Music

When Kelly Clarkson was married to Brandon Blackstock, she always referred to herself as having “four kids:” River and Remy, the two she had with Brandon, and Brandon’s two children from a previous marriage, Savannah and Seth.  If that’s the case, then Kelly’s about to be a grandma…or a step-grandma.

As People reports, Savannah, 19, has announced that she’s pregnant with her first child. The father is her boyfriend, Quentin Lee, who’s 24.  On Instagram, Savannah posted a photo of herself wearing a figure-hugging dress, which shows off her growing baby bump.

“[T]he most precious secret we’ve ever kept…” Savannah captioned the pic.  She also posted two pictures of herself posing with Quentin; both are wearing cowboy hats.  The two became Instagram official in November of 2019.

So far, Kelly hasn’t said anything on her socials about Savannah’s impending arrival.  However, she appears to preparing for a different kind of arrival of her own: On Instagram, she’s seemingly announced that the name of her new album is When Christmas Comes Around.  The first single, “Christmas Isn’t Canceled (Just You),” is out on Friday.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by S A V ?? (@savannah_blackstock)

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Looks like Halsey‘s first official post-baby TV performance is coming up next month.

Saturday Night Live has revealed the hosts and guests for the first month of its new season, which starts on October 2 on NBC.  Halsey is listed as the musical guest on October 9, the same night that Kim Kardashian West hosts the show.

This will be Halsey’s fourth time on the show: They were the musical guest in 2018 and 2020, and in 2019, they pulled double duty as both the host and the musical guest.  This time around, they’ll be promoting their new album, If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power.

The October 2 show will feature host Owen Wilson and musical guest Kacey Musgraves. The October 16 show will be hosted by Rami Malek, with Young Thug as musical guest.  October 23 will feature former SNL cast member-turned-Emmy-winning Ted Lasso star Jason Sudeikis, and musical guest Brandi Carlile.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Saturday Night Live (@nbcsnl)

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Luke Combs and Garth Brooks are among the most in-demand acts for 2021, according to ticket marketplace StubHub. Luke came in second on the list, while Garth — who canceled the remainder of his Stadium Tour amid COVID-19 concerns — came in fourth.

Chris Stapleton landed at fifth place on the list, with the Eagles — which now include Vince Gill — landing in the ninth spot.

The list, which is based on StubHub’s ticket sales from now through December, is topped by pop star Harry Styles. The Rolling Stones came in third, with Phish landing in the seventh spot, followed by the Dave Matthews Band, and Genesis rounding out the top 10.

Kenny Chesney made the decision to cancel his Chillaxification Tour in 2021, but will he hit the road next year on his Here and Now Tour. Kenny lands in ninth place on the top 10 list of most in-demand tours of 2022. Elton John comes in the first spot on that list, followed by Mötley Crüe, Billie Ellish, Bad Bunny and Rage Against the Machine.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

In a letter to fans, Sam Smith reveals that they’ve got new music in the pipeline, and that they’ve learned some valuable lessons from the events of the past year and a half.

“It feels like a life time has gone by since I’ve seen you and I really want you to know I miss you all desperately,” Sam writes, adding, “Over the past 18 months, I honestly didn’t know who I was without you.”

They continue, “I’m writing from California where I’ve been busy writing and working on new music for a few weeks. It’s the first time I’ve been outside of the U.K. since the beginning of 2020, and while it feels strange…it feels massively exciting to be creating something new again. I can’t wait for you to hear the magic that’s happening.”

The “Dancing with a Stranger” star declares, “I’m learning for the first time ever to TAKE MY TIME and that new approach is SO exciting. [2020’s] Love Goes [album] was a time of change in my life, both personally and professionally. I want this next album to celebrate where I ended up after Love Goes. I want it to celebrate my strength and will forever be grateful for your patience and support.”

Sam then notes that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated hardships, “We have all GROWN. No matter what has happened, we are all two years older, wiser and more experienced in this weird and wonderful thing called life.” 

They add, “I’ve ceased trying to gain control of the things that we just can’t…life is still going to do whatever the hell it wants. And our only real job in this is to survive, to help others survive too and to try keep smiling while we do it.”

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Alt-J has announced a new album called The Dream.

The fourth studio effort from the “Left Hand Free” outfit is set to arrive February 11, 2022. It’s the follow-up to 2017’s Relaxer.

You can check out the lead single from The Dream, titled “U&ME,” now via digital outlets.

Alt-J will be supporting The Dream next year on a tour with Portugal. the Man. The outing will kick off February 25 in Pittsburgh, and will conclude April 17 in Toronto.

Tickets will go on sale next Friday, October 1, at 10 a.m. local time. For the full list of dates and all ticket info, visit AltJandPTM.com.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

#FreeBritney is becoming closer to reality than you might think, the singer’s lawyer says.

According to documents obtained by ABC News, Mathew Rosengart told a judge on Wednesday that he expects that Britney’s conservatorship, which has been in place for 13 years, to be “completely and inevitably” ended by the fall.  It’s something that the singer asked for earlier this year in comments in a Los Angeles court.

The lawyer made those statements in a court filing in which he also stated that his priority is having Britney’s father, Jamie Spears, removed as conservator.  Rosengart has asked Judge Brenda Penny to replace him by September 29 with someone else on a “temporary” basis.

The urgency is apparently due to Britney’s recent engagement to her boyfriend, Sam Asghari. It seems that Britney needs a prenup before she and Sam can tie the knot, and that would require the involvement of her conservator.  Rosengart argues that, given the fact that Britney and her dad aren’t exactly on good terms — she previously stated that he should be “in jail” — Mr. Spears’ involvement would be unhelpful in getting that done.

Earlier this month, Jamie himself asked the court to end the conservatorship, and on Wednesday, Rosengart said that since Mr. Spears “fully consents” to this step, he’s going to file a motion to terminate it once Britney’s dad is removed.

In addition, Rosengart said he wants to depose Jamie in connection with his accusations that the elder Spears had abused his position while in control over his daughter’s finances, and also wants an evidentiary hearing.  Mr. Spears has denied any wrongdoing.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

A Los Angeles judge has ordered Dr. Dre to fork over an additional $1.5 million in legal fees to his ex-wife, Nicole Young, in their ongoing divorce battle.

The judge estimated that Nicole’s reasonable legal fees in the case through July 2 should total $3 million, plus costs, according to documents obtained by the New York Post.  Those additional charges include $1 million toward the balance of her fees, and another $550,000 in costs associated with the case.

Young and her lawyers had previously claimed fees in the case were close to $4 million.  The court papers reflect that Young is being represented by celebrity attorney Samantha Spector, whose legal tab can cost up to $1,100 per hour.

Dre, born Andre Romelle Young, had been previously ordered to pay Nicole $293,306 in monthly temporary spousal support, as well as household security, insurance, gardening, taxes, repairs and maintenance costs, retroactive to September 1, 2020.  That comes to a grand total of $3,812,987 over the past year, the judge estimated in the ruling.

The seven-time Grammy winner and Beats mogul was ordered to pay Young roughly $300,000 a month in spousal support in July.

Dre, 56, and Young, 51, wed in 1996. They share two children: Truice, 24, and 20-year-old Truly.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.