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COVID creeps closer to Biden ahead of White House Correspondents’ Dinner

April 29, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — With power players flocking to a crowded Washington hotel ballroom for the White House Correspondents’ Dinner Saturday, many itching to mingle after a two-year COVID-induced hiatus, the virus appears to be creeping closer to the gala’s star guest — President Joe Biden — with a positive test for a top aide on Friday.

White House communications director Kate Bedingfield is the latest in Biden’s inner circle — following Vice President Kamala Harris — to test positive for COVID this week, tweeting on Friday that she last saw the president two days before in a “socially-distanced meeting while wearing an N-95 mask.”

This morning, I tested positive for COVID-19. I last saw the President Wednesday in a socially-distanced meeting while wearing an N-95 mask, and he is not considered a close contact as defined by the CDC.

— Kate Bedingfield (@WHCommsDir) April 29, 2022

Saturday’s event now coincides with concerns it could become a superspreader like the Gridiron Club Dinner, after which at least 72 attendees reported testing positive. Biden’s chief medical adviser, Dr. Anthony Fauci, dropped out of the dinner earlier this week — citing his individual assessment of his own personal risk CNN first reported — while White House COVID coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha has said it should go forward.

“These are the strategies we have learned over the last two years, and if we implement them, do I think it’s safe for people to gather together indoors? Absolutely,” Jha said earlier this month on “Fox News Sunday.”

White House press secretary Jen Psaki was asked Wednesday about the discrepancy between Biden and Fauci’s plans and whether there’s concern Biden would be considered as “not following the science.”

“Every individual will make their own decisions about whether they attend this event, other events, whether they wear a mask at it or not,” Psaki said, noting the COVID protocols in place for guests.

“He [Biden] has made the decision he wants to attend, in a safe way, the White House Correspondents’ Dinner to show his support,” she continued. “That does stand in stark contrast to his predecessor, who not only questioned the legitimacy of the press on a nearly daily basis, but also never attended the dinner, I don’t believe.”

Unlike former President Donald Trump, who notably skipped the event while in office, Psaki said Americans can have eyes on Biden for what she called “his roasting, where he will be on the menu, as he likes to say, when Trevor Noah is speaking.”

She also stressed that Biden, who is also slated to deliver a routine of his own, is taking extra precautions like skipping the dinner portion of the event. She said she expects he’ll be at the event “for about an hour or 90 minutes.”

“He’s not attending the dinner portion. He’s coming for the program. So and he will likely wear a mask when he’s not speaking,” Psaki said on Friday. “And then he’s of course sitting on the dias up in the front of the interaction and is not attending any of the receptions.”

She added that Biden tested negative on Thursday, “but I don’t have anything to predict in terms of the future,” she said.

Asked what to expect from his remarks, Psaki said, “The president has a very good sense of humor and is working hard on his own speech.”

In recent weeks, as the BA.2 subvariant has spread around Washington, the White House changed its messaging to say that Biden, like any other American, could test positive “at some point,” but stressed that he has the capacity to “run the country from anywhere” and is up-to-date on COVID boosters.

“Just like anything, it’s a risk assessment, and a decision he made on a personal basis,” Psaki said this week.

Comedian Trevor Noah is set to host Saturday’s dinner, for which guests are required to show proof of vaccination and a day-of negative COVID test. Drew Barrymore, Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson are among celebrities planning to attend, according to a Deadline report.

Earlier this month, two Cabinet members and three lawmakers were among those who tested positive after attending the Gridiron Club Dinner. Speaker Nancy Pelosi also tested positive in early April, days after attending two events with Biden at the White House without a mask. Psaki and White House deputy press secretary Karine-Jean Pierre both tested positive in late March.

Despite the close cases — not deemed close contacts — the positive tests have not had any impact on the president’s plans to take part in large events. He attended the funeral of Madeleine Albright on Wednesday and is scheduled to also travel to Minnesota for the memorial of Walter Mondale on Sunday.

Brian Kelley + wife Brittney launch an NFT collection called the Chill Cowboy Country Club

April 29, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Brian Kelley and his wife, Brittney, are thinking ahead within the NFT space.

The couple just announced a limited-edition NFT collection called the Chill Cowboy Country Club, or CCCC, which is set to launch in June, according to a report from Forbes.

