Pink revealed she once feared she’d be a terrible mom and opened up about how rewarding it’s been to have started a family.
“When I had kids, people said, ‘Your career’s going to be over. How are you going to tour?'” she recalled to People for their latest cover story.
The singer continued, “I did not know I was going to have a family. I didn’t picture that for myself because I was terrified I would be a terrible mother… But, oh my God, being a mom is the most incredible thing I’ve ever done. It’s shocking how responsible I’ve become.”
Pink shares two children with husband Carey Hart: 11-year-old Willow and 6-year-old Jameson. She admits that balancing her work and family is hitting a few bumps now that her kids are getting older.
She revealed that her tour schedule conflicts with one of Willow’s productions and that led to “this really teary conversation about what I do and that it’s hard as a mom, and that’s why not a lot of moms do it.”
“I want to be the best I can be at everything, and it’s never good enough; it’s f***ing impossible,” she added. “But I love being a mom, I love music, and I’m dumb lucky I get to do all of these things. I count my blessings every single day.”
In other Pink news, the singer announced she added seven more dates to her upcoming tour, with new shows added in San Francisco, Tacoma, Kansas City, Montreal, New York City and Orlando. The North American trek is in support of Pink’s newly released album, TRUSTFALL.
(NEW YORK) — A pilot program that involved nearly 3,000 employees testing out a four-day workweek is giving new hope to those seeking to change the way people work.
Over 90% of the employees and 61 companies that took part in the pilot program supported keeping a four-day workweek, according to the program’s findings, which were published this month.
Companies also reported that both revenue and the retention rate of employees increased with the four-day workweek model, while a majority of employees said the model reduced burnout.
Around 15% of employees who took part in the pilot program reported that no amount of money could get them to accept returning to a five-day workweek, according to the findings.
The six-month pilot program, billed as the “world’s largest four-day working week trial to date,” took place in the United Kingdom.
It was organized by an advocacy group, 4 Day Week Global, that worked in collaboration with researchers at Boston College and the University of Cambridge.
Each company was allowed to design their own four-day workweek model, from taking Fridays off to working in more staggered schedules, according to 4 Day Week Global.
The group reported that the “most extensive benefits” of the four-day workweek pilot were seen in the mental and physical health of employees.
Employees reported less stress, less burnout and decreased levels of anxiety, fatigue and insomnia, while also reporting increased satisfaction with their relationships, finances and time management, according to the report.
The findings come on the heels of a Gallup survey released late last year that found 4 out of 10 workers in the United States reported their job had either a somewhat negative or extremely negative impact on their mental health.
Overall, the Gallup survey found almost 1 in 5 workers reported that their mental health was poor or fair, the two lowest ratings on the survey.
The four-day workweek pilot program’s findings also come as employees in the U.S. have experienced more flexibility than usual during the past three years of the coronavirus pandemic. Many companies now allow their employees to work fully remote or hybrid schedules, while others have already or are in the process of requiring employees to return to the office full-time.
What the findings of the U.K. pilot program on a four-day workweek could mean for workers in the U.S. remains to be seen, according to ABC News chief business, technology and economics correspondent Rebecca Jarvis.
“The issue is culture, and you really have to change the culture of the overall work week in order to make these changes,” said Jarvis. “A lot of companies are very set in their ways. We saw big changes in the pandemic. There’s a chance they will go that way.”
A report released in November by consulting firm Ernst & Young LLP found that 40% of the U.S.-based companies it surveyed for its annual EY Future Workplace Index are either implementing a four-day workweek or have already begun using one.
The survey also found that 64% of executives surveyed said they believe “flexible working options motivate employees.”
Jarvis said the motivation employees feel could be what begins to shift the tide towards more companies experimenting with a four-day workweek.
“It really does feel like a bonus, and that’s the thing,” she said. “If you decide you’re going to work harder because you feel good, that’s a win for employers, so it is something they’re thinking about.”
