Hip-Hop Lives Here
Hip-Hop Lives Here
Taylor Swift paid tribute to Alan Jackson during the country legend's farewell concert on Saturday (June 27), appearing in a special video message to thank him for the lasting impact he has had on both her career and her life.
Shown on the giant screens inside Nashville's Nissan Stadium, Swift shared that "Drive" remains her favorite song by Jackson because, as she put it, "in that song you really paint such a picture."
"That was an example that was so good for me to see at a young age, of an artist really just letting fans into the details of his life," she continued. "I appreciate you so much for the ways you have treated me and other artists and writers with such support and encouragement over the years."
The 14 time Grammy winner was among several artists who honored Jackson during the evening as he officially brought his touring career of more than three decades to a close. Marketed as Last Call: One More for the Road – The Finale, the event also featured recorded tributes from Reba McEntire, Randy Travis, Keith Urban and Zac Brown, along with live guest appearances by George Strait, Luke Combs, Eric Church and Carrie Underwood. Highlights from the celebration were filmed for an upcoming NBC television special.
Swift's appearance came during a busy stretch in her own career. The Songwriters Hall of Fame recently welcomed her as one of its newest inductees, where she delivered a speech at the ceremony. The honor followed the release of "I Knew It, I Knew You," her original song for Toy Story 5, which became her 15th Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 single.
Away from music, Swift has also been at the center of widespread speculation that she and fiancé Travis Kelce are preparing to marry within days. Reports suggest the wedding is expected to take place over Fourth of July weekend at Madison Square Garden.
Watch Swift’s video paying tribute to Jackson below.
Share
Advertisement
Skepta is not someone who regularly comments on situations that do not involve him, which is why his occasional public criticism tends to attract attention. Over the weekend, the rapper took to Twitter to call out what he described as "grown men" and "complete strangers" after many people felt North West was made uncomfortable during her appearance at Paris Fashion Week.
Several videos from the event quickly spread across social media, showing the 13 year old interacting with fans. In one clip, a man ignored her attempt to greet him with a handshake and instead pulled her into a hug. The U.K. artist responded to the footage on Saturday, June 27, making it clear that he did not approve of the interaction.
"A blind man could see she wanted a handshake kmt," he wrote, captioning the aforementioned clip. "My fans know I try to stay out of peoples business but damn the way grown men, complete strangers, try to use North makes me sick."
One social media user replied to Big Smoke by suggesting that North's piercings made her seem older than her age, arguing that she was only a child on paper. Skepta strongly rejected that idea. "WOW!! Protect your kids people. Protect your kids!" he wrote. "Sickening, schools teaching French, German & English when really the language most people need to f***ing learn is ‘Body Language.’"
Another user questioned his criticism by asking, "Is hugging a social offense now?," prompting Skepta to respond directly. "What are you talking about?! She is 13 years old and she put her hand out for a handshake, you don’t ignore that. I can’t believe some these replies to my tweet."
It remains to be seen whether Skepta's comments will spark more discussion online or help bring the conversation to a close.
North West has frequently found herself at the center of public debate, with some critics questioning Kanye West and Kim Kardashian's parenting while others argue that media attention surrounding her has become excessive. Regardless of those opinions, many people overlook North's own individuality and instead become caught up in online narratives, often losing sight of basic respect and appropriate public behavior.
North is also preparing for an upcoming tour, and many hope fans will continue to respect her personal space during future public appearances. Meanwhile, Skepta has maintained a relatively quiet presence musically, leaving fans looking forward to whatever new music he decides to release next.
Share
Advertisement
