Nicki Minaj & Tasha Cobbs Leondard’s “Blessings” is a ‘Billboard’ #1

December 20, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Nicki Minaj continues to rake in top honors with Pink Friday 2. This time she’s earned the #1 spot on Billboard‘s Top Gospel Songs chart.

It’s thanks to “Blessings,” the #20 track on the hit album, which features gospel great Tasha Cobbs Leonard.

The chart achievement makes it Nicki’s second gospel song to top the chart and Leonard’s fifth. They previously led with “I’m Getting Ready” in September 2017.

Luminate data acquired by Billboard shows the song garnered 3.1 million official U.S. streams.

Pink Friday 2, Nicki’s highly anticipated fifth studio project, arrived at #1 on the all-genre Billboard 200 albums chart, becoming the rapper’s third album to do so.

Per Billboard, the album’s debut marks the largest week for a rap album by a woman in the 2020s and the biggest for an R&B/hip-hop album by a woman this year.

Billy Joel joined by his daughters, Elvis Costello at 97th Madison Square Garden show

December 20, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Billy Joel got into the holiday spirit at his Tuesday, December 19, concert at New York’s Madison Square Garden, the 97th show of his residency at the venue.

Billy performed several holiday tunes during the pre-Christmas show, starting off by bringing out his two young daughters, Della, 8, and Remy, 6, for “Jingle Bells.” The little surprise guests were decked out in bright green dresses for the occasion.

According to setlist.fm, the show also featured performances of such holiday staples as “Deck the Halls,” “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Silent Night” and “Hark The Herald Angels Sing.”

But those weren’t the only surprises in store for Joel’s fans at MSG. The show also featured a guest appearance by Elvis Costello, with the pair performing Elvis and The Attractions‘ “Pump It Up,” followed by Billy’s “Allentown.”

Billy also threw in covers of “Barbara Ann,” “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” and a partial cover of The Rolling Stones’ “Start Me Up” — Billy even attempted his best Mick Jagger moves.

Joel is getting ready to wrap up his MSG residency in 2024, with the final show set to happen July 25. A complete list of dates can be found at billyjoel.com.

T-Pain announces first-ever Las Vegas residency: “Let’s turn up!”

December 20, 2023 by WDNY Radio

T-Pain is headed to Vegas.

The “Bartender” hitmaker scored his first-ever Las Vegas residency set to kick off during Super Bowl weekend in February.

In partnership with Zouk Group and Resorts World Las Vegas, T-Pain will take center stage performing some of his greatest hits, at the Zouk Nightclub and the venue’s Ayu Dayclub.

Announced 2024 T-Pain residency dates include: February 8, April 20 and July 11 at Zouk, and a May 26 show at Ayu.

“2024 is going to be a great year,” he said. “I’ve been fortunate to have an amazing career and I’ve always dreamed of having a residency of my own. I’ve got some special surprises up my sleeve, so Vegas – let’s turn up!”

Tickets for T-Pain’s residency can be purchased at zoukgrouplv.com.

‘The Voice’ Crowns season 24 winner

December 20, 2023 by WDNY Radio

The Voice revealed its season 24 winner — Huntly, from Niall Horan‘s team. It’s the former One Direction singer’s second win in as many seasons on The Voice.

Huntly, the 33-year-old rocker from Fredericksburg, Virginia, beat out Team Reba McEntire‘s teen bluegrass artist Ruby Leigh, who finished second. Team Niall’s Mara Justine finished third, followed by Team Reba’s Jacquie Roar in 4th place and Team John Legend’s Lila Forde in 5th place. Coach Gwen Stefani was shut out of the finale.

Horan became the second coach to win in their first two seasons on the show, joining Kelly Clarkson, who won seasons 14 and 15.

However, Niall won’t get a chance to make it three for three after previously announcing he’d be taking a break from the show due to his busy touring schedule. Horan is gearing up for his The Show world tour in 2024. Grammy-winning country duo Dan + Shay will take over for him in season 25, which is set to air in spring 2024.

New Buddy Holly book features contributions from The Who, Eric Clapton & more

December 20, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Buddy Holly’s life and career are the subjects of a new book, Words of Love, being released by Genesis Publications in collaboration with Holly’s widow, María Elena Holly, and the Buddy Holly Educational Foundation.

The book, conceived in 2017 by The Who’s Roger Daltrey, shares Holly’s life and legacy through never-before-seen photos and personal items, along with stories by María Elena and contributions from artists like Eric Clapton, Robert Plant, Keith Richards, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Pete Townshend, Van Morrison and Brian May.

Along with their contributions, each artist adds a handwritten dedication to Holly.

The book is available for preorder in three limited-edition collectible box sets, with original cover art by The Rolling Stones’ Ronnie Wood.

The most expensive of the three is the Luthier edition, numbered 551 to 559, which sells for over $13,000. It includes a leather-bound copy of the book with gold foiling and gold edging, signed by Daltrey, Townshend and María Elena. It comes with a limited-edition replica of Holly’s Gibson J45 guitar, on which he wrote such songs as “Send Me Some Lovin'” and “Everyday,” and a 7–inch vinyl with two rare home recordings by Holly.

Proceeds from book sales will be donated to Teenage Cancer Trust and Teen Cancer America, the cancer charities co-founded by Daltrey and Townshend.

