Jack Harlow just released the music video for “Churchill Downs,” which was filmed where the iconic Kentucky Derby takes place, and PETA wasn’t a fan.
The animal rights activist group is calling on the rapper to donate all profits made off the clip to the racehorses. “PETA is calling on Harlow to donate the song’s proceeds toward caring for Thoroughbreds discarded by the industry,” they said in a statement.
PETA cited the abuse racehorses endure and remarked, “Three horses die on U.S. racetracks every day.”
“Profiting from the abuse of others is never acceptable, and PETA is calling on Jack Harlow to pony up and pay for the care of American Thoroughbreds,” said PETA Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo.
Neither Harlow nor his collaborator on the track, Drake, have responded to PETA’s request.
Country superstar Mickey Guyton announced she recently contracted COVID-19 and will no longer make her scheduled Saturday performance at the Roots Picnic in Philadelphia this weekend.
“After 2 1/2 years of dodging this virus, Covid has finally hit my doorstep,” she said in a note shared on Instagram. “I was SO looking forward to playing the Roots Picnic in Philadelphia on Saturday, but unfortunately, I’ve tested positive for Covid. It’s going to be such an amazing weekend and I can’t believe I have to miss it.” She added, “Hope to make it back soon, but until then, stay well!! ❤️ Mickey”
Guyton was among a list of stars and entertainers — like Mary J. Blige, Summer Walker, Tye Tribbett and G Herbo — who are set to take the stage in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park on Saturday and Sunday.
Although the four-time Grammy-nominated singer won’t make the music festival, she will appear in her CMTCrossroads episode alongside Texas-based band Black Pumpas, which airs on June 15.
R. Diamond/Getty Images; Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Jeff Beck has been joined by a very famous special guest on his current U.K. tour — guitarist Johnny Depp. At the British blues-rock guitarist’s latest concert, in Gateshead on Tuesday, he revealed that he and the Pirates of the Caribbean star will be releasing a collaborative album soon.
Stereogum reports that during the concert, Beck said to the audience, “I met this guy five years ago, and we’ve never stopped laughing since. We actually made an album. I don’t know how it happened. It will be out in July.”
According to Setlist.fm, Depp joined Beck at his last four U.K. concerts to perform several songs, including an original called “Hedy Lamarr.” They also covered John Lennon‘s “Isolation,” late Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson‘s “Time,” Marvin Gaye‘s “What’s Going On,” Jimi Hendrix‘s “Little Wing,” Killing Joke‘s “The Death and Resurrection Show” and The Beatles‘ “A Day in the Life.”
Beck and Depp actually released a collaborative studio version of “Isolation” as a digital single in 2020.
Depp’s latest performance with Beck came a day after Johnny scored a major legal victory against his ex-wife, Amber Heard, as jurors agreed that she defamed him with an op-ed she wrote for The Washington Post in December 2018.
Depp was awarded $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages in the defamation suit, although the judge clarified that Virginia law caps the latter at $350,000.
Depp, 58, sued Heard, 36, for $50 million, claiming the article obliquely — and falsely — accused him of abuse, which, he maintained, devastated his film career.
Beck has four concerts left on his U.K. trek, but it’s not known if Depp will perform at the upcoming shows.
Ari Lennox went Instagram official on Thursday with her rumored new boyfriend, Married at First Sight contestant, Keith Manley II.
The Grammy-nominated singer posted a photo of herself, later shared by The Neighborhood Talk, cozied up to the reality TV star and sitting comfortably with her leg propped up on his, while he snapped a picture of the two.
According to multiple reports, the duo appeared to be in San Diego together for a wedding recently, and even shared a series of pictures from the events and outings they attended.
The photos came as a surprise to many who remember Manley from the ninth season of Married at First Sight, as he went on to marry Iris Caldwell; they later divorced.
Lennox has publicly opened up about her relationship and dating life. Last year, she talked with singer Sevyn Streeter and choreographer Aliya Janell as part of Essence Magazine’sIf Not for My Girlsabout how she was “bored” with the men in her life.
“Or I’ll find someone incredibly interesting and then, like, the sex is terrible. And I’m sorry, but that’s important,” she said before adding that some potential partners were scared of her dog.
Seems like Manley might’ve passed both of those tests — if so, congrats to the new couple!
Carrie Underwood and Maren Morris, two country stars who worked with the late Deborah McCrary in the studio, have posted remembrances of the gospel singer, who was one fourth of The McCrary Sisters.
“I was blessed to have worked with her on so many occasions,” wrote Carrie, who most recently brought The McCrary Sisters into the studio during the recording of her holiday album, My Gift.
“She was always kind…always professional…always the anchor in whatever it was we were singing!” Carrie added. “I know she will be missed by so, so many.”
