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Luke Bryan’s hosting the 2021 CMA Awards solo, but he thought about bringing his mom along to help

November 10, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Luke Bryan‘s mom, LeClaire, is a bona fide social media star in her own right, thanks in part to the fact that she frequently finds herself the butt of the joke in family prank wars.

LeClaire is so popular that Luke’s fans might even have hoped she’d make an appearance at the 2021 CMA Awards, which her superstar son is hosting solo this year. And while his mom won’t be appearing on the big stage this year, Luke says it wasn’t out of the realm of possibility.

“We did have a moment where we were gonna maybe incorporate her. We were gonna have some fun with her, but it didn’t work out,” Luke admits with a giggle. “You never know — if they let me back next year, we might turn it over to Mama.”

In the meantime, Luke knows he’s got some big shoes to fill. There hasn’t been a solo host at the CMA Awards in almost two decades, and for a streak of years, Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood helmed the show. During their tenure as hosts, Brad and Carrie were known not only for their hilarious onstage antics, but also for their frequent costume changes, and Luke says he might try to outdo them in the latter category.

“We’ve tabulated how many times they have done that, and I’m going to one-up them,” he hints. “Whether it’s just a tie here — just nuances — a pocket square here. That’s a wardrobe change.”

The 2021 CMA Awards airs on ABC tonight beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

Chris Young can’t say much about his CMAs “Famous Friends” performance, but it’s “definitely something new”

November 10, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Chris Young and Kane Brown will hit the CMAs stage tonight for a rendition of their number-one song “Famous Friends,” but don’t expect to hear many details about what they’ve got planned for their performance ahead of showtime.

“Nothing. I’m not allowed to say anything at all [about it],” Chris jokes. “I will say that we have not done this particular gimmick for the performance anywhere before, so it’s definitely something new.”

Between the performance and his nominations for “Famous Friends,” Chris is expecting an exciting CMAs week, made even more special because he gets to share it with his friend Kane.

“[It’s] the first time I’ve ever been nominated for Single of the Year, and I get to celebrate those noms with KB,” he adds, going on to reflect on his longtime friendship with his fellow country superstar.

“Kane’s fantastically talented and I love that I’ve been able to get to know him That I knew him before he had the record deal, and was getting the chance to write with him and have some cuts on his records. And then was able to ask him to be a part of mine,” Chris continues. “…Watching this song blow up and become bigger than we ever expected it to has been so much fun.”

The 2021 CMA Awards airs beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC.

Unheard 1968 song featuring The Beatles’ George Harrison and Ringo Starr to be released Thursday

November 10, 2021 by WDNY Radio

A previously unheard song recorded in 1968 that features The Beatles‘ George Harrison and Ringo Starr got its world premiere today and will be released as a charity single on Thursday, BBC News reports.

The tune, “Radhe Shaam,” was written and produced by Indian-born journalist/broadcaster Suresh Joshi and was recently rediscovered at his Birmingham, U.K., home during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The song was premiered at an event Wednesday, held at the Liverpool Beatles Museum attended by about 100 people, and then was played on BBC Radio.

In a Wednesday interview with the BBC, Joshi explained that “Radhe Shaam” was recorded at London’s Trident Studios for the soundtrack of a feature film on which he was working. Joshi said Harrison and Starr turned up at the session while The Beatles were taking a break from recording “Hey Jude,” and the two musicians offered to play on the song, which was sung by Indian classical musician Aashish Khan.

Joshi said that the recording initially was shelved and he’d always hoped to release it eventually, but he never got around to it until it turned up again during the lockdown.

Suresh noted that he was inspired to find the master tape of the recording after telling his friend Deepak Pathak about the song. Liverpool Beatles Museum creator Roag Best, half brother of original Beatles drummer Pete Best, also took part in the interview, and explained that Pathak met Paul McCartney at the museum and told him about the track, and McCartney then helped to facilitate its release.

Roag also revealed that “Radhe Shaam” will be released Thursday, with all proceeds benefiting charity.

You can listen to the interview and the song at BBC.co.uk. The song is played at about the two-hour, 28-minute mark.

