After the Top 24 performed last week, it was up to America to vote to save their favorites on American Idol. The results of those votes were revealed Sunday night during a three-hour episode filled with performances from the Top 20, as well as, some of the show’s past favorites like last year’s winner Chayce Beckham, Alejandro, and Phillip Phillips.
After Platinum ticket holder Kenedi Anderson dropped out of the competition last week, that meant three more singing hopefuls would be sent home this week. So who made it into the Top 20?
Meet the Top 20:
Emryson Flora: “Tell Me You Love Me” Demi Lovato
Mike Parker: “Chasing After You” Ryan Hurd and Maren Morris
Tristen Gressett: “Sacrifice” The Weeknd
Sage: “Rhiannon” Fleetwood Mac
Jay: “You Know I’m No Good” Amy Winehouse
Nicolina: “Edge of Seventeen” Stevie Nicks
Jacob Moran: “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing” Stevie Wonder
Huntergirl: “Heartbreak Down” Huntergirl
Elli Rowe: “Somewhere Only We Know” Keane
Dan Marshall: “Friends In Low Places” Garth Brooks
Ava Maybee: “Anyone” Demi Lovato
Allegra: “Free Fallin'” Tom Petty
Noah Thompson: “Falling” Harry Styles
Leah Marlene: “Heal” Tom Odell
Christian Guardino: “Imagine” John Lennon
Fritz Hager: “when the party’s over” Billie Eilish
Katyrah Love: “Dream” Bishop Briggs
Cameron Whitcomb: “Changes” Black Sabbath
Cadence Baker: “Train Wreck” James Arthur
Lady K: “Love On The Brain” Rihanna
Eliminated:
Sir Blayke, Scarlet, Danielle Finn
The Top 20 will dwindle down again when American Idol returns tonight at 8 p.m. on ABC.
Michael Bublé‘s latest hit is “I’ll Never Not Love You,” from his new album, Higher. Michael co-wrote the song with Michael Pollack, who he tracked down after he realized that Pollack had co-written a song that both he and his kids loved: Justin Bieber‘s song, “Holy.”
Turns out Pollack was a fan of Michael’s, too, and was eager to work with him. But as Michael tells ABC Audio, it took them a while for them to get the song just right.
“That song was interesting ’cause it started as a ballad. You know, it was very slow,” Michael says. “And I remember, I called [Pollack] on a Friday morning and I said, ‘This is a great song, Mike, really catchy. The lyrics are beautiful…but something’s wrong…it’s not hitting for me.'”
Michael asked Pollack to make the song “double time” — in other words, faster. According to Michael, Pollack was annoyed by the request, but told him, “Yeah, yeah, I’ll put something together.” Michael says later that night, Pollack sent him the new version, and he was blown away.
“It was 11 o’clock at night, I was in my boxer shorts in my kitchen. I was going to get water for my wife and I heard it for the first time and I knew I had a hit song,” Michael remembers.
“Instantly, I knew and I think I danced in my kitchen for like an hour and a half fantasizing about, you know, ‘What would the video be? How am I going to perform this? Oh my God, people are going to go crazy when they hear this!'” he laughs.
“There’s nothing better in the whole universe than writing something and going, ‘Oh my God, it’s done. I think we got a hit,'” Michael declares. “It was amazing.”
Lizzo showed off her many talents as both host and musical guest on Saturday Night Live this weekend.
In her opening monologue, she joked that she would be breaking the record for the most times “b****” was said on live TV, shouted out her mom in the audience, and joked about he rumors that she’s pregnant with Chris Evans’ baby.
“I have no idea where that [rumor] started. It could be the TikTok I did where I said, ‘I’m pregnant with Chris Evans’ baby,’” she said, adding, “It’s called manifesting.”
She went to appear in a bunch of sketches, including one called “Orchestra” where she plays a flautist who can’t play her flute without twerking, one about the Black Eyed Peas coming up with lyrics to their songs in 2008 and a trivia game segment called “Guess That.”
