Month: January 2024

Categories
Country Daypop

Grand Ole Opry announces second annual Dolly Parton birthday celebration

Dolly Parton at the Grauman's Chinese Theater in Los Angeles^ California^ United States on January 9^ 2012.

The Grand Ole Opry announced the second annual ‘Opry Goes Dolly’ taking place on January 19th in celebration of Dolly Parton’s birthday. The 2nd Annual Opry Goes Dolly will take place over two shows (7 pm and 9:30 pm), held at the historic Ryman Auditorium. Parton will not appear in person, but the Friday night Opry shows will feature special guest artists performing their favorite Dolly hits, as well as Dolly-themed events, photo-ops, and more.

Those scheduled to perform at the Opry Goes Dolly show are Opry members Lauren Alaina, Terri Clark, Dailey & Vincent, and Don Schlitz, as well as special guests Elle King, Ashley Monroe, and Tigirlily Gold.

Additionally, in celebration of Dolly’s album Rockstar, The Opry Shop is featuring a Rockstar pop-up shop that will run through January featuring Dolly music and merchandise including Rockstar vinyl and CDs, Rockstar-themed t-shirts, sweatshirts and more.

Five dollars from every ticket sold will be donated to the Opry Trust Fund. For more than 50 years, the fund has assisted members of the country music community in need. Tickets for Opry Goes Dolly are on sale now at (615) 871-OPRY and opry.com.

Editorial credit: Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

Hardy announces ‘Quit!!’ tour; shares new short film

Hardy attends the 2019 CMT Music Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on June 5^ 2019 in Nashville^ Tennessee.

HARDY has announced his 15-date Quit!! Tour, which coincides with the title of his newest spoken-word track (you can take a listen to Quit!! – here).

HARDY’s Quit!! Tour kicks-off on May 30 in Rogers, Arkansas, and concludes on July 27 in Tinley Park, Illinois. Kip Moore, Travis Denning, Ella Langley, and Stephen Wilson Jr. will serve as support on select dates.

In addition, HARDY recently released a 22-minute short film titled Becoming The Crow, directed by Justin Clough. The film follows Hardy through two days in his monumental 2023. The first day spotlights his album release shows in Los Angeles on Jan. 23, where he played both The Troubadour and The Roxy in one single night. The second part follows him on Oct. 26, where he kicked off a sold-out three-night run at The Municipal Auditorium in Nashville. The short film also features HARDY’s friends and members of his team, with producers Joey Moi and David Garcia also make appearances, as well as HARDY’s label head Seth England and manager Troy “Tracker” Johnson. The film is available via YouTube; you can check it out: here.

Tickets for HARDY’s “QUIT!!” tour go on sale Friday, January 19 at 10 a.m. local time. For ticket information, head to HardyOfficial.com.

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Entertainment Daypop

Riley Keough to release late mother Lisa Marie Presley’s memoir

Riley Keough arrives for the premiere of Amazon PrimeÕs Terminal List on June 22^ 2022 in West Hollywood^ CA

Riley Keough has announced she will release the memoir of her mother, the late Lisa Marie Presley. Keough, 34, captioned a throwback photo of herself and Presley in an Instagram post: “I’m honored to help put my mother’s book out for her. Her autobiography will be out in October with @randomhouse and you can pre order it now.” Lisa Marie started writing the memoir ahead of her passing, and it’s currently scheduled to be released on Tuesday, October 15; you can pre-order it: here.

Keough’s announcement comes nearly one year after the sudden death of Lisa Marie, the daughter of the late Elvis Presley and his ex-wife, Priscilla Presley. Lisa Marie died on January 12, 2023 at the age of 54, and according to an autopsy report, her death was caused by a small bowel obstruction.

Keough said in a statement per The Associated Press that she decided to release the memoir because “few people had the opportunity to know who my mom really was. I was lucky to have had that opportunity and working on preparing her autobiography for publication has been a privilege, albeit a bittersweet one. I’m so excited to share my mom now, at her most vulnerable and most honest, and in doing so, I do hope that readers come to love my mom as much as I did.”

