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Jayson Tatum shares insight into the untold struggles of balancing NBA fame and fatherhood

Image via USA TODAY Sports

When Jayson Tatum takes to the court, he’s a dazzling Boston Celtics superstar, commanding attention with his game-winning shots. But when the final buzzer sounds, Tatum steps into an even more rewarding role: being “dad” to his six-year-old son, Deuce. Whether they’re courtside sharing smiles or at home making memories, this dynamic father-son duo is redefining what it means to balance stardom and parenthood. Their bond isn’t just endearing—it’s a slam dunk of love and dedication that resonates far beyond the basketball world.

Jayson Tatum’s role as an NBA superstar and a devoted dad

Image via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports

Tatum’s relationship with Deuce has evolved into something truly special over the years. Whether it’s Deuce cheering from the sidelines or the father-son duo sharing a heartwarming moment in public, their connection resonates with fans. Tatum acknowledges the importance of being present for his son, a commitment he takes seriously despite the rigorous demands of his NBA career.
“I make sure that — regardless if I had a game the night before, had to travel, or got in late — when it’s my days to have him, I’m getting up at 6:30 in the morning to take him to school,” Tatum shared. “When we don’t have a game, I’m making sure I’m there to pick him up after school. It’s just about being present as much as I can, especially with how much we travel.”

Tatum’s fatherhood has been shaped by challenges

Tatum’s upbringing under a strict basketball coach father significantly influenced his parenting style. Growing up in a reportedly abusive environment, he vowed to provide a different experience for Deuce. This perspective has helped him create a nurturing, loving space for his son. He also expressed admiration for LeBron James’ relationship with his son Bronny, calling it “the coolest thing ever.”
“A father and son playing in the NBA is something special that I never thought I would see,” Tatum said. While the possibility of replicating the LeBron-Bronny dynamic with Deuce exists, Tatum remains grounded. “As far as me and Deuce, I don’t know. A lot of things would have to go right for that to happen. It’s too early to tell.”

Tatum believes in creating moments that matter

For Tatum, fatherhood is about the little things that make a big difference. Back in 2020, while stuck in the NBA bubble, Tatum made sure to FaceTime Deuce every night to read his favorite books. Fast forward to today, the duo enjoys Baby-Dunks-a-Lot, a book co-written by Tatum and inspired by his son.
“Yeah, I think just being a normal dad. Being there for recitals and plays at school,” Tatum explained, reflecting on the importance of sharing everyday experiences with Deuce.

An inspiring example of modern fatherhood

Jayson Tatum’s journey as a father is a powerful testament to the balance between professional excellence and personal dedication. By prioritizing love, presence, and meaningful connections, he continues to inspire not only Celtics fans but parents everywhere. While the idea of playing alongside Deuce in the NBA remains a distant dream, the two are already winning in the game of life, one intentional moment at a time.

Tatum’s commitment to his son showcases a refreshing approach to fatherhood, proving that even amidst the spotlight, the simplest joys of parenthood hold the greatest value.
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Meet Deuce Tatum: The Young Superstar Stealing the Spotlight from His Dad, Jayson Tatum!

Jayson Tatum welcomed his son, Deuce, with ex-girlfriend Toriah Lachell in 2017

Photo: Brian Babineau/NBAE

NBA star Jayson Tatum is a proud father of one special boy.

On Dec. 6, 2017, Tatum and his high school girlfriend, Toriah Lachell, welcomed Jayson “Deuce” Christopher Tatum Jr. during Tatum’s rookie year with the NBA. Deuce has since become an icon for Boston Celtics fans and an honorary part of his father’s team.

“On the court [I want Deuce to remember me as] … a competitor, somebody that just always wanted to win,” Tatum once said. “Every time he comes to the game, he sees how I give it my all, I’m doing everything I can in my power to help us win.”

Tatum won big in June 2024 when the Boston Celtics beat the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals.

Fans will see more of Deuce in Starting 5, the Netflix docuseries that follows NBA players (including Tatum) through their 2023-2024 season that began streaming in October 2024.

From growing up together to courtside traditions, here’s everything to know about Jayson Tatum’s son, Deuce Tatum.

He was born shortly after Tatum was drafted into the NBA

Jayden Tatum Instagram

2017 was the “biggest year” for Tatum — he was the NBA’s third draft pick in June and, six months later, became a father.

“My mindset was not to sacrifice either. I was going to be the best father as well as the best basketball player,” Tatum said during a post-game press conference in 2022, recalling his first year in the league. “There was no guideline or there was no exact way to do it. It was all about what was natural.”

He continued, “I think being able to go through this journey together … I was 19 when I got drafted, it’s kind of like we’re growing up together. As he’s gotten older, I’m going through my career and [we’re] experiencing this together. I think it’s the coolest part for me.”

In October 2023, Tatum was a guest contributor for the NBA’s Starting 5 newsletter. He wrote about the downsides of being a father who travels often for work.

“Tough thing, depending on our schedule, is missing his birthday. There have been a few years when I wasn’t with him for his birthday. Also, not being able to go to every school event and or basketball practice because we are on the road,” he said. “Even though this is my 7th season, it’s still something that’s not easy to deal with because you never want to miss those things. They grow up so fast.”

He has become the unofficial mascot for the Boston Celtics

Deuce has caught the attention of both NBA fans and the Boston Celtics. The team has featured Deuce on their social media, including supporting coach Ime Udoka in a pre-game chant in May 2022 and presenting an All-Star ring to his dad.

He’s become close with Tatum’s teammates as well, even hitting Marcus Smart’s behind during a game in March 2022. “Deuce is always trying to attack me any time I come around him,” Smart told The Boston Globe. “That’s just who he is. We all love Deuce.”

Celtics forward Grant Williams also told the outlet that he and Deuce have a “love-hate relationship.” He explained, “There’s days where he comes in, gives me a hug, says, ‘What’s up?’ and daps me up. There’s other days where he looks at me crazy, kind of gives me a mean mug, punches me a few times, and keeps it moving.”

Deuce has supported his dad at many games, including a May 2023 match where the little boy participated in a kids’ dunk contest and met the dog who does halftime performances.

More recently, Deuce has become a regular fixture on the Celtics’ official TikTok account. In one video, Deuce can be seen hanging out in the locker room after a game, announcing, “we almost lost!”

He crashes his dad’s interviews

Maddie Meyer/Getty

The little one is no stranger to the spotlight: In several of Tatum’s post-game interviews, Deuce has jumped into his father’s lap.

