Keith Urban has nothing but fond memories of the late Olivia Newton-John.
The country singer met the Grease star at a songwriters’ retreat in the late ’90s and reveals he was a bit of a “fanboy.”
“It was surreal to get to meet her. She couldn’t have been more down to earth, kind, friendly, warm, funny, everything I thought she would be,” Keith describes. “She was exactly that.”
The two kept in touch and continued to write together over the years, including a song called “Sunburned Country” that Keith is a featured vocalist on. But music isn’t the only way they connected. In fact, the actress was present the night Keith met his wife, Nicole Kidman, at an event called Good Day LA in 2005 where he, Nicole and Mel Gibson were being honored as Australians who’d found success in America. When asked which fellow famous Australian he’d like to introduce him, Olivia’s name was the first that came to mind.
“I had just written with Olivia, so I asked Olivia if she would do it for me. She was the person who introduced me that fateful night when I met my wife, so she also plays that very special role in our past, as well,” he recalls. “Olivia is one of those people that for so many Australians particularly has always been part of the fabric of life. She was there in the ’70s and has been there for all of my life. It feels like she’s been there.”
Olivia passed away on August 8 at the age of 73 from cancer.
(NEW YORK) — Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate was searched by agents on Monday in relation, sources told ABC News, to documents that he took with him when he departed Washington, including some records the National Archives said were marked classified. (Both the FBI and Department of Justice have declined to comment.)
The operation marked a notable development in one of several legal challenges facing Trump, who has denied all wrongdoing.
During the annual Lincoln Dinner on Wednesday celebrating Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucus status, Republican leaders repeatedly attacked the FBI — echoing and building on widespread outcry from the GOP.
At the dinner, Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said potential action against the FBI or the Department of Justice relied on Republicans taking back control of Congress in the November midterms.
“There’s not much the committee can do. The best thing we can do is is win back the House and win back the Senate, and I do think the American people want transparency when you are raiding the home of a former president,” she said. “The FBI is raiding the home of a former president. The American people deserve to know why.”
McDaniel also argued that this week’s actions were “creating distrust in our institutions.”
“What piece of paper did he [Trump] take? I asked him the other day — I’m like, ‘Was it the Declaration of Independence or what did you take?’ I think this is really deeply troubling,” she said, suggesting the search was an overreach
Sources told ABC that the FBI had court authorization; Trump and his attorneys have not released any information about the search warrant, which they would have been provided.
Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley said at Wednesday’s dinner he “didn’t know enough” about the FBI operation to “say what’s legitimate to say or not” but compared it to the ongoing investigation of President Joe Biden’s son Hunter’s taxes and to a past probe of how Hillary Clinton also handled classified information. (Hunter has said he believes he will be cleared; Clinton was never charged with a crime.)
“When I had a conversation yesterday with the FBI director [Christopher Wray], I had a chance to discuss this with him, and I tried to point out: How come you did not negotiate something with the president, as you did with Hillary Clinton about her email?” Grassley said.
Grassley said he reached out Wray to ask for “some justification for what you’re doing” but the department didn’t respond, saying any comment would come from Attorney General Merrick Garland. At a separate event in Nebraska on Wednesday, Wray said only, “I’m sure you can appreciate that’s not something I can talk about.”
“We can’t have a two-tiered system of justice in America,” Grassley said at Wednesday’s dinner.
“We’re at a point where the culture and the credibility of the FBI is at stake,” he added. “We’re at a point where you ought to have upmost confidence in the No. 1 law enforcement agency in America. And I don’t think most of you do.”
In their own remarks, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and Rep. Randy Feenstra used the search at Mar-a-Lago to try and galvanize people ahead of the midterm elections.
“This administration has unleashed the DOJ, the FBI, on parents, on taxpayers, on gun owners and a former president of United States of America. We are at an all-time low folks,” Reynolds said. “Elections matter and we need to step up and we need to show up and we need to let them know that enough is enough and we are not going to take it any longer.”
“That’s why we’re here, because we are passionate about making sure that we save our country — save this greatest country that’s in the world. But each one of us has to do our part, including myself,” Feenstra said.
“So it’s my job to make sure that we fire [House Speaker Nancy] Pelosi … because then we can investigate Hunter Biden and then we can have hearings on all these other things that are happening, especially what happened to Trump just a few days ago,” Feenstra added.
Iowa Republicans started off the night with a prayer, saying “evil surrounds us” while attacking the DOJ and the “out of control” FBI.
“Lord, we know that we’re a tipping point in our country. … Lord, help us be vigilant in defending our religious and our personal freedoms,” said Steve Scheffler, a state party leader.
