Members of 98 Degrees, O-Town, All-4-One and more are about to launch A Boy Band Christmas tour.
98’s Jeff Timmons told ABC Audio plans originally featured just his group, but Nick Lachey‘s hectic schedule forced them to change course. That’s when they revisited the fun they had with the A Very Boy Band Holidayspecial that aired on ABC last year.
“We had so much fun doing that,” said Timmons. “We said, ‘Hey, why not call up some of our guys and some great vocalists from different bands and maybe replace that tour with this one?’ So that’s how it came about.”
98’s Justin Jeffre noted now is the perfect time to launch their ambitious tour, asking, “What better way to spend the holiday season than hitting the road and singing some holiday songs and bringing some holiday spirit?”
O-Town’s Erik-Michael Estrada chimed in, “Boy bands and Christmas belong together!” Estrada also joked he’s “putting a lot of miles on my treadmill” to prepare for the trek.
Drew Lachey added this concert series is also a thank you to those who propelled them to superstardom in the late ’90s and early 2000s. “That time for us was filled with these wonderful, life-changing memories… The fans were the ones that made all that possible for us,” he said.
“The interaction that we’ve had with fans over the last 20+ years have shaped our lives not only creatively and professionally, but also personally,” he continued. “The fact that we’re still able to do this 20+ years later? We still have people wanting to come out and see us? It’s a dream come true!”
A Boy Band Christmas Tour kicks off December 2 in Bossier City, Louisiana. Tickets are on sale now.
In honor of hip-hop’s upcoming 50th anniversary, toy designer Steven Cartoccio has teamed up with Mass Appeal and Hip Hop 50 to create the limited edition collectible.
“Nas. Truly honored to collaborate with the hip hop legend I regard as the greatest of all time,” Cartoccio posted on Instagram, along with photos of the figure.
The figure comes with different removable accessories that pay homage to some of Nas’ iconic album covers, including the orange cap from Stillmatic and the Egyptian pharaoh mask from I Am…
The Nas collectible will become available on December 1 at 11 a.m. ET on shop.massappeal.com.
Hip-hop marks its 50th year in 2023. Earlier this month, hip-hop legends, including Grandmaster Flash, Roxanne Shanté and Slick Rick, gathered at Manhattan’s City Hall to announce NYC’s celebration plans for the milestone. There will be 50 events planned over 50 days in coordination with the Universal Hip Hop Museum, which is set to open its doors in The Bronx in 2024.
Jim Brickman kicked off his A Very Merry Christmas tour on Sunday. Joining him this year are father/daughter duo Mat and Savanna Shaw, who sing on Jim’s current single “Peace Joy Love.” Though he’s been doing holiday tours for years, Jim says this year, he’s created a completely new experience.
“What I’m doing is crafting it…almost like a one-man show on Broadway,” he tells ABC Audio. “It’s got different sections of the stage, with a little living room section that’s very nostalgic, about my beginnings, with an upright piano.”
“It’s got, of course, the new guests in Mat and Savanna, and a little bit more moving parts than usual,” he adds. “A lot more moving around the stage, and not me anchored as much at the piano.”
But Jim’s approach to the concerts remains the same. After years of experience, he definitely has some thoughts about what makes a successful Christmas show.
“It has to have tender moments and nostalgia, some acknowledgment of the traditional songs that people like to hear,” he notes. “But not ‘Santa Claus Coming to Town’ from front to back, because people can see that at church, [or] at the school play.”
Jim also says it’s important to play not just your Christmas songs, but also your hits. “Even if it’s December, people are like, “Play ‘Valentine!'” he laughs.
Overall, a Christmas show should “feel like communities coming together,” Jim explains. He adds, “The theater itself is another character in the experience. Sometimes the nostalgia of the place, the comfort of being in a place that you’re used to going, is as much a part of it as what’s on the stage.”
Proceeds from “Peace Joy Love,” out now, will go to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s UNITED24 platform, to help rebuild Ukraine’s damaged infrastructure.
Palaye Royale was among the many bands to play the much-hyped When We Were Young festival this year, which basically recreated a mid-2000s Hot Topic in Las Vegas with its lineup of emo and pop-punk artists. For the “Broken” rockers, who hail from Sin City, playing a festival like When We Were Young in their hometown made it extra exciting.