In May 2022, after the Celtics beat Milwaukee in game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, Deuce whispered something to his dad. Tatum asked his son, “What do you want to say? Do you want to say something?” A reporter then asked what Deuce will do when he visits Miami for the next game. Deuce took the mic and replied, “I will go swimming.”

His name is on all of Tatum’s sneakers

Brian Babineau/NBAE

It’s no accident that Tatum’s sneakers have markings peeking out from the inside. The Celtics player explained to The Bleacher Report that he writes his son’s nickname on all of his game-day kicks.

“For those that don’t know, I have a 4-year-old son, and that’s his nickname,” he said. “You know, Deuce is the real superstar in Boston. And it’s crazy to see the reception and the attention that he gets. When I found out I was having a child in my rookie year, never in my wildest dreams did I think that he would be as big as he is. Just his personality and I think that people recognize the relationship that we have.”

In December 2021, Tatum wore a pair of Air Jordans inspired by Deuce’s favorite book, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, according to ESPN’s Nick DePaula. The year prior, Tatum brought children’s books into the NBA bubble to read to Deuce over FaceTime, including the book that inspired his sneakers.

He enjoys playing dress up and making music

Tatum has shared several photos of his son on social media over the years. In February 2021, the star forward shared a Snapchat video of the father-son duo singing karaoke. In December, he shared a photo of Deuce jamming out on a custom drum set. The set featured his name in the famous Boston Celtics font and colors.

Additionally, his father has shared photos of him playing with his superhero toys and costumes. He’s rocked several superhero costumes for Halloween, including Buzz Lightyear and Jack-Jack from The Incredibles.

After watching Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Deuce informed his dad that he’d like to be the web-slinging, wall-crawling superhero when he grows up.

“New spider man movie so good deuce told me, ‘daddy I think I changed my mind I might want to be spider man when I grow up. But I still want to be you,’ ” Tatum shared on Twitter. The NBA player added: “Good save son, good save!”

His parents met in high school

Tatum attended Chaminade College Preparatory School in St. Louis, where he met then-girlfriend Toriah Lachell. In an interview with Graham Bensinger, Tatum said he found out that Lachell was pregnant in early 2017, just as his freshman season at Duke University was ending and his professional career was taking off.

The new parents were both 19 years old when they welcomed Deuce in December.

He has game-day traditions

Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald

Deuce is a big part of the Celtics family. Aside from crashing interviews and being honored on his father’s sneakers, he frequents the locker room and a courtside seat. Deuce can be seen hyping up the team and giving players high-fives. He will typically appear courtside both before and after games.

Before every game in TD Garden during the postseason in 2022, Deuce stood by his father’s side during the national anthem.

Tatum loves growing up alongside him

Tatum enjoys being a young father as he and his son are “growing up together.”

In 2022, Tatum shared, “I think it’s cool that he’s going to be able to see me as my career goes, and as he’s getting older now, remember certain things and interact and things like that. It’s definitely a plus [being a young father].”

When asked about Deuce’s fans, the basketball player added, “Every time he comes to a home game, people cheer when they see him. They scream his name when he comes to games on the road and here at All-Star [Weekend]. He has his own personality.”

The NBA player celebrated Deuce’s fifth birthday by making him giant pancakes and giving him a special shout-out on Instagram.

“Deuce Day!! Happy 5th birthday to my best friend in the world🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽Love you kid ❤️,” Tatum captioned a carousel of images with his son.

He’s a budding basketball player

According to Celtics player Grant Williams, Deuce already has some impressive basketball skills. Deuce has even handed out water bottles and towels to Tatum’s teammates.

“He’s a great passer,” Williams told The Boston Globe. “He’s a better passer than his dad sometimes. Honestly, though, he’s gotten so much better, too. He can dribble with both hands now. His jump shot looks good. He’s on his way. He’s coming.”

Deuce has also shown off his ball-handling skills during warmups.

In March 2024, Tatum told PEOPLE that Deuce is now playing on an organized basketball team. “So he’s really starting to fall in love with the game. It’s exciting to see that,” he shared.

He inspired his dad’s signature shoe with Nike

Tatum designed his first signature shoe — the Tatum 1 — under Nike’s Jordan Brand. The shoe comes in four colorways, including a black and red pair called “The Zoo,” which was inspired by Deuce’s love for animals.

“His name is on the inside,” Tatum told NBA on TNT. “People older than you and people younger than you can inspire you. My son has inspired me in more ways than I could have imagined.”

While working with Nike, the Celtics player was adamant that the Tatum 1 come in kids’ sizes.

“I remember being a kid, walking into the store, and looking for the signature shoes of my favorite players. The moment I saw the shoe or put the shoe on, I felt like I was in sync and closer to them in a way,” he said. “So, I want this shoe to be a bridge between my fans and me to bring us closer together.”

He watched his dad throw the first pitch at a Cardinals game

Dilip Vishwanat/Getty

In August 2023, Tatum was invited to throw the first pitch at a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game. Deuce stood next to his dad on the mound as the NBA player delivered a strike to the catcher.

He watched his dad win the 2024 NBA Finals

Jayson Tatum celebrates during the game against the Dallas Mavericks during Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals on June 17, 2024.Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE/Getty

In June 2024, the Boston Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals. Photos captured Tatum and Deuce celebrating on the court as green and white confetti rained down from the ceiling at TD Garden.

“He told me you’re the best in the world. I said, ‘You’re damn right I am,’ ” Tatum said to reporters when asked to recount his exchange with Deuce following the big game.

Jayson Tatum’s Unshakable Confidence: The Bold Reason He Knows He’s Destined for Greatness

JON SCHEYER HAS done enough recruiting to know how ridiculous this story sounds, but he swears every word of it is true.

It was 2013. Scheyer was 25 years old and just getting started as a special assistant at Duke. One weekend in July, with Mike Krzyzewski off coaching Team USA, Scheyer was dispatched to an AAU tournament outside Chicago to watch a player they’d offered a scholarship to the week before, a sharpshooter named Luke Kennard.

Scheyer’s job, essentially, was to show up and make sure Kennard saw him in the stands. But as a wide-eyed novice on his first road trip, Scheyer couldn’t help but take a look around.

That’s when he saw Jayson Tatum.

