Music

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Kenny Chesney is popping the top on a “Beer with My Friends” — and that includes everyone from his tour pals Old Dominion to all the fans who came out to see them on tour.

The singer and the guys of Old Dominion shared a music video for their duet rendition of “Beer with My Friends,” taking viewers behind the scenes on the road. From the bus to backstage to a performance in front of a packed stadium, the clip invites fans to get a first-hand look at life on tour with Kenny and the gang.

“If every picture is a million words, then every cut of this clip is a whole movie! Every shot means something to us, all those faces in the crowd, the stadiums…” Kenny reminisces.

But it’s not just the onstage fun that makes it into the video: The clip also includes some of the antics that the tour mates got into along the way, including a cameo from a fish named Marley, another from Kenny’s mom and even some shots of the singer drinking a beer in an ice bath.

“So when you see me drinking that beer in the ice bath, just know: that beer I’m lifting’s for you… wherever you are, whoever you’re with!” Kenny adds. “It’s all about ‘Beer with My Friends,’ from my whole road family, Old Dominion and beyond, to you!”

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Lizzo fans have known for a while that she’s a classically trained flutist, but after she played President James Madison’s 200-year-old crystal flute, more people than ever are aware of her talents. So, it shouldn’t be a huge surprise that Lizzo is now filing to trademark her own flute.

Billboard reports that the “About Damn Time” singer filed to trademark the name “Sasha Flute” — which is the actual name of her instrument — under seven different patent petitions. This filing would protect the name “Sasha Flute” from being used in media, toys, clothing, books, NFTs, virtual marketplaces and more.

It is unknown if Lizzo was prompted to file for trademark protection following her performance on Madison’s crystal flute on September 27.  

Attorney Michael E. Kondoudis told the outlet that this could mean Lizzo has something planned for her beloved instrument. “Usually in our experience what we find is people file trademark applications after the plans have already started being formed and in motion — not when they get this idea,” he explained.

“Because it does cost money, it does take some time and it is a federal legal matter,” he continued. “So when you have an attorney file it there has to be some kind of concrete plan to go from where they are today to selling the products and service in the metaverse.”

For trivia fans, it should be noted that Lizzo named her flute after her icon Beyoncé‘s alter-ego, Sasha Fierce.  For more Sasha Flute updates or to learn more about her, you can follow her Instagram fan account.

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A stake in late legendary Ramones singer Joey Ramone‘s music catalog has been acquired by the Primary Wave Music publishing company.

The agreement includes non-exclusive rights to license Ramone’s name and likeness as well as income from many songs from the pioneering punk band’s catalog.

Among the many classic Ramones tunes included in the deal are “Do You Remember Rock ‘n’ Roll Radio,” “Sheena Is a Punk Rocker,” “I Wanna Be Sedated” and “Rockaway Beach.”

Mitchel Hyman a.k.a. Mickey Leigh, Joey’s brother and only heir, says of the agreement, “I’m happy to welcome Primary Wave as partners in my brother’s interests in Ramones. I’m thoroughly convinced of their eagerness to perpetuate his legacy, and their sincerity about doing it in a way that will never compromise his credibility. I, very much, am looking forward to working with them.”

Adds Primary executive Lexi Todd, “Joey Ramone was a total original — his songwriting, style, and voice are all undeniably unique and immediately recognizable still today. A counterculture icon and prime mover of punk rock, Ramones demonstrated first-hand the power of music in influencing culture and built a foundation that has influenced decades of musicians. We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to continue the legacy of Joey Ramone and Ramones catalog.

Born Jeffrey Hyman, Joey co-founded the Ramones in 1974 and served as the group’s lead singer and one of its main songwriters throughout the band’s 20-plus-year history. He died of cancer in April 2001, a month before his 50th birthday. Joey was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the Ramones in 2002.

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Fivio Foreign is showing love to newcomer Glo Rilla despite losing an award to the rapper at the 2022 BET Hip Hop Awards.  

“I did not get robbed,” he wrote on Twitter, denouncing fan claims that he was snubbed. “Glorilla won cuz she deserved it & ima Happy for her.”

Both rappers were up for Best Breakthrough Hip Hop Artist — along with Baby Keem, Blxst, Doechii, Nardo Wick and Saucy Santana — with Glo Rilla taking home the win.

Many fans on social media disagreed with Fivio, some comparing her short discography to that of the New York rapper’s longer body of work. 

“He def got robbed. She has one hot song on the charts and just released another one last week,” one user tweeted.

Another user emphasized the idea that Fivio shouldn’t have been included in the Breakthrough Artist category. “…he already been out so he’s not a breakthrough artist, Glorilla actually was the only breakthrough artist in that category,” they wrote.

Glo Rilla’s viral song “FNF (Let’s Go)” became hip-hop’s summer anthem and earned her a label deal with Yo Gotti‘s Collective Music Group in July. 

Speaking to Billboard about his decision to sign the rapper Gotti said, “GloRilla is a natural born star — she has a different sound and approach that’s needed in hip-hop right now.”

He added, “It’s one of the quickest rises that I’ve seen in my career because she only dropped in late-April and now she has the hottest cultural records in music. Glo is hungry for success and determined to win. We look forward to watching her grow as an artist and reach her full potential.”

Glo Rilla accepted the award with a brief but emotional speech. 

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Imagine getting to truthfully say, “I used to be in a band with Tom Morello” and “I won a Nobel Prize” in a game of Two Truths and a Lie.

Such is the life of Stanford chemist Carolyn Bertozzi, who this week was awarded with the 2022 Nobel Prize in chemistry. Prior to her work at Stanford, she attended Harvard in the ’80s, where she started a band with the future guitarist of Rage Against the Machine.

