blasts

In Trevor Noah’s final opening monologue at the Grammys, the joke that got the loudest laugh in the room was directed at Nicki Minaj’s MAGA alliance.

After six consecutive years of hosting the Grammys, the comedian is stepping down from the emcee role. Last year, Noah’s monologue was focused on the resilience of Los Angeles and paid tribute to the victims of the Palisades and Eaton fires. This year, he poked fun at attending celebrities and commented on the country’s political climate.

When he addressed the fact that Nicki Minaj was not in attendance, the audience applauded in response. He joked that “she is still at the White House with Donald Trump discussing very important issues: ‘Actually, Nicki, I have the biggest ass, I have it. Everybody’s saying it, Nicki, I know they say it’s you, but it’s me. WAP, WAP, WAP. Look at it, baby,’” Noah said in his best Trump impression.

Last week, Minaj appeared at a U.S. Treasury event, where she stood on stage with President Trump and said, “I am probably the president’s No. 1 fan, and that’s not going to change.”

While detailing what the night ahead entails, Noah compared this year’s Grammys to the 1999 ceremony.

“The last time Lauryn Hill performed at the Grammys was in 1999,” said Noah. “Back in 1999 the president had a sex scandal, people thought computers were about to destroy the world and Diddy was arrested. Boy, how times have changed.”

Noah also poked fun at Jelly Roll, asking if he was able to unlock fellow face-tatted singer Teddy Swims’ phone. He also mentioned that the arena stuffed with A-listers felt somewhat like billionaire Jeff Bezos’ wedding, “but with way more Black people.”

In addition to it being Noah’s final hosting gig, this year’s ceremony is also the last to air on CBS, its home network since 1973. After tonight, it kicks off a 10-year run with Disney. The Grammys will air on ABC, Hulu and Disney+ beginning in 2027.

TRIPLE Grammy nominee Yungblud has blasted the Brits for being “out of touch” after he was snubbed by his home country’s music awards.

The Doncaster rocker is up for Best Rock Performance category for his powerful rendition of Changes at the late Ozzy Osbourne’s Back To The Beginning concert last summer.

And he will wear the necklace given to him by his Black Sabbath idol, who died last year, at tonight’s ceremony in LA, where he is also up for two other Grammys.

Yet despite accolades Stateside, and two UK No1 albums last year, he says it feels “weird” to be a notable omission at this month’s Brits.

He told me: “I just think with the Brits, there’s something more corporate afoot. I feel like I’ve not kissed the babies in my own country that I should — I’ve done it my way.

“And I think someone’s pissed off at me for that. The beautiful thing about the Grammys is it’s voted for by your peers — musicians and artists.

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“The Brits, you can tell it’s been done in a boardroom by a committee that’s out of touch. That’s a lot of the British music industry.

“But I’m vibing, man — I’m at the Grammys!”

And Yungblud — real name Dominic Harrison — vows to the keep celebrations rock ’n’ roll — having VOMMED from partying so hard during a pre-Grammys night out with Sharon Osbourne and Lewis Capaldi.

He and Lewis “had a mad one”.

Yungblud said: “We had an accidentally brilliant night. I threw up!

“Everyone’s full of s***. Me and Lewis always find each other at a party, to talk about something half-normal.

“There’s so many parties  . . . you end up going for two minutes, and everyone looks shell-shocked.

“So we end up throwing our own. We had such a good night. Sharon came out. Lewis came out.”

Yungblud jokes he is “clearing room in my suitcase” for potential Grammy trophies, though any wins would be bittersweet without Ozzy.

He said: “It’s wild when you love someone. You idolise someone.

“And then you get to know them, then you perform this song to honour them and it gets Grammy-nominated.

“It’s weird to comprehend.”

YUNGBLUD is throwing his own “riot” of a Grammys afterparty at Sunset Strip’s Rainbow Bar and Grill – famed for hosting wild bashes with the likes of Led Zeppelin and Motley Crue.

He says: “It will be a f***ing free-for-all, with pizza and beer, doing bumps of caviar.”

The rocker, who stripped naked on a yacht in Sydney, Australia, while touring last year, insists: “I’m not really sick. I’m usually alright. I’ll probably end up naked – but I won’t be sick.”

