Music

ABC News will be commemorating Juneteenth and Black Music Month with a special featuring some of music’s biggest stars.

Set to air on Friday, June 17, Sound of Freedom – A Juneteenth Celebration, presented by the network’s Soul of a Nation series, will be hosted by country music star Jimmie Allen and will include performances from Patti LaBelle, Marvin Sapp and Jon Batiste. Also expected are conversations with Ciara, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who will discuss the importance of ownership in music with ABC News’ Janai Norman, as well as a segment that will see ABC News correspondent Rachel Scott put a spotlight on some of the “all-Black production teams behind major artists and groups.”

The primetime special is set to air Friday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and will be available to stream on Hulu the following day. It’s the third year in a row that the network has produced the special, but according to co-executive producer Catherine McKenzie, it is one of the most important specials to date.

“From gospel and country to jazz, rock and today’s pop hits, every genre of American music is influenced by the Black Diaspora and our stories of survival, joy, pain and resilience,” McKenzie says in a press release. “We’re looking forward to taking viewers on this musical journey in one of our most significant specials yet.” 

Co-executive producer Quiana Burns adds that it’s “a must-watch for all viewers.”

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Shortly after revealing she moved to Kentucky, Katy Perry has packed her bags and is now living Down Under with fiancé Orlando Bloom.

Marie Claire Australia reports the “Roar” singer was spotted at Sydney Airport with 13 bags of luggage. Katy reportedly donned a disguise for her big move and had daughter Daisy Dove with her. Witnesses say the family boarded a private plane to Cairns, and word on the street is they’ll be living there for the next three months.

Bloom has been cast in the movie Wizards! alongside Pete Davidson and Naomi Scott. Deadline reports the movie follows two potheads who find themselves in hot water after getting their hands on some stolen property.  It is unknown what role Bloom has in the film.

Last month, Katy revealed on the Dear Chelsea podcast that she had been living in Kentucky. As with this new move to Australia, she had been in the Southern state to support her fiancé as he filmed Red Right Hand.

For those wondering how this will affect her PLAY residency in Las Vegas, the concert series picks up on July 29 — giving Katy plenty of time to enjoy the great Down Under with her family.

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Arcade Fire‘s new album WE has made the long list for the 2022 Polaris Music Prize.

The prestigious honor is given to the best Canadian album of the year and awards the winning artist $50,000.

WE is one of 40 albums that are included on the long list, which was whittled down from a total of 223 records that were considered. Its competition includes pop star The Weeknd‘s Dawn FM and masked country musician Orville Peck‘s Bronco.

The short list of the final 10 albums will be revealed July 14, ahead of the Polaris Gala on September 19.

Arcade Fire, which hails from Montreal, previously won the 2011 Polaris Music Prize for The Suburbs. They also made the short list with 2007’s Neon Bible and 2013’s Reflektor.

WE, Arcade Fire’s sixth studio album, was released in May. The band will launch a U.S. tour in support of the record in October.

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Jennifer Hudson shared a video reacting to becoming an EGOT winner after she achieved the status at the 2022 Tony Awards Sunday.

The actress, producer and singer was nominated in the best musical category as one of the producers of the hit Broadway show A Strange Loop.

Other co-producers for the show include RuPaul Charles, Alan Cumming, Ilana Glazer, Mindy Kaling and Billy Porter.

Hudson’s video showed her giving a toast to celebrate the best musical win. “As I said when I won the Oscar, look what God can do,” she shared in the video. “Well, he did it again.”

She expanded on her feelings on the win in the caption of her post. “I am overwhelmed by all the outpouring of love and support that I am Still receiving and I’m still processing this whole new ground,” she detailed. “What an honor!”

“Thank u all for being with me on this journey,” she continued. “I could not live this life without u.”

Achieving EGOT status requires winning a Grammy, an Emmy, a Tony and an Oscar.

Along with her Tony Award, Hudson’s wins that led to her achieving EGOT status include an Oscar for best supporting actress for Dreamgirls at the 2007 Academy Awards; a Daytime Emmy for executive producing the 2020 animated film Baby Yaga; and Grammy awards in 2017 for The Color Purple and in 2009 for best R&B album for her self-titled debut album.

Hudson also shared a post featuring the entire team behind A Strange Loop and wrote about how special the night was for them.

“What a night! Filled with so many memorable moments!” she captioned her post. “I am so inspired by people who are passionate about their craft! Congratulations to everyone on their well-deserved awards and their beautiful performances!”

