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Meek Mill spreads holiday cheer as he donates $500,000 worth of gifts to needy in Philadelphia

December 20, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Meek Mill spreads holiday cheer as he donates 0,000 worth of gifts to needy in Philadelphia

Meek Mill made the holiday season brighter for needy families in his native Philadelphia by giving away $500,000 worth of gifts Sunday.

In partnership with Philadelphia 76ers co-owner Michael Rubin, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, and Roc Nation, the “Sharing Locations” rapper brought smiles to hundreds of people with free MacBook Air laptops, Amazon Fire HD tablets, video game gift cards, board games, bikes and helmets, winter coats, dolls, play sets, and more at the Grand Yesha Ballroom in South Philly, according to ABC Philadelphia affiliate WPVI-TV.

“I feel like if you can help, help. We’ve been doing it for a while now in our community,” Meek said as he was joined at the event by Mayor Jim Kenney and Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw. The 34-year-old entertainer and criminal justice advocate posted several photos of the event on Instagram and commented, “Took them blessings and put on for my peoples in a major way.”

Mill is also donating $30,000 to the Philadelphia chapter of Twelve Days of Christmas, a volunteer organization that assists families in need during the holiday season.

Last Wednesday, the Grammy nominee treated 26 local kids to the 76ers home game against the Miami Heat, which included a visit with 76ers head coach Doc Rivers.

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Five years after his death, George Michael’s headstone is finally unveiled

December 20, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Five years after his death on Christmas Day 2016 at age 53, George Michael‘s grave is now officially marked.

The British tabloid The Sun reports that the superstar’s headstone has finally been unveiled in London’s Highgate Ceremony. It’s inscribed with his birth name, Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou, and reads “Beloved Son, Brother, Friend.”

George lies next to his mother Lesley, who died in 1997 and his sister Melanie, who died at age 59 in 2019, three years to the day after George died.

As for why it took five years for the grave to be marked, a source tells The Sun there were “fears it would become a morbid tourist attraction.”

In other George Michael news, during his lifetime, the singer anonymously funded the annual Christmas lights display in the Highgate neighborhood of London, and it’s now been revealed that his estate still contributes to the annual display, according to the local paper.

“George Michael was our secret benefactor form many years and he loved the Christmas Lights,” a local realtor told the paper. “Luckily, his estate also know how much he loved the lights and continue to support us even after his death.”

Finally, a tribute show called The Life and Music of George Michael is scheduled to begin a U.S. tour on January 19 in California.

Child abuse charge against Alabama Shakes drummer dismissed

December 20, 2021 by WDNY Radio

The child abuse charge against Alabama Shakes drummer Steven William Johnson has been dismissed, ABC affiliate WAAY reports.

Johnson was arrested this past March and indicted for willful abuse of a child. In a statement to AL.com at the time, Johnson’s lawyers denied the allegations.

“We do not believe, and have been presented no evidence, that Mr. Johnson has willfully abused or tortured any child, and he maintains his innocence,” the statement read, adding that the charge stems from an alleged “spanking incident.”

Johnson is a founding member of Alabama Shakes, and played on both of the band’s albums: 2012’s Boys & Girls and 2015’s Grammy-winning Sound & Color. The band’s been on hiatus since 2018; frontwoman Brittany Howard released her debut solo album, Jaime, in 2019.

Luke Combs reflects on What You See Is What You Get Tour: “I’d do it all over again tomorrow”

December 20, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Luke Combs recently wrapped his What You See Is What You Get Tour, and he’s looking ahead to his new album.

On Sunday, the superstar shared a reflective Instagram post about the massive arena tour that saw him headline such prestigious venues as Madison Square Garden. The tour was originally scheduled to take place in 2020 but was delayed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“Well, we made it. The ‘What You See Is What You Get’ tour is finally completed after 2+ years of setbacks,” Luke writes in a lengthy caption, accompanied by a gallery of photos from the tour. “This was the funnest, scariest, most rewarding, most stressful musical experience of my life and I’d do it all over again tomorrow.”

Luke then proceeds to profusely thank his loyal fans who waited patiently for tickets and allowed him to sell out many of the arenas. “You are the reason we get to do things like this and I hope we came close to putting on the show you deserve,” he declares.

Luke also praises his team, including the band, crew, management, bus drivers, venue staff and more, along with his wife Nicole and friends and family. “I love you all tremendously,” Luke writes.

The hitmaker also acknowledges that the tour brings to a close “the long strange chapter of my last album” that the tour is named after, allowing him to focus on his upcoming third studio album.

“I’m taking a few weeks off and then we’re putting the finishing touches on LC3. Until then, hope y’all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. See y’all soon!” he concludes.

What You See Is What You Get has been certified three times Platinum by the RIAA and spawned seven consecutive number-one singles.

Foo Fighters, The Smashing Pumpkins & more playing 2022 Beale Street Music Festival

December 20, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Foo Fighters and The Smashing Pumpkins will be playing the 2022 Beale Street Music Festival, held April 29 to May 1 in Memphis, Tennessee.

Other artists on the bill include Modest Mouse, Dirty Honey, The Glorious Sons and Toad the Wet Sprocket. More acts will be announced at a later date.

For ticket info, visit MemphisinMay.org.

The Pumpkins were originally on the 2020 Beale Street lineup before the festival was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 festival was scrapped, as well.

Kelly Clarkson laughs her way through her fans’ hilarious holiday fail stories

December 20, 2021 by WDNY Radio

If you experienced an embarrassing Christmas fail this year, leave it to Kelly Clarkson to help you feel better.

Taking to her YouTune channel on Saturday, the singer laughed her way through the most hilarious holiday fails submitted by her fans.

