Month: April 2024

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Country Daypop

Alabama on the road with the ‘Roll On II North America Tour’

(L-R) Ted Genry^ Jeff Cook and Randy Owen of Alabama attend the 9th Annual ACM Honors at the Ryman Auditorium on September 1^ 2015 in Nashville^ Tennessee.

Alabama kicked-off their 2024 “Roll On II North America Tour” last month, which will make stops at arenas, amphitheaters and festivals across the U.S. through Nov. 9.

Says Alabama’s Randy Owen: “I look forward to singing ‘Mountain Music,’ ‘Tennessee River,’ ‘Feels So Right’ and so many more. It’s just a matter of just getting up on stage and enjoying it. We can’t wait to see the fans who made it all possible.”

The group also announced earlier this year that that June Jam XVIII will take place June 1 at the VFW Fairgrounds in Fort Payne, Alabama. Last year’s event drew nearly 11,000 fans and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity efforts throughout the state.

The Roll On II North America Tour will feature special guests at select shows including The Marshall Tucker Band, Diamond Rio, Jamey Johnson, Bellamy Brothers, Lee Greenwood and more. For more information, click here.

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

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Entertainment Daypop

See Anya Taylor-Joy in the trailer for ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’

Anya Taylor-Joy at the 30th Vanity Fair Oscar Party. LOS ANGELES^ USA. March 10^ 2024:

Anya Taylor-Joy is featured in the second trailer for George Miller’s “Furiosa”, the post-apocalyptic prequel to “Mad Max: Fury Road.” Taylor -Joy stars as Imperator Furiosa, a role originally played by Charlize Theron in the 2015 series reboot. Chris Hemsworth and Tom Burke star alongside Taylor-Joy.

‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’ follows the origin story of the young Furiosa as she is ripped from her refuge in the Green Place of Many Mothers and, forced to face the insanity of the desolate world beyond for the first time. After being snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers as a child, Furiosa falls into the hands of a Biker Horde led by the Warlord Dementus (Hemsworth).

An official film synopsis reads: “Sweeping through the wasteland, they come across the Citadel presided over by The Immortan Joe. While the two Tyrants war for dominance, Furiosa must survive many trials as she puts together the means to find her way home.”

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga opens in theaters May 24; check out the trailer: here.

Editorial credit: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Entertainment Daypop

Selena Gomez to launch ‘Selena + Restaurant’ series for Food Network

Selena Gomez on October 15^ 2022 in Los Angeles^ CA

Deadline reports that Selena Gomez will be launching the six-episode series ‘Selena + Restaurant’, a spinoff of sorts of her popular ‘Selena + Chef’ series that aired four seasons on MAX, premiering May 2 on Food Network.

‘Selena + Restaurant’ will see Gomez head out of her home kitchen and into the kitchens of some of L.A.’s hottest restaurants, as her cooking skills are put to the test. Says Gomez: “After cooking mostly virtually from my kitchen with some of the best chefs for the last four years, I was thrilled to step into their world. You’ll have to see if being in person helped my skills at all.”

Chefs Shirley Chung, Keith Corbin, Stephanie Izard, Andrew & Michelle Muñoz, Wolfgang Puck, and Marcel Vigneron will teach and test Selena (accompanied by best friend, Raquelle Stevens) to see how quickly she can learn the ropes with the ultimate goal of creating a dish good enough to make each restaurant’s menu. Each chef will also highlight a charity that is meaningful to them during each episode, with all of the featured non-profits receiving a donation to further their cause.

Betsy Ayala, Head of Content, Food, Warner Bros. Discovery: “Selena’s culinary journey has riveted viewers from day one as she has elevated her kitchen skills on her Emmy-nominated series, ‘Selena + Chef.’ Now, out of the comfort of her home kitchen, but with her best friend for support, Selena’s graduation to the big leagues offers a natural progression of her culinary education as this superstar shows what she can do in a restaurant environment.”

Editorial credit: DFree / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

Slash and Chris Stapleton join forces to cover Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Oh Well’

Slash of Guns N´Roses at Stadium Vicente Calderon^ Madrid Spain 4 June 2017

Slash has released his cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Oh Well,” which features country star Chris Stapleton on vocals, written by original founder Peter Green. The song is the second single from Slash’s star-studded debut blues album and sixth solo album, Orgy of the Damned, due May 17th.

