Imagine Dragons will be performing at the 2022 NCAA March Madness Music Festival, taking place April 1-3 in New Orleans alongside the Final Four of the men’s college basketball tournament.
Dan Reynolds and company will take the stage on April 3 as part of the event’s Capital One JamFest. The bill also includes Grouplove, rapper Macklemore, and New Orleans jazz outfit Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue.
Admittance is free, though you do need to register for tickets ahead of time. Registration opens March 23 at 10 a.m. ET, though Capital One cardholders can sign up beginning March 21 at 10 a.m. ET.
After releasing a new remix of her 1998 hit “Frozen,” created with producer Sickick and Nigerian singer Fireboy DML, Madonna has now dropped a video for the track.
The clip incorporates elements of Madonna’s original video for “Frozen” — specifically, shots of a huge black dog and an effect that showed Madonna hitting the ground and turning into a flock of black birds. The rest of the track has her performing in a black leather bustier, gloves and boots, plus fishnet stockings, against a flashing, multi-colored background.
Fireboy DML, with whom Ed Sheeran collaborates on the current single “Peru,” shows up and sings alone, and then to Madonna; they stand together and then appear to go their separate ways.
As previously reported, this version of “Frozen” was created by Sickick and blew up on TikTok in 2021, where it soundtracked more than 100,000 different videos. Fireboy jumped on the track and added his own verse.
2022 marks the 40th anniversary of Madonna’s recording debut: Her first single, “Everybody,” came out in October of 1982. A partnership deal she signed last year with Warner Music Group will include a “career-spanning multi-year series of releases that will revisit her whole catalog.”
(WASHINGTON) — When National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair Rick Scott announced his “11 Point Plan to Rescue America” in late February, it was met with resistance from established Washington lawmakers. Weeks later, it appears to be gaining traction among a handful of deeply conservative GOP Senate candidates,while continuing to fall flat among most Republicans in the running across midterm battlegrounds.
Scott’s 11-point outline mapped out conservative approaches to a range of topics including the economy, the nation’s education system, racial equality, crime, immigration and several other social issues. The public proposal specifically highlighted priorities like finishing the border wall and naming it after former President Donald Trump, promoting two-parent households, opposing abortions and requiring all Americans to pay “some income tax to have skin in the game.”
Upon its publication, the plan was met with criticism from both sides of the aisle. While advocates in various fields blasted points in the plan that targeted social issues — such as prohibiting “critical race theory” in public schools, insisting there are only “two genders” and banning tax dollars from being spent on diversity training — lawmakers and political heavyweights critiqued Scott’s income tax proposal.
ABC News contacted more than a dozen candidates in eight battleground states to weigh in on Scott’s plan. Of those contacted, six responded and three expressed support for the plan as a whole. Three candidates expressed support for the NRSC chair’s decision to present ideas to the public while expressing reluctance to support certain elements of the overall agenda, specifically raising taxes. Alternatively, five candidates did not respond to ABC News’ request for comment, and none voiced full-throated opposition to the plan in its entirety.
Scott released the plan in his capacity as a senator, rather than his position as a committee leader for the upper chamber’s campaign arm, according to the NRSC.
Among the most high-profile responses offering support for Scott’s proposal came from incumbent Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson, a strong Trump supporter.
“Senator Rick Scott put forward his proposal that opposes reckless federal spending and intrusive government overreach and supports conservative goals like local control of education, election integrity, religious liberty, and an improved health care system. I think it’s important for elected officials to tell their constituents what they are for, and I support Senator Scott for doing so,” Johnson said in a statement.
In Pennsylvania, Scott received praise from two Republican Senate primary candidates — veteran and conservative political commentator Kathy Barnette and former Trump administration ambassador to Denmark, Carla Sands.
“I’m reading through [the plan], and so far, I agree, and I am grateful that someone with that platform is now saying the quiet parts out loud,” said Barnette, the only Black candidate in her state’s GOP primary, in a phone interview as she reviewed it. She added that the plan “crosses political affiliation — most Americans believe these things.”
She voiced support for classroom policies laid out in the plan, including requiring students to salute the American flag and “learn that America is a great country.”
While she didn’t directly comment on the component of Scott’s plan that says “no government policy will be based on race,” she did say that “racism is real.”
“I have never said that it wasn’t […] what I have tried to instill in my own children is that in today’s America if you don’t like me because of the color of my skin, that’s more your problem than it is mine.”
In an email statement to ABC News, Sands voiced strong support for Scott’s proposal, while placing blame on the Biden administration for inflation and harkening back to policies implemented under Trump.
