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Elton John’s star-studded Oscar viewing party raises $10.6 million for his AIDS Foundation

March 16, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Elton John’s star-studded Oscar viewing party raises .6 million for his AIDS Foundation

Elton John’s star-studded Oscar viewing party raises $10.6 million for his AIDS Foundation — Elton John attends during Elton John AIDS Foundation’s 34th Annual Academy Awards Viewing Party on March 15, 2026 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Elton John AIDS Foundation)

Elton John’s annual Oscar viewing party, a fundraiser for his AIDS Foundation, took in $10.6 million Sunday night in West Hollywood.

The party featured Grammy-winning singer Lola Young as the musical entertainment, and included a cocktail reception, dinner and an auction where guests bid on an Elton John pinball machine, dinner with Elton and his husband David Furnish, jewelry, art photography, Rolex watches and a painting that was created live while Elton played a solo piano version of “Tiny Dancer.”

Guests at the event included Olympic star Alysa Liu, Dua Lipa and her fiancé Callum Turner, Fran Drescher, JC Chasez of *NSYNC, Brandi Carlile, Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes, Adam Lambert, Melissa McCarthy, Patricia Arquette, Tiffany Haddish, Yungblud, Donatella Versace, Bernie Taupin, Damiano David and his fiancée Dove Cameron, Keke Palmer and many more.

Over the years, Elton’s viewing party has raised over $125 million for the Foundation’s efforts to end AIDS. On Sunday night, Elton thanked his guests, adding, “We have a lot of work to do, still, but we’re gonna fight on. You know, I said I will never rest until this is finished. Well, I’m not gonna rest until it’s finished, and you’ve been a huge part of that.”

Rod Stewart extends Las Vegas residency with six new shows

March 16, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Rod Stewart is once again headed back to Las Vegas.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer has announced a new set of dates for his Las Vegas residency, The Encore Shows, at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.

The new dates consist of six shows running from Aug. 18-29.

A Citi presale for tickets begins Tuesday at 10 a.m. local time, followed by a fan club presale on Wednesday at 10 a.m. local time. Presales for Caesars Entertainment’s loyalty program, Live Nation and Ticketmaster begin Thursday at 10 a.m. local time.

Tickets then go on sale to the general public starting Friday at 10 a.m. local time.

Stewart launched The Encore Shows in 2025. It followed his successful previous Caesars Palace residency, Rod Stewart: The Hits, which launched in 2011 and ran for over 13 years.

In addition to Las Vegas, Stewart has several U.S. shows scheduled in 2026. His next concert is happening April 15 in Knoxville, Tennessee. A complete list of dates can be found at RodStewart.com.

The Strokes headlining 2026 Just Like Heaven festival

March 16, 2026 by WDNY Radio

The Strokes are headlining the 2026 Just Like Heaven festival, taking place August 22 in Pasadena, California.

The bill also includes LCD Soundsystem, Dayglow, The Rapture, Feist and Matt and Kim.

“We are looking forward to getting back to Pasadena to play at the Just Like Heaven Festival later this summer,” says Strokes bassist Nikolai Fraiture in a statement.

Tickets go on sale Friday at 11 a.m. PT. For the full lineup and all ticket info, visit JustLikeHeavenFest.com.

You can also catch The Strokes at upcoming festivals including Coachella, Bonnaroo, Outside Lands and Shaky Knees.

Queen’s Brian May makes surprise appearance at Benson Boone’s Birmingham show

March 16, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Queen’s Brian May made a surprise appearance during pop star Benson Boone’s set at the 2025 Coachella Festival in Indio, California, and he did again at Boone’s Sunday concert in Birmingham, England.

May came out during Boone’s encore, joining him on guitar for Queen classics “We Will Rock You” and “We Are The Champions,” as well as Boone’s hit track “Beautiful Things.”

“While (sic) lotta fun with Benson Boone last night,” May wrote on Instagram. “His show is sensational – I just provided a little icing on the cake.”

