Photo credit: www.billboard.com
“You make me laugh and I like it / You get away with murder so innocent / But when you throw a moody / You’re all claws and you bite / That’s all right!” For those who might not recognize these lines, they come from an unexpected source: Freddie Mercury, the legendary frontman of Queen. These lyrics hail from the band’s touching song “Delilah,” inspired by Mercury’s deep affection for his cat, symbolizing the playful and complex relationship many pet owners share with their furry companions.
In many ways, musicians share common threads with everyday individuals, especially when it comes to their pets. Who among us hasn’t crafted whimsical songs or silly names for our beloved animals? The same sentiment rings true for the staff at Billboard, where employees often express their love for pets through music, both in song and names, reflecting the profound connection shared between humans and their animal companions.
Take, for example, staff writer Hannah Dailey, who named her kitty after Stevie Nicks, her “songwriting hero.” She reflects, “Stevie is the first pet I ever owned by myself. I wanted her name to be special because she brings so much joy to my life, just like Nicks’ music.”
Similarly, senior photo editor Jenny Regan contemplated naming her mini goldendoodle after Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant, due to the pup’s impressive golden locks. However, the name Jimmy Page was ultimately chosen, as it resonated better with the family.
Not everyone at Billboard has musically inspired pet names, but many staff members report that their pets have distinct musical preferences. For instance, there’s Boba, a discerning kitty who has made it clear that Alvin and the Chipmunks’ rendition of “I Gotta Feeling” is utterly unacceptable for her ears. In contrast, Riggins, a dog with a taste for Bad Bunny, comes alive whenever he hears the artist’s tunes. Meanwhile, regal Paco finds solace in the mellow sounds of Norah Jones, especially during thunderstorms, while Murphy joins her owner in a beloved duet of Taylor Swift songs.
Curious about the Billboard staff’s cherished animal companions? Explore the heartwarming stories of these musical pets below!
Howie
Parent: Jenny Sargent, Photography Director
Hometown: Los Angeles
Breed: Lhasa Apso
Age: 15 years
Favorite food: Eggs, bacon, popcorn, really anything humans enjoy.
Fun fact: Howie’s grooming bills often exceed those of his human.
Favorite nap spot: The sun-soaked balcony
Pet Rescue: Bichons and Buddies
Benito
Parent: Ingrid Fajardo, Senior Social Media Manager & Staff Writer, Latin
Hometown: Miami
Breed: Pomeranian
Age: 5 years
Favorite toy: His Birthday Party Lamb Chop
How does your pet react when you’re playing music? Benito either dances around or gives you a skeptical look, depending on the vibe!
Tangy & Zeke
Parent: Samantha Xu, Deputy Photo Director
Hometown: Hackensack, N.J.
Age: Tangy (4 years) and Zeke (1.5 years)
How do they react to music? Tangy enjoys mellow tunes while Zeke thrives on energetic beats that amplify his playful spirit.
Favorite music/song: Tangy enjoys SZA and lo-fi, while Zeke rocks out to Turnstile and thrash metal.
Pet Rescues: Rock n’ Rescue (Tangy) and East Coast Maine Coon Rescue (Zeke)
Riggins
Parent: Josh Glicksman, Deputy Managing Editor
Hometown: Dallas
Breed: Australian cattle dog/American pit bull terrier mix
Age: 1.5 years
Favorite music/song: Drawn to Bad Bunny, Riggins becomes enraptured whenever he hears this artist.
Favorite nap spot: Sunbathing near the record player
Fun fact: Riggins was a proud participant in Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl XX.
Pet Rescue: Heart & Bones Rescue
Gaia & Terra
Parent: Eric Renner Brown, Senior Editor
Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Breed: dilute tortie
Age: 3 years
Favorite nap spots: Gaia loves her hammock; Terra prefers any forbidden human food.
Pet Rescue: Whiskers-A-GoGo
Jimmy Page
Parent: Jenny Regan, Senior Photo Editor
Hometown: upstate New York
Breed: mini goldendoodle
Age: 4 years
Favorite food: Cheese and other tasty scraps.
Favorite toy: Socks that he has pilfered.
How does your pet react to music? He loves to jump up and dance with you!
Boba
Parent: Naomy Pedroza, Assistant Photo Editor
Hometown: Providence, R.I.
Breed: Bombay
Age: 4.5 years
How does your pet react to music? Boba is quite vocal about her musical preferences, expressing her discontent loudly when a tune doesn’t meet her standards.
Favorite music/song: She adores “Right Where You Left Me” by Taylor Swift and enjoys selections from Boygenius and Vampire Weekend.
Fun fact: She vehemently dislikes Alvin & the Chipmunks’ works.
Pet Rescue: Dixie Girl Dog Rescue
Mortimer
Parent: Michael Calcagno, Photo Researcher
Hometown: Yuma, Ariz.
Age: 1.5 years
Favorite toy: Squeaky pizza toy from Billboard’s own Anna Chan
Favorite music/song: “Angel of My Dreams” by JADE holds a special place in his heart, as it was sung to him at adoption.
Best friend: His grandma, who spoils him with treats.
Pet Rescue: Friends for Life Animal Rescue
Mabel & Bean
Parent: Anna Chan, Deputy Editor, Digital
Hometown: Seattle (Mabel) & New York (Bean)
Age: 19 years (Mabel) and 9 years (Bean)
How did they come into your life? Mabel was adopted from PAWS, while Bean joined Anna’s family from Best Friends. Both experiences were filled with love at first sight, solidified by the unique personalities each cat exhibited.
