Jury selection set to begin in Tory Lanez trial

Jury selection set to begin in Tory Lanez trial
Jury selection set to begin in Tory Lanez trial
Lorne Thomson/Redferns

Jury selection in the trial of Tory Lanez is set to begin on Monday, as the rapper faces charges for allegedly shooting and injuring Megan Thee Stallion on July 12, 2020 in the Hollywood Hills.

Opening statements and testimony are expected to begin on December 12, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office told ABC News.

According to prosecutors, Lanez “personally inflicted great bodily injury upon” Megan Thee Stallion, born Megan Pete, after the two got into an argument while riding in an SUV in the Hollywood Hills, resulting in an injury in her foot for which she received medical treatment.

Lanez, born Daystar Peterson, was charged in October 2020 with one felony count each of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and personal use of a firearm, as well as carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle, according to charging documents obtained by ABC News.

“Personal use of a firearm” is not a separate charge but a sentencing enhancement linked to the first count that increases Lanez’ possible sentence.

Lanez has pleaded not guilty on both counts. If he is convicted as charged, he faces up to 22 years and 8 months in prison, according to prosecutors. ABC News has reached out to his attorney Shawn Holley for additional comment.

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Aerosmith cancels second Las Vegas show, Steven Tyler needs “more time to rest”

Aerosmith cancels second Las Vegas show, Steven Tyler needs “more time to rest”
Aerosmith cancels second Las Vegas show, Steven Tyler needs “more time to rest”
Victor Chavez/WireImage

Sorry Aerosmith fans, the band has cancelled another Las Vegas show. 

The band was set to take the stage as part of their Deuces Are Wild residency at the city’s Dolby Live at Park MGM Monday, but backed out due to their lead singer Steven Tyler needing “more time to rest.” 

“Unfortunately tomorrow’s show, Monday December 5th, in Las Vegas has to be cancelled,” a statement posted to Twitter reads. “Steven Tyler said ‘on the advice of my doctor, I’m taking more time to rest… There is nowhere we’d rather be than on stage surrounded by the greatest fans in the world.'”

“We sincerely apologize,” the band concluded. 

Refunds will be automatically refunded for those who purchased through Ticketmaster.com, with all other refunds processed at point of purchase. 

This is the second show that the “Dream On” artists have cancelled in the last four days. They cancelled their Friday, Dec. 2 show last minute telling fans at the time, “It is with great disappointment that we are forced to cancel tonight’s show in Las Vegas due to Steven feeling unwell and and unable to perform.”

There was no mention on whether Aerosmith will make-up the dates. Their final two performances for the Deuces Are Wild residency are scheduled for Dec. 8 and Dec. 11.

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SZA announces release date for new album ‘S.O.S.’

SZA announces release date for new album ‘S.O.S.’
SZA announces release date for new album ‘S.O.S.’
Will Heath/NBC

Fans won’t have to wait long to hear some new music from SZA.

The R&B artist was the musical guest on Saturday Night Live this weekend and revealed that her sophomore album, S.O.S., will be out this Friday, December 9. 

The reveal came at the end of the performance of her song “Shirt,” with “S O S 12/9.” flashing briefly on the backdrop. 

In addition to announcing the album release date, SZA performed a new song called “Blind,” presumably from the forthcoming album, giving viewers a glimpse into the new body of work. 

S.O.S. is the follow-up to 2017’s Ctrl.

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Pat Benatar’s new musical only includes “like, 10 seconds” of her signature hit

Pat Benatar’s new musical only includes “like, 10 seconds” of her signature hit
Pat Benatar’s new musical only includes “like, 10 seconds” of her signature hit
Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo; Michael Tullberg/Getty Images

Now that Pat Benatar and her husband and musical partner Neil Giraldo have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, they’re focusing on their pet project: Invincible, a musical featuring their songs. But if you see the show, don’t expect to hear much of Benatar’s signature hit.

The show, Invincible, had its official premiere Friday night in Beverly Hills, where it will run through December 18.  It’s a reimagining of Romeo & Juliet, and in addition to hits like “Heartbreaker,” “We Belong,” “Love Is a Battlefield” and “Shadows of the Night,” it also features some lesser-known songs, all of which have been, Giraldo tells Variety, “twisted…a little bit, to have more fun with it.”

“We didn’t wanna do a jukebox musical with the exact same songs the way they were,” he tells Variety.