Lizzo also performed twice – singing her new song “About Damn Time,” as well as the title track off her upcoming new album Special.
Her SNL appearance marked her second time as musical guest, but her first time as host.
Carly Pearce is always striving for new career heights, and she’ll be learning from the best when she hits the road with Kenny Chesney for his Here and Now Tour this summer.
As a live act, Kenny’s reputation precedes him: He’s known for high-energy shows and one of the genre’s most enthusiastic fan bases, which he’s dubbed No Shoes Nation.
“I’ve never experienced it. Obviously, I’ve heard of the unbelievable tour that that is, and the entity that the No Shoes Nation family is,” Carly tells ABC Audio ahead of the tour. “I feel so lucky and excited he’s bringing me out. I’m such a fan, so I’m really just excited, as a fan, to fangirl.”
One of country music’s hardest-working artists, Carly also says she’s already got her sights set on the follow-up to her September 2021 album, 29: Written in Stone.
“I’ve started to write for it, and I feel like I’m starting to really get some songs for it,” Carly hints, going on to say that she wants to make sure she brings her A-game to every record — and that takes preparation.
“I feel like you have to plan ahead so that you can keep things rolling and I always want to set the bar higher,” she continues. “So I’m excited about it.”
Meanwhile, Carly’s duet with Ashley McBryde, “Never Wanted to Be That Girl,” is steadily making its way up the chart. The song is currently inside country radio’s top ten.
Doors guitarist Robby Krieger has just released three new tracks via digitalplatforms — reggae-flavored instrumental covers of the 1940s country song “Ghost Riders in the Sky,” Ritchie Valens‘ “La Bamba” and The Bee Gees‘ “Stayin’ Alive.”
Robby recorded all three tracks with two longtime collaborators — bassist Phil Chen and keyboardist Ed Roth. Chen, who died of cancer in December 2021 at age 75, was for many years a member of the bands that Krieger co-led with late Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek, while Roth plays in Robby’s side group The New Experience.
In addition, a music video for Krieger’s rendition of “Ghost Riders in the Sky” has premiered at The Doors’ official YouTube channel. The clip features footage of Krieger and Roth driving a vintage car in the desert, where they pick up a hitchhiker, who happens to be Robby’s son and current solo band mate Waylon Krieger. The video also includes scenes of Robby playing a sitar, Chen playing bass, and drummer Pride Hutchinson, as well as Krieger and his son jamming on guitars while Roth plays keys.
Last October, Krieger told ABC Audio that he had recorded an entire album of reggae-influenced cover songs with Chen and Roth that was to be called Rocks Meets Dub, but there’s been no official word yet about plans to release the full-length project. Robby reported at the time that tunes they recorded included “Stayin’ Alive,” as well as songs by The Beatles and Bob Dylan.
In other news, Krieger has just announced a series of nine U.S. concerts with his solo group, spanning from a May 3 show in Tempe, Arizona, through a September 25 gig at The Doors’ famed Los Angeles-area stomping ground, The Whisky a Go Go.
Over the weekend, the Coachella festival kept its reputation for surprises intact: Billboard reports that Harry Styles was among the many stars who brought out unannounced guests during their sets.
During Harry Styles‘ set on Friday, he brought out Canadian icon Shania Twain, of all people, to perform her ’90s classics “Man! I Feel Like a Woman” and “You’re Still the One.” According to Billboard, Harry told the crowd, “In the car with my mother as a child, this lady taught me to sing. She also taught me that men are trash.”
He then told Shania, “But to you, for the memories you gave me with my mother, I’m forever grateful.”
She replied, “I’m at a loss for words, I’m a bit starstruck. When I was writing this song, you were just a kid. It’s kind of a dream, and very surreal, to be sitting right here with you.”
