Month: March 2023

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Country Daypop

CMT Music Awards reveal Top 6 ‘Video of the Year’ finalists

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CMT has revealed the top six finalists vying for the night’s most-coveted “Video of Year” award at the 2023 CMT Music Awards. Fans have cast their votes over the past three weeks across all categories including “Video of the Year,” narrowing down to the top six finalists from the original list of 16 nominees.

The final six “Video of the Year” nominees are: Blake Shelton – “No Body”, Carrie Underwood – “Hate My Heart”, Cody Johnson – “Human”, HARDY feat. Lainey Wilson – “wait in the truck”, Kane Brown & Katelyn Brown – “Thank God” and Morgan Wallen – “You Proof”.  Fan voting is now open at vote.cmt.com.

On Sunday, April 2nd, these six nominees will be narrowed down to top three, with voting continuing through the live show, leading up to the big reveal at the end of the night.

The Top 6 this year sees Carrie Underwood competing for her fifth consecutive “Video of the Year” win and tenth overall in the category. Underwood remains the most awarded artist in CMT Music Awards history with 25 career wins. A win from Kane and Katelyn Brown would make them the first husband/wife duo to win the award in CMT history, and would also be the first win for each of them in this category. Blake Shelton is vying for his second “Video of the Year” win (having earned his first win in 2018), and Cody Johnson, HARDY, Lainey Wilson and Morgan Wallen are hoping for their first win in the category.

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

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Entertainment Daypop

Take a look at the trailer for Season 2, Part 2 of ‘Firefly Lane’

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Netflix has shared a trailer for the final episodes of Season 2, Part 2 of ‘Firefly Lane.’

Firefly Lane is based on the Kristin Hannah novel of the same name, and the series follows best friends Tully Hart (Katherine Heigl) and Kate Mularkey (Sarah Chalke) throughout the decades.

The Season 2, Part 2 trailer shows an estranged Tully (Heigl) and Kate (Chalke) reunite after Kate falls ill. An official description reads: “For Kate and Tully, no obstacle is too big when it comes to their lifelong friendship. But is there one mistake that could tear them apart forever?” Ben Lawson, Beau Garrett, Yael Yurman and Ignacio Serricchio also star.

Firefly Lane Season 2, Part 2 will premiere April 27. Take a look at the series trailer – here.

Editorial credit: Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com

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Entertainment Daypop

Jeremy Renner to open up about snowplow accident in Diane Sawyer interview

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Jeremy Renner is speaking out publicly for the first time about the snowplow accident that almost took his life. The “Hawkeye” star was severely injured and left in critical condition on New Year’s Day when he was crushed by a 7-ton snowcat snowplow outside his Reno, Nevada home while trying to protect his nephew. He was left with blunt chest trauma and more than 30 broken bones.

Renner will open about the scary incident with ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer in the special Jeremy Renner: The Diane Sawyer Interview – A Story of Terror, Survival and Triumph, set to air April 6 at 10 p.m. EDT on ABC.  ABC News released a promo of the sit-down interview between Renner and Sawyer where he opens up about the snowcat accident that left him in critical condition on New Year’s Day. Renner recounted how he sustained his life-threatening injuries, saying: “I’d do it again .. Yeah, I’d do it again, ’cause it’s going right at my nephew.” 

The actor confirmed he was conscious after the accident and remembers the pain, telling Sawyer: “All of it … I was awake through every moment.” The trailer includes audio from the 911 call after Renner’s accident. Renner candidly speaks about his determination to live:  “I chose to survive, this is not going to kill me, no way. I’ve lost a lot of flesh and bone in this experience, but I’ve been refueled and refilled with love and titanium.”

Renner tweeted an update on his recovery Sunday, alongside a video of himself using a specialized treadmill, captioning the post: “I now have to find OTHER things to occupy my time so my body can recover from my will.”

Editorial credit: Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com

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News Daypop

Murder conviction of Adnan Syed reinstated by Maryland appeals court months after he was freed

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A Maryland appeals court has reinstated the murder conviction against Adnan Syed, roughly six months after Baltimore prosecutors provided new evidence in the 1999 killing of Hae Min Lee, due to a lower court’s violation of the victim’s family right to attend the hearing to vacate the conviction.

The 41-year-old Syed, whose conviction was made famous by the podcast “Serial,” had his conviction tossed out by a circuit court and the state’s attorney’s office. He had been serving a life sentence for the past 23 years — more than half his life — since his arrest in 1999.

Syed was released from prison in October after Baltimore City State Attorney Marilyn Mosby said DNA evidence supported his Syed’s innocence. Lee’s family filed an appeal, arguing that they were not properly notified of the efforts to release Syed, and the Maryland appeals court ruled in their favor, stating that officials failed to provide sufficient notice for Lee’s family to attend the hearing.