“I’ll never forget it,” says Scheyer, who became Duke’s head coach this spring after Krzyzewski retired. “All the courts were right next to each other. Luke was on Court 3. So as I’m walking into the gym, the games are going on beforehand, and on Court 1, I’m walking through and I stop and I look, and I see this skinny 6-7 kid, who has the biggest baby face you’ve ever seen, just dominating. …

“From that point on, it was my mission. I felt like he belonged [at] Duke.”

Scheyer had enough self-awareness to know he might have been getting a little ahead of himself. Who spots a future NBA superstar 10 minutes into his first recruiting trip? But he did his best to convince Krzyzewski and the rest of the staff that the 15-year-old wing was special. Eventually, he established a rapport with the family, and soon Tatum’s mom, Brandy Cole, was texting Scheyer after Tatum’s high school games, typing things such as, “He needs to f—ing rebound!”

The Blue Devils wound up winning the 2015 national championship, and a few days later, Scheyer, Krzyzewski and associate head coach Jeff Capel traveled to Tatum’s 900-square-foot home in University City, a suburb of St. Louis. Cole made her famous tacos, and the Bud Lights flowed. It was the first and last time Scheyer had seen Krzyzewski drink beer — “he’s a big wine guy.”

Krzyzewski was giving his pitch, he was rolling, and Tatum was so overcome with nerves that he didn’t say a thing.

Eventually his dad, Justin Tatum, chimed in.

“Just so we’re clear,” he told them, “he’s coming.”

The coaches’ jaws dropped, Scheyer says. By then, Krzyzewski had recognized what Scheyer had seen in that fieldhouse in Chicago, and it was a victory to bring him to Durham.

“He has such an inner belief in himself,” Scheyer says. “You can’t teach that.”

Everyone who knows Tatum seems to come back to this. He might be naturally gifted, he might work on his game obsessively, but what seems to distinguish him in the biggest moments — and there have been many during these playoffs as he has led the Boston Celtics to their first NBA Finals in 12 years — is his belief in himself.

It’s not something he outwardly shows; about the closest you’d get to anything loud from Jayson Tatum was the fashion-forward pink-and-patterned multicolored jacket he wore to Chase Center for Game 1 of the Finals, which are tied 1-1 as the series with the Golden State Warriors heads to Boston for Game 3 (9 p.m. ET, ABC and on the ESPN App). But the conviction is there, and it has been built as solidly as his game in large part by a woman who gave up her own dreams so that Tatum could live out his.

Jayson Tatum hit five 3-pointers in the first half, but Boston lost to the Warriors on Sunday night, and the NBA Finals are tied 1-1. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
BRANDY COLE COULD not bring herself to tell her mom she was pregnant. She was 18 years old and supposed to go to college and play volleyball. Kristie Jursch had Brandy when she was young and reared her as a single mom. She wanted more for her daughter, and Cole knew it.

So she kept the pregnancy to herself as long as she could, trying to figure out the right way to broach the subject with her mom. She knew the glances that the news eventually would bring from others — Poor Brandy. She’s ruined her life — and was determined to prove them wrong.

The Golden State Warriors beat the Boston Celtics 4-2 in the Finals.

“I just didn’t want to be a statistic,” she says. “I didn’t want to take a semester off because I was afraid I would never go back. I just put my head down and I just dug it out the whole way.”

But when Cole was 3½ months pregnant, her body forced the issue. She collapsed from anemia while working at the photo counter at a Walgreens. She was in college by now, but still couldn’t tell her mom at the hospital and asked a friend to do it. Jursch walked in to the room and hugged her daughter. “We’ll get through this,” Jursch told her.

Jursch cried for about a week, then showered that baby with love. Cole would be sleeping, and she’d pull the covers off and start talking to her daughter’s belly. “My mom loved really hard,” Cole says. But Cole was independent. She didn’t want Jayson calling her mama “Mama.” She wanted him to grow up knowing she was his mom.

Shortly after Jayson was born, Cole left home. She knew her mom would want them to stay, so they slipped out when Jursch went to work. Cole was determined to do this on her own. And it was a struggle while she was juggling work, school and motherhood.

“There was a time we didn’t have any heat in the wintertime and we would have to turn the stove on to try and heat the house,” Tatum says. “I was sleeping in bed with my mom, ’cause we had one space heater, and we had to close the door.”

They were in it together in every sense. Cole brought Jayson with her to class, then did homework at night after she put him to bed.

His dad, a forward for Saint Louis University, played overseas after college. He was the first one to put a basketball in Jayson’s hands when he was a baby. By elementary school, when Jayson was telling people he was going to play in the NBA, it was kindly suggested he develop a backup plan.

“I would always tell them, ‘I don’t. I don’t have one. I’m going to make this work regardless of who thinks so or not, or the circumstances,’” Tatum says. “If I don’t, it’s either this or die. Nothing else matters.”

When Jayson was 13, Cole wanted him to train with Drew Hanlen, a St. Louis-based 21-year-old former college basketball player-turned-training guru. Hanlen was working with Bradley Beal, who’d committed to Florida and would soon be the No. 3 overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft. Cole begged Hanlen to train her son, but there was one problem: Hanlen didn’t work with middle school players.

She reached out to Beal, whose mom, Besta, happened to have been her volleyball coach in high school. Beal put in a good word for Jayson. Though they were five grades apart, Beal would work out with him and give Jayson rides. Whenever Cole tried to repay Beal with whatever she could, be it gas money or a gift card for Imo’s pizza, he would say, “Stop it. That’s my little bro.”

Beal’s recommendation meant something to Hanlen, but what moved him even more was Cole. She said she’d take out a loan to pay for the training; whatever it would take, as long as he gave her son a chance to prove he was worthy.

“That to me was when I was like, ‘You know what, I’m going to train this kid because I see how much his mom is willing to do anything and everything for Jayson,” Hanlen says.

But she didn’t want handouts. Her son would work for everything. There was one point she was firm on: Nothing would be given to her or her son. Not free lessons, not opportunities he didn’t earn. She didn’t want to owe anyone anything.

“She always believed that I would get to where I am,” Tatum says. “And she never wanted somebody to have something to hold over my head. That was something that always stuck with me — if my mom couldn’t get it for me, then we just had to go without, and we would figure it out.”

That first session, Hanlen worked Jayson so hard he had to leave the gym twice because he was about to vomit. The second one, he brought in Scott Suggs, who was playing for the University of Washington. He says Suggs “destroyed” him in a game of one-on-one, and Hanlen was watching the 13-year-old, wondering how he’d respond to adversity.

