Luke Bryan is clearly having fun on his Farm Tour.
After performing “Born Here Live Here Die Here” with the song’s co-writer, Jameson Rodgers, Luke also invited opening act Riley Green for some onstage antics.
The two entertained the crowd with a cover of Tim McGraw‘s hit “Where the Green Grass Grows” during a recent stop on the Farm Tour. At one point, Luke takes a sign from a fan in the audience and resorts to having Riley sign it for him since he lacked a pen.
“I’d love to sign your sign Luke Bryan. Do you want me to sign it for you?” Riley asks, Luke following with his own signature.
In between singing the lyrics, Luke continued the onstage antics by taking a pair of a fan’s glasses and walking around the stage with them on his head.
“Some songs fit just right out there on a farm. Don’t ya think@rileyduckman?” Luke writes on Instagram. “[You’re] an animal,” Riley replies.
Luke launched the Farm Tour on September 15. It continues through September 24.
Joe Jonas understands fans are anxious to hear the Jonas Brothers‘ long-promised sixth studio album and vowed the three-year wait will be well worth it.
Speaking to POPSUGAR, Joe teased fans can expect a very different vibe when he and his brothers unleash their new music. “The music, it’s headed towards — I just think a whole new era,” the hitmaker revealed. “I don’t have a ton to say about it because we’re taking our sweet time.”
The DNCE singer confirmed he doesn’t “have a date” for when their new music is set to come out, adding, “I just can tell you that it’s a work in progress.”
Joe also refused to release any details about what their new music will sound like. “I don’t have really a musical idea of what it’ll sound like or what it won’t,” he cryptically noted. “I encourage everyone to be patient with us as we figure this out, but we’re not going to do it like other times, where we just go silent. We’re going to continue to play music and play shows and tour. I’m really excited for people to hear it.”
The Jonas Brothers’ last song came out in September 2021, the single “Who’s in Your Head.” Album-wise, fans have been waiting a lot longer.
Their last studio album was Happiness Begins, which arrived in June 2019. The comeback album, which is RIAA-certified Platinum, contained the hits “Sucker” and “Cool.”
Marvel movie star Anthony Mackie is taking to the skies — well, at least rooftop level — to help people just as his Sam Wilson did as Falcon and Captain America in the MCU.
Mackie, the son of a roofer, has teamed up with roofing and waterproofing manufacturer GAF’s GAF Community Matters, a charity initiative that is literally putting roofs over the heads of people in Mackie’s storm-battered hometown of New Orleans.
“Growing up, I spent summers working on roofs with my family, so I know how important this work is to keeping families safe and building stronger communities,” Mackie said in announcing the team-up. “Everyone deserves a roof over their head, and I’m proud to be working with GAF to give back to my hometown and ensure we withstand the next storm.”
According to FEMA data cited by GAF, more than 10,000 families remain displaced and unable to return home following Hurricane Ida in 2021. Nearly 20 years after Hurricane Katrina, around 26% of homes are still vacant in New Orleans’ 7th Ward.
GAF is investing $25 million to rebuild the community through its charity initiative. The goal is not only to physically repair damage but to train residents in how to do so.
The company plans to repair or replace 500 roofs throughout the Gulf Region, starting with 150 roofs in the Katrina-battered 7th Ward, and Mackie is right up there with them, shingles, not shield, in hand.
(NEW YORK) — Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “special military operation” into neighboring Ukraine began on Feb. 24, with Russian forces invading from Belarus, to the north, and Russia, to the east. Ukrainian troops have offered “stiff resistance,” according to U.S. officials.
The Russian military has since launched a full-scale ground offensive in eastern Ukraine’s disputed Donbas region, capturing the strategic port city of Mariupol and securing a coastal corridor to the Moscow-annexed Crimean Peninsula.
Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern:
Sep 20, 12:24 PM EDT
Kremlin says referendums to be held in separatist regions of Ukraine
The Kremlin made a series of dramatic announcements Tuesday, signaling its response to its failing military campaign in Ukraine.
The Kremlin said referendums will be held later this week in Russian-backed regions of eastern and southern Ukraine for people to vote on whether to join Russia.
Dmytro Kuleba, the Ukrainian minister of foreign affairs, called the proposed vote “sham referendums” in a post on Twitter.
“Russia has been and remains an aggressor illegally occupying parts of Ukrainian land,” Kuleba said. “Ukraine has every right to liberate its territories and will keep liberating them whatever Russia has to say.”
Depending on the results of the referendums, which critics say is a foregone conclusion, Russia will suddenly consider territory it has occupied in Ukraine as its own.
Meanwhile, legislation is being rushed through the Russian parliament, laying the ground for a general mobilization of men aged 17-27, an age range that could be expanded.
Russian state media reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin and his minister of defense will address the nation Tuesday night.
According to a Moscow-based military analyst, even parts of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas, which are not currently controlled by Russian forces, will be considered Russian territory.
After its apparently successful offensive in northeastern Ukraine, the Ukranian military now appears to be pushing further east and is contesting areas of the eastern Donbas region.
In a highly symbolic moment, Ukrainian forces claim they have retaken a village in Luhansk, in the northern part of the Donbas, an area the Kremlin took control of in July.
