Ringo Starr turns 82 on Thursday, July 7, and as has become an annual tradition, the legendary Beatles drummer is planning to mark the occasion with a special “Peace and Love” celebration.
For this year’s event, Ringo will gather privately in Los Angeles with his wife, Barbara, members of his All Starr Band and other celebrities and musical friends, and everyone will give a “Peace and Love” salute at noon local time.
Among the participants will be All Starr Band members Steve Lukather, Edgar Winter, Colin Hay, Warren Ham and Gregg Bissonette, as well as Benmont Tench, Jim Keltner, Richard Marx, Matt Sorum, Ed Begley Jr., Linda Perry, Diane Warren, the late Roy Orbison‘s sons Roy Jr. and Alex.
As usual, Ringo is asking fans to join in by saying or thinking “Peace and Love,” and/or flashing a peace sign, at noon wherever they are in the world. In addition, as part of this year’s celebration, Artemis Music Space Network, with help from the International Space Station, will transmit Starr’s message across the planet, and into Earth’s orbit and outer space.
At noon on July 7, Ringo will signal the Artemis Mission Control Center in Houston, Texas, to beam his message and music — including his 2021 single “Let’s Change the World” — to the International Space Station, which will relay peace-and-love messages and music down to the planet and out to the stars as it orbits.
The event also will feature a number of musical performances paying tribute to Ringo before the “Peace and Love” declaration.
Meanwhile, a variety of celebrations in countries around the world are being planned, including at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. In addition, Starbucks plans to play a special Starr playlist in over 10,000 stores.
Journey will release its first new studio album in 11 years, Freedom, in one week. But the band’s longtime keyboardist and co-songwriter Jonathan Cain has also been promoting a new solo effort, Arise, the sixth full-length spiritual-themed album that he’s put out since 2016.
The 11-track Arise, which was released in late May and is available now via digital formats, combines new tunes with songs that appeared on Cain’s 2021 EP Oh Lord Lead Us.
Cain, who wrote and recorded Arise during the pandemic, tells ABC Audio that the project reflects his general unhappiness with the direction the U.S. has been going in recent years while also encouraging Christians to be more fervent in embracing their faith.
“I sort of landed on a revival theme … like an awakening, a call to prayer, a call to … standing for freedom and standing for the church,” Cain maintains. “And, you know, we had our freedoms diminished there during the lockdown. And I think everybody had to face the fact that … the government can get in the way … and churches need to stand up and say no. And a lot of them did.”
The album was recorded in Nashville with musicians that Cain describes as his “go-to Christian quartet,” including drummer Tommy Harden, guitarist Mike Price and bassist Tony Lucido. In addition, Jason Derlatka, who joined the Journey lineup as a keyboardist and backup singer in 2020, contributed backing vocals to a number of Arise‘s tracks.
While the themes of his spiritual songs and the tunes he writes for Journey may differ, Jonathan says there’s a common thread between the two.
“I try to put melodies that go somewhere and lyrics that say something … contrary to what the music is out today,” he notes.
Red Hot Chili Peppers are calling out sick for Friday’s scheduled concert in Glasgow, Scotland.
A statement posted by the band early Friday reads, “Due to illness RHCP will not be able to perform in Glasgow tonight July 1.”
“We are working on ways to reschedule,” the post continues. “[Please] hold onto your tickets & wait for an update soon. RHCP love Scotland & are deeply disappointed not to be able to perform the show. Thank you for your understanding.”
The Scotland show is part of the Chili Peppers’ ongoing world tour in support of their new album, Unlimited Love. Their next scheduled performance is set for this Sunday, July 3 at Belgium’s Rock Werchter festival.
The U.S. leg of the tour begins July 23 in Denver.
Scotty McCreery’s son may not even be born yet, but he’s already a New England Patriots fan — and he’s got the jersey to prove it.
On social media, the country singer shared a special gift he got from his favorite football team: A baby-sized jersey, which reads “McCreery” and the number “1” across the back. “Baby’s first jersey!!!” he wrote as he showed off his unborn son’s new Patriots swag.