Nine Inch Nails, Green Day headlining 2022 Shaky Knees festival

November 10, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Nine Inch Nails and Green Day are set to headline the 2022 Shaky Knees festival, held April 29 to May 1 in Atlanta.

The bill also includes My Morning Jacket, Highly Suspect, Spoon, CHVRCHES, Death Cab for Cutie, Billy Idol, Biffy Clyro, The Regrettes and Dirty Honey, among others.

Tickets go on sale Thursday, November 11, at 10 a.m. ET. For the full lineup and all ticket info, visit ShakyKneesFestival.com.

Shaky Knees returned this past October after being canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Headliners this year included Foo Fighters, The Strokes and Run the Jewels.

Luke Combs will be “the happiest guy in the world” at the 2021 CMA Awards, win or lose

November 10, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Luke Combs is up for Entertainer of the Year at tonight’s 2021 CMA Awards ceremony, and while he’d like to walk away with the trophy, he knows he’s up against some stiff competition.

“Everybody that’s nominated has made a huge impact on country music, undeniably speaking,” he says. Luke’s contenders in the category are Miranda Lambert, Eric Church, Carrie Underwood and Chris Stapleton.

But win or lose, Luke says, he’s just excited to be part of country music’s biggest night.

“If I win, I’ll be the happiest guy in the world. If I lose, I’ll still be the happiest guy in the world. So it makes no difference to me,” he continues, adding that for him, the real prize for being one of country music’s biggest names is being able to bring joy to the people who matter most.

“Whether that’s writing songs, or my parents, or my friends: Any opportunity I have to do something cool for them or make their life better, that’s where you fill up your life cup, in my opinion,” Luke reflects. “It’s not buying cars or buying houses. It’s doing things for people you love and having great experiences with them.”

Plus, he says, fans who tune into tonight’s show will get a chance to see him perform a brand-new song.

“I’m nervous about it, and nobody’s ever heard the song before,” he admits. “It’s gonna be an exciting moment for us and something new, something we’ve never done before.”

The 2021 CMA Awards will air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena tonight at 8:00 PM ET on ABC.

Slash, Cat Stevens, The Grateful Dead’s Mickey Hart & more playing Peace Through Music streaming concert

November 10, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Slash, Yusuf/Cat Stevens and The Grateful Dead‘s Mickey Hart are among the many artists performing during Peace Through Music, an upcoming streaming concert focused on raising funds and awareness for environmental issues.

The virtual event, produced by the Playing for Change organization and the United Nations Population Fund, is set to premiere December 15 at 9 p.m. ET. You can tune in to watch via the Playing for Change YouTube channel.

Other musicians taking part in the event include No Doubt bassist Tony Kanal, Taj Mahal, Rosanne Cash, Jack Johnson, Jane’s Addiction drummer Stephen Perkins, Ben Harper, Sara Bareilles, The Lumineers and Keb’ Mo’. Additionally, The Band‘s Robbie Robertson will be making a “special appearance” during the stream.

Peace Through Music previously raised $1 million for social justice charities with its 2020 stream, which featured artists including Ringo Starr, Gary Clark Jr., and Carlos and Cindy Blackman Santana.

All I want for Christmas is…the new Mariah Menu from McDonald’s

November 10, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Mariah Carey’s domination of the holiday season continues: Now she’s bringing you a new way to stay festive while keeping those hunger pangs at bay.

The Queen of Christmas has teamed up with McDonald’s to create The Mariah Menu. Starting December 13, you can get a different free item every day with a one-dollar minimum purchase on the McDonald’s app. Among the items is Mariah’s own personal favorite, a cheeseburger.

The promotion, which runs through December 24, also includes items like a Big Mac, Sausage McMuffin, cookies, apple pie and Chicken McNuggets.

“Some of my favorite memories with my kids are our family trips to McDonald’s, and of course, each of us has our go-to order,” says Mariah in a statement. “Mine is the cheeseburger, and I get it with extra pickles.”

All the Mariah Menu items will come in festive packaging “inspired by Mariah’s love for the holidays and chic style.”

