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Britney Spears’ lawyer calls Jamie Spears “morally abominable” in latest deposition showdown

June 29, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Britney Spears may have been released from her restrictive 13-year conservatorship, but her legal woes are far from over.

TMZ reports her lawyer, Mathew Rosengart, is butting heads with the pop singer’s father, Jamie Spears. The family patriarch asked a judge to compel his daughter to sit for a deposition. Rosengart says the request was made “shortly after his daughter’s wedding and just before Father’s Day.”

Rosengart argued Jamie’s “shameless” request was out of “revenge,” which he said is “morally abominable.” The attorney admonished, “Mr. Spears refuses to simply go away, as he should and as any decent man or father would do.”

As previously reported, both parties have been wrestling for more than six months to compel both Britney and Jamie to sit for their respective depositions. Jamie’s attorney, Alex Weingarten, previously stated his client would answer Rosengart’s questions — but only if the “Toxic” singer agrees to be deposed by him.

Rosengart previously said he wants Jamie to answer questions — under oath — about alleged financial misconduct during Britney’s conservatorship. Rosengart also wants Jamie to respond to the allegations that he bugged Britney’s bedroom and recorded her private conversations — and paid for it with Britney’s money.

It is not known what questions Britney would be asked should she be deposed. Since her bombshell testimony last June, she leveled numerous and often serious accusations against her family. She called the conservatorship “abusive” and alleged she was forced against her will to take medication, enter a mental health facility and have an IUD contraceptive inserted.

Britney could be compelled to clarify her remarks.

Depositions aside, Britney is also fighting against separate requests from Jamie and her mother, Lynne Spears, to pay their attorney fees. The next major hearing is set for July 27.

Dermot Kennedy announces new album ‘Sonder,’ releases new song “Dreamer”

June 29, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Irish artist Dermot Kennedy, who’s currently on the road opening for Shawn Mendes on his Wonder tour, has announced details of his second album.

The project, called Sonder, will be out September 23. The title is a term that was coined in the book The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, and is defined as “the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own.”

In a statement, the “Something to Someone” artist says, “The meaning behind ‘Sonder’ has resonated with me so much for years. I exist in an industry where we’re encouraged to constantly only think about ourselves and I find that exhausting and uninspiring. I want to learn about you.”

He adds, “Let us share all of our triumphs, all of our troubles. Let this music belong to all of us, to find our own stories and our own solace within it.”

Dermot has also released a new song from the project called “Dreamer,” along with a video.

He’ll be on tour with Shawn through August 20. He’ll then play the Life Is Beautiful Festival in Nevada on September 18 and Eddie Vedder‘s Ohana Festival in California on September 30.

Johnny Cash’s former California home is up for sale

June 29, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Johnny Cash‘s former California home is up for sale, and it’s fit for a country king.

The home was originally built in 1961 in Ventura County, about an hour outside of Los Angeles, where the “Ring of Fire” singer and his first wife, Vivian, lived when traveling to California. The five-bedroom, ranch-style home was built specifically to cater to Cash’s taste is now selling for just under $1.8 million.

The Hollywood Reporter states that many of the home’s original features remain intact, including ceilings adorned with glitter, a wood-paneled studio where Cash wrote and recorded songs, an intercom system and even a turntable mounted on the wall.

Photos reveal that the property includes a pair of bedroom suites and Cash’s black commode in the bathroom, while the master bedroom offers stunning views of rolling hills. The house is also equipped with an in-ground pool.

According to the listing, Johnny and Vivian used the house as a “serene getaway” for them and their four daughters Rosanne, Tara, Cindy and Kathy. “You can feel the spirit of ‘The Man in Black’ as you traverse the private driveway towards the iconic house,” as described in a statement.

Calvin Harris taps Halsey, Justin Timberlake, Charlie Puth, Normani for ‘Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 2’

June 29, 2022 by WDNY Radio

We’ve already heard “Potion,” the first single from Calvin Harris‘ new album, Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 2. It features Dua Lipa and Young Thug, but it turns out that’s just the tip of the iceberg in terms of big-name guest stars on the album.

