Music

Britney Spears is not only celebrating her first Christmas in 13 years as a free woman, she says she’s also celebrating being able to finally make her own decisions concerning her health.

Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, Britney shared a cozy photo of a fireplace as well as her thoughts about what it means to be in control of her own life and free from her conservators.

“That beautiful … nice … and warm f****** fuzzy feeling when you’ve been waiting patiently for 13 years to be able to live your life however you choose and it’s finally here,” she wrote. “Lighting my candles sure is a joy folks.”

Britney then revealed that, along with the termination of her conservatorship, she believes she’s finally receiving the correct medical treatment.

“And you might be surprised cause my prayers are pretty damn powerful ESPECIALLY when you’re on the right medication just a month ago!!!!  D*** I can actually pray …. it feels so good to just BE HERE … thanks to no doctor or conservatorship people,” the singer remarked. “It’s good to BE HERE and be PRESENT !!!!”

Britney, who declined to speak further about her medical regimen, said she is also praying for some good news, saying cryptically, “In just 3 months there will be a shift for me.” 

Although she didn’t disclose what that “shift” might be, she promised to “pull a Snoop Dogg and say I thank ME for believing in ME” when it happens.

The “Toxic” singer previously alleged during her bombshell conservatorship statement in June that she was unable to advocate for her own medical decisions and was unable to choose her own doctors.  Her conservatorship was terminated earlier this month.

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Phoebe Bridgers has released a cover of the Tom Waits‘ “Day After Tomorrow” as part of her ongoing holiday song series.

While not explicitly a holiday tune — Waits released it in 2004 in protest of the Iraq War — “Day After Tomorrow” does speak to the yearning people feel to be close to their friends and family, which is certainly relatable during this time of year.

For her rendition, Bridgers is joined by a chorus featuring Mumford & Sons frontman Marcus Mumford and actor Kaitlyn Dever, among others.

You can download Bridgers’ “Day After Tomorrow” cover now via digital outlets. Proceeds will benefit the Local Integration and Family Empowerment Division of the International Institute of Los Angeles, which supports refugees, immigrants, and survivors of human trafficking.

Bridgers’ previous holiday covers include “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” Merle Haggard‘s “If We Make It Through December,” Simon & Garfunkel‘s “7 O’Clock News/Silent Night” alongside Fiona Apple and The National‘s Matt Berninger, and McCarthy Trenching‘s “Christmas Song” in collaboration with Jackson Browne. Those recordings were all collected on an EP released in November 2020.

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Marvel is moving from Iron Man to Iron Maiden.

The iconic comic book brand has announced a collaboration with the metal legends, featuring apparel and accessories that will bring together characters including Wolverine, Thanos, Venom and Deadpool with Maiden’s album artwork and Eddie mascot.

“Eddie has long stood shoulder to shoulder with the greatest super heroes and we’re also pretty proud of the Worlds we created for his many incarnations — from battlefields to Egyptian tombs to frozen icescapes or futuristic cities,” says Maiden manager Rod Smallwood. “Juxtaposing some of the most recognizable characters in pop art and comic book culture into planet Maiden has been an ambition of ours for years and working with Marvel and their unparalleled character-based IP is the perfect fit in this day and age.”

Smallwood adds, “To see such iconic characters alongside Eddie is something our fans have discussed for years and we think that the twist of placing Venom, Thanos, Thor or Deadpool in our Maiden worlds will excite fans of both cultures.”

You can check out the collection now via Iron Maiden’s web store.

Marvel is owned by Disney, the parent company of ABC News.

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There are many ways to celebrate the holidays, but there’s a specific activity Carly Pearce enjoys most.

“My favorite part about the holiday season is obviously getting to be with friends and family. But also that I can drink as much wine as I want to,” she quips to Access.

Carly’s answer should come as no surprise, as her single “Hide the Wine,” reached the top 20 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart in 2017.

The hit singer already has a jump-start on the holiday spirit, as she and Gabby Barrett co-hosted and performed on the CMA Country Christmas special that aired on ABC last night. Lady A also performed their original song, “Christmas Through Your Eyes,” with Dave Haywood, sharing the punny way he enjoys the holiday season.

“I think my favorite part about the holidays is the food. It takes the cake,” he jokes. “Get it?”

“That’s so bad,” band mate Charles Kelley responds with a smile, while Hillary Scott chuckles.

Carrie Underwood, Jimmie Allen and Brett Eldredge were among the other artists who performed on CMA Country Christmas.

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The Weeknd and H.E.R. were honored Tuesday with special Apple Music Awards.

The Weeknd was awarded the coveted Global Artist of the Year, with Apple singling out the massive success of his double-platinum After Hours album. The service also highlighted the singer for creating one of the most-Shazamed moments of the year with his Super Bowl Halftime Show performance.

“I’m so grateful for this huge honor and want to thank Apple for all its support, not only for my work but also for great music by newer artists, where it matters so much for creators to be found and supported,” the “Blinding Lights” singer said in a statement. In addition to receiving the Apple Music Global Artist of the Year Award, the Weekend is up for three Grammy Awards, including Best Melodic Rap Performance for being featured with Lil Baby on Kanye West‘s “Hurricane.”

Apple Music also named H.E.R. Songwriter of the Year and lauded her Back of My Mind album, as well as her Oscar-winning anthem “Fight for You,” which she co-wrote, co-produced and co-composed for Judas and the Black Messiah. The 24-year-old singer said she is “honored and blessed” by the recognition because, “As a young Black and Filipino artist, and a woman who is on the stage giving my all, there’s no doubt that representation is important.” Last week, H.E.R. received eight Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year for Back of My Mind, and Song of the Year, for “Fight for You.”

