The 11-track collection was recorded at various sessions in Nashville, Seattle, Connecticut and Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The album features mostly new originals co-written by Wilson, while also including covers of Queen‘s “Love of My Life” and Robin Trower‘s “Bridge of Sighs.” “Love of My Life” features guest vocals by country star and current Eagles touring member Vince Gill, while acclaimed blues-rocker Kenny Wayne Shepherd plays guitar on “Bridge of Sighs” and an original song called “Missionary Man.”
Wilson recorded two tracks — “Gladiator” and “Angel’s Blues” — with Gov’t Mule, the group led by former Allman Brothers Band singer/guitarist Warren Haynes, who also co-wrote the tunes with Ann.
Wilson was accompanied on most tracks by a group of session musicians who now serve as her solo touring band, The Amazing Dawgs.
Fierce Bliss also includes Ann’s 2021 single “Black Wing,” which she recorded with some Seattle-based musicians, including recent Heart touring bassist Andy Stoller and keyboardist Dan Walker.
Ann has released the album’s first track, “Greed,” as an advance digital single, while a music video for the tune has debuted at her official YouTube channel.
“‘Greed’ is that thing in our animal nature that makes us want MORE,” Wilson explains about the song’s theme. “Whether it be money, sex, power or ecstasy, it fires our craving! It happens with all of us. When you turn around and catch yourself making decisions because you want the money, or because you’re caught in the headlights of glory, well, those are greedy moments.”
Wilson is lining up 2022 tour dates with The Amazing Dawgs. Visit AnnWilson.com for her current schedule.
You can pre-order Fierce Bliss now. Here’s the full track list:
“Greed”
“Black Wing”
“Bridge of Sighs”
“Fighten for Life”
“Love of My Life” — featuring Vince Gill
“Missionary Man”
“Gladiator”
“Forget Her”
“A Moment in Heaven”
“Angel’s Blues”*
“As the World Turns”
(NEW YORK) — Peloton announced Tuesday a major leadership shakeup and a plan to cut costs that includes laying off some 2,800 employees.
The announcement comes as the pandemic wanes in the U.S. and gyms are reopening, lessening demand for the company’s at-home workout equipment and famous stationary bike.
The New York-based company said co-founder John Foley will be stepping down as CEO but will stay with the company as executive chair of the board. Barry McCarthy, a former senior leader at Spotify and Netflix, has been appointed the new CEO and president of Peloton.
“Since founding Peloton a decade ago, we’ve grown this brand to engage and motivate a loyal community of more than 6.6 million members. I’m incredibly proud to have worked with such talented teammates over the years who have helped me build Peloton into what it is today, and I’m confident that Barry is the right leader to take the company into its next phase of growth,” Foley said in a statement Tuesday.
McCarthy added, “As a passionate Peloton member, I have experienced firsthand this fantastic company’s mission and believe there is enormous potential for the platform.”
“I’m honored to join Peloton at such an important moment in the company’s history and look forward to working closely with John, the Board and Peloton’s team members at all levels of the organization to execute against Peloton’s strategy and take the business to the next level,” he said in a statement.
The company simultaneously announced a “workforce reduction” that will result in the cutting of some 2,800 jobs globally, or approximately 20% of its corporate staff. Peloton said that its “roster of instructors and breadth and depth of its content” will not be impacted by Tuesday’s announcements.
“These decisions, particularly those related to our impacted Peloton team members, were not taken lightly,” Foley said. “We greatly value the contributions of our talented colleagues and are committed to supporting impacted team members in their transitions.”
Once revered as a hot stock early on in the pandemic, Peloton shares have slumped some 75% since its highs seen a little over a year ago. The company has endured a tumultuous start to 2022 marked by investor turmoil, and it reported a net loss of some $439 million in its most recent quarterly report.
The New Zealand-born filmmaker is the first woman to be nominated in the best director category twice. She was first nominated in 1994 for The Piano, and again Tuesday for The Power of the Dog at this year’s Oscars.
Competing alongside Campion, 67, for the best director trophy at the 94th Academy Awards are Kenneth Branagh for Belfast, Paul Thomas Anderson for Licorice Pizza, Ryûsuke Hamaguchi for Drive My Car, and Steven Spielberg for West Side Story.