Even though he grew up in North Carolina, Scotty is a lifelong Patriots fan who grew up watching games with his New England-born dad. “I’m like the lone wolf,” he joked in a 2016 interview with the sports team’s website. “But it’s fun to be a Patriots fan down here because most folks, they’re Pats haters for sure.”
Scotty and his wife, Gabi, announced earlier this month that they’re expecting a baby boy. Due in November, the new addition to the family will be the country star couple’s first child.
Billie Eilish, Finneas, Paul McCartney and Sheryl Crow have been added to the star-packed lineup of NBC’s upcoming special Ukraine: Answering the Call, according to Billboard.
The new additions join previously announced celebrities José Andrés, Jon Batiste, Kristen Bell, Brandi Carlile, Brian Cox, Jeff Daniels, Vera Farmiga, Lena Headey, Alicia Keys, Simu Liu, Julianne Moore, Brad Paisley, Rosie Perez and more.
The hour-long primetime special, per the network, “is aimed at educating, raising funds for those whose lives have been shattered by the crisis, and spreading awareness through the power of entertainment – an answer to the call from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy who has challenged Americans to use their voices to reach those who want peace.”
Zelenskyy will address Americans during the special. NBC News will also share reports on the stories of real people all around the world who are impacted by the crisis in Ukraine.
Ukraine: Answering the Call airs Sunday at 7 p.m. ET on NBC.
Bret Michaels was reportedly hospitalized in Nashville, just before taking the stage on Thursday.
While there’s no official word on why he was hospitalized, Michaels, 59, TMZ reported he’s being treated after suffering a bad reaction to medication, triggered by his diabetes.
Before the medical emergency, the Poison frontman was set to take the stage with his band mates as part of the Stadium Tour with Def Leppard, Mötley Crüe, and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. According to TMZ, the rest of Poison took the stage to announce that they wouldn’t be performing their set.
Fans were bummed by the news, with one tweeting, “Came all the way from KC to watch poison. Bret Michaels was admitted to hospital. No poison in Nashville.”
It’s unclear how long Michaels will be out of commission. The next tour stop is scheduled for Saturday, July 2 in Jacksonville, Florida.
(NEW YORK) — With Independence Day approaching, and plenty of associated picnics and barbecues on the way, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is warning of the dangers of foodborne illness and providing some helpful tips to keep people safe.
Four easy steps can help you avoid food poisoning: clean, separate, cook and chill.
First, find out if there is a clean water source before you grill or eat outdoors. If not, pack water for food preparation and cleaning as well as clean cloths, alcohol-based moist wipes, and hand sanitizer to clean hands and surfaces.
“If you are grilling out at a public park, and [they] have grills and tables there, be sure to check the grill and use a grill brush to scrub off any excess debris. You can also make sure to bring some disinfecting wipes to disinfect any kind of patio furniture, tables, and chairs that you may be using, especially if they’re going to be in contact with food,” said Kenneth King, a USDA food safety expert.
Keep raw meats, poultry, seafood, and eggs separate from any other ready-to-eat foods to avoid cross-contamination. Use a separate cutting board for fresh produce and another one for raw meat products.
Always use a food thermometer to ensure that all foods are cooked to a safe minimum internal temperature.
“For hamburgers, you want to insert the food thermometer through the side of the patty until the probe reaches the center … the temperature should read 160F [when] your hamburger is safe to eat,” King said. “For hot dogs, they need to reach 165F and you can do this by sticking the thermometer into the end of the hot dog all the way until the probe reaches the center.”
If you’re transporting food in a cooler, make sure it is stocked with ice or frozen gel to keep perishable food cold. The “danger zone” in which bacteria grow rapidly is in between 40 degrees Fahrenheit and 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
Additionally, you should avoid leaving any food out longer than two hours, or one hour if the outside temperature surpasses 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep any pack beverages in a separate cooler from perishable food.
