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Taylor Swift posts photo of herself taken by Ryan Reynolds & Blake Lively’s six-year-old daughter

July 2, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Taylor: Francis Specker/CBS via Getty Images; Ryan & Blake: Steven Ferdman/Getty Images

Taylor Swift is promoting “Renegade,” her new collaboration with Big Red Machine, by posting a collage on her Instagram, but fans are focused on who contributed one of the images in that collage.

The collage features a lyric from the song along with images of roses, a photo of Big Red Machine’s Aaron Dessner and Justin Vernon, and a picture of Taylor holding up what looks like a piece of fabric. In the caption, Taylor gives credit for the collage to a photographer named Graham Tolbert, but specifically indicates that the photo of her was taken by James Reynolds.

So why is this a big deal? Because James Reynolds is the name of the daughter of Taylor’s very good friends Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively. Taylor used James’ name — and the names of the couple’s other two kids, Inez and Betty — for characters in her Grammy-winning album folklore.

Oh, also, James is only six years old.

“JAMES REYNOLDS IS 6 YRS OLD AND HAS ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED MORE IN HER LIFE THAN I CAN EVER INSPIRE (sic) TO,” tweeted one fan.

Another fan, quoting a lyric in “Renegade,” wrote “James is out here shooting professional cover art as a child. I really do need to get my s*** together!”

Yet another fan wondered, “how is a 6 year old more talented than me[?]”

James is quite the prodigy: She made her recording debut in 2017 on the song “Gorgeous,” on Taylor’s album Reputation.

ABC Audio has confirmed that the James Reynolds who Taylor credited is, indeed, THAT James Reynolds.

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Kevin Carroll joins the cast of ‘Let the Right One In,’ Nickelodeon unveils cast for ‘That Girl Lay Lay’ & more

July 2, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Snowfall actor Kevin Carroll has joined the upcoming Showtime drama pilot Let the Right One In.

According to Variety, Carroll will play Zeke Dawes, the successful restaurant owner and friend of father-daughter duo Mark and Eleanor, played by Demián Bichir and Madison Taylor Baez. Foreman will play Eleanor’s quiet friend, Isaiah, who has no clue about her vampire powers.

Variety has also learned that the upcoming Nickelodeon series That Girl Lay Lay premieres later this year, with co-stars Gabrielle Neveah Greem, Peyton Perrine III, Tiffany Daniels, Thomas Hobson, and Caleb Brown.

The series, from executive producers including Will Packer, will follow social media sensation and hip-hop kid star Lay Lay, described as the “perfect hype girl and best friend that anyone could ever want from their personal affirmation app.” In addition to the series, Nickelodeon plans to support Lay Lay’s music career with merchandising contracts and exclusive consumer products.

And in case you missed it, fans can expect a few surprise cameo appearances in the upcoming film Space Jam: A New Legacy. During an interview with Entertainment Tonight, co-stars Don Cheadle andCedric Joe shared that Michael B. Jordan will appear in the film, which hits theatrs and HBO Max on July 16th.

Will Ed Sheeran, Elton John & Stevie Wonder perform at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee?

July 2, 2021 by WDNY Radio

In 2002, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II marked 50 years on the throne with a Golden Jubilee celebration featuring big pop stars. In 2012, she marked her Diamond Jubilee, 60 years on the throne, with another big bash with another bunch of pop stars. Now stars are being lined up for next year’s Platinum Jubilee, during which Her Majesty will celebrate 70 years on the throne.

The British tabloid The Sun reports that the BBC is already booking huge stars to perform at its June 2022 Party at the Palace TV special, and the organizers have reached out to Ed Sheeran and Stevie Wonder to ask them if they’d take part, since they performed at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. In addition, they’re trying to work something out with Elton John.

Apparently, Elton has a scheduling conflict with his farewell tour around that time, but a source says, “Whether it is something pre-recorded, like he did for…the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, or if he’ll be able to appear via a live stream, they want him on board.”

“Given the events of the past year and everything that has happened in the pandemic, the organizers want the Party at the Palace to be the biggest celebration of not only Her Majesty but of everything that is great about the UK,” the source adds, noting that viewers can expect “the best of the best when it comes to the line-up.”

Stars who played at the BBC’s Golden Jubilee special included Phil Collins, Bryan Adams, Annie Lennox, Queen, Elton, Eric Clapton, Tom Jones, Rod Stewart, Steve Winwood and Paul McCartney.

In addition to Ed and Stevie, The Diamond Jubilee featured Elton, Paul, Tom Jones and Annie again, as well as Jessie J, Cliff Richard, Kylie Minogue and others.