“If you would’ve said all those bands would’ve been playing together for one night in Las Vegas five years ago, you’d be, like, ‘Not happening,'” guitarist Sebastian Danzig tells ABC Audio.
As one of the relatively newer bands on the lineup, Palaye Royale was surrounded by scene vets at When We Were Young.
“It’s just interesting to see all these bands are coming back out of the grave,” Danzig says. “It was very nostalgic, to say the least.”
Danzig was especially excited to see Paramore headline When We Were Young; he cites the “Misery Business” outfit’s career as one Palaye Royale aspires to emulate.
“There’s bands like Paramore that have had such an arc of a career,” Danzig says. “That’s kind of what you want to do, in a sense that they’ve kept reinventing themselves.”
“They’re changing their sounds dramatically through their career,” he continues. “You really can’t pinpoint it besides Hayley Williams‘ vocals [are], like, a thread through their career.”
Danzig feels that Palaye Royale has that kind of voice in frontman Remington Leith. In fact, they’ve already begun working on a new album to follow October’s Fever Dream, which Leith describes as “completely different” from its predecessor.
“I think that’s what we’re fortunate to have with Remington, he has such a distinctive voice,” Danzig says.
The holiday season is here, and AXS TV is getting into the spirit with a slew of holiday programming that kicks off this weekend with the premiere of a Sting special.
Sting: A Winter’s Night… Live From Durham Cathedral features the former Police frontman’s special intimate performance at the famous London landmark. It features Sting performing his classic tunes as well as songs from his 2009 album, If On A Winter’s Night. The special premieres Saturday, December 3, at 8 p.m. ET.
Heart is also subject of another holiday special, Heart & Friends: Home For The Holidays From Benaroya Hall, which also airs Saturday, starting at 3 p.m. ET. It features Ann and Nancy Wilson‘s performance of such holiday tunes as “Santa’s Going South,” “Ring Them Bells” and “Remember Christmas.” The concert, shot in their hometown of Seattle, features special guests Sammy Hagar, Shawn Colvin, Pat Monahan and Richard Marx.
And on Christmas day, the network will air three classic concerts: Fleetwood Mac – The Dance at 8:30 p.m. ET; Tom Petty – Live from Gatorville at 11 p.m. ET; and Tomorrow is a Long Time: Chrissie Hynde Sings Bob Dylan, at 1:45 a.m. ET.
Brittany and Patrick Mahomes have welcomed their second child!
In a joint Instagram post shared Monday evening, the pair announced that they’ve welcomed a baby boy into their family, sharing a snapshot of their newborn from the chest down, in a brown and white onesie atop a blanket branded with “mahomes” all over it.
“Patrick ‘Bronze’ Lavon Mahomes III,” they captioned the post. “11/28/22 7lbs 8 oz.”
Brittany and Patrick, both 27, began dating in 2011 and wed in March 2022. They are also parents to 21-month-old daughter Sterling.
(WASHINGTON) — Early voting in Georgia’s Senate runoff race between Democratic incumbent Raphael Warnock and Republican opponent Herschel Walker opened statewide to all registered voters on Monday, following record-breaking turnout this weekend in the 34 counties that offered early voting on Saturday or Sunday.
Voting locations for the Dec. 6 runoff are now open in all 159 of the state’s counties through Friday, with more than 181,000 Georgians having cast their ballots either in-person or absentee through Sunday, according to state election data.
Of those, more than 166,000 people have voted early in person.
Black Georgians are outpacing other demographic groups, according to the data, with 46.3% of the total turnout as of Sunday. That is 8 points above white voters’ share of total turnout so far, though white people make up nearly double the share of the overall state population.
Among various age groups, the highest turnout through Sunday was for 55-60-year-olds followed very closely by 60-65, 50-55, 65-70 and 18-24-year-olds.
While total numbers weren’t yet available for Monday, as voting continues, state officials said the daily turnout was on track to grow even higher — an indication that local interest in the race has not waned.
“This could be the biggest early voting day ever in Georgia election history,” interim Deputy Secretary of State Gabriel Sterling wrote in a tweet on Monday.
“Turnout so far is blowing doors … This is outpacing the turnout from the last day of early voting in the General Election,” he wrote in another tweet on Monday.
After Georgia saw unprecedented early voting ahead of the 2022 midterms earlier this month, Sunday’s turnout was 130% higher than the previous Sunday record of 37,785, set on Oct. 25, 2020, according to Sterling.
