By Wonderwall.com Editors
8:38am PST, Dec 20, 2019
Camila Cabello apologizes for "ignorant" past language
Camila Cabello is apologizing for some previous bad behavior. The "Señorita" singer took to Instagram on Dec. 18 with a message telling fans she's "deeply ashamed" of racist language including the N-word and images that she posted on Tumblr when she was 15 and is full of regret. "I was uneducated and ignorant and once I became aware of the history and the weight and the true meaning behind this horrible and hurtful language, I was deeply embarrassed I ever used it," she wrote in part after the offensive posts resurfaced. "I'm 22 now, I'm an adult and I've grown and learned and am conscious and aware of the history and the pain it carries in a way I wasn't before. Those mistakes don't represent the person I am or a person I've ever been. I only stand and have ever stood for love and inclusivity, and my heart has never, even then, had an ounce of hate or divisiveness." Keep reading for more music news of the week…
RELATED: Camila Cabello – Things you need to know about the singer
Tekashi 6ix9ine sentenced to 2 years in prison
Tekashi 6ix9ne has finally been sentenced — and the rapper is getting two years in prison instead of the minimum 47-year term he was facing. The music star was sentenced on Dec. 18 for crimes related to his involvement with a violent street gang that spurred his rise to fame but a judge was lenient because the rapper became a star witness against fellow gang members. The 23 year old, whose real name is Daniel Hernandez, has already served 13 months and will be released by late 2020. The judge went so far to say, "Your cooperation was impressive. It was game changing. It was complete and it was brave." Before his sentencing, Tekashi 6ix9ine expressed regret for joining the gang and apologized to his family, his fans and the victims. He's been the target of jokes from media personalities during the past year for being a "snitch." Snoop Dogg wrote on Instagram that the young rapper was a sellout compared to his friend Martha Stewart, who once served a five-month prison for lying about a stock sale without implicating others.
RELATED: Celebrity mug shots
Diddy to receive Icon Award at pre-Grammy gala
It was announced on Dec. 18 that Sean "Diddy" Combs would be receiving the 2020 Grammy Salute To Industry Icons honor in celebration of his 25-year career and "continuous influence on the music industry and beyond," the Recording Academy said. The Academy's statement gushed about the rapper and businessman, saying, "for nearly three decades, Diddy has fused his boundless creativity and sharp entrepreneurial spirit to create timeless art and build brands and institutions that have shifted our global music culture. By bringing the music and lifestyle of East Coast hip hop to the masses, he was an early reminder of music's unifying ability to flip our perceptions and broaden our connections to all corners of the world. Over the years, Diddy has persistently empowered other music creators and we're honored to celebrate his culture-shaping impact at this year's Pre-Grammy Gala." The three-time Grammy winner will be celebrated at Clive Davis' annual pre-Grammys party on Jan. 25, 2020, the night before the 62nd Annual Grammys.
RELATED: Hip-hop music's richest celebrities
Gershon Kingsley, Moog synthesizer pioneer, dies at 97
Electronic music pioneer, composer and conductor Gershon Kingsley passed away on Dec. 10. The music legend, who played a pivotal role in popularizing the synthesizer sound, was 97. He's best known for his top 10 hit "Popcorn," which reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972, and No. 1 in at least six other countries. In 1955, he famously became the musical director for a Broadway production of "The Entertainer" starring Laurence Olivier. He is survived by his two daughters, Melinda and Alisse, his son-in-law and grandson.
Judy Garland earns first Billboard top 10 since 1945
Congrats are in order for the late, great Judy Garland. It was announced on Dec. 14 that her song "The Man That Got Away" landed on the Billboard top 10 dance charts in the form of a remix by Eric Kupper. This marks the first time in 74 years that Judy, who died in 1969, has been on top of a Billboard songs chart. "On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe" was the last song Judy had in the top 10 in 1945. "My father was a huge Judy Garland fan, and I grew up loving her voice," Eric told Billboard. "To be able to work on one of her recordings, especially this song, is such an honor. Also, the technical challenges involved with remixing this older recording were actually quite fun!" The renewed interest in Judy's work follows the release of the biopic "Judy" starring Renee Zellweger earlier this year.
Mariah Carey's Christmas hit is finally No. 1 — 25 years later!
All she wanted for Christmas was another No. 1 — and she got it! For the first time since its 1994 release, Mariah Carey's holiday classic "All I Want For Christmas Is You" is the No. 1 song in the country! As of Dec. 17, the song also holds the title of the longest stretch of time that a song has taken to reach No. 1 on the Billboard chart. When it was first released, it wasn't eligible for the Hot 100 because it wasn't commercially available as a physical single at the time. Mariah celebrated by tweeting, "We did it!"
Tom Petty's widow, daughters to jointly run estate
Some good news for the estate of musical legend Tom Petty. It was announced on Dec. 18 that Tom's widow, Dana Petty, and daughters from a previous marriage, Annakim Violette and Adria Petty, have reached an agreement in a drawn-out lawsuit over the late rocker's estate. A statement released by the estate reveals that both parties "resolved their differences and dismissed all litigation matters." The women also said that "Each of them sincerely regrets that in their intense grief over Tom's tragic death, actions were taken that were hurtful to one another." In order to show that the family is unified, they have started a joint LLC called Tom Petty Legacy to manage all aspects of the estate. "We are committed to honoring Tom's voice, music, integrity and his charitable spirit," Dana, Annakim and Adria said in a joint statement.
Marc Anthony's yacht catches fire and capsizes in Miami
Rough night for singer Marc Anthony! On Dec. 18 at 7:30 p.m., Miami-Dade firemen responded to reports of a yacht fire on Florida's Watson Island. A rep for Marc confirmed that the yacht belonged to the Latin music superstar. According to the fire department, there were two crew members on board who were able to get off safely and there were no reported injuries. In photos and videos of the blaze, flames are visible on the top levels before the boat capsized.