Tuesday’s decision is seen as a procedural issue, and there is no reason to believe Syed will be sent back to prison. A new hearing will be held regarding the evidence to vacate Syed’s conviction, but the previous murder charges have been reinstated in the interim. The prosecutor has indicated that there is evidence pointing to other suspects and that the investigation is ongoing.

Editorial credit: John B Hewitt / Shutterstock.com

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News Daypop

GOP House committee subpoenas Antony Blinken over Afghanistan withdrawal

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House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul subpoenaed Secretary of State Antony Blinken, to demand the official records on the department’s Dissent Channel warning against a speedy withdrawal from Afghanistan.  The Dissent Channel is a confidential channel operated by the State Department and used by foreign affairs officials and other government employees. Employees may use the channel to share dissenting opinions about the government or matters of foreign affairs.

The cable from the State Department may reveal what the department’s employees in Kabul shared with Blinken and the Biden administration nearly a month before troops were withdrawn. McCaul’s press release said the record was first requested in August 2021, after U.S. troops and staff were evacuated.

Signed by 23 staffers from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul on July 13, 2021, the Dissent Channel cable warned the State Department that the Taliban was rapidly advancing in Afghanistan, forecasting a situation the Afghan military would be unable to handle. McCaul said in a statement that Blinken has refused to provide the cable despite multiple concessions being offered on McCaul’s behalf: “We have made multiple good-faith attempts to find common ground so we could see this critical piece of information. Unfortunately, Secretary Blinken has refused to provide the Dissent Cable and his response to the cable, forcing me to issue my first subpoena as chairman of this committee. The American people deserve answers as to how this tragedy unfolded, and why 13 U.S. service members lost their lives.” McCaul said concessions included reviewing the documents by camera and having the names of staffers who signed the cable redacted.

Blinken testified to the Foreign Affairs Committee last week and during his testimony he said he was preparing the relevant information the committee is seeking.

Editorial credit: Alexandra Pandrea / Shutterstock.com

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Country Daypop

Old Dominion halts tour after frontman Matthew Ramsey is injured in ATV Crash

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Old Dominion have rescheduled at least three shows on their current No Bad Vibes Tour after frontman Matthew Ramsey was involved in an ATV accident. The singer explained that the incident left his pelvis “fractured in at least three places” and will require him to stay home and rest for the time being. Ramsey’s social media post read: “Well friends – I’m afraid I have some disappointing news. I was in an ATV accident that has left my pelvis fractured in three places. The good news is it’s gonna heal just fine. The bad news is I’m gonna have to stay home and recover for a little while,” he says. “I know we all had plans to sing and dance together in Key West. I was looking forward to that so much! We will make it up to you! I promise we’ll keep up updated on my recovery and any other shows that might be affected. This tour has been such a blast so far this year and before you know it, I’ll be back out there with No Bad Vibes! Love you all. – m”

The postponed shows were set to take place on Friday (March 31), Saturday (April 1) and Sunday (April 2), all in Key West, Fla. Those shows have already been rescheduled for March 22, 23 and 24 of 2024. The band also states that anyone who holds a ticket for this weekend’s Florida shows will automatically be granted admission to the rescheduled dates. Any fans who are unable to make it to the 2024 show days can collect a refund at their point of purchase for the next 30 days.

The next scheduled stop on the tour is Apr. 13 in Reading, Pa.  Old Dominion suggests fans who have tickets for that date (and any future dates) check the Old Dominion website periodically to see if any more upcoming No Bad Vibes Tour dates will need to be rescheduled due to Ramsey’s injury.

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

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Country Daypop

Eric Church, Zach Bryan and more to headline 2023 Summerfest

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Milwaukee’s Summerfest festival will celebrate its 55th anniversary this summer with over 100 artists taking the stage over three weekends in June and July.  Milwaukee World Festival Inc. CEO Don Smiley in a statement: “Celebrating 55 years of live music is a true testament to this festival. Together with the City of Milwaukee, we look forward to hosting music fans from across the globe at Summerfest and delivering a world-class lineup with hundreds of artists during our nine-day run”. 

The festival has announced its headlining performers, including Eric Church (with Elle King), the Zac Brown Band (with Marcus King) and James Taylor & His All-Star Band (with Sheryl Crow) on the first weekend (taking place June 22-24). The second weekend (taking place June 29-July 1) will feature headliners Dave Matthews Band, Odesza (with a Bonobo DJ set) and another artists to be announced, with the final weekend (July 6-8) t0 feature Zach Bryan and Imagine Dragons (with AJR).

Other acts appearing at 2023 Summerfest include: The Avett Brothers, Elvis Costello & the Imposters, Bleachers, Three 6 Mafia, Brett Eldredge, Sofi Tukker, Gryffin, Fitz and the Tantrums, NLE Choppa, Cheap Trick, Lyle Lovett, Tegan and Sara, Santa Fe Klan, Earth, Wind & Fire, Noah Kahan, Ava Max, Lord Huron, Yung Gravy, Vance Joy, Cypress Hill, The Pretty Reckless, Sean Paul, Coi Leray, Brett Young, Spin Doctors, Jesus Jones, Japanese Breakfast, Lauren Daigle, Tyler Hubbard, Yellowcard, Smokey Robinson, Fleet Foxes, The War on Drugs, Yungblud, Styx, Grupo Niche, Tesla, Dinosaur Jr., Jenny Lewis, Scotty McCreery and many more.