“I stand with Senator Rick Scott and his 11 point plan to rescue America,” the former ambassador said, adding a parallel to Newt Gingrich’s 1994 “Contract with America.”
Philadelphia-area attorney George Bochetto said he agrees with many of Scott’s “bold positions” but stopped short of backing the plan as a whole over economic concerns.
“I will not be voting for tax increases, and I will protect Medicare and Social Security,” Bochetto said in a statement.
Other high-profile Republican candidates including Dr. Mehmet Oz, Dave McCormick and Jeff Bartos did not return ABC News’ requests for comment.
Scott’s proposal was met with a more lukewarm reception from his Florida colleague, Sen. Marco Rubio, who told reporters last week he had not seen the whole plan and is unsure whether he agrees with all points but that “it’s good that people offer ideas.”
His main point of contention is that Scott’s plan would cause Americans to pay more in taxes — a dealbreaker for many Republicans.
During the North Carolina GOP primary debate, former House Rep. Mark Walker said even though he supports Scott, he does not believe everyone should pay taxes and that people should pay taxes if they have an income.
Former North Carolina governor and GOP Senate candidate Pat McCrory shared the same sentiment — that he supports Scott but not tax hikes.
“The problem is not needing more money, the problem is spending,” McCrory said on the debate stage.
In Nevada, GOP Senate candidate Adam Laxalt said in a statement to ABC News he does not support Scott’s plan.
“I don’t support tax increases on anyone,” he said. “That’s why I signed the Americans for Tax Reform pledge.”
Chuck Morse, one of several Republicans looking to flip Democrat Sen. Maggie Hassan’s seat in New Hampshire, also expressed hesitancy over taxes while avoiding a clear condemnation of the proposal.
“I have not seen the full report. I am a proud tax cutter and have signed the Americans for Tax Reform pledge to NH voters to oppose any new taxes or tax increases. I am building my own campaign based on the #603 way, not any Washington D.C. way,” Morse said in an emailed statement to ABC News.
Fellow New Hampshire Republicans Don Buldoc declined to comment and Kevin Smith did not comment for this article.
The candidate responses come on the heels of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell offering a strong rebuke of Scott’s proposal. Although McConnell has not released a public Republican agenda, one senator with knowledge of the matter told ABC News that McConnell warned his Republican colleagues in a recent leadership meeting that Scott’s plan could damage the party ahead of the midterms.
“If we are fortunate enough to have the majority next year, I’ll be the majority leader, I’ll decide in consultation with my members what to put on the floor,” McConnell said during a recent press conference.
“Let me tell you what will not be a part of our agenda — we will not have as part of our agenda a bill that raises taxes on half the American people, sunsets Social Security and Medicare within five years. That will not be a part of the Republican Senate Majority agenda,” he added.
ABC News’ Allison Pecorin contributed to this report.
Kanye West has reportedly added a new member to his team by hiring Hollywood Unlocked host Jason Lee as his social media manager.
According to the U.K. tabloid The Sun, the entertainment blogger “is working for him in the role of a media manager, helping broker deals and he is in charge with his public image.”
The news comes a little over a week after Facebook posted Kanye’s “Controlling Our Narrative: The Future Brunch” livestream event, which Lee hosted.
Ye’s decision to employ Lee may come as a surprise to some after Lee published false news back in February, reporting that Queen Elizabeth II had died. An updated version of the original story, now formatted as a listicle, was later published to the Hollywood Unlocked site. Lee also apologized.
“From the outside it seems totally strange to take him on, especially after what happened with the Queen,” a source told The Sun about Kanye’s alleged decision. “But he wants to be surrounded by people who know how the media game works and reckons he shares a vision with Jason.”
The news also comes amidst the many recent social media posts Ye has shared regarding his very public divorce from Kim Kardashian.
Fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer celebrated the show’s 25th anniversary on Thursday with mixed feelings. Following director Joss Whedon‘s fall from grace and alarming allegations of misconduct made by former cast members and those who worked with him on other projects, it leaves fans worried that has permanently tainted the show’s legacy.
Star Sarah Michelle Gellar looked past the controversy to celebrate those who helped turned Buffy into a cult classic — the fans.
“25 years ago today I had the honor to introduce the world to my version of Buffy Anne Summers. It was an uphill battle,” she wrote Thursday on Instagram. “A mid season replacement, on a new network based on a movie, that was by no means a giant success. But then there was you. The fans. You believed in us. You made this happen.”