Chance the Rapper talks partnering with Starbucks’ “Made-Ready” campaign

July 2, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Chance the Rapper has partnered with Starbucks for their new “Made-Ready” campaign to promote their ready-made coffee drinks as outrageous orders keep overwhelming baristas in stores.

Chance says their partnership coincided with his new-found interest in cinema, which he says is reflected in the campaign’s commercial.

“I don’t know how to describe it, but I’ve kind of just been self-educating myself in cinema and film and behind-the-camera work. And kind of going through this educational journey on Instagram,” he tells ABC Audio. “I guess somebody from Starbucks or from the creative agency, I don’t really know, saw that and was like, ‘Hey, we’d love to do a commercial in your spot about how the coffee is ready-made or made ready.”

Chance encourages others to be self-sufficient in the Starbucks “Made-Ready” campaign video, filmed at his House of Kicks production space in Chicago.

“They’re like, we can make a video or an ad and kind of symbolizing the overlap between those two things, which is just that they’re both about having to get somewhere and being self-sufficient and relying on yourself, and it ended up being pretty cool,” Chance says. “I like the way the commercial came out a lot, actually. It was recorded at my office.”

This weekend, Chance is stepping away from his creative space to enjoy the Fourth of July with his wife, Kirsten, and their two daughters, five-year-old Kensli and one-year-old Marli.

“We’re going to go to a friend of the family’s BBQ in Chicago and kick it, get some food off the grill. [I] got some illegal fireworks, so it’s going up,” he says.

Former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett debuts “Wingbeats,” lead single from upcoming studio album

July 2, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Ex-Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett has released the first single from his forthcoming studio album, Surrender of Silence, which is due out on September 10.

The track, “Wingbeats,” combines African rhythms and musical elements with melodic pop and prog-rock influences. The song is available now as a digital download and via streaming services, while a companion music video has premiered on YouTube.

Hackett shares vocals on “Wingbeats” with his sister-in-law, Amanda Lehmann, as well as with Pink Floyd session and touring singer Durga McBroom and her sister, Lorelei.

The video includes footage of indigenous African people, wildlife, and beautiful scenic landscapes from the continent.

As previously reported, Surrender of Silence is an 11-track collection offering an eclectic mix of World Music genres, including Russian classical music as well as sounds of the Far East, Africa and more. The album is scheduled to arrive less than eight months after Hackett’s previous studio effort, the classical-inspired acoustic instrumental project Under a Mediterranean Sky, which was released in January.

Surrender of Silence can be pre-ordered now, and will be available in various formats and configurations. Visit HackettSongs.com for more details.

Jesse Colin Young celebrates July 4 by releasing video of new rendition of “America the Beautiful”

July 2, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Just in time for the Fourth of July, Jesse Colin Young, former frontman of the folk-rock band The Youngbloods, has released a video of himself performing a stripped-down acoustic version of the classic patriotic anthem “America the Beautiful.”

The clip, which you can watch now at Young’s official YouTube channel, features the artist singing in front of the backdrop of beautiful natural landscapes from various locations around the U.S.

“Coming out of the pandemic we are able to see this country, our America, with fresh eyes,” says the 79-year-old singer/songwriter in a statement. “I have always loved this song, and wanted to share my version with you so we could revel together in the beauty of this place we call home.”

Last November, Young released his 22nd solo album, Highway Troubadour. The 11-track collection features new solo acoustic versions of songs from throughout Jesse’s 50-year-plus career, including renditions of the Youngbloods tunes “Darkness, Darkness” and “Sugar Babe,” plus the recent song “Cast a Stone” from his 2019 solo album, Dreamers.

Highway Troubadour was inspired by Young’s online video series “One Song at a Time,” which he launched during the COVID-19 lockdown. It features him playing various songs from his back catalog while accompanying himself on acoustic guitar.

Get revved up for Kevin Hart and his buds in ‘Kevin Hart’s Muscle Car Crew’

July 2, 2021 by WDNY Radio

L-R Hart, Ratchford and the rest of the Muscle Car Crew/Kevin Kwan

Today, arguably the hardest-working man in showbiz, Kevin Hart, launches his new show on the Motor Trend app.

Kevin Hart’s Muscle Car Crew has the stand-up comedian, actor and car enthusiast joining his comic pals who tour as the Plastic Cup Boyz, as they drive deep into the world of classic cars. The cast includes Will “Spank” Horton, John “Burgandee” Clausell, Kevin’s trainer Ronald “Boss” Everline, Joey “Dubb” Wells, and co-executive producer Harry Ratchford.

More than a year ago, Hart bought each of his five closest friends a car that reflected their personality. “That was something that I basically did based off the sporadic conversations that we were having while we were on tour,” Hart tells ABC Audio. “Little questions would come up: ‘If you could get an old school, what would it be?’…And, you know, as expected, some of our guys were a little more into classic cars than others.”