The new venture thinks way beyond the idea of an NFT as just a piece of digital artwork: Upon purchase, each fan will receive at random a unique image of a drawing that represents a figure from country music’s past or present.

From there, they can enter into an elaborate CCCC universe, which will offer specialty merch, concert tickets and access to a future two-day event billed as the Chill Cowboy Fest. There’s also a charitable component to the club, with a portion of the proceeds going towards music education.

The limited collection includes only 5,000 NFTS, all of which were created by artist Benedict Aiteobhor of Invisible Friends NFT. Each token serves as the purchaser’s digital identity, and is created from over 260 unique traits, including accessories, hats, facial expressions and more.

Though Brian and Brittney are at the forefront of the new venture, they’ve partnered with a number of their country music pals to create the Chill Cowboy Country Club. Among those involved in the project are artists Breland, Chase Rice, RaeLynn and Danielle Bradbery. Plus, Duck Dynasty stars Jep and Jessica Robertson have signed on as partners in the project.

For information on how to join the CCCC before the launch date, text 615-813-6552.

In honor of World Autism Month, Fat Joe celebrates his autistic son

April 29, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Unbeknownst to some, hip hop icon Fat Joe said it was one of the “scariest days” of his life when he had his son at the age of 19. After learning from doctors that little Joey had been diagnosed with autism, Fat Joe made it his top priority to raise, care for and nurture his baby boy.

In recognition of World Autism Month in April and World Autism Day on April 2, Fat Joe wore an all-blue outfit — the color recognized nationally, in association with autism — and dedicated a social media post to honor his son.

“World Autism Day 💙 Joey is my heart, my king, my everything,” he said. “Our kids are our biggest blessings. Today i wear Autism blue in honor of our kids and all the families around the world dealing with special needs family members. God makes no mistakes i pray everyday for everyone and i hope you keep us in your prayers 💙💙💙💙💙 #letsgoduke”

In a special Instagram message penned on Joey’s birthday last December, the Terror Squad leader said his son is the “Biggest blessing in life.”

“Life is full of surprises,” he said. “Doctors said he wouldn’t be normal and kids like this are hard to deal with. Not once did me and my family think of giving up on Joey…I am so proud of Joey he’s my heart & soul. I love you Joey, we all love you Joey, thank you for being my Biggest blessing in life! 🙏🏽💙Happy Birthday Joey, God bless you❤️❤️❤️,” he wrote.

Autism Speaks celebrates World Autism Month every April.

Carrie Underwood leaves an ex-lover haunted in her high-drama “Ghost Story” video

April 29, 2022 by WDNY Radio

The music video for Carrie Underwood’s chart-climbing new single, “Ghost Story,” arrives Friday, featuring gravity-defying stunts, carnival-esque glamor and a man who’s haunted by the one he let slip away.

When she dropped the song last month, Carrie described “Ghost Story” as “a different take on a revenge song.” Its lyrics tell an understated tale of getting back at an ex, promising that her memory will haunt him long after the relationship is over.

The video adds a visual component to the story, starring a guy who sees Carrie’s face and hears her voice everywhere he goes — even though she’s not actually there.

Meanwhile, Carrie borrows some of the concepts from her Las Vegas residency to create a Moulin Rouge-inspired, cinematic world. The clip was filmed at the famed Los Angeles Theatre and showcases the building’s crystal chandeliers, marble and crystal fountain and silk damask wall coverings.

The singer says that director Randee St. Nicholas captured her vision for the song perfectly, adding, “I had a vision for how I wanted to bring this song to life in performance and Randee always takes things to a whole other artistic level beyond my own imagination.”

Carrie also swings from a trapeze in the video, a stunt that she’s been adding into her recent live performances of “Ghost Story,” too.

The song comes off of Carrie’s upcoming album, Denim & Rhinestones, which will be out June 10.

Judge rejects Trump bid to end $10,000-a-day contempt fine

April 29, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Judge rejects Trump bid to end ,000-a-day contempt fine

(NEW YORK) — Former President Donald Trump, in a sworn affidavit, said Friday he possesses no documents subpoenaed by the New York Attorney General’s Office — but the judge overseeing the case declined to end his contempt finding and the $10,000 daily fine.

