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Meek Mill spreads holiday cheer as he donates $500,000 worth of gifts to needy in Philadelphia

December 20, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Meek Mill spreads holiday cheer as he donates 0,000 worth of gifts to needy in Philadelphia

Meek Mill made the holiday season brighter for needy families in his native Philadelphia by giving away $500,000 worth of gifts Sunday.

In partnership with Philadelphia 76ers co-owner Michael Rubin, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, and Roc Nation, the “Sharing Locations” rapper brought smiles to hundreds of people with free MacBook Air laptops, Amazon Fire HD tablets, video game gift cards, board games, bikes and helmets, winter coats, dolls, play sets, and more at the Grand Yesha Ballroom in South Philly, according to ABC Philadelphia affiliate WPVI-TV.

“I feel like if you can help, help. We’ve been doing it for a while now in our community,” Meek said as he was joined at the event by Mayor Jim Kenney and Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw. The 34-year-old entertainer and criminal justice advocate posted several photos of the event on Instagram and commented, “Took them blessings and put on for my peoples in a major way.”

Mill is also donating $30,000 to the Philadelphia chapter of Twelve Days of Christmas, a volunteer organization that assists families in need during the holiday season.

Last Wednesday, the Grammy nominee treated 26 local kids to the 76ers home game against the Miami Heat, which included a visit with 76ers head coach Doc Rivers.

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Five years after his death, George Michael’s headstone is finally unveiled

December 20, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Five years after his death on Christmas Day 2016 at age 53, George Michael‘s grave is now officially marked.

The British tabloid The Sun reports that the superstar’s headstone has finally been unveiled in London’s Highgate Ceremony. It’s inscribed with his birth name, Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou, and reads “Beloved Son, Brother, Friend.”

George lies next to his mother Lesley, who died in 1997 and his sister Melanie, who died at age 59 in 2019, three years to the day after George died.

As for why it took five years for the grave to be marked, a source tells The Sun there were “fears it would become a morbid tourist attraction.”

In other George Michael news, during his lifetime, the singer anonymously funded the annual Christmas lights display in the Highgate neighborhood of London, and it’s now been revealed that his estate still contributes to the annual display, according to the local paper.

“George Michael was our secret benefactor form many years and he loved the Christmas Lights,” a local realtor told the paper. “Luckily, his estate also know how much he loved the lights and continue to support us even after his death.”

Finally, a tribute show called The Life and Music of George Michael is scheduled to begin a U.S. tour on January 19 in California.

Haven’t had time to decorate yet, but still want to? ‘Queer Eye’ star Bobby Berk has some solutions

December 20, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Some people have yet to break out the holiday decorations in time for Christmas, which is few days away, and may be feeling overwhelmed about it. Queer Eye star Bobby Berk understands the struggle and shared some quick and easy decoration ideas with ABC Audio.

The interior designer stresses that getting into the holiday spirit is essential if you want to start decorating.

“If you don’t have time to decorate because we are all so busy, literally just having on holiday music in your house does set the mood,” suggests Berk, a spokesperson for the audio company Sonos. He adds Mariah Carey and Pentatonix are staples at his house.

Berk also says greenery is “another quick way to throw up decorations, where I don’t have to go overboard. …I go out and I snip some greenery off some pine trees in the yard and I put that on the table, or I put that on the calendar and it instantly feels like a holiday without having to go to the store.” Berk assures the scent and look of real pine will “instantly make it feel like the holidays.”

Don’t have pine trees nearby? Berk suggests “So many of the Christmas tree places trim the trees on site, and so they have all these leftover branches that they just throw away… They give it away for free so they don’t have to haul it away.” He says you can “get tons of great branches to decorate” that way.

Berk also has advice for anyone unable to decorate, but who will host visitors during the holidays. “When people come over, have a nice holiday scented candle and holiday music and people won’t even notice you haven’t done decorations,” he promises.

Child abuse charge against Alabama Shakes drummer dismissed

December 20, 2021 by WDNY Radio

The child abuse charge against Alabama Shakes drummer Steven William Johnson has been dismissed, ABC affiliate WAAY reports.

Johnson was arrested this past March and indicted for willful abuse of a child. In a statement to AL.com at the time, Johnson’s lawyers denied the allegations.

“We do not believe, and have been presented no evidence, that Mr. Johnson has willfully abused or tortured any child, and he maintains his innocence,” the statement read, adding that the charge stems from an alleged “spanking incident.”

Johnson is a founding member of Alabama Shakes, and played on both of the band’s albums: 2012’s Boys & Girls and 2015’s Grammy-winning Sound & Color. The band’s been on hiatus since 2018; frontwoman Brittany Howard released her debut solo album, Jaime, in 2019.

Luke Combs reflects on What You See Is What You Get Tour: “I’d do it all over again tomorrow”

December 20, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Luke Combs recently wrapped his What You See Is What You Get Tour, and he’s looking ahead to his new album.

On Sunday, the superstar shared a reflective Instagram post about the massive arena tour that saw him headline such prestigious venues as Madison Square Garden. The tour was originally scheduled to take place in 2020 but was delayed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“Well, we made it. The ‘What You See Is What You Get’ tour is finally completed after 2+ years of setbacks,” Luke writes in a lengthy caption, accompanied by a gallery of photos from the tour. “This was the funnest, scariest, most rewarding, most stressful musical experience of my life and I’d do it all over again tomorrow.”