Upon learning of his former bandmate’s accomplishment, Morello congratulated Bertozzi in a tweet while also revealing a few details about their group.

“We won the Ivy League Battle of the Bands in 1986 with our rockin’ group ‘Bored of Education,’ with [Bertozzi] on keyboards & me in spandex,” Morello shared.

Bertozzi then responded, “Thanks Tom! Maybe we can get the band back together someday.”

A Bored of Education reunion may not be too unrealistic, as Morello suddenly has a lot more free time following the cancellation of Rage Against the Machine’s 2023 North American tour. The outing was scrapped due to frontman Zack de la Rocha‘s continued recovery from the torn Achilles tendon he suffered during a Rage show in Chicago earlier this year.

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Sam Smith helmed the James Bond theme “Writing’s On The Wall” for the 2015 film Spectre. To celebrate the franchise’s 60th anniversary, the British superstar revealed exactly how the haunting theme came to be.

Sam took to their Instagram Story to reveal they began working on the song while recording their 2013 hit “Lay Me Down” with producer Jimmy Napes.

“Jimmy just played some chords and it just flowed,” Sam expressed.

Napes picked up the story from there, explaining, “After we finished writing, we literally went next door to RAK Studio 1 and recorded it and that was the take.”

Throwback footage shows Sam singing “Writing’s” for the first time. “The vocal [for the song] is the demo vocal. The first vocal I ever did for the song,” they described. Because Sam used the first take, the piano Napes played in the background can actually be heard if one isolates the track’s vocals.

“Such a special memory,” the British superstar expressed when sharing the footage.

Sam isn’t the only artist saluting James Bond’s legacy. Adele, who sang the 2012 Bond theme “Skyfall,” took to Instagram to celebrate the 10th anniversary of her chilling theme. “Hold your breath and count to ten,” her account wrote, a nod to the song’s opening lyrics. 

Billie Eilish, who is the newest Bond singer, also saluted the franchise on its anniversary when looking back at her offering “No Time to Die.” She told Prime Video she had chills when she heard her song play during the most “emotional parts of the film” at the movie premiere.

It should be noted all three of these artists took home the Oscar for Best Original Song, and to date, are the only singers to have won an Academy Award for their Bond themes.

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Ashley McBryde is set to become the next member of the Grand Ole Opry. She got a surprise invitation to join the hallowed institution from Garth Brooks in the middle of an in-studio appearance on CBS Mornings.

Ashley was in the studio to promote her new album, Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville, when Garth showed up on the screen at the end of her interview, dialing in live from the Opry stage.

“I’m here for a proposal,” Garth said.

“You’re already married!” show co-host Gayle King joked from off-camera.

But it wasn’t that kind of proposal that Garth — an Opry member since 1990 — had in mind. “I am, but this is part of a family that keeps growing,” he continued before officially popping the question.

Garth was a little emotional as he spoke, and Ashley fought back tears as she gave her response. “It would be the great joy and the great honor of my life,” she replied.

“I’ve always said I will earn it, and this is a pretty surreal moment,” she reflected. But there was one more surprise for Ashley: When she turned around to look at her team, who all knew the surprise was coming, she saw her mom standing there.

“Now I’m gonna ugly cry on TV. That is my mother!” the singer said. “She’s gonna cry too, just so you know.” And she did: As her mom came out and gave her a hug, the pair were both weeping with joy.

Ashley will be formally inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in a ceremony on a yet-to-be-announced date.

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Jada Pinkett Smith is ready to speak for herself, and she’ll do that in her new, not-yet-titled book that will release in the fall of 2023. 

In partnership with Dey Street Books, the Red Table Talk host plans to publish an “honest and gripping” memoir that will chronicle lessons learned throughout her “difficult but riveting” journey. As detailed in a press release, the book will explore personal life experiences “from the depths of suicidal depression to the heights of personal rediscovery and the celebration of authentic feminine power.”

The release adds, “With no holds barred, Jada reveals her unconventional upbringing in Baltimore — from the child of two addicts to a promising theatre student and a violent interlude as a petty drug-dealer — followed by a parallel rise to stardom alongside her close friend 2Pac, then falling in love with and marrying Will Smith, and a joyous embrace of motherhood.”

At the center of the book are the “unexpected love stories” of Jada’s “complicated marriage” to Will and her relationship with herself.

“The world has imposed many labels and narratives on Jada Pinkett Smith,” Carrie Thornton, Dey Street Books VP and Editorial Director said. “This is down to the realities of our media landscape, but also the roles thrust upon women by culture.”

Thorton added, “This memoir is Jada giving the world her truth, taking readers on a journey from lost girl to woman warrior. It is my great honor to take that journey with her.”

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The Kid LAROI says his “Stay” collaborator, Justin Bieber, has inspired him to become a better version of himself.

Speaking to ET Canada, the Australian singer revealed how Justin influenced him. “He’s a really good dude,” LAROI expressed. “He’s someone that whenever I’m having a hard time or something, I can go and speak to and he’s a really great listener and he gives really great advice.”

He continued, “I feel it’s very important to be a great listener. I’m still learning how to do that.” Part of that practice, he says, includes knowing when to apologize to his girlfriend when he’s not being “a good enough listener.” 

LAROI added one only stands to gain when they are truly able to listen to another person, adding, “That’s really important in any relationship, friendship, whatever it is.”

The singer is also working on becoming a better person because he wants to represent his country in the same way Drake represents Canada on a global scale. 

“The biggest thing is just inspiring people,” he expressed. “For me growing up, I think being in Australia it was a really big dream to come to America and be globally doing music on a big level or whatever. So I think for me, that seemed kind of almost impossible. I just want to hopefully inspire other young people and have them think that it’s not as impossible as you think.”

LAROI is currently hard at work on his debut album.

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