Hanlen focused on Jayson’s mental game. Cole wanted her son to have humility; Hanlen was trying to make him a steely-eyed, arrogant winner. “I kept telling her even as a freshman, ‘He’s got to be an a–hole,’” Hanlen says, “And she was like, ‘No, I want my baby to be a humble star.’

“Junior year in high school, Jayson loses the state championship. And he had got a technical for dunking on somebody, hanging on the rim, and it was just really the ref kind of screwed him over, but they end up losing — that’s the point that matters. And after he lost the game, Brandy’s first thing is ‘Yo’ — because we didn’t think he was aggressive enough — and she goes, ‘Man, turn him into an arrogant a–hole.’”

Tatum’s mom, Brandy Cole, used to take him with her everywhere, including college lecture halls. Tatum’s son, Jayson Jr., right, is never far behind, either. From left: Courtesy Brandy Cole; Adam Glanzman/Getty Images
WHEN A DRAFT pick sneaks up on you, makes a bold move seem like an obvious choice, history is not always kind to the teams that come out on the wrong end of it. In the case of Tatum and the 2017 draft, the Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers are left to rue their decisions.

The Celtics had the No. 1 pick, but traded down with Philadelphia, which used the pick to select University of Washington guard Markelle Fultz. The Lakers sat at No. 2 and were fixated on UCLA point guard Lonzo Ball. They didn’t even bring Tatum in for a workout. The reasons for these decisions are painful to revisit for those who made them, and somewhat lost to history because the principals — Bryan Colangelo (Philadelphia) and Magic Johnson (Lakers) — are no longer in their roles.

“The Lakers were my favorite team, and Kobe was my favorite player,” says Tatum, who wore a purple No. 24 wristband to honor Bryant in Boston’s win against the Miami Heat in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals. “So it was crazy that the Lakers had the second pick and I was so close to a dream come true. But it was just like they didn’t want anything to do with me at the time.”

The Sixers at least worked him out, but simply preferred Fultz’s skill set — he was seen as a better shooter and passer — to pair with their budding young stars, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.

And at the time, many draft analysts saw it as a sound decision. Meanwhile, the Celtics turned some heads when they let it be known they had Tatum rated as the top player in the draft the whole time.

Out of high school, Tatum had been the 2016 Gatorade National Player of the Year. But he fell out of any No. 1 discussions when he missed the first month of his freshman season at Duke because of a foot injury.

“You miss the first part of the season, that’s when you’re getting a feel for the speed of the game and the spacing, and there’s an adjustment period that’s there,” Scheyer says. “But really, the last six weeks of the season, he was the best player in the country, and I don’t think it was even close. I think people just got caught up with [what happened] earlier in the season.”

But Danny Ainge, then the general manager of the Celtics, had gone to New York in March to watch Tatum play in the ACC tournament. He saw him score 24 points in a win against North Carolina and collect 19 points and eight rebounds in a victory over Notre Dame for the championship.

For a while, Ainge had strongly considered Fultz as the top player — everybody did. Then, according to a league source, Fultz came in for a workout, missed numerous shots and didn’t seem healthy.

It made Ainge think hard about Tatum, especially after the Celtics worked him out in Los Angeles. Long considered a midrange shooter, Tatum, who’d worked with Hanlen on his perimeter game, impressed the Celtics by sinking 3-pointer after 3-pointer. Up close, he was bigger and could make a variety of shots in different ways.

The only question was whether to take him No. 1, or roll the dice on a trade with Philadelphia or L.A., bet that they wouldn’t take Tatum and pick up another asset.

“After my workout, I remember one of the [Boston] scouts came up to me and said, ‘That was a great workout. I’m excited for you. But we got the No. 1 pick, so we’re not going to pick you,’” Tatum says with a laugh. “He still works for the Celtics now, so I f— with him all the time.”

The scout, whom Tatum politely declined to name, can laugh about that comment now. So can former Sixers coach Brett Brown. Well, sort of.

After the Celtics swept the Sixers in the first round of the 2020 playoffs, Brown, according to league sources, passed Tatum in the hallway on his way to the bus. He complimented Tatum on how his game had developed and noted all of his hard work.

Tatum appreciated it. Both of them knew how different their careers might have turned out had the Sixers gone another way in 2017, but there was no reason to dwell on it. Brown simply ended the conversation by telling Tatum that Philadelphia’s mistake in not drafting him had become obvious over the years, and he wished he’d had a chance to coach him. But Brown was glad he’d found a good home in Boston.

Brown was fired a day later.

Tatum declared for the NBA draft after playing one season for coach Mike Krzyzewski at Duke, where he averaged 16.8 points and 7.3 rebounds. Michael Reaves/Getty Images
OF COURSE IT seems obvious now. Tatum has led the Celtics to the NBA Finals after the most complete season of his pro career.

Tatum, 24, dished out 13 assists Thursday in a Game 1 victory, which was the most for a player in his NBA Finals debut, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. He also scored a team-high 28 points in Game 2 on Sunday, but he struggled to find his rhythm in the second half of a 107-88 loss. From the All-Star break to the end of the regular season, he was one of three players to average 30 points, shoot 50% on field goals and 40% from beyond the arc. He also has improved his defense, stifling Brooklyn’s Kevin Durant in the first round of the playoffs and limiting an albeit injured Jimmy Butler in the Eastern Conference finals against Miami.

He was a first-time All-NBA selection this season and MVP of the conference finals. But even Tatum’s most ardent supporters concede his path to superstardom hasn’t exactly followed a straight line.

He showed flashes during his rookie year when Boston made the conference finals ahead of schedule in 2018. But the following seasons were marked with inconsistency. So it was hard to calibrate the expectations for him and Boston’s other young star, Jaylen Brown. But Tatum never lost faith.

“I think when you’re not confident, it’s because you don’t believe in your craft,” Tatum says. “But when you work so hard and you constantly put in the work, it’s impossible not to be confident and believe in yourself.”

Tatum grew up idolizing Bryant. It wasn’t the typical No. 24-wearing childhood infatuation, either. Kobe was everything to Tatum. He was 10 years old when Team USA went to Beijing for the 2008 Olympics, and Bryant was showing up with ice bags on his knees while the team was just sitting down for breakfast. “That dude was pushing himself harder than any human being I had ever met — waking up at 4 a.m. to hit the gym,” Team USA teammate Chris Bosh told reporters at the time. “That meant all of us were gonna push ourselves, too.”

