Music

Five for Fighting‘s most recent tour dates have seen John Ondrasik performing solo with a string quartet backing him up.  But he’s just announced a string of tour dates this summer that will feature him performing with a full rock band.

The tour kicks off July 22 in Burnsville, Minnesota, and is scheduled to wrap up August 12 in Bay City, Michigan.  Opening the dates will be The Verve Pipe, best known for the 1997 hit “The Freshmen.”  Tickets are available at FiveforFighting.com.

“After years of string quartet, symphony, and solo concerts, I’m thrilled to put the Five for Fighting rock band back on the road!” John says in a statement. “It is fitting that we are joined by my good friend Brian Vander Ark‘s [band] The Verve Pipe, as his song, ‘The Freshmen,’ was a brother-in-arms to [my hits] ‘Superman’ and ‘100 Years’ for so many when they were released.”

He adds, “There has never been a time when audiences and musicians need each other more. And I am energized and excited to get back on the bus, and go ‘Back to the Future!'”

If you’d prefer to see Five for Fighting with a string quartet, John is playing a string of dates with that set-up from May 6 through May 21.

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Mickey Guyton had a stacked Super Bowl weekend that included crossing paths with royalty. 

After her game-opening performance of the national anthem at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, where the Cincinnati Bengals faced off against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Mickey ran into none other than Prince Harry during the weekend’s festivities. 

“I met Prince Harry. He was just lovely. I even curtsied in my track suit,” Mickey writes in an Instagram post that also features a photo of the two posing in the backstage area. In the pic, the country singer is donning red sweatpants and a sweatshirt while the masked-up Duke of Sussex is wrapping his arm around her.

2 Broke Girls star Beth Behrs and former Nashville actor Sam Palladio were among those who shared their praise in the comments, with Mickey’s country peers like Lindsay Ell, Grand Ole Opry host Natalie Stovall and Reyna Roberts also commenting on the royal meeting. 

Mickey’s rendition of the national anthem also drew praise, with the likes of Reese Witherspoon, Halle Berry and Brothers Osborne commending her performance.

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John Legend is focusing more on his overall health and has made some changes in his life, which includes his relationship with alcohol.

Speaking to People, the “All of Me” singer revealed, “I’m definitely trying to drink less.”  Legend explained, “There are times when I don’t drink at all, like I don’t really drink when I’m on tour so there are times where I go long stretches without drinking. And then even when I’m off tour, I try to do it in moderation.” 

The Voice coach added that his wife, Chrissy Teigen, was a positive influence in his decision.  “Chrissy of course has been sober for over six months now and I’m very proud of her,” said Legend. “She finds that it’s healthier and better for her to just not drink at all. For me, I feel like I can do it in moderation, but I’m also mindful that if I overdo it, it’s going to have negative effects on my body, including my sleep.”

Legend explained cutting back on alcohol is one of several changes he made to improve his self-care.  He’s also working on getting the appropriate amount of sleep every night — and that effort extends to his two young children, five-year-old Luna and three-year-old Miles.

Legend says he and his wife read to their kids every night, “Usually, by the time we’re into like the second and third book, they’re falling asleep.”

He adds that being “good parents” can be challenging, especially when Luna wakes up around midnight and tries crawling into bed with them. “It’s the hardest thing that we’ve got to tell her no and go back to her bedroom,” John admitted.

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Happy 30th birthday, Weezer!

Today marks 30 years since Rivers Cuomo and Patrick Wilson joined up with then-members Jason Cropper and Matt Sharp for their first official rehearsal on February 15, 1992. 

In an Instagram post, unofficial fifth Weezer member Karl Koch reflects on the anniversary and all that the band’s been through in the past three decades since that fateful day.

“So much has happened,” Koch writes. “So many songs, albums, singles, soundtracks, fans, tours, shows, photo shoots, interviews, so many good times — and a few bad ones here and there of course.”

Koch details Weezer’s shifting lineup, which now includes guitarist Brian Bell and bassist Scott Shriner, and mourns the passing of some of the band’s “dearest friends,” including former bassist Mikey Welsh and The Cars‘ Ric Ocasek, who produced Weezer’s debut album.