Only six other women have been nominated for best director: Lina Wertmüller for Seven Beauties in 1977, Sofia Coppola for Lost in Translation in 2004, Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker in 2010, Greta Gerwig for Lady Bird in 2018, Emerald Fennell for Promising Young Woman in 2021, and Chloé Zhao for Nomadland in 2021. Of those, only two women — Bigelow and Zhao — have won the Oscar for best director. Zhao’s win last year made her the first woman of color to win best director.
Campion also snagged nominations for best picture and best adapted screenplay at this year’s Academy Awards for The Power of the Dog. The film, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons and Kodi Smit-McPhee, is based on Thomas Savage‘s 1967 novel of the same name. Cumberbatch was nominated for best actor, Dunst was nominated for best supporting actress and both Plemons and Smit-McPhee were nominated for best supporting actor.
The Power of the Dog leads the pack of nominees this year, with a grand total of 12 nods. In addition to the three nominations for Campion and the four cast members, the movie was also nominated for best cinematography, best original score, best sound, best production design and best film editing.
The Super Bowl is just days away and The Chainsmokers are making the big day even more exciting by kicking off an exclusive pre-game concert on TikTok.
The EDM duo announced their next gig on Tuesday, writing, “Bringing together the worlds two favorite things TikTok and Tailgating!” The concert starts at 2:55 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 13, and will be streamed on the NFL’s official TikTok page. The Grammy nominees will be playing in the parking lot outside of SoFi Stadium, where the Los Angeles Rams will take on the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Chainsmokers also shared a short TikTok video confirming their upcoming performance and sarcastically told football fans “and we’re not sorry” they are officially attached to the biggest night in the NFL season.
This upcoming performance arrives shortly after The Chainsmokers released “High,” their first song in nearly two years. Prior to that, the duo had taken an extensive break on social media to work on their upcoming fourth studio album, which they’ve dubbed TCS4 until an official title is revealed.
They have been most active on TikTok and, most famously, had two doppelgängers pretending to be them a week before their inevitable return, which sparked wild fan theories that Drew Taggart and Alex Pall mocked once they reclaimed their account;
It is unknown what songs or stunts The Chainsmokers will pull in their upcoming performance on Sunday, but considering the outrageous shenanigans the two have been pulling on social media — fans are already speculating about what plans the duo have up their sleeves.
Nearly 13 years following the passing of Michael Jackson, a biopic about the King of Pop is coming to the big screen.
Lionsgate announced it will distribute the film now being developed by Oscar-winning producer Graham King, according to Deadline.
The movie is being co-produced by John Branca and John McClain, the co-executors of the Michael Jackson estate, and has the blessing of the Jackson family. Michael’s mother, Katherine Jackson, said in a statement, “Ever since Michael was little, as a member of The Jackson 5, he loved the magic of cinema. As a family, we are honored to have our life story come alive on the big screen.”
Simply titled Michael, the biopic is described as “an in-depth portrayal of a complicated man who became the King of Pop. It will bring to life Jackson’s most iconic performances as it gives an informed insight into the entertainer’s artistic process and personal life.”
“I first met the Jackson family in 1981 and I’m humbled to bring their legacy to the big screen,” says King, who won the Best Picture Oscar in 2009 for The Departed. “Sitting at Dodger Stadium watching the Victory Tour, I could never have imagined that nearly 38 years later I would get the privilege to be a part of this film.”
The Michael Jackson Broadway production MJ: The Musical opened February 1 in New York City. Michael’s children — Paris, Prince and Bigi, aka Blanket, attended the opening night performance, as well as TJ Jackson, son of Michael’s brother, Tito Jackson.
(ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich.) — The parents of Ethan Crumbley, the teenager accused of fatally shooting four students at a Michigan school, appeared in court on Tuesday for a hearing that will determine whether the two will face trial.
James and Jennifer Crumbley are accused of involuntary manslaughter after allegedly neglecting or failing to recognize warning signs about their son in the months before the shooting.
The prosecution asked District Court Judge Julie Nicholson to restrict communication between James and Jennifer Crumbley. The request came after the two were seen communicating in a court proceeding over Zoom, which the court granted.
Attorneys for the Crumbley parents asked the judge to postpone the hearing so they can further prepare, but the judge denied their motion.
James Crumbley had purchased the gun used in the rampage days before the shooting, according to prosecutors.
Deputies refused to remove the belly-chains from Crumbleys during Tuesday’s hearing due to their “national security status,” one of the deputies told the judge. This came when attorneys for the Crumbleys requested their hands be uncuffed so they could communicate with their attorneys by writing notes.
