We Ain't No Divas

15 years ago, California Gurls hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100, the first of five consecutive Katy Perry singles to do so. With her sophomore record Teenage Dream, Katy became the first female artist and second artist after Michael Jackson to score five chart-toppers from one album on its initial run.Inspired by The Beach Boys and Jay-Z, Katy set out to dominate pop with her second album, enlisting the help of Snoop Dogg, Kanye West and Missy Elliott along the way. She dialled up the innuendo, created characters for each single release and had the pop culture fortune of her whirlwind celebrity marriage to Russell Brand ending mid-campaign as she toured the songs written about him. You almost wouldn't believe it!Teenage Dream made history and defined Katy Perry as an artist for the rest of time. What is its legacy in 2025? And what is Katy Perry's...? If not just being synonymous with plastic bags...?Ross and Sam revisit the historic pop era in this week's episode of We Ain't No Divas. Follow us @weaintnodivas on Instagram & TikTok!We discuss:How did Katy Perry get famous?How Jay-Z inspired California GurlsTeenage Dream inspired Taylor Swift going popCalifornia Gurls music video controversyKaty Perry vs. Lady GagaKaty Perry tying Michael Jackson's "Bad" Billboard recordKaty Perry marrying Russell Brand in IndiaKaty Perry's relationship timeline"Slapstick Pop" eraFirework inspiring ally pop copied by P!nk, Lady GagaKaty Perry: Part of Me movieRussell Brand divorcing Katy Perry via text messageWe Ain’t No Divas is hosted by Ross McNeilage and Sam Prance. This episode was produced by Sam Prance, and edited by Ross McNeilage. Music provided by Monopoly Phonic.

As Rihanna’s first song in three years (Friend of Mine) missed the Global Spotify charts, Ross and Sam question what’s going on with Fenty Music.We dive into PinkPantheress’ new mixtape Fancy That (and Sam’s interview with her for Capital Buzz), JADE’s That’s Showbiz Baby announcement, and Madonna’s upcoming Netflix biopic mini-series.Plus, a new Weekly UpTate on all things Tate McRae, who kicked off her Miss Possessive world tour, covered PAPER magazine and has the #1 song on US Spotify and Apple Music with her controversial country collaboration with Morgan Wallen, What I Want.Subscribe for new episodes every Wednesday and follow @weaintnodivas on Instagram and TikTok. 03:00 PinkPantheress releases Fancy That mixtape to critical acclaim11:55 Rihanna releases Friend of Mine as first single in three years, fails to make Global Spotify chart17:56 JADE announces debut album That’s Showbiz Baby and solo tour 21:12 Madonna announces Netflix biopic mini-series with Deadpool and Wolverine director Shawn Levy25:45 What Madonna eras should be covered in the biopic?28:50 Madonna’s New York years with Keith Haring and her ex-boyfriend Jean-Michel Basquiat30:00 Who will play Madonna? Is Julia Garner still Madonna?31:05 Is there any good biopic?32:05 Tate McRae launches Miss Possessive world tour38:25 Tate ignores Morgan Wallen over What I Want We Ain’t No Divas is hosted by Ross McNeilage and Sam Prance. This episode was produced by Sam Prance, and edited by Ross McNeilage. Music provided by Monopoly Phonic.

You're 20 years old with $100 million in the bank and no more Disney to answer to, what could go wrong?Miley Cyrus had something to prove but nobody to answer to when she released Bangerz in 2013. Her first album after being released from all Disney affiliated contracts, Miley described it as her debut album and reintroduced herself to the world while erasing Hannah Montana from their minds.The Bangerz era gave her two UK number one singles and her first Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper. She professionally partnered with Pharrell Williams and Mike Will Made It to create her new sound, while personally splitting with fiancé Liam Hemsworth in the middle of the campaign. Miley was at the centre of social media's first widespread cultural appropriation conversation - accused of using Black dancers as props while whitewashing twerking - while loudly posturing her new reputation as a drug-taking, sexually liberated party girl.12 years on, Ross McNeilage and Sam Prance revisit the era for a Diva Dive to discuss the era's problematic legacy and how it has impacted Miley's career.Follow us @weaintnodivas on Instagram & TikTok!Hannah Montana and Disney eraLeaving Disney2012 Miley’s bun and Tumblr fameTHE HAIR CUTSnoop Dogg & will.i.am collabsWe Can’t StopWritten for RihannaMiley watched Pour It Up and wanted to make it her personalityWe Can’t Stop videoUsing Black dancers as propsVMAs performance with Robin ThickeWrecking BallNaked Music Video by Terry RichardsonWritten for BeyoncéLiam Hemsworth BreakupBangerz albumAdore You music video controversyBangerz Tour Set ListBangerz Tour ControversiesJoJo Siwa ComparisonsWhy Miley doesn’t tour Miley’s Sobriety Future Glastonbury Headliner?We Ain’t No Divas is hosted by Ross McNeilage and Sam Prance. This episode was produced by Sam Prance, and edited by Ross McNeilage. Music provided by Monopoly Phonic.