Tatum was going to outwork everyone, just like Kobe. Tatum would wake up at 5:30 every morning, armed with the key to the Chaminade College Prep gym, and work out with Hanlen before class. His mom was by no means an early riser. “I can’t want it more than you do,” she’d tell him. So if she had to wake him up, “you don’t want it enough.” She knew he got it when she’d wake up and he was already gone.

Up Close with Sage Steele on ESPN+

Host Sage Steele sits down with Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum for an emotional interview. More episodes and more on Tatum on ESPN+.

Still, he was school-kid anxious when Bryant reached out to him to discuss an episode of his ESPN+ series “Detail,” which he’d produced on Tatum during the 2018 Eastern Conference finals.

Tatum didn’t know Bryant was focusing the episode on him, and when he finished practice one day, he looked at his phone and it had a bunch of messages with the video attached. He watched it at least 20 times.

“I went and I had a text message from him,” Tatum says. “He was like, ‘Hey, what’s up? This is Kobe. You’re playing great. I’m excited for you. Keep it up.’ He was like, ‘This summer, if you’re ever in L.A. and you want to connect, just reach out.’ At the time, I was 20. I had just turned 20.

“It was one of the coolest moments of my life.”

He took a screenshot of the text. That summer, Tatum took Bryant up on the offer. He called Kobe as soon as he landed in L.A.

To this day, Tatum watches clips of Kobe when he needs inspiration or a boost of confidence. This season, there were a lot of those moments.

The Celtics were in 11th place in the Eastern Conference in mid-January, and there were renewed calls to trade him and/or Jaylen Brown. Critics said they didn’t distribute the ball enough and couldn’t coexist. Were either of them good enough to be the best player on a championship team? Did they still need a third star to put them over the top?

Tatum says there were times throughout the season when he wondered, “‘Damn, am I good enough? Am I good enough to be the guy on the championship team?’ Like, ‘Man, maybe I’m not ready.’ But I just kept believing myself, kept doing what got me here, and just trusting that it would change around.”

Hanlen, who also trains Embiid, says Embiid will quickly fly him out at a moment’s notice when he’s struggling. But Tatum has a tendency to suffer in silence. One time earlier this season when Tatum sputtered, Hanlen didn’t even wait for him to call. He hopped on a flight at halftime, and they got back into the lab.

Whenever Tatum needs motivation, he thinks about his mom, who got her bachelor’s, master’s and law degrees while juggling motherhood and jobs.

“She dropped me off at school every day,” Tatum says. “She picked me up every day. She took me to every practice. She came to every game, even if she would be sitting in the car, studying for the bar exam. She just did it all. She inspired me, because my mom, she always gave me confidence. She told me that she would always support me in whatever I wanted to do, but she was always tough on me. She never let me make excuses.”

Impressed by his strong showing at the ACC tournament and a workout in which he showed his versatility, Boston picked Tatum third overall in 2017. AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
BRANDY COLE STILL makes the hard-shell tacos that Jon Scheyer calls “high-level.” Tatum will arrive back in Boston at 2 a.m. from a road trip, and he’ll text his mom that he’s landed. He’ll stop at her house, and she’ll warm up tacos for him.

Cole lives in a Boston-area townhome next door to her son.

They share a driveway, and when Tatum is on the road, Cole and her husband will make Tatum’s bed and do his laundry. And it’s by no means strange that they’re so connected, not when Tatum was trudging along to college classes with his mom as a little boy, and watched her clean houses for people with money and suits, then saw Cole become one of those women with a briefcase and a power suit.

They’ve been through everything together. There was a joke they had when he was growing up, when he was so quiet, yet so focused, and the only one who believed in his greatness was his mother. She’d go into his room and put two fingers on his wrist, and he’d ask what she was doing.

“I’m just checking for a pulse,” she’d say, “making sure you’re still here.”

She’d teach him to be a person who would say thank you, even if it was a personal chef making his meals, or someone moderately shocked that an NBA star could show such appreciation. She believed that she and her son could talk about everything.

Then one time when she visited him during his one year at Duke, she noticed something was off. She wondered whether it was the transition of a young man finally out on his own. She wanted to give him space, but it was hard for her. She’d cried and cried when she dropped him off at college, when she knew he’d be going to the NBA soon after and was never really coming home to St. Louis.

But on this trip to Durham, there was a disconnect. He dropped her off at the hotel that night, and she gave him a hug. “Listen,” she told him, “whatever it is, I got your back.”

At 3 a.m., he called her. He told her he was going to be a father. For a moment, she was quiet, and felt what her mother felt all those years ago. She reassured him. Most teenage parents deal with financial issues, she told him, but soon, he probably wouldn’t have that problem. She told him there was nothing he couldn’t get through, and that she’d be there to help.

Jayson Tatum Jr. was born Dec. 6, 2017. Tatum’s rookie season. He says 2017 was the biggest year of his life. He calls his son Deuce, and Tatum and Deuce’s mother, Toriah Lachell, co-parent. Senior and Junior spend much of their time at Cole’s house because Tatum says she’s the one who has all the toys and the food.

Cole will watch her son play, holding Deuce in her lap, and it’s hard not to think of the symmetry of it all, but Cole really doesn’t.

“I come from a long line of strong women who just didn’t make excuses,” she says. “It didn’t seem like a huge accomplishment or anything. It’s just what we do.”

Taylor Swift Loses Shocking Number of Instagram Followers After Super Bowl Booing – What’s Really Happening?

Taylor Swift has been getting sacked on Instagram.

The Kansas City Chiefs WAG has shed over 144,200 followers since being mercilessly booed at the Super Bowl, according to the sports gaming site SportsMillions.

Conservative Swift fans such as Alexis Winters of Queens said the drop in followers — and the booing — is a signal for the singer to stick to music, and stay out of politics.

Taylor Swift lost over 144,200 followers since being booed at the Super Bowl, according to the sports gaming site SportsMillions. X/@SamuelBrownRBT via REUTERS
“We are tired of celebrities calling down to us from their ivory towers giving their two cents on policies that will never impact them,” said Winters, 24, the corresponding secretary of the New York Young Republican Club.

“Taylor Swift is simply the best example of this and her loss of hundreds of thousands of Instagram followers represents the hundreds of thousands of Americans who chose their president over the woke Hollywood mob.”

Swift’s boyfriend and Chiefs star Travis Kelce enjoyed a bump in Instagram followers post his Super Bowl drubbing to the Philadelphia Eagles, gaining over 12,370 followers, as per SportsMillions, which used Social Blade to track the couple’s social media stats.

