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‘Big Sky’ star Reba McEntire says she and boyfriend Rex Linn “love working together”

October 5, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Reba McEntire is opening up about taking the relationship dynamics with boyfriend Rex Linn to the screen.

The couple’s friendship spans decades; they met on the set of Kenny Rogers‘ film The Gambler in 1991 and kept in touch.

Fate reunited them in 2020 when Reba scored a guest appearance on Young Sheldon, where Rex portrays the principal of the high school that titular character Sheldon Cooper attends. When Rex found out Reba was going to be on the show, he jumped at the chance to reconnect.

“He texted me, he said, ‘Oh my gosh, let’s do dinner when you get through.’ So we did, and we’ve been together ever since,” Reba recalls.

Last year, Rex played her love interest in The Hammer, an upcoming movie on Lifetime, and now they’re starring together on Big Sky.

“We love working together because when we’re at home, we get to practice, rehearse and he’s a rehearsal schedule freak,” Reba describes. “He makes sure I know my lines before I ever go on stage.”

On season 3 of Big Sky, the country singer steps into the role of Sunny Barnes, the owner of Sunny Day Excursions. Rex plays her husband, Buck Barnes, and while he contributes a “strong” presence, Reba asserts that her character is the one calling the shots.

“Sunny runs the whole operation. Sunny is very dominating, she’s bossy, but she knows how to work Buck,” Reba explains, calling her character “very devious.” “There’s a lot of things Sunny has to do behind Buck’s back because she don’t want to have to explain herself and she don’t want to have to try to talk him into anything. She’ll get her way.”

Big Sky airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET.

Jordin Sparks says ‘Dancing with the Stars’ is giving her “insane” ‘American Idol’ flashbacks

October 5, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Jordin Sparks is on the new season of Dancing with the Stars on Disney+, and on Monday night, she and her partner Brandon Armstrong got their highest scores yet for their sensual rumba. But Jordin says DWTS feels a bit like being back on American Idol — once again, she’s asking viewers to vote for her.

She laughs to ABC Audio. “Why am I doing this to myself again? I must love it. I must enjoy this kind of torturous pressure cooker!” But that’s not the only thing about the competition that’s gives her Idol flashbacks.

Jordin explains, “It’s also insane because it films in the same building that Idol did. So I’m walking down these same hallways…the stage is literally a couple feet away…there’s a lot of feels that go on every week when I’m in that building!”

Jordin finally agreed to do Dancing with the Stars this year, she says, because her son DJ is “old enough to understand mommy has to go rehearse” — and because her husband Dana told her, “You can totally do this!'”

“I really have to commend Dana and also DJ for inspiring me to want to do things that scare me!” she laughs.

Another flashback for Jordin came in August, when she joined Chris Brown at his final tour stop to sing their hit duet “No Air” for the first time in 15 years.

“We’d never been able to perform it live…[in a ] concert venue…and so it was really cool to be able to have that moment and…to sing it as adults!” she laughs. “We were [17] when we recorded that song! Now we have kids, and we know what love is…[so] to be able to sing it again in this phase of our life…it was a moment!”

Lauv shines a light on mental health by partnering with therapy platform BetterHelp

October 5, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Lauv knows taking care of his mental health is key to helping him like himself better, so he’s hoping to give fans a chance to do the same.

The singer announced Tuesday he has partnered with BetterHelp, an online therapy platform, to promote World Mental Health Day. To help as many people as possible, he will be giving away $3 million worth of therapy services.

“I’m super excited to be working with them,” the singer expressed in the video announcement. “Therapy has been … so huge in my mental health journey and I think it’s super helpful, obviously.”

Lauv encouraged his fans — from those who have been able to get therapy to those who don’t have the resources available — to visit BetterHelp.com/Lauv to register. Fans who take advantage of the offer will be matched with a therapist and given access to a month of free therapy.

Lauv added “therapy is a great place to start” in improving one’s mental health and signed off with, “Love u to the moon and back and honored at this opportunity.”

World Mental Health Day is October 10.

BET Hip Hop Awards 2022: Kendrick Lamar, Drake win big

October 5, 2022 by WDNY Radio

It was a big night for music at the 2022 BET Hip Hop Awards!