Pretty, pretty good: PUSA frontman’s feels “complete” following Larry David’s “Peaches” diss on ’Curb’

November 10, 2021 by WDNY Radio

If you fall in the middle of the Venn diagram of “’90s alt rock fans” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm viewers,” then you were probably very excited when the Presidents of the United States of America song “Peaches” was the topic of discussion during a recent episode. Still, you probably weren’t as excited as PUSA frontman Chris Ballew himself.

In the episode, Curb star and creator Larry David attends a concert performed by Teen Wolf and Maze Runner actor Dylan O’Brien, whose set included a cover of “Peaches.” As you might expect, David did not find the performance to be “pretty, pretty good.”

“What would prompt a person to sing such an idiotic song?” David asks O’Brien, who then replies, “Because the way its aged 20 years later, don’t you see how relevant it is now?”

“No, I don’t,” David shoots back.

Upon seeing the episode, Ballew posted the scene on his Instagram, along with the caption, “I am complete now that I have received Larry David’s scorn.”

“Peaches” — which includes the immortal lyric, “Peaches come from a can/They were put there by a man” — appears on PUSA’s 1995 self-titled debut album, which was certified triple-Platinum by the RIAA.

The Presidents continued to release music throughout the ’90s and into the 2000s before announcing their breakup in 2016. Ballew, meanwhile, has been releasing children’s music under the moniker Caspar Babypants.

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Kelsea Ballerini, Kenny Chesney take home two early CMA trophies for “Half of My Hometown”

November 10, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Kelsea Ballerini and Kenny Chesney are early CMA winners…times two! Ahead of tonight’s CMA Awards show, the two stars claimed a pair of trophies for their duet, “Half of My Hometown.”

Those awards are for CMA Musical Event of the Year and CMA Music Video of the Year. It’s the first time that Kelsea has ever won a CMA trophy, while Kenny is a nine-time winner. Their newest wins were announced on ABC’s Good Morning America this morning.

“Half of My Hometown” is the fourth single to come off of Kelsea’s latest album, Kelsea. The song is inspired by the singer’s hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee — a hometown she and Kenny share.

In the Musical Event of the Year category, Kelsea and Kenny were up against an impressive list of contenders, including Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd, Kane Brown and Chris Young, Miranda Lambert and Elle King, and Luke Bryan and Jordan Davis.

To win Music Video of the Year, they beat out Dierks Bentley, Brothers Osborne, Kane and Chris, and Maren and Ryan.

More winners will be announced tonight at the 2021 CMA Awards, which broadcasts live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC.

Elton John receives prestigious honor from Prince Charles: “I’m so lucky”

November 10, 2021 by WDNY Radio

On Wednesday, Elton John, who is already a British knight, received yet another prestigious honor during a ceremony at Windsor Castle. Prince Charles presented him with the Order of the Companions of Honour, which was first established in 1917 to reward for “outstanding achievement.”

As The Evening Standard reports, Elton attended the ceremony walking with the aid of a cane, following the hip surgery that forced him to postpone his European tour. He received his award not just for his 50-year music career, but also for his work with his Elton John AIDS Foundation.

“I was quite taken aback when I got the letter to say that I’d received it because I know…very few people get it,’ he told the press. “I felt very proud to be British. I felt very blessed and very lucky. I’ve had an amazing life. Music has been my life and I got this for music and for work for charity.”

“I may not look as if I’m 100 percent fit…I’m not quite, but I’m still raring to go,” Elton continued. “And I’ve got a lot more work to do as far as my life goes, so this is just a reminder I think that there’s more to do: more work to do for music, more work to do for charity, and life is great. I’m so lucky.”

To that end, Sky News reports that Elton said he feels that ending AIDS by 2030 is “doable,” adding, “We have the medicines, we have the wherewithal…we need to stop the stigma, and so when I stop touring in 2023, I will hopefully be able to devote more time to this than I can at the moment.”

He added, “This is something that I desperately want to finish off.”

Paul McCartney, Judi Dench, Ian McKellan and J.K. Rowling are other celebrities who’ve been honored with the Order.

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