Music

Fantasia Taylor, formerly Barrino, will take a moment away from filming duties on the upcoming movie musical The Color Purple to deliver a keynote address at The Women’s Expo in Atlanta this weekend. She and husband Kendall Taylor will engage in “honest” conversation about their marriage journey — the highs, lows and everything in between. It’s a discussion that began with their “Taylor Talks” social media show and expanded into a book, No Crowns in The Castle. ABC Audio caught up with the loving couple to chat about the book and all of the vulnerable storytelling within it.

“[On] our first date, transparency was the appetizer,” the couple joked as they delved into their love’s origin story dating back to 2015. They didn’t waste time chatting about favorite music or vacation spots, they instead got straight to the important issues, citing the fact they somehow “knew” they were each other’s perfect match. “We put the things out on the table … that most people have to find out and uncover,” Kendall said.

Opening up about the baggage they each carried — and graciously accepted of one another — was an easy part of the book-writing process, they say. Especially for Fantasia, who, as someone often in the limelight for her past struggles, tries to always be open and honest.

“When I was on Idol I was very transparent … they would sometimes pull me to the side and say, ‘You may not want to say this or say that,'” she said. Those who’ve followed Fantasia know she didn’t take that advice. She says without transparency, her past wouldn’t have led to her future.

More of Fantasia and Kendall’s educational yet blissful love story can be found in No Crowns in the Castle, available now.

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Zac Brown Band founding member John Driskell Hopkins had “tough news to share” on Friday: He announced that he’s been diagnosed with ALS, which is also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

With his ZBB bandmates by his side, John delivered his news in a video message, describing some of his symptoms and telling fans that, so far, the progression of the disease has been very gradual.

“Over the past several years, I’ve noticed some balance issues and some stiffness in my hands,” he said. “After careful analysis by some of the country’s top neurologists, I have been diagnosed with ALS. Because my symptoms have been slow progressing from the start, we believe that they will continue to be slow progressing going forward.”

He added, “God willing, I plan to be rocking with these amazing people for many years to come.”

An additional video message that John posted solo describes ALS as a “degenerative neuromuscular disease that has no cure,” also explaining that “[t]ypically, research shows a 3-5 year lifespan after diagnosis, but the slow progression stands to reason that I will be around longer than that.”

He also shared his family’s Hop on a Cure Foundation, which raises funds for research to find a cure for the disease.

Frontman Zac Brown spoke of the band’s work with the foundation in their video message. “The technology and research surrounding ALS treatments has been advancing, but we still don’t have a cure. Thanks so much for your prayers and support in helping us cure ALS,” he said.

The video ends with info on how to help the cause via the Hop on a Cure Foundation. To donate, text “Hop” to 345-345.

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Everyone wants to live in Harry’s House.

Harry Styles‘ new album just dropped at midnight Thursday, but it’s already broken an Apple Music record. In its first two hours on the streaming platform, Harry’s House earned the most first-day streams for a pop album released in 2022.

The singer’s One Night Only In New York debut performance of the new album at the UBS Arena in Queens will be streamed exclusively to Apple Music subscribers tonight, May 20, starting at 9 p.m. ET.  The stream will encore May 22 at 12 p.m. ET.

Meanwhile, nine locations of the Harry’s House pop-up shop are now open around the world, in Amsterdam, Berlin, Chicago, Dallas, London, L.A., New York, Paris and Toronto. The pop-up features exclusive merch designs not available anywhere else, such as album box sets, T-shirts, hoodies, towels, hats and totes.

In other Harry’s House news, according to the Los Angeles Times, the new album features John Mayer playing electric guitar on two songs: “Cinema” and “Daydreaming.”  Recently, Justin Bieber revealed that Mayer also plays guitar on his upcoming album.

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While Jason Aldean may be best known for his jam-packed career of country hits, his wife, Brittany, is quickly gaining notoriety for her interior design taste.

She gave fans a virtual house tour of the family’s new home in Florida this week, posting a montage of views of each room in the beachside abode. Light-filled interiors and beachy blues are a theme throughout the mansion, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the ocean and photos of family memories adorning the walls.

“This is for those of you who love home decor,” Brittany wrote. “I personally am obsessed with interiors…so here’s our new Florida home for some potential inspo!”

The master bedroom is decked out in denim blue, a fringed chandelier hanging from the ceiling and a balcony outside the windows. But it’s not just Brittany and Jason’s space that’s deluxe: Even the kids’ room is exquisitely decorated, with green wallpaper adorned with palm fronds and blue-and-green bunk beds.

At the end of her tour, Brittany shows off the most precious things of all in the new home: her family members. Jason sips a beverage in the kitchen, while toddler daughter Navy blows a kiss to the camera as she dances around in the hallway.

The Aldean family recently moved out to Florida, and both Brittany and Jason are self-described beach people who prefer a tropical lifestyle over the colder, more landlocked Nashville. In addition to Navy, they’re also parents to 4-year-old Memphis.

