Monday, February 02, 2026 |
Where editors share their weekly musings on pop culture—and recommend what to watch, read, and listen to right now. This week, we discuss the Grammys and Bridgerton. |
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| Erica Gonzales, deputy editor, digital content: It sure feels great to start the week knowing that Bad Bunny won the Grammy for Album of the Year. Last night's ceremony at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles culminated with the Puerto Rican rapper making history with the first all-Spanish album to claim the coveted prize. But there were so many standout moments, from head-turning red-carpet looks to inspiring speeches. Lauren, do you have a favorite Grammy memory from last night? |
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| Lauren Puckett-Pope, senior culture editor: Benito's reaction to his AOTY win tops my list. I was crying right there with him! But I also thought Sabrina Carpenter's "Manchild" performance was hilarious (get me a ticket on Sabrina Carpenter Airlines!), the Best New Artist medley was a blast, and the In Memoriam segment was tenderly (and remarkably) done. I mean, the number of legends on that stage? The talent?! And let's not forget Cher's presentation of Record of the Year. |
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Erica: I will be thinking of "And the Grammy goes to…Luther Vandross!" all week. But it was a well-deserved win for Kendrick Lamar and SZA, who sampled the late R&B legend on their winning track "Luther." I hope the Oscar producers book Cher to present an award in March.
Lauren: Exactly. We need another "Adele Dazeem" meme to see us through the rest of winter.
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In this new A24 film, a shy British loner (played by Harry Melling) becomes the submissive to an aloof, leathered-up biker daddy (none other than Alexander Skarsgård). Despite being a BDSM romance (we're calling it a dom-com), the film is surprisingly tender and sweet; it lets viewers in on an often-misunderstood community and proves that even the most unexpected relationships can change your life. Find more upcoming films in our list of anticipated releases below.—EG |
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Bridgerton Season 4, Part 1 |
Dearest Gentle Reader, we're officially back in Mayfair—this time for an endearing Cinderella retelling with Benedict Bridgerton cast as the clueless Prince Charming and Sophie Baek as the would-be princess, working as a maid for her stepmother and stepsisters. (Their paths cross, of course, at a masquerade ball.) The first four episodes of the beloved Netflix romance's latest installment dropped last week, with the rest to follow on February 26. If you haven't already watched—and cringed over Benedict's infamous faux pas in the fourth episode—there's still enough time to get swept back into Shonda Rhimes's candy-colored Regency world.—LPP |
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Skate It Till You Make It by Rufaro Faith Mazarura |
The Winter Olympics officially kick off this week, so it's only fitting to mark the occasion by picking up Rufaro Faith Mazarura's latest romance novel, set during the Winter Games. Hockey romances are the It-genre of this literary moment—particularly after the explosive popularity of HBO's book-to-screen adaptation of Heated Rivalry—and Mazarura picked the perfect moment to drop her own spin on the subgenre. Her novel (which follows her Summer Games-set debut, Let the Games Begin, an ELLE favorite from 2024) brings together Ari Shumba, a hockey player for Great Britain, and Drew Dlamini, a photojournalist, as they decide to launch a fake-dating scheme against the backdrop of the Swiss Alps, with the Olympics heating up around them. This is a heartwarming and engaging follow-up from Mazarura, who only seems to be getting better with each book.—LPP |
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WHAT YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO: |
The New Rock Version of "Abracadabra" by Lady Gaga |
Lady Gaga's Grammy-winning Mayhem single might be over a year old, but she still kept it fresh while performing at last night's ceremony. Behold: a new rock arrangement of "Abracadabra." Gaga unveiled the remix, heavy on guitar riffs and even a few funk influences, on the Grammys stage—all while wearing archival Alexander McQueen. As an artist whose repertoire has spanned genres like jazz, country, and electronic, Gaga's ability to nail the rock is hardly a surprise, but it sure was a delight. And it's reminiscent of other Mayhem tracks, including "Disease" and "Perfect Celebrity." Is a rock album next? Maybe even another collab with Beyoncé on Act III?—EG |
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In a recent podcast interview with Amy Poehler, director Ryan Coogler, fresh off of Sinners' historic Oscar nominations, divulged his favorite movie-theater treats: "I'm not a big soda person, but when they started to let you mix and match the flavors….I got involved with that." The line naturally went viral, thanks to Coogler's unprecedented description of fizzy beverages. I love this man.—EG |
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