“I mostly think it’s equally maddening and unsurprising how people seem more eager to celebrate the man dating a successful woman than the actual woman herself,” said Sara Koger, 32, of Buckeye, Ariz.

Jenna Piwowarczyk, the college student who is the face of the Swifties for Trump movement, agreed.

Travis Kelce, on the other hand, actually gained Instagram followers after the Super Bowl. TNS
“When Travis made an appearance on the Eras Tour, Swifties were excited to see him and cheered him on. When Taylor was shown on the Jumbotron, she was booed,” she said.

“I understand the demographic of the Super Bowl attendees are not fans of Taylor Swift, but the generalized hatred towards her for simply supporting her boyfriend is uncalled for and gross.”

Swift — whose Eras Tour was the highest-grossing concert tour of all time — shouldn’t fret, Koger said.

Jenna Piwowarczyk, the face of the Swifties for Trump movement, said Swift’s negative reception was “uncalled for and gross.” Courtesy of Jenna Piwowarczyk
“Taylor doesn’t even post that often, and she doesn’t technically need social media to thrive or be successful,” she said.

“She isn’t going anywhere, no matter how many boos she hears at a football game or followers she loses.”

My new favorite sport is hockey 😎 My husband received this photo from me, then immediately wants a divorce😱 – Can you recognize what is wrong with the picture she sent? The answer is in the link in the first comment.⬇️

My hubby got
One evening at the ranch, I sent my husband a photo of the sunset, cows grazing peacefully, and the calm landscape. His reply caught me off guard: “Look closer at the fence. Zoom in.”

READ MORE>>>>

JUST IN: Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift Seen Savoring the Serenity of the Sea, Sipping Fine Wine on Luxurious Yacht in First Public Appearance Since Heartbreaking Super Bowl LIX Loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Kelce Shares “Taking time to heal with the best company,”

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift Embrace Healing on a Luxurious Yacht Getaway

In a heartwarming scene that has captured the attention of fans and media alike, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift were recently spotted enjoying a serene escape on a luxurious yacht. The pair, seen savoring the tranquility of the sea while sipping fine wine, marked their first public appearance since the Chiefs’ heartbreaking Super Bowl LIX loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

A Moment of Respite After Heartbreak

Following a Super Bowl defeat that left both the team and its supporters reeling, Kelce and Swift appeared to be taking a much-needed break from the relentless pressures of professional sports and the media spotlight. The yacht, gliding gracefully over calm waters, provided the perfect setting for the duo to reflect, recover, and reconnect away from the public eye. In a candid moment that resonated with many, Kelce shared, “Taking time to heal with the best company,” a statement that has since become a rallying cry for fans seeking solace and strength in tough times.

Serenity at Sea: A Picture-Perfect Escape

Clad in relaxed, stylish attire, the pair exuded an air of ease as they navigated the gentle sway of the sea. The luxurious vessel, complete with lavish amenities and panoramic views, offered them an idyllic retreat from recent setbacks. For Kelce, whose Super Bowl loss weighed heavily on him and the entire Chiefs organization, this getaway was more than just a pause from the game—it was a chance to find peace and gather strength for the challenges ahead

Taylor Swift’s Surprising Connection to Blake Lively & Justin Baldoni’s Controversial Movie – Shocking Interview Resurfaces!

Blake Lively claimed additional female cast members are willing to testify in her sexual harassment case against ‘It Ends With Us’ co-star Justin Baldoni

Taylor Swift’s connection to Blake Lively’s movie “It Ends With Us,” starring Lively and Justin Baldoni, has deepened.

Resurfaced interviews reveal Swift may have had a hand in casting Isabela Ferrer, the rising star who played the younger version of Lively’s character, Lily Bloom.

Baldoni wanted to choose an actress who resembled Lively because she is so “recognizable.” The director noted while Ferrer is a “spitting image” of Lively, she’s also a “phenomenal” actress.

“I was casting, and I had actually brought in and showed her casting tape to Blake and Taylor, and they were both, like, ‘Yes! Her,’” Baldoni said in an interview with “Access Hollywood.” “And that’s a true story.”

Baldoni’s mention of Swift confirmed comments Ferrer had made in an interview with “Extra.”

Ferrer claimed Swift had influence over her casting at the premiere of “It Ends With Us” in August.

“I don’t even know if I’m supposed to be saying it, but I’m saying it,” she told the outlet when asked about Swift. “Yeah, she was a helpful part of the process of the audition, which I found out later after I got it, and that rocked my world. I have no words.”

Fox News Digital reached out to Swift’s representative for comment.

This isn’t the first time Swift has been linked to “It Ends With Us” after Lively sued Baldoni for sexual harassment. Baldoni responded by suing Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, for civil extortion and defamation.

In a lengthy timeline shared on Baldoni’s website, which also features the actor’s amended lawsuit against Lively and her husband, the actor and director shared a text exchange between the film’s producer, Jamey Heath, a Sony Film executive, and a Sony marketing executive (who had allegedly just spoken with Lively) that details Lively’s alleged “escalating demands” over the film’s release and a “veiled threat” over the use of Swift’s song, “My Tears Ricochet.”

“While Lively is holding the Film hostage in the edit room, she is simultaneously stalling the Film’s marketing by refusing to approve key materials, including the trailer release,” the timeline states, alongside screenshots of various messages between the three individuals.

“Lively will not approve the trailer release unless she is granted more time in the edit room with her personal editor. Adding to the pressure, Lively made a veiled threat, implying she might ‘change her mind’ about reaching out to Taylor Swift to secure the use of ‘My Tears Ricochet’ for the trailer if her demands are not met.”

Swift’s song was later used in the film’s trailer as well as in a scene within the movie.

Despite Swift’s connection to the “It Ends With Us” drama, the pop star has a “good chance” of getting out of testifying if the legal fight heads to trial in 2026.

“To the extent that Taylor Swift’s deposition would likely lead to relevant information for the case, she could be subpoenaed to testify at a deposition and/or to provide documentary evidence in support,” Ethan Krasnoo, partner at Reavis Page Jump LLP, told Fox News Digital. “But Taylor Swift could seek to quash the subpoena, arguing that it is a fishing expedition or intended to cause harm to Lively in damaging her friendship with Swift rather than to obtain relevant or necessary information.

