Month: June 2021

Categories
Country Daypop

Martina McBride to be honored in new Country Music Hall of Fame Exhibit

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The Country Music Hall of Fame will celebrate Martina McBride with an exhibition titled Martina McBride: The Power of Her Voice, opening July 30, 2021, and running through Aug. 7, 2022. According to a press release, “the exhibit encompasses the singer’s journey from performing in her family’s band as a child to becoming an award-winning country music artist with an enduring career delivering substantive and socially aware hit songs.”

McBride said about the forthcoming exhibition: “Having an exhibit in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is something I’ve had on my dream list for a long, long time. Being able to share moments and mementos from my life and career with my fans and country music fans from all over the world is both humbling and exciting. I’m so grateful to be a part of country music.”

McBride has won four CMA Female Vocalist of the Year awards (three consecutively between 2002-2004) and three ACM Top Female Vocalist honors (2001–2003) over her 30 year-long career.  In November 1995, she also became a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

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Categories
Country Daypop

Carly Pearce invited by Dolly Parton to join Grand Ole Opry

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31-year-old Carly Pearce received a surprise invitation from country music star and Grand Ole Opry member Dolly Parton to become a member of the Nashville institution.  The Grand Ole Opry tweeted: “You’re looking at the next member of the Grand Ole Opry!  Official induction date set for August 3!”

As seen in a video, Pearce thought she was giving an interview about Dollywood when Parton surprised her on stage. Pearce captioned the post, “Dreams come true… sometimes even better than you dare to dream. I couldn’t be happier or more honored the be the newest member of the @opry.” 

Pearce also wrote on Twitter, “I’ve worked & waited my whole life for that moment right there. What a dream last night was @opry”

Pearce is known for her hit single “Every Little Thing,” “I Hope You’re Happy Now” with Lee Brice, and “Next Girl.” She released her latest EP, titled ’29’, back in February.

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Categories
Entertainment Daypop

Harrison Ford suffers injury while filming ‘Indiana Jones 5’

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Harrison Ford injured himself while filming “Indiana Jones 5”.   According to a Disney spokesperson: “In the course of rehearsing for a fight scene, Harrison Ford sustained an injury involving his shoulder. Production will continue while the appropriate course of treatment is evaluated, and the filming schedule will be reconfigured as needed in the coming weeks.”

Ford had been on set working on the film at Pinewood Studios and other U.K. locations. The actor returns to star as the lead character alongside Mads Mikkelsen, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Boyd Holbrook, Shaunette Renée Wilson, and Thomas Kretschmann.

No plot details have been released for “Indiana Jones 5”, though it is rumored to be set in the early 1970s.  Indiana Jones 5 is tentatively scheduled to be released July 2022.

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Categories
Entertainment Daypop

‘Transformers 7’ title is announced as ‘Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts’

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The next movie in the “Transformers” franchise has its official title.  At a virtual event, director Steven Caple Jr. revealed that the next film in the blockbuster franchise will be called “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts”.  The director revealed that “Rise of the Beast” will centre on Optimus Prime, and will follow up the ’80s-set “Bumblebee” by being set in the year 1994. In the film, audiences will see Optimus Prime forming his lasting bond with the people of Earth. Bumblebee will also be returning for the new film, taking the form of a classic yellow Camaro, but decked out with off-road features.

The film will will be shot around the world, including Montreal, and will be set primarily in Brooklyn, New York, as well as Machu Picchu, Peru. Joining the robot aliens are human characters — Noah, played by Anthony Ramos, and Elina, played by Dominique Fishback.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is set to debut in theatres June 24, 2022.

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Categories
Rock Daypop

The Go-Go’s announce 2021-2022 West Coast tour dates

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In celebration of their recent induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, as well as the release of their documentary film The Go-Go’s last year, The Go-Go’s have announced five North American tour dates on the West Coast for winter 2021-2022.

The Go-Go’s said in a statement:  “We really missed seeing and playing for our fans and we are happy we can experience and enjoy live music with each other once again.  We are looking forward to celebrating and bringing in a brighter new year with everyone.”

The tour includes performances in San Francisco (December 28th), Los Angeles (December 29th), Las Vegas (December 31st and January 1st), and San Diego (January 3rd). Tickets go on sale today, June 25th at 10:00 a.m. PT/1:00 p.m. ET at Ticketmaster.

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Categories
Rock Daypop

Blink-182’s Mark Hoppus reveals cancer diagnosis

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Blink-182’s bassist/vocalist Mark Hoppus has shared that he is battling cancer and that he is in the middle of undergoing chemotherapy treatment for the illness. Hoppus did not reveal the type of cancer he is battling, or what stage he is in.

The 49-year-old Hoppus posted on Twitter: “For the past three months I’ve been undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. It sucks and I’m scared, and at the same time I’m blessed with incredible doctors and family and friends to get me through this.  I still have months of treatment ahead of me but I’m trying to remain hopeful and positive. Can’t wait to be cancer free and see you all at a concert in the near future. Love to you all”. 

