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Joni Mitchell, Bette Midler, Berry Gordy among this year’s Kennedy Center Honors recipients

July 21, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Marcy Gensic; Courtesy of Bette Midler; Kal Yee

Joni Mitchell, Bette Midler and Motown founder Berry Gordy are among the notables from the arts and entertainment world who will be saluted at the 44th edition of the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors gala. The star-studded ceremony will be held December 5 at the Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington, D.C.

This year’s other Kennedy Center honorees are Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels and Puerto Rican opera singer Justino Díaz.

The awards are presented annually by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to people who have made lasting contributions to American culture through the performing arts.

A TV special documenting this year’s event will be broadcast during the 2021-2022 television season on CBS, and will be streamed live and on demand on Paramount+.

“I’m grateful to the Kennedy Center for bestowing this honor on my work and I look forward to being a part of this prestigious celebration of the arts,” Mitchell says in a statement. “I wish my mother and father were alive to see this. It’s a long way from Saskatoon [Canada].”

Midler gushes, “I am profoundly touched by this honor, in fact, I am stunned and grateful beyond words. For many years I have watched this broadcast celebrating the best talent in the performing arts that America has to offer, and I truly never imagined that I would find myself among these swans.”

Gordy declares in his own statement, “The Arts not only give voice to the voiceless, but connect us, transform us, and soothe our souls. The Kennedy Center Honors epitomizes the recognition and value of both the Arts, and the Artist. I am thrilled to become a part of this prestigious American legacy.”

Eric Clapton says he’ll cancel shows at UK venues requiring attendees to be vaccinated

July 21, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Gareth Cattermole/Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

Eric Clapton has threatened to cancel performances at U.K. venues that require audience members to be vaccinated to attend his concerts.

Clapton’s message, which was posted on the Telegram page of Robin Monotti, who identifies as a pro-vaccine-safety advocate, was in response to U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson‘s recent announcement that COVID-19 vaccine passes would be required to attend events at nightclubs and other venues.

“Following the PM’s announcement on Monday…I feel honour bound to make an announcement of my own,” Slowhand writes. “I will not perform on any stage where there is a discriminated audience present. Unless there is provision made for all people to attend, I reserve the right to cancel the show.”

Accompanying the message is a link to Clapton’s rendition of the 2020 Van Morrison song “Stand and Deliver,” which criticizes the U.K. government’s pandemic-related restrictions on live performances.

In May, another message from Clapton was posted on Monotti’s Telegram page in which he revealed he experienced a severe reaction after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine.

“[M]y hands and feet were either frozen, numb or burning, and pretty much useless for two weeks, I feared I would never play again,” Eric wrote. “[I] should never have gone near the needle.”

In a statement to Rolling Stone in May, a spokesperson for the U.K. government agency overseeing the vaccine maintained that “over 56 million doses of vaccines against COVID-19 have now been administered in the UK, saving thousands of lives through the biggest vaccination programme that has ever taken place in this country.”

The rep added, “Our advice remains that the benefits of the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca outweigh the risks in the majority of people.”

Clapton’s next U.K. concerts are scheduled for May 2022. He begins a run of U.S. dates in September 2021.

Backstreet Boys open to the idea of a joint tour with *NSYNC

July 21, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Back in the early 2000s, the idea would have been sheer lunacy, but now, Backstreet Boys say they’re open to doing a joint tour with *NSYNC one day.

Speaking to PEOPLE (The TV Show!), Backstreet’s Nick Carter said of the proposed pairing, “I think it would just be good for the nostalgic side of it, for the fans, if we did something like that.” AJ McLean chimed in, “The fans would lose their mind[s].”

Nick explains, “What’s happening now is that we are realizing that we’re the only ones that have gone through what we have together, and we relate to one another. It was a place in time, and our lives were very parallel. So, all this unity and coming together and all this love, it’s really cool.”

The comments come after AJ teamed with *NSYNC’s Lance Bass and Joey Fatone for a charity event last month, and after Joey, AJ and Nick — along with Boyz II Men‘s Wanya Morris — announced a four-night engagement in Las Vegas.

Around the time of the charity event last month, AJ told People that the two groups’ supposed “feud” had been “fabricated,” and added, “Just to be able to do something like this together hopefully squashes all that crap that was never true in the first place.”

As previously reported, Backstreet have scheduled a 12-night Very Backstreet Christmas Party residency show in Las Vegas later this year.

