Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Rick Wakeman kicks off his U.S. tour, An Evening with Rick Wakeman: His Music and Stories, Wednesday in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. And as the name suggests, fans can expect to hear more than just music at the shows.
“Basically I play music that I’ve been involved with or been inspired by over the 50 plus years” of his career, Wakeman tells ABC Audio. That includes his own music and music of Yes, as well as songs by David Bowie, Cat Stevens and more. “Then in between I tell stories, some of which are completely silly and some of which do have a semblance of truth, as well.”
He adds, “It’s a fun evening. Imagine everyone sitting around a giant dinner table.”
The tour is set to hit 17 cities, and Wakeman says one of the best things about hitting the road in the U.S. is meeting people.
“I’m a people person,” he shares. “I like people.”
He says he’s made lots of friends over the years, and he loves to get to see them in the audience when he comes to town.
“You know, there’s something nice about, like, a sort of friendship thing when you go onstage and you know you’ve got friends out there,” he says. “It’s just a really nice feeling and I don’t think I’ll ever tire of that.”
An Evening with Rick Wakeman: His Music and Stories runs through April 15 in Woodstock, New York. A complete list of tour dates can be found at rwcc.com.
Everyone’s favorite football coach is back Wednesday, with the season 3 premiere ofTed Lasso on Apple TV+.
We’re told that this season will culminate in some kind of ending for the show; that the creators, including star Jason Sudeikis, always envisioned a three-season story arc; and this season will wrap up the story they wanted to tell.
Sudeikis, who portrays Ted Lasso in the series, tells ABC Audio that this show and character has been one of the highlights of his career, and he loves being recognized on the street for it.
“It’s great because I get called coach all the time, which was always something that I just love,” he admits, adding, “My son gets a kick out of it too. He’s like, ‘People love this show.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah.'”
As for what fans can expect from the upcoming season, Brendan Hunt, who plays Coach Beard, teases, “Oh, you know, the usual. Guys hugging, friends apologizing, drinking, you know, the classics.”
Hunt also dishes that the third installment will dive deeper into Ted’s role and regrets as a dad, having left his son behind in the states to coach in England.
“…That’s a hard thing for Ted to continue to have to deal with, even though Henry [Ted’s son] doesn’t seem to mind,” he explains. “But, you know, when you’re a dad, you know a little better. So that is something Ted will continue to wrestle with, like what’s going on back home while he’s not there.”
Hunt shares that despite the distance, he thinks Ted’s a “great dad”
“But yeah, the reality of it is you want to be with your kid. So yeah, he’s just at a bit of a crossroads there,” he says.
(NEW YORK) — Lunchables are ready for their first day of school.
In tandem with the National School Lunch Program, the ready-to-eat packaged Lunchables kits, made by Kraft Heinz, have been approved to be served in schools for the first time.
“Ahead of the 2023-2024 school year, school administrators are now able to purchase two top-selling Lunchables offerings: Turkey and Cheddar, and Extra Cheesy Pizza,” a representative for Kraft Heinz told ABC News’ Good Morning America in a statement.
The approved kits are made with a specialized recipe that adds protein and whole grains, which is intended to keep kids powered throughout the day. The new Lunchables also have reduced saturated fat and sodium, and a larger serving size.
According to Kraft Heinz, part of being approved by the National School Lunch Program means the lunches will provide “more wholesome options to students for purchase or through the free school lunch program.”
Beyond its debut in cafeterias, Lunchables also announced it is concept-testing adding fruits into products sold in retail stores later this year.
The company also said it recently reduced the salt and oil ingredients in the Lunchables cracker itself.
“At Kraft Heinz, we are transforming from the inside out, with innovation as one of our key drivers of growth. Lunchables K-8 is the latest example of growing and expanding the core of our Kraft Heinz portfolio,” the company representative told GMA. “This new NSLP-approved Lunchables checks both boxes — we renovated the nutrition profile by adding more whole grains and protein and are leveraging new channels to better meet unmet needs.”