For employees who want to ask for more flexibility in their current schedule, Jarvis said the first step is making sure your work stands out.
“You have to be a winner on the team and be a really good contributor to your overall work environment,” Jarvis said. “Talk to your boss about flexibility, see how you can incorporate it into your schedule. But go in after a big win. That’s your best time.”
(WASHINGTON) — Ivanka Trump, the daughter of former President Donald Trump, and her husband Jared Kushner have been subpoenaed by special counsel Jack Smith, ABC News has learned.
The subpoena for the couple is specifically related to the special counsel’s probe of Jan. 6 and the activities leading up to that day by the former president and his allies regarding efforts to overturn the election, sources told ABC News.
A spokesperson for Trump and Kushner did not respond to ABC News.
The news was first reported by The New York Times.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
(LOS ANGELES) — The Southern Baptist Church Executive Committee announced it will oust five churches for having female pastors, including one of the largest churches in the convention, California’s Saddleback Church, according to the church’s news service, Baptist Press.
After Saddleback Church’s founding pastor, Rick Warren, retired last year, the megachurch hired Andy Wood and his wife Stacie Wood to head the church, according to the church’s website.
The convention deemed Saddleback Church as “not in friendly cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention,” it said in a Facebook post.
The convention cited Stacie Wood’s role as a teaching pastor of the church as the reason for the ousting, stating that the Baptist Faith and Message says only men can members of the office of the pastor, according to Baptist Press.
“As stated in the Baptist Faith and Message Article VI, the SBC holds to the belief that the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture. These churches have been valued, cooperating churches for many years, and this decision was not made lightly. However, we remain committed to upholding the theological convictions of the SBC and maintaining unity among its cooperating churches,” executive committee chairman Jared Wellman said in a statement to ABC News.
The other churches ousted for having female pastors were New Faith Mission Ministry in Griffin, Georgia; St. Timothy’s Christian Church in Baltimore; Calvary Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi; and Fern Creek Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, according to Baptist Press.
A sixth church was also ousted for failing to cooperate with the credentials committee regarding a sexual abuse allegation against its senior pastor, according to Baptist Press.
All six churches will have the opportunity to appeal the decision in June at the SBC Annual Meeting in New Orleans. Fern Creek said it would appeal the decision, according to Baptist Press.
The Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention was formed in 1917. It is made up of 86 representatives chosen from qualified states and regions.
Saddleback Church did not respond to ABC News’ request for comment.
Lizzo stars in a new episode of Sesame Street. In a preview, Cookie Monster foils her plans of adding the world’s only functional cookie flute to her collection.
The promo sees Elmo giving Lizzo the impressive-looking instrument, which he says is the only one in all of Sesame Street. Lizzo remarks, “I played a lot of instruments, but I’ve never played a cookie before!”
She then performs a few notes, which attracts the attention of Cookie Monster, who asks if he could also play the instrument. Lizzo hands it to him and notes, “I didn’t know you played the flute.”
“Me don’t,” Cookie Monster replies and shoves the flute into his mouth, all while making his signature “om nom nom” sounds as he chews.
“That was the one and only cookie flute,” the singer exclaims. She then finds out the blue monster is fully aware he ate a one-of-a-kind treasure.
“Me know,” he grunts. “How could me not eat it? What an honor!” He then reveals that although the flute may be gone, he can now play his throat like the musical instrument. His playing earns Lizzo’s seal of approval.
“The one and only cookie flute for the one and only, @lizzo! Your furry friends love you!” Sesame Street teased on Twitter.
Lizzo also shared a cute video of her giving Elmo some balsamic vinegar, a play on the popular meme where the red monster struggles to pronounce the word. “Guess what isn’t a big word for @elmo anymore…..?!” she wrote.
Lizzo’s long-awaited appearance calls back to her adorable Twitter exchange with Cookie Monster back in 2019, when he parodied her song “Truth Hurts” by tweeting, “Me just took a DNA test turns out me 100% cookies…”
Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea is hosting a new podcast.