Twitter reacts to EST Gee’s new mixtape, ‘Bigger Than Life or Death’

July 21, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Kentucky rapper EST Gee is making headlines with his latest mixtape, Bigger Than Life or Death, which features Yo Gotti, Lil Durk, Future, Young Thug, and more.

Fans on social media are enjoying the 15-song project, including Gee’s previously released songs, “Lick Back,” Capital 1,” and the title track, “Bigger Than Life or Death.”

“Six songs deep in this new EST Gee and it ain’t got no skips,” tweeted one fan, while another said, “EST Gee is such a breath of fresh air. His sound is exactly what I’ve been wanting to hear.”

Some fans hinted that the Louisville rapper should have been placed on XXL‘s 2021 Freshman class list for emerging artists. Meanwhile, many were impressed with Gee’s track “5500 Degrees” with Rylo Rodriguez, 42 Dugg, and Lil Baby.

Baby closes out the track, which flips Juvenile‘s 1998 Cash Money classic “400 Degreez,” by declaring himself the “Lil Wayne of this new generation.”

“I’m going too crazy I’m the Wayne of this new generation / [Rappers] fugazi, they can’t f*** with us no types of ways/ these [rappers] too lazy / I’m cut from a different cloth, I don’t know who raised em,'” Baby raps.

Bigger Than Life or Death is out now.

Watch Green Day debut “Pollyanna” during surprise Oklahoma concert

July 21, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Green Day played their first full, in-person concert since the COVID-19 pandemic began Tuesday night in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The sold-out show, which required all attendees to be fully vaccinated, featured the live debut of the punk trio’s latest song, “Pollyanna,” which was released in May. Fan-recorded footage of the performance was posted to social media.

Other songs played during the set include “Longview,” “Welcome to Paradise,” “Brain Stew” and “Holiday,” as well as a cover of KISS‘ “Rock and Roll All Nite,” according to Setlist.fm.

Green Day played the Tulsa concert as a warm-up gig for their Hella Mega tour alongside Weezer and Fall Out Boy, which launches July 24 in Dallas.

Pollyanna LIVE premiere!!!(from punk_relief stream) In Tulsa ❤️🤟 #greenday pic.twitter.com/ajvu28TMR4

— Green Day Australia (@greendayAU) July 21, 2021

New collection of Slash signature guitars available now from Epiphone

July 21, 2021 by WDNY Radio

A new collection of Slash signature Epiphone guitars was released Tuesday, featuring multiple acoustic and electric models, as part of a partnership between Epiphone and the Gibson company.

The Epiphone Slash Collection features guitars inspired by Gibson models that the Guns N’ Roses legend has played throughout his career. The electric models are the Epiphone Slash Les Paul Standard finished in Appetite Burst, November Burst, Anaconda Burst and Vermillion Burst, and the Slash “Victoria” Les Paul Standard Goldtop, which is gold. The collection’s acoustic model is called the Epiphone Slash J-45, which is available in Vermillion Burst and November Burst finish.

All of the guitars in Epiphone Slash Collection feature Slash’s “Skully” signature drawing on the back of the headstock, the guitarist’s signature on the truss rod cover, and a hardshell case that also includes the “Skully” logo.

Speaking about his signature collection in a new Epiphone promo video, Slash notes, “It’s a huge honor to be able to have a guitar that’s got your name on it…representing you…These are really well put together, all the best materials, all the best components. Everything I could want in an electric guitar is all in this. And so for…a reasonable amount of money, you can get a really great guitar that will last your whole career.”

All of the new Slash Epiphone models are available at a list price of $899. For more information about the instruments, visit Epiphone.com.

The Epiphone models were inspired by the pricier guitars released last year as part of the Gibson Slash Collection.

Check out new music videos from Soulja Boy, French Montana, Ryan Trey and Shenseea

July 21, 2021 by WDNY Radio

During his Verzuz battle with Bow Wow last month, Soulja Boy brought out French Montana to perform the “She Make It Clap” remix. Now, the two rappers have linked up to shoot a matching visual at a lavish estate.

Soulja and French can be seen kicking it with a gang of beautiful women while rapping about their fame and fortune. Soulja’s verse from the original “She Make It Clap” remains intact, while French’s verse references his ex, Khloe Kardashian, and Beyoncé’s protege, singer Chloe Bailey.