“To the best of my knowledge, (i) I do not have any of the documents requested in the subpoena dated December 1, 2021 in my personal possession; and (ii) if there are any documents responsive to the subpoena I believe they would be in the possession or custody of the Trump Organization,” Trump’s affidavit said.

“At all relevant times, I have authorized, and continue to authorize, the release of a responsive document to the Office of the Attorney General,” Trump said in the document.

The same document that contains the affidavit also contained a detailed review by Trump’s attorney of the steps taken to look for the documents in question.

But Judge Arthur Engoron remained unsatisfied, and denied Trump’s motion to purge the contempt finding and the fine that accompanies it.

“This Court has improperly held my client in contempt for a violation that he did not commit solely because the OAG declared it ‘insufficient’ without any basis,” Trump attorney Alina Habba said in response to the ruling. “We will zealously prosecute our appeal of the Court’s improper application of both law and fact.”

The subpoena was issued as part of the attorney general’s civil investigation into the way Trump valued his real estate empire.

New Music Friday: Kehlani, Wale, Giveon, Pooh Shiesty and more

April 29, 2022 by WDNY Radio

From music by newly-signed artists to long-awaited R&B collections and projects from hip hip vets, check out this week’s New Music Friday for the culture’s latest & greatest in music.

— Kehlani, Blue Water Road — The Oakland singer delivered what they call “a destination in my mind” with their third studio album. The fun, upbeat jams mixed with the calm R&B tracks contribute to singer’s emotionally vulnerable body of work.

— Wale, More About Nothing — Hip hop’s most poetic rapper announced the beloved 2010 mixtape is now available for streaming. With hits like “The Breakup Song” and “Ambitious Girl,” fans were excited for the DSP release.

— Casey Veggies, Since Y’all Forgot — It’s been a good minute since the Inglewood, CA rapper dropped off some music. The new five-track E.P. is a reminder of his catchy rap abilities and West Coast flow.

— Pooh Shiesty, Shiesty Season: Certified — Despite his recent prison sentence, the 1017 rapper released a second Shiesty Season deluxe album, with eight new tracks and features including Gucci Mane and Lil Uzi Vert.

—Giveon, “Lie Again“ — After announcing the new make-up-to-break-up single last week, the R&B sensation delivered his latest track, which is said to address the relationship issues with ex-girlfriend, singer Justine Skye.

Hits in Heavy Rotation

— Jack Harlow, First Class“

— Gunna, “Banking On Me“

— Latto ft. Lil Waye & Childish Gambino, “Sunshine”

— Kay Flock w/ Cardi B & Dougie B ft. Bory 300, “Shake It”

— Lizzo, “About Damn Time“

— J. Brown ft. Tank, “Don’t Rush“

Artist on the Rise

Lil Poppa is a 22-year-old rapper from Jacksonville, Florida who recently signed to Yo Gotti‘s CMG record label. He captured hip hop’s attention for his melodic, street-oriented sensibilities, today releasing his first album with CMG, called “Under Investigation 3.”

Scooter Braun calls out Taylor Swift for “weaponizing” her fan base

April 29, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Scooter Braun has offered his side of the story about his bad blood with Taylor Swift.

To recap, Scooter acquired Taylor’s former record company, Big Machine, in June of 2019 — and, by extension, ownership of her master recordings up until her album Reputation. The same day the deal was announced, Taylor lamented in an emotional Tumblr post that the buyout was her “worst case scenario” and accused Braun of being a manipulative bully.

Taylor has subsequently been famously re-recording her Big Machine album catalog in an attempt to reclaim ownership of her masters, while Braun has since sold the rights to Taylor’s first six albums for a reported $300 million+.

Now, Braun is sharing his perspective on what happened. He told MSNBC, “The person who owned Taylor’s masters throughout her career was not myself, and when I was buying a record label, I actually said to that group, ‘If at any point she wants to come back and be a part of this conversation, please let me know because I wouldn’t do this deal.”

“I was shown an email, which has now been made public now, where she stated that she wanted to move on that negotiation and wasn’t interested in doing that deal anymore,” he continued. Taylor claimed at the time that she was never offered the opportunity to purchase her masters outright, without additional contractual obligations.

