categories and revive album cover field
The Grammy Awards are returning next February with two additional categories. The 68th awards, scheduled for Feb. 1 at Arena, will now include prizes for album cover and traditional country album. The previous country album category has been renamed contemporary country album. The award for album cover is not entirely new. The honor went to Frank Sinatra for 'Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely' during the first-ever ceremony in 1959. Over the years, visual presentation has been recognized in the packaging field under various names. Read more: Everything that happened at the 2025 Grammy Awards Additionally, the award for boxed or special edition limited package will be absorbed into recording package, which considers package design, photography and graphic art and materials. The changes to the country category come after Beyoncé won country album and album of the year for the genre-bending 'Cowboy Carter.' Following her performance at Stagecoach, alternative pop artist Lana Del Rey also plans to release a country album, though the release date has not been confirmed. Read more: How Beyoncé finally won album of the year at the Grammys "Country music has evolved in a major way over the past decade, with traditional country experiencing a massive resurgence, growing in popularity and volume," Recording Academy Chief Executive Harvey Mason Jr. said in a statement. "Traditional country has a timeless, distinct sound that's inspired generations of musicians throughout the years. It's an important part of the country music story and deserves to be celebrated and recognized with intention." In addition to the category and field changes, the Recording Academy has amended the criteria for best new artist. Now, artists who have been nominated for album of the year, but whose contributions were below the 20% playing time threshold, will remain eligible for the award. Music released between Aug. 31, 2024 and Aug. 30, 2025, will be eligible for the 2026 Grammy Awards — so Sabrina Carpenter's forthcoming 'Man's Best Friend,' due Aug. 29, narrowly makes the deadline. Nominations will be announced Nov. 7. Get notified when the biggest stories in Hollywood, culture and entertainment go live. Sign up for L.A. Times entertainment alerts. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