The storytelling had a strong start, with one person admitting that their Christmas tree not only toppled over on top of their mother-in-law, they also took a photo that they shared with Kelly. That elicited an “Oh, snap!” and a chuckle from the Grammy winner before she wondered aloud, “Is she okay?… That had to kind of hurt.”

Other fan-submitted stories include a five-foot-tall dancing Santa that lost its head and scared a small child, a bunch of praying mantis babies hatching in someone’s Christmas tree, a family settling for a Burger King holiday meal because the turkey wasn’t going to cook in time, and a dog eating the engagement ring someone planned to propose with at the family dinner, after which it took them two days to “get the ring back.”

When dishing on the latter story, Kelly marveled, “I wonder if he told her that day or just let the dog poop it out and then he told her… And that’s the ring you’re getting! You’re getting a poop ring! I don’t know if that’s a good omen.”

Kelly also flipped through several photos fans shared of their hysterical children crying on Santa’s lap and remarked, “We traumatize our children, don’t we? We’re like, ‘Just take the picture! Smile!'” The Voice coach admitted she’s also forced her little ones, River Rose and Remington Alexander, to take photos with Santa, and they also threw a fit.

Christina Aguilera celebrates 41st birthday with “Dirrty” selfies

December 20, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Christina Aguilera proves she keeps getting better with age. The singer turned 41 on Saturday and flaunted her figure in a series of celebratory snaps.

Wearing just oversized sunglasses and long, black leather gloves, Christina shared five photos to Instagram and captioned them, “XTINA XLI.”

She is topless in every picture, but has her hair or arms strategically positioned in each snap to ensure fans don’t see anything too naughty. In addition, the Grammy winner has her face made up with dramatic eyeliner, long lashes and a dark, wine-colored lip liner. Her hair is also bleached blonde for the glamorous photoshoot.

Fans were quick to compare the makeover to the Christina they saw in the early aughts. This isn’t the first time the singer embraced a throwback look: she paid homage to her Stripped album when performing a medley of her biggest hits at the People’s Choice Awards earlier this month.

As for what the “Hurt” singer has coming up, her second Spanish-language album is due out next year. A title and release date are forthcoming.

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Elton John and ABBA score 2022 BRIT Awards nominations

December 20, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Elton John and ABBA are among the artists who received nominations for the 2022 BRIT Awards, the U.K. equivalent of the Grammys.

Elton’s collaborative hit with British pop star Dua Lipa, “Cold Heart,” which appears on his new album The Lockdown Sessions, received a nod for Song of the Year.

ABBA, which released its first new studio album in 40 years, Voyage, in November, is among the nominees for the International Group of the Year prize.

Receiving the most 2022 BRIT nominations are Adele and Ed Sheeran who both scored four, including nods for Artist of the Year, Song of the Year and Album of the Year.

Notably, gender-based categories have been removed.

Check out all the nominees at BRITS.co.uk.

The 2022 BRIT Awards will be handed out February 8, 2022, at London’s O2 Arena and livestreamed globally on YouTube.

Pete Townshend plays guitar on and produced a new song called “Only Attraction” by UK band The Wild Things

December 20, 2021 by WDNY Radio

The Who‘s Pete Townshend has produced and plays guitar on a new single by the contemporary British rock band The Wild Things called “Only Attraction” that was released on Friday.

The song is available now as via streaming services. According to a post on The Wild Things’ official website, the band has been working with Townshend on a number of tracks for its forthcoming second studio album. The group is led by actress/singer Sydney Rae White, who has appeared in the BBC comedy series Uncle and the 2017 action film American Assassin.

In other Who-related news, Townshend recent posted a series of video clips on his Instagram page in which he discusses plans for a 50th anniversary reissue focusing on his band’s classic 1971 album Who’s Next and on the expansive abandoned Lifehouse sci-fi rock opera for which the songs from Who’s Next originally had been intended.

In one of the videos, which were shot at his studio, Townshend reveals that he’d been checking out some old demos for the “Who’s Next/Lifehouse reissue,” which will be released in 2022.

Pete also says he’s trying to recover a rare outtake from the project titled “Ambition.”

In the final clip, Townshend explains, “So you see, it’s not just Who’s Next were talking about here, but Lifehouse,” then notes that the 50th anniversary reissue should have been released this year because Who’s Next came out in 1971.

He adds, “We missed the boat, and you can blame COVID.”

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Jack White earns new ’Billboard’ chart feat with “Taking Me Back”

December 20, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Jack White‘s “Taking Me Back” is taking him to new heights on the Billboard charts.

The latest single from the White Stripes/Raconteurs/Dead Weather rocker has hit the top 10 on the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart, a feat he’d never previously accomplished as a solo artist, or with any of his bands.

Prior to “Taking Me Back,” White’s highest-charting solo single on the Mainstream Rock tally was “Lazaretto,” the title track off his 2014 album, which reached number 25. Overall, White’s Mainstream Rock previous peak was the 2007 White Stripes single “Icky Thump,” which made it to number 11.

“Taking Me Back” also gives White a solo high on the Alternative Airplay chart, where it sits at number five, besting the number-nine peak of “Lazaretto.” Outside of his solo career, White hit number one on Alternative Airplay three times: with “Icky Thump” and fellow Stripes classic “Seven Nation Army,” and with The Raconteurs’ “Steady as She Goes.”

“Taking Me Back” will appear on White’s upcoming solo album Fear of the Dawn, due out April 8. A second record, titled Entering Heaven Alive, will arrive July 22, and includes an acoustic version of “Taking Me Back.”

White will launch a U.S. tour in support of both records next year, beginning in April.

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