Apple Music will celebrate its winners starting Tuesday, December 7 by streaming interviews and original content. The winners, who were selected based on their global influence, will be honored in a ceremony later next month.

 

 

 

 

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Olivia Rodrigo took home several major honors at the third annual Apple Music Awards.  The winners, who were selected based on their global influence, will be honored in a ceremony later next month.

Olivia snagged three trophies: Breakthrough Artist of the Year,  Album of the Year for SOUR, and Song of the Year, for “drivers license.”  The 18-year-old singer called the honor “truly surreal” and declared, “I did my first interview for ‘drivers license’ with Apple Music, and so much has happened since then.”

The Weeknd was awarded the coveted Global Artist of the Year, with Apple singling out the massive success of his After Hours album.  The service also highlighted the singer for creating one of the most-Shazamed moments of the year with his Super Bowl Halftime Show performance.  The Weeknd said he is “so grateful” for the recognition.

Apple Music also named H.E.R. Songwriter of the Year and lauded her Back of My Mind album, as well as her Oscar-winning anthem “Fight for You,” which she co-wrote, co-produced and co-composed for Judas and the Black Messiah.  H.E.R. said she is “honored and blessed” by the recognition because, “As a young Black and Filipino artist, and a woman who is on the stage giving my all, there’s no doubt that representation is important.”

Five international artists, hailing from Africa, France, Germany, Japan and Russia, were honored with Regional Artist of the Year awards for the impact they had on their home countries. Wizkid, who hails from Africa, is the artist behind the Grammy-nominated song “Essence.”

Apple Music will celebrate its winners starting Tuesday, December 7 by streaming interviews and original content.

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A Los Angeles home belonging to Marilyn Manson was searched by the LA County Sheriff’s Department, Rolling Stone reports.

A source from the LASD tells Rolling Stone, “What I can confirm is there was a search warrant that was served [Monday] morning. It’s confirmed it was [Manson’s] address, his location. It was a search warrant for his belongings.”

The warrant was executed amid allegations of physical, emotional and sexual abuse against the rocker, born Brian Warner, from multiple women, including his ex-fiancée Evan Rachel Wood, actor Esmé Bianco, model Ashley Morgan Smithline, and Warner’s former assistant, Ashley Walters.

Warner, who’s facing multiple lawsuits, has denied the allegations.

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Alessia Cara was Jimmy Fallon‘s guest on Monday’s The Tonight Show, and also joined Fallon for the latest edition of his “Musical Genre Challenge.”

The game featured Fallon and Alessia singing popular tunes in different musical styles. For example, Alessia delivered Doja Cat‘s “Kiss Me More” in the style of a 1960s folk song, and Justin Bieber and The Kid LAROI‘s song “Stay” as a jazz/swing tune.

Jimmy gave BTS‘ “Butter” an ’80s new wave twist and the Spider-Man theme a ’60s British invasion spin.

While chatting with Fallon, Alessia discussed her new Christmas single, “Jingle Bell Rock,” available on Amazon Music. As to why she chose that song over the many other holiday standards, she explained that while she normally gravitates to the more melancholy tunes, a “jolly and happy” song is what we all need right now. However, there was another reason she picked it.

“I wanted to sing the line, ‘Giddy-up jingle horse.” says Alessia, noting, “It makes you laugh, like, what is a jingle horse?”

The 25-year-old “Shapeshifter” singer also discussed her first band, formed with her cousins, called The Lilacs — “We performed very small venues like my living room, my family’s living room,” she recalled — and her acting turn in season two of Amazon’s Yearly Departed, alongside Jane Fonda, Chelsea Peretti, Meg Stalter, Dulcé Sloan, Aparna Nancherla, X Mayo and host Yvonne Orji.

Alessia will perform “Jingle Bell Rock, as well as her own song, “Make It to Christmas,” on NBC’s annual Christmas in Rockefeller Center, airing on Wednesday.

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Rihanna has been declared a National Hero by her home country of Barbados.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the singer received the island nation’s high honor Monday night at the Pride of Nationhood ceremony in Bridgetown.

“May you continue to shine like a diamond and bring honor to your nation by your works, by your actions,” Prime Minister Mia Mottley told the singer, referencing her 2012 hit “Diamonds.”

Rihanna becomes just the second woman to receive the National Hero honor, and the 11th person overall. She can now use the title of Right Honorable in front of her name.

At the same ceremony Monday, Barbados formally cut ties with the U.K. and removed Queen Elizabeth II as head of state. In doing so, Barbados becomes the world’s newest republic.

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After telling Rolling Stone that she wasn’t going to do a Las Vegas residency because there were no venues available for her, Adele has gone ahead and — yep — announced a Las Vegas residency.

The superstar’s new show, titled Weekends with Adele, will take place at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, formerly the residency home of her idol, Celine Dion.  The shows kick off January 21, 2022, with Adele performing two shows each weekend through Saturday, April 16.

You can access the pre-sale tickets for the shows by registering with Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan® program. Registration is open now through midnight on Thursday, December 2. The presale itself will start Tuesday, December 7 at 1 p.m. ET.  If demand for tickets exceeds the supply, there won’t be a public on-sale at all, so this is your best bet.

Adele also told Rolling Stone that she didn’t want to do a regular tour, due to uncertainties about COVID-19. A Vegas residency would allow her to control the situation more easily, and since she lives in Los Angeles, flying in and out would make it easy on her — pun intended — since she wouldn’t have to leave her son, Angelo, for long periods of time.

Here are the dates for Weekends with Adele:

January 21/22
January 28/29
February 4/5
February 11/12
February 25/26
March 4/5
March 11/12
March 18/19
March 25/26
April 1/2
April 8/9
April 15/16

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