Back in September, Elton John revealed that he lost vision in one of his eyes, and he now tells Good Morning America his condition has interfered with his attempts to put out a new album.
Elton revealed he had a new album in the works at the 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, then said it would be out in 2024 during his year-end message to members of his fan community.
When asked by Robin Roberts for an album update, Elton said, “I don’t know. It’s been awhile since I’ve done anything and I just have to get off my backside,” explaining the issues with his eye delayed things.
“I unfortunately lost my eyesight in my right eye in July because I had an infection in the south of France,” he said. “And it’s been four months now since I haven’t been able to see. And my left eye’s not the greatest.”
Elton said “there’s hope and encouragement that it will be OK,” but he really hasn’t been able to work on music. “I’m kinda stuck in the moment … going into the studio and recording, I don’t know, because I can’t see a lyric, for start.”
“We’re taking an initiative to try and make it better, but at the moment that’s what we’re really concentrating on,” he said. “And it kinda floored me, and I can’t see anything, I can’t read anything, I can’t watch anything.”
But even with all the challenges he’s faced, Elton, whose new documentary Never Too Late debuts Dec. 13 on Disney+, still seems to have a positive attitude.
“I’m so lucky, I’m the luckiest man in the world,” he said. “I’m proud of my attitude towards myself and what’s going on. I’m just very lucky and very grateful.”
(WASHINGTON) — Peach and Blossom are the two lucky turkeys from Minnesota who escaped a fowl fate of ending up on someone’s Thanksgiving table this year when they were pardoned Monday by President Biden at the White House.
“This event marks the official start of the holiday season here in Washington,” Biden said to what he said was a crowd of 2,500 gathered on the South Lawn. “It’s also my last time to speak here as your president during this season and give thanks and gratitude. So let me say to you, it’s been the honor of my life. I’m forever grateful.”
“May we use this moment to take time from our busy lives and focus on what matters most: our families,” Biden said. “My dad used to have an expression, family is the beginning, the middle and the end, our friends and our neighbors. The fact that we are blessed to live in America, the greatest country on Earth — and that’s not hyperbole. We are. No matter what, in America we never give up. We keep going, we keep the faith.”
These birds were plucked for the presidential flock and went through rigorous training to ride the gravy train to the White House for the honor, according to John Zimmerman, chairman of the National Turkey Federation.
Zimmerman’s 9-year-old son Grant and other young trainers made sure their feathers wouldn’t be ruffled by the spotlight.
“Preparing these presidential birds has taken a lot of special care,” Zimmerman said Sunday during a news conference introducing the two turkeys. “We’ve been getting them used to lights, camera and even introducing them to a wide variety of music — everything from polka to classic rock.”
Peach and Blossom, weighing 41 and 40 pounds, respectively, where hatched back in July. They traveled to Washington this week and were treated to a suite at the Willard InterContinental hotel before their big day on Monday, as is tradition.
Biden said the birds were named after the Delaware state flower: the Peach Blossom.
The president joked Peach lived by the motto “keep calm and gobble on.” Blossom’s mantra, he said, was “no foul play, just Minnesota nice.”
Biden at times was interrupted by gobbles, responding by saying one was making a “last-minute plea.”
After the pardons, the two turkeys were headed back to Waseca, Minnesota, to live out the remainder of the feathery lives as “agricultural ambassadors” at Farmamerica, an agricultural interpretive center.
“And today, Peach and Blossom will join the free birds of the United States of America,” Biden said.
The turkey pardon at the White House is an annual tradition that is usually “cranned” full of a cornucopia of corny jokes.
The history of the turkey pardon
The origin of the presidential turkey pardons is a bit fuzzy. Unofficially, reports point all the way back to Abraham Lincoln, who spared a bird from its demise at the urging of his son, Tad. However, that story might be more folklore than fact.
The true start of what has evolved into the current tradition has its roots in politics and dates back to the Harry Truman presidency in 1947.
Truman ruffled feathers by starting “poultry-less Thursdays” to try and conserve various foods in the aftermath of World War II, but Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day all fell on Thursdays.
After the White House was inundated with live birds sent as part of a “Hens for Harry” counter-initiative, the National Turkey Federation and the Poultry and Egg National Board presented Truman with a bird as a peace offering — although the turkey was not saved from a holiday feast.
President John F. Kennedy began the trend of publicly sparing a turkey given to the White House in November 1963, just days before his assassination. In the years following, the event became a bit more sporadic, with even some first ladies such as Pat Nixon and Rosalynn Carter stepping in to accept the guests of honor on their husband’s behalf.
The tradition of the public sparing returned in earnest during the Reagan administration, but the official tradition of the poultry pardoning at the White House started in 1989, when then-President George H.W. Bush offered the first official presidential pardon. In the more than three decades since, at least one lucky bird has gotten some extra gobbles each year.