Pet Rescues: PAWS (Mabel) and Best Friends Animal Society (Bean)
Paco
Parent: Dan Rys, Director, Business News
Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Breed: Boston terrier
Age: 12 years
Favorite toy: Noise ball (useful for Paco’s blindness)
Favorite music/song: Norah Jones helps soothe him during storms.
Favorite nap spot: Burrowed under a furry blanket on the bed
Tucker
Parent: Becky Kaminsky, Director, Social Media
Hometown: Georgia
Breed: Supermutt
Age: 6
Favorite food: Beef lungs and chews
How does your pet react to music? He gets invigorated, often joining in during family dance sessions, where he showcases his two-step moves.
Pet Rescue: Puppies and More Rescue
Stella “Grumble Grumble” & Ace “Soggy Paws”
Parent: Taylor Mims, Senior Editor
Hometown: Long Beach, CA
Breed: French bulldog
Age: 13 years (Stella) and 4 years (Ace)
Favorite nap spot: Stella enjoys soaking up the sun wherever possible.
Fun fact: She loves paddleboarding.
How does your pet react to music? Stella’s loud snores are her way of engaging with tunes.
Favorite music/song: Ace loves “Aquí Te Cuido” by Reyna Tropical. Ace also has a penchant for odd items, such as rocks!
Rooney
Parent: Abby Webster, Assistant Social Media Editor
Age: 2 years
Favorite food: Cheddar cheese
How did your pet enter your life? Abby adopted Rooney during her roommate’s difficult time of addressing a mouse problem, bringing warmth and companionship into their home.
How does your pet react when you’re playing music? Rooney loves to watch music videos, particularly enjoying the bright visuals and catchy tunes.
Murphy
Parent: Danielle Pascual, Social Media Manager
Hometown: Noti, Ore.
Breed: Mini Aussiedoodle
Age: 4 years
Favorite toy: Chuckit! squeaker ball, which he’s rarely without
Favorite music/song: “Betty” by Taylor Swift is particularly special, with every reference to “Betty” turned into “Murphy” for a personalized twist.
Favorite nap spot: Mom’s laundry hamper
Impact on your life: Murphy is perceptive and knows how to uplift her owner during tough days with affection and cuddles.
Roman & Elliot
Parent: Evan Burke, Producer/Editor
Hometown: Los Angeles
Age: 5 years (Roman) and 10 years (Elliott)
Favorite toy: Roman adores his catnip-filled avocado toast
How did your pet come into your life? Roman came into Evan’s life during a challenging holiday season, while Elliott is a beloved companion from the Amanda Foundation whose affection keeps him close as he naps beside humans.
Ziggy
Parent: Ciara Zimring, Director of Strategy & Production, Video
Hometown: Los Angeles
Breed: Goldendoodle
Age: 5
Favorite toy: Giant Lamb Chop
Favorite music/song: Ziggy enjoys melodies from Noah Kahan.
Life Lessons: Ziggy teaches the importance of enjoying the moment, reminding everyone to pause amidst chaos. Her impressive ball-catching skills even spark conversations about entering her into the Puppy Olympics!
Murray
Parent: Jason Lipshutz, Executive Director, Music
Hometown: Madison, N.J.
Breed: Treeing Walker coonhound
Age: 6 years
How did your pet come into your life? Murray was rescued in late 2019, becoming an adorable addition that grew into an integral part of the family, especially with the shift brought on by the pandemic.
Life Lessons: Murray’s exuberant personality demonstrates that love is multifaceted, with every challenge burst forth is outweighed by cherished memories.
Pet Rescue: St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center
Bandit
Parent: Dave Brooks, Senior Director, Touring/Live
Hometown: Long Beach, Calif.
Breed: Terrier
Age: 13
Favorite food: Hot dogs
Favorite nap spot: The living room couch, where he enjoys barking at visitors
Lessons Learned: Bandit’s charming personality highlights an important truth that dogs often surpass humans in countless ways.
Pet Rescue: Long Beach SPCA
Stevie Nicks
Parent: Hannah Dailey, Staff Writer
Hometown: Bloomington, Ind.
Breed: Torbie
Age: 4 years
Favorite food: Dry kibble
Favorite toy: Charging cables, which she can’t seem to resist
Favorite music/song: Oddly, Stevie isn’t fond of music. She often reacts with playful bites whenever a tune plays, showing her unique personality.
Best Friend: Her adored stuffed elephant, Mr. Elephant.
Freddy
Parent: Rob Levine, Editor at Large
Hometown: Berlin
Breed: Cavapoo
Age: 1 year
Favorite food: Whatever is on the humans’ plates
Favorite toy: Any ball he finds under the couch
Favorite music/song: “Who Let the Dogs Out” resonates with him
How does your pet react when you’re playing music? Freddy has been known to express concern over the fairness of streaming royalty rates!
Oreo Lola
Parent: Christina Medina, SVP Talent & Programming
Hometown: West Covina, Calif
Breed: Shih Tzu
Age: Oreo Lola crossed the rainbow bridge in March 2025 at age 17
Favorite food: Wedding cake was a special treat for her
Fun fact: She enjoyed blueberry facials as a pampering ritual.
Favorite nap spot: Next to the sun, where she found pure joy.
Source
www.billboard.com