Pop Base: Taylor Swift Donates $5 Million to Hurricane Relief Funds, Agatha All Along Confirms Major MCU Theory, Is Olivia Rodrigo Headed For Glastonbury? And Much More!

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Taylor Swift Donates $5 Million to Hurricane Milton Relief Funds

Pop sensation Taylor Swift has once again demonstrated her unwavering commitment to humanitarian causes. The singer has generously donated $5 million to community relief efforts in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Feeding America, a leading domestic hunger relief organization, took to social media to express their gratitude for Swift's substantial contribution. In a statement from CEO Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, the organization praised the singer's generosity and highlighted her donation's impact on affected communities.

"This generous gift will be instrumental in helping people rebuild their lives and recover from the devastation caused by these hurricanes," Babineaux-Fontenot stated. "The funds will provide essential resources such as food, clean water, and supplies to those in need."

Feeding America emphasized the importance of collective action in times of crisis and urged others to follow Swift's lead. "Together, we can make a significant difference in supporting families as they face the challenges ahead," the organization said.

Agatha All Along Finally Confirms Major MCU Theory

The highly anticipated Marvel series, Agatha All Along, delivered a groundbreaking moment in its fifth episode that sent shockwaves through the MCU fandom. The episode confirmed a long-held theory among queer fans: Joe Locke's character, initially known simply as "Teen," is indeed Wiccan, the young superhero and son of Scarlet Witch.

Wiccan, also known as Billy Kaplan or Billy Maximoff, is a beloved character in Marvel Comics who has been a significant figure in the LGBTQ+ community. The revelation in Agatha All Along marked a significant milestone for representation in the MCU.

Speculation about Locke's character had been rampant since the series premiered. While some fans believed he was playing Wiccan, others theorized that he might be Nicholas Scratch, the son of Agatha Harkness. The episode's climactic scene finally put these rumors to rest.

As Teen confronts Agatha Harkness, he reveals his true identity by using Nicholas Scratch's name to get her attention. When Agatha mocks him, Teen unleashes his powers, sending her and her allies tumbling into a mud trap. In a stunning twist, the camera pulls back to reveal Teen wearing a crown, a symbol of his connection to the Scarlet Witch. The episode then concludes with a fitting musical cue: Billie Eilish's "You Should See Me in a Crown."

This confirmation has been met with immense excitement and celebration among queer fans of the MCU. It represents a significant step forward in LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream superhero media.

Olivia Rodrigo Reschedules Manchester Gigs, Glastonbury Hopes Soar

Olivia Rodrigo fans who had eagerly anticipated her performances at Manchester, United Kingdom’s Co-Op Live can now mark their calendars for next Summer. Originally scheduled for this May, the US singer's shows were unfortunately postponed due to unforeseen issues at the new arena.

The rescheduled dates, June 30 and July 1, 2025, have ignited speculation among fans and music enthusiasts. Rumors are circulating that Rodrigo may surprise her audience with an appearance at the iconic Glastonbury Festival, which coincidentally falls on the same weekend.

While the headliners for next year's Glastonbury Festival remain a mystery, Olivia Rodrigo has emerged as a strong favorite among fans. Her impressive debut performance in 2022, which drew a massive crowd to The Other Stage, solidified her status as a rising star.

Rodrigo's set at the previous Glastonbury was memorable for her powerful rendition of Lily Allen's "F*ck You," which she dedicated to the U.S. Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade. The performance was a poignant commentary on current events and showcased Rodrigo's commitment to social justice.

As fans eagerly await the full lineup for next year's festival, Rodrigo's name continues to be mentioned prominently among potential headliners. Her growing popularity and strong connection with the Glastonbury audience make her a compelling choice for the festival's organizers.

New Music Friday

Every so often the club lights still flicker bright neon green. This week they’re just slightly a different shade, but still the very same.

Charli xcx has remixed the entirety of brat, calling it brat and it’s completely different but also still brat. Each track features a new artist and takes on a totally newfangled convention. While Charli has plainly distinguished the album “still brat,” it feels rather more as though a response to the original record, and Charli acknowledging all that came with its release. “First off, you’re bound to the album / Then you’re locked into the promo,” she sings on “I think about it all the time” which now features Bon Iver. We couldn’t have ever imagined Bon Iver on a Charli xcx record, but we’re especially thankful they got together for this. The song somehow feels authentic to both artists’ creative gifts. Alongside this track, we also really enjoyed “Everything is romantic” with Caroline Polachek.

Gracie Abrams released “I Love You, I’m Sorry (Live From Vevo).” This version of the song has gathered a lot of special attention on TikTok in recent weeks, and for good reason. Abrams’ vocals sound particularly nice on this rendition.

Jennie’s new song “Mantra” is great. We just wish it were longer.

Tyla has released TYLA + which is the apparent deluxe to her debut album TYLA. Featuring the hit song “Water,” these new additions still maintain the record’s original free and easy going soundscape Tyla created. “PUSH 2 START” is a good one that puts the singer’s best impressions at their forefront.

Halsey’s taking a really unique approach to her album release. The Great Impersonator comes out October 25th, and the singer’s going to impersonate a different megastar each day until its release — one who has inspired a song from the upcoming album. So far she’s portrayed Dolly Parton, Cher, PJ Harvey and Kate Bush. This week she released “I Never Loved You” which Halsey made with Kate Bush’s genius in mind. The song’s lyrics reveal a pretty doomed lover’s scheme. “You told the nurses that we argued a lot / And you’re rambling on about the last time we fought,” she sings.

Out of every release this week, though, we continuously find ourselves back in the night club’s hottest spot. But, this can be expected when you line up so many great artists to rework your album. On brat and it’s completely different but also still brat, you have Ariana Grande, Troy Sivan, Billie Eilish, Lorde, The 1975 and Bon Iver on just one record which is crazy, and wild, and really shouldn't work at all — yet it does. Our favorite release this week must go to “I think about it all the time” featuring Bon Iver.

—Dawson Therre

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ICYMI: 

• JENNIE and SEVENTEEN will both be performing on MCountdown next week. 

• Nicola Coughlan has stated that Bridgerton ‘will go on forever’, as there are ‘lots more love stories to be told’. 

• ‘BIRDS OF A FEATHER’ by Billie Eilish has hit Number One on US Apple Music for the first time since its release.

• Anne Hathaway apologized to journalist Kjersti Flea after an ‘awful interview’ went viral - stating that Hathaway has offered her another interview when her next movie is released.

• Shawn Mendes has pushed back the release date of his album, ‘Shawn’, to November 15th, stating that he ‘needs a little bit more time to bring some new inspiration and ideas to life’.