Dave Grohl joins Beck and Tenacious D for Seals & Crofts cover during charity concert

Dave Grohl joins Beck and Tenacious D for Seals & Crofts cover during charity concert
Dave Grohl joins Beck and Tenacious D for Seals & Crofts cover during charity concert
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Dave Grohl made a surprise appearance at a Los Angeles charity concert Tuesday put together by director Judd Apatow in support of the Victims First organization.

According to the L.A. club Largo, which hosted the show, the Foo Fighters frontman joined Beck and Tenacious D to make “yacht-rock musical sound effects” during a cover of the Seals & Crofts song “Summer Breeze.” Also onstage were actor John C. Reilly and producer/frequent Grohl collaborator Greg Kurstin.

You can watch footage of the performance via the Largo Instagram.

The show marked one of Grohl’s first public appearances following the unexpected death of Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins in March. Grohl performed for the first time since Hawkins’ passing in June during Paul McCartney’s headlining Glastonbury set.

Grohl and the rest of Foo Fighters are holding a pair of Hawkins tribute concerts, taking place September 3 in London and September 27 in Los Angeles. As was announced Wednesday, the London concert will stream live via Paramount+ and MTV Brand YouTube channels.

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Demi Lovato says new album documents the “rough time” they had last year

Demi Lovato says new album documents the “rough time” they had last year
Demi Lovato says new album documents the “rough time” they had last year
Island Records

Demi Lovato is days away from releasing their eighth studio album, Holy Fvck, and the singer says it represents them learning to finally let go of their “unresolved trauma.”

Speaking with Apple Music 1’s Zane Lowe, Demi revealed, “Everything that I write about comes from personal experiences, and I had gone through a rough time last year.”

“I went back to treatment, and when I came out, I had all of this unresolved trauma that I hadn’t dealt with or that I started to deal with in treatment,” the Grammy winner continued. “And then when I came out, I was like, ‘It’s OK to be angry and feel those things.'”

Demi went on to explain, “So when I was making the album, in the first week, I had a lot of anger, and I think it showed in a lot of the songs — ‘Freak,’ ‘Heaven,’ ‘Eat Me.'”

Once they released that anger, Demi began penning tracks “that were really empowered in my sexuality.”  Then, they said, “Towards the end, you’ve got love songs.”

Demi, who has been completely sober since December, also opened up about recovering from addiction and spoke about rebuilding the trust with their closest allies, friends and family members.

“I never have come out of treatment, I mean, maybe the first time, expecting people to trust me right away. It was a learning experience of, OK, people are going to have to learn to trust you again,” Demi expressed, adding learning that lesson was “a lot.”

Demi explained rebuilding trust isn’t easy, but it can be done “by you proving yourself and not just talking, but taking actions that are towards your recovery.”

Holy Fvck arrives Friday, August 19.  Demi released the latest track off of it, “29” today.

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Ellie Kemper and Zach Cherry tapped to host ‘The Great American Baking Show’

Ellie Kemper and Zach Cherry tapped to host ‘The Great American Baking Show’
Ellie Kemper and Zach Cherry tapped to host ‘The Great American Baking Show’
Roku Originals

The Great British Baking Show‘s American counterpart has found its new hosts.

Roku Channel has announced that Ellie Kemper and Severance star Zach Cherry have been tapped to co-host The Great American Baking Show, premiering in 2023.

The U.S. version of the popular British competitions series will see contestants vying to become America’s best amateur baker. Celebrity chef Paul Hollywood and restaurateur Prue Leith, who serve as judges on the British version, will return as judges for the American edition.

The show will feature six one-hour episodes. Production is currently underway in the U.K.

A previous version of The Great American Baking Show aired for five seasons on ABC. Roku announced in May that it would be the new home for the series.

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Jimmie Allen’s Bettie James Fest is close to home: “I grew up literally a mile across that soybean field”

Jimmie Allen’s Bettie James Fest is close to home: “I grew up literally a mile across that soybean field”
Jimmie Allen’s Bettie James Fest is close to home: “I grew up literally a mile across that soybean field”
ABC

Jimmie Allen returned home to Delaware over the weekend for his second annual Bettie James Fest, a musical event that he created specifically to have a hometown connection.

“This is the place that made me,” he explains to ET Online. “I grew up literally about a mile across that soybean field over there.”

Jimmie’s hometown of Milton, Delaware, isn’t a major destination for country festivals, which makes it all the more special for him to host Bettie James Fest there. Having just wrapped its second year, the singer says he hopes it’s a fixture throughout his career — and beyond.

“I’m looking forward to this being something I can pass down to my kids so they can keep it going, ‘cause there’s always gonna be talented artists,” he says. “There’s always gonna be artists to perform, so I’m hoping this festival goes on forever.”

