Advertise on podcast: MTV’s Behind the Music

Do you love all things Drag Race? Then check out the latest podcast from VH1 and iHeartPodcasts, Squirrel Friends: The Official RuPaul’s Drag Race Podcast!  Every Monday, iconic guest judges and Drag Race superfans, Alec Mapa and Loni Love, react and recap the latest episodes of RuPaul’s Drag Race, starting with All Stars Season 7. Plus, your ears will get a front row seat for all the behind-the-scenes secrets of the show as your favorite queens and celebrities stop by to spill all the tea. In this episode, “Giving Them Their Flowers” Mama Ru has the All Stars reimagine and construct garments from scratch inspired by iconic outfits she’s worn in the past. Then the legends give their best supermodel of the world walk down the runway to show off their RuPaul-esque designs. Plus, Loni explains to Alec what it means to “give someone their flowers”. Listen to Squirrel Friends: The Official RuPaul’s Drag Race Podcast on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Watch Drag Race All Stars Season 7 on Paramount+ and WOW Presents Plus in the UK. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This artist is known for his use of Auto-Tune and pushing the boundaries of music. As a child, T-Pain knew he wanted to leave his hometown of Tallahassee to pursue his musical talents. He eventually discovered Auto-Tune and created a remix of Akon’s “Locked Up”, dubbed “F***ed Up”, which led to Akon recognizing T-Pain’s potential. T-Pain pursued his music career and came out with his first single, “I’m Sprung” which became a #1 hit. Critics thought that T-Pain’s signature Auto-Tune sound was a gimmick, however they were proved wrong when the single “Buy You a Drank” shot to #1. T-Pain marched to his own tune and what felt good to him, a genre he calls “Hard & B”. Now, he’s a star with four Billboard top 10 singles and his own show “T-Pain’s School of Business”. He even proved his natural singing ability by winning The Masked Singer and performing an NPR Tiny Desk Concert. T-Pain continues to represent his genre defining sound and has shaped the direction of pop music, all while building his legacy. Watch Behind the Music now on Paramount+. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He is a radio DJ turned Hip-Hop superstar. Ludacris built his career in music and acting by writing about his life and rapping on Atlanta radio stations, leading him to become a founding member of record label Disturbing tha Peace. Although he was a radio DJ under the name of Chris Lova Lova, Ludacris was ready to build his own name as a recording artist. One of his first singles, “What’s Your Fantasy”, proved that he had a trademark flow. In 2009, six studio albums later, Ludacris was met with idolization as he collaborated with Justin Bieber on the hit single “Baby”, and proved that everything comes down to the music. Now, Ludacris is a businessman, restaurateur, philanthropist, and he finds success as a Fast and Furious star and founder of the Ludacris Foundation. Through hard work tracing back to his first radio show, Ludacris continues to be a trailblazer who wants to be the best man he can be. Watch Behind the Music now on Paramount+. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Rocket Man is known for his flamboyant costumes and musical oeuvre. Elton John began his career as a talented pianist in the London suburbs where he created his debut album, “Empty Sky”, which began the course for Elton’s 7 consecutive #1 albums. The rock ‘n roll legend’s rush of superstardom soared in the 70s with money and fame, however he also struggled with burnout, drug use, and personal crises. While navigating tabloids and scandals in the 80s, Elton reached sobriety and supported his loved ones during the AIDS epidemic. With new music and a newfound outlook in the 90s, Elton was inducted into the Rock’ N Roll Hall of Fame, won an Academy Award, and found love with his husband, David Furnish. Now, Elton continues to build his legacy with musical collaborations and another world tour. Although he’s had a great ride in the last 30 years, Elton knows he’ll keep on rockin’. Watch Behind the Music now on Paramount+. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She’s one of the biggest stars in the world and a human highlight reel. The story behind Britney Spears’ early career comes from her aspirations too large for her small town. Britney knew she wanted to perform and see the world after her early roles in off-broadway plays and The Mickey Mouse Club, which led to her solo career in music. Her debut album, “...Baby One More Time” became a #1 hit and a global phenomenon. From the debut of her second album to her fourth, Britney was met with iconic moments such as opening for NSYNC, dancing with a python at the VMAs, and collaborating with Madonna. In the later 2000s, Britney continued to captivate the music world with additional hits like “Womanizer” and “Hold It Against Me”. The pop star currently holds 5 albums at #1 along with many accolades. Since recently being liberated from her conservatorship, fans are excited to see what Britney has in store next. Watch Behind the Music now on Paramount+. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The most successful American Idol winner, Carrie Underwood, went from farm girl to superstar. After winning American Idol’s fourth season in 2005, Carrie performed a 47 state tour that introduced fans to #1 hits like “Jesus Take the Wheel” and “Before He Cheats” off her debut album, Some Hearts. Her talent quickly continued to be recognized as she won two Grammys and an induction to the Opry. At 25, she met her future husband, NHL player Mike Fisher, who became the inspiration for her next album, “Play On”. Carrie has since then released six studio albums and earned a total of 7 Grammys, 12 Billboard Music Awards, and 15 million albums sold. With continued success down the line, Carrie Underwood continues to prove her title of being the most critically acclaimed country artist of all time, all while exploring other ventures such as fashion, fitness, and acting. Watch Behind the Music now on Paramount+. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the highest selling pop girl groups of all time, TLC, has influenced multiple genres of music that will be felt for generations to come. Tionne “T-Boz'' Watkins, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas defined girl power and individuality in the 90s. Their third album “Fan Mail'' was an instant smash that led to awards and headlining tours. However, the three women experienced ups and downs during their success from creative differences to health issues. The group eventually conquered these challenges and came together for one final album. Unfortunately, before they finished recording, Lisa passed away unexpectedly. In 2002, TLC made their first appearance without Lisa at the MTV Music Awards and the next year, performed a final time to 60 thousand fans to honor the life of Lisa Lopes. The duo then took a hiatus until 2017 when they crowdfunded their 5th self-titled album, “TLC.” Despite their bumps in the road, TLC managed to reign as the queens of pop, and their influence continues to set trends and open doors for female groups today. Watch Behind the Music now on Paramount+. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As one of the best selling female rappers of all time, Missy Elliot climbed to the top on her own terms. Growing up as an only child, Missy faced poverty, despair, and abuse. She used music as an outlet to escape and eventually created the group “Fayze” where she signed with Swing Mob. Missy’s music dreams were coming true; in the early 90s she was able to collaborate with Timbaland & Magoo and Raven-Symoné. However, struggles with her body image and creativity resulted in her departure from Fayze. Her next big opportunity came from Aaliyah and Timbaland. The three were inseparable through their unique style of music. Her success continued with the release of “The Things You That You Do” with Gina Thompson and “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)”, plus getting signed with her own label, The Goldmind. Now, Missy has created a legacy by producing for big name artists, performing at the Super Bowl, and being inducted to the Songwriters Hall of Fame. As an artist, writer, and producer, Missy Elliot changed the game for women in hip hop by staying true to herself and opening the door for innovation. Watch Behind the Music now on Paramount+. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

R&B superstar Jennifer Hudson displays natural, raw talent in both music and acting. After her auditions for American Idol in 2004, Jennifer became the local celebrity for Chicago. Her vocal prowess landed her a starring role in the film, “Dreamgirls”, where her performance earned her over 30 awards, including a Golden Globe. But the singer was just getting started — she got signed, found love, and starred in two films, “The Secret Life of Bees” and “Sex and the City,” while recording her first album. However, Jennifer faced tremendous loss in 2008 when her mother, brother, and nephew were murdered. She processed her grief through music, releasing the hit song, “You Pulled Me Through”, which spoke to her emotions and how her family inspired her. Although Jennifer endured dark times, she emerged with strength and resolve through the support of her family and friends. Jennifer continues to see success, from singing for Obama to adding her name to the Hollywood Walk of Fame; there is no doubt that Jennifer has dynamic talent across the board. Watch Behind the Music now on Paramount+. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former Mouseketeer turned pop diva, Christina Aguilera has come a long way from The Mickey Mouse Club to living her dream of balancing stardom, motherhood, and love. Although she came from a troubled childhood, Christina took control of her life through music and became the definition of pop perfection with the hit “Genie in a Bottle” in 1999. In the early 2000s, she found herself in the middle of a dramatic public feud with Britney Spears and Eminem. Christina was overworked and faced depression, but channeled it into her album “Stripped” with songs such as “Dirrty”, “Fighter”, and “I’m Okay”. Christina continued to bring her raw emotional side through to her fans with the hit “Beautiful” in 2002. She continued to express herself without limits and motivate female empowerment with the relaunch of her career in the 2010s with the album "Not Myself Tonight". Christina’s career continues to be in her hands, and there are still many chapters for her to write. Watch Behind the Music now on Paramount+. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Originally a choir boy from Long Beach, Snoop turned to gangs, guns, and drug dealing in his teenage years. Amid this lifestyle, Snoop impressed Dr. Dre with his mixtapes, leading him to release the hit albums “Doggystyle” and “Tha Doggfather” under Death Row Records. After being charged for murder in a 1993 gang shooting, Snoop turned his back on the “gangsta” lifestyle and distanced himself from Death Row. Eventually, Snoop released multiple albums under No Limit Records and reunited with Dr. Dre for their hit album “2001”. Snoop showed the world that it's possible to escape the mean streets and make mistakes before finding yourself. Now Snoop Dogg is a cultural icon with 17 studio albums, multiple TV roles, business ventures, and product lines. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hip hop icon Nas is famous for his provocative lyrics and bold voice. He inspired a new generation to keep an open mind and work hard. Nas rose from the unforgiving streets of New York City to create music recounting his own experiences including being raised by a single mother, selling drugs on the streets, and witnessing the effects of gun violence on his family members. Even though Nas faced devastating loss and struggle, he “stuck to his guns” and put his music first. The rapper became a hit and released the influential album “Illmatic” that changed East coast hip hop. With a legendary 30 year career, Nas released his 14th studio album in 2021 and continues to inspire others through constructive music programs and scholarships that encourage creativity in hip hop. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.