Month: August 2023

Categories
Country Daypop

Jameson Rodgers shares dates for his ‘Whiskey Train Tour’

Rising country singer-songwriter Jameson Rodgers has shared details of his five-show tour dubbed the ‘Whiskey Train Tour’.  Rodgers’ tour kicks-off on August 31st in Starkville, MS, making stops in Springfield, IL, Indianapolis, IN, Warrendale, PA, and Rootstown, OH. Rising artists Lauren Watkins, Greylan James, and John Morgan will act as support. In addition to the newly announced headline dates, Rodgers will join Jordan Davis, Old Dominion, and Darius Rucker as support on select dates throughout the fall.

Rodgers also shared that his new song “Whiskey Train,” produced by David Garcia and co-written by Rodgers, Smith Ahnquist, Will Bundy, and Lynn Hutton, will drop on September 1. Said Rodgers of the track: “The idea for ‘Whiskey Train’ came at about 1 a.m. on a writing retreat. Lynn Hutton asked Smith Ahnquist if he wanted another beer, and Smith said, ‘Nah man I’m on that whiskey train. Will Bundy and I looked at each other and we all immediately started writing. I’m excited for the world to get on the whiskey train September 1.”

Information for the ‘Whiskey Train Tour’ can be found at Rodgers’ website: JamesonRodgers.com.
To pre-save the track “Whiskey Train,” head here.

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Categories
Country Daypop

Kelsea Ballerini announces extended ‘Rolling Up the Welcome Mat (For Good)’

Kelsea Ballerini’s acclaimed EP, “Rolling Up the Welcome Mat,” will be release in a deluxe extended version, set to drop on August 11th.

During an intimate fan Q&A at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles at a screening for her short film, Ballerini announced the release of the seven-song project ‘Rolling Up The Welcome Mat (For Good)’ which will feature titles such as “Just Married,” “Penthouse (Healed Version)” and “Blindsided (Yeah, Sure, Okay).” Many of the songs on the deluxe edition are adaptations of ones on the original Rolling Up the Welcome Mat, and it also includes a brand new track, “How Do I Do This.”

Ballerini wrote on Instagram: “It’s most important that i articulate that this re-release is for you and you only. The added outro’s that we ended up screamsinging nightly on tour, the lyric changes along a healing journey, hearing you very loudly explain that the INTERLUDE NEEDS TO BE A FULL SONG KELSEA COME ON. plus, a new song to bring the story more up to date .. From the deepest and purest part of my heart, i ask that you help this be ours and let the music simply be the music, not dig back into the experience that it was written about nearly a year ago. As a songwriter, producer, artist i’m proud and protective of this EP, and as a woman and human also proud and protective of the new, happy season of life I’m in.”

Ballerini released the six-track Rolling Up the Welcome Mat and the corresponding 20-minute short film, Under the Welcome Mat, on Valentine’s Day. The EP reached No. 11 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.

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Categories
Entertainment Daypop

‘The Notebook’ musical coming to Broadway in Spring 2024

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A musical adaptation of the hit 2004 film ‘The Notebook’ is headed to Broadway. The musical was originally announced in 2019, and premiered at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater in fall 2022.

Producers announced that the new the production, which features original music and lyrics by Ingrid Michaelson, will begin previews Feb. 6 at Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre in New York, and officially open on March 14, 2024. Michaelson is known for her solo hits “The Way I Am” and “Girls Chase Boys.” According to Playbill, Michael Greif and Scheme Williams will co-direct the stage version of the romantic love story

The Notebook was initially released as a fictional novel by best-selling author Nicholas Sparks in 1996. The popular film adaptation stars Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams as lead characters Noah and Allie, and recounts their long-lasting relationship over the years. Casting for the roles of Noah, Allie, and the supporting cast is expected to begin in the coming weeks.

Tickets for the musical’s initial performance dates will be available via an exclusive pre-sale for American Express cardholders beginning September 12 through September 19. A general on-sale will begin on September 26 via NotebookMusical.com.

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Categories
Entertainment Daypop

Lady Gaga returning to Park MGM for Jazz & Piano residency

Lady Gaga announced her return to Dolby Live at Park MGM with her papule “Lady Gaga: Jazz and Piano” show, beginning on August 31st. Gaga also announced the news on her Instagram with a trailer including footage from previous shows and teasing “stripped-down versions of her hits” and music from “the Great American song book.”