Kevin Mazur/Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation)
By now you should know that nothing is off-limits when it comes to what Meghan Trainor chooses to share with her fans.
On the latest episode of her podcast, Workin’ On Upgrades, she announces, “I am getting a boob job!” She explains that after her two pregnancies, “I have … like, saggy sacks as boobs.” She says that the current state of her bosom is making it difficult for her to look good in her onstage outfits.
“What’s really difficult is trying on all these amazing outfits for tour and for shows coming up. I have to wear the most supportive bras, and it could ruin the outfit,” she says. She notes that she’s been wanting to have this particular procedure “for years.” Her brother Ryan, who’s on the podcast with her, confirmed, “Yeah, you’ve said this since you were like 16 years old, so this is not a new thing.”
“I have wanted this my whole life,” Meghan continued. “So I’m going to have boobies that don’t look at the floor and it’s going to be huge … for my confidence.”
“I’m just getting a lift. Maybe a little implant just so they’re like, ‘We are boobs,’ ‘cause right now, they are not,” she added. “But I love them, love my body, and I’ve been wanting this for years.”
Her husband, Daryl Sabara, also on the podcast, chimed in on how Meghan’s doctor told them to “look at a lot of boobs” online and tell him which ones are their favorites.
“Imagine boob jobs back in the day,” Daryl noted. “I think it’s a luxury now. You can just go online. Before, it was like, what? Like a catalog?”
The 2024 Billboard Music Awards finalists have been announced, with country music’s Morgan Wallen and Zach Bryan among the top finalists.
Zach leads the 2024 BBMA finalists list with 21 nominations, while Morgan notches 15 nods.
Other country artists with nominations include Luke Combs, Post Malone, Lainey Wilson, Chris Stapleton, Shaboozey, Bailey Zimmerman, Megan Moroney, Zach Brown Band and Kenny Chesney.
Dolly Parton‘s acclaimed debut rock album, Rockstar, scored her a Top Rock Album nod.
Beyoncé and her album Cowboy Carter also earned country recognition in the Top Country Female Artist and Top Country Album categories.
The 2024 Billboard Music Awards air Dec. 12 at 8 p.m. ET on Fox and Fire TV Channels, and on-demand on Paramount+.
Here’s a list of some categories your favorite country stars earned nods in:
Top Country Artist Zach Bryan Luke Combs Post Malone Chris Stapleton Morgan Wallen
Top Country Male Artist Zach Bryan Luke Combs Morgan Wallen
Top Country Female Artist Beyoncé Megan Moroney Lainey Wilson
Top Country Duo/Group Zac Brown Band The Red Clay Strays Treaty Oak Revival
Top Country Touring Artist Zach Bryan Kenny Chesney Luke Combs
Top Country Album Beyoncé – Cowboy Carter Zach Bryan – The Great American Bar Scene Zach Bryan – Zach Bryan Chris Stapleton – Higher Bailey Zimmerman – Religiously. The Album.
Top Rock Album Dolly Parton – Rockstar Zach Bryan – The Great American Bar Scene Zach Bryan – Zach Bryan Hozier – Unheard (EP) Noah Kahan – Stick Season
Top Artist Zach Bryan Morgan Wallen Sabrina Carpenter Drake Taylor Swift
Top Male Artist Zach Bryan Luke Combs Morgan Wallen Post Malone Drake
Top New Artist Shaboozey Benson Boone Tommy Richman Chappell Roan Teddy Swims
Twenty One Pilots have premiered the video for their song “The Line,” recorded for the soundtrack to the Netflix animated series Arcane.
The clip begins with frontman Tyler Joseph performing on a piano against a starry background as shots of different Arcane characters and scenes float by. Toward the end, Joseph’s eyes begin to light up and he becomes animated in the Arcane style.
You can watch the video for “The Line” streaming on YouTube.
Arcane is set in the universe of the League of Legends video game. Its second and final season is streaming now.
The Arcane season 2 soundtrack also includes contributions from Rage Against the Machine‘s Tom Morello, Imagine Dragons, FEVER 333 and Royal & the Serpent, as well as an alternate version of Linkin Park‘s “Heavy Is the Crown.”
The Band — Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Garth Hudson and Richard Manuel — played their final show ever at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco.
Billed as their “farewell concert appearance,” the show featured guest appearances by a whole host of musicians, including Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Dr. John, Ronnie Wood, Muddy Waters, Neil Diamond, Joni Mitchell and Van Morrison.
The concert was filmed by director Martin Scorsese and released in April 1978 as The Last Waltz, considered one of the greatest concert documentaries of all time.
The film was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry in 2019.
The Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band both earned nominations for the 2024 Billboard Music Awards.