Luke then proceeds to profusely thank his loyal fans who waited patiently for tickets and allowed him to sell out many of the arenas. “You are the reason we get to do things like this and I hope we came close to putting on the show you deserve,” he declares.

Luke also praises his team, including the band, crew, management, bus drivers, venue staff and more, along with his wife Nicole and friends and family. “I love you all tremendously,” Luke writes.

The hitmaker also acknowledges that the tour brings to a close “the long strange chapter of my last album” that the tour is named after, allowing him to focus on his upcoming third studio album.

“I’m taking a few weeks off and then we’re putting the finishing touches on LC3. Until then, hope y’all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. See y’all soon!” he concludes.

What You See Is What You Get has been certified three times Platinum by the RIAA and spawned seven consecutive number-one singles.

Foo Fighters, The Smashing Pumpkins & more playing 2022 Beale Street Music Festival

December 20, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Foo Fighters and The Smashing Pumpkins will be playing the 2022 Beale Street Music Festival, held April 29 to May 1 in Memphis, Tennessee.

Other artists on the bill include Modest Mouse, Dirty Honey, The Glorious Sons and Toad the Wet Sprocket. More acts will be announced at a later date.

For ticket info, visit MemphisinMay.org.

The Pumpkins were originally on the 2020 Beale Street lineup before the festival was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 festival was scrapped, as well.

‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ is now second-biggest domestic box office debut in history

December 20, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Spider-Man: No Way Home had an even bigger box office debut than initially reported.

According to Variety, the superhero flick took in $260 million in North America over the weekend, more than Sunday’s initial estimates of $253 million. That means it’s now enjoyed the second-highest opening ever at the domestic box office, surpassing Avengers: Infinity War, which had a $257 million box office take when it opened in April, 2018.

Avengers: Endgame is the only film that has grossed more in its debut weekend. In pre-COVID times, it raked in $357 million when it bowed in April, 2019.

Spider-Man: No Way Home is also the first pandemic-era film to gross more than $100 million in its debut.

Spider-Man: No Way Home is a co-production of Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios, the latter of which is owned by ABC News’ parent company, Disney.

Kelly Clarkson laughs her way through her fans’ hilarious holiday fail stories

December 20, 2021 by WDNY Radio

If you experienced an embarrassing Christmas fail this year, leave it to Kelly Clarkson to help you feel better.

Taking to her YouTune channel on Saturday, the singer laughed her way through the most hilarious holiday fails submitted by her fans.

The storytelling had a strong start, with one person admitting that their Christmas tree not only toppled over on top of their mother-in-law, they also took a photo that they shared with Kelly. That elicited an “Oh, snap!” and a chuckle from the Grammy winner before she wondered aloud, “Is she okay?… That had to kind of hurt.”

Other fan-submitted stories include a five-foot-tall dancing Santa that lost its head and scared a small child, a bunch of praying mantis babies hatching in someone’s Christmas tree, a family settling for a Burger King holiday meal because the turkey wasn’t going to cook in time, and a dog eating the engagement ring someone planned to propose with at the family dinner, after which it took them two days to “get the ring back.”

When dishing on the latter story, Kelly marveled, “I wonder if he told her that day or just let the dog poop it out and then he told her… And that’s the ring you’re getting! You’re getting a poop ring! I don’t know if that’s a good omen.”

Kelly also flipped through several photos fans shared of their hysterical children crying on Santa’s lap and remarked, “We traumatize our children, don’t we? We’re like, ‘Just take the picture! Smile!'” The Voice coach admitted she’s also forced her little ones, River Rose and Remington Alexander, to take photos with Santa, and they also threw a fit.

Christina Aguilera celebrates 41st birthday with “Dirrty” selfies

December 20, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Christina Aguilera proves she keeps getting better with age. The singer turned 41 on Saturday and flaunted her figure in a series of celebratory snaps.

Wearing just oversized sunglasses and long, black leather gloves, Christina shared five photos to Instagram and captioned them, “XTINA XLI.”

She is topless in every picture, but has her hair or arms strategically positioned in each snap to ensure fans don’t see anything too naughty. In addition, the Grammy winner has her face made up with dramatic eyeliner, long lashes and a dark, wine-colored lip liner. Her hair is also bleached blonde for the glamorous photoshoot.

Fans were quick to compare the makeover to the Christina they saw in the early aughts. This isn’t the first time the singer embraced a throwback look: she paid homage to her Stripped album when performing a medley of her biggest hits at the People’s Choice Awards earlier this month.

As for what the “Hurt” singer has coming up, her second Spanish-language album is due out next year. A title and release date are forthcoming.

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‘Spider-Man’ producer told Tom Holland, Zendaya not to date: “Don’t go there”

December 20, 2021 by WDNY Radio

It’s pretty well known that Spider-Man stars Tom Holland and Zendaya aren’t just an on-screen couple, but are an item off-screen as well — something that producer Amy Pascal said she warned them against.

“I took Tom and Zendaya aside, separately, when we first cast them and gave them a lecture,” Pascal told The New York Times. “Don’t go there — just don’t. Try not to.”

Clearly, her advice didn’t stick and like the previous Spider-Man leads before them — Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst, and Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield — Tom and Zendaya wound up together in real life.

Pascal also recalled giving the same advice to Emma and Andrew.

“It can just complicate things, you know? And they all ignored me,” she said.

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