AJ MCLEAN SINGS RIHANNA: Backstreet Boy’s AJ McLean has released his cover of “Love on the Brain,” Rihanna’s Top 5 hit from her 2016 album, Anti. He tells Us Weekly that he recorded the song four years ago after his manager suggested that he cut his own version of a song by a female artist. AJ’s wife, Rochelle, was listening to Anti at the time and suggested he try “Love on the Brain.” “I listened to it and I couldn’t stop listening to it,” AJ recalls. After he decided to go in a country direction for his solo project, AJ shelved the cover, though he did play it for fans on the most recent Backstreet cruise and, he says, “They went nuts.” He’s releasing it now, he says, because people need something that makes them feel good.
MARIAH CAREY CELEBRATES ‘E=MC²’ TOPPING THE ITUNES CHART WITH ‘LAST KISS’ PERFORMANCE: Mariah Carey’s dedicated fanbase, Lambily, propelled her 2008 studio album, E=MC², to No. 1 on the iTunes Albums Chart on Monday, and now she’s celebrating their efforts. “Woke up yesterday to find out that E=MC2 is somehow the #1 album on iTunes!! On its 12th anniversary no less 😃 Lambily, you are the friggin’ BEST! I hope you enjoy this impromptu version of Last Kiss ft. Mutley ❤️❤️❤️ #JusticeForEMC2,” she captioned a video of herself singing a deep cut from the record.
SELENA GOMEZ REMAKES HER ‘BOYFRIEND’ VIDEO USING DOLLS: Selena Gomez directed a new video for her song, “Boyfriend,” which is a shot-for-shot remake of her original music video using dolls instead of real people. The detailed visual features a Barbie version of Selena as she goes on a series of dates with Ken doll suitors and uses a magic potion to turn them all into frogs. Eagle-eyed fans noticed the boy dolls seem to include members of BTS, specifically the Jin and Jungkook dolls from their 2019 Mattel collaboration. “Boyfriend” is featured on the deluxe version of Selena’s latest album, Rare.