In this December bonus teaser, I’m kicking things off with some housekeeping — including when Queen Things returns for Season 4. Then we dive straight into one of the most interesting conversations I’ve seen in pop culture lately: Charlie XCX’s Substack essay on the “realities” of being a pop star, and Swiftologist’s take on why pop doesn’t make icons anymore.

From authenticity to escapism, parasocial closeness to moral responsibility, I’m breaking down what we actually expect from the artists we love, and what happens when relatability becomes the whole brand. It’s messy, it’s nuanced, and yes, I have thoughts.

If you want the full episode — including my take on the Taylor/Trump discourse, Jaclyn Hill, DEI backlash, and this week’s Black News — become a Queen Things subscriber on Apple Podcasts, Patreon, or Substack. See you inside.

Subscribe for monthly bonus episodes:

https://queenthings.substack.com/

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References:

Charlie XCX’s article:

https://itscharlibb.substack.com/p/the-realities-of-being-a-pop-star

The Swiftologist’s take on pop stardom:

https://youtu.be/QvOjSFqVD2Q?si=tojZiHMxhg-4VmA9