Earth, Wind & Fire played a seven-show Las Vegas residency last November at Venetian Resort’s Venetian Theatre, and now the band has announced plans for a similar limited engagement at the venue this fall.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees have scheduled seven new concerts taking place October 26, 28 and 29 and November 2, 4, 5 and 6.
Tickets for the shows go on sale to the general public this Friday, May 6, at 10 a.m. PT at Ticketmaster.com, VenetianLasVegas.com and any Venetian resort box office, or by calling 702-414-9000 or 866-641-7469.
Citi card members can purchase pre-sale tickets starting this Tuesday, May 3, at 10 a.m. PT via the Citi Entertainment program; visit CitiEntertainment.com for more info.
Live Nation and Ticketmaster customers and members of The Venetian Resort’s Grazie Rewards program will be able to purchase pre-sale tickets beginning Wednesday, May 4, at 10 a.m. PT. A limited number of VIP packages also will be available.
The legendary funk/soul group also has a bevy of U.S. headlining concerts scheduled this year, as well as joint trek with Santana dubbed the Miraculous Supernatural tour that scheduled to run from a June 17 show in Chula Vista, California, all the way through an August 27 performance in Tampa, Florida.
ABBA is ready to embark on their first-of-its kind Voyage concert series, which will feature a digital version of the band on stage. Singer Björn Ulvaeus previewed the upcoming effort and admitted a lot is riding on its success.
Speaking to London’s Sunday Times, the Swedish pop legend opened up about ABBA coming together for the first time in 40 years, which saw them release the Grammy nominated album Voyage. Now, the group will perform a series of “revolutionary” concerts and Ulvaeus admits he is feeling the pressure.
“It’s an immense risk and most people I talk to don’t appreciate that,” he said. “They say, ‘Oh, it’ll be fine.’ Sometimes I wake up at four in the morning and think, ‘What the hell have we done?'”
ABBA Voyage, the concert experience featuring a performance by digital avatars of the band’s four members, accompanied by a 10-piece live band, will take place at the specially built ABBA Arena at London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
“Lots of artists are going to be studying us, definitely,” Ulvaeus added. “I won’t name names, but I can think of a few.” He cryptically teased, “I wonder who’s going to be first. I couldn’t possibly comment.”
ABBA fans certainly have theories and will be sure to watch out for the famous faces who will be among the audience when the concert series kicks off on May 27.
(NEW YORK) — The NFL told a federal judge in New York on Monday it will try to move former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores’ race discrimination lawsuit into arbitration.
“It is the defendant’s position that all the matters raised by the plaintiffs … all are covered by the arbitration agreement,” the league’s attorney, Loretta Lynch, said during a hearing, the first since Flores filed the lawsuit.
Flores wants the case to remain in federal court and pushed for discovery so he can view relevant material held by the league. His attorney, Douglas Wigdor, said a motion to compel arbitration would be improper because the arbitrator is league commissioner Roger Goodell.
“The failure to hire is not subject to arbitration,” Wigdor said.
In his lawsuit, Flores alleged systemic race discrimination within the NFL in hiring practices, termination practices and the terms and conditions of employment.
The NFL and several teams named in the lawsuit have denied the allegations, saying they have not discriminated against Flores nor the other plaintiffs.
“This is a contract issue. Is there a valid agreement to arbitrate? Does it cover the kind of claims raised here?” Lynch said in previewing the NFL’s motion, due next month.
Judge Valerie Caproni offered the two sides a settlement conference but neither was interested.
“We’ve always been interested in talking about making the NFL a place that fairly represents blacks,” Wigdor said.
“The league is also focused on the important issues,” Lynch said. “We have invited Mr. Wigdor and his client” but Lynch said they’ve declined the invitations.
Wigdor said Flores would not meet with Goodell only to have him arbitrate a case later.
Caproni conceded neither side is ready to talk about a settlement yet.
(WASHINGTON) — The House Jan. 6 committee on Monday requested the cooperation of three more House Republicans linked to the Jan. 6 Capitol attack and former President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
Reps. Andy Biggs of Arizona and Mo Brooks of Alabama were among the group of far-right lawmakers who met with Trump at the White House in December of 2020.
Biggs’ name was also mentioned in connection with an effort by some House Republicans to seek presidential pardons after the riot, according to the committee.
Brooks also recently disclosed that Trump has repeatedly asked him to “rescind” the last election — in a statement made after the former president endorsed his opponent in the Alabama GOP Senate primary.
Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, Trump’s former White House doctor-turned-congressman, was mentioned in encrypted communications between members of the Oath Keepers militia group as someone who “needs protection,” according to court records. He also was in the House chamber at the barricade with Capitol Police officers as they held off rioters.
Already, the Jan. 6 committee has requested information and testimony from GOP Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio, Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California. All have refused to cooperate.