The 2022 installment, which featured a headlining set from Jimmie and performances from acts like Lainey Wilson and Chayce Beckham, is named after his late grandmother Bettie and his late father, James “Big Jim” Allen. Ahead of the festival, Jimmie said he was planning another special, family-focused surprise.

“Me and my sister haven’t sung together since we were 13 in church and me and my sister are going to sing together,” he detailed.

The Bettie James Fest also served as the grand finale of Jimmie’s Down Home Tour. Later on this fall, he’ll join Carrie Underwood’s Denim & Rhinestones Tour.

 

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Calculate how much Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act may save you

Calculate how much Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act may save you
Calculate how much Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act may save you
Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz

(WASHINGTON) –The Inflation Reduction Act, a $739 billion measure signed into law by President Joe Biden on Tuesday, levies a 15% minimum tax on large corporations and marks the most significant climate legislation in U.S. history. Meanwhile, the law will reduce the federal deficit by $305 billion over roughly the next decade, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

More immediately, however, the legislation will impact everyday Americans’ wallets.

The law, which passed the House and Senate with support from Democrats in party-line votes, empowers a federal agency to negotiate with health insurers over the prices for prescription drugs under Medicare, for instance, which should bring down the cost of some drugs for seniors.

Further, the measure puts a ceiling on out-of-pocket costs at $2,000 beginning in 2025 for people enrolled in Medicare Part D, the prescription drug plan for seniors.

Beyond health care, the Inflation Reduction Act carries a host of tax credits and discounts on everything from electric cars to solar energy.

Americans can determine the financial benefits available to them under the law with help from a savings calculator created by Rewiring America, a nonprofit that aims to achieve energy efficiency through the electrification of “everything in our communities.” After entering personal information about the location, size, and income of a given household, the calculator will share all of the savings accessible through the measure.

Calculate how much you may save with this link to an Inflation Reduction Act savings calculator, courtesy of Rewiring America.

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Jack White ponders the existential dilemma of Snoop Dogg’s new breakfast cereal

Jack White ponders the existential dilemma of Snoop Dogg’s new breakfast cereal
Jack White ponders the existential dilemma of Snoop Dogg’s new breakfast cereal
Jim Dyson/Getty Images

A “Seven Nation Army” won’t hold Jack White back from uncovering the mysteries of Snoop Dogg‘s new breakfast cereal.

The rapper recently announced the debut of Snoop Loopz, a Froot Loops-esque cereal set to be released under his Broadus Food business. In an Instagram post, White congratulates Snoop on his new venture and extends a “pat on the back for its charitable benefits.” But he has a few “important questions,” specifically related to the Snoop Loopz box’s promise of “more marshmallows.”

“More than what?” White wonders. “If this is in fact a brand new cereal, it can’t be more marshmallows than ‘before.'”

“Is it a statement that this cereal has more marshmallows than say … a bag of sand, or a typical caesar salad?” the rocker continues. “Or, is it a DEMAND from Snoop Dogg himself that we just have more marshmallows in this world in general? That last theory is my hope.”

Diving even deeper into the existential dilemma of a Snoop Dogg-produced cereal, White notes that fellow rapper Master P also promoted Snoop Loopz on his Instagram, but the photo of the box in his post advertises only “more marshmallow,” singular.

“Photo attached, answers demanded,” White concludes.

While White’s questions are surely intriguing, they also raise more questions, mainly concerning what the White Stripes/Raconteurs/Dead Weather musician thinks about in his spare time. And, of course, we now can’t help but wonder what a Jack White-branded cereal would be called. Wheat Stripes? Seven Essential Vitamins & Minerals Army? I Can Tell That We Are Going to Be Flakes?

Perhaps someone can ask White about it during his ongoing solo tour supporting his new albums Fear of the Dawn and Entering Heaven Alive, which continues Wednesday in Indianapolis.

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Michael Bublé went incognito in Nashville to hide tickets to his concert

Michael Bublé went incognito in Nashville to hide tickets to his concert
Michael Bublé went incognito in Nashville to hide tickets to his concert
ABC/Lou Rocco

Michael Bublé took over Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Tuesday night and two lucky fans were able to go thanks to a fun little treasure hunt.

The Canadian crooner shared on hisInstagram Stories that he arrived at the venue early and got an idea to further engage his fans. He decided to hide a pair of tickets somewhere in the city and encouraged the lucky winner to “make a TikTok and tag me [in a video]. Show me your adventure!”

Michael, who put on a red letterman jacket, documented his escape from the venue and declared while waving the passes, “I have found the exit! Bublé has left the building and here we go, sneaky sneaky!”

The Grammy winner decided to hide the tickets in the Music City Walk of Fame park, near the arena and the Country Music Hall of Fame. He selected “one of the benches in the far end of the park” — by Garth Brooks‘ star — and filmed himself taping the tickets underneath the seat.  

