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‘Treat Yo Shelf’ at this vibrant bookstore in Arkansas
Independent bookstores are the heartbeats of their communities. They provide culture and community, generate local jobs and sales tax revenue, promote literacy and education, champion and center diverse and new authors, connect readers to books in a personal and authentic way, and actively support the right to read and access to books in their communities.
Each week, we profile an independent bookstore, sharing what makes each one special and getting their expert and unique book recommendations.
This week we have Ashley Watroba, owner of Treat Yo Shelf Books in Mountain Home, Arkansas.
What’s your store’s story?
Established in January 2023, my store aims to be a welcoming sanctuary, more than just a place to buy books. Housed in a charming building from the 1930s, the store prioritizes creating a safe and loving environment for all, embracing the timeless value of literature.
What makes your independent bookstore unique?
Our customers consistently express their appreciation for the diverse and inclusive range of books we offer. They love seeing themselves and their experiences reflected on our shelves, and they value the opportunity to discover stories from a wide variety of perspectives. We’ve heard time and again that our store feels like a welcoming and safe space for everyone, regardless of their background or identity. That sense of belonging is something we cherish.
What’s your favorite section in your store?
Without a doubt, my favorite section in the store is the kids’ area. It’s the first thing you see when you walk through the doors, and it always fills me with joy. It’s just so bright and vibrant, a real burst of color and energy. But more than that, it’s the sheer delight of the children who come in. They have such a fantastic time exploring and playing with all the books and toys. It’s not uncommon to see them completely immersed in a story or engaged in imaginative play. Honestly, the hardest part is often getting them to leave – we’ve had kids cry because they don’t want to go, which, while a little heartbreaking, is also a testament to how much they love being there. Seeing their faces light up and knowing we’re fostering a love of reading and imagination makes it the most rewarding part of my day.
What book do you love to recommend to customers and why?
If I had to pick one book I absolutely adore recommending, it would have to be “Legends & Lattes” by Travis Baldree. I’ve been singing its praises for nearly two years now, and for good reason. It’s simply the best example of cozy fantasy.
What makes it so special? It’s just so warm and loving. The story is like a gentle hug, wrapping you up in a sense of comfort and contentment. It’s the perfect escape from the everyday, a reminder of the simple joys in life.
It’s a story about building community, finding your passion, and the unexpected paths life can take you on. It’s a reminder that even after a life of adventure, it’s never too late to find a new beginning. I think everyone needs a little bit of that warmth and positivity in their lives, and “Legends & Lattes” delivers it in spades.
What book do you think deserves more attention and why?
There’s one book that I truly believe deserves a much wider audience: “The House of Ash and Bone” by Joel A. Sutherland. It’s a hidden gem in the horror genre, and honestly, it kept me up at night.
What makes it so special is the perfect balance it strikes between genuine creepiness and a compelling, well-crafted story. It’s not just jump scares; it’s a slow burn that builds suspense and dread, getting under your skin and staying there. The atmosphere is incredibly effective, and the characters are engaging, drawing you into their unsettling world.
It delivers a truly chilling and satisfying reading experience. It’s for anyone who loves a good ghost story with depth and substance. If you’re looking for a book that will give you goosebumps and make you question every creak in your house, “The House of Ash and Bone” is a must-read.
What books/series are you most excited about coming out in the next few months and why?
Without a doubt, the book I’m most excited about in the coming months is the third installment in the “Legends & Lattes” series by Travis Baldree, “Brigands & Breadknives.” I pre-ordered it the moment I could, and I’m practically vibrating with anticipation.
I adore this series and I’m completely invested in the characters and their world. I’m especially eager to follow Fern’s journey. I’m so curious to see where Baldree takes her next. The world he’s created is so inviting and heartwarming, and I just can’t wait to immerse myself in it again.
Why is shopping at local, independent bookstores important?
Shopping at local, independent bookstores is absolutely vital, and frankly, it’s the only way we can continue to exist. It’s not just about buying books; it’s about supporting a community, a passion, and a unique cultural space.
Independent booksellers pour our hearts and souls into our stores. We curate our selections with care, taking into account the specific interests and needs of our community. We go above and beyond what any large corporation would do, offering personalized recommendations, hosting engaging events, and creating a welcoming atmosphere where everyone feels at home.