“So much has changed, and yet, having been there for it for every step of the way I can truly say that for all the changes and amazing adventures that have happened, the spirit of Weezer has not changed hardly, if at all,” Koch writes. “Everyone still just wants to make great music, rock out and keep things interesting. And 30 years on, we are nowhere near the end of the story.”

“Thank you for sticking with us,” he adds. “2022 is going to be another fascinating year for Weezer and you.”

Weezer’s 2022 plans so far include releasing four albums, timed to each of the year’s four seasons.

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India.Arie says her decision to leave Spotify goes deeper than the controversy over podcaster Joe Rogan.  She says she’s protesting how the music streaming giant mistreats its artists.

Appearing on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah Monday, India said removing her music from the platform was a matter of “dignity and integrity.”  She explained, “Spotify is not only the biggest player, but they’re also the lowest payer… You listen [to a song of ours], we get .003 percent to .005 percent of a penny.  A fraction of a penny, that’s what we get.  It has been making the professions of producer and songwriter unlivable for a lot of people.”

The “Steady Love” singer hinted that Spotify isn’t open to negotiating increasing that pay, despite it being the top streaming platform. She said it instead tells artists, “This is what we decided.  This is what you get.”

“The labels and Spotify and streaming platforms together are making those decisions,” added India, and noted the business model not only pushes artists out of the music industry, it weakens their voice.

On the topic of the controversial Joe Rogan and the video compilation she made of the Spotify podcaster saying racist jokes and slurs on his show, the Grammy winner didn’t mince words.  “He was being consciously racist and it makes me wonder what he talks like behind closed doors,” she said of Rogan, who has since apologized.

“It got a rise out of people. That’s why he would say it…He knew that was inappropriate,” India said in reference to Rogan “repeatedly” using the n-word: “I think that is being racist.”

“By doing that, you embolden [other racists]… And, now, we’re in trouble as a society,” she added, noting the “power” of his platform that reaches a “huge listening audience.”

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Is Nick Cannon trying to get back together with Mariah Carey?

On Valentine’s Day, the singer/TV personality dropped what’s being described as an “ode” to his famous ex — a track called “Alone,” which samples Mariah’s 1990 ballad, “Love Takes Time.”

Nick sings about having “nothing but love” for his ex but he knows it’s “a little too late,” so he’s keeping his distance.

“As much as I want you back/ It’s probably better where you at/’Cause I’m still running the streets/I’m still all in the sheets/Having babies, models and singers and actresses saying they pregnant by me,” Nick sings. “Have to pay $10,000 a week, I take care of my peeps/Now you don’t worry when I creep/You got a man next to you when you sleep.”

Nick and Mariah were married from 2008 to 2014 and share 10-year-old twins Monroe and Moroccan. As he references in the lyrics, Nick has gone on to father children with various different women. He recently announced he’s expecting his eighth child, with model Bre Tiesi.

“Alone” will be featured on Nick’s new mixtape, Raw N B The Explicit Tape, coming February 18.

(Video contains uncensored profanity.)

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Reba McEntire is breaking the chain in an upcoming DVD and CD collection.

Next month, Reba will release a CD and DVD combo titled My Chains Are Gone, in which she presents gospel classics. The DVD features a live recording of Reba’s debut solo headlining show at the Ryman Auditorium in 2017, where she performed a series of hymns including “How Great Thou Art,” “I’ll Fly Away” and “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” along with original songs “Back to God” and “God and My Girlfriends.”

Fans will also get to see the country legend perform with her peers, teaming up with Trisha Yearwood and Kelly Clarkson on “Softly and Tenderly,” while gospel group The Isaacs sing “In the Garden/Wonderful Peace” and “It Is Well with My Soul.”

The My Chains Are Gone CD adds a duet with Lauren Daigle on an acoustic rendition of “Back to God.”

Both the DVD and CD will be released on March 25, with a special broadcast of performances from the DVD airing on UPtv the same night at 8 p.m. ET.

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