The book’s official synopsis reads: “Born to an American myth and raised in the wilds of Graceland, Lisa Marie Presley was never truly understood … until now. Before her death in 2023, she’d been working on a raw, riveting, one-of-a-kind memoir for years, recording countless hours of breathtakingly vulnerable tape, which has finally been put on the page by her daughter Riley Keough.”  

Lisa Marie is survived by daughter Riley, mom Priscilla, 78, and twin daughters Finley and Harper, 15. Lisa Marie shared Riley and her late son Benjamin Keough (who died by suicide at age 27 in 2020) with ex-husband Danny Keough. She shared Finley and Harper with ex-husband Michael Lockwood. Riley was named the sole trustee of Lisa Marie’s estate in May 2023.

Editorial credit: DFree / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Entertainment Daypop

Selena Gomez to portray Linda Ronstadt in new biopic film

Selena Gomez at the 2nd Annual Academy Museum Gala held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles^ USA on October 15^ 2022.

Variety has confirmed that Selena Gomez will play Linda Ronstadt in an upcoming biopic. Gomez teased the role by posting a picture of Ronstadt’s 2013 memoir “Simple Dreams” on her Instagram story. No other casting has been announced.

Ronstadt and Gomez are both of Mexican descent. The biopic, currently in pre-production, will be produced by Ronstadt’s manager, John Boylan, and James Keach (who produced the 2019 documentary “Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice.”) Ronstadt is known across many musical genres, and a legend of country, rock ‘n’ roll and Latin music. Her 1970s albums “Heart Like a Wheel” and “Simple Dreams” achieved critical and commercial success, and she won 11 Grammys throughout her career. Ronstadt was honored by both the Recording Academy and the Latin Recording Academy with Lifetime Achievement Awards.

Directed by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, Ronstadt’s 2019 documentary Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice chronicled the artist’s nearly five-decade career. In 2011, Ronstadt announced her retirement, revealing she was no longer able to sing due to her progressive supranuclear palsy, which was originally mistaken for Parkinson’s.

Editorial credit: Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Entertainment Daypop

Palace announces that Kate, Princess of Wales, is hospitalized after planned abdominal surgery

Katherine^ the Princess of Wales^ at a mental fitness workshop run by SportsAid at Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre in Marlow^ UK. October 12^ 2023

Kensington Palace announced that Kate, Princess of Wales, has been hospitalized after undergoingnplanned abdominal surgery. The Palace said in a statement Wednesday that Princess Kate was expected to remain in the hospital for ten to 14 days. While the statement did not specify what the surgery was for, it said that Kate, “hopes the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible; and her wish that her personal medical information remains private.” The Kensington Palace statement included an apology from Kate for having to postpone her own upcoming engagements.

Shortly after the news of Kate’s hospitalization was revealed by Kate and her husband William, the Prince of Wales, Buckingham Palace released a statement saying that King Charles III (William’s father) would be admitted to a hospital next week for a procedure to treat enlarged prostate. The statement read in part: “In common with thousands of men each year, The King has sought treatment for an enlarged prostate. His Majesty’s condition is benign and he will attend hospital next week for a corrective procedure,” adding that the monarch would postpone his public engagements “for a short period of recuperation.”

Kensington Palace confirmed to multiple news outlets that Kate was not dealing with cancer, and that Prince William would miss some future engagements to be with his wife. They added that the “surgery was successful,” but “based on the current medical advice,” the Princess of Wales is “unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter” but that Kate “looks forward to reinstating as many (engagements) as possible, as soon as possible.”

Princess Kate’s husband, Prince William, is the eldest son of King Charles and next in line to inherit the British throne. The couple share three children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5.