(NEW YORK) — There’s a new sweet treat on the menu at Dairy Queen for a limited time.
The ice cream chain, known for its soft serve cones dipped in a quick-hardening shell, has added a new churro-flavored option to the menu.
For a limited time, customers can order the cinnamon-sugar-topped Churro Dipped Cone, inspired by the popular fried dough dessert, at participating locations.
“The Churro Dipped Cone brings together two classic flavors to bring you DQ’s version of a classic treat,” the menu description reads. “We’re positive you’ll fall in love with the cinnamon sugary crunch of the churro topping with each and every bite.”
The fast casual chain also has festive St. Patrick’s Day offerings this month, like the Mint Brownie Blizzard Treat — which “blends brownie pieces, choco chunks, and cool mint all together with our world famous soft serve” according to a menu description — and the Under the Rainbow Shake, a “parade of magically fruity flavors and rainbow sprinkles blended with creamy DQ vanilla soft serve and garnished with whipped topping and more rainbow sprinkles.”
Additionally, customers can mark their calendars and head to their nearest Dairy Queen location on March 20 for a free small vanilla cone.
According to the Dairy Queen website, “Free Cone Day marks the beginning of ‘Treat Szn’ — the time of year when the weather warms, and the only things that should be cold are sweet treats that come in a cone or cup.”
“We like to think of Free Cone Day as the beginning of our favorite season — treat season!,” Maria Hokanson, executive vice president of marketing for American Dairy Queen Corporation, said in a statement. “As we welcome the first day of spring, we invite all fans to stop by a DQ restaurant, get their free cone and make great memories with friends and family.”
(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Tuesday’s sports events:
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SPRING TRAINING
INTERLEAGUE
Miami 1, Houston 0
Baltimore 7, Pittsburgh 6
Cincinnati 5, Kansas City 3
Pittsburgh 2, Minnesota 2
St. Louis 3, Houston 3
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Tampa Bay 7, Minnesota 4
Final Detroit 6, Boston 2
LA Angels 8, Cleveland 6
Seattle 8, Kansas City 6
Chi White Sox 5, Oakland 4
NY Yankees 10, Toronto 3
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Washington 5, NY Mets 0
Atlanta 15, Philadelphia 5
San Francisco 7, Arizona 6
Colorado 5, Chi Cubs 2
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Washington 117, Detroit 97
Cleveland 120, Charlotte 104
Toronto 125, Denver 110
San Antonio 132, Orlando 114
LA Lakers 123, New Orleans 108
Oklahoma City 121, Brooklyn 107
New York 123, Portland 107
Milwaukee 116, Phoenix 104
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Columbus 6, San Jose 5 (OT)
Los Angeles 5, NY Islanders 2
Carolina 5, Winnipeg 3
Vegas 5, Philadelphia 3
Tampa Bay 4, New Jersey 1
Montreal 6, Pittsburgh 4
NY Rangers 5, Washington 3
Nashville 2, Detroit 1
Chicago 6, Boston 3
Edmonton 6, Ottawa 3
Vancouver 5, Dallas 2
Arizona 4, Calgary 3 (OT)
Tuesday’s episode of The Bachelor: The Women Tell All ended with a franchise first, with host Jesse Palmer surprising Monday’s castoff Charity Lawson with an invitation to be next season’s Bachelorette, which she eagerly accepted.
The unsuspecting Lawson, thinking she was participating in a this-or-that game for the show’s social media, answered a series of questions from Palmer, ending with Bachelor in Paradise or The Bachelorette.
Lawson answered, “The Bachelorette,” to which Palmer replied, “I’m glad you said that… I want you to be our next Bachelorette.”
“Stop! Is this for real?” asked Lawson. “No way! Oh my god, I’m gonna cry.”
Palmer then followed with, “Is that a yes? Will you do it?”
“Absolutely!” Lawson said. “100 percent!” I’m shaking right now.”