“Given the minimal impact on the merits of the case, and the fact that parties to the litigation, including Lively, would likely have much of the same relevant information that Taylor Swift would have, should Swift be subpoenaed for a deposition, there is a good chance that a motion to quash the subpoena would be successful.”

Baldoni also mentioned Swift in the lawsuit by sharing texts exchanged between him and Lively. The “Jane the Virgin” star claimed Lively used her friendship with Swift to threaten the actor into changing the “It Ends With Us” script. While working on the film, Lively insisted on rewriting the rooftop scene. Baldoni had been hesitant about the idea but told Lively he would “take a look at what she put together,” according to the complaint.

Afterward, Lively invited Baldoni to her New York City home, where the actor said he felt Swift and Reynolds pressured him into using Lively’s rewrite of the scene.

“Later, Baldoni felt obliged to text Lively to say that he had liked her pages and hadn’t needed Reynolds and her megacelebrity friend to pressure him,” the complaint said.

“I really love what you did. It really does help a lot. Makes it so much more fun and interesting. (And I would have felt that way without Ryan and Taylor [emoji] You really are a talent across the board. Really excited nd [sic] grateful to do this together,” Baldoni’s text said, according to the complaint.

Lively shared a lengthy response, in which she referred to Swift and Reynolds as “dragons” who protect her.

“Both Ryan and [redacted] have established themselves as absolute titans as writers and storytellers outside of their primary gig – just singing or just acting or [redacted] just directing. I’m so lucky to have them as creative barometers,” Lively’s text, included in the complaint, said.

“But also to have them as people who prop me up and make sure I’m seen for all I can, and do offer. Because they know firsthand all I contribute. They also know I’m not always as good at making sure I’m seen and utilized for fear of threatening egos, or fear of affecting the ease of the process. They don’t give a s— about that. And because of that, everyone listens to them with immense respect and enthusiasm. So I guess I have to stop worrying about people liking me.”

If a judge decides Swift’s connection has any relevant bearing on the case, the “Midnights” singer could have to take the stand. Depositions in civil cases have “liberal rules,” another legal expert explained to Fox News Digital.

“A party to a civil lawsuit can seek testimony from any individual who is likely to have relevant and material information,” New York attorney Nicole Brenecki explained. “What is ‘relevant’ and ‘material’ is understood very broadly to include any information that could have bearing on the outcome of a case.

“If Taylor Swift’s testimony is in any way relevant to the subject of this litigation, a subpoena for her testimony should be so ordered by the presiding judge unless the lawyer seeking her testimony is completely and utterly unable to show that said testimony would be in any way relevant.”

Jayson Tatum’s Bold Vision: Jayson Tatum Reveals How He Wants to Be Seen by the Next Generation

After ending their championship drought last season, the Boston Celtics are once again the title favorites. A key reason behind that is none other than their 26-year-old superstar Jayson Tatum.

Over the last few seasons, Tatum has truly taken the jump into superstardom as he is undoubtedly one of the best players in the league.

In fact, in just the eighth season of his NBA career, Tatum already has a Hall of Fame worthy resume and the Celtics star will likely continue to add more accolades in the future.

Speaking of the future, the Celtics superstar recently shared his honest opinion on how he wants the next generation of ball players to view him.

“I’ve been very accomplished at a young age. The truth is, I envision myself as one of those guys — the Lebron, Steph, KDs. I want the next generation to view me as that,” Tatum said.

The trio of LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant had an unforgettable impact on the current generation of NBA players. Even during the twilight years of their careers, James, Curry, and Durant continue to compete with much younger superstars for the title of the best player in the league.

Despite their dominance, there is no doubt that the NBA will soon need to find new faces for the league. Considering Tatum’s accomplishments, he is a perfect candidate for the task.

“Jayson Tatum Issues a Challenge: He Wants His Name Next to These NBA Legends”

The Celtics star is an NBA champion, six-time All-Star, four-time All-NBA selection, an Eastern Conference Finals MVP (2022-23), and is easily one of the faces of the league. Tatum has received MVP votes in four out of the last five seasons, which is perhaps the final major achievement he has on his radar.

Coming off his 15-11-10 triple-double in Boston’s 124-104 win against the 76ers Thursday, Tatum was asked what motivates him following last year’s title victory. He didn’t say he wanted that MVP award, and neither did he say winning back-to-back championships was his fuel.

Tatum explained that he wanted to be seen as one of the league’s best players in history when his career is finished.

“Since I’ve gotten in the league, it’s just trying to get better every single year,” Tatum told reporters (via NBC Sports Boston). “I’m very accomplished at a young age, but the truth is, I envision myself as one of those guys — LeBron (James), Steph (Curry), KD (Kevin Durant). I want the next generation to view me as that.”

I don’t know how this is going to play with

Earlier this year, Tatum became one of just seven players in NBA history to notch 13,000 career points before turning 27. Among those players include Kobe Bryant, Wilt Chamberlin, Carmelo Anthony, Tracy McGrady, and the aforementioned James and Durant.

Tatum currently stands at 13,273 career points and turns 27 on March 3.

He’s also having one of his best seasons yet. Tatum leads the Celtics in points (26.8 per game), rebounds (8.7), assists (5.7), steals (tied for 1.2 with Jaylen Brown), and games started (tied for 53 with Derrick White). Tatum is Boston’s MVP to this point, but it remains to be seen if his efforts will translate to an NBA MVP trophy.

He went on to say that he believes Larry Bird is “the best Celtic ever” and wants his name to be mentioned with No. 33’s.

“Wearing a Celtics uniform comes with a lot of pride,” Tatum said. “The best Celtic ever is Larry Bird, and even if I never reach that — maybe I do, maybe I don’t — you aspire to chase that guy. It comes with a level of focus and motivation every single day to be the best you can be, and wherever the chips fall, just knowing that you gave it your all, you can be OK with that.”

Jon Bon Jovi Returns to Sayreville with an Emotional Message: ‘Chance to Create a Memory’

SAYREVILLE – Jon Bon Jovi quoted himself, speaking about his Sayreville Bomber pride.

“If you remember one thing from our meeting today, know this, you are writing the story of your life,” the iconic Jersey rocker told students and staff at his alma mater Sayreville War Memorial High School. “Make it a great one, so that one day you can say, ‘Who says you can’t go home? There’s only one place they call me one of their own.’”

The Jersey boy returned to Sayreville Tuesday for the dedication of the Jon Bon Jovi Performing Arts Center and Music Suite, emblazoned with his mural created by students, as part of the induction of the high school’s Hall of Fame class.

