Music

Father’s Day is Sunday and one of pop music’s most high-profile dads, Michael Bublé, will soon become a father for the fourth time. He and his wife, Luisana Lopilato, already parents to sons Noah and Elias and daughter Vida, are expecting a baby girl.  Michael, whose Instagram bio lists him as “Devoted Papi,” couldn’t be happier.

“Very proud,” Michael told ABC Audio when asked how he feels about the fact that his wife is expecting again. He then joked, “Hard-earned I would say…a minute-and-a-half of some of the greatest work!”

All kidding aside, though, Michael evidently loves being a girl dad. He told ABC Audio, “I love having boys. I’ve got two boys. But when I heard it was a girl, I was so excited. Like, it’s amazing! There’s a kind of love that the girl gives you, and it’s so nice.”

But before he could be accused of playing favorites, Michael was careful to note, “I love having healthy kids, and I love being a dad. And I love that my wife went for one more. So I take as many as possible.”

You can see all three of Michael’s children in the video for his latest hit, “I’ll Never Not Love You.”  His son Noah, who’ll be nine in August, co-wrote the title track of Michael’s latest album, Higher.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Paul McCartney, arguably the most famous and influential rock artist on the planet, celebrates his 80th birthday this Saturday, January 18.

McCartney, of course, is known first and foremost for being a member of The Beatles, along with the late John Lennon, the late George Harrison and Ringo Starr. McCartney and Lennon co-led the band, which not only set countless charts records, but whose music and style changed popular culture.

After The Beatles’ 1970 breakup, McCartney mounted a successful solo career that included a long stint fronting the band Wings. He also took part in a variety of memorable collaborations.

The rock legend has remained a vibrant creative force into his golden years, as he continues to tour regularly and record new music.

On Thursday, McCartney wrapped up the first leg of his Got Back Tour, with a show at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and he’s scheduled to headline this year’s edition of the U.K.’s Glastonbury Festival on June 25.

Sir Paul’s most recent studio album, McCartney III, which he recorded almost entirely by himself during the COVID-19 lockdown, was released in December 2020.

The acclaimed Disney+ docuseries The Beatles: Get Back, which premiered in November 2021 and focused on the Fab Four’s historic January 1969 sessions that yielded the Let It Be album, sparked a renewed appreciation for McCartney’s creation contributions to the Fab Four.

Also in the past year, Paul appeared in the Hulu documentary miniseries McCartney 3,2,1, which featuring him in conversation with producer Rick Rubin; he published the illustrated children’s book Grandude’s Green Submarine, a sequel to his 2019 book, Hey Grandude!; and he released the book The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, which offers a self-portrait of the music icon while profiling 154 songs he’s written throughout his long career.

Meanwhile, a variety of special events are planned this weekend in McCartney’s hometown of Liverpool, U.K., to mark his milestone birthday. They include tribute concerts, a Macca-themed sightseeing tour and special performances at Paul’s childhood home. Find out more details about the celebrations at TheGuideLiverpool.com.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Maybe Thomas Rhett is just a trendsetter: In 2019, when he wrote his song “Bring the Bar to You,” he was feeling inspired by Latin music, but he had no idea that the Disney film Encanto was two years away from taking the world by storm.

Now, with “Bring the Bar to You” on the track list of his new album — and the namesake of his next tour — TR jokes that his song sounds quite a bit like one of the Encanto soundtrack’s most popular hits.

“And now that this song is coming out when ‘We Don’t Talk About Bruno’ is out at the same time, makes me feel really good about life,” he continues. “Because we have been watching Encanto severely. And this song reminds me of that song.”

Meanwhile, there’s another unintentionally timely element to “Bring the Bar to You”: He wrote it before the COVID-19 pandemic, but in light of the 2020 shutdowns, its themes of making your own fun instead of heading out to a bar are more relatable than ever.

TR and his wife, Lauren Akins, have certainly learned a thing or two about making a party for themselves at home. “Me and Lauren got real good at bringing the bar to each other during 2020. I don’t think we saw a bar for a year and a half,” he remembers.

“So we got really good at getting creative with date night,” Thomas adds, “whether it was cooking together, watching a movie downstairs, opening a bottle of wine, whatever it was.”

But it’s also a “party jam,” he points out, making it the perfect namesake for his tour. TR’s Bring the Bar to You Tour kicks off on Friday.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Coldplay is the 11th act in history to make over $1 billion in touring revenues, reports Billboard. The group achieved that milestone after finishing their North American leg of the Music of the Spheres tour. Coldplay has been touring almost nonstop for over 20 years, which is why they were able to achieve this ultra-rare feat.