May added, “Gotta say pure fun and adrenaline are just one reason I wanna spend my weekend in Birmingham.” He then went on to explain several other reasons, including it being a “big challenge to step into this massive production and deliver,” noting he likes to be challenged “even though it makes me nervous.”

He wrote that Boone’s band is incredible and that the singer “is not only an awesome performer but one of the most genuine, thoughtful and generous people I’ve ever met.” Plus, May explained that his appearance “was a chance for my grandchildren to share a moment and experience what my life has been like.”

May praised Boone for returning to the U.K. for just one show to fulfill a promise to fans after he had to cancel a show three months prior due to vocal issues.

He also said he was thrilled by the reaction of the crowd.

“To be greeted with that ROAR from a Birmingham audience was beyond priceless – I felt that old love – Queen had such great times in Birmingham,” he wrote. “Great days ! I feel lucky.”

Appetite for acceleration: Guns N’ Roses playing show ahead of F1 Miami Grand Prix

March 16, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Guns N’ Roses are hopping off the “Nightrain” and picking up a different mode of transportation for an upcoming show.

The “Welcome to the Jungle” rockers will be playing the official Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix kickoff concert, taking place April 30 at the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida.

Members of GN’R’s Nightrain fan club will have access to a presale beginning Tuesday at 10 a.m. ET. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday at 10 a.m. ET.

For all ticket info, visit GunsNRoses.com.

The F1 Miami Grand Prix takes place May 1-3.

GN’R will play a previously announced show at the Hard Rock Live on May 5 before headlining the Welcome to Rockville festival on May 7 in Daytona Beach. They’ll launch a full U.S. tour in July.

On this Day, March 16, 1954: Heart’s Nancy Wilson was born

March 16, 2026 by WDNY Radio

On this Day, March 16, 1954…

Nancy Wilson, one half of the rock duo Heart, was born in San Francisco, California.

Nancy and her older sister Ann, along with Roger Fisher and Steve Fossen, formed Heart in 1973. They were later joined by Michael Derosier and Howard Leese, and released their debut album, Dreamboat Annie, in 1975, which featured future Heart classics “Crazy on You” and “Magic Man.”

The group went on to sell over 35 million records and landed two #1 singles: “These Dreams” and “Alone,” along with top-40 singles “Barracuda,” “What About Love,” “Never,” “All I Wanna Do Is Make Love to You” and more.

The band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.

Nancy and sister Ann also formed the acoustic group Lovemongers, which released the EP Battle of Evermore in 1992 and the full-length album Whirlygig in 1997. Nancy also released several solo albums; the most recent, You and Me, came out in 2021.

An album showcasing ‘Dan + Shay at the highest level that we can’ is on the way

March 16, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Since Dan + Shay didn’t do a full tour in 2025, they had plenty of time to spend in the studio. That’s good news for fans, since it means the follow-up to 2023’s Bigger Houses could be coming any time.

So, what should we expect?

“More Dan + Shay than ever, back to our roots of just, I don’t know, staying in our lane, doing what we do at the highest level,” Dan Smyers tells ABC Audio. “I feel like through all of our explorations in our musical journey, I feel like that’s the thing we’ve learned and that’s what people have told us. But you gotta go out there and make your mistakes and figure it out, to figure out the people want us to do Dan + Shay at the highest level that we can. And that’s not easy to do.”

Sometimes that means dealing with some unrealistic expectations.

“You build your thing and people are like, ‘Make another song like “Tequila,”‘” Dan adds, referencing their 2018 crossover hit. “Okay, dude, all right, yeah, sure. But you just gotta bust your butt, be in the studio, be writing as much as possible and be our most authentic selves. I feel that’s when we’re at our best.”

So far, Dan + Shay haven’t announced any tour dates for 2026 or given any hints as to when their new album could arrive.

New auction offers VIP experience to Bruce Springsteen Center’s American Music Honors

March 16, 2026 by WDNY Radio

The Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music’s fourth annual American Music Honors will take place April 18, and folks now have a chance to snag a VIP experience to the event.