STARS DRESSED TO FRILL

SOME of the biggest names in music gathered in LA to let their hair down for some pre-Grammys partying on Friday.

Singer Kesha bloomed in giant flowers at the 2026 MusiCares Person of the Year gala, while Cara Delevingne showed off new brunette locks at the Warner soiree.

Addison Rae gave a raunchy performance in just her undies at Spotify’s 2026 Best New Artist Party, where she was joined by nominated Brit Olivia Dean in a checked blue floor-length gown.

Meanwhile, Swedish siren Zara Larsson wore hot pink for the Epic Records and Hennessy bash.

I’m glad it was warmer in Cali than it was on this side of the pond . . . 

NATHAN’S EYE ON BALL

NATHAN EVANS hopes to score Scotland’s official World Cup anthem – and will be joining the Tartan Army in the US.

The Wellerman singer and band Saint Phnx are also in discussions about cheering the lads on during training sessions, after Ed Sheeran performed for the England team during the 2024 Euros.

One of the ideas is to rework their track Home with lyrics cheering on the Scots squad, and Nathan would love it to become the official supporters’ tune this summer.

He said: “We’ve got something cooking that hopefully we can pull off. And if we do, it’ll be something massive.”

AITCH’S AMBER NIGHT

RAPPER Aitch wooed a stunning podcaster nearly 15 years his senior – just weeks before stealing the nation’s hearts on I’m A Celebrity.

I’m told the 26-year-old locked lips with Francesca Amber, 40, at the Pride of Britain Awards in London last October, after the pair hit it off at the free bar.

Aitch was seen cracking jokes with the blonde, who believes in “manifesting” the life you want.

An onlooker said: “Aitch is a bit younger, but didn’t lack confidence. They were having a right giggle and, by the end of the evening, they were kissing in front of everyone. They exchanged numbers.”

Single mum-of-three Francesca has told listeners she dreams of going on E4 dating show Celebs Go Dating. I hope this helps manifest it for her . . . 

TEDDY IS READY TO RAYA

VOCAL powerhouse Teddy Swims is looking for love online after sadly splitting from his baby momma.

The Bad Dreams singer broke up with singer Raiche Wright late last year.

But now Teddy – who last year released the final part of his album series I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy – is putting his best foot forward and getting himself out there with a profile on A-list dating app Raya.

The singer – born Jaten Dimsdale – posted a series of snaps showing off his tattoos and dapper style, advertising the fact he is based in Sherman Oaks, California.

He, fittingly, uses his own music to illustrate his profile.

Happy swiping . . . 

IT MUTT BE LOVE FOR DUA

THE City of Love is the only place for Dua Lipa and fiancé Callum Turner as they put on a smoochy display.

The smitten singer and actor were snapped holding hands while walking Callum’s beloved Labrador-Rottweiler mix Golo in Paris.

An onlooker said: “They were completely loved up and kept kissing, it was very sweet.

“Golo the pooch is like their child and travels with them everywhere.”

Speaking several years ago, Callum confessed that his beloved pet helped to keep him grounded.

He said: “I have a dog, yeah. He keeps me very humble.

“You know, picking up his poo every day keeps you humble.”

That’ll certainly do the trick . . . 

OZZY SINGS TO MY KID

I’M A Celebrity star Jack Osbourne has revealed his late dad Ozzy is singing lullabies from beyond the grave.

Jack’s three-year-old daughter Maple has told him that the Black Sabbath rocker visits her when she’s tucked up in bed and sings to her.

Jack said: “My youngest daughter has been having a lot of ‘interactions’, shall we say. She’s three – she keeps saying, ‘He sings to me at night.’ I’m like, ‘That’s awesome, what’s he singing to you?’

“I don’t make a big deal about it. I’m supportive of it, I’m instantly like, they’re kids, they have imaginations and stuff.

“But she’s saying things and I’m like, ‘How do you know that? We haven’t been saying things – where does that come from?’”

Speaking on the Howie Mandel podcast, Jack added: “For her, the more she brings it up, it’s becoming a thing and I think that it’s not just her imagination.”

Hopefully he’s not Paranoid . . . 

