Music

Sheryl Lee Ralph and Janelle James of the hit ABC comedy sitcom Abbott Elementary joined Good Morning America‘s Robin Roberts and T.J. Holmes Tuesday morning to chat about the show’s upcoming second season. In addition to revealing why they wanted to join the breakout series, the stars say one of the “easy” parts of being on the show is working alongside the special ensemble cast. 

“We all just came right together,” Ralph said, speaking of the group of stars, which includes show creator Quinta Brunson and actors Tyler James Williams, Lisa Ann Walter and Chris Perfetti.

“I really think that a lot of that has to do with Quinta,” she said. “Quinta really handpicked each one of us and put this cast together.”

James agrees. She shared her thought that each characters is relatable, even hers — the antagonist school principal, Ava Coleman. 

“Everybody’s had that boss, where you get to that level and you’re just like, ‘How did you get this job?’ So it like reaffirms like, ‘Oh, I’m not crazy. These people exist,'” James said.

On how she became apart of the popular series, James says it was the compelling script, as well as the “hilarious” pilot that drew her in. And while she did audition for her role, the comedian joked that she’d “clean up in the background if that’s what needs to happen.”

As for Ralph, the 65-year-old actress — who also vied for the role of Principal Coleman — says she realized how special the show would be during a moment shared with James Williams while taping the pilot episode.  

“We both looked at each other and we were like, ‘Whoa, something is really happening here.'”

Ralph described that moment as someone “stirring a pot of magic.”

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Meghan Trainor is a Grammy-winning singer, television host, podcast host, mother of a young son and — if she gets her way — could be the next sitcom star.  The “All About That Bass” singer is working on a secret project with NBC, and she will soon find out if it gets the green light.

“I mean, we’re waiting right now. We’ve done all the steps,” Meghan teased to PopCulture. “I don’t know how much I can say, but right now we’re waiting for that green light from the top boss.”

The singer attested she’s done everything she could to get the project off the ground, saying, “It is in their hands, it’s in their court right now, and we’re all just holding our breath.”  As for how she feels about the wait, Meghan said it is a “really exciting” time for her.

Not much is known about Meghan’s upcoming series, as it was announced as part of a new cross-platform deal with NBCUniversal Television and Streaming Entertainment.  The deal — a first of its kind for the company — encompasses potential projects both scripted and unscripted across NBCU’s brands, which include NBC, Bravo, E!, Oxygen, SYFY, Universal Kids, USA and Peacock.

This means Meghan will also have the opportunity to create network, cable, streaming and syndication programming — but right now her focus is on getting that sitcom. 

Elsewhere, the “Me Too” singer is working hard on her next album and tells the outlet, “I’m doing more the doo-wop style, like my first album.”  But, unlike her first album, Title, this upcoming effort talks about motherhood. 

“I talk about that in my music,” said Meghan. “And I talk about also how it’s hard and I’m not perfect all the time. And I’m learning to love that.”

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Ghost has announced a U.S. tour with support from Mastodon and Spiritbox.

The summer trek kicks off August 26 in San Diego and will conclude September 23 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Tickets go on sale this Friday, May 20, at 10 a.m. local time.

For the full list of dates and all ticket info, visit Ghost-Official.com.

Ghost will be touring behind their new album Impera, which was released last March. It includes the singles “Hunter’s Moon” and “Call Me Little Sunshine,” both of which hit number one on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.

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Keith Whitley, Jerry Lee Lewis and music industry executive Joe Galante are the next three inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Brooks & Dunn announced the news during an event at Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on Tuesday morning, offering some words about each of the soon-to-be Hall of Famers.

Each year, the Hall inducts members in three categories; this year, Galante is being inducted under the Non-Performer rotating category. Whitley is the Hall’s Modern Era artist for 2022, and Lewis is the Veteran Era inductee.

Both Lewis and Galante were on hand to speak at the ceremony, with the 86-year-old Lewis delivering his remarks from a chair, wearing a glittering red sequined blazer. “I’m just overwhelmed that they asked me here today,” he told the room, adding that it was “always great to be recognized” and that his lengthy career has taught him to “be a good person, and treat your people right, treat your fans right.”

Lewis added that it was difficult for him to find the words to describe the honor he felt, and Galante echoed that sentiment in his own speech. “I’m humbled, beyond honored, and honestly, I’m still trying to wrap my head around this,” Galante said.

Meanwhile, the late Whitley’s wife, Lorrie Morgan — who is also a country star — spoke on his behalf, saying, “He would be absolutely blown away if he were here today. That’s how humble he was.”