We’re deeply invested in our communities. We strive to give back, partnering with local businesses, supporting local authors, and creating spaces for connection and dialogue. We’re more than just retailers; we’re community hubs, cultural anchors, and passionate advocates for literacy.
The truth is, we rely on the support of our community to thrive. Every purchase, every visit, every word of mouth recommendation makes a difference. We’ll continue to be here, to serve our community and to share our love of books, as long as we have that support. It’s a symbiotic relationship, and one that’s essential for the vibrancy of our neighborhoods.
What are some of your store’s events, programs, or partnerships coming up that you would like to share?
We are continuing our ever-popular Boozy Book Fairs! Each month, we partner with a fantastic local coffeehouse and brewery to bring you a unique and enjoyable experience with different themes each time!
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Trump slams Taylor Swift as ‘no longer hot’ on Truth Social
See Taylor Swift’s Harris endorsement, Trump’s response after debate
Taylor Swift took to Instagram to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. Former President Donald Trump responded in the spin room.
President Donald Trump is again taking aim at pop star Taylor Swift.
The president took to right-leaning social platform Truth Social on May 16 to ask his followers: “Has anyone noticed that, since I said ‘I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT,’ she’s no longer ‘HOT?’”
Trump first said he hated Swift, one of the music industry’s most powerful and influential stars, in September after she endorsed his opponent — former Vice President Kamala Harris — in the 2024 presidential election.
“I hate Taylor Swift,” Trump said at the time on Truth Social, days after the singer endorsed Harris amid pressure from fans in an Instagram post to her 284 million followers immediately after the sole general election debate.
In her 2020 Netflix documentary “Miss Americana,” Swift got candid about her political leanings and also slammed the former president.
Filmed during the 2018 midterm elections, she discussed endorsing the opponent of U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn, the ultra-conservative from Tennessee who she called “Trump in a wig.”
When her publicist Tree Paine tried to foresee potential PR issues for the pop star, including backlash from the Trump, Swift said “I don’t care.”
Taylor Swift has skipped mentioning Trump by name in recent years
The powerful foes have long had “Bad Blood.”
While Swift has rarely posted or mentioned Trump by name in recent years, except to point out in her endorsement that there was AI showing her “falsely endorsing Donald Trump … and the dangers of spreading misinformation,” Trump has continued to throw shade.
“Recently I was made aware that AI of ‘me’ falsely endorsing Donald Trump’s presidential run was posted to his site,” Swift wrote, referencing Trump taking to his social media platform Truth Social and posting several suspected artificial intelligence-generated images alluding to Swift and Swifties’ support for his campaign.
But in September, during a Fox News interview, Trump said that he preferred Swift’s close friend Brittany Mahomes, the Kansas City businesswoman and wife of NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Donald Trump continues to jab Taylor Swift over Super Bowl
During press interviews for Super Bowl 59, Mahomes’ teammate and Swift’s boyfriend Travis Kelce stoked controversy for praising Trump’s plans to attend the two-time reigning champ’s big game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
“That’s awesome. It’s a great honor,” he told reporters, according to videos posted by multiple media outlets Wednesday. “I think, you know, no matter who the president is, I know I’m excited because it’s the biggest game of my life, you know, and having the president there, you know, it’s the best country in the world. So, that’d be pretty cool.”
After attending the Super Bowl where Swift was booed by infamously rowdy Eagles fans, Trump posted a message on Truth Social, “The only one that had a tougher night than the Kansas City Chiefs was Taylor Swift. She got BOOED out of the Stadium. MAGA is very unforgiving!”
During the Eagles’ Super Bowl celebration at the White House last month, Trump took another jab at Swift.
“I watched in person. I was there along with Taylor Swift. How did that work out?” Trump said during the April 28 celebration, drawing laughter from the crowd of Eagles fans. “How did that one work out?”
Contributing: Phillip M. Bailey, Brian Truitt, USA TODAY; Bryan West, The Nashville Tennessean
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Adam Sandler’s tribute to dead ‘Happy Gilmore’ rival: Alligator Morris
‘Happy Gilmore 2’ has been confirmed by Netflix
Netflix has confirmed “Happy Gilmore 2” is in the works, with Adam Sandler set to reprise his role as the titular golfer.