Harry, of course, has displayed his reverence for older female stars in the past by striking up a friendship — and performing several times — with Stevie Nicks. Billboard notes that Harry also debuted two new songs at Coachella from his upcoming album Harry’s House: “Boyfriends” and “Late Night Talking.”
And speaking of bringing out Canadian superstars as surprise guests, Justin Bieber was a surprise guest during Daniel Caesar‘s Friday set, joining his fellow Canadian singer to perform their Grammy-nominated hit “Peaches.”
Over the weekend, the Coachella festival kept its reputation for surprises intact: Billboard reports that Harry Styles and Billie Eilish were among the stars who brought out unannounced guests during their sets.
One of those guests wasn’t exactly a surprise though: Justin Bieber was rumored to be appearing during Daniel Caesar’s Friday set hours before it happened. And right on cue, a shirtless Biebs came onstage to join his fellow Canadian performer to perform “Peaches.”
And speaking of Canadian performers, during Harry Styles‘ set on Friday, he brought Shania Twain, of all people, to perform her ’90s classics “Man! I Feel Like a Woman” and “You’re Still the One.” According to Billboard, Harry told the crowd, “In the car with my mother as a child, this lady taught me to sing. She also taught me that men are trash.”
He then told Shania, “But to you, for the memories you gave me with my mother, I’m forever grateful.” She replied, “I’m at a loss for words, I’m a bit starstruck. When I was writing this song, you were just a kid. It’s kind of a dream, and very surreal, to be sitting right here with you.”
Billboard notes that Harry also debuted two new songs at Coachella: “Boyfriends” and “Late Night Talking.”
Billie Eilish, the youngest headliner in the history of Coachella, brought out Blur and Gorillaz singer Damon Albarn — the same guy who earlier this year made headlines by saying that Taylor Swift isn’t a songwriter. According to Billboard, Albarn performed the Gorillaz hit “Feel Good Inc.“ De La Soul member Posdnuos also came onstage for that performance.
Billie told the crowd that Albarn “changed my view of what music and art and creation could be.” She also welcomed Khalid to perform their collaboration “Lovely.”
(COLUMBIA, S.C.) — At least nine people have been shot at a South Carolina restaurant, according to police.
The shooting occurred Sunday morning at Cara’s Lounge in Furman, South Carolina, located about 50 miles northwest of Columbia, according to the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division, which received a request from the Hampton County Sheriff’s Office to lead the investigation.
The circumstances leading up to the shooting are not clear. Police did not immediately release further information.
The shooting comes a day after a shooting incident at a mall in Columbia, South Carolina, that left 14 people were injured.
Nine people were shot and five others were injured while fleeing the scene Saturday afternoon, police said. The injured ranged in age from 15 to 73 years old.
Police said they arrested a 22-year-old on a charge of unlawful carrying of a pistol and added that more charges may be forthcoming.
(NEW YORK) — Days after the subway shooting in Brooklyn, New York City Mayor Eric Adams told ABC “This Week” Anchor George Stephanopoulos that the recent increase in crime extends beyond his city, calling it a “national issue.”
“You know, I say over and over again, there are many rivers that feed the sea of violence. This is a national issue,” Adams said when pressed by Stephanopoulos on the rise in major crimes within New York City this year. “It’s not a red state, blue state. In fact, red states are experiencing a higher murder rate than blue states.”
Frank James, 62, was charged with committing a terrorist act on a mass transportation vehicle after opening fire on a New York subway car Tuesday morning. Ten people were shot, and the shooting launched a 30-hour manhunt for James before he called Crime Stoppers on himself.
New York City Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell told Stephanopoulos during a joint interview with Adams she thought James’ call to the tip line indicated that “we were kind of closing in around him” before he turned himself in.
“We disseminated his picture… we had a number of people looking for him, hundreds of detectives looking for him,” Sewell said. “But I think one of the key factors also is our force multiplier, which are the eyes and ears of our incredible New Yorkers.”
