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‘American Idol’ recap: Jimmie Allen mentors as America takes the reins

April 11, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Now that the Top 24 have been decided, it’s America’s turn to take the reins on American Idol.

Sunday’s episode saw half of the contestants being mentored by country star Jimmie Allen, who was a previous contestant on the show, making it to the Top 40 during season 10, the year Scotty McCreery won. Not only did he serve as mentor, he also treated everyone to a performance of his new song, “Down Home.”

Here are the contestants who performed and their song selections:

Jay: “I Want You Back,” The Jackson 5
Elli Rowe: “Everywhere,” Fleetwood Mac
Tristen Gressett: “With a Little Help from My Friends,” The Beatles/Joe Cocker
Scarlet: “Levitating,” Dua Lipa
Sage: “Jolene,” Dolly Parton
Danielle Finn: “Your Song,” Elton John
Mike Parker: “Best Shot,” Jimmie Allen
Emyrson Flora: “Angels Like You,” Miley Cyrus
Dan Marshall: “Heaven,” Bryan Adams
Jacob Moran: “In My Blood,” Shawn Mendes
HunterGirl: “Banjo,” Rascal Flatts
Nicolina: “Elastic Heart,” Sia

Tonight, the remaining contestants, mentored by pop superstar Bebe Rexha, will take the stage for a chance to win America’s votes.

American Idol returns Monday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish, BTS & more win Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards

April 11, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Olivia Rodrigo, Ariana Grande, Ed Sheeran and Billie Eilish were among the winners at the 2022 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, which took place over the weekend in Santa Monica, CA.

Olivia, fresh from her multiple Grammy wins the previous weekend, was named Favorite Breakout Artist, as well as Favorite Female TV Star in the Kids category for her role as Nini in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. Billie Eilish won Favorite Album for Happier than Ever, and the album’s title track won her the award for Favorite Song.

Ariana Grande and Ed Sheeran were named Favorite Female and Male Artist, while BTS was Favorite Music Group. Justin Bieber and The Kid LAROI won Favorite Music Collaboration for “Stay,” while Adele was named Favorite Global Music Star.

The show, hosted by Rob Gronkowski and Miranda Cosgrove, featured performances by Jack Harlow and Kid Cudi, and appearances by Olivia, Charlie Puth, Charli and Dixie D’Amelio, Sabrina Carpenter, Chance the Rapper, Chloe X Halle and Joshua Bassett, among others. There were also 1,000 slimings, and Charlie and Dixie were among those who got hit.

Glass Animals’ Dave Bayley explains “complex,” “long-winded” approach to albums: “It really is all-consuming”

April 11, 2022 by WDNY Radio

While “Heat Waves” was in the middle of its historic run to number one on the Billboard Hot 100, Glass Animals released a new single called “I Don’t Wanna Talk (I Just Wanna Dance).” Speaking to ABC Audio, frontman Dave Bayley describes the latter tune as a “one-off” ahead of starting another album.

“When I start making a record, it really is all-consuming,” Bayley says. “There’s lots of themes, all the songs tie together in a certain way, there’s all the artwork and the artwork ties into the music, and then there’s the stage show that goes with it, and that ties into the music. It’s really quite a complex, long-winded thing.”

Having released Glass Animals’ latest record, Dreamland, in 2020, Bayley is preparing for the “daunting” prospect of “diving straight back into another album project.” Releasing “I Don’t Wanna Talk,” Bayley says, is part of gearing up for that process.

“I’ve always made a point of making something very quickly and then releasing it very quickly, ’cause it just breaks that pressure immediately, and that’s where [‘I Don’t Wanna Talk’] came from,” he explains. “Actually, the song is kind of about breaking that pressure.”

While Bayley hasn’t actively started the new album process for a Dreamland follow-up, he can’t help but think of new ideas.

“I do kinda have little bits,” Bayley says. “It never stops, really. I always feel like I’m just about to fall asleep and I’m feeling really comfy in bed, and then, boom, there’s an idea, and I have to, like, get up and get the microphone out.”

He adds, “It’s a good thing, I know, that that happens. I dread the day when that stops happening.”

Kelsea Ballerini is bringing community celebration and big Dolly Parton vibes to the CMT Music Awards

April 11, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Kelsea Ballerini’s co-hosting this year’s CMT Music Awards with actor Anthony Mackie, and the singer says she learned how to host an awards show from the best: Dolly Parton.

“I mean, Dolly is the best,” Kelsea gushes to ABC Audio. “She’s all personality. She sets the tone for everybody to feel ready to celebrate community, and that’s always been the energy I’ve gotten from this show. It’s celebratory, it’s community, it’s all about the fans.”

Kelsea got an up-close look at Dolly’s hosting style during last month’s ACM Awards, where she performed a duet with the country legend. Dolly shared host duties with Jimmie Allen and Gabby Barrett at the ACMs.