Bang Showbiz
Adam Sandler is paying tribute to his “Happy Gilmore” reptile costar and onscreen rival, Morris the alligator.
The movie star alligator was at least 80 years old and 11 feet long when he died in his retirement home, the Colorado Gator Farm said in a Facebook post on May 11. Morris was best known for his scene-stealing role in the 1996 comedy “Happy Gilmore,” where he faced off against Sandler’s ill-tempered golfer after greedily swallowing his golf ball.
Even though the alligator ended up decapitated by golf club in the comedy, Sandler remembered their real moments fondly with a heartfelt May 15 Instagram post.
“Goodbye, Morris. We are all gonna miss you,” Sandler wrote in the poignant tribute. “You could be hard on directors, make-up artists, costumers – really anyone with arms or legs – but I know you did it for the ultimate good of the film.”
Adam Sandler remembers ‘Happy Gilmore’ memories of Morris the alligator
The post harkened back to the Vancouver set where Morris taught Sandler Hollywood life lessons.
“The day you wouldn’t come out of your trailer unless we sent in 40 heads of lettuce,” Sandler wrote. The episode “taught me a powerful lesson: never compromise your art.”
On screen, Gilmore pummeled the one-eyed alligator, who had previously taken the hand of mentor Derick “Chubbs” Peterson (Carl Weathers). Gilmore eventually presented Chubbs with the alligator head at the end.
Yet, Sandler, who has the sequel “Happy Gilmore 2” coming out on Netflix on July 25, recalled when the duo shared a Three Musketeers bar from the set’s craft services.
“And you let me have the bigger half,” wrote Sandler. “But that’s who you were.”
Will Morris the alligator appear in ‘Happy Gilmore 2’?
Morris was a big alligator star in his day, appearing in movies like “Interview with the Vampire,” “Dr. Doolittle 2” and “Blues Brothers 2000,” and beating out other leading reptiles to play the rogue killer in 1980’s “Alligator” and its toxic 1991 sequel, “Alligator II: The Mutation.”
After an unforgettable “Happy Gilmore” performance, Morris will not appear in “Happy Gilmore 2.”
“The decapitation in the first movie precluded your participation in the sequel,” Sandler wrote. “I will miss the sound of your tail sliding through the tall grass, your cold, bumpy skin, but, most of all, I will miss your infectious laugh. Vaya con dios, old friend.”
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Sarah Jessica Parker ‘enraged’ at book bans and censorship
NEW YORK – The book world’s most creative minds gathered under a giant whale. It sounds like the start of a joke, but the evening’s tone was anything but. At a PEN America’s star-studded literary gala, hosted by comedian Amber Ruffin in the Natural History Museum’s ocean room, the evening’s unofficial theme was freedom of expression, or rather, the threatened state of it.
The night’s biggest speeches came from actors Sarah Jessica Parker and Taye Diggs, Wesleyan University President Michael S. Roth, author Jodi Picoult and PEN America President and author Jennifer Finney Boylan. All spoke about the Trump administration’s recent actions targeting free speech, diversity, equity and inclusion and public libraries.
“As writers, we also know that the most important part of our work is not the first draft, but the revisions. So I can tell you plainly, Donald Trump will not be the author of the final draft of this country,” Boylan said.
Sarah Jessica Parker ‘enraged’ about threat to public libraries
Parker was honored with a PEN/Audible Literary Service Honoree for her work as a lifelong reader, stewardess of literature and now publisher with her SJP Lit imprint. She’s also an executive producer of the 2025 documentary “The Librarians,” which follows librarians across the country fighting back against targeted efforts to ban and challenge library books.
In her acceptance speech, Parker said she was “enraged” at rising book bans but “incredibly moved by the librarians and advocates pushing back, like the freedom fighters who are standing up to the right to read, often at great personal risk.”
She continued, “To censor books is to limit imagination, curiosity, connection, empathy and inspiration. Libraries aren’t just buildings with shelves, they are a beacon. They are warm in the winter and cool in summer, and they are sanctuaries of possibility. They are the heartbeat of a neighborhood.”