Pentatonix wanted to craft “a Christmas classic” with “Please Santa Please”

December 20, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Pentatonix are going to wrap up their Most Wonderful Tour of the Year holiday trek on December 21, and one of the highlights has been performing their current single, “Please Santa Please.” Group member Kirstin Maldonado says when writing the song they were specifically going for a vibe of another well-known Christmas classic.

“We just wanted to make a Christmas classic that felt really, really fun and had a lot of high energy, like ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ vibes,” Kirstin tells ABC Audio, referring to Mariah Carey‘s smash. “And I really feel like we did that, and brought a really fun, joyous song into the mix.”

If you missed the Pentatonix Christmas tour, you can see them making a cameo in the Prime Video holiday movie Candy Cane Lane, starring Eddie Murphy, Tracee Ellis Ross, David Alan Grier and Robin Thede. Pentatonix member Matt Sallee says filming the movie was “so much fun” because of the cast.

“We didn’t know all the actors that were going to be in the movie,” he says. “So when we showed up on the set and [there were] all these comedians … it was just, like, such a wild experience.”

“We’re sitting in a sleigh at the end of the movie … [and we] couldn’t stop laughing,” he adds. “‘Cause these comedians are just, like, endlessly funny, and it was such a good process.”

With the tour ending, Pentatonix can go off to celebrate the holiday with their families. It’s group member Scott Hoying‘s first Christmas as a married man; Kirstin says she got her 17-month-old daughter, Elliana, who loves playing with water, a ladder and “a little play toy sink.”

“She got me all of that, too,” Scott jokes.

Way Down We Rome: Kaleo to headline concert at Colosseum

December 19, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Are you not entertained by normal concerts? Then perhaps you’d be more interested in Kaleo‘s next show.

The Icelandic rockers are set to perform at the famed Colosseum in Rome. The concert, which Kaleo calls a “once-in-a-lifetime event,” is set to take place on March 2.

The show is being produced by Vertigo Live, which also put on a Billy Idol performance at the Hoover Dam in Nevada. For more info, visit VertigoLive.os.fan/kaleo.

Kaleo, by the way, is used to playing in unique environments. They’ve previously released videos filmed on an iceberg and at volcanoes, both dormant and active.

The Colosseum concert follows Kaleo’s July announcement that they were taking a hiatus from touring, which meant dropping off a U.S. run opening for Greta Van Fleet.

“After performing nearly 100 times across the globe in 2022, our intention was to rest, recharge and focus on personal well-being, both mental and physical,” Kaleo wrote at the time. “Unfortunately, due to prior commitments, we failed to follow our own plan and it has taken its toll.”

If you can’t make it to Italy, Kaleo’s 2024 plans also include a set at Texas’ Cattle Country Music Festival in April.

Planned series about The Rolling Stones in search of new home after being dropped by FX

December 19, 2023 by WDNY Radio

A planned series about the early days of The Rolling Stones has hit a snag. The show was originally in production at FX, but now its producer, Andy Harries, tells Deadline he’s looking for a new home for the show.

“It’s not in with FX [anymore], unfortunately,” Harries, CEO of Left Bank Pictures, which produced Netflix’s The Crown, tells the site. “It did take a tumble out because of the cutbacks at Disney. It was just too expensive and too ambitious for the immediate agenda.”

The planned series was first announced in 2020, with The Stones giving permission for their music to be used in the show. It was expected to cover the band from its formation up until about 1972.

As for its current status, Harries notes, “It really needs a writer with a specific vision for it. It needs a showrunner attached who’s got the time and the energy and is totally absorbed by it.”

Music notes: Cher, Wham! and more

December 19, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Cher is commemorating the anniversary of her 1987 film Moonstruck. In a social media post Monday, the singer wrote, “The most fun I ever had and it changed my life forever. Released 36 years ago today.”

Not only does Taylor Swift support her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, at his football games, she makes him baked goods, too. Retired NFL star Bernie Kosar told a podcast Tuesday that Taylor made cinnamon buns for Travis ahead of the September 24 Kansas City Chiefs game against the Chicago Bears.

Welcome to Wrexham meets Wham! Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney shared a fan-edited single cover for Wham!’s “Last Christmas” that put their faces over George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley’s. A second fan-edited image placed them on the cover of Wham!’s 1983 album, Fantastic. “WREXHAM!” McElhenney captioned the pics.

Music notes: Miley Cyrus, Britney Spears and more

December 19, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Miley Cyrus is getting into the holiday spirit by sharing a video of her recent Chateau Marmont performance of “Jingle Bells.” In the clip, she encourages the crowd – comprised of some of her closest friends and family – to sing along to the festive tune.

Remember when Britney Spears burned down her gym a few years ago? Well in case you forgot, she posted a little reminder on Instagram Tuesday, featuring a photo of the charred aftermath. “Reflecting back remembering when I burnt the gym down in 2020,” she captioned the post. She previously revealed that she accidentally left two candles burning, which sparked the fire.

Not only does Taylor Swift support her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, at his football games, she makes baked goods, too. Retired NFL star Bernie Kosar told a podcast Tuesday that Taylor made cinnamon buns for Travis ahead of the September 24 Kansas City Chiefs game against the Chicago Bears.

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