Here’s wishing a very happy 80th birthday to singer/songwriter Jesse Colin Young, who came to fame as the frontman of the popular folk-rock band The Youngbloods.
The Youngbloods are most famous for their 1967 rendition of the oft-covered Chester Powers-penned peace anthem “Get Together.” Upon its initial release, the song only reached #62 on the Billboard Hot 100, but it was re-released in 1969 after it was used in a religion-themed TV and radio campaign and wound up going to #5 on the chart.
Young also wrote many original songs for The Youngbloods, including the popular 1969 tune “Darkness, Darkness,” which was later covered by various artists, among them Mott the Hoople, Eric Burdon, Robert Plant and Ann Wilson.
Jesse had released a couple of solo albums before The Youngbloods were formed, and after the band broke up in 1972 he went back to his solo career.
His most successful solo effort was 1975’s Songbird, which peaked at #26 on the Billboard 200. His most recent collection of new songs is Dreamers, released in 2019.
Last year, Young teamed up with Steve Miller for a new version of “Get Together” that was released as part of the WhyHunger charity’s SongAid campaign. Young also recorded a new rendition of the tune with acclaimed ukulele player Jake Shimabukuro that appears on the latter artist’s new collaborative album Jake & Friends.
Young’s newest single is a cover of the 1971 Cat Stevens tune “Trouble” that Jesse recorded as a duet with his daughter, Jazzie Young.
The track, which is available now via digital formats, celebrates the 50th anniversary of Harold and Maude, the quirky film that featured “Trouble” on its soundtrack.
You can check out a music video for the duet at Young’s official YouTube channel.
(NEW YORK) — The rush to vaccinate children against COVID-19 is accelerating amid a steady increase in coronavirus infections and hospitalizations nationwide.
Last week, nearly 142,000 child coronavirus cases were recorded, with weekly infections among children up by more than 40% since late October, according to a new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Children’s Hospital Association (CHA).
Nationally, new coronavirus cases among all age groups have been increasing for the last three weeks, with the average now topping 92,000 new cases a day. Thirty-one states, as well as Washington, D.C., have seen an uptick in daily cases of 10% or more in the past two weeks.
Last week, children accounted for about a quarter of reported weekly COVID-19 cases, despite individuals under age 18 only making up 22.2% of the U.S. population. Regionally, the Midwest continues to see the highest number of pediatric cases, as the area experiences a notable viral resurgence with winter arriving across the region.
The nation has also seen an uptick in pediatric hospital admissions, alongside other age groups. Although hospitalization totals are still significantly lower than during the nation’s most recent summer surge, across the country, just under 1,250 children are hospitalized with a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection. Ohio currently leads the country with 168 children receiving care, followed by Texas with 120 children.
Amid this viral resurgence, health experts are urging parents to get their eligible children vaccinated.
COVID-19 “is one of the top 10 leading causes of death in children,” Dr. Leana Wen, emergency physician and professor of health policy and management at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, said during a briefing Wednesday with the National Press Foundation. Vaccines are a “safe and simple intervention,” she said, and significantly lower the risk of severe illness.
Earlier this month, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky reported the agency had seen a surge of interest in pediatric COVID-19 vaccinations, following emergency use authorization of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.
“We’re seeing strong demand for COVID vaccinations among children ages 5 to 11 across the country with hundreds of thousands of appointments booked for the next few weeks,” Walensky said at the time.
Approximately one-third of children ages 5-17 have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, according to recently updated federal data. In the last two weeks alone, 2 million children ages 5-11 years-old have received their first dose.
If parents get their children vaccinated now, they will be able to be fully vaccinated by the later winter holidays, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the White House’s chief medical adviser, said during an appearance on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday.
“We now have vaccines that are highly effective and clearly very safe, particularly now with the recent data showing that we can vaccinate children from 5 through 11,” Fauci said. “There are 28 million children within that age category. If we started vaccinating them now, they’ll be fully protected by Christmas.”
Although severe illness due to COVID-19 remains “uncommon” among children, the two organizations wrote, there is an “urgent” need to collect more data on the long-term consequences of the pandemic on children, “including ways the virus may harm the long-term physical health of infected children, as well as its emotional and mental health effects.”
(WASHINGTON) — First lady Jill Biden kicked off the holiday season in the nation’s capital on Monday by accepting delivery of the official White House Christmas tree — with all the sleigh bells and whistles one might expect.
