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NIH director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to take over as acting head of CDC

February 18, 2026 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), will take over as acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a White House official and sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.

Bhattacharya will continue in his current duties as NIH director until a permanent CDC director is nominated and confirmed, according to the White House official.

He replaces Jim O’Neill, who served as acting director of the CDC from late August 2025 until he stepped down last week.

O’Neill will be nominated as the next head of the National Science Foundation, according to the White House official.

‘Don’t Tell on Me,’ Jason Aldean asks in new single

February 18, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Jason Aldean’s Songs About Us album won’t be out until April 24, but he’s supplying fans with a steady stream of previews to hold them over.

The latest, his new single “Don’t Tell on Me,” will arrive Feb. 27.

“You’ve got a secret to keep, I’ve got a memory to drown/ Don’t fall apart yet, come on heart, Don’t tell on me now,” Jason sings in a preview that shows him sitting at a bar.

Two other songs are set to drop Feb. 27 as well, though he’s yet to reveal which two.

So far, “Easier Gone,” “Help You Remember,” “What’s a Little Heartache,” “Hard to Love You,” “Her Favorite Color” and “Lovin’ Me Too Long” have been released from the album, along with the #1 “How Far Does a Goodbye Go.”

Slightly Stoopid announces inaugural Field of Dreamz Festival

February 18, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Slightly Stoopid has announced the inaugural edition of their own festival, Field of Dreamz, taking place June 13 in the band’s hometown of San Diego.

The event will be held at Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres baseball team.

“The Padres and Petco Park have always been special to us,” Slightly Stoopid says in a statement. “From growing up watching the games to headlining shows here, and even throwing out the first pitch, partnering with the Padres and creating our own festival on that field in our hometown is truly a dream come true.”

Slightly Stoopid will headline the festival alongside Sublime.

“Given the history of Stoopid and Sublime, this will be really special, especially with so many of our musical friends and heroes joining us,” the “Closer to the Sun” outfit adds. “San Diego has supported us from day one, and the Field of Dreamz Festival is our way of bringing it all back to the community that raised us.”

Presales begin Thursday at 10 a.m. local time, and tickets go on sale to the general public on Saturday at 10 a.m. local time.

Doo, doo, doo: Watch mgk’s video for Third Eye Blind-sampling song, ‘starman’

February 18, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Mgk has premiered the video for “starman,” a track off his latest album, 2025’s lost americana.

“Starman” interpolates the melody of and samples Third Eye Blind’s ’90s staple “Semi-Charmed Life.” The clip spotlights the stage production of mgk’s ongoing tour in support of lost americana, which finds him performing alongside a giant replica of the Statue of Liberty.

You can watch the “starman” video on YouTube.

Mgk’s tour is currently in Europe and will return to the U.S. in May.

Drake is bestselling rapper on ICFI’s list for biggest-selling global artists of 2025

February 18, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Drake has been named the bestselling rapper in a list compiled by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, which represents the recorded music industry worldwide.

He’s ranked as the third biggest-selling global artist of 2025, coming closely behind Taylor Swift and Stray Kids.

Other rappers who join Drake on the list are The Weeknd at #4; Kendrick Lamar at #6; Tyler Creator, who made his debut at the chart on #12; and Eminem at #15. SZA also made the chart, coming in at #19.

The full list is now available on icpi.org.

Hear the ‘Word on the Street’ from Luke Bryan

February 18, 2026 by WDNY Radio

“Word on the Street” is that Luke Bryan’s new single’s set to drop on Friday.

“There’s no rumors on the rollin river/ No talk in them tall pine trees/ Just the wind and a whippoorwill whisper/ BS-free in BFE,” Luke sings in a preview of him in the recording studio. “I don’t wanna hear how you’re movin’ on’s movin’ since me/ And backroads mind their own so I don’t hear the word on the street.”

“Word on the Street” is the first new music from Luke since 2024’s Mind of a Country Boy and the name of his upcoming tour, which kicks off at the end of May.

The American Idol judge also appears on George Birge’s new radio single, “Ride, Ride, Ride.”

Kristen Bell to voice Amy Rose in ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 4’

February 18, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Kristen Bell is joining the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise.

The actress will voice Amy Rose in Paramount Pictures’ upcoming film Sonic the Hedgehog 4. Ben Schwartz, who has voiced Sonic in all three of the franchise’s previous films, made the announcement in an Instagram post on Wednesday.

Schwartz posted a photo of himself and Bell embracing while holding action figures of their respective characters.

“WE HAVE OUR AMY ROSE!!! And I could not be more excited!!! Please welcome the incredible @kristenanniebell to the @sonicmovie family!!!”

In the video games, Amy Rose is a pink hedgehog who is a longtime admirer of Sonic’s.

Bell joins the star-studded voice cast of the franchise that also includes Idris Elba as Knuckles and Keanu Reeves as Shadow. The live-action cast of the franchise includes Jim Carrey as the villain Dr. Robotnik, James Marsden as Tom Wachowski and Tika Sumpter as Maddie Wachowski.

While a plot for the fourth film has yet to be unveiled, it will be directed by Jeff Fowler, who also helmed the previous three films in the franchise. It is scheduled for release on March 19, 2027.

Amy Rose was first teased in the mid-credits scene of Sonic the Hedgehog 3. The scene finds Sonic being chased by an army of Metal Sonics before he is saved by the pink hedgehog.

LCD Soundsystem announces Boston residency dates

February 18, 2026 by WDNY Radio

LCD Soundsystem has announced a residency in Boston.

The “Dance Yrself Clean” outfit will play four shows at the Beantown venue Roadrunner between April 30 and May 3.

Presales begin Feb. 24 at 10 a.m. local time, and tickets go on sale to the general public on Feb. 27 at 10 a.m. local time.

LCD has also announced a one-off show in Reno, Nevada, taking place Sept. 24. Tickets to that go on sale on Friday at 10 a.m. local time.

For the full list of dates and all ticket info, visit LCDSoundsystem.com.

LCD Soundsystem’s upcoming live schedule also includes a four-date Chicago residency in March, and a set at the BottleRock Napa Valley festival in May. Their annual New York City residency, which typically takes place in November and December, has yet to be announced for 2026.

Nonpoint announces spring tour dates

February 18, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Nonpoint has announced a U.S. tour for the spring.

The headlining run begins April 25 in Tampa, Florida, and will wrap up May 14 in Chicago. The bill will also include “Halo” rockers SOiL and Sumo Cyco.

Tickets go on sale Friday. For the full list of dates and all ticket info, visit Nonpoint.com.

Nonpoint has also been working on new music to follow their 2024 single, “Underdog.” The band put out an EP, Heartless, in 2023, and their most recent album is 2018’s X.

Journey to perform at Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

February 18, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Journey has added another show to their 2026 schedule.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers have announced they’ll be performing at this summer’s Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, which takes place Aug. 7-16 in Sturgis, South Dakota.

Journey will be performing at the event’s Full Throttle Saloon on Aug. 11.

Journey isn’t the only act booked for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Sammy Hagar, David Lee Roth, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Megadeth, Collective Soul, Rob Zombie, Lainey Wilson and more are all playing the event, either at the Full Throttle Saloon or at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip.

More info can be found at Sturgis.com.

But before they head to Sturgis, Journey will be on the road with their Final Frontier tour. The trek, which has been announced as their farewell tour, kicks off Feb. 28 in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and wraps July 2 in Laredo, Texas.

A complete list of dates can be found at Journeymusic.com.

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