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THE Billboard Family Hits of the Week brings together what's new and worth your family's time in music, movies, TV, books, games and more. Forget annoying scrolling and searching for “what to watch for family movie night”… again. The best family entertainment every week is all in one place in this handy guide. Not satisfying to cross something off your bucket list?
With the election right behind us, you may be looking for distractions to take your mind off politics when it comes to family time. Here are some entertainment suggestions for the week.
Get out of Nintendo Switch to play the latest Mario RPG (role-playing game). My childhood had Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars for the Super Nintendo — I admit I used the physical game guide to help me with this — but now the kids have a ton of Mario RPGs to choose from and the internet if they get stuck! The latest version is part of it Mario & Luigi series, Mario & Luigi: Brotherhood.
In music, we've got a rundown of all the just-announced albums nominated for a Grammy for Best Children's Music all in one place, making it easy to listen together. One of them is a John Legend album featuring his family, pictured above, as musical guests.
Plus, in new releases, Christmas songs are thrown in to remind you that the season is upon us. Retired NFL player Jason Kelce has a holiday duet with the iconic Stevie Nicks, and Charlie Puth also has a festive new song. Interestingly, all three of these names are linked back to Taylor Swift – Swifties will know the connections.
Speaking of Swift, music journalist and longtime fan Rob Sheffield has released a book about her, and how she reinvented pop music, which I'll be getting for my family: Heartbreak Is the National Anthem.
Learn more about this week's top picks in Billboard's Family Hits of the Week:
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Play “Mario & Luigi: Brotherhood”
Mario & Luigi: Brotherhoodthe latest RPG in the Mario franchise, is now available for Nintendo Switch. All ages enjoy Mario in our house and as a parent I love that these types of video games usually require strategic thinking. At Brotherhood game, Mario and Luigi go on a seafaring adventure as they are transported from the Mushroom Kingdom to a place called Concordia, on a mission to reconnect its drifting islands.
Whether you're looking for something new to play together ASAP or want to stash away as a gift for the upcoming holidays, you can get the game at Target for $59.99.
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Stream new holiday music releases
Mariah Carey already announced that “it's about time,” so it's officially okay to kick off the holiday season with holiday songs, old and new. All families have their favorite holidays, but every year there are new tunes you should consider adding to the mix. Sometimes they feel good, sometimes they are filled with melancholy — there is time for both. A pair of musical socks was delivered this week.
Charlie Puth's “December 25th” — with the chorus “December 25th is the day I always miss you the most, oh/ 'Cause the music and the lights/ It reminds me of the night/ That you told me you had to go” — is one of those sweet, sad Christmas songs backed by slightly happy music.
Former Phildelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce took Stevie Nicks into the studio for a cover of Ron Sexsmith's “Maybe This Christmas,” recorded with the Philly Specials, for the new compilation. A Philly Special Christmas Party. “Maybe forgiveness will ask us to call/ Someone we love, someone we've lost/ For reasons we can't quite remember/ Maybe this Christmas,” Nicks sings about reconnecting with loved ones for the holidays.
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Hear the Grammy nominees for Best Children's Album
The Grammy nominations were announced on Friday (November 8). Five albums are up for Best Children's Album, the Grammys' most family-friendly category: releases from Lucky Diaz and The Family Jam Band, Lucy Kalantari & The Jazz Cats, John Legend, Rock for Children and Divinity Roxx and Divi Roxx Kids. Have you heard it all? Grab the streams below and add them to your family playlist to watch these famous plays:
Brillo, Brillo!Lucky Diaz and The Family Jam Band
CreciendoLucy Kalantari & The Jazz Cats
My favorite dreamJohn Legend
Solid Rock RevivalRock for Children
Play date worldwideDivinity Roxx and Divi Roxx Kids
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Read “Heartbreak Is the National Anthem”
Rob Sheffield, who reviews and ranks Taylor Swift's music for Rolling Stone for many years now, he's been writing about her in a way fans can understand. He's a journalist and Swiftie himself, with extensive knowledge of her discography, her musical references, her power as a songwriter and storyteller, and the appeal of her brand. He has a biography about Swift's incredible career coming out on Tuesday, November 12.
Heartbreak Is the National Anthem — a title taken from one of Swift's song lyrics — can be purchased on Amazon here. The fascination with Swift's story crosses generations, and I plan to pick up a copy to read with my 12-year-old.