This year’s tree — an 18.5-foot Fraser fir — hails from Jefferson, North Carolina. The White House welcome event on Monday afternoon marked 56 years of the tradition.
The tree arrived at the White House Portico on an evergreen-colored carriage decked out in holiday greenery and pulled down the driveway by two Clydesdale horses — Ben and Winston — who were adorned with silver sleigh bells and with paper Christmas trees in their braids. A four-piece band played Christmas classics, including “O, Christmas Tree” and “O, Come All Ye Faithful,” as the tree was delivered.
Wearing a red coat and a white dress, the first lady accepted the Christmas tree in apparent delight following a quick quality inspection.
“It’s beautiful — it’s magnificent, actually,” she told reporters when asked what she thought of the tree.
This tree will be on display in the Blue Room, where the chandelier will be temporarily removed to accommodate the full height of the tree, according to the White House.
Following the first lady’s acceptance, the Christmas tree will be decorated for the holiday season.
In addition to the Estes family, which provided the tree after winning the National Christmas Tree Contest for their third year, the first lady also invited the Harrell Family to mark the occasion, to represent and honor the families of active National Guard members who are spending the holidays apart this year.
A National Guard mom herself, Biden intended to honor the role of the National Guard this year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the White House said.
Biden’s family was also on hand for the acceptance including son Hunter and his son, Beau Jr., whom the first lady handed a branch that she plucked from the tree.
The first lady has not yet announced the theme of this year’s decorations at the White House, expected to be unveiled in the coming days.
She told reporters her message for service members this holiday season is to “be safe and have a happy, healthy holiday.”
ABC News’ Sarah Kolinovsky contributed to this report.
(WAUKESHA, Wis.) — Five people were killed and more than 40 were hurt when an SUV barreled into a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin, on Sunday afternoon, authorities said.
Children are among the injured.
A person of interest is in custody, authorities said.
Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern:
Nov 22, 4:37 pm
Suspect previously arrested for running woman over with SUV, court records show
Darrell Brooks, the suspect accused of driving into a Christmas parade on Sunday, killing five, was arrested last month for using a 2010 maroon Ford Escape to run over the mother of his child, according to court documents.
This appears to be the same vehicle used to plow through the parade.
In early November, a woman told police Brooks had pulled up beside her following an earlier domestic dispute and instructed her to get into his car, the documents said. When she refused, Brooks hit her in the face with a closed fist, according to the criminal complaint.
As she walked away through a gas station parking lot, Brooks “intentionally” ran her over with his car, the complaint said.
Brooks, 39, is set to make his first court appearance on Tuesday in connection to Sunday’s incident. He is charged with five counts of first-degree intentional homicide, police said.
-ABC News’ Aaron Katersky
Nov 22, 3:00 pm
81-year-old, 79-year-old among the 5 killed
An 81-year-old man, Wilhelm Hospel, and a 79-year-old woman, Virginia Sorenson, were among the five killed, police said at a news conference. The other victims were 71-year-old LeAnna Owen, 52-year-old Tamara Durand and 52-year-old Jane Kulich.
The suspect, 39-year-old Darrell Brooks, is charged with five counts of first-degree intentional homicide, police said. More charges are possible, police said.
The suspect was involved in a domestic disturbance minutes prior to the deadly crash, police said.
Besides the five killed, 48 were hurt when the suspect “intentionally drove his maroon SUV through barricades into a crowd of people,” police said.
One officer fired shots to try to stop the driver, but stopped shooting because so many parade-goers were present, police said. No one was hurt by the gunfire and the officer is on administrative leave, police said.
Police said the suspect acted alone and this was not a terrorist event.
Officials said this “Norman Rockwell-type Christmas parade” has been held for decades.
Nov 22, 1:43 pm
Biden says he prays ‘spirit’ of Thanksgiving will ‘lift up’ families
In his first comments on the deadly crash, President Joe Biden said Monday, “While we don’t have all the facts and details yet, we know this morning that five families in Waukesha are facing fresh grief of a life without a loved one.”
“At least 40 Americans are suffering from injuries, some of them in critical condition, and an entire community is struggling, struggling to cope with the horrific act of violence,” Biden said.
“Last night, the people of Waukesha were gathered to celebrate the start of a season of hope and togetherness and Thanksgiving,” he continued. “This morning, Jill and I and the entire Biden family, and I’m sure all of us, pray that that same spirit is going to embrace and lift up all the victims of this tragedy, bringing recovery from the injuries and wrapping the families of those who died in support of their community.”