He adds, “And they got bit by the bug heavy.”

The show follows the crew to car shows, into garages, and into the lives of those who share their passion.

For Hart, it was a chance to open some metaphorical doors, as well.

“The car community, they care about cars. And even though we all don’t look the same, we all don’t share the same skin color, we all love the same thing,” Kevin notes. “So if that’s our purpose and that’s the thing that attracts us all, then that means that we should embrace all.”

Harry Ratchford, agrees.

“In a car-culture world, there’s many different-colored cars, but I can truly say that it’s a colorless community,” Ratchford explains. “It crosses all lines — socioeconomic lines, racial lines. You pull up in a nice car or just the interesting car, and people are willing to sit there and talk to you, no matter what your background is.”

He says of the series, “If you’re viewing this, you can enjoy both learning and the learning process, and if you’re a veteran and you know, you have some knowledge, you can enjoy seeing where you once was. ‘I remember when I didn’t know what the exhaust was’ or etcetera, etcetera. So, you know, we in the show, we have enjoyable content for everybody.”

Pearl Jam’s Stone Gossard releases new song “4th of July” with Painted Shield side band

July 2, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard has released a new song called “4th of July” with his band Painted Shield.

The track, which is available now as a digital download and via streaming services, is a meditation on “the moral injury experienced by many service members as they return home from conflicts abroad.”

“The lyrics to this song were inspired by the stories of friends of mine who have served in the military,” says vocalist Mason Jennings. “It touches on the recovery work needed to integrate back into civilian life after being in conflict.”

With “4th of July,” Painted Shield is also hoping to raise awareness for No One Left Behind, an initiative to protect Afghan interpreters from potential danger as the U.S. leaves Afghanistan.

A companion music video for the song has been posted on Painted Shield’s official YouTube channel. The clip includes footage of urban areas devastated by war.

Along with Gossard and Jennings, Painted Shield includes keyboardist/vocalist Brittany Davis and onetime Pearl Jam drummer Matt Chamberlain. The group released their self-titled debut album last fall.

Miley Cyrus sells eclectic LA mansion for $7.2 million

July 2, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Vijat Mohindra/Peacock/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Miley Cyrus is ready to move on to a new property.

The real estate website Dirt reports that Miley has sold her 1950s-era home in LA’s exclusive neighborhood of Hidden Hills for a whopping $7.2 million.

It was just last year that Miley purchased the property for a bit under $5 million. She then worked with her mother, Tish Cyrus, to transform the interior of the six-bedroom, seven-bathroom estate from an all-white design to a more colorful aesthetic.

Photos taken by Architectural Digest earlier this year show a multi-colored seashell-shaped chair and blue couches in the black-walled den, and custom tiger face wallpaper made by Gucci in the powder room. Another room boasts leopard wallpaper, while Miley’s studio features an array of neon signs and a colorful motif on the wall.

The 1.2 acre property also includes a lagoon-style swimming pool, an open-air pavilion with an outdoor kitchen and rolling green hills.

The superstar singer also owns a property in Studio City in LA and a 33-acre ranch just outside her native Nashville, Tennessee.

Mickey Guyton calls out Instagram user’s hateful message directed at her infant son

July 2, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Mickey Guyton is no stranger to facing hate on social media, but when it comes to hateful messages directed at her infant son, Grayson, the “Black Like Me” star doesn’t mind naming names.

This week, Mickey shared a screenshot of a DM she received from a stranger on Instagram, calling baby Grayson “the ugliest child I’ve ever seen.”

“[Y]ou should take it and go back to the projects,” the message continued, in part. “Nashville doesn’t need trash like you.”

“This deserves front and center attention,” Mickey explains in her caption, sharing the username of the person who “came for my child.” She shared the same image on Twitter, as well.

Several of Mickey’s fellow country stars quickly turned out in the comments section to voice their support. “The truth is these are the types of messages we see and get all the time. Good thing is you know who you are sis and your worth. These lost hearts can’t take your smile,” replied Jimmie Allen.

“So despicable,” added Morgane Stapleton, who is Chris Stapleton’s wife and backup singer. “Keep that pretty head of yours held high. You and your precious family are loved by so many!”

Mickey has long been vocal about her experiences with racism as a Black woman in country music. While pregnant with Grayson last fall, she also opened up about her fears regarding raising a Black son.

“I’ve seen racial injustice happen to my husband. I’ve had a ‘Karen’ falsely make claims against him and say some of the most heinous things, like the n-word. I’m growing this Black child in my belly that is going to have to face this,” Mickey told People at the time, adding of her then-unborn son, “I pray for him.”

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