Julien’s Auctions, in partnership with New Jersey’s Monmouth University, where the Bruce Springsteen Center is located, is auctioning off a VIP package for two to this year’s celebration. The event will honor Patti Smith, The E Street Band, The Doors, Dionne Warwick and Dr. Dre. It will also include a posthumous tribute to The Band.

American Music Honors will be held at the Pollak Theatre on the Monmouth campus. It will feature Stevie Van Zandt’s Disciples of Soul as the evening’s house band, with Springsteen, Van Zandt and music producer Jimmy Iovine serving as presenters.

The VIP experience will include two tickets to the American Music Honors, plus admission to a VIP cocktail reception, access to event rehearsals, a meet-and-greet with this year’s honorees, a signed poster and a VIP swag bag.

Bidding on the package is open now and closes March 30 at 1 p.m. ET. It is estimated to sell for between $2,000 and $4,000.

Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music, which will officially open to the public on June 7. The American Music Honors auction is the first in a series of auctions in support of the Bruce Springsteen Center.

Coco Jones says Ciara has helped her balance all of her worlds

March 16, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Coco Jones has made it clear that Ciara did not introduce her to fiancé Donovan Mitchell, but the singer has had a positive impact on her life. While on the carpet for the Essence Black Women in Hollywood event in Los Angeles, Coco named Ciara as a woman who has contributed to who she is.

“Even though she did not introduce me and my fiancé, she has given me so many tips on how to balance being a boss, being a future mom one day and still pouring into yourself and your artistry, which I’ve never seen it before. I don’t know people personally who do the job that I do,” she told the Associated Press.

“I feel like she really allows me to ask her hard, tough questions,” Coco continued, noting Ciara even asks for examples. “[After she responds], I’ll be like brain unlocked. Like she really has helped me just in balancing all the worlds.”

Coco and Donovan announced their engagement in July 2025. In honor of International Women’s Day, he acknowledged Coco as one of the important women in his life.

“My fiancée… I mean, you guys have heard me rave about her, you know, nonstop,” Donovan said. “I’m such at peace in life with her around. I think that’s first and foremost. Basketball and everything else is secondary…That’s somebody that I’m forever grateful for. Hopefully, my goal is to be with her for the rest of my life.”

Grow, kid, grow: Shinedown’s Brent Smith turns conversations with son into latest #1 hit

March 16, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Shinedown’s single “Searchlight” gives the band their 22nd #1 hit on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart, extending their record for the most leaders in the ranking’s 45-year history. Beyond that, the song has a very personal meaning to frontman Brent Smith.

“‘Searchlight’ came from a lot of conversations that I was having with my son about him becoming a man, turning 18 … and how this world is waiting for him, but that your direction can change at any given moment,” Smith tells ABC Audio. “Your purpose can change, your story can change.”

With its chart success, “Searchlight” has something in common with 21 other Shinedown songs, though sonically it sticks out in the band’s catalog as it leans into more country music sounds. As Smith explains, though, it didn’t really start out that way.

“The demo was a different thing,” Smith recalls. “I knew the song wanted to be something else. I went in with [bassist] Eric [Bass] and I said, ‘Hey, I wanna recut the vocal. … I just need an acoustic, let me just show you what I’m talking about.’ Went in, did that, Eric was, like, ‘That’s the way you wanna go with this?’ And I’m, like, ‘I think that’s what it wants to be.'”

“Searchlight” isn’t an indication that Shinedown is “going country” — they have no plans to record a country album, and Smith says there isn’t another song like it on their upcoming album, EI8HT. Instead, the track reflects the ethos of the band.

“It’s something we’ve worked really, really hard at to be able to say that we can actually achieve, and that is: Shinedown is for everyone,” Smith says.

EI8HT is due out May 29. It also includes the singles “Dance, Kid, Dance,” “Three Six Five” and “Killing Fields.”

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