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Pentagon IDs 7th US service member killed in Iran war

March 9, 2026 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — The Defense Department on Monday identified another U.S. service member who died following the opening wave of Iranian retaliatory attacks across the Middle East, marking the seventh U.S. service member to die in the war with Iran.

Sgt. Benjamin Pennington, 26, died Sunday from injuries he sustained during a March 1 retaliation strike on U.S. troops at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia from Iran.

“He gave the ultimate sacrifice for the country he loved,” Lt. Gen. Sean A. Gainey, the top officer for Army Space and Missile Defense Command, said in a statement. “That makes him nothing less than a hero, and he will always be remembered that way. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.”

Pennington enlisted in the Army in 2017 as a supply specialist and was assigned to the 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade at Fort Carson, Colorado. He is set to be posthumously promoted to staff sergeant, the Army announced.

Pennington was working at a strategic radar installation responsible for early warning against incoming missile threats, a critical node in the U.S. military’s missile-defense architecture, according to a source familiar with the situation.

On Saturday, President Donald Trump attended the dignified transfer of the other six American service members killed in the war’s opening hours, after an Iranian drone struck in Kuwait. All six were killed in the same attack.

Even as the ceremony underscored the war’s early toll, the president and senior Pentagon officials have been preparing the public for the likelihood that more casualties are ahead.

“The president’s been right to say there will be casualties,” Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said in an interview with the CBS News program “60 Minutes” on Sunday. “Things like this don’t happen without casualties. There will be more casualties.”

Hegseth cast the losses as a grim but familiar feature of war for a country that has spent more than two decades fighting in the Middle East.

“Especially our generation knows what it’s like to see Americans come home in caskets,” he said. “But that doesn’t weaken us one bit. It stiffens our spine and our resolve to say this is a fight we will finish.”

ABC News’ Martha Raddatz contributed to this report.

Anthropic sues Trump administration after clash over AI use

March 9, 2026 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Artificial-intelligence firm Anthropic sued the Trump administration on Monday over the Pentagon’s choice to designate it a “supply-chain risk,” legal filings show.

A spokesperson for Anthropic said the legal action “does not change our longstanding commitment to harnessing AI to protect our national security, but this is a necessary step to protect our business, our customers, and our partners.”

A Department of Defense spokesperson told ABC News: “As a matter of Department of War policy, we do not comment on litigation.”

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Jelly Roll to headline Matthew McConaughey’s charity event, casts wife Bunnie Xo in new video

March 9, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Jelly Roll will be hanging with Matthew McConaughey in April.

Jelly’s been announced as the headliner for this year’s MJ&M Gala. The benefit is organized by Mack, Jack & McConaughey, the fundraising effort founded by the actor, along with legendary Texas Longhorns football coach Mark Brown and singer/songwriter Jack Ingram.

This year’s gala takes place April 23 at Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theater in Austin, Texas. Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. CT via AXS.com. Proceeds will go to five charitable organizations dedicated to children’s education, health and wellness.

In other Jelly news, on Sunday, which was International Women’s Day, he released the video for his single “Thorns,” starring none other than his wife, Bunnie Xo. He wrote on Instagram, “To my beautiful, intelligent, compassionate, graceful wife, and newly New York Times best selling author, I’ll never be able to thank you enough for making me complete. You truly saved my life.”

He added, “They say behind every good man is a great woman, and I know thats damn true for me y’all.”

Jelly sings in the romantic song, “Every lost has a found/ Look at me, girl, standin’ next to you right now/ Thought I’d always be alone/ But every thorn has its rose.”

Miley Cyrus sings with Elmo on new episode of ‘Sesame Street’

March 9, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Miley Cyrus knows how to get to Sesame Street.

The singer is the special guest for volume two of the reimagined Sesame Street, which drops Monday on Netflix and PBS KIDS.

