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Pop Daypop

Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, Lil Nas X, BTS and more set to perform at 2022 GRAMMY Awards

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The Recording Academy has announced the first round of performers for this year’s show, including BTS, Brandi Carlile, Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X with Jack Harlow, Olivia Rodrigo and more.

The 64th Annual Grammy Awards will be broadcast live on CBS on Sunday, April 3, 2022 from the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, hosted by Trevor Noah.  The ceremony will also be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.

Nominees for the 64th Grammy Awards were announced back in November, and include artists such as J. Cole, Drake, Lil Nas X, Justin Bieber, Billie Eilish, H.E.R., Olivia Rodrigo, and more received multiple nods. Jon Batiste leads all nominees with 11 nominations.

For a full list of nominees and other information, visit the Recording Academy’s official website.

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News Daypop

Fox News correspondent Benjamin Hall injured and hospitalized while reporting in Ukraine

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Fox News correspondent Benjamin Hall was injured while reporting near Ukraine’s capital, the network said Monday. Hall has been hospitalized, however it is not yet clear how he was injured or how severe his injuries are, according to the network.  Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott said in a memo to employees: “Earlier today, our correspondent Benjamin Hall was injured while news gathering outside of Kyiv in Ukraine. We have a minimal level of details right now, but Ben is hospitalized and our teams on the ground are working to gather additional information as the situation quickly unfolds.”

Hall’s injury comes just one day after another American journalist, Brent Renaud, was shot and killed in Ukraine. Renaud was killed and another journalist was wounded by Russian forces in the town of Irpin outside the capital of Kyiv as they were traveling to film refugees, according to the head of Kyiv’s regional police force.

The State Department Correspondents’ Association President Shaun Tandon said in a statement:  “We know Ben for his warmth, good humor and utmost professionalism. We wish Ben a quick recovery and call for utmost efforts to protect journalists who are providing an invaluable service through their coverage in Ukraine.”

Hall recently said on-air that reporting from Ukraine “is a lot like other stories that we’ve gone through in the digital age in which an image is taken and then played over and over and over again to create some kind of emotional response out of you, because that makes a profit for news companies. This is not the media trying to drum up some emotional response. This is absolutely what’s happening.  It is an absolute catastrophe. And the people caught in the middle are the ones who are really suffering.”

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News Daypop

Los Angeles school district keeps students masked, despite state and county lifting the mask mandate

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The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) – the second-largest public school district in the nation — said that it will be keeping a mask mandate in place, despite the end of California’s statewide mask mandate for indoor public places.

Monday, March 14th marked the first day students in California were able to attend school without having to wear a mask. However for over 600,000 students of LAUSD, the indoor mask mandate remains in place as a result of negotiations between the school district and its teachers’ union. LAUSD said it is still working with partners, including United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), to come up with a plan to shift from mask requirements to “strongly recommending” wearing masks indoors. Per a September 2021 agreement, any changes to the district’s health and safety protocols must be negotiated between both the district and the union.

LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said in a statement:  “I am 100 percent committed to upholding our science-based approach to COVID-19 protocols. I strongly support amending Los Angeles Unified’s previously negotiated agreements to align with current health guidance released by the State of California and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.  Los Angeles Unified continues to take a science-based approach to COVID-19 policy and is currently working with labor partners and other stakeholders to transition from required indoor masking to a strong recommendation for indoor masking.”

The teachers union said that LAUSD officials will meet with UTLA leaders again on March 16 to discuss the matter.

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Sports Daypop

LA Chargers sign former Patriots cornerback J.C. Jackson to five-year, $82.5M deal

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The Los Angeles Chargers and cornerback J.C. Jackson have agreed to a five-year, $82.5 million contract with $40 million guaranteed.  Jackson is coming off arguably the best season of his career in 2021, leading the Patriots defense from the cornerback position.

The 26-year-old Jackson has been one of the most productive corners in the NFL since entering the league in 2018, and he far exceeded his status as an un-drafted free-agent signing by the New England Patriots. He was named a Pro Bowler for the first time in his career after setting career highs with 58 tackles and a league-high 23 passes defended, along with eight interceptions.

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Sports Daypop

Oakland Athletics trade first baseman Matt Olson to Atlanta Braves

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The Atlanta Braves announced on Monday that they have acquired All-Star first baseman Matt Olson in a trade with the Oakland Athletics. The Braves sent outfielder Christian Pache, catcher Shea Langeliers and pitchers Ryan Cusick and Joey Estes to the Athletics in the swap.  The Braves’ trade for Olson likely means All-Star Freddie Freeman, the Braves’ starting first baseman for the past 12 seasons, will join another team in free agency.

The 27-year-old Olson hit .271 with a career-high 39 home runs and 111 RBIs in 156 games last season for the Athletics. He owns a career .252 average with 142 home runs in six seasons.

Pache, 23, hit .111 with a home run and four RBIs in 22 games last season for the Braves. Langeleirs, 24, hit .256 with 22 homers and 53 RBIs in 97 minor league games in 2021. Cusick, 22, was the No. 24 overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft. He went 0-1 with a 2.76 ERA in six appearances last season for the Augusta GreenJackets, a Low-A affiliate of the Braves. Estes, 20, went 3-6 with a 2.91 ERA in 20 appearances last season for the GreenJackets.