Republicans spent most of Wednesday’s Lincoln Dinner focusing their base on the midterm elections and also reaffirmed their commitment that Iowa will be the first state in the nation to choose a Republican presidential candidate during the 2024 cycle.
Their embrace of Iowa comes as Democrats are poised to remove the state from leading off their own nominating process.
“Most of all, it comes down to the grassroots and the investment from you and the serious nature in which you put in into selecting who Iowa will choose in your caucus, so I didn’t want to change it,” McDaniel said.
Måneskin and Metallica are performing at New York City’s 2022 Global Citizen Festival, taking place September 24 in Central Park.
The lineup for the annual event, which supports the Global Citizen organization’s ongoing goal to end extreme poverty, also features Charlie Puth, Jonas Brothers, Mariah Carey, Mickey Guyton and Rosalía.
Tickets to the concerts are free, and can be earned by downloading the Global Citizen app or visiting GlobalCitizen.org and taking action on the charity’s issues.
The same day of the NYC concert, Global Citizen will also be holding a show in Ghana to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the African country’s independence. Artists including Usher, SZA and H.E.R. will be on the lineup.
Both concerts will be broadcast and streamed on ABC, ABC News Live, FX, Hulu, Twitter, YouTube and more. A primetime special, Global Citizen Festival: Take Action Now, will air September 25 at 7 p.m. ET on ABC.
Global Citizen is calling for world leaders to work to fight extreme poverty and specifically is asking the leaders attending the United National General Assembly to invest $600 million in the future of women and girls worldwide, to close the annual $10 billion climate financing shortfall and to provide $500 million to help African farmers respond to the global food crisis.
According to Global Citizen, as many as 1.2 billion people now live in countries experiencing food, energy and financial crises and as many as 200 million more may experience extreme poverty by November if action isn’t taken now.
The 10th anniversary Global Citizen Festival will take place on September 24 in both New York City and in Accra, Ghana. And, as usual, the lineup is very star-studded.
The New York edition of the fest will be held in Central Park, and its bill will include Metallica,as well as Mariah Carey and Jonas Brothers. The event, which will be hosted by Global Citizen ambassador Priyanka Chopra Jonas. also will feature performances by Italian rockers Måneskin, pop singer Charlie Puth, Latin star Rosalía and country star Mickey Guyton, with more artists to be announced later.
Meanwhile, the concert in Accra, Ghana, will commemorate the 65th anniversary of African nation’s independence, and the show will feature such stars as Usher, SZA and H.E.R.
The concerts will be broadcast and streamed on ABC, ABC News Live, FX, Hulu, Twitter, YouTube and more. A primetime special, Global Citizen Festival: Take Action Now, will air September 25 at 7 p.m. ET on ABC.
As always, tickets to the concerts are free, and can be earned by downloading the Global Citizen app or visiting GlobalCitizen.org and taking action on the charity’s issues.
Global Citizen is calling for world leaders to work to fight extreme poverty and specifically is asking the leaders attending the United National General Assembly to invest $600 million in the future of women and girls worldwide, to close the annual $10 billion climate financing shortfall and to provide $500 million to help African farmers respond to the global food crisis.
According to Global Citizen, as many as 1.2 billion people now live in countries experiencing food, energy and financial crises and as many as 200 million more may experience extreme poverty by November if action isn’t taken now.
Olivia Newton-John‘s state memorial service in her home country of Australia will be “more of a concert than a funeral,” said a government official.
Born in England, Olivia grew up in Melbourne, the capital of the Australian state of Victoria. Victoria Premier Dan Andrewstweeted, “I’m so pleased that Olivia [Newton]-John’s family have accepted our offer of a State Memorial Service. We’re working with Olivia’s family on the details, but it will be more of a concert than a funeral – fitting for a Victorian who lived such a rich and generous life.”
Previously, Olivia’s niece Totti Goldsmith told an Australian TV show that the family had accepted the offer. And certainly, there’s no shortage of singers who’d love to pay tribute to the beloved Grease star.
Meanwhile, Olivia’s husband, John Easterling, has posted a tribute to her on Instagram in which he writes, “At Olivia’s deepest essence she was a healer using her mediums of song, of words, of touch. She was the most courageous woman I’ve ever known. Her bandwidth for genuinely caring for people, for nature and all creatures almost eclipses what is humanely [sic] possible.”
He adds, “It is only the grace of God that has allowed me to share the depth and passion of her being for so long. In her most difficult times she always had the spirit, the humor, and the will power to move things into the light. Even now as her soul soars, the pain and holes in my heart are healed with the joy of her love and the light that shines forward.”