Talking about Taylor’s attempt to regain ownership of her music, Braun said, “I think Taylor has every right to re-record. She has every right to pursue her masters, and I wish her nothing but well, and I have zero interest in saying anything bad about her.”

“I’ve never said anything bad about her in the past, and I won’t start to now,” he added. “The only thing I disagree with is weaponizing a fan base.” As previously reported, Braun said in a since-deleted Instagram post that Taylor’s fans were sending death threats to his family.

After declining her nomination, Dolly Parton now says she’ll “accept gracefully” if voted into the Rock Hall

April 29, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Dolly Parton is currently on the ballot for potential inclusion in this year’s class of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees, despite a statement she made last month requesting that her nomination be withdrawn. Now, she’s changed her mind.

In her bid to remove herself from the running, Dolly explained that she didn’t feel she’d earned the right to be considered, despite being “extremely flattered and grateful.” She did say that the nomination had inspired her to release a rock album one day, and she hoped the Hall would be open to considering her again in the future, after she’d created more of a body of work in the rock genre.

But the Hall soon countered to say that Dolly would stay on the ballot, despite her wishes.

“From its inception, Rock and Roll has had deep roots in Rhythm & Blues and Country music. It is not defined by any one genre, rather a sound that moves youth culture,” read a statement released by the institution.

In a new interview with NPR’s Morning Edition, Dolly now says that she misunderstood the scope of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, underscoring that she didn’t want to take votes away from any other nominees who are more firmly rooted in the rock genre.

“I just felt like I would be taking away from someone that maybe deserved it, certainly more than me, because I never considered myself a rock artist. But obviously, there’s more to it than that,” she noted.

In the light of the Hall’s response, though, Dolly says she’ll “accept gracefully” if inducted. “I would just say thanks and I’ll accept it because the fans vote,” she went on to say.

Dolly is one of 17 nominees up for possible induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Nothing More premieres new song, “Tired of Winning”

April 29, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Nothing More has premiered a new song called “Tired of Winning.”

In a statement about the track’s inspiration, frontman Jonny Hawkins says, “We find ourselves in the same position humanity has found itself over and over again…at the end of a series of self made problems.”

“When we wake up to this, we realize that we are our own worst enemy, yet we focus so much of our energy on externalizing our problems,” Hawkins says. “This song is a bird’s eye view of human nature.”

You can listen to “Tired of Winning” now via digital outlets. Its accompanying video is streaming now on YouTube.

“Tired of Winning” is the first official single off of Nothing More’s next album, the follow-up to 2017’s Grammy-nominated The Stories We Tell Ourselves. It follows the previously released track “Turn It Up Like (Stand in the Fire).”

Nothing More will launch a U.S. tour alongside Asking Alexandria May 13 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Queen’s Brian May premieres new music video for title track of recently reissued 1998 solo album, ‘Another World’

April 29, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Following the recent release of the deluxe reissue of his second solo album, 1998’s Another World, Queen guitarist Brian May has debuted a new music video for the record’s title track at his official YouTube channel.

The clip was shot recently at various locations in the Canary Islands, where Brian says he feels “closest to Heaven.”

May originally wrote “Another World” for the Gwyneth Paltrow film Sliding Doors, but the song wasn’t used in the movie because of contractual issues. The tune was inspired by the film’s plot, which looks at how someone’s life might change if one small incident happens differently.

Brian explains that “Another World” “is all about how things might be in a parallel universe.” He admits that he “was kind of heartbroken” about the song not being used in the movie, but notes that “it became the pivot around which my album revolved.”

May says among the sites he visited for the “Another World” video were “the IAC observatories of Tenerife, and La Palma, where the biggest telescope in the world sits… [and] the beautiful small island of El Hierro, where lives the tree that adorns the front cover of this album.”

The Canary Islands hold great sentimental value to Brian, because, prior to joining Queen, he studied astronomy at the Observatorio El Teide in Tenerife. He later completed his PhD degree and was awarded a doctorate in astrophysics in 2007.

Reflecting on his Canary Islands visit, May says, “This beautiful place above the clouds is where I did the observing work for my PhD. And this is where I used to steal outside under the stars, with a small acoustic guitar, and strum away and sing, and, I guess, commune with the Cosmos!”

The Another World reissue is available now in multiple formats.

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