Orgy of the Damned is a collection of 12 songs, and described as an homage to Slash’s love of classic blues, with vocals from Gary Clark Jr., ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, Dorothy, Iggy Pop, Paul Rodgers, Demi Lovato, Chris Robinson and Beth Hart. The house band supporting the guitarist on the record included two of his 1990s bandmates from Blues Ball, bassist Johnny Griparic and keyboardist Teddy ‘ZigZag’ Andreadis, as well as drummer Michael Jerome and singer/guitarist Tash Neal.

Slash said in a statement: “So, this is the original Fleetwood Mac, which was founded by Peter Green, one of the greatest singer-songwriter-guitar players, he’s less known in the public, but very well known to us guitar players re the 60s British blues and he’s up there with Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Nick Taylor. I remember hearing the song on the radio when I was probably 13, they used to play both the older version of Fleetwood Mac and the new version of the band with Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham a lot. I always loved this song, and it’s a great guitar riff. I jammed it with the Blues Ball back in the ‘90s, and I’ve played it live here and there. I knew from the beginning I wanted to do the song on this record. It was also one of the songs that I was trying to figure out who would be the right vocalist for it, and one of the ideas I had was Chris Stapleton, who is one of the most brilliant singer songwriters today. He’s also got such a gritty and distinctive voice, so I called him up and he did an amazing job. I mean, his voice is so cool.”

Per Billboard, “Oh Well” is the second single to date from Slash’s album, following his previously released “Killing Floor,” which features AC/DC singer Brian Johnson on vocals, and Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler on harmonica.

To stream ‘Oh Well,’ head here.

Editorial credit: Photography Stock Ruiz / Shutterstock.com

Categories
News Daypop

House sends articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Sec’y Alejandro Mayorkas to Senate

Department of Homeland Security Sec'y Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas at Sheraton Times Square in New York on April 12^ 2023

ABC News reports that articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over his handling of the border were officially transmitted to the Senate on Tuesday. The House impeachment managers, selected by Republican leadership, walked the two articles through the Capitol led by the House clerk and sergeant-at-arms.

The House voted to impeach Mayorkas in mid-February over what they said was his failure to enforce border laws amid a surge in migrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border. The controversial vote, which had previously failed, was opposed by three Republicans and all Democrats. House leaders opted to wait until after a government funding fight to present the issue to the Senate, with Senate Republicans pushing to delay the proceedings until this week amid concerns over attendance. The House impeachment managers include Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green, Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul and Reps. Andy Biggs, Ben Cline, Andrew Garbarino, Michael Guest, Harriet Hageman, Clay Higgins, Laurel Lee, August Pfluger and Marjorie Taylor Greene.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has denounced the effort to impeach Mayorkas as “baseless,” saying that House Republicans “continue to ignore the facts and undermine the Constitution” with the impeachment push. A DHS spokesperson said in a statement: “Congressional Republicans should stop wasting time with unfounded attacks, and instead do their job by passing bipartisan legislation to properly fund the Department’s vital national security missions and finally fix our broken immigration system.” 

The historic vote that marked the first time a Cabinet secretary has been impeached in nearly 150 years. Mayorkas is only the second Cabinet secretary to be impeached in U.S. history after William Belknap, a former secretary of war, in 1876.

Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com

Categories
News Daypop

Supreme Court divided in hearing on obstruction charge against Jan. 6 rioter

The United States Supreme Court Building.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court began hearing arguments on rioters involved in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, which could potentially impact former President Donald Trump in his ongoing legal battles.

Per NBC News, the justices heard an appeal brought by defendant Joseph Fischer, a former police officer who is seeking to dismiss a charge accusing him of obstructing an official proceeding, namely the certification by Congress of Joe Biden’s election victory, which was disrupted by a mob of Trump supporters. The law in question criminalizes efforts to obstruct, influence or impede any official proceeding. If convicted, it would result in a prison sentence of up to 20 years.

Arguments took place for nearly two hours as Chief Justice John Roberts, Justices Brett Kavanaugh, Neil Gorsuch and Samuel Alito reportedly seemed to be skeptical of the government’s interpretation of legal arguments being made against defendant Joseph Fischer. A ruling by the 6-3 conservative majority high court could overturn felony obstruction charges for more than 300 individuals involved in the deadly Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol building (from UPI).

Tuesday’s hearing comes just a week before the Supreme Court hears Trump’s bid to toss out his election interference charges based on a claim of presidential immunity. Fischer and Trump both say that the obstruction law does not apply to their alleged conduct, and as such, the charges should be dropped.

Editorial credit: Robert A. Powell / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

Sam Hunt to embark on 2024 ‘Locked Up’ summer tour

Sam Hunt at the 2017 CMA Music Festival on June 9^ 2017 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville^ Tennessee.