He concludes, “Our family deeply appreciates the vast ocean of love and support that has come our way.”
The 10th anniversary Global Citizen Festival will take place on September 24 in both New York City and in Accra, Ghana. And, as usual, the lineup is very star-studded.
The New York edition of the fest will be held in Central Park, and its bill will include Mariah Carey, as well as Jonas Brothers and Metallica. The event, which will be hosted by Global Citizen ambassador Priyanka Chopra Jonas. also will feature performances by pop singer Charlie Puth, Italian rockers Måneskin, Latin star Rosalía and country star Mickey Guyton, with more artists to be announced later.
Meanwhile, the concert in Accra, Ghana, will commemorate the 65th anniversary of African nation’s independence, and the show will feature Usher, and R&B superstars SZA and H.E.R., among others.
The concerts will be broadcast and streamed on ABC, ABC News Live, FX, Hulu, Twitter, YouTube and more. A primetime special, Global Citizen Festival: Take Action Now, will air September 25 at 7 p.m. ET on ABC.
As always, tickets to the concerts are free, and can be earned by downloading the Global Citizen app or visiting GlobalCitizen.org and taking action on the charity’s issues.
Global Citizen is calling for world leaders to work to fight extreme poverty and specifically is asking the leaders attending the United National General Assembly to invest $600 million in the future of women and girls worldwide, to close the annual $10 billion climate financing shortfall and to provide $500 million to help African farmers respond to the global food crisis.
According to Global Citizen, as many as 1.2 billion people now live in countries experiencing food, energy and financial crises and as many as 200 million more may experience extreme poverty by November if action isn’t taken now.
Weezer‘s scheduled Broadway residency has been canceled, according to frontman Rivers Cuomo.
In a post on his Discord server, which was viewed by ABC Audio, Cuomo writes, “I just learned that our Broadway shows have been cancelled (due to low ticket sales and unbelievably high expenses).”
“I’m very sorry to be telling you this now after we’ve already invested so much time, thought, and emotion,” Cuomo adds. “Extra apologies to those of you who cleared schedules and made travel plans to be with us…I loved where we were going and I hope we can find a way to resurrect our vision.”
However, Weezer’s socialmediaplatforms and website are still promoting the residency, and links to buy tickets still appear to be active.
The residency was set to take place over five performances at New York City’s Broadway Theatre in September. The first four shows would be themed around one of Weezer’s four seasonally themed SZNZ EPs, while the fifth would feature songs from all of the EPs and “Weezer fan favorites.”
ABC Audio has reached out to Weezer’s rep for confirmation.
The 10th anniversary Global Citizen Festival will take place this September in both New York City and Accra, Ghana. And, as usual, the lineup is very star-studded.
Mariah Carey, Jonas Brothers, Charlie Puth, MÅNESKIN, Metallica, Rosalía and country star Mickey Guyton will perform in New York’s Central Park at the September 24 event, which will be hosted by Global Citizen ambassador Priyanka Chopra Jonas. More artists will be announced later.
Meanwhile, on the same day, the 65th anniversary of Ghana’s independence will be celebrated with a concert in Accra featuring Usher, SZA, H.E.R. and TEMS.
The concerts will be broadcast and streamed on ABC, ABC News Live, FX, Hulu, Twitter, YouTube and more. A primetime special, Global Citizen Festival: Take Action Now, will air September 25 at 7 p.m. ET on ABC.
As always, tickets to the concerts are free, and can be earned by downloading the Global Citizen app or visitingglobalcitizen.org and taking action on the charity’s issues. Because, of course, it isn’t just about music.
Global Citizen is calling for world leaders to work to fight extreme poverty and specifically is asking the leaders attending the United National General Assembly to invest $600 million in the future of women and girls worldwide, to close the annual $10 billion climate financing shortfall and to provide $500 million to help African farmers respond to the global food crisis.
According to Global Citizen, as many as 1.2 billion people now live in countries experiencing food, energy and financial crises and as many as 200 million more may experience extreme poverty by November if action isn’t taken now.
The 10th anniversary Global Citizen Festival will take place this September in both New York City and in Accra, Ghana. And, as usual, the lineup is very star-studded.
Mariah Carey, Jonas Brothers and Charlie Puth will perform in New York’s Central Park at the September 24 event, which will be hosted by Global Citizen ambassador Priyanka Chopra Jonas. Metal legends Metallica, Italian rockers MÅNESKIN, Latin star Rosalía, and country star Mickey Guyton are also on the bill, with more artists to be announced later.