Hosted by Fat Joe from Atlanta’s Fox Theatre, the 17th annual awards ceremony, which showcases the best performers, producers and more, aired Tuesday night.

Hip hop’s biggest night was jam packed with entertainment including performances from GloRilla, King Combs, Clipse, French Montana, Pusha T, Bleu, and more. Joey Bada$$ also hit the stage as part of a tribute to Hip-Hop’s fallen ones.

The show also included a tribute to LOUD Records and its trailblazing founder Steve Rifkind, which saw David Banner, Mobb Deep, Lil’ Kim, Wu Tang Clan, Three 6 Mafia, Remy Ma, Lil’ Flip, Dead Prez, and M.O.P, perform.

Another exciting moment came from the high energy cypher with Baby Tate, Deetranada, Sauce Walka, Topaz Jones, Sa-Roc, Reuben Vincent, Jayson Cash, Guapdad 4000, and Big Boss Vette.

As far as awards, Kendrick Lamar led the pack with six wins including Artist of the Year and Album of the Year for his latest project Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. Drake nabbed three wins including Best Collaboration for “Wait For U” with Future and Tems. The highly sought after Best Hip Hop Platform award was a tie between Yung Miami‘s podcast Caresha Please and the DJ EFN and N.O.R.E. hosted podcast Drink Champs.

Trina took home the “I Am Hip Hop” award and delivered a heartfelt speech, dedicating the award to her 17-year-old niece, Toni “Suga” Chester, who was fatally shot in Miami in July.

To end the eventful night, Fivio Foreign and Lil Tjay blazed the stage with their respectful hits “City of Gods” and “Beat the Odds.”

Alter Bridge’s Myles Kennedy reflects on 15 years of ‘Blackbird’: “It’s pretty special”

October 5, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Alter Bridge‘s Blackbird first took flight 15 years ago.

The record, released in October 2007, marked the sophomore effort from the group, which featured Creed members Mark Tremonti, Brian Marshall and Scott Phillips coming together with vocalist Myles Kennedy. Following their 2004 debut, One Day Remains, Kennedy and company felt they had “a lot to prove” with album #2.

“When that first record came out, people had their opinions on things, and understandably so,” Kennedy tells ABC Audio. “So we were essentially trying to figure out who we were, where we were gonna go, what we were gonna be.”

Part of that included Kennedy expanding from just singing on One Day Remains to playing guitar and writing more on Blackbird.

“I’d been used to being the sole writer with [previous band] The Mayfield Four, and Mark had been used to being the sole guitar player with Creed,” Kennedy explains. “So how do you do this delicate dance in the creative realm? Man, that’s a challenge. But I think somehow we landed on our feet.”

With its epic twin guitar solos played by both Kennedy and Tremonti, the song “Blackbird” became an apt metaphor for that delicate dance. Fittingly, the eight-minute epic has also become one of Alter Bridge’s most beloved songs.

“[I] think of all the fans I’ve seen who have ‘Blackbird’ tattoos on their bodies and share the stories of how that song means so much to them,” Kennedy muses. “Yeah, it’s pretty special. It really makes me grateful.”

Alter Bridge’s latest album, Pawns & Kings, drops October 14.

Jefferson Airplane to receive star on Hollywood Walk of Fame next week

October 5, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Influential San Francisco psychedelic band Jefferson Airplane will be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame next week.

The star ceremony will take place October 13 at 11:30 a.m. PT and will be streamed live at WalkofFame.com.

The three surviving members of the band’s Surrealistic Pillow lineup — singer Grace Slick, guitarist Jorma Kaukonen and bassist Jack Casady — will be on hand to accept the honor. Doors drummer John Densmore and Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart will be guest speakers at the event.

The plaque, which will be the 2,737th star dedicated on the Walk of Fame, will be located at 6752 Hollywood Blvd.

“This ceremony will bring many great memories to those with a love for music of the ’60s and ’70s,” says Walk of Fame producer Ana Martinez. “We are proud to add this iconic psychedelic rock band to the Hollywood Walk of Fame.”

Formed in 1965, Jefferson Airplane had its biggest success with its second album, 1967’s Surrealistic Pillow, which featured the classic Slick-sung hits “White Rabbit” and “Somebody to Love.” The band was at the center of the counterculture movement through the late 1960s and early ’70s, and famously played at historic festivals Monterey Pop, Woodstock and Altamont.

