Month: December 2021

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Pop Daypop

Coldplay’s Chris Martin says the band will stop making new music by 2025

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Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin has confirmed that the band is set to stop making music in 2025.

Martin made the announcement during a pre-recorded BBC radio show.  A clip in which Martin confirmed the band’s retirement was trailed on the BBC during a separate Radio 2 breakfast show earlier in the day. “Will there come a time when Coldplay stop?” Martin is asked; and he replies:  “Well, I know – I can tell you. We’re going to do – I think we have 3 more – our last proper record will come out at the end of 2025. And I think after that we’ll only tour – and maybe we’ll do some sort of collaborative things or… – but the Coldplay catalogue as it were finishes then.”

Coldplay – comprised of Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman and Will Champion — was formed in London, U.K. in 1996 and have released nine albums since their debut, 2000’s “Parachutes.”  The band have won 7 Grammy Awards and sold over 100 million albums worldwide. The group’s latest record, “Music of the Spheres,” was released in October.

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Pop Daypop

Britney Spears shares on social media that she’s working on new music

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Britney Spears took to Instagram to share that she is working on new music, posting a video of herself singing in her bathroom.

Spears wrote in the caption: “I just realized this today guys… after what my family tried to do to me three years ago… I needed to be my own cheerleader !!!! God knows they weren’t …so I just read up on my self and this is what I found: Multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning pop icon Britney Spears is one of the most successful and celebrated entertainers in pop history with nearly 100 million records sold worldwide. In the U.S. alone, she has sold more than 70 million albums, singles and songs, according to Nielsen Music.”   She then added: “Pssss new song in the works … I’m gonna let you know what I mean !!!!!”

Spears has been celebrating her 13-year conservatorship coming to an end in November.

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News Daypop

The FDA authorizes Pfizer’s antiviral pill to treat COVID-19

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The Food and Drug Administration announced Wednesday it has authorized Pfizer’s antiviral pills to treat COVID-19 for emergency use, allowing limited use of the drug in Americans as young as 12 who are at “high risk for progression to severe COVID-19.”

Early data suggests Pfizer’s pills, called Paxlovid, are effective against Omicron cases. The FDA said in a statement: “This authorization provides a new tool to combat COVID-19 at a crucial time in the pandemic as new variants emerge and promises to make antiviral treatment more accessible to patients who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19.”

The new treatment option comes as doctors are facing a nationwide shortage of monoclonal antibodies to treat high-risk cases of the disease, with most formulas ineffective against the fast-spreading Omicron variant. Paxlovid treatment needs to begin within a few days of first developing symptoms. A course of treatment is made up of three tablets that are taken twice a day, in the morning and evening, over the course of five days, for a total of 30 pills. Two of the tablets are nirmatrelvir, an antiviral Pfizer designed to target SARS-CoV-2, and one is ritonavir, a drug that has also been used to treat HIV.

Like with some other COVID-19 treatments that have been authorized by the FDA, the regulator will limit Pfizer’s drug to only people at “higher risk of being hospitalized for COVID-19.” That includes seniors and people with underlying conditions like heart disease or diabetes.  The FDA said Wednesday that “Paxlovid is available by prescription only and should be initiated as soon as possible after diagnosis of COVID-19 and within five days of symptom onset.”

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News Daypop

Pres. Biden extends pause on student loan repayments through May 1, 2022

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The White House announced Wednesday that President Biden extended a pause on student loan repayments an additional 90 days through May 1, 2022. Those with student loans had been scheduled to begin repayments on February 1.

Mr. Biden said in his statement announcing the extension that although unemployment is relatively low, many are still struggling with the economic fallout from the pandemic: “Now, while our jobs recovery is one of the strongest ever — with nearly 6 million jobs added this year, the fewest Americans filing for unemployment in more than 50 years, and overall unemployment at 4.2 percent — we know that millions of student loan borrowers are still coping with the impacts of the pandemic and need some more time before resuming payments.”

The pause began under former President Donald Trump, and continued under Mr. Biden. Some progressives have been urging the president to cancel student loans entirely, not just pause them. Student loan interest is set to kick back in when payments resume, but some Senate Democrats are asking President Biden to waive it. It is not yet clear whether this will be the final extension on student loan repayments.

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Sports Daypop

Former NBA All-Star Joe Johnson signs 10-day contract with Boston Celtics

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Former All-Star Joe Johnson made his return to the NBA on Wednesday after signing a 10-day contract with the Celtics. Johnson, 40, most recently played in the BIG3 League in 2019 as well as The Basketball Tournament in 2020. His most recent NBA stint came in 2018 when Johnson was a member of the Rockets.

In 17 NBA seasons, Johnson was a seven-time All-Star, averaging 20-plus points per game in five straight seasons from 2005-10. Johnson previously played for seven franchises in his career, including the Hawks, Nets, Suns and Celtics.

Boston is one of many NBA teams currently dealing with a number of COVID-19 absences. Boston forwards Al Horford and Grant Williams are currently listed in the health and safety protocols, as is guard Josh Richardson.

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Sports Daypop

Texas A&M withdraw from Gator Bowl due to COVID-19 outbreak

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Texas A&M have withdrawn from the Gator Bowl because of a COVID-19 outbreak within the program that has reportedly left them with only 38 healthy players. The game is scheduled for Dec. 31, and the Aggies were supposed to take on No. 17 Wake Forest.

TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Chairman John Duce in a statement:  “We are disappointed that Texas A&M University and the Aggie fans will be unable to represent the Southeastern Conference in Jacksonville at this year’s TaxSlayer Gator Bowl game. However, the health and safety of the student-athletes, coaches and staff remains our primary concern.” Bowl officials are looking for a replacement opponent, but that would likely require taking a team committed to play in another bowl or waiting until another bowl encounters a similar issue and another team is left searching for an opponent.

An uptick in COVID-19 cases across the country due to a combination of the Delta and Omicron variants has disrupted the sports world. Dozens of college basketball games have been canceled in recent weeks amid the spread, as well as NBA and NHL games.

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Categories
Country Daypop

Dolly Parton earns 3 new Guinness World Records

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The Guinness World Records association announced that country music legend Dolly Parton has broken three world records, and was presented with three new certificates in Nashville, Tennessee. Parton now holds the records for the most decades (seven) and most No. 1 hits (25) on the Billboard US Hot Country Songs chart, both for a female artist. The 75-year-old  singer broke her own record for the most hits on the US Hot Country Songs chart by a female artist, with 109 hits.

Said Parton: “This is the kind of stuff that really makes you very humble and very grateful for everything that’s happened. I had no idea that I would be in Guinness World Records this many times! I am flattered and honored. I’ve had a lot of people help me get here. Thanks to all of you and all of them for helping me have all of this. I’ve loved being able to make a living in the business that I love so much. I’ve been so fortunate to see my dreams come true, and I just hope to continue for as long as I can. You’re going to have to knock me down to stop me!” In 2018, Parton earned the Guinness World Record for the most decades with a Top 20 hit on the US Hot Country Songs chart, with six.

Parton also made history earlier this year when she earned her 50th Grammy nomination. Parton is the second-most nominated woman for the Grammys, behind only Beyoncé. Parton was also awarded the Grammy ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ 10 years ago, and earned two Academy Award nominations in 1981 and 2006 for Best Original Song.

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Country Daypop

Miranda Lambert surprises local pet shelters with holiday shopping spree

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Miranda Lambert recently visited Tractor Supply in Franklin, Tennessee to go on a shopping spree for shelter pets, where Lambert purchased thousands of dollars of food, toys and supplies for local shelters (Tractor Supply is the exclusive retailer for Lambert‘s MuttNation pet line and pet foods).  You check out the video HERE.

Lambert then made surprise stops at Williamson County Animal Center, Metro Nashville Animal Care & Control and Nashville Humane Association to deliver the goods. Said Lambert: “This time of year, it’s so important to remember shelter animals everywhere. These three shelters have been important local partners to MuttNation over the past several years, and we all know how tough it’s been for them. I just wanted show my appreciation.”  Tractor Supply Company then surprised Miranda and MuttNation by giving $1,000 gift cards to 10 shelters and rescues that help senior pets and/or pets with special needs.

Lambert founded the MuttNation Foundation with her mom, Bev Lambert, in 2009. MuttNation is a donation-supported 501c(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to promote the adoption of shelter pets, advance spay & neuter and educate the public about the benefits of these actions. MuttNation also works with transport partners to assist and relocate animals during times of natural disaster.  You can learn more about the organization – HERE.

Miranda Lambert Goes on Tractor Supply Shopping Spree for Shelter Pets

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Entertainment Daypop

Apple TV+ shares animated claymation short featuring the Ted Lasso cast in ‘The Missing Christmas Mustache’

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Apple TV+ has released an animated short film featuring the voice talents of the Ted Lasso cast in “The Missing Christmas Mustache.”

In the four-minute piece, the AFC Richmond team, along with Rebecca and Keeley, help Ted search for a lost item that ultimately leads him to realize the meaning of the holiday season. The short features the voices of Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Brendan Hunt, Jeremy Swift, Juno Temple, Brett Goldstein, Phil Dunster, and Nick Mohammed.

The special comes on the heels of Ted Lasso winning multiple Emmy Awards and being named an AFI Television Program of the Year. Two seasons of Ted Lasso are available on Apple TV+, and the third season is set to be in production in February.

Take a look at the animated short The Missing Christmas Mustache – here.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Entertainment Daypop

Actress Alicia Witt’s parents found dead at their home after welfare check

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Actress Alicia Witt announced that her parents were found dead in their home, after a relative performed a welfare check on them after Witt hadn’t heard from them ‘for several days.’

Witt, 46, said in a statement: “I reached out to a cousin who lives close to my parents to check on them. Sadly, the outcome was unimaginable. I ask for some privacy at this time to grieve and to wrap my head around this turn of events, and this surreal loss.”  Witt asked the family member to check on her mother, Diane Witt, and her father, Robert Witt, at their Worcester, Massachusetts, home on Monday, December 2oth.  Alicia’s relative called the police to ask for assistance in checking on the Witts. Once officers entered the house, they found the couple deceased but discovered no obvious causes of death. The police listed Robert’s age as 87 and Diane’s as 75.  The fire department also visited the residence to check on the home’s air quality, but firefighters found no evidence of carbon monoxide or other dangerous gases. The Massachusetts medical examiner will perform autopsies to determine the Witts’ cause of death.

Witt made her acting debut at age 7 in 1984’s “Dune”and has also appeared in “Orange Is the New Black,” “Twin Peaks” and “The Walking Dead.”

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com