June is Pride Month, and to mark the occasion, Apple Fitness+ has created a series of new workouts and meditations featuring the music of longtime LGBTQ ally Madonna.
Starting June 5, you’ll be able enjoy rowing, cycling, core, treadmill, strength, dance, yoga and cardio workouts, all set to songs from every decade of Madonna’s career, from the ’80s to the 2010s. Each instructor will be wearing one of Madonna’s iconic looks, including her “Like a Virgin” white lace wedding dress and her outfit from the “Material Girl” video.
According to Apple, “the energy and themes of each workout are inspired by Madonna’s impact on self-acceptance and inclusivity across music, culture, and style.”
Madonna’s Celebration tour kicks off July 15 in Vancouver.
Meanwhile, it’s not clear when the collaboration between Madonna and Sam Smith that the Queen of Pop teased on Wednesday will be released. Sam was seemingly going to debut it at their concert on Wednesday night, but it was canceled due to their vocal issues.
Queen’s Brian May is featured on a the brand new song from British artist Sam Ryder. The tune, “Fought & Lost,” features a guitar solo from May, with Ryder’s voice sounding quite similar to late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury.
“Some of you know what this is,” May shared on Instagram. “But I’d like the rest of you folks to wonder, just for half a minute, who you’re listening to, on this glistening new track … and what it might be telling us.”
“Lost & Found” may sound familiar to fans of the Apple TV series Ted Lasso. The song appeared in the recently released penultimate episode of the third season.
“This is a song for the hope seekers & the faith keepers. The ones who foster the dream and keep its fire burning regardless of the knock backs, the almosts, the falls & the failures,” Ryder shares. “This is a song for the down but never out’s, not to be sung cold eyed, muttered and muted, but to be belted towards the heavens as if wrenched from the spirit itself …for defeat looms in that glimmer of a moment right before life’s magic is spun.”
While Fast X is currently the number one movie in the world, it’s also driven into the record books again.
Receipts for the 10th film in the Fast saga — plus its Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham spinoff two-hander Hobbs & Shaw — have pushed the global take of the series that started in 2001 past $7 billion.
That places the franchise at #5 on the biggest movie series of all time, tied with Warner Bros.’ Harry Potter movies and its Fantastic Beasts spinoffs, Deadline reports.
The rumors about Kim Kardashian having an affair with Drake came to life courtesy of Kanye West. That’s what Kim alleges in the premiere episode of The Kardashians season 3, out now on Hulu.
“He was the one that started a rumor that said I was hooking up with Drake, having an affair, his whole marriage he accused me of that, publicly,” she said. “So the person that’s supposed to protect me the most publicly would accuse me of having an affair. I really can’t wrap my head around how he thinks he is a protector.”
The rumors about Kim and Drake have gone on for some time, with some believing it started with Drake’s mention of “Ki-Ki” in the song “In My Feelings.” At the time, Kim wrote, “Never happened. End of story,” but Ye went on to vent about Drake’s response.
“The fact that it’s people making rumors or thinking that you f***** my wife and you not saying nothing and you carrying it like that. That don’t sit well with my spirit,” he said in an Instagram Live. During his Dream Champs appearance, he confirmed that Drake didn’t sleep with Kim, but said Drake made music and general moves that suggested they were involved.
Kim vented about trying to stay quiet amid their public feuds.
“It’s just always so intense. I don’t want to engage with a public feud with him,” she said in the Kardashians episode. “Hurt me, just keep it with me. I don’t want to talk about this anymore, let’s talk about something else.”
She added that all Ye’s shenanigans are “gonna be far more damaging to the kids one day than my tape will ever be.”
Roger Waters is once again facing the possibility of having a show canceled because of his political beliefs.
The Belfast Telegraph reports British Labour MP Christian Wakeford has expressed concerns about the rocker’s scheduled June show at Manchester’s AO Arena.
“The city of Manchester has a rich and vibrant history in which those of different faiths and backgrounds have lived together, as well as stood together through difficult times and times of division,” Wakeford told the House of Commons. “So I’m concerned to note that Roger Waters is due to play at the AO Arena in Manchester next month.”
Wakeford pointed to Waters’ recent Berlin show, which has been getting backlash for the use of images of Anne Frank anda pig with a Star of David on it, as well as Waters dressing as what appeared to be an SS soldier.
That show sparked a tweet from the State of Israel’s official account, reading, “Good morning to every one but Roger Waters who spent the evening in Berlin (Yes Berlin) desecrating the memory of Anne Frank and the 6 million Jews murdered in the Holocaust.”
Wakeford asked that the House of Commons “agree with me that concerts like this have no place in our society and shouldn’t go ahead.” Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt did indicate that she would “make sure that all relevant departments have heard (Mr Wakeford’s) concerns today.”
Waters’ May show in Frankfurt was initially banned by the local government due to Waters’ perceived antisemitism, before a court overturned the ruling. Billboard reports that at the Berlin show, Waters projected a message that read, “The show will start in 10 minutes and a court in Frankfurt has ruled that I am not an antisemite… just to be clear, I condemn antisemitism unreservedly.”