According to Rolling Stone, the upcoming series is titled This Little Light and will premiere March 30. Over its 15-episode run, Flea will be talking with guests including Patti Smith, producer Rick Rubin, actor and musician Cynthia Erivo and bass virtuoso Thundercat about how music factored into their early lives.
“I wanted to do This Little Light to benefit my music school, the Silverlake Conservatory of Music,” Flea says. “The idea behind it being music education, falling in love with music and embarking on a musical journey for your life. Everybody’s path is so different, and it’s fascinating to learn how every musician came to music and developed their study of it over time.”
In addition to hearing Flea on the podcast platform of your choice, you can also see him live on RHCP’s upcoming U.S. tour, launching in April. The group will be supporting their two 2022 albums, Unlimited Love and Return of the Dream Canteen.
It looks like Lady A is busy working on new music.
Both Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott shared a photo of themselves on their socials, pictured with bandmate Dave Haywood, singer/songwriter Foy Vance and writer/producer Jon Green.
“Getting some new stuff brewing,” Charles captioned his post, though it’s unclear whether the trio is writing or recording.
Whatever the case, Hillary says it went well: “Creating with this crew today was…” she says, ending her sentence with the sparkles emoji.
Lady A’s last full-length album was 2021’s What a Song Can Do. They put out the new track, “Summer State of Mind,” last June.
After a trip overseas for the C2C festival next month, they’ll kick off their Request Line Tour April 14 at the Ryman in Nashville.
(WASHINGTON) — Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday toured the Ohio town near where a Norfolk Southern freight train carrying toxic chemicals derailed Feb. 3.
Sporting one of his trademark red “Make America Great Again” hats, the GOP presidential candidate delivered remarks at the East Palestine Fire House, telling residents “loud and clear you are not forgotten” while slamming current President Joe Biden’s response to the incident.
“Over the past few weeks the community has shown the tough and resilient heart of America- This is really America right here,” Trump said, while flanked by East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway, GOP Ohio Rep. Bill Johnson and GOP Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, members of the firehouse and local officials. “Unfortunately, as you know, your goodness and perseverance were met with indifference and betrayal in some cases.”
“They were doing nothing for you,” Trump said, while claiming that the federal response was beefed up only in response to the announcement of his campaign trip, a claim the White House says is false.
“What this community needs now are not excuse … but answers and results,” Trump said, while also praising local responders.
Trump had earlier toured Little Beaver Creek — an Ohio river tributary near the site of the derailment three weeks ago — where he also met with supporters who had gathered on the edge of the muddy lot. Trump also said his team had coordinated the delivery of thousands of bottles of water and cleaning supplies for the community— including “Trump water.”
The trip comes amid an intense political showdown between the former president and the current one and his administration, which critics claim failed to quickly address the gravity of the health and environmental concerns resulting from the incident.
The White House has responded that the Environmental Protections Agency and Department of Transportation employees had been on the ground since “day one.”
“Congressional Republicans and former Trump Administration officials owe East Palestine an apology for selling them out to rail industry lobbyists when they dismantled Obama-Biden rail safety protections as well as EPA powers to rapidly contain spills,” said White House spokesperson Andrew Bates.
Trump’s visit comes as news that Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Thursday will meet in East Palestine with community members affected by the train derailment on the same day the National Transportation Safety Board is set to release its preliminary investigative report on the incident.
“As the secretary said, he would go when it is appropriate and wouldn’t detract from the emergency response efforts,” an administration official said. “The Secretary is going now that the EPA has said it is moving out of the emergency response phase and transitioning to the long-term remediation phase.
Buttigieg has faced intense criticism from political opponents who said his first response to the crash — 10 days after it occurred — along with the lack of any in-person visit — was insulting to the majority Trump-voting county.
