Pop Base: Miley Becomes Youngest 'Disney Legend' and Obama's Having a 'BRAT Summer'

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Miley Cyrus Becomes Youngest ‘Disney Legend’

This week, at the 2024 D23 Ceremony, Miley Cyrus made history by becoming the youngest recipient of the prestigious Disney Legend title.

During a heartfelt speech at the fan convention, Miley expressed her enduring pride in her role as Hannah Montana, as she received a standing ovation from the 12,000 attendees as she accepted her award at the Honda Centre in Anaheim, California, the iconic home of Disneyland.

As she addressed the audience, she reflected on the transformative journey since her breakout role as a teenager leading a double life as a pop star. She expressed that "a little bit of everything has changed," paradoxically, "nothing has changed at all."

Lainey Wilson serenaded the crowd with one of Hannah Montana's most beloved tracks, "The Best of Both Worlds," before Miley made a heartfelt appearance. Emotions ran high as she reminisced about her initial portrayal of Hannah, recalling the need for concert footage while remaining incognito as Miley. She shared the poignant memory of her first concert, which took place at a shopping centre where tickets were given away for free, marking the beginning of her extraordinary journey.

During the convention, Cyrus was not the only star to be honored with the Disney Legend title. Harrison Ford, known for his roles in Star Wars and Indiana Jones, was also recognized, as was Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis.

A total of 14 individuals were acknowledged as Disney Legends at the event, including acclaimed composer John Williams, renowned costume designer Colleen Attwood, and Martha Blanding - who made history as Disneyland’s first full-time black tour guide.

Barack Obama is Having a ‘BRAT Summer’

Former President Barack Obama has unveiled his summer playlist for 2024. The playlist features an array of pop hits, including the high-energy ‘360’ by Charli xcx, taken from her latest album, BRAT, the country-infused ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ by Beyoncé, and the captivating ‘CHIHIRO’ by Billie Eilish. 

This annual tradition, which began in 2015 during his time in office, not only incorporates his favorite songs of the year but also showcases the books he has been immersed in. Obama, this year, is making his diverse music taste known, spanning hyperpop to afrobeats and folk music. 

Highlights on the playlist include Charli XCX's viral turbo-charged track from her Brat album, Tommy Richman's breakout single "Million Dollar Baby," and the soulful "One of These Things First" by English musician Nick Drake. Obama also acknowledged the musical talents of WILLOW, the 23-year-old daughter of Will Smith, for her song "Symptom of Life." Additionally, he mentioned the collaborative track "Wanna Be" by American rappers GloRilla and Megan Thee Stallion, as well as the song "Charge It" by British musician Enny.

In a social media post, Obama told fans: “With summer winding down, I wanted to share some songs that I’ve been listening to lately – and it wouldn’t be my playlist if it didn’t include an eclectic mix. I hope you find something new to listen to!”

ICYMI:

• This year’s VMAs have been rescheduled to September 11th in a plan to avoid clashing with the Presidential debate. Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, Camila Cabello, GloRilla, and Rauw Alejandro are the first performers to be announced for this year's ceremony.

• Are Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars about to drop a collaboration? Reports suggest that a collaboration between the pair could be coming soon, with rumors suggesting the track will be titled ‘Die With a Smile’.

• mgk took over the streets of Cleveland for his annual ‘MGK DAY’ celebration with surprise performances by Travis Barker and Jelly Roll.

• Lorde has archived her only post on Instagram, ‘clearing her feed’, notably, the post was a teaser for her upcoming album.

• New teasers have been shared for the music video for ‘New Woman’ by LISA featuring Rosalia. The music video, directed by Dave Meyers, is set to be released on Friday.

• 'This Is How Tomorrow Moves’ by beabadoobee is tracking to debut at #1 on the UK’s album charts this week.

• London’s iconic music awards, the AIM Awards, have announced their nominees, the likes of Fontaines D.C., Jorja Smith, Sampha, and D-Block Europe have all been announced as nominees, with the ceremony to take place in October.