20 must-know pop culture happenings from February 2025

Reactions from viewers were more than shocked because the 2025 Grammys were one of the best in recent years. "Girl Power" was alive and well as Chappell Roan took home Best New Artist, Doechii killed with performance and Best Rap Album win, and Beyonce finally won Album of the Year. Kendrick Lamar also dominated, inspiring haters everywhere as “Not Like Us” was dubbed Record and Song of the Year.

Awards Season 2025 will be remembered for many things, including Netflix’s Emilia Pérez somehow winning left and right. However, the movie’s acclaim was tarnished a bit after old posts from X (Twitter) resurfaced and showed the actress in a new, damaging light. In February, the Oscar-nominated actress finally released a statement and the drama only escalated.

Fans of Blake Lively’s A Simple Favor went off when a sequel, Another Simple Favor, was announced to be released on May 1, 2025, on Amazon Prime Video.

Saturday Night Live  celebrated half a century on the air with a giant party that included a concert special featuring everyone from Miley Cyrus to Cher and a huge episode featuring castmates from the start through today.

Millennial icon and actress Michelle Trachtenberg, known best for her roles in Harriet the Spy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Gossip Girl, sadly passed away at the age of 39, leaving many saddened.

‘90s boy band royalty, Backstreet Boys announced that they are set to be the first pop act to perform at the unique Vegas venue, the Sphere in the summer of 2025. The shows will celebrate the band’s record-breaking, iconic album, Millennium.

The Chiefs had been the NFL’s darlings for a few seasons and went into Super Bowl 59 with a leg up — seeking to become the first-ever NFL franchise to win three-straight Super Bowls. However, that leg was quickly kicked out from under them repeatedly as the Eagles dominated Kansas City, 40-22.

Anthony Mackie had big shoes to fill as the character Chris Evans originally brought to life, and showed he was up for it with Captain America: Brave New World. To no one’s surprise, a Marvel movie fared pretty well at the box office.

Janine and Gregory are arguably the cutest couple on the small screen, so it’s only natural that the new couple’s first time saying “I love you” to one another would go viral.

Two of the most iconic mothers in pop culture passed away in February 2025. The first being the late rapper Biggie Smalls’ mother, Voletta Wallace. The other starred in Pee-wee's Playhouse, as well as on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia as Charlie Kelly’s mom, Bonnie. Both women were 78.

The Beyhive had been waiting since the Beyoncé Bowl for the announcement and while speculations spiraled on what it could be, most expected a tour. Those people were correct as the Cowboy Carter Tour was officially announced, with fans flocking to Ticketmaster to buy them soon after.

For some reason, Kanye West is still trying to be relevant by posting insanity online. Someone clearly needs to take his devices away.

Marvel (and fans) are hoping the Pedro Pascal-led Fantastic Four dropping in the summer of 2025 will be the one to break The Fantastic Four curse after the trailer impressed.

Paradise debuted in January 2025 but picked up steam in February and proved week to week that it’s this year’s most addicting watch. For those not in the know, it’s from Dan Fogelman, the man who created This Is Us, and it stars Sterling K. Brown as the president’s former head of security at the end of the world. Tantalizing twists and turns on a weekly basis, blessed!

Jane Fonda used her time as the SAG Lifetime Achievement Award winner to do what Fonda does best, and that’s speak up about the injustices she sees in the world.

The Super Bowl Halftime Show is one of the most watched TV events yearly, so the pressure to perform is high. Kendrick Lamar, though? He appeared cool as a cucumber performing a medley of his best with a burst of theatrics that drove home an important narrative. Also, “Not Like Us” was the cherry on top.  

Doechii might’ve won her first Grammy in February, but she also became one of the most notable memes of the month based on her epic breakdown in the video for “DENIAL IS A RIVER”

Blink-182’s Travis Barker has a daughter named Alabama who fancies herself a rapper. Well, Alabama started beef with  Dr. Phil alum, “Catch me outside, how 'bout that,” Danielle Bregoli, a.k.a. Bhad Bhabie, to which Bhad Bhabie responded via her own diss track.

Comedian Marlon Wayans isn’t shy about being proud of his LGBTQ child, so when rapper Soulja Boy came for him via his kid, the gloves came off. Wayans did what those in that funny family do best, he roasted him with hilarity on X.

Actor Gene Hackman, his wife, and the couple’s dog were found dead in their New Mexico home, with no clear sign of what transpired.