Idris Elba plays an expert in negotiations who puts all his skills to use in the upcoming Apple TV+ seriesHijack.
The show takes place in real time after gunmen take control of a plane on the seven-hour flight from Dubai to London.
In the coming attraction, Elba’s character appears to be working both sides, stalling to keep the terrorists calm while preparing the passengers to take the plane back. He circles the ad copy “Get ready to shake things up” on a beverage container before passing it to other passengers.
One man wraps his fist in a seat belt extender to use the metal buckle as makeshift brass knuckles. A female passenger removes a gold hair pin.
“It’s either us or them,” he tells a frightened passenger. “And I can tell you it’s not gonna be us.”
On the ground, The Good Wife‘s Archie Panjabi plays a counterterrorism leader trying to uncover who the bad guys are — and discovers that it’s more than your standard terrorism plot.
Idris co-produced the tense series, which debuts on the streaming service on June 28.
(STERLING, Va.) — A senior adviser to the super PAC backing Gov. Ron DeSantis for president participated Thursday in a LIV Golf tournament at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, along with the Florida governor’s 2024 rival, former President Donald Trump.
Phil Cox, who serves as a senior adviser to Never Back Down super PAC, and who also advised the governor during his successful 2020 reelection bid, teed off Thursday morning at the controversial Saudi-backed tournament, according to multiple sources and a schedule of the event obtained by ABC News.
Cox hit the links just a few hours after Trump’s own tee time earlier in the morning, sources told ABC News.
The Saudi-backed LIV Golf Tournament raised eyebrows when it launched last year, with critics calling it an example of “sportswashing,” the process by which a group will launder its reputation with professional sporting events.
Trump’s golf courses have hosted several LIV tournaments over the last year.
Cox’s appearance Thursday at the tournament on Trump’s property follows news that the consulting group GP3, of which Cox is a partner, recently clinched a deal with the Saudi-financed LIV tour.
Cox is one of the GP3 consultants who works on the LIV account, according to The New York Times.
Sources tell ABC News that the business relationship between Cox and the LIV tournament has begun to ruffle feathers among those close to the Florida governor.
“I’m an unpaid, volunteer adviser to Never Back Down and proud to support Governor DeSantis,” Cox said in a statement to ABC News.
Officials with Never Back Down super PAC did not respond to a request for comment from ABC News. A spokesperson for Never Back Down previously told The New York Times regarding Cox, “there is no conflict here with his outside businesses.”
Cox, a longtime Republican operative, previously served as executive director of the Republican Governors Association.
DeSantis’ presidential campaign officially kicked off Wednesday night with a live Twitter Spaces event that was marred by technical glitches and was subsequently mocked by Trump on his Truth Social platform.
(WASHINGTON) — Seeking to strike a reassuring tone despite days of negotiations, President Joe Biden said Thursday afternoon that he’s had several “productive conversations” with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and their teams are “making progress” on debt ceiling talks as the country inches closer to default.
“I’ve made it clear time and again: Defaulting on our national debt is not an option,” Biden said as he delivered remarks in the Rose Garden before nominating a new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
But an agreement still remains elusive with just seven days until potential default. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen maintains that the U.S. government could run out of cash to pay all its bills in early June, possibly as soon as June 1.
House members left town on Thursday for Memorial Day weekend but were told to be ready to return if a deal is reached.
“It is time for Congress to act now,” Biden said in the Rose Garden. “I want to be clear: The negotiations we’re having with Speaker McCarthy is about the outlines of what the budget will look like, not about default. It’s about competing visions for America.”
“The only way to move forward is with a bipartisan agreement,” he added. “And I believe that we’ll come to an agreement that allows us to move forward and that protects the hardworking Americans of this country.
Earlier Thursday, McCarthy told ABC News Senior Congressional Correspondent Rachel Scott that “every hour matters” as the clock ticks toward June 1.
The speaker also expressed optimism the two sides will come to a solution, though he dodged questions on the narrowing timetable for Congress to be able to pass a deal.
“We worked well past midnight last night,” McCarthy said. “And yesterday, I thought, was a very good day. We made some progress. There are still some outstanding issues, and I’ve directed our teams to work 24/7 to try to solve this problem.”
A key Republican negotiator said there are still “fundamental disagreements” to resolve.
“Nothing’s resolved. Nothing’s resolved. And everyone wants to think you can lock up and bank something. You can’t bank anything until you actually have a complete deal,” said Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina.
Asked if he was confident a deal would be reached by this weekend, McHenry replied, “I’m still trying to work for the deal. And it looks very difficult because it’s very difficult subjects that we’re dealing with. I don’t think there’s I’ve made no secret about this. It’s not a position I wanted us to be in.”
Even if a debt ceiling deal is reached, Congress faces a serious time crunch to pass legislation before the end of the month. After a bill is drafted, McCarthy’s pledging to give House members 72 hours to review it, a concession he offered to conservative hardliners roadblocking his speakership vote at the start of this year. Then the Senate will have to take up the bill before it goes to President Joe Biden’s desk.
Complicating the matter further is the Memorial Day recess. The House will gavel out Thursday, and the Senate left town last week, though leadership in both chambers has directed lawmakers to be prepared to return to Washington immediately if a deal is struck.