Editorial credit: B. Lenoir / Shutterstock.com

Categories
News Daypop

Palace announces that Kate, Princess of Wales, is hospitalized after planned abdominal surgery

Katherine^ the Princess of Wales^ at a mental fitness workshop run by SportsAid at Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre in Marlow^ UK. October 12^ 2023

Kensington Palace announced that Kate, Princess of Wales, has been hospitalized after undergoingnplanned abdominal surgery. The Palace said in a statement Wednesday that Princess Kate was expected to remain in the hospital for ten to 14 days. While the statement did not specify what the surgery was for, it said that Kate, “hopes the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible; and her wish that her personal medical information remains private.” The Kensington Palace statement included an apology from Kate for having to postpone her own upcoming engagements.

Shortly after the news of Kate’s hospitalization was revealed by Kate and her husband William, the Prince of Wales, Buckingham Palace released a statement saying that King Charles III (William’s father) would be admitted to a hospital next week for a procedure to treat enlarged prostate. The statement read in part: “In common with thousands of men each year, The King has sought treatment for an enlarged prostate. His Majesty’s condition is benign and he will attend hospital next week for a corrective procedure,” adding that the monarch would postpone his public engagements “for a short period of recuperation.”

Kensington Palace confirmed to multiple news outlets that Kate was not dealing with cancer, and that Prince William would miss some future engagements to be with his wife. They added that the “surgery was successful,” but “based on the current medical advice,” the Princess of Wales is “unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter” but that Kate “looks forward to reinstating as many (engagements) as possible, as soon as possible.”

Princess Kate’s husband, Prince William, is the eldest son of King Charles and next in line to inherit the British throne. The couple share three children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5.

Editorial credit: B. Lenoir / Shutterstock.com

Categories
News Daypop

Maine court defers decision on Trump ballot eligibility citing 14th Amendment

Former US President Donald J. Trump makes remarks at the 2023 CPAC; National Harbor^ MD US - Mar 4^ 2023

On Wednesday, a judge in Maine told state election officials they would defer a decision and wait for the Supreme Court to rule on Donald Trump’s eligibility for the 2024 presidential ballot. Trump had asked the judge to overturn a prior decision that removed him from the Maine ballot, but the judge declined to do so, until the Supreme Court weighs in. Wednesday’s decision means that Trump’s name is still on the ballot for the Maine GOP primary on March 5, aka Super Tuesday. Ratified after the Civil War, the 14th Amendment says officials who take an oath to uphold the Constitution are banned from future office if they “engaged in insurrection,” but the Constitution doesn’t say how to enforce the ban.

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a similar case from Colorado early next month. Maine and Colorado are so far the only states to disqualify Trump based on his role in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. A group of voters filed a challenge in December and Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows ruled that Trump was ineligible for office; ballot challenges are first handled by the secretary of state under Maine law, and then can be appealed in state courts. Trump and his GOP allies have slammed Bellows, a Democrat, and have unsuccessfully tried to take her off the case.

Kennebec County Superior Court Judge Michaela Murphy, who issued Wednesday’s ruling, was appointed to the state bench by a Democratic governor in 2007 and then re-appointed in 2015 by then-Gov. Paul LePage, an outspoken Republican and Trump supporter.

Trump and the challengers asked Judge Murphy to pause any final ballot decisions in Maine until a ruling from the Supreme Court. Murphy said it was “rare” to grant such a request, but “under these circumstances, it is appropriate … Because many of the issues presented in this case are likely to be resolved, narrowed, or rendered moot by the Supreme Court’s decision in (the Colorado case), the Court concludes that a remand is necessary … While it is impossible to know what the Supreme Court will decide, hopefully it will at least clarify what role, if any, state decision-makers, including secretaries of state and state judicial officers, play in adjudicating claims of disqualification brought under Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment.”

Editorial credit: Consolidated News Photos / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

LeAnn Rimes undergoes surgery to remove precancerous cells

Leann Rimes at the 2020 Muiscares at the Los Angeles Convention Center on January 24^ 2020 in Los Angeles^ CA

LeAnn Rimes shared an update on her health in an Instagram post, revealing that she underwent a “minor” surgical procedure to remove precancerous cells following an abnormal pap smear.

