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Lil Nas X’s feature documentary has been acquired by Universal Pictures Content Group for international distribution.

“Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero” is a fly-on-the-wall feature helmed by Oscar-nominated director Carlos López Estrada (“Billie Eilish: When the Party’s Over”) and filmmaker Zac Manuel. It follows the Grammy-winning artist as he embarks on his first world tour.

It is set to be released internationally on digital platforms May 20.

“The diaristic film is a remarkably intimate portrait of a musician navigating identity, family, expectations and acceptance, all while reflecting on his place within the legacy of Black, queer performers,” reads the logline. “Shot over the course of 60 days with unparalleled access, the film follows Montero Hill, aka Lil Nas X, on an emotional odyssey through the creation and performance of the critically acclaimed ‘Long Live Montero’ show.”

Variety called the documentary a “rambunctious and at times exhilarating backstage concert movie,...

Lil Nas X (Photograph by Courtesy of HBO)

HBO’s set a January 27, 2024 premiere date for Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero. The documentary from directors directed by Carlos López Estrada and Zac Manuel is a behind-the-scenes look at the Grammy Award-winner’s “Long Live Montero” tour.

In addition to interviews with Lil Nas X, the documentary features his show producer Saul Levitz, manager Adam Leber, creative director/stylist Hodo Musa, lead choreographer/show director Sean Bankhead, choreography assistant Christian Owens, horse designer Margot Rada, and tour videographer Aaron Idelson. Family members Chase White, Lamarco Hill, Robert Sleepy, Tramon Hill, Mia Stafford, and Robert Stafford also participate in the documentary which premiered at the 2023 Toronto Film Festival.

HBO offered this lengthy synopsis:

“Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero captures the creative dynamo and mesmerizing star power of Lil Nas X, the groundbreaking, Grammy award-winning rapper, singer, and songwriter, as he...

Lil Nas X’s concert documentary that captured his first global tour is coming to HBO.

Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero will debut on the network on Jan. 27 at 8 p.m. Et; it will also stream on Max. The film had its world premiere at last year’s Toronto Film Festival.

The documentary follows the Grammy-winning rapper, born Montero Hill, over 60 days as he performs on his Long Live Montero tour, which supported Montero, his full-length 2021 debut album. In the diary film, Lil Nas X discusses his career and his place in the pop world as a Black and queer performer.

Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero is directed by Zac Manuel and Carlos López Estrada, the Oscar-nominated filmmaker whose credits include Blindspotting, Summertime and Raya and the Last Dragon; he has also directed music videos for Billie Eilish, Katy Perry and Carly Rae Jepsen. Manuel’s cinematography and directing credits include Alone,...

Directors Carlos López Estrada and Zac Manuel were thankful to have not learned about the bomb threat that delayed the TIFF premiere of their documentary “Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero” until after the screening had ended.

“We were just hanging out in the green room and my agent showed me the [headline] and I was like, ‘Oh, no, that’s not true. We were just here. That’s really funny that they posted that,’” said Estrada.

When he showed the report to the rapper and his bodyguard, “They were like, ‘Oh yeah, it’s true. I was like, ‘Oh, whoa.’ I showed it to Zac and we couldn’t believe that we were oblivious to this,” said the director. “I had gotten a couple texts from some friends in LA, and they were like, ‘Did you see the news?’ And I was like, ‘I actually didn’t know,’” said Manuel.

The Toronto Film Festival said Friday that Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero, a documentary shot during over the course of 60 days of the Grammy-winning rapper’s first global concert tour, will make its world premiere next month at the fest.

The film, co-directed by Blindspotting helmer Carlos López Estrada and Zac Manuel, will appear in the Gala program of TIFF, which runs September 7-17.

The film is produced by RadicalMedia in association with Sony Music Entertainment’s Premium Content Division, Columbia Records, and Museum & Crane.

“Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero is a triumphant ode to the extraordinary power of self-expression, music, and identity,” TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey said. “In this groundbreaking documentary, we witness Lil Nas X challenging boundaries and reshaping the artistic landscape. The film’s captivating journey underscores the profound impact of Lil Nas X, who fearlessly brings audiences together through the universal language of music.

Keanu Reeves’ ’90s band Dogstar made their live comeback this weekend at BottleRock Festival in Napa Valley, California.

The band played material from their two previous studio albums, 1996’s Our Little Visionary and 2000’s Happy Ending, along with new songs from their upcoming, as-yet-unannounced album.

Comprised of bassist Reeves, drummer Robert Mailhouse, and singer-guitarist Brett Domrose, Dogstar released two albums and an EP from 1996 to 2002 before breaking up. The band teased a comeback earlier this month, announcing that both new music and live shows were on the way.

In a pre-show interview with Billboard, Reeves described Dogstar as “something that’s part of my life.” Discussing the impetus to reunite the band, he explained, “I missed playing together, I missed writing together, I missed doing shows together. It’s something I’ve always missed. We came to a spot where we weren’t playing anymore, and I missed it … Once we started to play,...

The video for Arizona Zervas’ viral hit-turned-legit smash “Roxanne” is, in its own way, a trip through ’90s movie history. The clip directed by Nick Jardona and released earlier this week references such classics as 1993’s “Groundhog Day,” 1994’s “Pulp Fiction” and 1996’s “Trainspotting” — in addition to 2003’s “Kill Bill” and 2004’s “50 First Dates.”

Transported in time, the video follows Arizona Zervas (known colloquially as Az or Arizona) as he’s trapped in an infinite loop where he dies each day only to wake up the following morning to live again. Roxanne is the common thread to his experience — channeling Uma Thurman’s Mia Wallace, she and Arizona speed through parties complete with afros and “far out” 1970s decor — because as the song says, “all she wanna do is party all night.”

Today, having the right visual is “essential,” says Columbia Records vice president of video production Saul Levitz,...

The Grammy Awards, now in their 62nd year, once again take place at L.A.’s Staples Center. For the 2020 ceremony, 15-time winner Alicia Keys returns as host for a second consecutive year. Performers include Billie Eilish, Lizzo, Lil Nas X, Ariana Grande, Jonas Brothers, MusiCares Person of the Year Aerosmith, Camila Cabello, Bts, H.E.R., Brandi Carlile, Gary Clark Jr. and more.

Here’s a rundown of all the Grammy winners. Rolling Stone will be updating this list as awards come in.

Rap Album: Igor, Tyler, The Creator

Comedy Album: Sticks & Stones,...