After the band broke up, Slick played with Airplane co-founders Marty Balin and Paul Kantner in the spinoff group Jefferson Starship. Kaukonen and Casady, meanwhile, formed the psychedelic folk-blues outfit Hot Tuna; they continue to tour and record with that band.

The Airplane reformed in 1989 for a reunion tour and album.

In 1996, Jefferson Airplane was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Matthew McConaughey reflects on how his mentor, Don Phillips, started his career

October 5, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Matthew McConaughey understands the importance of a good mentor, because he had one in the late Don Phillips.

The actor told ABC Audio Phillips did far more than help him get cast in Dazed and Confused, his first major movie where he starred as Wooderson. “He’s the guy who said, ‘You can sleep on my couch when you get out to Hollywood,'” McConaughey recalled. It was mid-August, 1993, and he had “less than 500 bucks to my name.”

Phillips also gave McConaughey some tough love when he was anxious about getting an agent. The Oscar-winning actor recalled, “He … sat me down and actually cussed me out and said, ‘No. You’re not ready because you’re too anxious. You need an agent too much right now and they’re going to smell your desperation. And if they smell you’re desperate, you’ll never have a chance in Hollywood.'”

“He was right,” McConaughey remarked. “So I got patient and started doing some other work, forgot about getting an agent. And he comes by one day and he goes, ‘Now you’re ready.'”

“Next day [I] went in. Had that meeting, was relaxed, was myself [and I] got an agent in my first two reads and ended up getting the job. And that was how my career started,” McConaughey reflected.

Now, he’s paying it forward by teaming up with Wild Turkey and Spaceflight Records for a new mentorship program called 101 Bold Nights. Emerging artists or bands can apply to be mentored by Spaceflight and learn “the ways to make it forward and how to navigate getting into this game [from the right people],” said McConaughey, who added, “Getting in the door can be the hardest thing.”

Phillips, a prolific casting director, passed away in November 2021. He was 80.

Mike Myers fights fascism in new film ‘Amsterdam’

October 5, 2022 by WDNY Radio

David O. Russell wants to welcome you to Amsterdam.

His latest film, in theaters Friday, has two main themes — fascism and friendship — running though this star studded film, featuring Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, John David Washington, Taylor Swift, and more. Mike Myers plays a mysterious government agent, and he tells ABC Audio the politics of Amsterdam play second fiddle to the story of Bale, Robbie, and Washington’s character’s friendship.

“This dealt with that in the best possible way, which is three friends who make their own family together, set against this situation. And they’re wrongfully accused of a crime and they have to clear their name,” he explains. “And that’s my favorite delivery system of talking about big important things, is that the plot and the people you’re invested in.”

It’s those big ideas that drew Myers to the role of a mysterious government agent who is fighting fascism in the 1930s, ahead of World War II.

“You know, my parents were in World War Two. My dad was in the Royal Engineers and my mom was in the Royal Air Force,” Myers says. “And when they talked about World War Two, they didn’t talk about fighting the Germans or the Italians. They talked about fighting the fascists.”

Myers’ character also has a knack for cuckoo birds. What do cuckoo birds have to do with fascism?

“The Cuckoo actually co-opts people’s nests, and I thought that was a great metaphor for what happens with fascism,” he shares. “Fascism is neither really a political system, nor is it an economic system. It’s a parasitic system. It’s an aesthetic movement. And generally, fascism will come in, steal somebody else’s nest.”

Elon Musk set to purchase Twitter after reversing course

October 4, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Tesla CEO Elon Musk proposed the completion of a deal to acquire Twitter on Tuesday, reversing a monthslong effort to terminate the agreement.

Musk — the richest person in the world, according to Forbes — put forward a proposal to Twitter that would complete the deal at Musk’s original offer price of $54.20 a share at a total cost of roughly $44 billion, a person familiar with the proposal told ABC News.

In a statement, Twitter said it plans to agree to a deal at the price proposed by Musk.

“We received the letter from the Musk parties which they have filed with the SEC,” the company said on Tuesday. “The intention of the Company is to close the transaction at $54.20 per share.”