A DOT spokesperson had told ABC News of the secretary’s conversations with Ohio GOP Gov. Mike DeWine and Pennsylvania Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro about his plans to visit the location once preliminary local investigations were underway.
“His visit coincides with the NTSB issuing its initial findings on the investigation into the cause of the derailment and will allow the Secretary to hear from USDOT investigators who were on the ground within hours of the derailment to support the NTSB’s investigation.”
–ABC News’ Olivia Rubin, Amanda Maile Ben Gittleson and Cheyenne Haslett contributed to this report.
(LOS ANGELES) — Eric Holder, Jr., the man who was convicted in the 2019 murder of hip-hop artist Nipsey Hussle, was sentenced to 60 years to life in prison, according to ABC station in Los Angeles, KABC.
Holder was found guilty on July 6, 2022, of first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of the rapper, whose real name is Ermias Asghedom.
Holder also was convicted of two counts of attempted voluntary manslaughter and possession of a firearm. He pleaded not guilty.
During the trial, Holder also was found not guilty of attempted murder against two men who were wounded in the 2019 shooting attack.
Following the verdict, Holder’s attorney Aaron Jansen told ABC News there’s “deep disappointment” with the conviction and said that Holder plans to appeal his sentence.
“It was always going to be tough given the high-profile circumstances surrounding the case,” Jansen said. “We are grateful that the jury agreed with us, in part, that the case was overcharged and voted to acquit Mr. Holder, Jr. of the two attempted murder charges.”
Although Holder pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, he did not deny that he killed Hussle.
Jansen argued during the trial that while Holder did fatally shoot Hussle, it was a crime of passion and not a premeditated act.
“Mr. Holder has always been willing to accept responsibility for the charge of voluntary manslaughter for the life he took,” Jansen told ABC News in a statement on July 2, 2022.
Nipsey Hussle, known as “Neighborhood Nip” to his community and fans in South Los Angeles, was a Grammy-winning rapper who dedicated his life to building the streets of Crenshaw where he grew up and where he owned several businesses. It is on those streets that the rapper was killed on March 31, 2019, outside his Marathon Clothing store.
Holder, an aspiring rapper from the same neighborhood, belonged to the same gang as Hussle – the Rollin 60s of the Crips. But in the last years of his life, Hussle had worked to stop the violence and broker peace between rival gangs.
The rapper’s murder at age 33 sent shockwaves through the music world and the Marathon Clothing store, which has reopened at a new location, and become a memorial where thousands of fans flock to pay their respects to Hussle.
Since his death, millions have posted tributes to the rapper on social media, punctuated with #TheMarathonContinues – Hussle’s own metaphor for overcoming the struggles of life.
“I think I speak for the entire city of LA when I say that we’ve always known that Hussle was destined for greatness,” the rapper’s girlfriend Lauren London said as Hussle was honored as a hometown hero on Aug. 15, 2022, when he received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. “Nip would’ve been honored by this moment.”
“So whenever you’re in the City of Angels, and you see this star, I hope that it encourages you to break away from whatever might be holding you back, and for you to run your marathon until God says that it’s finished,” she added.
ABC News’ Kiara Alfonseca contributed to this report.
Like the proverbial green light, Florence Welch‘s Great Gatsby musical is within sight.
The upcoming production, titled Gatsby, will finally make its debut in 2024 at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts. As previously reported, it will feature lyrics and music by the Florence + the Machine frontwoman. The music will be co-written by Oscar and Grammy-nominated musician Thomas Bartlett.
Upon the musical’s initial announcement in 2021, which teased a “pre-Broadway engagement,” Welch declared that the original 1925 F. Scott Fitzgerald novel “has haunted me for a large part of my life.
“It contains some of my favorite lines in literature,” Welch continued. “Musicals were my first love, and I feel a deep connection to Fitzgerald’s broken romanticism. It is an honor to have been offered the chance to recreate this book in song.”
Florence + the Machine previously recorded the song “Over the Love” for the 2013 Great Gatsby film adaptation.