Through tears, she shared, “I’ve waited forever to find the love of my life. It blows my mind that I could meet my person and be engaged and literally have my happily ever after.”
Charity, the 27-year-old child and family therapist from Columbus, Georgia who was sent home after Monday’s hometowns episode, said in a statement that she hopes to find “a life partner who loves dogs, thrifting and a good tailgate; but, above all else, is honest, empathetic and values her for who she is.”
Another contestant from The Bachelor franchise was in the hot seat for posting racially insensitive remarks on social media. Tuesday’s installment of The Bachelor: The Women Tell All featured contestant Greer Blitzer apologizing for some tweets from 2016 in which she defended someone wearing blackface.
Blitzer deleted the posts ahead of the show’s premiere in January, but not before users grabbed screenshots of them, which they posted on Reddit. Greer apologized for the tweets on her own social media at the time, but the show had not addressed the controversy until now.
“I’ve been wanting to address this. I don’t want to sweep it under the rug,” Blitzer told host Jesse Palmer. “What happened was racist. It’s not about the intent; it’s about the impact.”
“This acquaintance of mine that I knew performing blackface was racist, me defending it was racist, my ignorance was racist and I’m just so ashamed.”
Blitzer went on to say she sought the help of Dr. Kira Banks, a professor and diversity, equity and inclusion consultant, explaining, “I really wanted to dive deep into the history of blackface and understand why it was wrong, why it was offensive. The research that I was able to do, I realized it was symbolism for dehumanizing the Black community.”
Blitzer allegedly tweeted in 2016 that the students involved “didn’t even know what blackface was so my point exactly. It wasn’t an intentional racist act.” Another allegedly read, “This previous incident was dumb not racist? She did not paint herself black because she felt superior to black ppl.” A final post read, “Putting white powder on your face isn’t okay either. That didn’t make the news did it?”
(WASHINGTON) — Former Vice President Mike Pence and former President Donald Trump have in recent days exchanged sharp words over the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, escalating a conflict between the two erstwhile partners.
Pence, speaking Saturday at the Gridiron Dinner in Washington, denounced his former boss over the insurrection.
“History will hold Donald Trump accountable for Jan. 6,” said Pence, who has been considering running against Trump for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. “Make no mistake about it: What happened that day was a disgrace, and it mocks decency to portray it in any other way. President Trump was wrong. His reckless words endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day.”
“Tourists don’t injure 140 police officers by simply sightseeing,” Pence added, referencing how some other conservatives have sought to describe the rioters. “Tourists don’t break down doors to get to the speaker of the House. Tourists don’t threaten public officials.”
Pence also offered praise for the journalists in the audience, handing a compliment to a group Trump has lambasted as the “enemy of the people.”
“We were able to stay at our post in part because you stayed at your post,” he said of the reporters in the Capitol during the attack two years ago. “The American people know what happened that day because you never stopped reporting.”
While Pence previously faulted Trump for the riot, suggesting Trump’s calls for the overturning of the 2020 presidential election helped spur the violence, his comments on Saturday were unusually blunt and reportedly prompted a harsh rebuke from Trump.
“I heard his statement, and I guess he decided that being nice isn’t working because he’s at 3% in the polls, so he figured he might as well not be nice any longer,” Trump told a small group of media aboard his plane on Monday.
Pence has been traveling to states that host early presidential nominating contests and has been vague on whether he’d back Trump in 2024 if Trump won the primary, telling ABC News’ David Muir in November that he thinks there will be “better choices.”
Quotes from the Gridiron Dinner, a white-tie event for politicos and top Washington journalists, trickled out over Twitter and via news articles. However, coverage of it was partially stifled by virtue of there being no cameras in the venue to shoot video of Pence’s remarks.
But his upcoming travel, including to New Hampshire on Thursday and Iowa on Saturday, will have far more extensive media coverage — especially amid his continued break with Trump.
Pence’s team did not immediately respond to requests for comment from ABC News.