Hoppus is a founding member of Blink-182, along with drummer Scott Raynor and guitarist/vocalist Tom DeLonge. Following Hoppus’ reveal, DeLonge took to Twitter to say he was aware of Hoppus’ cancer diagnosis and offered his support.  Drummer Travis Barker took to his Instagram Stories to voice support for his bandmate, writing, “Love you @markhoppus” and also said in a statement: “Mark is my brother and I love and support him. I will be with him every step of the way on stage and off and can’t wait for us to play together again soon.” 

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Categories
Pop Daypop

Willow Smith confirms new album “Lately I Feel Everything” due out July 16th

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Willow Smith has confirmed the release date for her forthcoming new album ‘Lately I Feel Everything’ will be July 16th. Lately I Feel Everything is the follow-up to 2020’s ‘The Anxiety’ – which was a collaborative record with Tyler Cole under the moniker The Anxiety.  Willow previously dropped her collaboration with Travis Barker ‘t r a n s p a r e n t s o u l’, which came out back in April.

A press release says that Willow will “channel the alt rock, pop-punk and emo heroes she adored as a teenager, like Avril Lavigne, My Chemical Romance and Paramore,” on her new album. Willow said in a statement: “I thought this was a really dope outlet for a new energy I wanted to bring to my music.” and she revealed in an interview earlier this month that her new album features a collaboration with Avril Lavigne, telling V Magazine: “I’m so excited that I’m going to be having a song on the album with Avril Lavigne. She is so iconic. From [ages] 13 to 16, she was my idol. It’s really nice to be able to have a quintessential pop-punk record with the pop-punk queen.”

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Categories
Pop Daypop

Olivia Rodrigo to air ‘SOUR Prom’ concert film on YouTube

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Olivia Rodrigo announced that she will host her own alternative prom — titled the Sour Prom Concert Film – to stream Tuesday, June 29, at 8:30 p.m. PT on her official YouTube channel.   Rodrigo wrote on Twitter: “Since I never got to go to prom, I wanted to throw a little prom party with my fav ppl (you guys obvs).”

During the event, the singer will be performing tunes from her hit debut album as fans enjoy what the press release calls “the ultimate alternative prom experience.” There will also be a pre-prom event hosted by Rodrigo on her YouTube page, which begins 30 minutes before the livestream, at 8 p.m. PT.  Rodrigo will be answering questions from fans and sharing behind the scenes stories about the making of Sour Prom.

The 18-year-old singer surprised some fans with an in-person invitation to the event ahead of the announcement. The ‘promposals’ come just days after Rodrigo graduated from high school herself, which she celebrated on social media.

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Categories
News Daypop

Michigan GOP Senate rejects Trump’s claim of election fraud

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A months-long probe of the presidential election led by Michigan Republican lawmakers found that claims by former president Donald Trump about widespread voter fraud were false.

According to a report released Wednesday, human error and lack of training were the only factors that contributed to inaccurate and unofficial vote counts, especially in Antrim County, where Trump and his supporters claimed votes were miscalculated in favor of Joe Biden. The report stated: “These errors were quickly discovered and rectified by the protective and redundant systems our state has built to verify and protect election integrity, including re-countable, paper ballots.  Even more significantly, the official vote count was never in doubt and was validated several times, including during a complete, hand recount.”

The four-person committee recommended that legislation strengthen the law regarding the conducting of “logic and accuracy” tests prior to the election, including prohibiting Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson from mailing unsolicited absentee ballot applications. It also recommends Attorney General Dana Nessel consider investigating those who pushed false claims “to raise money or publicity for their own ends.”

Biden won Michigan by 154,000 votes. Court decisions, canvassers and reviews by officials reinforced the outcome of the vote.

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Categories
News Daypop

President Joe Biden announces ‘major crackdown’ on illegal gun sales

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President Joe Biden said that his administration will implement a “major crackdown” on illegal gun sales, unveiling a plan to slow the increase of gun violence in the United States. Biden announced on Wednesday that the plan included gun control measures, support for law enforcement and helping formerly jailed individuals re-enter society amid an increase in homicides in the country and an expected rise in violence in the summer months. “We are announcing a major crackdown to stem the flow of guns used to commit violent crimes,” the President said. “It is zero tolerance for those who willfully violate key existing laws and regulations.”

The President’s plan aims to hold “rogue” firearms dealers responsible for violating federal gun laws, give law enforcement resources to address traditional summer increases in crime, invest in community violence interventions, support unemployment and youth programs, and assist initiatives that help formerly incarcerated people successfully re-enter the community. Biden said: “If you willfully sell a gun to someone who is prohibited from possessing it, if you willfully fail to run a background check, if you willfully falsify a record, if you willfully fail to cooperate with the tracing requests or inspections, my message to you is this. ‘We will find you and we’ll seek your license to sell guns.’”

Gun violence has also risen significantly in the United States in 2021, with several mass shootings in Atlanta and Boulder, Colo., in March and San Jose, Calif., last month.

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