Jodi Picoult, Taye Diggs speak about their banned books
Broadway and film actor Diggs, in introducing honoree and Macmillan CEO Jon Yaged, talked about his own experience with censorship as a children’s book author. Diggs is the author of five picture books, including “Chocolate Me!”, “Mixed Me!” and “Why? A Conversation about Race,” which focus on “being proud of your identity, what it means to be a true friend and having empathy for others,” he said.
“Not too controversial right? Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Several of my books have been banned or challenged in districts around the country for the crime of being too multicultural,” Diggs said.
Picoult, the evening’s gala cochair, is the author of dozens of bestselling novels, including “Nineteen Minutes.” The novel follows the aftermath of a school shooting and currently stands as the most frequently banned book in the country, according to PEN America’s 2023-2024 report.
“Margaret Atwood notwithstanding, I don’t think many writers could dream up an America as dystopian and dysfunctional as it is right now,” Picoult said. “I also know that many of us in this room who are authors, stand at a crossroads, where we understand that in a climate such as this, it is the artists who will lead the opposition, powerful stories and films and plays and translations that will spark readers to resist authoritarianism and to prevent history from repeating itself. We need our publishers and our booksellers to stand with us, and most of all, we need an organization like PEN to unify and protect us on the front lines of this ideological battle.”
Picoult praised the nonprofit organization for standing behind marginalized authors. PEN America has a history of legal action against attempted censorship, including a 2018 case against Trump to prevent censorship of the press and the more recent federal lawsuit challenging book restrictions and removals in Florida. More recently, PEN America compiled a list of more than 350 words that have been limited or removed from government websites and documents, including “abortion,” “women,” “disability,” “climate” and “race.”
PEN also honored imprisoned poet Galal El-Behairy with the PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write award. The Egyptian poet and activist was detained in 2018 on charges of terrorism, “spreading false news” and “insulting the Egyptian army” with his song “Balaha” and poetry book “The Finest Women on Earth.”
“In a time when many progressive organizations are buckling under the bullying of administration that uses threats and funding cuts to ensure obedience, PEN has done the opposite,” Picoult said. “It’s gotten louder, stronger, fiercer.”
Clare Mulroy is USA TODAY’s Books Reporter, where she covers buzzy releases, chats with authors and dives into the culture of reading. Find her on Instagram, subscribe to our weekly Books newsletter or tell her what you’re reading at [email protected].
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Morgan Wallen, Tate McRae release ‘What I Want’ song
Morgan Wallen dodges ‘SNL’ cast post-show, sparking criticism
Morgan Wallen sparked controversy by abruptly walking off stage at the end of “Saturday Night Live” after serving as the musical guest.
unbranded – Entertainment
Morgan Wallen and Tate McRae do what they want, and their new single “What I Want” is no exception.
The controversial country star’s collaboration with the up-and-coming pop superstar, released May 16, comes exactly one month after Wallen announced which artists would appear on his new album “I’m The Problem.”
But McRae fans have taken issue with her for working with the Nashville superstar, who recently raised eyebrows during his stint as “Saturday Night Live” musical guest when he abruptly exited the stage early before the show ended. The star was also previously caught on tape in a 2021 leaked video using a racial slur aimed at Black people, a year after the police-involved murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Morgan Wallen, Tate McRae get romantic in ‘What I Want’ lyrics
In the chorus of “What I Want,” the pair croon, “‘You don’t want this heart, boy, it’s already broke’ / Told me everything she touch just goes up in smoke / Only stay a couple nights, then she gon’ be gone / I said, ‘Baby, you should know that’s what I want.’”
The McRae feature marks Wallen’s first major collaboration with a woman.
After Wallen announced the collab, McRae fans flooded her April 16 Instagram post, slamming the “Revolving Door” hitmaker for her Wallen collab: “I was rooting for you, we were all rooting for you! How dare you?” one commenter said, while another added, “Girl we love you pls cancel that collab with Wallen pls.” One person wrote, “now why would you go and do that.”
McRae first teased the news on April 15 after she posted a picture of a jersey with Wallen’s initials on her Instagram story.
In a Billboard feature published in 2023, Wallen opened up about his lack of collaborations with women in music.