Tickets for Summerfest are on sale now – summerfest.com.

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

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Entertainment Daypop

Eddie Redmayne to star in Peacock’s ‘The Day of the Jackal’ series

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Eddie Redmayne has been cast in Peacock and Sky’s  “The Day of the Jackal,” a modern reimagining of Frederick Forsyth’s novel, and the 1973 Edward Fox film it inspired.

Redmayne will play the Jackal, who is hired by the OAS, a French dissident organization, to kill then-president of France Charles de Gaulle. Production is to begin this year, with Redmayne also serving as executive producer of the thriller series. No release date or additional casting have been announced yet.

A press release from Peacock reads: “While staying true to the DNA of the original story, this contemporary drama will delve deeper into the chameleon like ‘anti-hero’ at the heart of the story in a high-octane, cinematic, globetrotting ‘cat and mouse’ thriller, set amidst the turbulent geo-political landscape of our time.”

Gareth Neame, CEO of production company Carnival Films, said in a statement: “We are excited to bring to life Ronan Bennett’s re-imagining of Forsyth’s revered thriller in the complex world in which we live today and are incredibly fortunate to have an actor of Eddie’s calibre as our Jackal Paired with Ronan’s screenplay and Brian Kirk’s direction, this is a first-class creative team … We are excited to bring to life Ronan Bennett’s re-imagining of Forsyth’s revered thriller in the complex world in which we live today and are incredibly fortunate to have an actor of Eddie’s calibre as our Jackal. Paired with Ronan’s screenplay and Brian Kirk’s direction, this is a first-class creative team.”

Editorial credit: DFree / Shutterstock.com

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Entertainment Daypop

Grey’s Anatomy is renewed for Season 20 at ABC

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ABC has renewed the hit medical drama Grey’s Anatomy for Season 20. The network also announced that executive producer Meg Marinis will take the reins as showrunner next season, replacing the departing Krista Vernoff.  The Season 20 renewal now extends Grey’s Anatomy’s record as the longest-running primetime medical drama in TV history (Grey’s premiered on ABC back in 2005).   The show currently ranks as ABC’s top entertainment series in the key adults 18-49 demographic.

Marinis has been an executive producer on Grey’s since Season 15, having started as a writer’s production assistant on the show back in Season 3, working her way up to staff writer and then to EP, writing a total of 35 episodes. She’ll take over for Vernoff, who announced her departure from Grey’s and Station 19 back in January. Vernoff said in a statement: “It has been the privilege of a lifetime to be entrusted to run Grey’s Anatomy for the past six years and Station 19 for the last four. The passion of the dedicated fandoms and the impact that these shows have on hearts and minds cannot be overstated. The amount of talent in these two extraordinary casts and these two brilliant writers’ rooms is beyond measure — and these crews work magic week after week.”

Grey’s star Ellen Pompeo is no longer a full-time cast member; however, she’s slated to return as Meredith Grey periodically, including for May’s season finale, set to air Thursday, May 18.  The current cast includes new faces introduced at the start of Season 19 to play the new class of first-year surgical residents; and other regulars including Chandra Wilson as Miranda Bailey, James Pickens Jr. as Richard Webber, Kevin McKidd as Owen Hunt, Kim Raver as Teddy Altman, Kelly McCreary as Maggie Pierce, Anthony Hill as Winston Ndugu, Caterina Scorsone as Amelia Shepherd, Camilla Luddington as Jo Wilson, Chris Carmack as Link Lincoln and Jake Borelli as Levi Schmitt.

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News Daypop

Grand jury in Trump probe concludes on Monday with no vote

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The Manhattan grand jury concluded its proceedings in former President Trump’s case on Monday afternoon with no vote. The grand jury had reconvened Monday in New York City after its proceedings related to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s investigation into Trump were canceled twice last week.

Bragg has been investigating the $130,000 hush-money payment that then-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford. That payment was made in the weeks leading up to the 2016 presidential election in exchange for her silence about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump in 2006. Cohen paid Daniels $130,000 through his own company and was later reimbursed by Trump’s company, which logged the payments as “legal expenses.” Trump has repeatedly denied wrongdoing with regard to the payments made to Daniels, and he has repeatedly said the payments were “not a campaign violation” but rather a “simple private transaction.”

The grand jury heard from one witness, David Pecker, who served as president of National Enquirer’s parent company, American Media Inc. and had previously testified before the grand jury as part of this case. The grand jury is set to reconvene Wednesday.

Editorial credit: Evan El-Amin / Shutterstock.com