Several Democrats have voiced frustration in recent days over the status of negotiation, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., dinging McCarthy’s plans to adjourn and excoriating Republicans for, in his words, making “unreasonable demands.”
“It’s my understanding that the designees of both President Biden as well as Speaker McCarthy will continue to talk, but it is unfortunate that House Republicans have chosen to get out of town before sundown,” Jeffries said in a news conference.
He hit the GOP for a “manufactured crisis” over the debt ceiling, accusing the party of holding the economy hostage.
“Republicans are driving us down a dangerous road of default or have presented the American people with another unacceptable choice, which is devastating cuts to children, devastating cuts to Medicaid, devastating cuts to nutrition, devastating cuts to education, devastating cuts to public safety and devastating cuts to our veterans,” he said.
Congressional Progressive Caucus leader Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington voiced similar concerns, warning Wednesday that progressives “are not going to take a deal that hurts working people.”
Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., said he was “very concerned” that Biden was giving too much away in the negotiations.
Bowman added, “I’m advocating for the White House to ensure that we don’t give away the house and default on our responsibilities.”
Jeffries said Thursday that Biden “is continuing to hold the line” on the spending cuts Republicans are seeking.
Meanwhile, conservative hardliners are telling McCarthy to stand his ground, too. They say they are seeking to end Democrats’ “addiction” to government spending, which they blame for inflation and other economic woes.
“Hold the line,” said Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas.
“This White House is a mockery of leadership. So we should hold firm and actually lead the country. And we have the ability to do that,” said Rep. Bryon Donalds, R-Fla.
As the politics play out, credit rating agency Fitch warned Thursday it was putting U.S. credit rating on watch for a possible downgrade.
Pressed for his reaction, McCarthy said he wasn’t concerned.
“I am concerned about, at the end of the day, if you do not have a deal worthy of the American public, you should be worried about Fitch. I’m not,” he said.
ABC News’ Alexandra Hutzler contributed to this report.
Jordan Davis has a great deal of gratitude for the men and women who serve our country. After all, he’s witnessed the selfless sacrifices made by some of his family members.
“You know, both my grandparents were in the service; my cousin was also a Marine, so the military hits close to home,” shares Jordan. “I mean I can’t say enough about ‘em. We live in the best country in the world, and it’s because of those guys and because of the people that came before ’em. So, I can’t thank ’em enough.”
“I wish we had Memorial Day every day,” he adds. “But it is great to have one day to thank the men and the women that gave it all.”
Jordan’s “Next Thing You Know” is currently number seven and fast ascending the country charts. The track is off his latest album, Bluebird Days, which arrived in February.
This summer, Jordan will join Dierks Bentley on the road for Dierks’ Gravel & Gold Tour, before kicking off his headlining Damn Good Time Tour on August 31. For the full tour schedule, jordandavisofficial.com.
Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll Tina Turner continues to be remembered on social media following her death on Wednesday at age 83.
Former President Barack Obamatweeted, “Tina Turner was raw. She was powerful. She was unstoppable. And she was unapologetically herself—speaking and singing her truth through joy and pain; triumph and tragedy. Today we join fans around the world in honoring the Queen of Rock and Roll, and a star whose light will never fade.”
In a statement, Vice President Kamala Harris called Turner “a spectacular woman whose life was a testament to all those who believe in what can be, unburdened by what has been.”
She added, “Her life was not free from hardship. Throughout her life, she faced racism, sexism, and domestic violence. As she later put it, experiences that ‘could have shattered me, instead became fuel for my journey, propelling me upward.’” She concluded, “Tina Turner was simply the best.”
Among the other tributes:
U2 – “RIP @tinaturner The Queen of Rock and Roll. And The Queen of Goldeneye,” referring to her 1995 James Bond song, which Bono and The Edge wrote.
Ringo Starr – “God bless Tina Turner, peace and love to all her family Ringo, peace and love.”
Brian Wilson – “I’m so sorry to hear about Tina Turner. I loved Tina and her voice and energy – she was one of the greats. ‘River Deep, Mountain High’ will always be one of my favorite songs. And nothing beats her version of ‘Proud Mary.’ I loved her musical too. Love & Mercy.”
Sting – “Beautiful Tina, no one like her, simply the best.”
John Oates– “I had the pleasure of backing up #TinaTurner when she surprised everyone at Live Aid and hit the stage with (Mick Jagger). Pure energy, dynamic singer, and one-of-a-kind performer. The music world just lost a true queen of soul.”
Priscilla Presley – “Tina Turner was one of Elvis‘ favorite performers. When she took the stage, it was pure magic. I remember how she held an audience with an energy that was undeniably pure Tina! She has left a remarkable legacy and will be sorely missed by all.”
Guitarist Steve Stevens – “There are music giants, there are legends and then there’s Tina Turner. Put on our planet to do exactly what she accomplished….. EVERYTHING.”
Huey Lewis – “Sad about the passing of Tina Turner. She was a dynamite performer and a super sweet person. A rock and roll pioneer!”
Rick Astley – “What a woman, what a life, what a voice! One of the GREATS! Such sad news.”
