Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda will return to the title role of the Broadway smash, for a two-and-a-half-week run in Puerto Rico. "When I last visited the island, a few weeks before Hurricane Maria," said Miranda in a statement, "I had made a commitment to not only bring the show to Puerto Rico, but also return again to the title role. In the aftermath of Maria we decided to expedite the announcement of the project to send a bold message that Puerto Rico will recover and be back in business, stronger than ever."

Miranda, who is of Puerto Rican descent, will take the stage in character as Alexander Hamilton for the first time since 2016 when Hamilton plays from Jan. 8-27 at Teatro UPR in Río Piedras. (Billboard)

CMAs get political

Garth Brooks, a country megastar who's reactivated his career in recent years after going on an extended hiatus, was crowned Entertainer of the Year for the second consecutive year at the Country Music Association Awards on Wednesday night in Nashville. The ceremony was tinged with sadness in the wake of the recent festival shooting in Las Vegas, and there were frequent calls for unity.

Still, there was no escaping a certain awkwardness around questions of politics and policy, reports Rolling Stone. Hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood opened the show with a musical skit making fun of President Donald Trump’s tweets, a reference to the CMA's controversial attempts to remove politics from the proceedings entirely.

Keith Urban debuted a new feminist anthem, called "Female," written in response to recent sexual assault scandals. Yet, the association failed to nominate a single female artist for Entertainer of the Year, and acclaimed multi-nominee Miranda Lambert lost Album and Single of the Year to...yep, men, in the latter case Urban himself. Taylor Swift took Song of the Year, for writing Little Big Town’s "Better Man."

Virginia election is historic in (at least) two ways

Danica Roem made headlines this week when the Virginia state legislator-elect became the first openly transgender person ever elected to a U.S. statehouse seat. As Billboard notes, her election is significant for another reason: "She is believed to be the first member of a thrash metal band elected to a such a prominent governing body."

Yes, for the past ten years Roem has been the lead singer of a band called Cab Ride Home. This past summer, Roem said she didn't see any reason to quit the band in light of her political career. "Just because I sing in a heavy metal band while spinning my head in circles and getting paid to do it, why can't I run for government?"

Get ready for a Bee Gees musical

If Cher, Tina Turner, ABBA, the Four Seasons, and even Bob Dylan can have jukebox musicals, why not the Bee Gees? That's what Barry Gibb is thinking, which is why he's developing a Bee Gees musical in collaboration with the estates of his late brothers Maurice and Robin Gibb. "Finally the real story of us will be told," says Barry Gibb, 71. "I can't wait to get started!" (Rolling Stone)

Get ready for Morrissey Day

This Friday, Nov. 10, is going to be Morrissey Day in the city of Los Angeles. "Morrissey Day honors the man who put the 'M' in Moz Angeles, an icon whose music continues to touch and uplift countless people across the globe," said city councillor Monica Rodriguez. "Morrissey uses his voice to raise awareness for many social issues while 'in his own strange way,' always staying true to his fans."

This weekend, Morrissey will play a pair of shows at the Hollywood Bowl — and yes, the concessions menu will be all-vegetarian. Friday is also the day Morrissey will release his 11th studio album as a solo artist, Low in High School. (Consequence of Sound)

Lorde covers Bruce

On Wednesday in Christchurch, New Zealand, Lorde covered the Bruce Springsteen classic "I'm on Fire." In a sense, it was returning a favor: three years ago in New Zealand, the Boss covered Lorde's "Royals." (Rolling Stone)

Kurt Cobain has never been so...adorable?

Funko, the collectible toy company based in Washington state, has announced a new series of rock-themed collectible figures. (Previously they've released miniature versions of Amy Winehouse and Lemmy Kilmister.) The Instagram post announcing the series looks like the strangest supergroup ever: three different versions of Kurt Cobain, three Elton Johns, and one Jerry Garcia. (Billboard)