RUSH ON FOR PERFECT 10

BOYBAND mania is set to hit London today as December 10 arrive to meet their fans.

I’m told police are on standby amid fears the signing event could turn into a riot, after 6,000 fans of the group, above – assembled by Simon Cowell – put their names down to attend.

An insider said: “There are concerns that over-excited kids will still rock up – even though only a tiny fraction will actually be allowed to get inside.

“Organisers swear they’ve got it all under control and are working closely with the Old Bill, promising a safe and sensible do.”

It’s like the One Direction days all over again . . . 

French forward Kylian Mbappe questions team’s desire after damaging defeat sends Real Madrid into playoffs.

Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe has said his team “deserve” to be in their current situation because they were not consistent enough for a top-eight spot as his side slipped into the Champions League playoff round.

The record 15-time European champions fell to a 4-2 defeat at Jose Mourinho’s Benfica on Wednesday, finishing ninth in the league phase table, meaning they must face their Portuguese conquerors or Bodo/Glimt in February instead of reaching the last 16 directly.

After three wins in their previous three matches under new coach Alvaro Arbeloa, Madrid were brought back down to earth by Benfica in Lisbon.

“The problem is we aren’t consistent in our play, we have to fix that, you can’t have one day [playing well] and another not, a champion team does not do that,” Mbappe told reporters.

“We deserve to be in this situation today. Benfica were better. Now we have to play two more playoff games. It hurts to have to play those. We wanted to have the time in February to work on our game.”

Mbappe said he could not put his finger on a clear reason why Madrid played so poorly against Benfica.

“I think it’s a bit of everything. I can’t tell you it’s just a matter of attitude, because if I only say that, you’ll think we came here without any desire,” said the French superstar, who scored twice in the defeat.

“If I tell you it’s a football issue, you’ll think the team is bad. No, I think it’s a broader issue, and in the Champions League, every detail matters if you want to beat your opponent.

“It shows you that if you don’t come in with everything you need to win a Champions League match, the opponent will come and, as they say, make fools of you.”

However, Mbappe called on Madrid’s fans to support the team at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday against Rayo Vallecano in La Liga, rather than booing as they did earlier in January.

“Come and support the team – we had a bad game – but we are not knocked out of the Champions League, and in La Liga we’re in a good dynamic now,” pleaded Mbappe.

“If the Bernabeu is with us, we will win on Sunday.”

Coco Gauff, who lost to Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, was filmed smashing her racket.

Coco Gauff looked for a place without cameras to channel her frustration after a straight-sets loss to Elina Svitolina in the Australian Open quarterfinals, but was unhappy to find out that a video of her smashing her tennis racket ⁠on the floor was broadcast to viewers worldwide.

Twice Grand Slam winner Gauff was visibly upset ​with her performance on Tuesday, as she committed 26 unforced errors and ‍lost the match 6-1 6-2 in 59 minutes.

The American third seed went behind a wall near the match call area inside the venue, where a camera caught her hitting the racket repeatedly against the floor.

“I ‍tried to go ⁠somewhere where there were no cameras,” the 21-year-old told reporters.

“I kind of have a thing with the broadcast. I feel like certain moments – the same thing happened to Aryna [Sabalenka] after I played her in the final of the US Open – I feel like they don’t need to broadcast.”

World number one Sabalenka, who will take on Svitolina in the semifinals, had smashed her racket in a training area after ​losing to Gauff in the 2023 US Open final, and video ‌of the incident was also made public.

“I tried to go somewhere where they wouldn’t broadcast it, but obviously they did. Maybe some conversations can be had, because I feel like at this tournament the only private ‌place we have is the locker room,” Gauff added.

“I think for me, I know myself, and I don’t want to lash out ‌on my team. They’re good people. They don’t deserve ⁠that, and I know I’m emotional,” Gauff said.

“I just took the minute to go and do that. I don’t think it’s a bad thing. Like I said, I don’t try to do it on court in front of ‌kids and things like that, but I do know I need to let out that emotion.

“Otherwise, I’m just going to be snappy with the people around me, and I don’t want ‍to do that, because like I said, they don’t deserve it. They did their best. I did mine. Just need to let the frustration out.”