“I’ve reached out to a couple of people, and they’ve turned me down,” Wallen told Billboard. “I just really want certain people, and I haven’t gotten the chance to do it yet. I’m going to keep trying to write songs for it or write with them.” He added that he “would love” to write with more women, as well.
Morgan Wallen controversy: From ‘SNL’ to arrest
One of Nashville’s biggest stars, Wallen has sparked controversy for a half-decade in the music industry.
Most recently, in a May 11 interview on “Sundae Conversation with Caleb Pressley,” Wallen clarified his decision to hug Oscar-winning “Anora” actress Mikey Madison and then abruptly walk off the SNL” set before the credits had finished rolling. When asked if the NBC sketch show made him “mad,” the singer denied this was the case.
“No,” Wallen said. “I was just ready to go home. I’d been there all week.”
He also made headlines last year after he was arrested and charged with throwing a chair off a balcony at collaborator Eric Church’s Chief’s rooftop bar on Broadway in Nashville. He pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment and was sentenced to seven days in a DUI education center and two years of supervised probation.
Contributing: Brendan Morrow
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Kid Cudi, Lauren London, Dawn Richard: Their Diddy trial connections
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial day four: defense cross-examines Cassie
The strategy of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ defense started to come into focus as his attorneys cross-examined his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura.
The trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs is underway, in what is expected to be a closely watched and scandal-ridden celebrity trial.
Combs is on trial for an array of federal charges, including sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to all counts.
At the start of trial, potential jurors were given a list of people and places related to one of the biggest names in music, in hopes of excluding individuals with too-close ties to the mogul’s massive web of connections – a unique challenge.
The names included Michael B. Jordan, Kid Cudi, Cassie Ventura Fine, singer Michelle Williams, Mike Myers, Dallas Austin, Lauren London and Dawn Richard.
The list, a who’s who of Hollywood and music elite, paints a picture of Combs’ far-reaching influence in the entertainment industry. Now with a jury set and witness testimony revealing new details about Combs’ alleged dealings, the public is learning more about just how embedded he truly is.
Cassie is star witness in Diddy trial
Known for the hit track “Me & U,” the lead single off her self-titled (and only) studio album, Ventura Fine is the prosecution’s star witness after alleging in a bombshell lawsuit in 2023 that Combs had trafficked, sexually assaulted and physically abused her during their decadelong relationship. The two “amicably” settled the lawsuit a day after her filing.
The former Bad Boy Records artist, who’d been dating the hip-mogul since she was 19, was on the stand for four days in Week 1, tearfully testifying about the alleged control he had over her career, the volatility of the producer’s moods and the frequent emotional, psychological and physical abuse she faced.
She has also revealed details about the drug-fueled “freak offs” they participated in, her eight-figure settlement and Diddy’s previously unknown opioid overdose in 2012.
Diddy’s connection to Kid Cudi
Kid Cudi was briefly romantically involved with Ventura Fine, Combs’ ex-girlfriend. The singer testified on May 14 that her 2011 romance with Cudi, born Scott Mescudi, angered Combs and sparked a violent outburst.
The Ohio-born rapper was first mentioned in Ventura Fine’s bombshell 2023 civil lawsuit against Combs, with Cassie citing an alleged incident in which Combs threatened to “blow up” Cudi’s vehicle, seemingly in retaliation for his relationship with Ventura Fine.
The alleged arson incident also appeared to be part of prosecutors’ case against Combs. Ventura Fine said in court that Combs discovered the relationship after going through her phone.
Per Ventura Fine’s account, Combs became angry and lunged at Cassie with a wine bottle opener between his fingers, but she said she managed to escape and went to a hotel, where she contacted Kid Cudi using a burner phone. She added that Combs threatened that he was “going to hurt Scott and I.”
USA TODAY has reached out to Kid Cudi’s rep for comment.
Diddy’s connection to Michael B. Jordan
Ventura Fine touched on a connection to actor Michael B. Jordan as Combs’ attorneys scrutinized Cassie’s other relationships in court May 15. Ventura Fine said Combs suspected that she was in a relationship with the Emmy-nominated actor after the pair broke up in 2015, per Fox News. At the time of their split, the singer-actress was filming a movie in South Africa. (Cassie starred in the musical drama “Honey 3: Dare to Dance,” which was set in South Africa and reportedly concluded filming in December 2015.)