The administration is “monitoring the situation very closely,” Biden added.
-ABC News’ Sarah Kolinovsky
Nov 22, 1:22 pm
Person held by police is 39-year-old Darrell Brooks
The person being held by police is 39-year-old Darrell Brooks, multiple law enforcement sources told ABC News. Brooks has not been charged with a crime in connection with the parade incident nor has he been named a suspect.
-ABC News’ Pierre Thomas, Josh Margolin, Luke Barr, Aaron Katersky
Nov 22, 12:29 pm
6 kids in critical condition
Ten of the 18 children taken to Children’s Wisconsin hospital were admitted to the ICU, including six children in critical condition, hospital officials said.
Three of the ICU patients are in serious condition and one is in fair condition.
Another eight patients were admitted in fair conditions and two of the 18 children have since been discharged, officials said.
The hospitalized children range in age from 3 to 16 and include three sets of siblings, officials said. Injuries include serious head injuries and broken bones.
Six children were sent to the operating room Sunday night and another two children will undergo surgery on Monday, officials said.
-ABC News’ Josh Hoyos
Nov 22, 11:23 am
Man recounts ‘SUV hurtling towards me’
Brayden Kowalski was at the parade in Waukesha, which he described as “a very loving community,” when he “saw about a block away, the SUV hurtling towards me.”
He pulled his nephews, ages 4 and 6, out of the vehicle’s path at the last minute. The SUV was about 5 feet away, Kowalski said.
Kowalski said he “was fear-stricken, but I just, I tried the best I could to help,” escorting people from the street over to the sidewalks.
Of the driver, he said, “I don’t know if they were targeting people, but they for sure weren’t dodging people. “
Nov 22, 11:07 am
18 treated at children’s hospital
Children’s Wisconsin, the pediatric trauma center for the area, has treated 18 children following the crash, hospital officials said.
Nov 22, 10:55 am
Driver may have been fleeing previous incident
Based on video evidence and interviews, investigators’ preliminary assessment is that the driver wasn’t aiming at specific parade participants but was speeding through the route to flee an earlier incident, multiple law enforcement sources told ABC News.
Authorities scoured social media and other digital platforms associated with the person of interest overnight. At this point authorities have no reason to believe there is any connection to radicalization, extremism or the ongoing debate about the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict, the sources said.
-ABC News’ Josh Margolin, Luke Barr, Aaron Katersky
Dan + Shay were performing in Texas on Sunday night, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t able to celebrate their big win at the American Music Awards.
On Monday, the duo took to Instagram to share their excitement about winning Favorite Country Duo or Group at the all-genre awards show, which aired live from Los Angeles on ABC on Sunday night. They celebrated the news with the thousands of fans at their sold-out show at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, the massive crowd erupting into thunderous cheers as the duo excitedly hoisted their trophies in the air.
“These awards always mean the most to us because they are fan voted,” the twosome expressed in the caption to their post. “And to everybody who voted for us, THANK YOU. We are the luckiest guys of all time to have y’all in our corner and will NEVER take your support for granted. It’s very appropriate that it’s Thanksgiving week because we are VERY thankful.”
Country peers Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan and Gabby Barrett also walked away winners. Dan + Shay continue on The (Arena) Tour through December 7 where it wraps in Boston.
It was a special weekend in Atlanta for Future as he celebrated his 38th birthday, and received a plaque for “Life Is Good,” featuring Drake, being RIAA-certified Diamond for ten million sales.
Friday night, the “Mask Off” rapper hosted a Mafia-themed birthday party attended by Drake, according to HotNewHipHop.com Later, Drizzy hosted an after party at Dave & Busters. Saturday night, Future’s manager, Dwight Elder, presented him with the Diamond plaque.
“Life Is Good” was released January 10, 2020 as the third single from Future’s eighth studio album, High Off Life. The song debuted at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained there for eight consecutive weeks. It’s one of many Future/Drake collabos, including “Where Ya At,” “Jumpman,” “Used to This” and “Way 2 Sexy,” with Young Thug, from the Champagne Papi’s Certified Lover Boy album.
Luke Combs continues to break records in country music.
As his latest single, “Cold As You,” ascends to #1 on country radio, it makes him the first artist in history to have seven consecutive #1 singles off the same album.
