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‘Top Gun: Maverick’ poised to be Tom Cruise’s biggest U.S. box office hit ever

June 3, 2022 by WDNY Radio

At 59 years old, Tom Cruise is about to have the biggest domestic hit of his blockbuster-filled career, and Top Gun: Maverick is just taking off.

Deadline predicts the film will pass the $274 million mark at the domestic box office by Monday — which will handily beat Cruise’s previous U.S. high-water mark, 2005’s War of the Worlds, which earned $235 million.

Maverick is doing so well — it still has a nearly unheard-of 97% Critics Score and a 99% Audience Score on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes — that the 1986 original Top Gun is topping the streaming charts, according to watchdog Reelgood.

Listen to new amapiano mix of “Heaven” by Anthony David, Algebra Blessett

June 3, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Making their return as a duo for the first time in 10 years, Atlanta R&B singers Anthony David and Algebra Blessett reunite on their new song, “Heaven.” The track samples BeBe and CeCe Winans‘ classic ’80s hit by the same name and on Friday, David and Blessett dropped off a remix of their reimagined version.

It’s considered an amapiano mix, which is a style of house music that emerged in South Africa in 2012. David’s love of Afro music dates back to 2016 with his original Afrobeats tune, “I Don’t Mind,” from The Powerful Now album. It also shines through in the new, fresh remix version.

“My love runs deep,” he said of the music genre. “I’ve been feeling the influence for a while. Feels good and not as raunchy as our music over here right now.” David emphasized African culture’s impact on music, saying, “Afrobeats is West Africa. Amapiano is South Africa. Africa just keeps coming with it.”

David and Blessett were last linked in 2011 with the release of their hit single “4 Evermore,” which debuted at the top of the Billboard R&B chart and reached #2 on the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay chart.

On working alongside Blessett on “Heaven,” David said, “Algebra and I really enjoy working together, both on stage and in the studio. With us both living in Atlanta our paths are always crossing. We chose this song for our first duet in a long while because it’s a feel-good classic we grew up on. I like songs that give a transcendent feeling. When deciding on the arrangement and production style, producer Eddie Stokes and I were looking to strip it down and still retain the deep emotion.”

The amapiano mix of “Heaven” is available for streaming on major platforms.

Nashville notes: Carly Pearce, Eli Young Band + more

June 3, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Carly Pearce has added a second show to her planned Ryman Auditorium date, as tickets to the first show sold out less than an hour after they went on sale. Carly will now play headlining shows at the Ryman on October 26 and 27.

Eli Young Band have a new album out today, called Love Talking. The title track and lead single is currently climbing the country charts.

Brooke Eden shared a new song today, called “Left You For Me.”

Fans who are planning to check out Marty Stuart’s annual Late Night Jam during Nashville’s CMA Fest are in for a treat: The evening will feature appearances from guitars once owned by Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Tammy Wynette and more, the Tennessean reports. These hallowed instruments will be played by contemporary stars like Lainey Wilson and Emmylou Harris. For details and tickets, visit the Ryman Auditorium’s website.

Rod Stewart says Queen Elizabeth II is almost “like a sister” to him

June 3, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Rod Stewart has met Queen Elizabeth II seven times in his career, and as he prepares to perform for her Platinum Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace on Saturday night, he says he almost feels as though the queen is part of his family.

Appearing on BBC Breakfast ahead of the concert, Rod, who was knighted by the queen in 2016, said, “She’s been so much part of my life, almost like a sister, you know? She’s always been in the background of my life.”

But while he’s performed for the queen on numerous occasions, Rod said he’ll be nervous on Saturday night, because, he revealed, he’ll be singing a song he’s “never, ever sang before.” He called that prospect nerve-wracking.

Asked which member of the royal family is most likely to get up and dance during his performance, Rod immediately said, “Charles, ’cause I love him and my wife absolutely adores him.” When asked why, Rod responded cheekily, “I think they’ve got a thing going on! No, they’re very, very friendly.”

When the interviewer asked Rod what he thought wife Penny‘s response would be to his joke, Rod predicted, “She’s going to absolutely die of embarrassment. I wish I was dead right now! I’m going home!”

‘American Masters: Joe Papp in Five Acts’ honors NYC’s champion of the arts

June 3, 2022 by WDNY Radio

As part of its American Masters series, PBS debuts Joe Papp in Five Acts — which examines the groundbreaking career of producer/director Joe Papp, who founded Manhattan’s famed Shakespeare in the Park festival and The Public Theater. He went on to produce signature Broadway Productions like Hair and A Chorus Line.

Martin Sheen, who starred in Papp’s production of Hamlet in 1967 at New York’s Public Theater, tells ABC Audio Papp’s influence was a game-changer for theatre.

“He was a force that managed to reach such a wide audience in the culture, with culture. He started that with the New York Shakespeare Festival and insisted that there be no charge so that the common people could have access and it worked, says Sheen. He notes Papp overcame many obstacles, including then-parks commissioner Robert Moses, who saw a chance to profit off the productions.

The Grace and Frankie actor adds that for three decades Papp not only changed American theatre, but thousands of lives as well. “Night after night I would look out into the audience in Central Park when I was playing there and you’d see Black and brown, and old and young, and rich and poor, and male and female all in one place and they all got it,” Sheen recalls.

Sheen says Papp’s early work came at a time of great turmoil in American history, and his productions needed to reflect that.

“Reverend [Martin Luther] King had just been assassinated, we had already lost Bobby Kennedy earlier. John Kennedy had been killed a few years before that. We were involved in a very, very intense war in Vietnam and there was great upheaval in the culture, and so he was trying to reflect that,” says Sheen. (AUDIO IS ABC 1-ON-1)

American Masters: Joe Papp in Five Acts premieres Friday on PBS.