Committee members say the panel has been reluctant to issue subpoenas to sitting members of Congress to compel their cooperation, given the practical, political and legal ramifications of such an action.
Ozzy Osbourne is “on the mend” amid his bout with COVID-19.
That’s according to his son, Jack, who tweeted a video of the metal legend on a FaceTime call with his wife, Sharon Osbourne. On the call, Ozzy seems much more concerned with Sharon pointing the camera at their Pomeranian Rocky than he is with talking about his health.
In the clip’s caption, Jack wrote, “Dad is on the mend and back to FaceTiming the dogs” alongside a face-palm emoji.
Jack added, “Thank you for all the love & support!”
Sharon revealed last Thursday that Ozzy, 73, had tested positive for COVID-19. She said that while she’s “very worried” about her husband, he was doing “OK.”
Taylor Swift isn’t just a musician: She’s also a screenwriter, director and actress. Those talents will be on display this June at New York City’s 2022 Tribeca Film Festival.
The festival will include a special screening of Taylor’s acclaimed short film All Too Well, which she directed, wrote, produced and starred in, along with Sadie Sink and Dylan O’Brien. After the screening, she’ll host a conversation in which she discusses her approach to filmmaking.
All Too Well accompanied the 10-minute version of Taylor’s song, which appeared on her re-recording of her album Red. It topped the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the longest song ever to do so.
The event takes place June 11 at 3 p.m. at New York’s Beacon Theatre. Single tickets for the festival are available for purchase today at TribecaFilm.com.
Other celebrities who’ll be giving special Tribeca talks include Pharrell Williams, Tyler Perry and Cythia Erivo. Plus, Robert De Niro and Al Pacino will celebrate the 25th anniversary of their movie Heat on a special panel. The casts and crew of Velvet Goldmine and Eve’s Bayou will also celebrate the 25th anniversaries of those films.
(WASHINGTON) — A federal judge overnight rejected a lawsuit brought by the Republican National Committee against the committee probing the Jan. 6 attack that had sought to block the panel’s effort to obtain fundraising information and other data related to attack on the Capitol.
The decision could impact multiple other lawsuits brought by various allies of former President Donald Trump who have sued to block the Jan. 6 committee from obtaining their records from telecommunications companies.
Judge Tim Kelly, a Trump appointee, rejected arguments by the RNC that the Jan. 6 committee does not have a valid legislative purpose, and further bolstered the panel’s legitimacy by rejecting Republican arguments that the panel’s makeup is flawed.
Referencing the Jan. 6 committee’s request for records from Nov. 3, 2020, to Jan. 6, 2021, Kelly in his decision wrote “that two-month window is plainly relevant to its investigation into the causes of the January 6 attack.”
An RNC official said the RNC will appeal the decision.
“While the RNC strongly disagrees with this ruling, our lawsuit compelled Nany Pelosi’s January 6th Committee to dramatically narrow the subpoena’s scope,” said RNC Chief Counsel Matt Raymer. “Nancy Pelosi’s attempted seizure of her political opponents’ campaign strategy cannot be allowed to stand, and we appreciate Judge Kelly continuing to temporarily block the subpoena. The RNC will continue to fight for the Constitutional rights of Republicans across the country and will appeal this decision.”
The lawsuit, which was brought in March, claims the subpoena unlawfully seeks “confidential information about the internal activities of the Republican Party and millions of its supporters, which is completely unrelated to the attack on the Capitol.”
A spokesperson for the Jan. 6 committee said the information being sought is relevant to the panel’s probe.
“Between Election Day 2020 and January 6th, the RNC and the Trump campaign solicited donations by pushing false claims that the election was tainted by widespread fraud,” Jan. 6 committee spokesperson Tim Mulvey said following the filing of the suit. “These emails encouraged supporters to put pressure on Congress to keep President Trump in power. Claims about a stolen election motivated rioters who stormed the Capitol on January 6th.”
The judge gave the RNC until May 5 to appeal the decision, which they indicated they’re likely to do.
Superstar Megan Thee Stallion isn’t only recognized for her music skills, the rapper also is celebrated for her humanitarian efforts, especially in her hometown of Houston.
Over the weekend, Megan, born Megan Pete, was honored with her own day and presented with a key to the city of Houston by Mayor Sylvester Turner.
According to ABC 13, Turner and several Houston City Council members proclaimed May 2 to be “Megan Thee Stallion Day,” citing Megan’s philanthropic contributions, including her donation of supplies and tablets for nursing home residents at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and her music collaboration with fellow Houston native Beyoncé on “Savage (Remix),” which benefited the food donation program Bread of Life, Inc.
