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Denzel, Simone Biles among Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients

July 1, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Denzel Washington and Simone Biles will soon have another award for their shelves.

The two-time Oscar and Tony winner and the four-time Olympic gold medalist are among the 17 individuals chosen this year to receive the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The White House announced this year’s honorees on Friday. The medals will be awarded at a White House ceremony on Thursday, July 7.

This year’s other winners include soccer star and equal pay advocate Megan Rapinoe. Posthumous honorees include Sen. John McCain, the late AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka and Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.

Incidentally, President Joe Biden is the first president to award the medals after already receiving one himself. Former President Barack Obama presented the medal to Biden in 2017, who was then serving as vice president.

Other honorees include civil rights advocate and former U.S. Ambassador Raúl Yzaguirre, civil rights attorney Fred Gray and Sandra Lindsay, a nurse who became the first American to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

“These 17 Americans demonstrate the power of possibilities and embody the soul of the nation — hard work, perseverance and faith,” the White House said.

“They have overcome significant obstacles to achieve impressive accomplishments in the arts and sciences, dedicated their lives to advocating for the most vulnerable among us, and acted with bravery to drive change in their communities — and across the world — while blazing trails for generations to come.”

Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer’s wife, Linda, dies at age 55

July 1, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Sad news to share from the Aerosmith camp. Drummer Joey Kramer‘s wife, Linda Gail Kramer, died on June 22 at the age of 55.

No cause of death has been shared. Joey and Linda married in October 2009, and according to an obituary from the Boston Herald, she was the love of his life. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer once described meeting his future wife as “the biggest rush you ever had in your life.”

Linda was born in Decatur, Georgia, and grew up in the Houston area. She worked in the high-tech industry for many years.

According to the obituary, “Linda loved to laugh and had a wicked, mischievous sense of humor. She loved fine food and had a passion for driving fast cars. She enjoyed the unwavering love of their beautiful family dogs, Lucy and Cosmo … Above all, she loved her family and especially her nieces and nephews. She had an insatiable concern for the well-being of children everywhere.”

Linda is survived by her parents and three older sisters. No memorial service has been planned yet. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Linda’s honor to St. Jude Children’s Research Center in Memphis, Tennessee, or K-9 Angels Rescue in Houston.

In March 2022, Aerosmith announced in a statement that Joey Kramer had decided to sit out the band’s concerts this year “so that he can focus his full attention on his family during these uncertain times.”

Dior announces launch of previously postponed Travis Scott fashion collection

July 1, 2022 by WDNY Radio

This week, Travis Scott announced his first ticketed performance since the November 2021 Astroworld tragedy in Houston, and now, he’s making his comeback in the fashion world.

After indefinitely postponing the launch of the Houston rapper’s Cactus Jack collection following the festival — which resulted in 10 deaths — Dior has announced that the skate-inspired pieces will debut worldwide on July 13, according to Women’s Wear Daily.

The collection was originally set to be released in January, but in December, Dior put the fashions on hold indefinitely “out of respect for everyone affected by the tragic events at Astroworld.”

Before the concert, Nike planned to debut two Air Max 1 sneakers with Scott in December; the launch was also postponed after the festival.

The revival of the Dior collection follows the announcement earlier this week that the “Sicko Mode” rapper had planned his first major concert since the deadly tragedy.

La Flame will perform at London’s O2 Arena on August 6. He announced the event Monday on Instagram with the comment, “Been in the studio for a while. Time to take it to bigger speaker. See u soon London.”

Scott has performed at a few private events since Astroworld, including a Coachella after-party; the London show will be his first ticketed performance this year. The “Highest in the Room” rapper is also scheduled for the Day N Vegas festival on Labor Day weekend and has headlining dates in November at Primavera Sound in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Santiago, Chile; and São Paulo, Brazil.

“Extra” extra: A background actress gets the spotlight, thanks to a now-viral clip of ‘Doctor Strange’ sequel

July 1, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Background actors — commonly known as extras — are the unsung heroes of any movie or TV show, as they fill the frame and give context to a scene without saying a word.