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Chris Stapleton is the latest artist to get his own exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Called Chris Stapleton: Since 1978, the exhibit will open on July 1 and run through May 14, 2023. Museum-goers will be able to revisit Chris’ biography and song catalog, starting from his childhood in rural eastern Kentucky and chronicling his move toward songwriting and eventually, country music stardom.

The exhibit will feature a number of outfits, instruments, trophies and other personal effects from over the course of Chris’ storied career. Among those artifacts will be his 1966 Gibson Trini Lopez Standard electric guitar, which he used to record his song “Traveller.”

Fans can also check out Chris’ Waffle House Golden Waffle Award, which recognizes his status as the most-played artist on Waffle House jukeboxes in 2019, plus a LEGO model of the singer and his band, which was used to create the animated, LEGO-themed video for his song, “Second One to Know.”

Chris’ Hall of Fame exhibit is presented by Ram Trucks; the singer is a longtime partner with the brand.

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We’re inching closer to new Disturbed music.

In an Instagram post Tuesday, guitarist Dan Donegan shared that the band was filming a video for the first single off their upcoming album.

“First single off the new album coming in the very near future,” he wrote in the caption.

Earlier this year, frontman David Draiman shared that the record, the follow-up to 2018’s Evolution, was “completed.” In a tweet earlier this month, Draiman wrote that he was “very proud” of the “amazing” album, adding that it includes a “surprise track…that’s going to blow your minds.”

Disturbed will be playing a number of U.S. festivals this summer, including Summerfest and Inkcarceration.

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Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, who died in March at age 50 when the band was on tour in Colombia, is being saluted with two all-star tribute concerts in September — and Miley Cyrus and Alanis Morissette are on the bill for one of them.

Miley and Alanis are among the many, many stars who’ll be performing at The Kia Forum in Los Angeles on September 27. Mark Ronson is also on the bill, as are Joan Jett and members of KISS, Queen, The Police, Rush and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Another concert with some of the same performers will take place September 3 at London’s Wembley Stadium, though Alanis and Miley aren’t part of that show.

The concept of the show is that Hawkins’ “bandmates and his inspirations” will be “playing the songs that he fell in love with, and the ones he brought to life.” So where do Miley and Alanis fit in? 

Well, from 1995 to 1997, before Hawkins joined Foo Fighters, he was Alanis’ drummer on her tour supporting her album Jagged Little Pill. He also appears in her videos for “You Oughta Know,” “All I Really Want” and “You Learn.”

As for Miley, she and Hawkins were friends; he played on her 2021 album Plastic Hearts. She and Foo Fighters headlined the Lollapalooza Chile festival on March 18 and 19. After Hawkins died on March 25, she filled in for Foo Fighters at Lollapalooza Brazil and dedicated her show to him.

Tickets to both shows go on sale this Friday, June 17 at 9 a.m. local time. Proceeds will benefit charities in the U.K. and U.S. chosen by the Hawkins family.

For more info, visit FooFighters.com.

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After announcing the performers for the Taylor Hawkins tribute concert in London, Foo Fighters have now revealed the lineup for the Los Angeles show.

The LA bill includes many artists who are also booked for the London performance, including Queens of the Stone Age‘s Josh Homme, Queen‘s Brian May and Roger Taylor, Rush‘s Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, Jane’s Addiction‘s Chris Chaney, Wolfgang Van Halen, The Police‘s Stewart Copeland, producer Mark Ronson and drummer/producer Omar Hakim.

Additionally, the lineup features a number of acts exclusive to the LA date, including Miley Cyrus, Joan Jett, Alanis Morissette, KISS‘ Gene Simmons, Mötley Crüe‘s Nikki Sixx, Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ Chad Smith, The Struts‘ Luke Spiller, Rage Against the Machine‘s Brad Wilk and Weezer‘s Pat Wilson.

Artists including Liam Gallagher and Chrissie Hynde of Pretenders are exclusive to the London lineup. Comedian Dave Chappelle will also be making a “special appearance” in the London show.

The guests will be “playing the songs that Taylor loved and created, with and alongside his FF brothers Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett, Pat Smear and Rami Jaffee,” a press release says.

As previously reported, the concerts will take place September 3 at London’s Wembley Stadium and September 27 at LA’s Kia Forum. Tickets to both shows go on sale this Friday, June 17 at 9 a.m. local time. Proceeds will benefit charities in the U.K. and U.S. chosen by the Hawkins family.

For more info, visit FooFighters.com.

Hawkins died on March 25 at age 50.

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