“Megan Thee Stallion has an extraordinary entertainment career, but we wanted to honor her for what she does offstage to lift people’s lives in underserved communities,” Turner said. “She assisted people after the 2021 winter storm, during the pandemic, and helped those struggling with homelessness. I look forward to watching her grow as an artist and humanitarian.”
In 2021, Megan launched the Pete and Thomas Foundation, a non-profit change organization established in honor of her late parents, Joseph Pete Jr. and mother Holly Thomas.
In celebration of the special day — which coincides with her mother & grandmother’s birthday — Megan posted a series of images from the ceremony on Instagram on Sunday, thanking the mayor.
“Came home real quick to get THEE KEY TO THEE CITY 🤘🏾 and in honor of my mother and grandmother’s birthday MAY 2ND is officially MEGAN THEE STALLION DAY IN HOUSTON TX🔥🔥🔥 thank you Mayor@sylvesterturner for honoring me today and I will continue to give back to the city that made me who I am today 💙#htown,” Megan said.
Christian Vierig/GC Images/ Steve Granitz/Getty Images
Camila Cabello opened up to about struggling to accept her mental health challenges in a new interview with Selena Gomez for her Wondermind initiative. Camila is the outlet’s cover star for the month of May.
“There’s obviously such shame that comes sometimes with mental health. From the outside, my life looks great. I can make an album, or I’m in this relationship, whatever. I almost shamed myself by thinking people wouldn’t understand that I have anxiety,” Camila said of coming to terms that she was struggling.
The “Bam Bam” singer took a stand against the misconceptions of mental health by revealing she’s undergoing treatment for her anxiety, such as taking antidepressants and going to therapy. “Just because you’re in therapy doesn’t mean something is more wrong with you,” she remarked. “I definitely feel like medication can be really helpful and necessary.”
“We all have things that we could work on, we all have tools that we could learn, and it doesn’t mean that you’re ‘crazy’ or ill,” added Camila. “What if you are just trying to work through the stuff that makes you suffer? Don’t we all want that?”
Wondermind’s new issue arrived as Selena debuted a new month-long initiative called Your Words Matter, which is “an educational campaign on how to talk about mental health.” It will highlight the proper and improper use of words to help “break the stigma.”
Added Selena on Instagram, “When we use mental health-related words for non-clinical situations, we run the risk of making light of larger concerns or defining something incorrectly. When we recognize our words matter and the importance of word choice, the words we use can also make a positive difference in addressing mental health stigma.”
(FLORENCE, Ala.) — A manhunt is intensifying in Florence, Alabama, for an escaped murder suspect and a corrections officer who have been missing for days.
A warrant has been issued for Lauderdale County assistant director of corrections Vicki White on charges of committing or facilitating an escape, Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton said at a news conference Monday.
Vicki White “participated” in the escape with inmate Casey White, the sheriff said, adding, “Whether she did that willingly or she was coerced, threatened … not really sure.”
The employee and inmate — who went missing on Friday — are not related.
The sheriff said law enforcement have no idea where they are, but promised, “They will be brought back to justice.”
On Friday morning, Vicki White allegedly told her colleagues that she was taking 38-year-old Casey White to the Lauderdale County Courthouse for a “mental health evaluation,” though no court appearance was scheduled for the inmate, Singleton said. Vicki White violated sheriff’s office policy by escorting Casey White alone, the sheriff said.
Vicki White also allegedly told her colleagues that she was going to seek medical attention after dropping the inmate off at court because she wasn’t feeling well, but Singleton said his office confirmed that no medical appointment was made.
Vicki White had been talking about retiring for the last few months and turned in her paperwork on Thursday, Singleton told ABC News. Friday — the day the two went missing — was set to be her last day at work, he said.
Authorities are reviewing video to see if she spent an extraordinary amount of time at his cell. She had several opportunities each day to be in contact with any inmate, the sheriff said.
Singleton called Vicki White, a 17-year veteran of the sheriff’s office, “an exemplary employee.”
“The employees are just devastated,” the sheriff said. “Nobody saw this coming.”
Casey White is charged with two counts of capital murder in September 2020 for the stabbing of 58-year-old Connie Ridgeway, authorities said. He could face the death penalty if convicted, the sheriff said.
Casey White previously planned an escape from the Lauderdale County Detention Center in the fall of 2020, but officials thwarted the plot before he could attempt it, Singleton said. When officials got word of the plot, they found a homemade knife in his possession and learned that he was planning to take a hostage, the sheriff said. Casey White was subsequently transferred to a state prison, where he remained until early this year, when he returned to the Lauderdale County facility for court appearances related to the murder charge, the sheriff said.
Marty Keely, U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Alabama, called this a “major case for the United States Marshal Service.”
Casey White is 6 feet 9 inches tall. Anyone who sees them is urged to call 911, Keely said.
The U.S. Marshals Service is offering up to $10,000 reward for information leading to their capture, Keely said.