“The scary thing about bacteria is that we can’t really see it, the food may look okay, but in actuality, it’s not,” King said. “We always recommend to people [that] when you’re out grilling, and you have some food sitting out on the table too long and no one’s eating it, please be sure to put that food back into a refrigerator. Or if you’re grilling outside, and you have a cooler with some ice, nestle that food under some ice in the cooler to keep it cold.”
An estimated 48 million people in the U.S. — 1 in 6 Americans — get sick from foodborne diseases each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Certain groups are at risk of more serious illness from food poisoning. Adults aged 65 and older, children under the age of 5, those with weakened immune system due to health conditions or medicine, and pregnant people should take extra care when eating food.
The CDC also recommends that those at higher risk should avoid undercooked or raw food from animals, raw or lightly cooked sprouts, unpasteurized milk and juices, and soft cheese that has not been made with pasteurized milk.
Symptoms of food poisoning include upset stomach, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. Visit a health care provider if you or a loved one develops severe symptoms such as bloody diarrhea, a high fever, frequent vomiting, signs of dehydration and diarrhea that lasts more than three days.
The USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline can be reached at 1-888-674-6854. You can also chat live at ask.usda.gov. Representatives can help address any food safety questions people might have from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.
“We recommend that while you’re preparing for the July 4 weekend, make sure to give us a call if you have any questions. Or you can look up our website at foodsafety.gov,” said King.
(NEW YORK) — Rain, heat and fire are all in the forecast this 4th of July weekend.
Here’s what to know:
South
Heavy rain is pounding the Texas coast and western Louisiana on Friday.
The heaviest rain will be from Beaumont, Texas, to Lake Charles, Louisiana, where up to 6 inches of rain is possible.
Rainfall rates could reach 2 to 4 inches per hour on Friday.
A flood watch has been issued for Houston, Galveston, Texas, and Lake Charles through Friday evening.
Northeast
In the Northeast, it’ll be a scorcher on Friday. Temperatures are forecast to reach 91 degrees in Boston; 92 in New York City; 94 in Philadelphia and 93 in Washington, D.C.
Factoring in humidity, the heat index (what temperature it feels like) could be close to 100 degrees from New Jersey to Virginia.
Then a cold front will move into the Northeast on Saturday, bringing severe weather threat for the Interstate 95 corridor from D.C. to Boston. Damaging winds and some hail are possible.
In the West, fire danger will be high Saturday through Monday due to dry and windy conditions expected in Nevada, Arizona and Utah.
The strongest wind gusts will be on Sunday when they could approach 45 mph.
Billie Eilish, Finneas, Paul McCartney and Sheryl Crow have been added to the star-packed lineup of NBC’s upcoming special Ukraine: Answering the Call, according to Billboard.
The new additions join previously announced celebrities José Andrés, Jon Batiste, Kristen Bell, Brandi Carlile, Brian Cox, Jeff Daniels, Vera Farmiga, Lena Headey, Alicia Keys, Simu Liu, Julianne Moore, Brad Paisley, Rosie Perez and more.
The hour-long primetime special, per the network, “is aimed at educating, raising funds for those whose lives have been shattered by the crisis, and spreading awareness through the power of entertainment – an answer to the call from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy who has challenged Americans to use their voices to reach those who want peace.”
Zelenskyy will address Americans during the special. NBC News will also share reports on the stories of real people all around the world who are impacted by the crisis in Ukraine.
Ukraine: Answering the Call airs Sunday at 7 p.m. ET on NBC.
Dancing with the Stars pro Sharna Burgess and her boyfriend, actor Brian Green Austin, welcomed their first child together, a boy, on Tuesday.
Burgess, 37, shared the news Thursday on Instagram, writing, “Zane Walker Green 06/28/2022 at 12:12pm,” alongside a black and white photo of the baby clutching his dad’s finger.
“My heart is now forever outside of my body,” she added.
This is Green’s fifth child. The Beverly Hills, 90210 alum has a 20-year-old son, Kassius, with actress Vanessa Marcil. He also shares Noah, 9, Bodhi, 8, and Journey, 5, with ex-wife Megan Fox.