The three inductees will be officially welcomed into the Country Music Hall of Fame during a Medallion Ceremony this fall.

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With Matt Cameron still absent from Pearl Jam‘s tour due to testing positive for COVID-19, the grunge rockers reunited with their original drummer, Dave Krusen, during their show Monday in Fresno, California.

According to a photo of the concert’s set list shared by the PJ Twitter, Krusen manned the kit for a run of songs off of Ten, including “Even Flow,” “Alive” and “Jeremy.” Ten, Pearl Jam’s Diamond-certified 1991 debut album, was the only album Krusen played on before leaving the band shortly after it was recorded.

Krusen previously reunited with Pearl Jam when he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame alongside Eddie Vedder and company in 2017. During the ceremony, he joined PJ for a performance of “Alive,” marking the first time he played with the band in over 25 years.

In addition to Krusen, Pearl Jam’s drummers for the Fresno show included Jeff Ament collaborator Richard Stuverud, and ex-Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist and current PJ touring member Josh Klinghoffer, who both also filled in for Cameron the last two shows he missed since testing positive last week. The first show also featured Pearl Jam jamming with a fan named Josh Arroyo, while the second show found an 18-year-old high school student named Kai Neukermans joining the band for a song.

Pearl Jam’s tour is set to continue Wednesday in Sacramento, California.

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BTS‘ V opened up about struggling to come to terms with fame and how it made him question who he really was.

In a video posted on his label Big Hit’s Twitter, the singer, whose real name is Kim Taehyung, spoke about BTS’ new album, Proof, and what songs stood out to him most.

V performs the demo tracks “Singularity” and “00:00 (Zero O’Clock)” on the record, saying he was drawn to the songs because of what they represent.

“I tended to think of Kim Taehyung and the artist V as being separate and thought that I had to choose one or the other,” he says, which is why he chose “Singularity” because that struggle was “visually portrayed” in the song’s music video.

“That was when I thought hard about who I was as a person and I felt a bit confused. Artist V performs on stage and enjoys himself with ARMY. But Kim Taehyung spends ordinary days with family and friends,” the Korean singer expressed.

V assured fans he no longer grapples with these thoughts, adding, “Now I’m able to accept both sides of myself, but also keep them separate. I’ve lessened the burden of thinking so much, too, just like how the day resets at midnight.”

The Grammy nominee insisted these thoughts “made me into who I am today.”

Proof arrives June 10 at midnight ET and is available to preorder now.

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Papa Roach and Falling in Reverse have announced a co-headlining U.S. tour.

The joint outing, dubbed the Rockzilla Summer tour, launches July 27 in East Providence, Rhode Island, and will wrap up August 31 in Nashville. Bad Wolves and Hollywood Undead will also be on the bill.

“We’re thrilled to bring an absolutely packed lineup — an evening of non-stop rock, to some amazing cities this summer,” says Papa Roach frontman Jacoby Shaddix. “We haven’t been to some of these cities in a long time…Only right that we celebrate with these amazing bands, who all are bringing heat of their own!”

Falling in Reverse’s Ronnie Radke adds, “We are very glad to bring out such a phenomenal lineup. Fans have asked for years for a FIR/Papa Roach tour, and now the time has finally come. Not to mention Hollywood Undead and Bad Wolves are also on the bill. This will be a tour to remember.”

Tickets go on sale this Friday, May 20, at 10 a.m. local time. For the full list of dates and all ticket info, visit PapaRoachMerch.com or FIRMerch.com.

Papa Roach released their latest album, Ego Trip, this past April. Falling in Reverse’s most recent release is the single “Zombified,” which just last month hit number one on Billboard‘s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.

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Harry Styles only has to wait a few more days until fans can listen to Harry’s House, his third studio album, which drops Friday.  To make the occasion all the more special, the singer is taking over a New York venue for a special event.

Harry announced the event, dubbed “ONE NIGHT ONLY IN NEW YORK,” will see him taking over UBS Arena at Belmont Park in Elmont, NY, this Friday.  He’ll perform the entirety of Harry’s House for the first time ever.

If you can’t make it to Elmont in person, no worries — the concert will be streamed exclusively on Apple Music in 167 countries around the world starting at 9 p.m. EST on May 20, the same day his album arrives.  There will also be several encore presentations airing on May 22 at 12 p.m. ET and May 26 at 11 a.m. ET.

Harry is very passionate about his new project, which he recently told Apple Music 1’s Zane Lowe, “This is my favorite album at the moment, and I love it so much.”

He also hinted Harry’s House is “so much more intimate” than his past works and that he’s excited to reintroduce himself with his new project.

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