Meanwhile, on the same day, the 65th anniversary of Ghana’s independence will be celebrated with a concert in Accra featuring Usher, and R&B superstars SZA and H.E.R., among others.
The concerts will be broadcast and streamed on ABC, ABC News Live, FX, Hulu, Twitter, YouTube and more. A primetime special, Global Citizen Festival: Take Action Now, will air September 25 at 7 p.m. ET on ABC.
As always, tickets to the concerts are free, and can be earned by downloading the Global Citizen app or visitingglobalcitizen.org and taking action on the charity’s issues. Because, of course, it isn’t just about music.
Global Citizen is calling for world leaders to work to fight extreme poverty and specifically is asking the leaders attending the United National General Assembly to invest $600 million in the future of women and girls worldwide, to close the annual $10 billion climate financing shortfall and to provide $500 million to help African farmers respond to the global food crisis.
According to Global Citizen, as many as 1.2 billion people now live in countries experiencing food, energy and financial crises and as many as 200 million more may experience extreme poverty by November if action isn’t taken now.
(NEW YORK) — Former President Donald Trump and his Republican allies are fundraising off Monday’s FBI raid of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, providing another platform for Trump to capitalize financially on government investigations related to him.
Trump’s Save America PAC sent out a fundraising email Tuesday morning in which Trump urged supporters to “rush in a donation IMMEDIATELY to publicly stand with me against this NEVERENDING WITCH HUNT.”
Trump, in the email, cast the lawful search of his estate as an attack on all his supporters, saying the FBI raid “violated” not only his home but the “home of every patriotic American who I have been fighting for since that iconic moment I came down the Golden Escalators in 2015.”
“I need every single red-blooded American Patriot to step up during this time,” the email read.
Justice Department and FBI officials declined to comment on the raid, saying that they don’t discuss ongoing investigations.
Trump’s latest fundraising push comes amid what appears to be a gradual slowing down of his massive fundraising prowess, as Trump’s fundraising committees have been bringing in relatively smaller hauls over the past few months.
Last month, Trump’s Save America Joint Fundraising Committee reported raising just $17 million during the entire three-month period from April through June, including a little under $6 million for the Save America PAC itself. The amount represents a big drop from the hundreds of millions of dollars Trump’s team and the Republican Party raised together in the months following the 2020 election.
The Republican National Committee, which has continued to raise money in Trump’s name even though it no longer fundraises in conjunction with Trump’s PAC, also sought to raise funds off the FBI raid. It sent out an email with the subject line “BREAKING NEWS” to supporters late Monday night, just as the news about the raid was unfolding, saying that “This is UNPRECEDENTED.”
“We need YOU … to step up RIGHT NOW to stand with the GOP & STOP JOE BIDEN,” the email read.
Early Tuesday morning, RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel continued the fundraising appeal during an appearance on Fox News, where she urged supporters to donate to Trump-endorsed 2022 Senate candidates including Herschel Walker in Georgia, J.D. Vance in Ohio, Adam Laxalt in Nevada, and Dr. Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s campaign, meanwhile, was selling hats and T-shirts that say “Defund the FBI.”
“The FBI raid at Mar-a-Lago provides not just Trump, but the whole Republican base that affiliates with Trump, a significant but temporary boost in fundraising as well as an opportunity to propagandize for the upcoming election,” Craig Holman, a government affairs lobbyist at the Washington-based progressive watchdog group Public Citizen, told ABC News.
Holman said he expects the appeals to be “highly successful at first, but probably short-lived,” depending on what the FBI uncovered at Trump’s estate.
“At this point, the FBI is not saying anything, which allows Trump and his affiliates to scream the most extreme conspiracy messages for fundraising,” Holman said. “But once the FBI starts unveiling what it found hidden away in Mar-a-Lago — assuming that the FBI did in fact find incriminating records — the appeals will lose their legs.”
Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., who is leading the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, said he doesn’t know the details of the FBI raid but that it must have been based on a warrant approved by a judge.
“In any investigation, you follow the facts,” Thompson said. “I’m not certain as to the specifics of why the FBI did the raid on Mar-a-Lago, but as you know, a judge had to approve the affidavit for the warrant.”
Trump himself said Monday’s raid was just the latest “political targeting” against him and his supporters.
“The political persecution of President Donald J. Trump has been going on for years,” he said in a statement Monday night. “It just never ends.”
In the meantime, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who ran against Trump for the presidency in 2016, also appeared to be capitalizing on news of the raid. On Monday she tweeted out a donation link for her political organization, and promoted existing campaign merchandise like hats and T-shirts that read “But her emails.”