As for “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” probably Benatar’s best-known song, she tells Variety, “We have one chorus of that that comes in the middle of another song, only as an homage to everyone who’s gonna go crazy if we don’t have it, but it’s literally in there for, like, 10 seconds.”

As previously reported, Benatar has stopped performing the song at her concerts as well, out of respect to the families of mass shooting victims.

Benatar, Giraldo and their collaborator Bradley Bredeweg hope to eventually bring their musical to Broadway. For a former musical theater kid like Benatar, the show is a “full-circle” moment, while Bredeweg says it’s fitting that these songs are retelling Shakespeare‘s famous tale of star-crossed lovers.

“Everyone used to say they were considered the Romeo and Juliet of the rock ’n’ roll industry,” he tells the New York Times of Benatar and Giraldo. “Everyone tried to break them up at every step along the way.”

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Imagine Dragons reflects on “incredible” success of “Enemy”: “We’re excited”

Imagine Dragons reflects on “incredible” success of “Enemy”: “We’re excited”
Imagine Dragons reflects on “incredible” success of “Enemy”: “We’re excited”
ABC

Imagine Dragons‘ “Enemy,” a collaboration with hip-hop artist JID, was one of the biggest songs of 2022, landing on Billboard‘s Hot Rock & Alternative Songs and YouTube’s Top U.S. Songs year-end charts. Speaking with ABC Audio, frontman Dan Reynolds calls the success of the single incredible.

“Especially after 10 years as a band,” Reynolds says. “We have the best fans in the world, I’ve felt that from the very beginning, I still feel it now.”

Reynolds feels “Enemy” points to the longevity of a group that just celebrated a decade since releasing their debut album.

“I mean, we’re still here after 10 years,” Reynolds says. “That’s rare for a band. So, we’re excited.”

As for how the song came together, Reynolds calls “Enemy” “one of those easy collaborations.”

“We love JID, we were very familiar with his work before, reached out to him, just cold reach-out,” Reynolds recalls. “We knew that we wanted someone on ‘Enemy’ with us, and he just sounded like he would fit the bill perfectly, and he did. He did one take, and it was perfect.”

“Enemy” is included on Imagine Dragons’ new double album Mercury — Acts 1 & 2, out now.

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Keke Palmer confirms she’s pregnant during ‘SNL’ monologue

Keke Palmer confirms she’s pregnant during ‘SNL’ monologue
Keke Palmer confirms she’s pregnant during ‘SNL’ monologue
Will Heath/NBC

Keke Palmer made a surprise reveal while hosting SNL this weekend.

During her opening monologue, the Nope actress shared that she is pregnant with her first child.

“There’s some rumors going around, people have been in my comments saying, ‘Keke’s having a baby, Keke’s pregnant,’ and I wanna set the record straight — I am!” she said, opening her jacket to reveal a baby bump.

“I gotta say, though, it is bad when people on the internet spread rumors about you y’all, but it’s even worse when they’re correct,” she joked. “… But honestly this has been the biggest blessing, and I am so excited. Guys, I’m going to be a mom.”

Keke added, “Even though some people feel a little weird about me having a baby cause I was a child actor, I just wanna say, look, I’m 29, I’m grown, I have sex, I own a home, I stormed the Capitol on January 6, you know? Things adults do.” She then assured the audience she was kidding about that last part.

Keke has been in a relationship with boyfriend Darius Jackson since last year.

Meanwhile, in one of the most notable sketches from her hosting debut, she pitches a reboot of the Nickelodeon classic Kenan & Kel to Kenan Thompson — retitled Kenan & Kelly, with Keke gunning for an Emmy in the Kel Mitchell role. The sketch also gives us the Kenan and Kel reunion we’ve all been waiting for, with a cameo by Kel Mitchell himself.

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Korn announces ’Requiem Mass’ release capturing intimate church performance

Korn announces ’Requiem Mass’ release capturing intimate church performance
Korn announces ’Requiem Mass’ release capturing intimate church performance
Loma Vista Recordings

Earlier this year, Korn played an intimate concert at the Hollywood United Methodist Church in Los Angeles to celebrate the release of their new album, Requiem. Now, the “Freak on a Leash” metallers are releasing an official live recording of the unique event.

The set, titled Requiem Mass, will arrive on February 3. It includes renditions of songs such as “Start the Healing” and “Worst Is on Its Way.”