She appears in the “Elmo’s Toy Swap” episode as Elmo learns there’s “no wrong way to play.” In a clip posted to Instagram, we see Miley singing a song about imagination with Elmo and friends.

“We can be whatever we can dream/ When we imagine, anything can happen,” they sing as they imagine themselves in a submarine underwater.

The scene then cuts back to the toy swap, where Miley holds up a sparkly high heel. “Let’s imagine what we can do with this!” she says.

“We loved imagining with you, @mileycyrus!” the show wrote on its Instagram account. “Thanks for stopping by Sesame Street to sing and dance with us. We love you!”

Season 56 of Sesame Street is airing in three volumes. The first volume debuted last November.

Jon Anderson & The Band Geeks announce second leg of US tour

March 9, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Former Yes frontman Jon Anderson has announced a second leg of U.S. dates for the Yes Epics, Classics and More tour with his backing band, The Band Geeks.

The first leg of the tour is set to begin on April 17 in Ridgefield, Connecticut, and wrap May 7 in Royal Oak, Michigan. The new dates include 12 shows, kicking off June 23 in Phoenix, Arizona, and wrapping July 22 in New York City.

Anderson and The Band Geeks released their first album together, True, in August 2024. Songs from the album will be included in the set along with tracks from the Yes catalog.

The tour is also set to hit the U.K. and Sweden beginning Sept. 6 in Brighton, England, and wrapping Oct. 5 in Malmö, Sweden.

A complete list of dates and ticket information can be found at JonAnderson.com.

Lara Jean, Kitty reunite in ‘XO, Kitty’ season 3 trailer

March 9, 2026 by WDNY Radio

The Song Covey sisters are back together in the official trailer for season 3 of XO, Kitty.

Netflix has released the official trailer for the third season of the coming-of-age romance series.

Season 3 marks the first time that Lana Condor, the star of the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before film trilogy, has reprised her beloved character of Lara Jean Song Covey after the 2021 movie To All the Boys: Always and Forever.

XO, Kitty is a spinoff series inspired by the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before film trilogy, which itself is based on Jenny Han’s bestselling books. Season 3 will consist of eight 30-minute episodes.

Season 3 of XO, Kitty finds Kitty Song Covey (Anna Cathcart) returning “for her final year at KISS with her perfect senior year mapped out.”

“And she’s going to define her relationship with Min Ho. For real this time,” the synopsis continues. “But when surprise revelations throw her plans, and relationships, off course, Kitty will have to learn to embrace the unexpected.”

Condor told Netflix in a press release that “it’s such a joy to be able to come back and see Anna. I think she did an amazing job creating the XO, Kitty world. It’s such a dream to be able to work with her again. I feel really excited and happy and honored I get to be back.”

The trailer finds Lara Jean arriving to Seoul, South Korea, after Kitty experiences some heartbreak.

“Whatever happens with Min Ho, we can’t just stop living our lives,” Lara Jean tells Kitty. “We have to follow our hearts and trust that it will lead us to our next great adventure.”

XO, Kitty season 3 arrives to Netflix on April 2.

ICYMI: Kehlani, A$AP Rocky and Jeremih

March 9, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Kehlani has been tapped to headline the Super Saturday Concert at the 2026 NCAA Women’s Final Four. The free concert takes place April 4 in Hance Park, Arizona, in celebration of March Madness and the Women’s Final Four tournament. “Headlining the Super Saturday Concert presented by AT&T during the Women’s Final Four is such an honor,” Kehlani said in a statement, according to Billboard. “The dedication and spirit surrounding this weekend are incredible, and I’m looking forward to celebrating alongside the athletes and fans through music.”

It seems the deluxe edition of ASAP Rocky’s Don’t Be Dumb will soon be on its way. The account for his AWGE creative collective wrote on X, “EVERYONE DONE DROPPING NOW?” A subsequent post added, “ROLLOUT #2 LOADING.”