They’re essentially both seen and not supposed to be seen, so they don’t distract from the main characters.

However, one extra is getting her chance to shine thanks to a TikTok user named Charles Rosen, who noticed her “performance” in the recently-released Disney+ film Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness.

The well-dressed older woman is sitting in a church pew directly behind Benedict Cumberbatch in the movie’s opening wedding scene, while he’s speaking with Michael Stuhlbarg‘s Dr. Nic West.

However, as the TikTok user noticed, she’s doing a heck of a lot while pretending not to be doing much.

Apparently desperate to avoid the reflex of looking into the camera in front of her — a movie no-no, unless you’re Deadpool — she glances everywhere else, her eyes and head literally rolling circles around the lens.

“This is how you be an extra!” Rosen captioned the vid, which also featured him laughing at the scene.

His clip has been liked more than 190,000 times.

However, the as-yet-unnamed extra isn’t the first one to miss the “blend-in” memo.

There are a host of famous, similar gaffes in other movies, including a camera-ogling diner in Goodfellas; the guy in the James Bond film Quantum of Solace who’s supposed to be sweeping except his broom wasn’t touching the ground; that infamous Teen Wolf extra who stood up and cheered with her pants completely undone, and one of the children of Christopher Lloyd‘s Doc Brown, who kept touching his own crotch as the camera rolled at the end of Back to the Future Part III.

Maynard James Keenan worlds collide: APC’s Billy Howerdel & James Iha remix Puscifer songs

July 1, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Members of one Maynard James Keenan band are putting a new spin on songs from another.

A Perfect Circle‘s Billy Howerdel and James Iha have released remixes of the Puscifer tracks “Bullet Train to Iowa” and “The Underwhelming,” respectively.

“It’s always a pleasure hearing other artists’ voices over what we’ve created,” says Puscifer multi-instrumentalist Mat Mitchell. “I love these remixes.”

You can listen to the remixes now via digital outlets. They’re also being released on a seven-inch vinyl single.

The original versions of “Bullet Train to Iowa” and “The Underwhelming” appear on Puscifer’s latest album, 2020’s Existential Reckoning. Puscifer’s current tour in support of the record runs through a July 10 stop in Seattle.

Howerdel, meanwhile, just released his debut solo album, What Normal Was, in June.

(“Bullet Train” video contains uncensored profanity)

Michael Bublé says he wants to mentor young singers the way Tony Bennett mentored him

July 1, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Michael Bublé says he’s kept in touch with American Idol‘s Christian Guardino, noting that he wants to mentor the aspiring singer the same way his hero, Tony Bennett, mentored him.

“I have kept in touch and you know, he’s a great kid,” Michael told KABC. “This is what music is about and this is what our business is about and that is passing it on. The same way my heroes have done that for me.”

The “Sway” singer continued, “The way that Tony Bennett did that for me, it’s a real joy to do that for someone like Christian. It’s a lot of fun that show and it was a really beautiful moment for me.”

Michael also looked back at the final duet he and Christian performed on American Idol and said of their performance of “Smile,” I thought that we kicked butt in that performance and I was really happy for him.”

The Grammy winner credits Dancing with the Stars judge Derek Hough for putting him back in touch with Christian. Speaking of Derek, would the Canadian crooner ever think about putting on his dancing shoes and competing for the DWTS Mirrorball Trophy?

“No, I don’t think so,” Michael admitted. “I love that community, I love the dancing community. You know, I’m the brother of two sisters that had a real dance mom and so I went to all the recitals and everything and I think it’s a real beautiful life and I love Derek very much.”

Fans interested in seeing what kind of moves Michael can do, check out the music video for “Higher,” which was choreographed by Hough.

As for Michael, he’s happy being a “Dance Dad.” He recently revealed on Instagram that his 3-year-old daughter, Vida, is continuing her family legacy and has started dance class.

HAIM explains viral Drake photo: “Like something out of a movie”

July 1, 2022 by WDNY Radio

HAIM has shared the story behind that viral photo the band took with Drake.