Rimes, 41, wrote: “Over the past couple of years, I’ve either been going through dental surgeries or recovering from a vocal hemorrhage around this time, which was all pretty depressing. But, I have to say, this January has been joyful and easeful. However, yesterday, I underwent a minor surgery … Several months back, I had my annual pap smear, which came back abnormal. In fact, I’ve had abnormal paps since I was 17 and through regular pap smears and colposcopies, my doctors have been keeping an eye on any cellular changes.” A subsequent colposcopy and lab testing on her pap smear sample led Rimes to being diagnosed with high-grade cervical dysplasia, or precancerous cervical cell changes. Rimes continued: “I consulted with my doctor and we jointly decided that a LEEP procedure would be in my best interest, in order to remove the high grade, abnormal, precancerous cells. I’ve had enough trauma in my life already, so I prefer to be out and comfortable … So, ladies, please don’t put off getting your annual pap. My men, too… make sure you get your annual physical, minus the pap smear 😂.”

Rimes ended her post by saying that early cervical cancer doesn’t typically show symptoms, and early detection can be lifesaving: “I believe the more shares and conversations we have around women’s wellness, the more we take the ewww factor out of talking about vaginas and put the power back in our hands, to be able to take the best care of our bodies that we can.”

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

2024 RodeoHouston lineup features Brad Paisley, Hank Williams Jr., Zac Brown Band

ountry musician Brad Paisley performs onstage at the 2015 FarmBorough Festival - Day 2 at Randall's Island on June 27^ 2015 in New York City.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has announced the RodeoHouston lineup for the 2024 Rodeo season, including Brad Paisley, Hank Williams Jr., Zac Brown Band and For King + Country, and more.

The season will take place Feb. 27-March 17, with The Jonas Brothers returning to RodeoHouston for the first time in over a decade. Los Tigres Del Norte will also return to perform during Go Tejano Day on March 10, with Luke Bryan back on the stage in NRG Stadium, and Lainey Wilson and Hardy set to perform before they both kick-off their headlining tours in 2024. Carly Pearce, 50 Cent, Ivan Cornejo, Nickelback, Oliver Anthony, Jelly Roll, Major Lazer, Whiskey Myers and Eric Church will close out the season on March 17.

Chris Boleman, RodeoHouston President & CEO, said in a statement: “The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is proud to bring such a wide range of musical genres to the RodeoHouston stage. We’re welcoming 10 new entertainers who will make their debut on the star stage as well as many fan favorites from a variety of genres from our country roots, to EDM and hip-hop.”

Tickets go on sale this Thursday (Jan. 18) in two waves, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The first wave of tickets will be for Feb. 27-March 7 performances, and the second wave of tickets for March 8-17 performances. For more information, click here.

RodeoHouston announces 2024 entertainment lineup

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Entertainment Daypop

Take a look at the trailer for ‘The Walking Dead’ spinoff ‘The Ones Who Live’

Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira at the premiere of AMC's 'The Walking Dead' Season 9 held at the DGA Theater in Los Angeles^ USA on September 27^ 2018.

AMC has shared a first-look trailer for the post-apocalyptic drama The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, a new spinoff of The Walking Dead that takes place after the events of the original show. Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira reprise their roles of Rick Grimes and Michonne, with the show executive produced by Scott M. Gimple (who also serves as showrunner) along with Lincoln, Gurira, Denise Huth and Brian Bockrath.

‘The Ones Who Live’ presents “an epic love story of two characters changed by a changed world. Kept apart by distance. By an unstoppable power. By the ghosts of who they were. Rick and Michonne are thrown into another world, built on a war against the dead… And ultimately, a war against the living. Can they find each other and who they were in a place and situation unlike any they’ve ever known before? Are they enemies? Lovers? Victims? Victors? Without each other, are they even alive — or will they find that they, too, are the Walking Dead?”

The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live premieres Feb. 25 on AMC and AMC+; take a look at the trailer – here.

Editorial credit: Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com