Dawn Richard. Lauren London. What do the other celebrities on the list have to do with Combs?
Dawn Richard, a former member of the Combs-founded groups Danity Kane and Diddy – Dirty Money, is likely on the list as she filed a lawsuit last year alleging she witnessed his abuse of Ventura Fine and was also sexually assaulted, falsely imprisoned and deprived food, sleep and pay by the “Bad Boy Records” founder.
Actress Lauren London, who also appears on the list, has been open about Combs’ support for her in the wake of the death of her late partner, rapper Nipsey Hussle.
Dallas Austin, a fellow music producer, came up in the business at a similar time to Combs, and may have made the list for his close childhood relationship with late model Kim Porter, a longtime romantic partner of Diddy’s. Austin was also mentioned as one of the attendees of Ventura Fine’s 21st birthday party.
It is not immediately clear why Destiny’s Child singer Williams or actor Myers made the list, though there is a brief segment in “Austin Powers,” among Myers’ most famous movies, that pokes fun at the music mogul. USA TODAY has reached out to all of their reps for comment.
Why is Diddy on trial?
Combs is facing federal sex-crimes and trafficking charges in a sprawling suit that has eroded his status as a power player and kingmaker in the entertainment industry.
He was arrested in September 2024 and has been charged with racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to all five counts.
Where can I watch the Diddy trial?
The trial will not be televised, as cameras are typically not allowed in federal criminal trial proceedings.
USA TODAY will be reporting live from the courtroom.
Contributing: USA TODAY staff
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Jin of BTS on songwriting, creating new album ‘Echo’ and solo tour
BTS: Suga, RM say Billboard charts, Grammys are goals for ‘Butter’
BTS is back with a new single, “Butter,” performed entirely in English. The group spoke about the song during a press conference from South Korea.
Entertain This!, USA TODAY
Kim Seok-jin is not only part of BTS, the bestselling musical act in South Korean history with seven members, millions of records sold and myriad awards won. Jin is also a solo artist.
When he released his first solo album, the man called “Worldwide Handsome” by fans wanted to hone in on happiness. He had just finished his mandatory military service in South Korea months prior, and the aptly named “Happy” released in November 2024, peaking at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 chart.
“Those were more about easy listening songs; the songs that I would love to listen to myself,” Jin tells USA TODAY.
But with his new album “Echo”, out now, the 32-year-old wanted to dive deeper into his craft, underscoring an emotional depth to his songwriting and stronger performance presence.
“The fans told me that they want to see me on stage, so this time around, I said, ‘Let’s focus more on performing,’” he says.
Jin thought about BTS’ fans, known as ARMY, while working on “Echo,” adding they were the reason he was able to release “another album so soon.”
“I’m really happy that I’m back with another album after my release last year,” he says. “It’s an honor for me. I am very grateful.”
Jin reveals how he curated the songs for ‘Echo’
Performance played a vital role in shaping the tracklist for “Echo,” Jin reveals.
“I received almost 1,000 songs for this album, and first I shortlisted about 30 of them. I picked out the 30 that I loved … then I had a second listen to them, third listen to them,” he explains. “I try to picture that image of myself in my head on stage with these songs. I thought, ‘This song can bring out a new facet of myself that ARMY would love to see,’ or ‘This would be a blast on stage.’”
The next step was to consider what his fans would like. “It’s the ARMY that listen to my music, and that’s what really means the world to me,” he adds.
From there, Jin narrowed down the final count to seven songs, each exploring themes of love and connection.
“The definition of love can be different for the different tracks in this album,” Jin explains. “I think love comes in many forms. It could be love between lovers (or) between family members … Friendship can be another form of love. So I wanted to touch on these multiple aspects of love.”
When Jin wrote lyrics for the album, he honed in on specific scenarios.
“When writing ‘Loser’, I imagined if I dated someone back in my school days, I would have felt this way about this person, and for ‘Don’t Say You Love Me’, it’s really about how lovers know that their relationship is falling apart, but because there is that lingering love left, it’s really hard to let go,” he says.
The track “Nothing Without Your Love” is another special one for Jin since it is about the love that he feels about ARMY when he’s performing.