The Requiem Mass show was held in February and was attended by 300 fans wearing “appropriate black funeral attire.” The concert streamed online, as well.

Along with the church performance, Korn supported Requiem this year with shows alongside System of a Down and Evanescence. The group’s next scheduled date is at May’s Sick New World nu metal nostalgia festival in Las Vegas.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Alt-J announces 10th anniversary ‘An Awesome Wave’ shows in the US

Alt-J announces 10th anniversary ‘An Awesome Wave’ shows in the US
Alt-J announces 10th anniversary ‘An Awesome Wave’ shows in the US
Infectious Music/Atlantic

Earlier this year, Alt-J performed their 2012 debut album, An Awesome Wave, in their native U.K. during a tour celebrating the project’s 10th anniversary. Now, they’re bring the show Stateside.

The “Left Hand Free” outfit will play a batch of four U.S. concerts next year, taking place March 13 in Brooklyn, New York, March 20 and 21 in Los Angeles and March 23 in Oakland. During each stop, Alt-J will play An Awesome Wave in its entirety.

“We are delighted to announce a run of AAW anniversary shows in the US in March where we will play the album in full for the first time in America,” Alt-J says. “We hope you can join us.”

Tickets go on sale next Friday, December 9, at 10 a.m. local time. For all ticket info, visit AltJBand.com.

Alt-J’s most recent album is this year’s The Dream, which dropped in February.

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Neil Diamond to attend Sunday night’s opening of ‘A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical’

Neil Diamond to attend Sunday night’s opening of ‘A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical’
Neil Diamond to attend Sunday night’s opening of ‘A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical’
Courtesy A BEAUTIFUL NOISE Musical

Neil Diamond‘s been out of the spotlight since he announced in 2018 that he was retiring from touring after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. But the legendary artist will hit the red carpet this weekend for an event that’s all about his music and his legacy.

A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical will have its gala opening night Sunday at New York City’s Broadhurst Theatre. The man himself will be attending, along with Frankie Valli, record mogul Clive Davis, Bernadette Peters, Camryn Manheim, Audra McDonald, Lea Michele and Bob Gaudio.

Gaudio, a member of the Four Seasons, produced six albums for Diamond, as well as his hit Barbra Streisand duet “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers.” He’s a producer of the new musical.

The show tells Diamond’s story using many of his most beloved hits, from “Love on the Rocks,” “Sweet Caroline,” “I’m a Believer” and “Red Red Wine” to “Cracklin’ Rosie,” “Song Sung Blue,” “America” and many more.

According to a press release, the opening night is set to feature an “unforgettable red-carpet entrance” by Diamond, 81, as well as a “never-to-be-seen-again, surprise moment with one of the recording industry’s greatest living legends.” Will he join the cast onstage for a rendition of “Sweet Caroline”? Stay tuned.

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Music notes: Spice Girls, 98 Degrees, Idina Menzel, Harry Styles, Alessia Cara and Justin Bieber

Music notes: Spice Girls, 98 Degrees, Idina Menzel, Harry Styles, Alessia Cara and Justin Bieber
Music notes: Spice Girls, 98 Degrees, Idina Menzel, Harry Styles, Alessia Cara and Justin Bieber

Spice Girls’ Mel B was asked who she thought was the “biggest d***head celebrity” during her appearance on The Big Narstie Show. She said, “So, there’s a few … James CordenGeri Halliwell … Jessie J and me.” As for implicating fellow Spice Girl Geri, Mel said, “I love her to bits but she’s really f***ing annoying!”

98 Degrees‘ Drew Lachey announced he is hosting the free New Year’s Eve show at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, in Oklahoma, which features O-TownLFO and DJ Lux.

Idina Menzel told Variety her favorite Christmas movie is The Holiday and explained, “Jude Law is really hot and I just love the story and I love that they’re in the countryside of England and … It’s kinda Jude Law.”

Harry Styles can take full credit for the bells that play at the end of “As It Was.” Song co-writers Kid Harpoon and Tyler Johnson told Variety he not only had the idea for the tubular bells, he also played them in the song.

Alessia Cara introduced the characters she plays in her music video for “Jingle Bell Rock” and it’s apparent her fictional band, The Rats, is a parody of the British bands that sparked a craze in America in the 1960s.

Justin Bieber launched his clean water company Generosity. The company claims its technology “has the ability to convert any water source into premium drinking water.” It debuted at the FIFA World Cup.

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