Behind the Scenes at iHeartRadio’s Jingle Ball with Jimmy Fallon, ‘Queer Eye’ Stars, and Meghan Trainor

Each year, Manhattan comes alive with holiday festivities, from ice skating at Rockefeller Center to the iconic Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. Among the city’s festive events is iHeartRadio’s Jingle Ball, which took place on December 13 at a sold-out Madison Square Garden. This annual concert, hosted by New York’s Z100, featured an impressive lineup of both pop icons like Katy Perry and Meghan Trainor, as well as rising stars such as Teddy Swims, Benson Boone, and Gracie Abrams.
While Jingle Ball is known for its incredible performances, it’s also a major event for New York’s elite. Backstage, celebrities from all corners of entertainment came together, making the scene a true star-studded affair. Robert De Niro was spotted sharing a smile with his girlfriend, Tiffany Chen, and some of the night’s biggest stars—Tinkerbelle and Belle, two adorable “dog models”—also stopped by USA TODAY’s exclusive backstage photo studio.
It wasn’t just Hollywood royalty on the scene; reality TV stars like the Real Housewives and The Bachelor made appearances, along with hosts from iHeartRadio’s podcast network. Among them were comedian Joe Gatto, rocking a jacket once worn by his grandfather, and former GMA3 anchors T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach, with Holmes sharing a lighthearted note about his recovery from an Achilles injury.
As the event unfolded, celebrities reflected on the past year and, in a fun twist, shared what they’re “holding space” for in 2025.
‘Queer Eye’ Stars Reflect on Memorable Moments
Jonathan Van Ness, known for his role in Queer Eye, had a humorous response when asked about returning to Madison Square Garden. The last time the Queer Eye crew was here, Antoni Porowski became part of a viral moment after being photographed at an NHL game in 2019 with Pete Davidson and Kate Beckinsale. Van Ness joked, “Was that here?” referencing the infamous moment.
Porowski, who was joined by his co-stars including Karamo Brown, Van Ness, and newcomer Jeremiah Brent, shared how special it was to reunite for the first major event and red carpet appearance together since Queer Eye season nine dropped on Netflix. The cast expressed their excitement for the future, with Karamo Brown hoping the show would continue for many more seasons.
Karamo Brown: “We love what we’re doing. Seeing it through Jeremiah’s eyes, we realize just how grateful and blessed we are for this opportunity.”
Jimmy Fallon’s Relatable 2025 Resolution
Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon was also in the spotlight at Jingle Ball, receiving a plaque from iHeartMedia for his single “Holiday,” featuring the Jonas Brothers, which hit No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary airplay chart. Fallon shared that his album Holiday Seasoning was made with humor in mind, saying it’s a “really silly” and family-friendly record designed to make people laugh.
As for his 2025 goals, Fallon’s focus is on improving his health. “I’m not unhealthy, but I’m not super healthy,” he explained, in a way that felt like a conversation between friends. “I want to get in a little shape and start doing some cardio.”
He joked that he might ask his friend Justin Timberlake for fitness tips, adding, “I own the treadmills, I own the bike—I just don’t use them. This year, I promise I’m going to use them.”
Meghan Trainor’s 2025 Vision: ‘New Babies, New Music’
Meghan Trainor, whose latest album Timeless dropped in June, is already looking toward the future. While she’s not sure when her next music release will come, she shared her excitement for writing new songs. Trainor also revealed that she plans to make space for more personal milestones in 2025.
“I would love to make another baby,” she said with a smile. “I’m going to hold space for that and write new babies, new music.”
Source: USA Today
Post Comment