“I think there are all these different types of love, and love is such a comprehensive term that really embodies all of these facets. So this is truly an album that is full of love,” he says.
Finding Jin’s voice through rock
Jin has always had an affinity for rock, and that shines through on “Echo.” “This album really delves into the genre that I hold close to my heart,” he says.
“I just stayed true to the voice tone that I have, and that’s how I found myself in love with the band sound,” Jin adds.
Jin is not the only member of BTS to venture into solo work. The other six have also released their own albums, each’s discography highlights the distinct and individual talents in BTS.
“As BTS, because we’re a team, we have to have a mixture of all the different voices that we have and all the different colors that we have,” Jin explains. “But when we’re doing our solo gigs and solo albums, then we can really find the one sweet spot that hits hard for (ourselves). As a team, we have our beautiful color, but as solo artists, I think we can also unleash our creativity and our own voices.”
Jin talks about 2025 solo world tour
Jin is embarking on his first solo world tour to coincide with the album release. This includes eight US stops, including in Anaheim, California and Newark, New Jersey.
“I have limited time and places that I can go to,” Jin says. “Since J-Hope is on tour right now, I decided to go to places where he couldn’t go.
“I know that there are a lot of passionate ARMY in the US, and I love seeing that every single time they welcome us with so much love and support. So every time I go to the US, I’m so excited to see them.”
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Aubrey O’Day of Danity Kane could testify
Diddy trial: Cassie outlines sexual, physical abuse from the stand
Ex-girlfriend of Sean Combs, Cassie, was on the stand for the third day of the trial, describing Combs’ physical, sexual and psychological abuse.
One of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ fiercest critics could testify in his federal sex-crimes trial.
Danity Kane singer Aubrey O’Day, once a rising star in Combs’ orbit, has been subpoenaed to testify in his trial, according to a person familiar with the situation but not authorized to speak publicly to USA TODAY.
Combs recruited O’Day when he formed the girl group Danity Kane on MTV’s “Making the Band” in 2005.
On May 14, the 41-year-old O’Day chronicled being in New York City on her Instagram stories, writing, “Hey New York!!! Where y’all think I should head first?” with the scales of justice emoji.
In June 2024, O’Day opened up about Combs’ legal trouble, telling People magazine that “there’s no vindication when you’re a victim of someone. … Anyone being exposed, or any truths being told, don’t change the reality of what you experienced.”
The “Celebrity Apprentice” alum added: “It’s a forever thing that you have to wake up every day and choose to evolve past. It doesn’t go away. It’s like childhood trauma. We don’t like to think it just disappears in our thirties, but really we start realizing how bad it really is in our thirties.”
Federal prosecutors are expected to call O’Day’s fellow Danity Kane alum Dawn Richard to testify next in court, following Casandra “Cassie” Ventura Fine’s harrowing testimony this week.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs on trial for alleged sex-crimes
Combs was arrested in September 2024 on charges of racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution, remains in custody at the Special Housing Unit in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center.
He is currently on trial, and his ex-girlfriend Ventura Fine took the stand during the week of May 12. In court, she testified that Combs repeatedly threatened to release videos of her participation in his alleged drug-fueled “freak offs,” raped her after their 2018 split and was physically abusive on numerous occasions.
Ventura Fine’s testimony – which comes a year after CNN released 2016 hotel surveillance video that showed Combs kicking, hitting and dragging her at a now-closed Los Angeles luxury – has lasted several days. She also detailed portions of the hotel incident in her testimony.
Aubrey O’Day publicly supported Cassie’s testimony in Diddy trial
Shortly after Ventura Fine’s May 14 testimony ended, O’Day wrote on X that “so many people have thumbs that are more active than their minds. Fear yields a heavy hand- It’s easy to say, it could never be me when you have never been handed those shoes to walk in #Cassie.”
Combs formed Danity Kane with Aundrea Fimbres, D. Woods, Shannon Bex, Richard and O’Day. The pop group disbanded and reunited several times since their formation, most notably with O’Day being removed from the group in 2008, although she later returned.
In a December 2022 episode of the hit “Call Her Daddy” podcast hosted by Alex Cooper, O’Day alleged that Combs fired her because she wouldn’t do things he requested “in other areas” besides music.
Contributing: Naledi Ushe