“Cold As You” and its predecessors “Beer Never Broke My Heart,” “Even Though I’m Leaving,” “Does to Me,” “Lovin’ on You,” “Better Together” and “Forever After All” are all lifted from the deluxe album, What You See Ain’t Always What You Get, setting a record for most chart-topping hits off the same project.
“Cold As You” marks Luke’s 12th consecutive #1 single overall.
Luke’s 2019 sophomore album, What You See Is What You Get, and the deluxe edition released in 2020 both debuted at #1 on the all-genre Billboard 200 and Billboard Top Country Albums chart.
The superstar singer was recently crowned Entertainer of the Year at the CMA Awards for the first time. He’s set to embark on a headlining stadium tour in 2022 that includes stops at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta and Denver’s Empower Field at Mile High, among other venues.
While some people might panic at the idea of celebrating two back-to-back birthdays, Justin Bieber welcomes the opportunity to tell his loved ones just how much they mean to him. A day after setting the bar for big brothers everywhere when celebrating his little brother, Jaxon, turning 12, Justin Bieber penned a swoon-worthy birthday tribute for his wife, Hailey, who turned 25 on Monday.
Again, sharing a collage of cozy-looking photos, Justin took to Instagram and gushed, “To my beloved birthday squish. My heart belongs to you. My eyes belong to you, my lips belong to you. I am yours. I am so blessed to be yours. You are my forever.”
“Life has never made more sense until you became my wife,” the Grammy winner sweetly said to his bride of three years. “I will never stop loving you, I will never stop holding you, and I will never stop protecting you.”
Calling Hailey his “queen,” Justin vowed, “I will spend everyday making you feel like the queen that you are.”
He ended on an adorable note, by referencing a fond memory of the model’s maternal grandmother, Mary Ellen Deodato.
“As your grandma would say in her Portuguese accent ‘happy bursday baby,'” he wrote, ” I love you until the end of time and then after that.”
Among the many never-before-seen photos he shared Monday were snaps of the two relaxing by the beach, enjoying fancy dinners and of her recent birthday bash.
Following their battle with New Kids on the Block Sunday night on the American Music Awards, two members of New Edition will perform in the Christmas special, A Very Boy Band Holiday.
Bobby Brown and Michael Bivins will sing with members of five more male groups. Wanya Morris and Shawn Stockman of Boyz II Men will also be featured, along with Joey McIntyre of New Kids on the Block; Joey Fatone, Chris Kirkpatrick and Lance Bass of *NSYNC; Nick Lachey, Drew Lachey, Jeff Timmons and Justin Jeffre of 98 Degrees, and Erik-Michael Estrada of O-Town.
All of the artists will perform their classic tunes, as well as each group’s greatest holiday hits. Surprise guests will drop by, and viewers will also hear a new original song called “A Very Boy Band Holiday,” performed by Joey Fatone and Wanya Morris.
A Very Boy Band Holiday airs Monday, December 6 at 8 p.m. ET on A
Looks like America really needed a good cry last week because Taylor Swift‘s newly rerecorded version of “All Too Well” is the top song in the country. The tear-jerking ballad dethroned Adele‘s “Easy on Me,” which falls to second place, and debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100 — marking Taylor’s eighth official chart-topper.
“All Too Well” is featured on the recently released Red (Taylor’s Version), which offers two versions of the heartbreak anthem — a regular, radio-friendly shorter song and the mythical 10-minute version. Fans spent years begging Taylor to release the latter, which she not only did, but also directed and released a short film to accompany the single. She also gave it a folklore facelift just last week with the “Sad Girl Autumn” remix.
Billboard combined the data from the long, short and the “Sad Girl Autumn” version of “All Too Well,” which helped propel the single to the top of the Hot 100. Its new ranking smashes the previous record it held when the song appeared on the chart in 2012 at number 80.
This also means that Taylor has accomplished a new feat: she’s now the proud creator of the lengthiest song to top the Hot 100. She dethrones Don McLean, whose eight-minute and 37-second “American Pie (Parts I & II)” held the record since 1972.
Taylor’s also is the first artist to send a cover of her own song to the top since EltonJohn did with his 1973 single, “Candle in the Wind.” Two covers of that song, recorded in 1988 and 1997, went on to number one.
Billboard notes the last time a cover dominated its Hot 100 was in 2001, when Christina Aguilera, Pink, Mya and Lil’ Kim performed Labelle‘s 1975 hit “Lady Marmalade” for the movie Moulin Rouge!