(SANTA FE, N.M.) — The special prosecutor in New Mexico who investigated the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of “Rust” announced Tuesday she is stepping down.
The decision comes weeks after Alec Baldwin’s attorney moved to disqualify the special prosecutor, Andrea Reeb, claiming in a motion filed last month that as a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives, she cannot simultaneously exercise legislative and judicial power.
Reeb said in a statement issued by New Mexico’s First Judicial District Attorney Tuesday that she will “not allow questions about my serving as a legislator and prosecutor to cloud the real issue at hand.”
“My priority in this case — and in every case I’ve prosecuted in my 25-year career — has been justice for the victim,” Reeb said in the statement. “However, it has become clear that the best way I can ensure justice is served in this case is to step down so that the prosecution can focus on the evidence and the facts, which clearly show a complete disregard for basic safety protocols led to the death of Halyna Hutchins.”
Reeb was elected to her first term in the New Mexico House of Representatives last year and assumed office on Jan. 1.
In a motion filed last month seeking to disqualify her, Baldwin defense attorney Luke Nikas wrote, “Under Section 1 of Article III of the New Mexico Constitution, however, a sitting member of the Legislature may not ‘exercise any powers properly belonging’ to either the executive or judicial branch.”
“A prosecutor who also serves as a legislator could face pressure to make prosecutorial decisions that serve her legislative interests, such as by prosecuting a prominent defendant associated with an opposing faction within the Legislature even in the face of conflicting evidence or law,” the motion stated.
The filing cited a funding request from First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies of $635,500 from the New Mexico Board of Finance for the prosecution of individuals related to the “Rust” shooting. The proposed budget included $156,000 for Reeb’s salary.
Following the filing, the district attorney’s office called the motion a distraction.
Baldwin has been charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of Hutchins, who was fatally shot on the Santa Fe set of the Western on Oct. 21, 2021. He pleaded not guilty to the charges in a court filing.
In addition to Baldwin, the film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter over her death.
First assistant director David Halls took a plea deal after being charged with negligent use of a deadly weapon in connection with the shooting. The plea agreement is pending a judge’s approval, prosecutors have said. He is scheduled to make his first court appearance in late March.
Last month, the district attorneys’ office announced it was dropping the gun enhancement charge — a crime that would have carried a five-year sentence if convicted — against Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed in the fatal shooting.
(BIRMINGHAM, Ala.) — Four people are dead after a gunman opened fire at two homes in Alabama, authorities said.
A 28-year-old man is accused of fatally shooting two people in a Birmingham home before killing two more in a nearby suburb, according to police.
Around midnight, St. Clair County deputies responded to a home in Ragland, a Birmingham suburb, where they found a woman dead in the driveway and a man suffering from a gunshot wound inside, according to a sheriff’s office statement. The man was airlifted to a hospital, where he died.
The victims were identified by the sheriff’s office as Amber Manning, 37, and Timothy Davidson, 62.
Hours later, around 6 a.m., police in St. Clair County arrested Daniel Watson, of Pell City, who allegedly admitted to the arresting officer that he had also shot two people in Birmingham.
Police officers responded to a Birmingham house reportedly described by Watson around 8 a.m. local time Tuesday and found a man and woman dead from apparent gunshot wounds inside, police said.
“We believe the suspect shot two victims in Birmingham, before traveling into St. Clair County and shooting two additional victims in their jurisdiction,” Truman Fitzgerald, a spokesman for the Birmingham Police Department, said in a video statement.
Authorities have not yet determined a motive for the killings, according to Fitzgerald.
“We do believe the suspect knows at least some of the victims,” said Fitzgerald, who did not identify the Birmingham shooting victims.
Watson is being held without bond by the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office on charges of capital murder and murder with a gun. He is also being detained for the Birmingham homicides, the sheriff’s office said.
Watson is expected to face capital murder charges in Jefferson County, which includes Birmingham, as well, according to Fitzgerald. It is unclear if the suspect has an attorney who can speak on his behalf.