‘Jurassic World Dominion’ already taking a bite of the overseas box office

June 3, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Jurassic World Dominion doesn’t open in the U.S. until June 10, but it has already begun to roar overseas.

The film, which unites Jurassic World stars Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard with Jurassic Park leads Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum, earned $16.7 million this week from foreign moviegoers, Variety reports.

The trade notes that the reunited cast has goosed interest in the movie overseas. For example, Dominion‘s opening in Italy jumped 75% over Jurassic World‘s first sequel Fallen Kingdom; in Mexico, the movie’s $5.1 million second-day opening was the one of the highest of the pandemic era.

NeNe Leakes responds to lawsuit from new boyfriend’s wife

June 3, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Real Housewives of Atlanta alum NeNe Leakes has responded to a lawsuit and allegations made by a woman who says Leakes’ current relationship with boyfriend Nyonisela Sioh ultimately led to the breakup of her marriage with the fashion designer.

Leakes, 55, addressed the rumors in an Instagram Live video on Thursday, later shared by The Shade Room. She started her commentary off by encouraging viewers to “share a little more love.”

“I’m already out here a husband stealer and this is too much. And ain’t nobody out here stealing husbands. Are they? I would never,” she said, before adding, “Nobody wants to steal nobody else’s problems.”

The response comes after news circulated that Malomine Tehmeh-Sioh is suing the reality TV star for more than $100,000, as revealed in court documents obtained by TMZ. The lawsuit states Leakes’ public display of her new relationship with Sioh — by way of the many pictures posted on social media — caused emotional distress, humiliation and loss of affection.

Leakes first shared pictures of the two of them together on Instagram in December 2021, including photos of Sioh’s appearance at her 54th birthday party. According to People, Leakes said Sioh brought joy to her life after the recent loss of her late husband, Gregg Leakes, who died in September after a battle with colon cancer.

Lee Brice remixes “Soul” with an amped-up assist from Blanco Brown

June 3, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Lee Brice’s feel-good love song “Soul” gets a pulsing pop treatment in the new “R3HAB” remix of the song, featuring breakout artist Blanco Brown.

The song, which comes off of Lee’s Hey World album, crossed genre borders even before the remix came out. The playful, R&B-infused track featured some unconventional lyricism — rhyming “roses” with “toeses,” for instance — but quickly made an impression at radio stations and is now inside the Top 30 on the country radio chart.

Blanco’s well known as a modern pioneer in the limits of the country format: His 2019 breakout hit, “The Git Up,” helped establish his signature “trailer trap” sound, blending country, R&B, rap and pop into a new, crowd-pleasing musical style.

Lee will have plenty of chances to try out the new treatment of “Soul” on the road, as he’s currently in the midst of his 2022 Label Me Proud Tour. Dates on that trek, plus a string of festival appearances, are keeping Lee busy through September.

Sting on Queen Elizabeth’s II Platinum Jubilee: “She’s been a pretty good example”

June 3, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II is celebrating her Platinum Jubilee — 70 years on the throne — this weekend. Throughout her reign, the queen has conferred knighthoods and other honors on many musicians, from Ed Sheeran, Elton John and Paul McCartney to Mick Jagger, Annie Lennox and Bono. Sting, who was made a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, says he admires the queen’s dedication.

“I think she’s had a very difficult job and she’s done it with a great deal of grace and detachment,” Sting told ABC Audio on Friday. “In many ways, she’s … y’know, she has no political power. She’s just a symbol. And I think she’s been a pretty good example.”

Sting, however, is aware that the British Empire’s past sins have made some countries in the Commonwealth want independence. Most recently, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness said the country wants to remove the queen as the head of state.

“I know there’s some controversy in Jamaica for good reason. You know, the British Empire was not the most salubrious of things. So [my feelings about it are] a mixture of both. I’m not really a monarchist, but I respect the queen.”

He laughs, “She gave me a medal, so I’m grateful!”

Sting’s friend and musical collaborator Shaggy, who was born in Jamaica, says he has no problem with the queen.

“I’m about hard work,” he tells ABC Audio. “And when I look at her age and she’s still making these appearances and still owning up to her duties. I mean, I tip my hat off to her. That is amazing!”

Sting and Shaggy recently teamed up to make an album called Come Fly Wid Mi, featuring Shaggy singing Frank Sinatra classics, with Sting producing and contributing vocals.

Norm Macdonald “will live forever” thanks to ‘The Orville’, say former co-stars

June 3, 2022 by WDNY Radio

When Norm Macdonald died last September after a private, yearslong battle with cancer, his fans and even his friends were shocked.

That included his co-stars of The Orville, the sci-fi show on which he lent his trademark sarcastic voice to Yaphit [YAH-fit], a goo-like alien who serves as one of the titular starship’s engineers.

“It was just sheer shock, I think, when we got the news,” says Adrienne Palicki, who plays Commander Kelly Grayson on the show. “He was so young and vibrant and such a big part of what made the show great.”

“That voice,” she added wistfully, calling his loss “devastating.”

“And it was too soon. And, you know, we miss him.”

Penny Johnson Jerald plays the ship’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Claire Finn, on whom Yaphit had an unrequited crush. She called the loss “truly shocking.”

However, she insists talking about it wasn’t a “down note,” but a celebration of the comedian, writer, and actor.

“That’s the one wonderful thing about creating a project like this, or any television period, is that you live forever.”

“So we will always see Norm when you do reruns or whatever; he exists on that level. He’ll never be gone.”

The Orville: New Horizons, and the previous two seasons of the show, are now on Hulu.

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