For her part, Maren posted video of her performance of “My Church” from the 2016 CMA Awards. Not only did The McCrary Sisters join her for that performance, but the foursome also lent their vocals to the studio version of Maren’s breakout hit.
“It is such a loss to Nashville and the entire music industry to lose Deborah McCrary today,” Maren wrote. “I’m praying for her family.”
Deborah McCrary died on June 1 at age 67. Along with her sisters Ann, Regina and Alfreda, Deborah was a mainstay gospel performer who appeared on festival and awards show stages, on records for many artists across genres, and was part of the “house band” at the annual Americana Honors & Awards Ceremony at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.
Information about services and an honorarium is forthcoming, according to a statement from the vocal group.
Revenge is a dish best served cold — but The Kid LAROI chose to enact his over a hot mic.
The “Stay” singer was in Adelaide, Australia, for a concert and opened up about his memories of living in the area. Telling the audience he went to school in the area “for, like, nine months,” he decided to call out the former teacher — by name — who told him he wouldn’t make it in music.
Claiming the teacher “sat me down one day” for a heart-to-heart, LAROI said he was told, “You’re not doing your work, you’ve got to quit music, it’s not going to do anything for you, you’re never going to go anywhere with it.”
Daily Mailreports a member of the audience said they had the same teacher, to which the singer quipped, “Tell her I said ‘F*** you,’ because look at me now!”
After taking a beat, the Grammy nominee said, “I only got love in my heart” for the teacher.
Despite a few claims from the audience, it is unknown if the teacher was at the concert to hear LAROI’s hot take.
Motionless in White has premiered the title track off the band’s upcoming album, Scoring the End of the World.
The song, which is available now via digital outlets, was recorded in collaboration with video game composer Mick Gordon, who also worked with Bring Me the Horizon on their Post Human: Survival Horror EP.
Scoring the End of the World the album also includes the previously released songs “Masterpiece,” “Cyberhex” and “Slaughterhouse.” The whole record drops next Friday, June 10.
Earlier this year, Motionless in White launched the Trinity of Terror Tour with Black Veil Brides and Ice Nine Kills. They’re playing a number of festivals this summer and fall, including When We Were Young in Las Vegas.
Katy Perry‘s PLAY residency is already pretty wild — it even has a talking turd — but her newest addition just might take the cake … or vape.
The Grammy nominee debuted Ratso the vaping rat on Thursday, calling him “the newest cast member” of her Las Vegas residency. “A huge thank u to the iconic, best selling [Harvey Fierstein] for lending his voice to the character. We wouldn’t have done it without you.”
In the accompanying introduction video, Katy is seen introducing Ratso to her crew and teasing him as “a fun new pet.” Ratso, who is pretty large, is part animatronic and part puppet: his face is animated with technology and a person takes charge of his bodily gestures. When he hits his vape, actual smoke pours out of his nostrils.
While it is unknown what role Ratso takes on in the PLAY storyline, the teaser video shows he has plenty of jokes and pessimistic advice for Katy.
Apparently, Katy has always wanted to use puppets in one of her shows and her Vegas residency was the perfect opportunity.
Katy resumes her residency Friday night, with additional shows running until August 13. She will then take a hiatus from Sin City and return later in October.
Tickets for the October dates are available to purchase on the venue’s official website starting Monday, June 6, at 10 a.m. PT.
Luke Bryan has earned countless awards, accolades and honors for his work in the country music genre, but there’s one milestone he’s been waiting his whole life to reach — and he just hit it.
That big moment, of course, is catching a fish over 10 pounds. Luke’s an avid fisherman, so much so that he recorded a song called “Bill Dance” — named after the famed professional fisherman — for his Born Here Live Here Die Here album in 2020.
Luke posted video of the special moment with a clip of that song playing in the background when he finally caught the fish of his dreams — an 11.6-pound largemouth bass.
“I’ve been waiting my whole life for this moment,” he wrote in the caption of his post. “11.6 baby.”
Luke’s currently taking a well-deserved fishing break after wrapping the latest season of American Idol, where he serves as a judge.
The Strokes had to cancel their set at Spain’s Primavera Sound festival this week due to COVID-19, but the band’s music was still heard thanks to Tame Impala.
Kevin Parker and company performed a cover of Strokes classic “Last Nite” during their Primavera Sound set Thursday. You can watch fan-shot footage of the rendition, which inspired an enthusiastic crowd singalong, now via YouTube.
Primavera Sound announced earlier this week that The Strokes would be canceling their Friday headlining set due to an “ongoing positive COVID-19 case” within the band. A positive test also forced The Strokes to pull out of last weekend’s Boston Calling festival.
The Strokes expect to return to the stage next Wednesday, June 8, for a show in Stockholm, Sweden. They’re also scheduled to play the second weekend of Primavera Sound on June 10.
