Thundercat, Kelela, Smashing Pumpkins, Teddy Swims, and Rodrigo y Gabriela, Charlotte Checkers’ home opener, South End Wine & Hops Fest, VTGCLT’s Fall Market, Charlotte Ballet’s Black Box Series, Carolina BalloonFest, and so much more happening this week! clture.org/charlotte-events-…

An incredible moment at the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony as George Clinton got up out of his seat to get down to the go-go classic “Da Butt,” performed by North Carolina native and go-go legend Gregory “Sugar Bear” Elliot, Charlotte’s Uptown Swagga band, along with hip-hop pioneer MC Sha-Rock. Three North Carolina-born legends who helped shape their respective genres, all under one roof, to cap off a special night.

We asked George Clinton, who was dressed in his classic Afrofuturist psychedelic funk regalia, about his experience working with North Carolina’s own @Rapsody before he received the Eddie Ray Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 North Carolina Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Shoutout to @LarryWCNC and Shorty Corleone who also interviewed the funkadelic legend, as he teased that the Mothership will land again in North Carolina soon. 🛸✨🎶

Hattie Leeper, the Charlotte radio pioneer and trailblazing broadcaster, died Tuesday at age 98, leaving a lasting legacy in music, broadcasting and education in the city. Known as “Chatty Hatty,” Leeper attended Second Ward High School and began volunteering at WGIV-AM, Charlotte’s leading Black radio station at the time, at just 14 years old, and at 17, became North Carolina’s first Black female radio personality, breaking barriers during segregation. Leeper also produced music, wrote liner notes for Aretha Franklin and Patti LaBelle, and connected listeners playing R&B, gospel, pop and rock, while sharing community news and promoting local events. Known for her bubbly personality and rhyming introductions, she became a beloved voice in Charlotte. Leeper worked with and promoted legendary musicians, including James Brown, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Tina Turner, Smokey Robinson and the Jackson 5, and also recalled being present when Brown originally recorded “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” at Arthur Smith Studios in Charlotte in 1965. During segregation, her family also welcomed touring artists, including Turner, Mary Wells and Gladys Knight, into their home when they struggled to find places to eat. In 2025, Leeper was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame, and reflected on her lifelong love of talking, joking at the ceremony, “Then I found out, you could actually get paid to talk!” Beyond radio, she founded her own label (AwarE Records) to develop regional talent, taught communications at Johnson C. Smith University and Gaston College, and established Chatty’s School of Communications to mentor aspiring artists and communicators. Her honors included induction into several broadcasting halls of fame, and she also published her own autobiography in 2005. As a Black woman who broke barriers in a male-dominated industry, Leeper paved the way for generations of broadcasters, leaving an enduring legacy in Charlotte's music, media and cultural history. 📸: wrightdesign75 (IG)

✨🎶GIVEAWAY✨🎶 We’re giving away four lower-level seats to see Teddy Swims and St. Paul & The Broken Bones at Spectrum Center in Charlotte this Sunday! Just enter the contest on Instagram for your chance to win: bit.ly/4jVxcbu

An estimated 2,000-plus braved the rain, with many waiting several hours to see Bryce Young at the grand opening celebration of Dick’s House of Sport at Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh, according to Charlotte native and current Triangle resident Jonathan Andrews, a lifelong Panthers fan who attended the event with his son. Young, who is coming off a nationally televised game, where he threw for 329 yards and two touchdowns in the Panthers’ 32–26 victory over the Detroit Lions, leading the league in passing yards at the time, has attracted many new fans in Raleigh, across the state and country. Through four games, he is among the NFL’s top passers and playing at an MVP level after three rocky years before coming on strong in the second half of last season. Andrews and his son weren’t able to meet Young because of the lengthy line and said Dick’s employees estimated that about 1,000 people would get the opportunity to meet the quarterback, but he hopes the Panthers and their players will continue making appearances in Raleigh. “It was really cool seeing Bryce come up and represent,” Andrews said. “Also just seeing all the Panthers fans that were there just to support him… I’d love for the Panthers to do more things like that, bringing players up and that kind of thing, because it connects the team to the city.” After enjoying an early-season bye week, the Panthers will take on the 2-3 Eagles on Sunday at 1 p.m. 🎥: adaddyoffour (IG)

Four-time Grand Slam singles champion Naomi Osaka, one of the biggest stars in modern tennis, will headline the Charlotte Invitational in its third year, facing American Amanda Anisimova, who reached a career-high world No. 3 ranking in January 2026 after advancing to the Wimbledon and US Open finals in 2025. Fan favorite Frances Tiafoe, who is coming off a U.S. Open semifinals appearance, will return for his third consecutive Charlotte Invitational, taking on 20-year-old Learner Tien, a Vietnamese American and one of the rising talents in the sport, who is coached by three-time Grand Slam champion Michael Chang. Organized by the Charlotte Sports Foundation, the one-night doubleheader will take place Friday, December 11, at Spectrum Center. In September, it was also announced that the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) is moving its global headquarters to Charlotte, while the city will host the WTA Finals for three consecutive years beginning in 2027. 📸: Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP

Concord native Ryan Davis, who will open for Dave Chappelle in Charlotte this month, has built a career on his own terms, offering a blueprint for independent comedians and artists. clture.org/ryan-davis/

Petey Pablo will return for his first Hornets game since 2022 to perform during halftime of the home opener, as all fans will receive an exclusive Hornets “Raise Up” T-shirt, which they’ll likely.... 🚁

Rookies and fans sing "Happy Birthday" to Liam McNeely who turned 21 today! 🎂🍾🎈

Hannes Steinbach wins the annual rookie dance contest, as he chose to go disco with "Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees with not one, but two cartwheels.

Christian Anderson Jr. showing off the three-point stroke during Hornets Purple & Teal Day. He shot 41.5% on high volume from distance at Texas Tech last season. He lost to Royce O'Neale in the 3-point contest by one.

Leon Bridges has announced a 2027 tour following the release of his latest album, 'Happiness Anytime,' produced by J Lloyd and Lydia Kitto of Jungle. The tour will make a stop in Charlotte with British jazz and Afrobeat collective Kokoroko. clture.org/leon-bridges-tour…

Olivia Rodrigo took Charlotte fans through the many seasons of love on her rock-heavy The Unraveled Tour, featuring elaborate production, cinematic storytelling and theatrical flourishes. clture.org/olivia-rodrigo-ch…

Want to win two tickets to Charlotte Ballet’s Black Box Series? There aren’t many tickets left, so here’s your chance to experience the three innovative choreographic works: bit.ly/4jMC6r9