Stephanopoulos said James seemed to be “hiding in plain sight” before the shooting, noting he had been arrested several times and had posted videos to YouTube “packed with hate and suggestions of violence.”
“Do we need a better way to track individuals like this before they take this violent action?” Stephanopoulos asked.
Adams said social media companies “must step up” when it comes to tracking people like James.
“There’s a corporate responsibility when we are watching hate brew online,” Adams said. “We can identify using artificial intelligence and other methods to identify those who are talking about violence.”
Despite last week’s attack and transit crime rising 68% this year compared to 2021, Sewell told Stephanopoulos that crime on the subways in New York City is actually down compared to the pre-COVID numbers. Still, she is trying to make police presence on the subways more visible.
“We recognize that people need to see a visible presence of police in the subway and we’re endeavoring to make sure that that happens,” Sewell said. “There’s also security measures that we don’t see, but we understand that that reassurance is required. And we’re putting multiple officers in the subways every single day.”
Adams, a former NYPD captain who took office on Jan. 1, ran as a tough-on-crime Democrat and has rejected progressive policies around crime and policing, like the “defund the police” movement.
Last week, former New York Police Commissioner Bill Bratton, who served under the Giuliani and de Blasio mayoral administrations, told a Bloomberg podcast, “The scales right now are tipped very heavily in favor of the reforms of the progressive left. Well-intended, some needed, but a bit too far.”
Bratton said the result is rising crime and fear of crime “as evidenced in almost every major American city.”
“Yes, I believe he is right,” Adams responded. “Major mistakes made throughout the years that destroyed the trust that the police commissioner is talking about. We have to rebuild that trust. But we can’t rebuild that trust by allowing those who are dangerous and that have — they have a repeated history of violence to continue to be on our streets.”
Sewell agreed, saying, “We cannot lose sight of the victims of crime. We believe the system has to be fair and balanced, but when we lose sight of the victims of crime, we are not doing what public safety is intended to do.”
(NEW YORK) — The 130-ton Ever Forward cargo ship that has been mired in the mud of the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland for more than a month was dislodged and refloated early Sunday, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
The 1,095-foot cargo ship, which ran aground in shallow water 36 days ago, was yanked from a mound of mud by seven tugboats working in tandem around 7 a.m., the Coast Guard said.
The ship was extricated after crews spent the last week using two large cranes on barges to offload around 500 of the nearly 4,900 containers aboard to make the vessel buoyant enough for the tugboats to pry it loose, officials said.
The Ever Forward, which is owned by Evergreen Marine Corp., was being towed by five tugboats to a ship parking area near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. The Hong Kong-flagged ship will eventually head back to the Seagirt marine terminal in Baltimore to pick up the containers that were taken off before resuming its voyage to Norfolk, Virginia, officials said.
Two previous attempts to free the vessel were not successful. Crews had tried to move the fully loaded ship with multiple tugboats, but it wouldn’t budge. Crews also attempted dredging around the hull of the big boat, but that effort was in vain as well.
The refloating situation had gone so badly that the Evergreen Marine notified anyone with a container on board that they would need to share in the cost of freeing the ship under the law of general average, a principal of maritime law dating back to 1890.
An estimated cost of extracting the ship has not been made public.
The Coast Guard said the Ever Forward got stuck on March 13 in about 23 feet of water off Downs Park in Pasadena, Maryland, about 20 miles south of Baltimore. The ship had just departed the Seagirt marine terminal and, for reasons that remain under investigation, was traveling outside of the deep-water shipping channel when it ran aground, the Coast Guard said.
No one was injured, and inspections showed that no fuel or pollution leaked from the ship into the Chesapeake Bay, according to the Coast Guard.
The ship did not block the shipping channel, officials said.
Evergreen is the same company that owns the Ever Given cargo ship that got stuck in Egypt’s Suez Canal in March 2021, blocking the world-famous waterway for six days and causing massive delays in global shipping.