Is Dove Cameron about to pull a Halsey? The “Boyfriend” singer took to TikTok to share a video of her “waiting (im)patiently for my label to give me the go ahead to drop my next single” and teased she should “just leak it anyway.” Dove says her new song, “Breakfast,” will drop on June 24.

John Legend turned the tables on his label by forcing them to do TikTok videos. He went around the office and asked workers what song of his they’re currently jamming to. A marketing manager then leaked the title of one of his new songs, “Honey.” He joked, “I was not forced to make this TikTok.”

Oops, she did it again!  Britney Spears deactivated her Instagram for a second time.  It is unknown when she’ll return.

Meghan Trainor teased more of her song “Bad For Me,” revealing it features artist Teddy Swims. She took to Instagram to share more of her single, which is about a toxic relationship, and previewed a portion of Teddy’s verse.

Harry Styles shouted out his old teacher who attended his concert in Manchester, England, reports Manchester Evening News. Harry told Mrs. Vernon, “I just want to thank you for everything in those formative years,” and joked to the audience, “Can you imagine dealing with me when I was 4?” Harry said it meant “a lot” to see his old educator in the crowd and told her, “I’m dedicating this next song to you.”

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Andy Grammer made one couple’s wedding dreams come true by singing at their ceremony. Andy explained on Instagram that the lovebirds asked him every day on TikTok and he couldn’t say no to their “sweetness, sincerity, playfulness and joy.” He said it was “an honor” to perform at their wedding.

Meghan Trainor teased more of her song “Bad For Me,” revealing it features artist Teddy Swims. She took to Instagram to share more of her single, which is about a toxic relationship, and previewed a portion of Teddy’s verse.

Harry Styles shouted out his old teacher who was at his concert in Manchester, England, reports Manchester Evening News. Harry told Mrs. Vernon, “I just want to thank you for everything in those formative years,” and joked to the audience, “Can you imagine dealing with me when I was 4?” Harry said it meant “a lot” to see his old educator in the crowd and told her, “I’m dedicating this next song to you.”

Kate Bush is delighted the younger generation has fallen in love with her 1985 hit “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” after it was featured on the new season of Stranger Things. She raved on her website, “I’ve never experienced anything quite like this before!” She also thanked the show’s creators because “the track is being discovered by a whole new audience.” Kate’s song is currently in fourth place on the Billboard Hot 100.

John Legend turned the tables on his label by forcing them to do TikTok videos. He went around the office and asked workers what song of his they’re currently jamming to. A marketing manager then leaked the title of one of his new songs, “Honey,” and had to run out of the room. He joked, “I was not forced to make this TikTok.”

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

(NOTE LANGUAGE) Comedian Jerrod Carmichael has flamed Dave Chappelle about jokes he made that some saw as transphobic.

In a conversation with GQ about coming out in the HBO comedy special Jerrod Carmichael: Rothaniel, Carmichael didn’t hold back about the controversy surrounding Chappelle and his rallying against cancel culture.

Netflix employees staged a walkout over Chappelle’s Netflix special The Closer last year, claiming it was “transphobic.”

In response, Chappelle said on the stand-up stage, “You said you want a safe environment at Netflix, but it seems like I’m the only one who can’t go to the office anymore.”

“Even though the media frames this as if it’s me vs. that community, that’s not what it is,” the Mark Twain Award winner insisted.

Chappelle said to the crowd, “Everyone I know from this community has been nothing but loving and supporting.” He called the controversy “nonsense.”

Carmichael says the threat of cancel culture is “not true,” calling it “a boogeyman to sell tickets.”

“Who’s getting canceled for what they’ve said? What does that mean, that people are mad on Twitter? These grown men are fine.”

Carmichael adds, “I think, a lot of times, people who offer nothing truthful or meaningful about themselves then complain about society at large and create this boogeyman. It’s like, listen, that’s the most urgent thing in your life? God bless you. I’m tired of hearing it.”

Calling out his fellow comedian by name, Carmichael said, “Chappelle, do you know what comes up when you Google your name, bro? … Your legacy is a bunch of opinions on trans sh**? It’s an odd hill to die on.”

Carmichael continues, “And it’s like, ‘Hey, bro. Who the f***are you? Who do you f***? What do you like to do?’ Childish jokes aside, who the fuck are you? It’s just kind of played.”

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Willie Nelson duets with his son Micah Nelson — aka musical artist Particle Kid — on a new song out Thursday, called “Die When I’m High (Halfway to Heaven).”

Elvie Shane’s breakout hit “My Boy” has officially been certified RIAA Platinum. The song was a viral hit that also earned Elvie his first #1 at country radio.

Caitlyn Smith has announced new United Kingdom tour dates for this October. Tickets are available now.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.