On his socials, Calvin posted a video running down the full lineup of features on the project, and they include Halsey, Justin Timberlake, Charlie Puth, Normani, Chloe and Pharrell Williams, plus a who’s who of hip-hop stars, including Latto, Offset, 21 Savage, Pusha T, Busta Rhymes, Swae Lee and Snoop Dogg.

The album is now available to be presaved; it’s out August 5.

Calvin’s Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1 came out in 2017 and featured an equally star-studded lineup, including Katy Perry, Ariana Grande, Khalid, John Legend, Nicki Ninaj, Frank Ocean, Travis Scott and Future. Artists who appeared on that first volume and are back for another round include Pharrell, Young Thug and Snoop.

Brandy remembers embarrassing moment with her idol: “I fainted when I met Michael Jackson”

June 29, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Brandy is celebrating the 20th anniversary of her 2002 Platinum album, Full Moon, and as she looks back at recording the music, she will never forget an embarrassing meeting with Michael Jackson.

The album was recorded at the Hit Factory in Miami with producer Rodney Jerkins, who was also simultaneously recording songs for Jackson’s final studio album, Invincible, in the next room.

The Moesha star sang background on one song on Invincible, “Unbreakable,” and Michael is heard ad-libbing on the track “It’s Not Worth It” on Full Moon.

Brandy remembers she was overwhelmed meeting her idol.

“I fainted when I met Michael Jackson,” she told Billboard. “My brother [Ray J] was like, ‘B, get up! You’re embarrassing. Get up right now! This is Michael Jackson, and you are on the floor! Get up!’ And then Michael was like, ‘It’s OK. It’s OK. This has happened before.’”

Full Moon became Brandy’s first project to top the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Album chart and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary R&B Album.

The album was known for how Brandy stacked her vocal harmonies, a skill Quincy Jones says reminded him of Jackson.

“When I had an opportunity to work with Quincy when I was younger, he told my dad, ‘Brandy has something that Michael Jackson has,’” she recalled.

“’She can stack her voice and it’ll sound like one person, like it can kind of trick computers.’ And I’m like, ‘Dad, he did not say that! Really? Quincy Jones said that?’ I took that in, and I was ready.”

Now 20 years later, Brandy is overwhelmed by how other stars say they admire her music

“I heard H.E.R. say, ‘I felt like when I started listening to Brandy, I started singing better.’ And this is H.E.R., she’s amazing!”

R. Kelly sentenced to 30 years in prison

June 29, 2022 by WDNY Radio

R. Kelly has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.

The singer was sentenced in Brooklyn federal court for a racketeering conviction that involved a dozen separate criminal acts, including sex with underage girls.

In September 2021, Kelly, born Robert Sylvester Kelly, was found guilty of leading a criminal enterprise that recruited women and girls for sex. The charges also included a bribery scheme involving a public official to get a fake ID for Aaliyah so the two could get married when she was 15.

Kelly, 55, had pleaded not guilty to all nine counts he faced and told a Brooklyn judge that he would not testify. He faced a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and up to life in prison.

Kelly previously avoided prison in 2008 when he was acquitted on 14 counts in a highly publicized child pornography case.

Brantley Gilbert, Carly Pearce sign on for Grand Ole Opry’s Music City Grand Prix showcase

June 29, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Brantley Gilbert and Carly Pearce have been announced as the headliners for the Grand Ole Opry showcase that will take place in downtown Nashville during the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix.

Billed as the Grand Ole Prix, the event will be held August 7, following the NTT Indycar Series race on the Nissan Stadium Campus. It’ll be the second year the event has taken place in Nashville.

Joining Brantley and Carly on the bill are Midland and up-and-comer Callista Clark.

Tickets to Sunday’s racing festivities include admission to the show, which will kick off at 5:45 p.m. on the ZYN Main Stage. Three-day tickets and premium passes to the Grand Prix are still available, with three-day tickets beginning at $129 for general admission. Reserved grandstand upgrades are also available for purchase.

ABBA’s Benny Andersson covers Foo Fighters’ “Learn to Fly”; early Taylor Hawkins band releases tribute EP

June 29, 2022 by WDNY Radio

After Dave Grohl wore an ABBA shirt for his surprise appearance during Paul McCartney‘s headlining Glastonbury set over the weekend, the Swedish pop giants’ Benny Andersson is repaying the favor with a Foo Fighters cover.