Twitter filed a lawsuit against Musk in July over his effort to terminate an acquisition agreement. That trial is set to begin in less than two weeks.

Musk reached an acquisition deal with Twitter in April, but over the ensuing weeks, he raised concerns over spam accounts on the platform, claiming Twitter had not provided him with an accurate estimate of their number.

Twitter rebuked that claim, saying it had provided Musk with information in accordance with conditions set out in the acquisition deal.

“This is a clear sign that Musk recognized heading into Delaware Court that the chances of winning vs. the Twitter board was highly unlikely and this $44 billion deal was going to be completed one way or another,” Dan Ives, a managing director of equity research at Wedbush, an investment firm, told ABC News Tuesday in an email.

The move from Musk marks the latest reversal of course in a saga that started in January when the billionaire first invested in Twitter. By March, Musk had become the largest stakeholder in Twitter and the following month the social media company announced that Musk would join its board. Days later, however, Musk said he had decided against joining the board.

In April, Musk offered to buy Twitter at $54.20 per share, valuing the company at about $44 billion. The offer amounted to a 38% premium above where the price stood a day before Musk’s investment in Twitter became public. Roughly 10 days later, Twitter accepted Musk’s offer.

One month later, however, Musk said he had put the deal “temporarily on hold,” citing concern over what he said was the prevalence of bot and spam accounts on the platform. Roughly two hours later, Musk said he was “still committed” to the deal.

Eventually, Musk moved to terminate the deal in July. Soon after, Twitter sued Musk in Chancery Court in Delaware to force him to complete the deal.

A scheduling decision made by the court in July — to hold the trial over five days in October — appeared to align more closely with a timeline requested by Twitter, which had sought a four-day trial in September. Musk asked the court to set a trial date no earlier than mid-February 2023.

Now, according to the deal, the court case is off if the two sides reach a deal.

Twitter stock closed Tuesday at $52.01, up 22% for the day.

Yankees’ Aaron Judge sets new American League record with 62nd home run

October 4, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Babe Ruth and Roger Maris are in the rearview mirror.

Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge hit his American League record 62nd home run Tuesday.

After nearly a week of waiting, Judge led off the second game of Tuesday’s doubleheader with a towering shot to left field against the Texas Rangers.

Maris held the AL record for 61 years — hitting 61 home runs in 1961 — after besting fellow Yankee Mickey Mantle in a duel to surpass the Babe. Ruth had hit 60 home runs in 1927.

Judge tied Ruth with his 60th on Sept. 20 with a solo shot in the ninth inning against the Pirates. The homer sparked a five-run rally for the Yankees with a walk-off grand slam by Giancarlo Stanton.

After seven games without a home run, including a series against the rival Red Sox in the Bronx, the Yankees slugger broke through in the seventh inning Sept. 28 in Toronto to tie Maris. The two-run home run broke a 3-3 tie with the Blue Jays and came one night after the Yankees clinched the AL East title.

Barry Bonds holds the MLB record with 73 home runs in 2001.

Judge, 30, has had a magical season as he pursues what will now likely be a bank-breaking contract extension. Judge turned down the Yankees’ final offer in spring training and said he would not negotiate during the final season on his current contract.

Instead, he’s done all the negotiating necessary with his eye-popping stats.

In addition to hitting 62 home runs, he’s in the hunt to win the AL triple crown — leading in homers, batting average and runs batted in. He leads by a wide margin in home runs and RBI, and is locked in a battle with Minnesota’s Luis Arráez for the batting crown. Miguel Cabrera was the last player to accomplish that feat when he did so in 2012. Cabrera was the first to win the triple crown since 1967.

Judge could lead both leagues in all triple crown categories, something that hasn’t been accomplished since Mantle in 1956.

Judge is only the sixth person to hit 60 home runs in a season. Bonds, Mark McGwire (twice), Sammy Sosa (three times), Maris and Ruth have all crossed the plateau, but Bonds, McGwire and Sosa have all been tainted by the so-called Steroid Era of the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Maris’ family, including his two sons, Roger Jr. and Kevin, attended games at Yankee Stadium to catch the record-breaking homer. Roger Jr. made the trip to Toronto to see Judge hits his 61st home run, sitting one row behind the Yankees’ dugout with Judge’s mother.

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