Being that both artists are known for their live shows, it seems fitting they’re nominated in the Top Rock Touring Artist category, with their only other competition being Coldplay.
Both The Rolling Stones and Springsteen were on tour this year. The Stones launched their Hackney Diamonds tour in April in Houston, while Springsteen and The E Street Band returned to the road in March in Phoenix.
Also earning BBMA nominations this year are Pearl Jam, in the Best Hard Rock Album category for Dark Matter, and Dolly Parton, in the Best Rock Album category for Rockstar, which featured collaborations with such artists as Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and Stevie Nicks.
The 2024 BBMAs will air Dec. 12 at 8 p.m. ET on Fox, Fire TV channels and on-demand on Paramount+.
Richard Gadd’s follow-up project to Baby Reindeer is taking shape.
Gadd is confirmed to star in the HBO/BBC series Half Man alongside actor Jamie Bell. The series follows estranged “brothers” Niall, played by Bell, and Ruben, played by Gadd.
It will cover the ups and downs of Niall and Ruben’s relationship over the course of 40 years. The show kicks off with Ruben making a surprise appearance at Niall’s wedding, which leads to a violent altercation that sends the viewer back throughout their lives.
“I am delighted to confirm I will be playing Ruben in the newly crowned Half Man for the BBC / HBO alongside the incomparable Jamie Bell,” Gadd, who created and will executive produce the show, says in a statement. “When I wrote the show, I did it with him in mind, never thinking for a second we would manage to land him. So I could not be happier for everything that has come to pass in getting him on board.”
Bell adds, “I’m so excited to join this incredible creative team. Richard has once again crafted something poignant and singular. I’m honored to have been asked to bring this to life with him.”
Zayn Malik at Liam Payne’s funeral; Karwai Tang/WireImage
Zayn Malik saluted his late bandmate Liam Payne during the first night of his Stairway to the Sky tour Saturday in Leeds, England.
As Billboard reports, fan photos and videos show that near the end of the show, the video screen behind the stage showed the words “Liam Payne 1993-2024 Love You, bro,” followed by a giant red heart. Zayn’s song “Stardust” played as the words appeared on the screen.
As previously reported, Zayn postponed the start of the tour following Liam’s death Oct. 16. He died after falling from the balcony of his hotel in Argentina. While the cause of death was injuries from the fall, toxicology reports showed various substances in his system, including cocaine. Three people have been charged in connection with his death.
Zayn, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan all attended Liam’s funeral on Nov. 20.
(OCALA, Fla.) — Susan Lorincz, the Florida woman who was found guilty of first-degree felony manslaughter with a firearm in August, is set to be sentenced on Monday for fatally shooting her neighbor, Ajike “AJ” Owens, through a locked door in an incident that occurred on June 2, 2023, in Ocala.
She is facing up to 30 years in prison.
Lorincz, who is white, shot Owens, a Black mother of four, in the presence of her now 10-year-old son after Owens went to speak with Lorincz following a dispute over Owens’ children playing near Lorincz’s home, according to a June 6, 2023, statement from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO).
After a jury found Lorincz guilty on Aug. 16, Judge Robert Hodges said that Lorincz would be held in the Marion County jail without bond until her sentencing.
Ahead of Lorincz’s sentencing hearing, Owens’ family shared a statement on Wednesday with ABC News that they released through their attorney, calling for the judge to sentence the Florida woman to “the maximum penalty under the law.”
Owens’ family said that while the guilty verdict was an “ important step,” they are still seeking “justice.”
“While no sentence can ever restore the life taken from us, the court’s decision will send a strong message about the value of Ajike’s life and the importance of justice for victims of senseless violence,” the family said. “We are hopeful that the presiding judge will honor the jury’s decision and deliver a sentence that reflects the severity of this crime.”
Owens’ mother, Pamela Dias, who previously told ABC News that the guilty verdict brings a “sense of peace” to the family, said in a statement on Wednesday that Lorincz’s sentencing is an opportunity for the family to “find some closure.”
“While the pain of losing Ajike will never go away, we are hopeful that justice will prevail and that the court will give Susan Lorincz the maximum penalty for her actions,” Dias said. “Ajike’s legacy will live on in her children, and we will continue to fight for justice, love, and peace in her name.”
A spokesperson for the family told ABC News that they plan to be in court on Monday to attend Lorincz’s sentencing hearing.
Lorincz’s attorney Amanda Sizemore declined to comment in response to a request from ABC News.
Lorincz pleaded not guilty and during the trial her defense team argued that she should be found not guilty because she was acting in self-defense because she feared for her life. Meanwhile, prosecutors argued that Lorincz should be found guilty because she fatally shot an “unarmed” Owens through a “locked” door.
