Pop stars have shone on June 9 over the years, with Drake having a couple of hit songs high on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, Tony Bennett singing at Carnegie Hall for the first time, and Britney Spears getting married.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Notable releases and achievements that occurred on June 9 include:
- 2018: Drake celebrated a significant milestone on this day when his single “Nice For What” reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart — it remained there for eight weeks. His previous No. 1 song “God’s Plan” was at No.3 after 19 weeks on this chart.
- 2022: The popular singer/TV show host Kelly Clarkson released her six-track EP Kellyoke. It featured her favorite cover songs from her popular talk show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, including Linda Ronstadt’s “Blue Bayou,” Whitney Houston’s “Queen of the Night,” and “Fake Plastic Trees” by Radiohead.
Cultural Milestones
Honors, awards, and performances at prestigious venues dominated the pop music scene on June 9:
- 1962: The great singer Tony Bennett played the legendary Carnegie Hall in what many consider one of the greatest concerts ever held there. Bennett is known for his smooth pop songs, such as “I Left My Heart In San Francisco,” “New York State of Mind,” and “Stranger in Paradise.”
- 2016: Lionel Richie, a major force behind the band The Commodores and a successful solo artist, spoke at the Songwriters Hall of Fame during his induction into this prestigious organization. Richie is known for co-writing “We Are the World” with Michael Jackson, “All Night Long,” and “Dancing on the Ceiling.”
- 2022: Super pop star Britney Spears married personal trainer and model Sam Asghari in an intimate wedding in Thousand Oaks, California. Big names in attendance at this romantic wedding included Madonna, Selena Gomez, and Drew Barrymore
Notable Recordings and Performances
Fans were thrilled to see top pop stars perform live on June 9:
- 2015: Ariana Grande played the Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham, England, as a stop on her The Honeymoon Tour. Audience members were thrilled to hear her sing hits such as “Break Your Heart Right Back” and “Pink Champagne.”
- 2016: The great pop star Adele performed at the AccorHotels Arena in Paris, France, during her Adele Live 2016/17 tour. She sang popular songs, including “Hello,” “Rumour Has It,” and “Set Fire to the Rain.”
- 2017: In an unusual way to promote her new album Witness, pop star Katy Perry livestreamed her life for four consecutive days. She had camera crews follow her around her house with friends in tow. She streamed the content and gave interviews, which appeared on her YouTube channel.
- 2019: GRAMMY Award-winner Billie Eilish performed at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, as part of her When We Fall Asleep Tour. Hit songs she sang included “You Should See Me in a Crown” and “Ocean Eyes.”
Pop stars stay busy with live performances, accepting awards, and making new music. Many artists, including Adele, Katy Perry, and Ariana Grande, continue to excel in their craft, breaking ground in the music industry.