Early voting for the runoff began last Tuesday, though only in some counties, including those around Atlanta, where a majority of the state’s residents live.
Counties had not initially offered Saturday voting either, after the secretary of state’s office issued guidance that it conflicted with a law preventing voting within two days of a holiday like Thanksgiving last Thursday.
But Warnock and Democrats sued and a county judge ruled that Saturday voting was allowed. The state’s higher courts declined to reverse that decision when Republicans appealed.
In the wake of the court ruling, the state’s largest counties opened for Saturday early voting. Some other parts of the state, however, didn’t begin early voting until Monday.
Long wait times are not deterring voters
With tens of thousands of voters taking advantage of the additional voting opportunities, some lines at polling places stretched for hours over the weekend.
The secretary of state’s office sent a memo on Monday that highlighted short wait times statewide but warned of “longer wait times on higher turnout days such as the first day of Early Voting and the last few days of Early Voting” in the metro Atlanta area that includes Fulton, DeKalb and Gwinnett counties, which so far encompass about 63% of the total early vote.
Wait times are often shorter at other locations in counties that offer several early voting spots, the office advised.
Despite questions about potential voter apathy in the runoff — when turnout is historically lower and there is less time for the media and candidates’ campaigns to inform voters — some residents told ABC News they were eager to cast another ballot.
The Dec. 6 Senate runoff will be the third in just two years and the sixth overall Senate race in the state since November 2020.
“I will go out as many times as I need to go out,” said Manuel Rodriguez, who waited for almost an hour before he was able to vote in Fulton County. “It makes me feel that I’m part of something, that I’m contributing to the society that I want to live in and to the country that I love.”
Warnock, Walker back on the trail
Warnock, a noted Atlanta reverend, was one of those Georgians taking advantage of weekend voting, casting his ballot on Sunday alongside faith and community leaders after waiting in line for about an hour in Fulton County, the fifth time he has voted for himself in just two years following two general elections and two ensuing runoff elections, along with primary challenges.
In the final days of the race, he has largely campaigned on the concept of character — contrasting his background with that of Walker, a businessman and local football legend with a controversial past. Before Warnock walked to cast his ballot, he hosted a “Souls to the Polls” rally.
“This is an important election. And it’s really about competence and character. That’s what this is about who’s ready and who’s fit to serve in the United States Senate. I’m proud of my record,” he said on Sunday.
He also continues to soar in fundraising, outpacing his Republican opponent by more than double.
Though the runoff won’t determine control of the Senate, both Republicans and Democrats have cautioned voters not to underestimate the consequences of December’s election.
Democrats have emphasized a 51-seat majority would create an easier pathway to accomplishing their legislative priorities. In contrast, Republicans have highlighted how a power-sharing agreement across the aisle works to their advantage, pointing to the ways in which a split chamber has allowed them to block Democratic legislation.
Warnock’s campaign announced this week that they were investing more than $1 million for an “out of home” advertising campaign. The campaign includes billboards in high-traffic areas, mobile signs deployed across the state, planes that tow messages above metro Atlanta, posters at college campuses and ads at transit stops.
Walker was publicly absent on the trail from last Tuesday through the Thanksgiving holiday, making his first appearance during a campaign stop on Monday. He drew his own contrast with Warnock.
“You either stand up or you get out, because too many people have sacrificed. Too many people have died for us to have the freedoms and liberties that we have today to have these people to disrespect what we got going on,” he said at a campaign stop in Toccoa on Monday.
“Raphael Warnock is just another hypocritical Washington politician,” said campaign spokesman Will Kiley. “Warnock says character counts but refuses to take a look in the mirror.”
(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Monday’s sports events:
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Washington 142, Minnesota 127
Philadelphia 104, Atlanta 101
Boston 140, Charlotte 105
Toronto 100, Cleveland 88
Brooklyn 109, Orlando 102
New Orleans 105, Oklahoma City 101
Chicago 114, Utah 107
Denver 129, Houston 113
Phoenix 122, Sacramento 117
Indiana 116, LA Lakers 115
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Toronto 4, Detroit 2
New Jersey 5, NY Rangers 3
Tampa Bay 6, Buffalo 5 (OT)
Vegas 3, Columbus, 2 (SO)
Dallas 4, St. Louis 1
Edmonton 4, Florida 3 (OT)
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Pittsburgh 24, Indianapolis 17
TOP 25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
(9)Kansas 87, Texas Southern 55
(11)Arkansas 74, Troy 61
(NEW YORK) — As of Monday, more than 52.4 million birds across the United States have died of avian influenza, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This makes the outbreak the deadliest in history, surpassing the 2015 outbreak that killed 50.5 million birds in 2015.