Sep 18, 4:01 PM EDT
Zelenskyy says preparation underway to liberate all of Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly address Sunday that he interpreted a lull in fighting after a series of victories by his country’s military forces as preparation for the liberation of all of Ukraine.
“Maybe now it seems to some of you that after a series of victories, we have a certain lull,” Zelenskyy said.
He went on to say, “this is not a lull. This is preparation for the next series. To the next series of words that are very important to us and must sound. Because Ukraine must be free … all of it.”
Ukrainian troops made good on Zelenskyy’s call to take back lands claimed by Russian forces with an aggressive counteroffensive over the past week in the country’s northeast region.
Ukrainian officials said their forces drove out the Russian in two key areas in the Kharkiv region and are not going to let up.
Sep 18, 1:59 PM EDT
Biden says China not supplying Russia weapons to use in Ukraine
President Joe Biden said in an interview with CBS’ 60 Minutes that it does not appear China is sending weapons to Russia to use in Ukraine.
“Thus far there’s no indication that they’ve put forward weapons or other things that Russia has wanted,” Biden said in the clip from the interview released Sunday.
That’s consistent with the message his administration has repeatedly shared for months. But it doesn’t mean China has stopped helping Russia in other ways, including purchasing Russian oil.
Biden recounted how he had previously told China’s President Xi Jinping that if he thought “Americans and others are gonna continue to invest in China based on your violating the sanctions that have been imposed on Russia, I think you’re making a gigantic mistake. But that’s your decision to make.”
Biden also said he does not think there’s currently a “new, more complicated cold war” with China, as the interviewer, Scott Pelley, put it.
-ABC News’ Ben Gittleson
Sep 18, 12:06 PM EDT
‘True face of aggression’: Ukrainian ambassador condemns Russia over mass grave
Ukraine’s ambassador to the U.S., Oksana Markarova, accused Russia on Sunday of committing “war crimes of massive proportions” after a mass grave was discovered in Ukraine.
“It’s tortures, rapes, killings. War crimes of a massive proportions,” Markarova claimed in an interview with ABC “This Week” co-anchor Jonathan Karl. “That’s why we need to liberate the whole territory of Ukraine as soon as possible because clearly Russians are targeting all Ukrainians. Whole families. Children. So, there is no war logic in all of this. It’s simply terrorizing and committing genocide against Ukrainians.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an address on Thursday that a mass grave was found in the recently recaptured territory of Izyum. Over 400 bodies could be buried in the site, according to Ukrainian officials.
Markarova said the majority of the bodies recovered from the site are Ukrainian, including entire families. She also said most of the remains showed “clear signs of torture.”
She said an investigation of the mass grave is underway and that with the assistance of the United States her country is continuing to prepare national and international criminal cases against Russia.
Russia has repeatedly denied targeting civilians, despite evidence otherwise.
“It’s so important for everyone to see the true face of this aggression and terrorist attack Russia is waging,” Markarova said.
(ATLANTA) — Former President Donald Trump’s legal team is urging the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals to reject the Justice Department’s request for a partial stay of a district judge’s ruling that has effectively paused the government’s investigation into Trump’s potential mishandling of classified records after leaving office.
The DOJ had filed a motion Friday with the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for a partial stay of U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon’s order requiring a special master to review items with classification markings seized at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida last month.
The government has said Trump was improperly keeping highly classified and sensitive materials that he took with him after leaving the White House. He has denied any wrongdoing.
Tuesday’s new filing from Trump’s attorneys calls the DOJ’s investigation into Trump “both unprecedented and misguided,” and repeats their claim that it is merely “a document storage dispute that has spiraled out of control.” The Justice Department has said that characterization ignores the fact that documents possibly containing some of the nation’s highest protected secrets were found inside Trump’s private club in apparent defiance of a grand jury subpoena.
“The District Court did not err in temporarily enjoining the Government’s review and use of records bearing classification markings for criminal investigative purposes because the merits support that narrowly tailored injunction,” Trump’s lawyers argue in the new filing.
Cannon’s order effectively froze the government’s ability to use the contents of the seized records, including classified documents, as part of its criminal investigation.
DOJ officials also said the order has effectively halted a separate assessment by the intelligence community as to whether any classified information in the documents has been compromised or whether other materials may still be missing.
Cannon also rejected the DOJ’s request to allow investigators to continue reviewing the government records taken from Mar-a-Lago for its probe. Instead, she ruled those records had to be given to a special master for review to consider claims for return of personal property and assertions of attorney-client or executive privilege.
The special master appointed by Cannon, U.S. District Judge Raymond Dearie, has called for lawyers representing both Trump and the DOJ to appear in his Brooklyn courtroom Tuesday afternoon.
In a filing on Monday evening, Trump’s legal team stated it was objecting to a request from Dearie for more information regarding whether Trump ever claimed to have declassified any of the documents at issue while he was president — noting it could end up serving as one of their defenses if Trump is ever indicted.
While Trump has repeatedly claimed he declassified all documents in his possession, his legal team has never made such an assertion in any of the court proceedings surrounding the search warrant executed at Mar-a-Lago.