“I recall that it was right here on this stage that I performed live for the very first time,” Bon Jovi said. “It was a summer talent show, my band played three songs. We lost the contest, and I brought the second-place trophy [here]. I brought it to show you that they even spelled my name wrong, and that success is all about failing nine times, but learning to get up ten.”

Bon Jovi was raised in the Sherwood Forest section of the borough and played football and trumpet and performed in the school musical, Class of 1980.

“You sit here today as the future of Sayreville’s dreamers, participating in theater, music, voice and as recording engineers,” he said. “Now some of you may choose to continue on this path after graduation. Others may consider this a steppingstone. Whatever you choose to do after you leave here, remember that every day is another opportunity to make a memory.”

Bon Jovi told the audience he had no other plan than wanting to be a musician, recalling missing the senior prom to open for Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes at the Freehold Raceway.

“I first strummed a broomstick, and then my first guitar, less than two miles from here on Robin Hood Drive, he said. “I know it was less than two miles from school, because anything under that distance meant that you had to walk to school.”

A surprise for a friend

Bon Jovi brought along his friend, Dave “The Snake” Sabo, a fellow Sayreville graduate who played baseball and strummed guitar with Bon Jovi before co-creating Skid Row.

Sabo, who credits Bon Jovi for helping Skid Row secure its first record deal, was shocked when he was announced as a fellow member of the Hall of Fame class.

“I will say that all of my career accomplishments would never have happened without this guy right here,” Sabo said. “You’ve heard about some of his benevolence, but that doesn’t even scratch the surface, and not to take up too much of your time, but I am so thankful for his mentorship, his friendship and his brotherhood, and I’m honored to be here in front of all of you. I love this school, and I love this town, and I love the people who are associated with all of what’s going on today.”

Bon Jovi and Sabo share not only a longstanding friendship, but a guitar teacher in Al Parinello.

The school’s new music studio, a gift of Bon Jovi and JBJ Management, was named “AP ’95” in Parinello’s memory. The moniker is what Bon Jovi carved into his guitar after his mentor’s death in 1995.

“It’s just that I wanted to know that he’s always, always with me,” Bon Jovi said. “Whenever I pick that thing up, or whenever I’m writing a song, whenever I am in the world, that guy is next to me.”

Not just music

Today, Bon Jovi is an accomplished singer, songwriter, guitarist, actor and philanthropist, with a career spanning four decades in entertainment, as well as charitable causes such as such as feeding the hungry through his JBJ Soul Kitchen restaurants in Red Bank, Toms River, Newark and Jersey City.

“It’s a journey, you know, I’ve been on this journey my entire adult life, and started here. I started before I was an adult,” he said. “… And I get to sit here today and share this with you guys. You know, it’s generational at this point, and it’s been a gift. And not everything has been roses, not everything has been wonderful, but that’s part of the journey too.”

Being named the MusiCares Person of the Year by The Recording Academy earlier this year was a full-circle moment for Bon Jovi, recalling a night in high school when fellow Jersey icon Bruce Springsteen showed up to one of his shows.

“On this night, we were performing, and I turned around and there was my childhood hero on the stage next to me singing,” Bon Jovi said. “… The MusiCares event is where artists come and they perform your songs for you,” he continued. “Bruce flew out to perform with me. He played our new single and that song that he had jumped up on stage to performing with me that very first time.”

Through it all, Bon Jovi has never lost sight of where he came from.

“When I was a kid, you always have this little notion about ‘I’m going to break free,’ ‘I’m going to be my own man,’ ‘I’m going to go see the world,’” he said. “And then when I get there, there’s only so far you can go before you’re on your way back home. And no matter where I’ve gone around this globe for 40 years, you carry where you’re from with you, and it’s reflected in the songs that you write or the relationships that you have.”

Unstoppable! Jon Bon Jovi Returns With Tremendous Success After Vocal Cord Surgery

Jon Bon Jovi is staging an impressive comeback. After documenting his potentially career-ending vocal cord surgery in 2024’s “Thank You, Goodnight” documentary, the legendary rocker and recent “American Idol” mentor is quickly climbing Billboard’s Top 40 chart with an unlikely accomplice: rapper Pitbull.

On February 12, 2025, Bon Jovi and Pitbull’s new tune, “Now or Never,” debuted at number 36 on Billboard’s Pop Airplay chart. This is the first bonified pop hit for Bon Jovi since 2006’s “Who Says You Can’t Go Home,” according to Forbes, and a welcome surprise for the rock star, who could barely eek out a single note in recent years.

Jon Bon Jovi & Pitbull’s Music Video Features Them Performing Together at Jones Beach

Bon Jovi and Pitbull released “Now or Never” on November 14, the same day as the 2024 Latin Grammys, where they performed the tune together for the first time, per Billboard.

The song features part of the chorus from Bon Jovi’s 2000 hit “It’s My Life,” combined with a driving pop beat and motivational rap lyrics from Pitbull. The official music video features footage of the two stars performing “It’s My Life” in April 2024 at Jones Beach during Pitbull’s Party After Dark Tour, per a press release about their collaboration.

Bon Jovi, who mentored and performed with the top three contestants on the season 22 finale of “American Idol,” first met Pitbull at the 2017 Songwriters Hall of Fame induction and awards ceremony, the release said, and they have performed together several times since.

After debuting their duet at the Latin Grammy Awards in November, “Now or Never” quickly shot to the top of the English Songs chart in Mexico. Though it’s taken a bit longer to take hold in the U.S., Forbes reported that “Now or Never” is now “also a hit” on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Pop Songs chart and Adult Pop Airplay list.

Jon Bon Jovi Hopes to Return to Touring One Day

Landing on the Top 40 pop chart was not something Bon Jovi thought was possible while struggling through treatments and surgery for an atrophying vocal cord, he told NPR in early 2024. He allowed cameras to follow the journey for his band’s 40th anniversary documentary, as it became clear he could no longer tour despite still packing arenas.

“They had to put in an implant, a Gore-Tex implant, outside of the cords to rebuild them,” he told NPR, “and so the process has been slower than I’d hoped for, but the progress and the process are really doing very well.”

To his delight and relief, he told the outlet at the time he was able to sing again, but wasn’t sure if he’d ever be able to tour.

“I’m currently able to sing,” he said, adding, “I lack in the patience department, but every day I’m at it, you know? Every day is some kind of therapy to try to get back to that 2 1/2 hours a night.”