Lady Gaga will perform 12 total Jazz and Piano shows on the following dates:

August 31
September 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 28, 30
October 1, 4, 5

Tickets went on sale to the general public on Friday, Aug. 4 at 10 a.m. PT., with a limited number of on-stage seats available. Any remaining tickets can be purchased on the Ticketmaster website or on Lady Gaga’s website: vegas.ladygaga.com

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Categories
News Daypop

Two US Navy sailors arrested on charges of sharing sensitive information with China

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U.S. officials said Thursday that two U.S. Navy sailors have been arrested on charges accusing them of handing over sensitive national security material to China; — including details on wartime exercises, naval operations and critical technical material.

Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao, 26, was charged with conspiracy and bribe-taking in connection with taking nearly $15,000 in exchange for photographs and videos of sensitive U.S. military information between August 2021 through at least this May; while U.S. Navy sailor Jinchao Wei, 22, was charged with conspiring to send national defense information to China in exchange for thousands of dollars. The two sailors, both based in California, were charged with similar moves to provide sensitive intelligence to China, but it was unclear if the two were courted or paid by the same Chinese intelligence officer as part of a larger scheme.

Zhao, who was based at Naval Base Ventura County, is accused of sending his Chinese handler plans for U.S. military exercises in the Indo-Pacific region, electrical diagrams and blueprints for a radar system on a U.S. military base in Okinawa, Japan and security details for U.S. naval facilities in Ventura County and San Clemente Island outside Los Angeles. Wei, born in China and assigned to the San Diego-based USS Essex, was arrested Wednesday on a charge related to espionage involving conspiracy to send national defense information to Chinese officials. Federal officials allege Wei was paid thousands of dollars for sharing the information.

U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman of the Southern District of California said that “through the alleged crimes committed by these defendants, sensitive military information ended up in the hands of the People’s Republic of China,” adding that the charges demonstrate the Chinese government’s “determination to obtain information that is critical to our national defense by any means, so it could be used to their advantage.” Assistant Attorney General Matt Olsen added that because of the men’s actions, “sensitive military info ended up in the hands of the People’s Republic of China.” Federal officials declined to specify whether the sailors were aware of each other’s actions.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately return a message seeking comment on the allegations.

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Categories
News Daypop

Donald Trump pleads not guilty to federal charges in special counsel probe

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Former President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to four charges alleging his attempts to overturn the result of the 2020 presidential election led to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

The new 45-page federal indictment accuses Trump of four felony counts: conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights. The charging document describes, but does not name, six unindicted co-conspirators.

At the arraignment at E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse on Thursday, Judge Moxila Upadhyaya read Trump his charges; in response, the former President Trump spoke loudly without the need for a microphone to enter his own not-guilty plea.  Upadhyaya warned Trump, as is standard practice, that violation of the conditions of his release means an arrest warrant can be issued for him to be detained. Trump was released on the promise to return to court, without bail being set, but has been ordered not to communicate with any witnesses in the case except through or in the presence of his lawyers. The first hearing date in the case has been set for 10 a.m. on Aug. 28.

This is Trump’s third arraignment on criminal charges. In June, Trump was arraigned in a federal court in Florida on charges he kept classified documents after leaving office, and state charges were filed in New York on business fraud relating to hush money payments made to an adult film star. He has pleaded not guilty in all of those cases.

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Categories
Country Daypop

Randy Travis tribute concert to take place in October

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A tribute concert in honor of Randy Travis, dubbed “A Heroes & Friends Tribute to Randy Travis – One Night, One Place, One Time” will take place at Von Braun Center’s Propst Arena in Huntsville, Alabama at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 24.

The night will feature Travis’ friends and colleagues performing many of his No. 1 hits live, with a portion of the proceeds donated to the Randy Travis Foundation, which focuses on stroke and aphasia awareness and supporting music education in schools. The official lineup for the event will be announced soon.

Says David Lower, Outback Presents Booking Manager: “It is such a pleasure to have even a small part in an event that celebrates the accomplished life and career of Randy Travis. The fans in Huntsville have such a love of country music and have been so supportive of the artists we have brought to town, this is sure to be another sold-out concert!”

Tickets will go on sale this Friday, Aug. 4 at 10 a.m. CT at the Von Braun Center Box Office and on ticketmaster.com and randytravis.com.

