Music – Page 51 – 105.7 WDNY

Report: Cher in talks to provide voice for animated film about bugs

June 17, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Cher is in talks for her first film role since 2018’s Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.

Deadline reports that the Oscar-winning entertainer may provide the voice for an animated Australian film called Fly Squad — First Strike! The movie is about three insects who team up to find an antidote to a chemical that threatens their survival.

Cher is reportedly interested in voicing the mother of the main character. Deadline notes the project appealed to her because it’s “a fun way to highlight species preservation.”

Cher isn’t the only famous musician involved in the film. Deadline reports that Irish artist Bob Geldof — best known as the driving force behind the 1985 charity concert Live Aid and the charity Band Aid single “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” — is in talks to voice a “legendary insect rock star” who organizes “Insect Aid.”

Cher, who recently turned 80, has been fairly quiet musically, aside from a performance on Saturday Night Live in December.

Riley Green to be honored alongside Vince Gill at Nashville Songwriter Awards

June 17, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Nashville Songwriters Association International will give Riley Green its Songwriter-Artist of the Year honor Sept. 22 during the ninth annual Nashville Songwriter Awards at the historic Ryman Auditorium.

The news comes on the heels of “Change My Mind” becoming Riley’s seventh #1 earlier in June.

Blake Pendergrass will pick up the Songwriter of the Year award. He notched his first chart-topper in July 2025 with Morgan Wallen’s “Just in Case” and went on to grab three more.

As previously announced, Vince Gill will get the Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award, with Paul Williams picking up the NSAI President’s Keystone Award.

Tickets go on sale July 17 for the night, which will also unveil Song of the Year winner(s), the much-anticipated Songs I Wish I’d Written and the 2026 Legendary Song honor.

Aimee Mann almost turned down chance to perform with Rush on Fifty Something tour

June 17, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Rush was joined by special guest Aimee Mann during the four-night opening stint of their Fifty Something tour in Los Angeles, but it turns out Mann almost said no to the gig.

The singer joined the band to reprise her part on “Time Stand Still” from 1987’s Hold Your Fire. But she reveals in an Instagram post that she initially wasn’t keen on doing it.

Mann posted a hand-drawn comic with the caption “What I did last week,” where she explained how her guest appearance came about.

“Way back in March, I got an email from Geddy Lee, from the band Rush. But I was quite frankly in a s***** place and couldn’t imagine doing it,” she explains on top of the drawings. “I was in such a hole I couldn’t even answer one way or the other. I knew I’d regret it if I didn’t try.”

Apparently she finally agreed, and goes on to say the band “were so kind and welcoming.” She writes, “I felt protected by their bubble of music and Canadian warmth, and buoyed aloft by their fans.”

Within the drawings, she reveals what was going on in her head after being asked, including her worry about the size of the KIA Forum, where Rush was playing, and her original plan, which was to “just apologize profusely and explain that I’m a crazy person.”

There are also drawings depicting Lee welcoming her, as well as one of the pair onstage together.

The Rush 50 Something tour heads to Mexico City for two nights, Thursday and Saturda. A complete list of dates can be found at Rush.com.

Blake Shelton, Shaboozey and Posty party with Peacock on the Fourth

June 17, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Blake Shelton, Shaboozey and Post Malone are all set to perform on NBC’s Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks special.

The lineup also includes Noah Kahan, Bebe Rexha and Salt-N-Pepa, alongside a fireworks display from New York City.

“This year’s broadcast will be especially meaningful as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of America and the 50th anniversary of Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks,” says NBC and Peacock executive Jen Neal in a statement. “This beloved live event creates a shared moment for viewers across the country while showcasing the powerful reach of both NBC and Peacock.”

Since Posty’s collab’d with Blake on “Pour Me a Drink” and Noah on “Dial Drunk,” it seems there could also be an opportunity for some special performances on July Fourth.

Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks will air Independence Day starting at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC and will stream live on Peacock.

Poppy premieres video for ’Empty Hands’ track ‘Dying to Forget’

June 17, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Poppy has premiered the video for “Dying to Forget,” a track off her new album, Empty Hands.

The clip cuts between the “new way out” artist making her way through a crowded corridor of headbanging fans and a shot of her sitting inside a giant cracked egg.

You can watch the “Dying to Forget” video on YouTube.

Empty Hands, the follow-up to 2024’s Negative Spaces, dropped in January. It also includes the single “Time Will Tell,” which currently sits in the top 25 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.

Poppy will launch a U.S. headlining tour in July.

(Video contains uncensored profanity.)

Steve Miller announces first shows of 2026

June 17, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Steve Miller has announced his first concerts of 2026.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer is set to return to the Rose Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City on Oct. 9 and 10.