Sam Hunt has revealed details of his North American summer headlining Locked Up Tour, named for Hunt’s Locked Up EP that dropped earlier this month.

According to Taste of Country, the 20-city tour will kick-off tin Bend, Ore. on June 28, traveling across the U.S. with stops in Auburn, Washington; and Nampa, Idaho and continuing through September with dates across the US and Canada. The tour will feature support from Russell Dickerson and George Birge in the US, and Dalton Dover in Canada.

Tickets are available now via Ticketmaster.

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Entertainment Daypop

Henry Cavill expecting first child with girlfriend Natalie Viscuso

Henry Cavill and Natalie Viscuso attend the World Premiere of "Argylle" at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London^ England. London^ United Kingdom - January 24^ 2024

Henry Cavill is expecting his first child with his girlfriend, Natalie Viscuso.

While walking the carpet at the premiere for his new film ‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare,’ the 40-year-old actor confirmed to Access Hollywood that he and Viscuso are expecting their first child together, saying: “I’m very excited about it. Natalie and I are both very excited. I’m sure you’ll see much more of that.”

Cavill had previously hinted at Viscuso’s pregnancy while discussing his girlfriend with E! News: “We’re not shy of a kitchen dance party, I’ll tell you that much. A bottle of wine goes down range …Obviously not now — but previously.”

Cavill and Viscuso went public with their relationship public in 2021. Viscuso is the vice president of Vertigo Entertainment, the production company involved with projects like It, Five Nights at Freddy’s and The LEGO Movie.

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is a spy action comedy inspired by the Damien Lewis book ‘Churchill’s Secret Warriors: The Explosive True Story of the Special Forces Desperadoes of WWII.’  The film is directed and co-written by Guy Ritchie, and also stars Eiza González, Alan Ritchson and Alex Pettyfer. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare opens in theaters Friday.

Editorial credit: Fred Duval / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

Tom Petty tribute LP “Petty Country” features Chris Stapleton, Dolly Parton, and more

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers perform at the 2017 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. New Orleans^ Louisiana - April 30^ 2017

Petty Country: A Country Music Celebration of Tom Petty, an upcoming Tom Petty tribute album, is set to drop on June 21.

The 20-track album will feature country artists including the legendary Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson; in addition, Chris Stapleton, Marty Stuart, Margo Price, Dierks Bentley and former Heartbreakers Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench are also among the other acts that will feature on the upcoming tribute album.  Parton’s cover of Petty’s song “Southern Accents” has just been released off the LP; you can stream it: here.

Bentley, whose cover of “American Girl” for the tribute album was also recently released, shared of Petty: “Petty’s southern roots shined through across his songwriting and storytelling. He might not have ever been considered as country but you can’t go into a bar in Nashville without hearing this song. It is one of the greatest songs in a life’s work of great American songs … I’m convinced the second verse of this song is some of the best singing in the history of any rock or country band because his voice, there’s so much angst. You know, it’s just his voice has that kind of brokenness to it to begin with, so it’s just so, just the emotion behind his voice is just unparalleled.”

Check out Bentley’s video for ‘American Girl’ – here.

Take a look at Parton’s video for ‘Southern Accents’ – here.

To pre-order Petty Country: A Country Music Celebration of Tom Petty, head here.

Editorial credit: Adam McCullough / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Entertainment Daypop

Adele announces rescheduled Las Vegas Residency dates

Adele attends The BRIT Awards 2022 at The O2 Arena in London^ United Kingdom - February 08^ 2022

Billboard reports that Adele has rescheduled a run of dates of her ‘Weekends With Adele’ Las Vegas residency that were originally scheduled to take place in March.

Adele, 35, wrote via Instagram that the postponed dates at the Colosseum in Caesars Palace will now take place on the final weekend of October, as well as every weekend in November: “The postponed dates for Weekends With Adele at The Colosseum, Caesars Palace from March have been rescheduled to the below dates later this year. Ticket holders for the postponed dates will be sent an email regarding their new allocated date,” adding that “all other shows remain unaffected.”

Adele first announced back in February that she would be delaying her residency due to health issues: “Sadly I have to take a beat and pause my Las Vegas residency. I was sick at the end of the last leg and all the way through my break. I hadn’t quite gotten the chance to get back to full health before shows resumed and now I’m sick again, and unfortunately, it’s all taken a toll on my voice.  And so on Doctors orders, I have no choice but to rest thoroughly. The remaining 5 weekends of this leg are being postponed to a later date. We are already working out the details and you will be sent the information asap.”

Editorial credit: Fred Duval / Shutterstock.com