Chances are if you stream a Christmas playlist, you’ll hear a few Pentatonix songs. The a capella group knows the holidays are their time to shine, so they’re launching an all-out seasonal spectacular for their next tour.
Pentatonix: A Christmas Spectacular promises to be “their biggest tour and biggest show yet!” The trek spans 22 different arena dates across North America, starting November 17 with a stop in Oakland, California. Other major cities include Denver, Tulsa, Nashville, Jacksonville and more.
The tour wraps December 22 in Uncasville, Connecticut.
“Come celebrate with us as we embark on our BIGGEST CHRISTMAS TOUR EVER!,” the group announced on Instagram, adding they will be supported by their opening act, former The Voice winner Girl Named Tom.
Tickets go on sale Friday, September 23 at 10 a.m. local time on the official Pentatonix website.
That’s not the only surprise from Pentatonix. They are also ready to release a brand-new holiday album called Holidays Around the World on October 28. To celebrate preorders opening on Friday, also on their website, they will drop the new song “Prayers For This World.”
In other happy Pentatonix news, singer Scott Hoying is getting ready to marry partner Mark Manio. The 31-year-old told People all about the proposal.
“I have never met anyone that was so kind and selfless,” Scott said, adding that the beach proposal “was the most nerve-wracking thing that I’ve ever done in my life!”
“Even though Mark and I had talked about [the engagement] a million times, I still put the pressure on myself to make it perfect,” he added, revealing they got their rings from Cartier in New York City last Christmas.
Manio, whom Scott’s dated for five years, inspired his debut solo song, “Mars.”
Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
Garth Brooks is reflecting on the success of his Stadium Tour.
Garth has been traveling the world since 2018. He performed for a total audience of three million people and concluded with a five-night stay at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland.
Now that he’s back in the U.S., Garth is reflecting on the fact that despite the challenges of the tour over the past four years, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the Stadium Tour was a resounding success.
“It’s like winning the Super Bowl. You’re happy, you’re sad. It’s kind of that crash after you’re done,” Garth reflects on the conclusion of the massive trek. “But at the same time, it could have not gone better! Even with the two pandemic shutdowns, it could not have gone better. To finish the Stadium Tour that way? That was big!”
The superstar is looking ahead to the next chapter, which includes receiving the Kris KristoffersonLifetime Achievement Award at the Nashville Songwriter Awards Tuesday night.
Maroon 5‘s Adam Levine is coming clean after an Instagram model alleged she had an affair with him.
The model also said Adam had contacted her and asked if it was O.K. to use her first name as the name of the baby he and wife Behati Prinsloo are expecting — if it’s a boy. She also had receipts: messages from Adam making the bizarre request.
Now, on his Instagram Story, Adam addresses the allegations, writing that he wants to “clear the air.” He then admits, “I used poor judgment in speaking with anyone other than my wife in ANY kind of flirtatious manner. I did not have an affair, nevertheless, I crossed the line during a regrettable period in my life.”
He continues, “In certain instances it became inappropriate; I have addressed that and taken proactive steps to remedy this with my family.”
Noting that the only thing he cares about in the world is “my wife and family,” Adam adds, “To be this naive and stupid enough to risk the only thing that matters to me was the greatest mistake I could ever make. I will never make it again. I take full responsibility. We will get through it. And we will get through it together.”
Adam and Behati have been married since 2014. They have two daughters, Dusty and Gio, and recently announced they were expecting again.
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Trisha Yearwood celebrated her birthday in style.
The country legend turned 58 on September 19, celebrating her special day while across the pond in Ireland for husband Garth Brooks‘ handful of shows in Dublin.
Following the performances, Trisha took the time to sightsee, taking in green sweeping hills, a gorgeous ocean view overlooking the mountains, and a whimsical scene in the woods of chairs and a small table made out of trees and moss.
“Ireland, it was a dream of a trip! Thank you for taking us all in like family!! xo,” Trisha captioned an Instagram gallery, along with a green heart and #GARTHinIRELAND.
Back in the U.S., the singer’s animal wellness brand, Trisha Yearwood’s Pet Collection, is honoring the occasion by asking for donations to her dog-focused foundation, Dottie’s Fund.
Paris and Diamond Baby – Said Elatab/MEGA/GC Images
In what seems as if it could have been a plot from a 1998 straight-to-video movie, one of Paris Hilton‘s prized pooches is missing, and the hotel heiress is leaving no stone unturned to get her back.
“This is so incredibly hard for me to post because I’ve been at a loss of words,” Hilton told her more than 20 million Instagram followers, along with a video of the tiny dog, who can be currently seen in Hilton Hotels commercials with Paris.
“Diamond Baby…has been missing since last Wednesday,” she continued. “I was at a photoshoot and we’re moving houses and one of the movers must have left a door open.”
She added, “My family and friends have been helping me search high and low throughout my entire neighborhood and have gone door to door but we still haven’t found her.”
“There will be a big reward for her return and NO questions asked,” Hilton pleaded, adding she’s “hired a pet detective, a dog whisperer, a pet psychic and [is] looking into dog finding drones” to help find the pocket pooch.