While the 2015 outbreak was mainly contained to poultry farms, the current outbreak has spread to nearly every state.
What is so-called bird flu and what does it mean for Americans?
What is avian flu?
Avian flu is a disease of birds, which occurs when they are infected with avian influenza Type A viruses.
Domestic poultry, including chickens and turkeys, can be infected and spread the disease as well as other bird and animal species, according to the CDC.
“There are multiple versions of influenza, some that infect humans, some that infect animals,” said Dr. John Brownstein, an epidemiologist and chief innovation officer at Boston Children’s Hospital and an ABC News contributor. “It’s been something we’ve been monitoring for two decades now and it creates a real problem, not only for wildlife but it can have dramatic impacts on domestic stock.”
He added, “Because this virus is so contagious, drastic measures have to be put into place to stop the spread and that ultimately results in the death of millions of birds.”
Can people be infected with avian flu?
Avian flu viruses do not usually infect people but there have been rare cases.
Because the virus is shed through mucus, saliva and feces, most infections occur when a human comes into contact with these fluids or inhales them.
Symptoms can range anywhere from mild to severe and, sometimes, result in death, according to the CDC.
“We have to remind people the risk to humans is low, but at the same time, unprotected contact with birds that look sick can pose a risk,” Brownstein said. “An additional layer is when you have this much virus spread, there’s opportunities for mutation and this is where there’s an opportunity for a version of this virus that could actually have deeper impact in the human population as well.”
He said there is no evidence to suggest people can contract bird flu from eating poultry meat or poultry products, such as eggs.
Why is there an outbreak?
It’s believed that the outbreak began from wild birds. In January, the United States Department of Agriculture announced a highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza was found in wild birds for the first time since 2016, mainly in North Carolina and South Carolina.
The birds then migrated, spreading the virus to farms, with the first outbreak confirmed Feb. 9 at a turkey farm in Dubois County, Indiana.
Since then, birds across 46 states have either died as a result of infection or been killed due to exposure of infected birds, according to the USDA.
By comparison, the 2015 outbreak only affected birds in 21 states.
What should people do?
The CDC recommends that people should avoid contact with wild birds whenever possible, especially because they can be infected with avian flu and not appear ill.
In addition, those who work directly with birds such as in zoos, in wildlife conservations centers at meatpacking plants or on farms — or those who have backyard poultry — should use protection.
“Right now you want to use protective equipment, like gloves and N-95 masks,” Brownstein said. “Just like any virus, you want to avoid touching your mouth, nose, your eyes after contact with birds. It’s important changing clothes if you’ve had any contact.”
He also recommended that people receive their flu vaccine as soon as possible.
“It won’t prevent infection from bird flu but can reduce the risk of getting sick,” Brownstein said.
(NEW YORK) — Parts of the Northwest could get up to two feet of snow on Monday and Tuesday, as a cross-country storm will bring snow and tornadoes in parts of the U.S.
A winter storm watch has been issued for Spokane, Washington late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, with heavy snowfall expected, the National Weather Service Spokane office tweeted.
A cross-country storm moving east is expected to bring heavy snow from Nebraska to Michigan on Monday night into Tuesday morning. Eighteen states are on alert for snow and strong winds due to the incoming storm.
Salt Lake City, Utah; Denver, Colorado; and Casper, Wyoming, are expected to get between 6 and 12 inches of snow in the next two days.
Warm moist air could help produce tornadoes in parts of the South Tuesday afternoon into the evening.
The storm system could also bring strong, long-tracked tornadoes Tuesday evening to Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee; Greenville and Jackson, Mississippi; and Monroe, Louisiana.
In addition to tornadoes, damaging winds of more than 60 mph and large hail are also possible for the lower Mississippi River Valley and the Gulf Coast states.
Around 15 million Americans in the South will remain on alert as New Orleans to Nashville could see severe storms on Tuesday night.