The Braves start their spring training schedule against the Minnesota Twins at 1:05 p.m. EDT Friday in North Port, Fla. The Athletics face the Los Angeles Angeles in their first spring training game at 4:05 p.m. Friday in Mesa, Ariz.

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Country Daypop

Hank Williams Jr. reveals 2022 North American tour dates

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Hank Williams Jr. is returning to the road, and has just announced  2022 tour dates, saying “With over 70 million albums sold and 20 RIAA Gold-certified albums, it’s about that time, and you better believe I’m ready brothers and sisters. We’re bringing some blues, some rock and some country back to country.”

The tour’s kick-off is on April 1st in Southaven, MS. Williams wrote on Instagram: “Hank Jr. is back on tour y’all! Tickets on sale NOW in select cities, with additional pre-sales starting tomorrow! Check out details at hankjr.com/tour”

For more details, head to HankJr.com.

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Country Daypop

Dolly Parton declines 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Nomination

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Dolly Parton has removed herself from consideration as a 2022 nominee for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The nomination was Parton’s first for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, who was nominated alongside artists including Beck, Devo, Kate Bush, Eminem, Rage Against the Machine, Judas Priest, Carly Simon and others.  Country artists who have previously been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame include Chet Atkins, Johnny Cash, Jimmie Rodgers and more.

Parton posted on social media Monday, March 14th, saying in a statement: “Even though I’m extremely flattered and grateful to be nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I don’t feel that I have earned that right. I really do not want votes split because of me, so I must respectfully bow out. I do hope the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will understand and will be willing to consider me again–if I’m ever worthy. This has, however, inspired me to put out a hopefully great rock n’ roll album at some point in the future, which I have always wanted to do!”

Parton also noted that her husband Carl Dean is a rock n’ roll fan, saying, “He always encouraged me to do one,” and she ended her post, saying:  “I wish all of the nominees good luck and thank you again for the compliment. Rock on!”

Parton has bowed out of other honors and awards; just last year, she requested that Tennessee lawmakers not consider a bill that would allow a statue of the legendary singer-songwriter to be built on the grounds of the state Capitol. Parton also revealed that she was twice offered the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and had to turn down the offer both times — first because her husband was sick, and the second time she was not able to travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dolly Parton Declines Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Nomination: ‘I Don’t Feel That I Have Earned the Right’

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Entertainment Daypop

HBO Max greenlights The Batman spin-off series “The Penguin” starring Colin Farrell

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HBO Max has committed to a limited-series order for ‘The Penguin,’ a spin-off of Matt Reeves’ The Batman. Colin Farrell will reprise his role as The Penguin — otherwise known as underworld kingpin Oswald Cobblepot.  The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson as the Caped Crusader, was released in theaters on March 4 and has grossed $134 million at the domestic box office and another $124 million internationally.

Farrell said in a statement: “The world that Matt Reeves created for The Batman is one that warrants a deeper gaze through the eyes of Oswald Cobblepot. I couldn’t be more excited about continuing this exploration of Oz as he rises through the darkened ranks to become the Penguin. Will be good to get him back on the streets of Gotham for a little madness and a little mayhem.”

Added Reeves, “Colin exploded off the screen as the Penguin in The Batman, and having the chance to thoroughly explore the inner life of that character on HBO Max is an absolute thrill.”

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Entertainment Daypop

Apple TV+ shares first look at Dua Lipa and Henry Cavill in new spy thriller “Argylle”

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Apple TV+ has revealed the first look at Dua Lipa and Henry Cavill in its latest spy thriller movie, Argylle, directed by Matthew Vaughn and penned by Jason Fuchs. Dua Lipa is also set to provide original music for the film.

Argylle is set to be the first installment of a three-part film trilogy. The film is based on Ellie Conway’s upcoming novel of the same name, and follows a skilled spy who has recently suffered from amnesia, made to believe that he is a successful author who specializes in writing spy novels. After his memories return, we see adventures of the super spy as he goes down a path of revenge against the organization he used to work for.

Starring alongside Cavill and Dua Lipa is a star-studded cast that includes Sam Rockwell, Bryce Dallas Howard, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O’Hara, John Cena, and Samuel L. Jackson.

Dua Lipa and Henry Cavill slow dance in ‘Argylle’ first look

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Categories
Rock Daypop

ZZ Top announce new album ‘Raw’ and plans to launch U.S. tour

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Legendary Texas rockers have announced U.S. tour dates for their Raw Whisky Tour, and said they will drop a new album, Raw, on July 22.  The album takes its name from the “unfettered and straightforward manner in which the tracks were recorded,” as per a press release. Guitarist Billy Gibbons and drummer Frank Beard detailed recording Raw, which according to the liner notes of the album is dedicated “In righteous memory of Dusty Hill “(who died in July 2021).

Billy, Frank and bassist Elwood Francis — the band’s longtime guitar tech who took over for Hill as per his orders — are set to hit the road for the first leg of their Raw Whisky Tour beginning on May 27 in San Diego. Four more California dates will follow, and the tour will make stops in Oregon, Washington, Montana, Colorado, Arizona, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.  The band then kicks off a Midwest stint on July 1 including Toledo, Ohio; Sterling Heights, Michigan; Fort Wayne, Indiana and Greenville, Wisconsin before wrapping up in Boston and Watertown, New York.

Tickets for most markets on the Raw Whisky Tour are on sale through Ticketmaster.

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