In this week's Diva Digest, Lady Gaga beats Madonna's Brazil concert record in Copacabana, Beyoncé kicks off the Cowboy Carter world tour with new backup dancer Blue Ivy (!) and Lorde announces she's exploring her gender on new album Virgin.Plus, Little Mix album JADE has confirmed her debut solo album is currently delayed due to "label advice". Meanwhile, why are no songs going to number one in 2025?New episodes drop every Wednesday. Follow us @weaintnodivas on Instagram & TikTok now!00:01:28 Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter Tour set list00:11:06 How much is Blue Ivy Carter paid to be a backup dancer?00:16:30 Lady Gaga breaks Madonna's concert record in Brazil00:24:45 JADE confirms solo album delay00:31:48 Lorde announces new album Virgin00:38:44 Why is no 2025 song going to #1?We Ain’t No Divas is hosted by Ross McNeilage and Sam Prance. This episode was produced by Sam Prance, and edited by Ross McNeilage. Music provided by Monopoly Phonic.

Ross and Sam are back for another Diva Digest and it's a meaty one!Lorde returns with What Was That, a thumping return to Melodrama's sound that may or may not be a diss track to Jack Antonoff. Addison Rae reigns supreme with fourth single Headphones On and announces her self-titled debut album. Meanwhile, Tate McRae and Lana Del Rey are on two sides of the Morgan Wallen coin - who is the country star and what is going on?Plus, Charli xcx gets her Kate Bush moment with party 4 u charting five years later, while Zara Larsson makes a bold attempt at a career revival.Follow us @weaintnodivas on Instagram & TikTok now! New podcast episodes every Wednesday.Lorde drops What Was ThatIs Lorde singing about Jack Antonoff?Addison Rae drops Headphones OnAddison, the debut album, is announcedZara Larsson returns with Pretty UglyCharli xcx's party 4 u charts thanks to TikTokTate McRae collaborates with Morgan Wallen - why?Lana Del Rey disses Morgan WallenWe Ain’t No Divas is hosted by Ross McNeilage and Sam Prance. This episode was produced by Sam Prance, and edited by Ross McNeilage. Music provided by Monopoly Phonic.

Fresh off Umbrella being the biggest single of 2007, Rihanna reissued Good Girl Gone Bad with three additional songs (including two more US number ones!), another haircut and a first hip-hop feature that'd make her the go-to girl for years to come.Part two of our Good Girl Gone Bad deep dive delves into the success of Take A Bow, Disturbia and Live Your Life with T.I., while we explore how fashion continued to play a pivotal role in Rihanna's rising star. Ross and Sam find out which song Rihanna nabbed from Janet Jackson, why Rehab was the final single and revisit the tabloid aftermath of Chris Brown assaulting her the night before the 2009 GRAMMYs.Follow us @weaintnodivas to keep up with your faves and let us know your thoughts!00:01:35 Rihanna - Take A Bow00:04:44 Beyoncé - Irreplaceable comparisons00:09:06 Rihanna and Maroon 5 - If I Never See Your Face Again00:12:39 The song Rihanna got over Janet Jackson00:14:33 Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded00:20:14 Rihanna - Disturbia00:28:28 Rihanna and T.I. - Live Your Life00:33:48 Rihanna - Rehab00:37:38 Chris Brown assaults Rihanna the night before 2009 GRAMMYs00:47:08 Diva Diploma - What do Ross and Sam rate the Good Girl Gone Bad era?We Ain’t No Divas is hosted by Ross McNeilage and Sam Prance. This episode was produced by Sam Prance, and edited by Ross McNeilage. Music provided by Monopoly Phonic.