A few hours later, TikTok user @ajspirit8 and a friend found the pair of tickets and filmed themselves excitedly opening the envelope. The two ladies thanked Michael and couldn’t stop giggling.

The “Sway” singer shared the video to his Instagram Story.

Michael is next set to play Thursday at Madison Square Garden in New York City. He will then take a mini break from touring to welcome his fourth child, a baby girl, via C-section

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Kid Cudi on rekindling friendship with Kanye West: “I don’t see it happening”

Kid Cudi on rekindling friendship with Kanye West: “I don’t see it happening”
Kid Cudi on rekindling friendship with Kanye West: “I don’t see it happening”
NORMAN JEAN ROY

(NOTE LANGUAGE) Kid Cudi, who’s been open about the highs and lows of his life, is sharing more with his fans. As the cover star of Esquire‘s September issue, he dished details on a variety of topics, including the current and future status of his friendship with Kanye West.

Cudi met Ye at a Virgin Megastore in 2006, and he requested that Ye listen to his music. Two years later, they encountered each other again when the Chicago rapper signed Cudi to his G.O.O.D. Music record label. The stars went on to collaborate on West’s 808s & Heartbreak, but Cudi made it clear that Ye was not responsible for his discovery or success.

“I just want to clear that up for anybody that feels like Kanye made my career or made me who I am,” he explained. “He brought me on to do 808s. I thought that was really f***ing awesome. I wanted to be a part of a family and saw G.O.O.D. Music as that opportunity. So I finally said yeah. Kanye West did not come and pluck me out of Applebee’s or the Bape store.”

Cudi and Ye would continue to work together on projects in the following years, including Cudi’s Kids See Ghosts. Their friendship eventually came to an end when West called Cudi out for being friends with Pete Davidson, who dated his ex-wife, Kim Kardashian.

In the Esquire piece, Cudi explained that he has “zero tolerance for the wrong energies” and noted it would “take a mother****ing miracle” for them to rekindle their friendship. “I don’t see it happening. He gon’ have to become a monk,” he said.

Cudi’s full interview also sees him discussing his friendship with Virgil Abloh, wanting a girlfriend and some of his future projects. Check it out here.

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Nicki Minaj calls “coward” Kevin Federline a “clown” for using Britney Spears’ children against her

Nicki Minaj calls “coward” Kevin Federline a “clown” for using Britney Spears’ children against her
Nicki Minaj calls “coward” Kevin Federline a “clown” for using Britney Spears’ children against her
Image Group LA/Disney Channel via Getty Images Image Group LA/Disney Channel via Getty Images

The fallout continues for Kevin Federline, who found himself in hot water for airing his alleged family troubles with Britney Spears. Now, Nicki Minaj is weighing in on the drama.

The rapper, who toured with Britney in 2011 and also hopped on a remix of her song “Till the World Ends,” openly condemned Federline on an Amp livestream Tuesday.  

“Do you understand what kind of a clown you have to be,” she lambasted, according to Twitter user @breatheonmiley, who captured the moment. “To be a whole, grown f***ing man. And as soon as you see somebody happy and getting married and moving on and being free and feeling good in their own skin — to do the very thing that you know is going to attempt to break them down?”

Minaj blasted Federline for “going to the media” with negative stories about his famous ex-wife and using their sons, 16-year-old Sean Preston and 15-year-old Jayden, against her. 

“Only cowards use the media against a famous person who they once loved, they procreated with,” said Nicki.  She then accused Federline of not only “being taken care of by” Britney, but that he’s using the pop star’s “fame as this constant ‘gotcha’ moment.”

“And you think you’re gonna f***ing have karma from it? You think it’s OK? You think that anybody is gonna feel sorry for you?” she continued. 

Nicki then turned her attention toward Britney and declared, “She loves her kids more than life itself.” She accused Federline of weaponizing that love. 

“How dare you encourage this woman’s children to be a part of your nonsense,” she blasted. “They’re kids!  They don’t know how detrimental this is. But you know!”

Nicki finished by warning Federline to “leave [Britney] the f*** alone!”

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Anthony Hopkins releasing collection of NFTs

Anthony Hopkins releasing collection of NFTs
Anthony Hopkins releasing collection of NFTs
David Livingston/Getty Images

Anthony Hopkins is getting into the NFT game.

The 84-year-old Oscar winner is creating and launching his first NFT series in partnership with the startup Orange Comet. The digital collectibles, called the Eternal Collection, are inspired by Hopkins’ iconic film characters and will incorporate his own artwork.

“I’m probably the oldest guy in the NFT community and on social media, which proves all is possible at any age,” Hopkins said at an online press conference, according to Variety.

He said NFTS are “a blank canvas to create art in a new format” and that he believes the metaverse “offers an incredible opportunity to connect with an audience in an entirely different way.”

The Eternal Collection will be released in three phases in mid-September on NFT marketplace OpenSea.

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