Skip to content
Search

‘Never Thought of Myself as a Genius’: Jung Kook Grapples With Fame as a Solo Artist in ‘I Am Still’ Trailer

‘Never Thought of Myself as a Genius’: Jung Kook Grapples With Fame as a Solo Artist in ‘I Am Still’ Trailer

Despite being part of one of the biggest music groups in the world, Jung Kook still battles with confidence as a performer. In the trailer for his upcoming documentary, Jung Kook: I Am Still, the BTS member struggles with the pressure of performing as a solo artist.

“I’m suddenly nervous,” Jung Kook said in the trailer before a show. “I’ll do my best guys.”


The minute-long trailer, released Wednesday, features Jung Kook’s high-energy stage performances, meticulous dance rehearsals, and behind-the-scenes studio recordings as he comes to terms with his solo career.

“I just follow my own compass,” he said. “I’ve never thought of myself as a genius. I know the areas I lack in, so I strive to be better too. I always say this, but ARMY [fans] always fired me up.”

His first album, Golden, debuted at number one on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart in November, with the third track and single off the album “Seven” featuring Latto, winning a Billboard Music Award for Top Global K-Pop Song. (A poster featuring the Golden album art and a clip of his Billboard trophy are both featured in the trailer.)

BTS is made up of rappers Suga, RM, and J-Hope, as well as singers Jung Kook, V, Jimin, and Jin. Members Jimin and Jung Kook plan to release the travel series Are You Sure?! on Disney+ on Aug. 8, chronicling the duo’s travels through New York, Jeju Island in South Korea, and Sapporo, Japan.

I Am Still, directed by Junsoo Park and produced by Jiwon Yoon, will include “8 months of golden moments,” the trailer reads, and will be distributed to more than 120 territories by Trafalgar Releasing. (The distributors also released Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour and Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé in 2023.) The documentary will hit theaters Sept. 18.

More Stories

Kacey Musgraves, James Blake, Kim Gordon, and All the Songs You Need to Know This Week

Kacey Musgraves returned this week with "Dry Spell"

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Kacey Musgraves, James Blake, Kim Gordon, and All the Songs You Need to Know This Week

Welcome to our weekly rundown of the best new music — featuring big singles, key tracks from our favorite albums, and more. This week, Kacey Musgraves is feeling frisky on a titillating new single, James Blake stretches time and space on the orchestral closer of his first independent record, and Kim Gordon fuses trap and grunge on a Play Me standout. Plus, new tunes from Beabadoobee, Charlie Puth, Grupo Frontera, Holly Humberstone, Thundercat, Modest Mouse, and Iceage.

Kacey Musgraves, “Dry Spell” (YouTube)

Keep ReadingShow less
Billy Joel’s Daughter Alexa Ray Says He’s ‘A Fighter’ and ‘Doing Great’ Amid Brain Diagnosis

Billy Joel, 2025.Myrna M. Suarez/Getty Images

Billy Joel’s Daughter Alexa Ray Says He’s ‘A Fighter’ and ‘Doing Great’ Amid Brain Diagnosis

In the 10 months since Billy Joel retired from touring after learning he’d been diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), his daughter, Alexa Ray Joel, reports that he’s handling it all well. “He’s doing physical therapy regularly, and he’s doing great,” she recently told The Hollywood Reporter. “He’s lost weight as he’s on his diet. I’m so proud of him. He’s such a trooper, so resilient and committed to being healthy and proactive. He’s a fighter.”

At his last full performance in February 2025, he collapsed onstage. “When I saw the footage, I was crying. But then I went with him to the doctors, and we’re on top of everything,” Alexa Ray told THR. “I just tell him to stay healthy.”

Keep ReadingShow less
All the Pop Queens Are in the Studio Right Now
Maria-Juliana Rojas for Rolling Stone; Dave Simpson/Getty Images; Michael Hickey/Getty Images

All the Pop Queens Are in the Studio Right Now

New music is on the horizon — and these stars know it. In the past few weeks, artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Clairo, Dua Lipa, and Gracie Abrams have all shared photos from their respective studio sessions. While Rodrigo’s and Abrams’ pivotal third albums have been rumored to be coming for a minute, it’s exciting that all these pop girlies seem to be back in a big way.

Clairo kicked off the week with an Instagram photo dump that featured pictures from what looks to be like studio sessions, indicating that the singer may be getting ready to drop her fourth album. One grainy picture seems like it was a security camera shot of two guitarists and one keyboardist jamming in a recording studio. Two other pictures were more explicit: one is just a close-up of a piece of masking tape that reads “Clairo 4” and another shows the singer writing in a notebook with a Roland keyboard behind her.

Keep ReadingShow less
Quincy Jones’ Estate Sells Catalog, Including Stake in Michael Jackson Classics

Quincy Jones in 2016

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Quincy Jones’ Estate Sells Catalog, Including Stake in Michael Jackson Classics

Quincy Jones’ family has struck an acquisition deal with HarbourView Equity Partners that will cover large swaths of his legendary catalog, including his stake in three classic Michael Jackson albums.

The deal covers Jones’ recorded music and publishing rights, including his interest in not only the three Jackson albums he produced (Off The Wall, Thriller, and Bad), but his own seminal composition “Soul Bossa Nova” and George Benson’s 1980 hit “Give Me the Night.” Also included are Jones’ ancillary rights in other assets, like his stake in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, on which he was an executive producer.

Keep ReadingShow less
‘These People Are So Stupid’: Live Nation Employees Boast About High Fees in Unsealed Messages

‘These People Are So Stupid’: Live Nation Employees Boast About High Fees in Unsealed Messages

Two Live Nation ticketing directors boasted about “robbing” fans blind and “taking advantage of them” with high fees in newly unsealed chat records tied to the company’s antitrust lawsuit.

The chats, first reported by Bloomberg, were sent between Ben Baker and Jeff Weinhold, who were then serving as regional directors of ticketing for Live Nation amphitheaters. The pair appeared to be speaking primarily about “ancillary fees” related to things like parking and VIP access, as opposed to service fees tied directly to tickets. Though at one point, Baker said, “I gouge them on ancil prices” to make up for changes in the base prices for seats.

Keep ReadingShow less