Kira Pennocki, the owner of a barn where the Crumbleys keep their horses, testified that Jennifer Crumbley had called her son “weird” and said he was “not out doing things like normal kids.”
Pennocki said Jennifer Crumbley told her that her son only had one friend and that he spent a lot of time online or playing games.
The prosecution showed text exchanges between Pennocki and Jennifer Crumbley in the days leading up to the shooting and after the shooting.
“My son ruined so many lives today,” Jennifer Crumbley said in a text to Pennocki on the day of the shooting.
Another witness, Andrew Smith, who worked with Jennifer Crumbley detailed his interactions with her on the day of the shooting.
Their son, Ethan Crumbley, will appear next in court on Feb. 22. Ethan Crumbley was charged with multiple felony charges, including terrorism, in connection with the rampage that killed four students and injured several others on Nov. 30. The 15-year-old was charged as an adult.
Disney/Pixar has released the first trailer to Lightyear, the animated action movie origin story behind the action figure Buzz Lightyear, who was voiced by Tim Allen in the Toy Story films.
Chris Evans voices “the real” Buzz Lightyear, a Space Ranger on a dangerous intergalactic mission. The trailer shows the character launched into deep space, where he runs afoul of a “massive robot” that Toy Story fans will recognize as the inspiration for Evil Emperor Zurg, as well as his robotic minions.
In a statement, director Angus MacLane noted, “In Toy Story, there seemed to be this incredible backstory to [Buzz] being a Space Ranger that’s only touched upon, and I always wanted to explore that world further. So my Lighytear pitch was, ‘What was the movie that Andy saw that made him want a Buzz Lightyear toy?'”
He added, “I wanted to see that movie. And now I’m lucky enough to get to make it.”
The movie, which also features the voices of Oscar-winner Taiki Waititi, Emmy-winner Uzo Aduba, Keke Palmer, James Brolin, and Efram Ramirez, as well as Ratatouille vet Peter Sohn as Buzz’s robot cat companion, Sox, opens in theaters June 17.
If you could use some serious extra cash, better fire up that Snapchat account. Mariah Carey has teamed with the video-sharing app for an all-new Spotlight challenge — the #AlwaysBeMyBaby Challenge — where the grand prize is $50,000.
Entering is simple . First and foremost, you need a Snapchat account. From there, all you need to do is show Mariah how you’re cozying up with the one you love on Valentine’s Day, but you have to use her 1995 hit “Always Be My Baby” to get yourself entered.
“Today’s all about love,” Mariah said in the official announcement. “Show me how you’re spending your special day!” She even provided an example, where her boyfriend, Bryan Tanaka, brings her a tray with two champagne glasses and some chocolates. He then pours her some Black Irish liqueur, which is Mimi’s own Irish cream brand, and the two toast. This all happens as her hit song plays in the background.
The #AlwaysBeMyBaby Challenge is now open and video submissions will be accepted until Tuesday, February 15. The grand prize winner will be hooked up with that $50,000 jackpot, while the second- and third-place winners will respectively win $30,000 and $20,000.
(NEW YORK) — As the COVID-19 pandemic has swept the globe, more than 5.7 million people have died from the disease worldwide, including over 905,000 Americans, according to real-time data compiled by Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Systems Science and Engineering.
About 64.1% of the population in the United States is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern:
Feb 08, 11:28 am
Omicron estimated to account for 96.4% of new cases
The presence of the omicron sub-variant, BA.2, is increasing in the U.S., according to new data published by the CDC.
BA.2 was estimated to accounted for 3.6% of new COVID-19 cases in the U.S. as of Feb. 5. BA.2 was projected to account for 1.2% of new cases the week prior.
The original omicron strain, B.1.1.529, still makes up the vast majority of new cases, accounting for an estimated 96.4% of cases in the U.S.
There is still much unknown about the BA.2 variant, but currently it doesn’t appear to demonstrate a more severe illness. There’s also no indication to suggest that BA.2 will further impact the efficacy of vaccines.
The delta variant, which accounted for 99.2% of all new cases just two months ago, is now estimated to account for 0% of new cases.
-ABC News’ Arielle Mitropoulos and Eric M. Strauss
Feb 08, 9:30 am
Michigan closes bridge to Canada amid trucker-led protests
An ongoing, trucker-led protest against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other pandemic-related restrictions in Canada spilled over into the United States via the Ambassador Bridge on Monday night, blocking access to one of the world’s largest international suspension bridges.