“I feel like I’ve taken a lot of notes from Dolly this year,” Kelsea goes on to say.

But as much as she’s focusing on her hosting gig, the singer’s also looking forward to having a front-row seat for some truly epic performances.

“The Judds [are performing for the first time in] 20 years? That’s insane. It was just announced that Little Big Town, Jimmie Allen and Monica are performing together? Like, what?” Kelsea goes on to say, pointing out that unexpected live moments and team-ups are part of what makes this show special.

“It’s not just the songs you’ve heard on the radio for the last year. It’s album cuts. It’s new songs. It’s collaborations,” she elaborates. “It’s a true snapshot of what’s going on in country music.”

Tune in to the CMT Music Awards tonight at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

Maddie & Tae’s Taylor Kerr shares her birth story + the emotional backstory behind her baby’s name

April 11, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Last month, Maddie & Tae band mate Taylor Kerr and her husband Josh finally brought home their “miracle baby,” Leighton Grace, after a 53-day stay in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Leighton was born on January 17, three months earlier than planned, and to celebrate her due date last week, Taylor uploaded a 22-minute video to YouTube to share her complete birth story with fans.

In addition to detailing her lengthy hospital stay and the emotional and scary journey to welcoming her first daughter, Taylor shared the story behind Leighton’s name, which she and Josh hadn’t quite settled on when they checked into the hospital.

“Her middle name is Grace because God’s grace is all over her story, and she’s not even here yet,” Taylor explained from her hospital bed, during a month-long period of bed rest leading up to the birth.

“Josh and I really had a hard time deciding on the name. I fully expected to give birth to her and have to see her and feel her presence to be able to officially name her,” the singer continues. “…But the day we got admitted to the hospital, Josh and I both were like, ‘We need something tangible, to solidify this beautiful little girl.”

They also knew fans were praying for baby Leighton, and “we really wanted people to call her by name when they prayed for her,” Taylor goes on to say. “So we just felt really convicted to name her.”

In music news, Maddie & Tae released their latest album, Through the Madness Vol. 1, in January.

Rush’s Alex Lifeson discusses new Envy of None album and the project’s “secret weapon,” singer Maiah Wynne

April 11, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Envy of None, Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson‘s new band, released its self-titled debut album on Friday, April 8.

The project came together after Andy Curran, veteran Canadian band Coney Hatch‘s bassist and a longtime musical associate of Lifeson, began working with a young Oregon-based singer-songwriter named Maiah Wynne and asked Alex if he’d lend his guitar talents to a track.

“I sent it over to him, and he was floored,” Curran tells ABC Audio. “He said, ‘Andy, I think we’ve found a diamond in the rough here. This girl is a secret weapon.’ And that was the beginning of it all.”

Envy of None is quite a departure from Rush, with songs influenced by a variety of genres, including alternative rock, synth pop, Euro pop and industrial rock.

Lifeson tells ABC Audio, “I think what connects all of these different styles of music is [Maiah’s] voice. Her voice always sits right on top of what chaos the music is creating.”

The 68-year-old Rock & Roll Hall of Famer says Wynne, 25, basically became his “muse” for the Envy of None project.

“[H]er sensibilities and her skill [are] such that she’s…very, very, very talented at a very early age,” he maintains. “[E]very song [she contributed to] had something that I wasn’t quite expecting.”

The album ends with the introspective instrumental “Western Sunset” that’s dedicated to late Rush drummer Neil Peart, whom Alex calls his “brother…good friend [and] working partner.”

Lifeson says he was inspired to compose the tune while watching the sunset during visits to an ailing Peart at his California home.

“It gives you a chance to catch your breath after listening to all this pretty intense material,” Alex notes of the song, “and just puts you in a very…contemplative mode.”

Listen to new Gerry Backley solo song, “Tickets from the Past,” featuring his America band mate Dewey Bunnell

April 11, 2022 by WDNY Radio

America‘s Gerry Beckley has debuted a second advance song from his upcoming solo album, Aurora, a tune called “Tickets from the Past” that he co-wrote with his co-founding America band mate Dewey Bunnell, who also sings on the track.

“Tickets from the Past” is the first song that Beckley and Bunnell wrote together that won’t make its debut appearance on an America album. The track is available now via streaming services, and you can check out a video of Gerry and Dewey talking about the song now at Blue Élan Records’ official YouTube channel.

Bunnell says in the clip, “It’s been a pleasure working with Gerry on this solo project of his. It’s a little different from America projects, but very much the same. Been there before, but great song, Ger. I love Aurora, and I love singing on it.”

As previously reported, Aurora will be released on June 17. It’s an 11-song collection that Gerry recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic at his two home studios, in Sydney, Australia, and Venice, California.