“Make it clap like Chloe / Not my ex Khloe, that Chloe with Beyoncé / Met her at Liv on Sunday / Had her trending by Monday,” French raps.

Meanwhile, rising hip-hop/R&B singer Ryan Trey is back with a music video for his new single, “It’s About a Girl.” The dark visual opens with Ryan arriving at a house party, where he meets a beautiful girl. As the night continues, Ryan begins hallucinating and wakes up on the front lawn. It becomes clear that he never made it to the party due to crashing his car on the way there. He then realizes the girl from the party is a paramedic assisting him.

And last but not least, Jamaican dancehall singer Shenseea is back with her new single, “Run Run.” In the accompanying visual, Shenseea and her girls chase down a man who played with her heart and lock him in a cage. Shenseea’s spicy vocals helped her land collaborations with instrumentalist Masego and Tyga, to name a few.

(Videos contain uncensored profanity.)

Khalid announces new album ‘Everything Is Changing,’ officially releases “New Normal”

July 21, 2021 by WDNY Radio

After debuting his single “New Normal” during Richard Branson‘s Virgin Galactic Spaceflight earlier this month — and performing it live for Branson and crew after they returned to Earth — Khalid has officially released the song, as well as a music video.

In addition, Khalid has announced his third album: It’s called Everything Is Changing, which will be released this fall. It’s now available for pre-order.

”’New Normal’ was inspired by how I was feeling during the pandemic and the emotional toll that quarantine took on me and my friends,” Khalid explains. “Everything Is Changing, as an album, really takes that a step further with all of the songs centering around trying to find a purpose and a sense of self in a world where everything is digitally connected but emotionally disconnected.”

“As we all come out of quarantine and venture more into the world and try to reconnect with people we haven’t seen in over a year, I hope the messages explored within the album open up conversations and allow people to access their feelings in a new way,” he adds.

Everything Is Changing is the follow-up to Khalid’s 2019 album Free Spirit, which featured the hits “Better” and “Talk.” His current single “Working,” is a collaboration with Tate McRae.

What’s Luke Bryan planning to give Blake Shelton + Gwen Stefani as a wedding gift? “Embarrassing items”

July 21, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Luke Bryan wasn’t in attendance when his fellow country superstar Blake Shelton got married to Gwen Stefani in an intimate Oklahoma ceremony earlier this month.

“I did not know it was happening. I found out with the rest of the world,” Luke tells People.

According to the details that have since emerged about Blake and Gwen’s wedding, that’s not a huge surprise: The A-List couple were aiming for a small, family-focused ceremony with few celebrities in attendance. However, they did pay homage to the way they met — on the set of The Voice — by enlisting The Voice host Carson Daly to officiate.

But just because he didn’t attend the wedding doesn’t mean Luke won’t be getting the happy couple a gift. The country superstar says his present for Blake and Gwen is inspired by his prankster side.

“I have started my mental wedding gift soirée. I am going to get a big box and there will be embarrassing items in there,” Luke hints. “They’ll be funny, sarcastic items. So Blake and Gwen can expect my wedding gift with the Luke Bryan touch on it.”

Luke can take a joke gift as easily as he dishes one out. Last weekend, he celebrated his 45th birthday on tour, and his famously prank-happy wife, Caroline, couldn’t resist surprising the singer onstage. Luke opened up a selection of gag gifts of his own — including a six-pack of his own Two Lane beer, a lamp and Jockey underwear — in front of his family, friends and an arena packed with fans.

Watch Olivia Rodrigo as a dancing fork in new ‘HSMTMTS’ clip

July 21, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Olivia Rodrigo has worn many hats in 2021: Chart-topping artist, SNL musical guest and high school graduate. But now you can see her as you’ve never seen her before: dressed as cutlery.

More specifically, Olivia plays a dancing fork in a new clip of this Friday’s episode of her Disney Channel show High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, available now on YouTube. In the show, the East High Wildcats are staging Disney’s Beauty & the Beast as their spring musical, and Olivia’s character, Nini, portrays one of the dancing knives and forks who surround Belle, as Lumière the talking candelabra welcomes her to the castle.

Billboard reports that the show’s season two soundtrack, which comes out July 30, will feature Olivia and co-star Joshua Bassett‘s duet, “Even When”/”The Best Part,” as well as Olivia’s solo rendition of “The Best Part,” and a few other performances from the “Drivers License” star, including “Granted” and “The Rose Song.”

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