The protesters hindered traffic at the tolled bridge across the Detroit River, which connects Windsor, Canada, with Detroit, Michigan, at the Canadian-U.S. border. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) announced via Twitter on Monday night that it had closed the crossing to Canada.
The Windsor Police Service tweeted Tuesday morning that the bridge has reopened to U.S.-bound traffic. Meanwhile, MDOT tweeted an update saying the crossing remains closed on the U.S. side.
Monday marked the 11th straight day of the so-called “Freedom Convoy” protests, which began with truckers critical of a new rule that they must be vaccinated against COVID-19 to cross the Canada-U.S. border. The demonstrations have since grown into broader challenges to pandemic-related public health measures and opposition to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Thousands of protesters have occupied the streets of Ottawa and other cities across Canada in support of the movement, paralyzing the capital’s city center with traffic jams, nonstop noise and alleged harassment. Protesters have said they won’t leave until all COVID-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions are lifted nationwide. They are also calling for the removal of Trudeau’s government, even though most of the public health measures were put in place by provincial governments.
The House of Commons of Canada held an emergency session on Tuesday to discuss the demonstrations. In an opening statement, the prime minister said he understands “people are tired” of COVID-19 but that protests are not the answer.
“These pandemic restrictions are not forever,” Trudeau told lawmakers.
While Trudeau’s opponents argued that the country is at a crisis point, the prime minister rejected any notion that Canadians are divided.
“Canada has one of the highest vaccination rates of our peer countries around the world,” he said. “It’s because Canadians trust science. Canadians trust each other to do the right thing.”
Feb 08, 6:54 am
Oregon to lift mask mandates for indoor public spaces, schools by March 31
Oregon will lift general mask requirements for indoor public places no later than March 31, state health officials announced Monday.
According to the Oregon Health Authority, scientists expect that about 400 or fewer people would be hospitalized with COVID-19 statewide by late March, which is the level of hospitalizations Oregon experienced before the highly contagious omicron variant began to spread. Mask mandates for Oregon schools will be lifted on March 31 to give school districts time to prepare.
However, the Oregon Health Authority said the state needs to keep mask requirements in place for now as COVID-19 hospitalizations crest and the health care system struggles to treat high numbers of severely ill patients.
The Oregon Health Authority has filed a new rule with the Oregon Secretary of State to require people to wear masks while indoors in public places. The new rule replaces a temporary one that expired Monday.
State health officials will consider lifting the general indoor mask requirement earlier than March 31 if hospitalizations decline to the levels projected by the end of March sooner than expected. Once the mandates are lifted, employers and businesses may continue to establish their own mask requirements to protect employees and customers, according to the Oregon Health Authority.
(BRUNSWICK COUNTY, N.C.) — Two inmates who escaped from a Tennessee jail, including one facing murder charges, were killed in a police chase in North Carolina after they allegedly robbed a store and stole a car, authorities confirmed on Tuesday.
Fugitives Tobias Carr, 38, and Timothy Sarver, 45, died in a crash in Brunswick County, North Carolina, following a police chase, a spokeswoman for the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation told ABC News.
A third escapee, Johnny Shane Brown, 50, remained on the run Tuesday.
The three inmates escaped from the Sullivan County Jail in Blountville, Tennessee, on Friday via an air vent and made their getaway possibly in a white Chevrolet Silverado truck. The jail is about 400 miles from where the fatal crash occurred.
Sarver and Tobias, who had been jailed on a second-degree murder charge, allegedly committed an armed robbery at a convenience store in Sneads Ferry, North Carolina, south of Wilmington, early Saturday morning, authorities said. A store clerk told police the robbers tied him up at gunpoint, emptied the cash register and fled with his car, according to ABC affiliate station WWAY in Wilmington.
While the victim was being interviewed by police, he spotted the suspects driving by in his vehicle, setting off the chase by officers from several law enforcement agencies across Onslow, Pender, New Hanover and Brunswick counties, authorities said.
The fatal crash occurred near Navassa in Brunswick County, police said.
In addition to second-degree murder, Carr was being held at the Sullivan County jail on charges of vandalism and tampering with evidence, according to the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office. Sarver was being held at the jail on charges of auto theft, identity theft, possession of drug paraphernalia and unlawfully carrying a weapon.
A $5,000 reward was being offered for information leading to the capture of Brown, who was being held at the jail on charges of violating an order of protection, domestic assault and aggravated stalking, according to the sheriff’s office.