The tracks on Aurora include tunes that began as unfinished demos and scratch recordings that date back as far as the early 1970s, as well as brand-new songs written during the past two years.

“Tickets from the Past” was preceded by “Friends Are Hard to Find,” which was released as a streaming single last month. You can pre-order Aurora now.

America currently is on tour in the U.S., and has almost 20 upcoming dates on its 2022 schedule. The band’s next concert is this Friday, April 15, in Houston. Visit VenturaHighway.com for a full list of shows.

‘American Idol’ recap: Jimme Allen mentors as America takes the reigns

April 11, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Now that the Top 24 has been decided, it’s America’s turn to take the reigns on American Idol.

Sunday’s episode saw half of the contestants being mentored by country star Jimmie Allen, who was a pervious contestant on the show, making it to the Top 40 during season 10, the year Scotty McCreery won. Not only did he serve as mentor, he also treated everyone to a performance of his new song “Down Home.”

Here’s are the contestants who performed and their song selections:

Jay: “I Want You Back” The Jackson 5
Elli Rowe: “Everywhere” Fleetwood Mac
Tristen Gressett: “With A Little Help From My Firends” The Beatles/Joe Cocker
Scarlet: “Levitating” Dua Lipa
Sage: “Jolene” Dolly Parton
Danielle Finn: “Your Song” Elton John
Mike Parker: “Best Shot” Jimmie Allen
Emyrson Flora: “Angels Like You” Miley Cyrus
Dan Marshall: “Heaven” Bryan Adams
Jacob Moran: “In My Blood” Shawn Mendes
HunterGirl: “Banjo” Rascal Flatts
Nicolina: “Elastic Heart” Sia

Tonight, the remaining contestants, mentored by pop superstar Bebe Rexha, will take the stage for a chance to win America’s votes.

American Idol returns Monday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

2 killed, 10 injured during nightclub shooting in downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa

April 10, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa) — Police in Iowa are investigating the scene of a nightclub shooting that killed two people and injured 10 others.

Shots broke out Sunday at the Taboo Nightclub and Lounge on Third Street in downtown Cedar Rapids just before 1:30 a.m., according to the Cedar Rapids Police Department.

Cedar Rapids police officers were on routine downtown patrol when the shooting occurred and “were able to respond immediately,” according to the police department.

Two people killed in shooting in downtown Cedar Rapids https://t.co/v5Y17NgUwx

— KCRG-TV9 (@KCRG) April 10, 2022

The two victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while the 10 injured were treated at area hospitals, police said. Their conditions were not released by police.

It is unclear what led to the shooting. Police did not release information on whether the gunman was in custody but announced around 6 a.m. that the scene was secure and there was no threat to public safety.

Investigators are asking that anyone present at the time contact the police department.

ABC News’ Keith Harden contributed to this report.

March breaks record for most tornadoes in a single month

April 10, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — It was a chaotic meteorological transition into spring as March saw the highest number of tornadoes in a single month in U.S. history.

At least 218 tornadoes occurred in March, with many of the tornadoes happening toward the end of the month, according to the National Weather Service.

On March 30, eight states in the South and Midwest were under tornado watch.

The severe weather spawned nearly 30 tornadoes and killed two people who were inside mobile homes in Washington County, Florida. Two other people inside one of the destroyed mobile homes were injured, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

A powerful EF-3 twister with winds up to 145 mph tore through Springdale, Arkansas, on March 29, injuring seven people and inflicting heavy damage to an elementary school, the NWS reported.

Earlier in the month, more than 60 tornadoes occurred across five southeastern states. A funnel cloud that caused severe damage over a 2-mile stretch in St. Bernard’s Parish, Louisiana, on March 22 killed one person and hospitalized seven others, St. Bernard’s Parish President Guy McInnis told ABC News.

That tornado was measured to be an EF-3 with winds of at least 130 mph, according to the NWS.

A tornado on March 21 killed a 73-year-old woman and injured 10 others in Grayson County, Texas, said Sarah Somers, the director of the county’s office of emergency management.

On March 5, seven people, including two children under the age of 5, were killed when a powerful EF-3 tornado ripped across central Iowa, Lucas County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Lamb told ABC News.

Up to 30 homes were destroyed in an area just north of Winterset, Iowa, announced Diogenes Ayala, the director of Madison County Emergency Management Agency, during a news conference at the time.

Even more severe weather that could conjure up more tornadoes is expected over the next several days. On Sunday and Monday, tornadoes could pop up in eastern Oklahoma, northeast Texas, southern Missouri and much of Arkansas.

On Tuesday, enhanced risks are also predicted from Iowa to Texas, with damaging winds, hail and strong tornadoes possible. That system will then shift to Arkansas and Louisiana on Wednesday.

ABC News’ Daniel Amarante and Bill Hutchinson contributed to this report.

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