Miller first played the Rose Theater back in 2016 and has been performing at the venue for nearly a decade. According to a post on Instagram, the shows will have Miller honoring his “blues and jazz heroes.”

Tickets are on sale now.

The October dates are the only shows Miller has on his schedule for 2026. In July 2025 he abruptly canceled the planned Steve Miller Band tour, blaming the extreme weather conditions hitting the U.S.

“The combination of extreme heat, unpredictable flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes and massive forest fires make these risks for you our audience, the band and the crew unacceptable,” read his post on Instagram. “So… You can blame it on the weather…The tour is cancelled.”

Post Malone, Shaboozey, Noah Kahan to headline NBC’s ‘Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks’ special

June 17, 2026 by WDNY Radio

This year isn’t just the 250th birthday of America, it’s also the 50th anniversary of NBC’s Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks special.

Performers at this year’s event include Noah Kahan, Post Malone, Salt-N-Pepa, Bebe Rexha, Shaboozey and Blake Shelton.

This year’s fireworks display will feature more than 85,000 shells exploding over the lower parts of New York’s East River and Hudson River, paired with a laser show from the Brooklyn Bridge. It’ll be set to a score that features a live performance from Alexia Jayy, who just won season 29 of The Voice.

The iconic show will air on Independence Day starting at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC and will stream live on Peacock.

Alicia Keys to perform ‘Empire State of Mind’ at New York Knicks championship parade

June 17, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Since the Empire State is in celebration mode following the New York Knicks’ championship, who better to perform at the parade than Alicia Keys? The singer has been tapped to take the stage at City Hall, where she will perform her song “Empire State of Mind” on Thursday.

Alicia posted a video of her FaceTime chat with OG Anunoby, who asked whether she would be attending the festivities. “The city’s been asking for you. Are you pulling up?” he asks, to which her son Egypt responds, “I’ll make sure she gets there.”

“I just feel like if there’s a time for you to smile, it’s right now,” Alicia said.

“How could I not? This is my city, and the city’s on fire, like there’s so much love in the city. It’s crazy, like imagine y’all brought all that energy, like everybody just united, feeling amazing, so I’m excited,” she continued. “We’re proud of you, we’re excited. … We’ll see you there.”

Alicia wrote in the caption, “New York, we’ve been waiting for this one!!! My brother @oanunoby said the city is calling….. Meet me tomorrow at City Hall to celebrate our World Champion @nyknicks!!!!!! Don’t worry @egyptdean_ wouldn’t let me miss this.”

Alicia’s performance, celebrating the Knicks’ first championship win in 53 years, is scheduled to take place at approximately 1 p.m. ET.

Kelsea Ballerini wants ‘Another Drink’ with Marshmello

June 17, 2026 by WDNY Radio

What’s Kelsea Ballerini been up to? Well, it seems she’s been in the studio — and at the bar — with Marshmello.

On Tuesday, the “half of my hometown” hitmaker posted a video lamenting the behavior of the opposite sex.

“It’s like every guy in the world just thinks every girl in the world goes to a bar to just like, what, like get hit on?” Kelsea says, making a gagging sound for effect. “If one more guy comes up to me and says that he has a truck parked outside, like that’s like, good job,” she continues, feigning applause this time. “Like, when’s the last time you called your mom?”

“Do you want another drink?” she adds, as the next shot reveals she’s been talking to ‘Mello the whole time, who nods affirmatively.

Wednesday’s post reveals a snippet of Kelsea performing the song that seemed to be playing in the background of the previous clip.

“boy, you’re outta luck, @marshmello,” the caption reads, revealing the title is likely “Another Drink.”

Stay tuned to see what’s next.

In April, Marshmello released “Where We Go” with Thomas Rhett, following 2025 collabs with Hudson Westbrook and Jelly Roll. He previously claimed two country number ones with Kane Brown with 2024’s “Miles on It” and 2019’s “One Thing Right.”

Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda teases upcoming ‘Unshatter’ documentary

June 17, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda has shared more details about the band’s upcoming documentary, Unshatter.

The “Numb” outfit first announced the project, which is directed by band member Joe Hahn, earlier in June alongside a teaser trailer.

Speaking with the BBC, Shinoda says that the idea for a Linkin Park film has long been in the works, dating back to before frontman Chester Bennington’s death in 2017.

“[Hahn] always wanted to do something that kind of, like, explained our universe to people,” Shinoda says.

Explaining that universe became that much more emotional following Bennington’s passing. Unshatter, Shinoda says, follows the band members as they “pick up the pieces” and make the decision to relaunch Linkin Park with a new singer, Emily Armstrong.

“More info will come out soon,” Shinoda says of Unshatter. “We’re very excited about it, really proud of Joe.”

Linkin Park released their first album with Armstrong, From Zero, in 2024. They’re currently on tour in Europe.

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