In a video posted to Instagram, Andersson plays a piano rendition of the classic Foos tune “Learn to Fly.” At the end of the clip, Andersson turns to the camera and smiles to reveal he’s wearing a Foo Fighters shirt.

Grohl is a big ABBA fan and even told the BBC that he “wept like a baby” when he first heard the group’s comeback songs last year.

Beyond the ABBA shout-out, Grohl’s appearance at Glastonbury was significant for being his first public performance since the unexpected death of Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins in March. Video of Grohl at the festival shows a letter T drawn on his hand, presumably in tribute to Hawkins.

In related news, the band Anyone, which Hawkins played in before he joined Foo Fighters and even before he joined Alanis Morissette‘s live lineup, has released an EP as a tribute to the late drummer. The five-track collection, dubbed The Sylvia Sessions, was recorded in 1993 and is described in a press release as Hawkins’ “earliest recordings.”

Anyone, then called Sylvia, also notably featured future Yes vocalist Jon Davison, who was friends with Hawkins since childhood. Vocalist and guitarist Riz Story is the only remaining member still in the band.

You can listen to The Sylvia Sessions now via digital outlets. The EP is also available as an NFT.

For more info, visit AnyoneDen.net.

Avril Lavigne pokes fun at conspiracy theory that she’s a body double

June 29, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Avril Lavigne took a swipe at that age-old theory that she is not actually the “Complicated” singer — but a body double.

The “Avril Lavigne is dead” theory popped up in the mid-aughts and claimed the real Avril had died, so a look-alike named Melissa Vandella took her place. To put it succinctly, it’s a modern-day version of the “Paul McCartney is dead” conspiracy theory that took off in the late 60s.

Avril never really entertained the conspiracy theory until she parodied the top comments she’s received on social media in a TikTok video on Tuesday.

While a good amount of fans jokingly ask her, “Why’d you have to go and make things so Complicated?,” swarms of people bombard her with, “Are you the real Avril?” Avril is seen laughing at the top comment as she jokingly kicks toward the camera.

Of course, the comment section filled up with people demanding she prove she’s the real Avril — so she did.

On Wednesday, the “Sk8er Boi” singer decided to recreate the cover of her debut album, Let Go, which celebrated its 20th anniversary this month.

Avril donned similar clothes to what she wore two decades ago and posed in the center of a city crosswalk — causing fans to note she hasn’t aged a day since she released her debut.

Avril captioned the fun video, “20 years later…”

She also soundtracked the clip to Simple Plan’s “I’m Just a Kid,” to which the rockers commented, “This is amazing! Happy 20th Anniversary!”

Limited-edition Cat Stevens signature acoustic guitar released by Gibson

June 29, 2022 by WDNY Radio

A new signature Cat Stevens acoustic guitar — based on the Gibson J-180 model the British singer/songwriter used to create some of his classic 1970s recordings — has been released by the Gibson Acoustic Custom Shop.

The Gibson Cat Stevens J-180 Collector’s Edition can be purchased now at select instrument dealers around the world and at Gibson.com for the list price of $7,499. Only 50 of the limited-edition guitars have been produced.

The Cat Stevens J-180 guitar features a Sitka spruce top, a star-and-moon design made of mother of pearl on the headstock, star-shaped mother of pearl fretboard inlays and an interior label signed by Stevens, who now is also is known as Yusuf.

The instrument also comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and a selection of collectible Stevens-inspired patches, pins and stickers, as well as a black hardshell case featuring a white cat design.

Stevens purchased his original J-180, a guitar model that had been created for The Everly Brothers, in 1969 at London’s famed Selmer’s Music Shop. He used the guitar extensively on his early 1970s albums Mona Bone Jakon, Tea for the Tillerman and Teaser and the Firecat. Among the memorable tunes he wrote and recorded using his J-180 are “Wild World, “Peace Train” and “Father and Son.”

“I really turned a corner when I got my hands on a black Gibson Everly Brothers J-180,” Yusuf/Stevens explains. “It was my favourite guitar, and it had a very easy action. I played it almost percussively, and that sound gave real character to my recordings. It looked amazing too! Handling the new model is like going back in time to when I first started playing.”

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