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Categories
Country Daypop

Zach Bryan makes chart history with ‘Something In The Orange’

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Zach Bryan’s “Something In The Orange” has officially become the longest charting country single for a male artist on Billboard’s Hot 100, with an incredible 65 consecutive weeks. Currently landing at #18, the track has surpassed Carrie Underwood’s “Before he Cheats” to become the second longest-charting country song of all time, following Leann Rimes “How Do I Live,” at 69 straight weeks.

“Something In The Orange” was certified 4x platinum by the RIAA in June and continues its upward trajectory. Bryan’s hit single was within the top 10 Most Streamed Song in the US in 2022, and is off his chart-topping, platinum-certified Warner Records debut album AMERICAN HEARTBREAK that remained in the top 10 in the US for more than a year after its initial release.

Bryan is set to release his new album soon, and will return to the road next week on his ‘Burn Burn Burn’ North American Tour. You can take a listen to ‘Something In The Orange’ – here.

Zach Bryan’s “Something In The Orange” Is The Longest Charting Country Single For A Male Artist On Billboard Hot 100 Chart

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Categories
Entertainment Daypop

Taylor Swift adds new North American dates to her Eras Tour

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Taylor Swift has announced a new run of North American dates on her ‘Eras Tour’ for late 2024. The 33-year-old singer-songwriter announced 15 more shows, sharing on social media: “Turns out it’s NOT the end of an era 😝 Miami, New Orleans, Indy and Toronto: The Eras Tour is coming to you in 2024 with @gracieabrams! Verified fan registration for all shows is open now – visit http://TaylorSwift.com for more information”

Swift’s return to North America in 2024 will kick off with three shows each in Miami, New Orleans and Indianapolis, with six performances set for Toronto in October and November of next year. Gracie Abrams will serve as support all dates.

Swift will wrap the first leg of her North American run with six shows in SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles that kicked off on August 3rd running through August 9th.  She then heads to Mexico for three dates in August followed by South American stops in Argentina, Rio de Janeiro and Brazil in November. Swift will spend most of 2024 on the European leg of the Eras Tour, beginning May 2024 with stops in Sweden, Portugal, France, Spain, The UK, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Poland, and Austria.

Verified Fan registration is open now on Ticketmaster through 5 p.m. ET Saturday, August 5th at 5 pm ET/2 pm PT. Fans will receive confirmation if they will have access to the Verified Fan on sale or if they’ve been placed on a waiting list on Tuesday, August 8th. The Verified Fans on sale runs Wednesday, August 9th through Friday, August 11th with assigned specific on sale windows.

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Categories
Entertainment Daypop

Lizzo responds to allegations made against her by former backup dancers

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Lizzo is speaking out after news broker earlier this week that a lawsuit was filed against her by three of her former backup dancers. Lizzo — whose real name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson — addressed the claims made by Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez in the lawsuit, which accused her of sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment.

The 35-year-old singer posted a lengthy statement to her social media accounts, saying: “these last few days have been gut wrenchingly difficult and overwhelmingly disappointing. My work ethic, morals and respectfulness have been questioned. My character has been criticized. Usually I choose not to respond to false allegations but these are as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous to not be addressed. These sensationalized stories are coming from former employees who have already publicly admitted that they were told their behaviour on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional.” Lizzo added: “I take my music and my performances seriously because at the end of the day I only want to put out the best art than represents me and my fans. With passion comes hard work and high standards. Sometimes I have to make hard decisions but it’s never my intention to make anyone feel uncomfortable or like they aren’t valued as an important part of the team.”

Sayiing that she doesn’t want to be “looked at as a victim”, Lizzo wrote: “But I also know that I am not the villain that people and the media have portrayed me to be these last few days. I am very open with my sexuality and expressing myself but I cannot accept or allow people to use that openness to make me out to be something I am not. There is nothing I take more seriously than the respect we deserve as women in the world. I know what it feels like to be body shamed on a daily basis and would absolutely never criticize or terminate an employee because of their weight … I’m hurt but I will not let the good work I’ve done in the world be overshadowed by this. I want to thank everyone who has reached out in support to lift me up during this difficult time.”

The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on August 1, names Lizzo, as well as her production company, Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc. (BGBT), and Shirlene Quigley, the captain of her dance team as defendants. The dancers are suing Lizzo for sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment, as well as seeking damages for emotional distress including unpaid wages, loss of earnings, and attorney fees.

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