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Portugal. The Man may or may not have a crystal ball, but what they definitely do have is a cover of “Santeria.”

The “Feel It Still” outfit has put a spin on the Sublime classic, featuring lead vocals from band member Zoe Manville.

“Ever since the very beginnings of Portugal. The Man, there has been a conversation centered around Portugal. The Woman,” says guitarist Eric Howk. “Last summer, we wanted to take that conversation a step further. As a touring band that still couldn’t tour due to health and safety concerns, and with [frontman] John [Gourley] out of town working on the vocals for the upcoming PTM album, we decided to take advantage of the moment by recording some tracks in [keyboardist] Kyle [O’Quin‘s] basement with Zoe on lead vocals.”

“As we were working on several ’90s covers for [a radio show], we got a call to perform in support of the PDX March for Reproductive Rights,” Howk continues. “We jumped at the opportunity and got to let Zoe shine on lead vocals during a five-song Portugal. The Woman set, and shared one of the most inspiring moments any of us have ever had on a stage. This track hopes to capture that spirit of hope and warmth.”

You can listen to the “Santeria” cover streaming exclusively on Amazon Music.

Portugal. The Man released a new single called “What, Me Worry?” earlier this year. At the time, the band announced that a new album would be dropping in June, though no title or exact release date has been revealed yet.

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Tickets for Carrie Underwood’s 2022 Denim & Rhinestones Tour go on sale Friday, May 20, and to celebrate, the singer just dropped a twangy new tune off of her upcoming Denim & Rhinestones album.

Called “She Don’t Know,” the new tune revisits the vengeful, scorned-lover themes that made Carrie so popular with hits like “Before He Cheats.” This time around, Carrie’s lyrics describe an encounter with her partner’s other lover at a grocery store.

But Carrie’s got a secret: She’s wise to the games they’ve been playing, and she’s willing to bet that they won’t be happy together for long.

“But there’s a cruel world a-waitin’ outside of them motel sheets / ‘Cause he’ll find himself another Jezebel and she’ll end up just like me,” Carrie sings.

“She Don’t Know” is the most traditional country-leaning offering yet off of Denim & Rhinestones. So far, the album has explored a wide array of genre influences, borrowing from pop and disco styles on previously released tracks like “Ghost Story” and the title track.

Denim & Rhinestones is due out next month. Carrie’s tour starts in October.

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Deftones will be without guitarist Stephen Carpenter for the band’s upcoming international shows.

In a video statement posted Friday, Carpenter says, “As much as I would love to be on the road with my brothers right now playing for all of our incredible international fans, I’ve chosen to remain playing domestically for now.”

“With everything going on in the world, I’m just not ready to leave home or the country yet,” he adds.

Guitarist Lance Jackman will fill in for Carpenter in his absence.

“Give him some love,” Carpenter says. “Have a great time. I wish I could see every one of you. Thanks for your understanding.”

Deftones is set to launch a tour of Europe in June. Presumably, Carpenter will miss the band’s upcoming two shows in Canada this weekend, as well.

The Deftones’ lineup has already been looking different lately due to the departure of longtime bassist Sergio Vega, who left the band last year as the result of a contract dispute. Vega was replaced by former Marylin Manson bassist Fred Sablan.

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Today’s New Music Friday features an alternate version of new hit by a superstar, a long-awaited return and some follow-up singles by rising stars.

Sam Smith has released an intimate acoustic rendition of their new single “Love Me More,” and it comes with a performance video filmed at Los Angeles’ famed Capitol Records Tower, which you can watch now.

James Bay returns with “One Life,” from his forthcoming album Leap, due out in July. James tells the U.K.’s Official Charts Company, “‘One Life’ is a complete celebration of my journey so far with [my partner] Lucy and how important that part of my life is.”

Em Beihold‘s breakthrough single “Numb Little Bug” just went RIAA-certified Gold, and now she’s out with a new song and video: “Too Precious.” The piano-based tune finds Em telling someone they can’t be together because they want her to be a pot-smoking, reckless rebel and she just doesn’t roll like that.

Tai Verdes has dropped a new track called “100sadsongs,” which he says is about “living in the emotion of songs.” Tai will also perform on Sunday night’s American Idol finale on ABC.

Hayley Kiyoko‘s back with a new single called “For the Girls,” and the video features Hayley starring in a must-watch, all-female spin on The Bachelor. The song is from her upcoming album Panorama, out July 29. The video features a guest appearance by Hayley’s girlfriend, Bachelor alum Becca Tilley.

Oliver Tree has premiered a new song called “I Hate You.” The track isn’t exactly subtle, with lyrics including “I hate you/You’re the worst best friend I ever had.” Oliver’s newly announced headlining tour will start August 4 in San Diego. For the full list of dates and ticket info, visit OliverTreeMusic.com.

“If You Love Her” singer Forest Blakk is out with a new song called “Give You Love.” In a statement, he says, “When you fall for someone, you choose the good days along with the bad days … [it’s about] accepting the people you love for all they are and loving them for it!”

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