In May, the “Hotline Bling” star shared an Instagram photo of him with his arms around the sister trio captioned, “Just met the Beatles.”

Speaking with NME, Danielle Haim describes the experience as “like something out of a movie.”

“We literally landed in Toronto [Drake’s hometown], and went to the first restaurant we saw” Danielle shares. “We were at this random restaurant and Drake showed up.”

“We were straight-up wearing our clothes from the plane, to see Drake,” adds Este Haim.

As for the Beatles caption, that was also a surprise.

“We had no idea he was going to call us The Beatles,” says Alana Haim. “We’re very thankful. Thank you, Drake.”

HAIM visited Toronto as part of their North American tour behind their latest album, 2020’s Women in Music Pt. III. They’re currently on tour in Europe but will return back to the U.S. later in July to open for Red Hot Chili Peppers.

“Trouble with a Heartbreak”: Jason Aldean goes acoustic for CMT ‘Campfire Sessions’

July 1, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Jason Aldean is the latest country star to showcase his songs in a different light for CMT Campfire Sessions, a series that recasts big hits in a stripped-down, acoustic fireside setting.

In the clip, premiered by People, Jason strums a black acoustic guitar while surrounded by his bandmates, offering a less hard-rocking — but still just as emotional — version of his single “Trouble With a Heartbreak,” which spent three weeks at the top of the country radio charts last month.

“Trouble with a Heartbreak” is the second single — and the second number-one hit — to come from Jason’s double album Macon, Georgia. It follows “If I Didn’t Love You,” his duet with Carrie Underwood, which came off the first batch of the two-side collection, Macon.

Meanwhile, “Trouble with a Heartbreak” can be found on the track list of Georgia, the second half of the project, which dropped in April, five months after Macon came out.

Jason is one of a number of country stars starring in CMT Campfire Sessions this summer. Old Dominion, Jon Pardi and Little Big Town are just a few of the artists who will get the spotlight in upcoming episodes.

Nicki Minaj brings more flavor to ‘Essence’ Festival with her new rap snacks

July 1, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Nicki Minaj is headlining the Essence Festival of Culture Friday night in New Orleans, and she is bringing more flavor to the Big Easy this weekend with the launch of her Rap Snacks chips.

Named after the “Motorsport” rapper, fans at the festival will have the first opportunity to taste her Barbie-Que Honey Truffle Potato Chips.

Rap Snacks investor Master P says, “We’re taking over the game. We’re taking over the grocery stores… We are the culture!” The Rap Snacks Instagram account commented, “The queen is queening again” and called her endorsement “the biggest brand partnership we’ve done since 2016.”

Rick Ross, Migos and Lil Baby are among the stars who have promoted Rap Snacks in the past.

“Nicki Minaj is unquestionably one of the most disruptive forces in the history of rap. You’re talking about a woman who rewrote the rules of hip hop culture and happens to be a phenomenal entrepreneur, as well,” Rap Snacks CEO James Lindsay says in a statement. “It just makes sense that as a brand disrupting the snack industry, we align to push the bar even further. This is the beginning of a legendary partnership.

Enter Vecna: Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” included on updated ’Stranger Things 4’ soundtrack

July 1, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Metallica is bringing the heavy to Stranger Things 4.

The metal legends’ classic song “Master of Puppets” is featured on a newly expanded version of the Netflix sci-fi series’ season four soundtrack, which was released Friday to coincide with the premiere of the season’s final two episodes.

Thanks to its inclusion in the new episodes, “Master of Puppets” was trending on Twitter Friday morning. If you haven’t had time to watch yet, though, be careful before you search “Master of Puppets” on social media, for only spoilers will follow.

“Master of Puppets” joins the songs featured on the initial Stranger Things 4 soundtrack, which, of course, includes Kate Bush‘s resurgent hit “Running Up That Hill.”

The full Stranger Things 4 soundtrack is available now via digital outlets. It will be released on CD and cassette September 9 and on vinyl November 4.

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