If you’re wondering why Jeremih is no longer on the Boys 4 Life tour with B2K and Bow Wow, it’s because he’s dealing with some health issues. “Due to a serious medical condition, Jeremih will be unable to participate in the upcoming B2K tour scheduled to begin in March. He has been dealing with a health issue, and his condition continues to be closely monitored by his doctor,” a post on his Instagram reads. B5 has been added to the tour.

Bobby Brown says New Edition’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nomination “feels incredible.” “Just knowing that our prayers are being answered and everything is going in the direction that we had hoped for, and we wished upon, and we worked hard for … it’s a great thing,” he tells The Boston Globe.

Hayley Williams’ Power Snatch releases collaboration with This Is Lorelei

March 9, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Hayley Williams’ Power Snatch project has released a collaboration with This Is Lorelei, the solo moniker of Nate Amos from the band Water from Your Eyes.

The track is called “Perfect Hand” and is a reworking of the song of the same name from the 2024 This Is Lorelei album, Box for Buddy, Box for Star.

The updated recording will appear on the upcoming super deluxe edition of Box for Buddy, Box for Star, due out April 17.

Williams officially launched Power Snatch in January, though online sleuths uncovered an Instagram profile relating to the project dating back to summer 2025. Along with Williams, Power Snatch features songwriter/producer Daniel James, who worked with the Paramore frontwoman on her 2025 solo album, Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party.

The Williams/Amos connection will continue when Water from Your Eyes opens for her upcoming debut solo tour, launching March 27 in Atlanta.

Ingrid Andress is keeping things low-key for her new tour

March 9, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Ingrid Andress is launching a stripped-down tour to introduce fans to her new music.

The Low-Key Sessions tour starts May 8 in Newport, Kentucky, and wraps up May 15 in Minneapolis. The six-city tour will feature Ingrid debuting music she plans to release in the future. Tickets go on sale March 13; visit IngridAndress.com for all the details.

“New music is on the way, and before the world hears it, I want to share these songs — and the stories behind them — in a way that feels truly up close and personal,” Ingrid says in a statement. “The Low-Key Sessions will be just me, my piano and a guitar player in an intimate setting.”

“I can’t wait to get back out there and share what I’ve been working on with the people who’ve always meant the most — my fans.”

One of Ingrid’s new songs, “Now I Know,” is out now. She’s currently working on the follow-up to 2022’s Good Person, which featured the #1 Sam Hunt duet, “Wishful Drinking.”

Her debut, 2020’s Lady Like, launched her first #1, “More Hearts Than Mine,” and earned her a best new artist Grammy nomination.

R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe performs with Michael Shannon & Jason Narducy at Brooklyn concert

March 9, 2026 by WDNY Radio

R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe was the surprise guest at Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy’s Brooklyn concert Saturday. The duo is on tour celebrating the 40th anniversary of R.E.M.’s fourth studio album, Lifes Rich Pageant.

Stipe joined them for two songs, Pageant’s “These Days” and the Man on the Moon track “The Great Beyond.” Fan-shot footage of the performances are posted on R.E.M.’s Instagram account.

While Stipe’s appearance wasn’t announced prior to the show, fans may not have been all that surprised he showed up. Stipe joined the pair at their Brooklyn show in March 2025, which celebrated the 40th anniversary of R.E.M.’s Fables of the Reconstruction, and performed the Reckoning track “Pretty Persuasion.”

Stipe and his R.E.M. bandmates Mike Mills, Peter Buck and Bill Berry also joined Shannon and Narducy when the Fables tour hit R.E.M.’s hometown of Athens, Georgia, in February of that same year.

Shannon and Narducy’s Lifes Rich Pageant tour hits Pittsburgh on Monday.

In other Michael Stipe news … The rocker and producer Andrew Watt has contributed the theme song Steve Carrell’s new HBO series, The Rooster. The song, “I Played The Fool,” features blink-182’s Travis Barker on drums and ex Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer on guitar and piano.

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