Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder has shared a statement regarding the COVID-19 safety protocols for his U.S. solo tour, which launches Thursday in New York City.

“We have done our absolute best and are doing everything we can to be able to play these shows as safely as possible,” Vedder writes.

Vedder asks attendees for tonight’s show to “remember to bring your proof of vaccination and wear your mask.” He adds, “If you have access to testing and can double-check you’re negative before you come, even better.”

“The goal is to be conscientious of others,” Vedder concludes. “And in doing so, get 2 or 3 hours where we can not think of any of this crap and tap into the live music we’ve been missing.”

Vedder will be touring in support of his forthcoming solo album, Earthling, due out February 11. His live band for the outing features Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, ex-RHCP guitarist and current Pearl Jam touring member Josh Klinghoffer, Jane’s Addiction bassist Chris Chaney, singer-songwriter Glen Hansard, and producer and guitarist Andrew Watt.

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After breaking out on TikTok, Emmy Meli’s song “I Am Woman” is climbing the radio chart. Back in 1972, there was a number one hit called “I Am Woman” by the late Australian singer Helen Reddy. It became an anthem for the women’s movement and has earned a permanent place in pop culture — it even inspired Katy Perry‘s hit “Roar.” So, was Emmy equally inspired by Reddy’s song? Well, no.

“I’m actually ashamed to say that at first, I didn’t know what people were talking about,” Emmy admits to ABC Audio. “I had no idea that that was a song, and then once I went back and listened to it, I was like, ‘Oh yeah, I feel like I might have heard this song before, like, maybe in a movie.’ Or it sounded familiar, for sure.”

The point is that when Emmy wrote “I Am Woman,” which has a similar message of female empowerment, she really wasn’t aware that there was another song with that title and theme…until people started pointing it out.

“At first, people were like ‘Nice cover of the song by Helen Reddy,’ and I was like, ‘Wait, who’s Helen Reddy?'” she laughs. “And I felt kind of dumb, because I love oldies and I love older music, and I grew up listening to lots of ’50s and ’60s music and funk and Motown and a lot of older artists.”

“I kind of was like, ‘How did I not know who Helen Reddy is?”’ she laughs. “I was embarrassed that I didn’t know!”

A few days ago, Emmy released a video for “I Am Woman” billed as Emmy Meli & Friends. It features women of all races, from all walks of life, illustrating the song’s message.

(Video contains uncensored profanity.)

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K. Michelle is starring on Lifetime twice this week…in a dramatic film and in a docuseries that she hopes will save lives.

The docuseries, My Killer Body with K. Michelle, premieres on Thursday, February 3, at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT. The Love & Hip Hop star is also featured in the movie Single Black Female, which airs Saturday, February 5, at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT.

My Killer Body tells her painful story of several years of enduring near-fatal plastic surgeries, and she hopes the series will help prevent others from similar suffering. The NAACP Image Award winner says she decided to get silicone-filled injections into her buttocks more than six years ago, because she believed it would enhance her music career.

“I had just got a new record deal and I felt like the bigger the butt, the bigger the career,” Michelle tells Essence. “I already had a big butt. It was just ridiculous.”

The “V.S.O.P.” singer recalls that the injections almost killed her. After undergoing multiple reconstructive surgeries, she now says she’s “probably the healthiest I’ve been in a while.”

“There are several people who’ve gone through this who are just starting to feel the effects of it,” Michelle says about the individuals who are also featured on the series. “You even have women who recently had this procedure and are feeling the effects right away.”

The 39-year-old entertainer warns people to be aware of the consequences when considering cosmetic surgery.

“Just like you research when you want to buy a car, you should definitely research what you’re going to do with your life and your body because you only get one,” Michelle says.

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Since Celine Dion delayed her new Las Vegas residency due to a medical problem, we’re not sure when the singer will launch the engagement, but she is expected to grace our movie screens sometime this year in her first film role.  And according to one of her co-stars, the Canadian superstar knocked it out of the park.

The movie, a romantic comedy called Text for You, stars Priyanka Chopra Jonas as a woman who copes with the death of her fiancé by sending text messages to his old cellphone number. It’s now been assigned to another guy, played by Outlander‘s Sam Heughan, who is also bereaved. It’s reportedly Céline’s music that gives both characters the courage to find love again.

Speaking to Harper’s Bazaar Arabia, Priyanka says, excitedly, “It’s Céline Dion’s acting debut and it will be in my movie! She’s so funny. And she’s an amazing actress.” Priyanka knows a thing or two about singers who act, since her husband is Nick Jonas.

“She definitely needs to do more of this,” adds Priyanka of Céline.

Meanwhile, the movie Aline, which was loosely inspired by Céline’s life and features her music — though not her original recordings — opens in the U.S. on April 8.  The movie has faced criticism from Céline’s family over its supposed inaccuracies, and its portrayal of their family as a bunch of scam artists.

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One of Brothers Osborne‘s first big hits was their 2016 single “21 Summer.” It was based on a real-life breakup that singer TJ Osborne experienced, but he couldn’t talk about the personal story behind the song: He hadn’t yet come out as gay.

“No one knew that I was in a relationship and no one knew that I just got broke up with,” he reflects. “And I had a lot of inner turmoil and I was bitter that I couldn’t talk to anyone.”

But one year ago, in February 2021, TJ finally shared his story: He came out in an expansive TIME feature, becoming the first openly gay country artist signed to a major label.

TJ and his brother and band mate, John Osborne, worried about what the response would be, but TJ says the reaction to his song was overwhelmingly positive: Not just within the industry, but also from fans they met at their shows when they went back out on tour.

“Seeing that people were there to love and support me, it was incredibly inspiring,” he notes. “It was very refreshing and encouraging to see, [not just] from a personal place, but just to see humanity be that way. It was one of the highlights of going back out on tour.”

And playing “21 Summer” live feels more meaningful now, too.

“To finally be able to play it and talk about that — there’s probably more depth to that song than people even realize,” TJ notes. “To be able to talk about that now, it feels like the shackles are off.”

Brothers Osborne released the deluxe version of their 2020 album Skeletons this year. The duo opened up about that album, and the personal battles they’ve faced together and individually, in a recent episode of ABC’s Nightline.

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