She continued, “You are the reason 25 years later we are still celebrating. So today we celebrate you as well,” and closed with the hashtag “#wwbd,” which means “What Would Buffy Do?”
ABC Audio caught up with Gellar ahead of the show’s silver anniversary, and the actress spoke about why a series about vampires and mad gods resonated so fiercely with fans.
“I think what makes any great entertainment is when a story transcends time and place, when everybody finds a little bit of themselves in the character. You know, whether you’re a guy, a girl, age, whatever, everyone understood that we used the demons as the manifestation of the horrors of adolescence,” said Gellar about why the show has survived the test of time. “No matter who you are, we all experience the horrors of adolescence. That is one of the commonalities among us.”
Buffy the Vampire Slayer premiered March 10, 1997, and ran for seven seasons, airing its final episode in 2003.
Just call him Cupid: Tim McGraw helped out a fan this week by providing her with tickets to his show so she could surprise her husband on their anniversary.
“I have done EVERYTHING I could to get tickets to your show this weekend,” the fan tweeted. “I wanted it to be a surprise for my hubby for our 20th wedding anniversary 2/22/22. But it’s sold out. I told him I had a surprise for him. The surprise now is no concert.”
So the country star came to the rescue: “Happy anniversary! Tickets are on me. Enjoy,” Tim replied.
If anyone knows about the importance of celebrating anniversaries, it’s Tim. He and his fellow superstar wife Faith Hill celebrated 25 years of marriage last fall.
AMC has released a trailer and a release date for the start of the last season of Better Call Saul: April 18.
The Emmy-winning Breaking Bad prequel series ended its penultimate season with Bob Odenkirk‘s Jimmy McGill getting increasingly tangled in the deadly dealings of the Salamanca drug cartel.
Set in part to Andy Williams‘ “The Days of Wine and Roses,” the trailer shows Jimmy and wife Kim Wexler, played by Rhea Seahorn, plotting to legally target their law partner, Patrick Fabian‘s Howard.
Meanwhile, Tony Dalton‘s Lalo is plotting to lethally target Jonathan Banks‘ Mike and Michael Mando‘s Nacho in revenge for their botched hit on Lalo, which killed his family.
“Whatever happens next, it’s not gonna go down the way you think it is,” Mike warns in voiceover.
The sixth season of Better Call Saul was supposed to debut last year, but was delayed both by the pandemic and by Odenkirk’s near-fatal heart attack on the show’s New Mexico set.
On his most recent album The Lockdown Sessions, Elton John teamed up everyone from Miley Cyrus and Dua Lipa to Stevie Nicks to Pearl Jam‘s Eddie Vedder, but he was really excited about duetting with his old friend Stevie Wonder on the song “Finish Line.” Now, you can watch the emotional and heartwarming video for the track.
The clip mixes vintage home movie footage and photos of pivotal moments in people’s lives with scenes from the pandemic, so in addition to couples with their babies, weddings and family gatherings, you’ll see overwhelmed healthcare workers and masked-up people going about their daily lives.
In the middle of it all is footage of Elton and Stevie performing together over the years, including clips of video for their 1985 #1 charity hit “That’s What Friends Are For,” which also featured Dionne Warwick and Gladys Knight.
When the album was first released, Elton said that “Finish Line” marked his first-ever vocal duet with Stevie, who also played harmonica and acoustic piano on the track.
“It sounds simply incredible. Stevie sounds like he’s 19 again,” Elton noted. “It was a special experience making this record with Stevie.”
Released in October 2021, The Lockdown Sessions peaked at #10 on the Billboard 200.
Jackson Browne has joined the star-packed lineup of the 2022 Love Rocks NYC! benefit concert, which takes place tonight at the Beacon Theatre in New York City and also will be livestreamed for free online.
Browne will appear as a special guest during the show, which, as previously reported, is being headlined by Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards and his solo band The X-Pensive Winos.
The Love Rocks NYC! concert raises money for the God’s Love We Deliver charity, which provides nutritious meals to seriously ill people in the New York City area who have difficulty leaving their homes or cooking for themselves.
You can access a link to watch the event for free by signing up at LoveRocksNYC.com, while you’re also encouraged to contribute funds to the charity, which is offering a special “$20 = 2 Meals” donation option. Donations also can be made at Give.GLWD.org.
The show’s lineup also features Melissa Etheridge, Mavis Staples, ex-Allman Brothers Band singer/guitarist Warren Haynes, Hozier, Jimmy Vivino and many more.
The event will be co-hosted by Mario Cantone, Gina Gershon, Kiefer Sutherland, Steve Schirripa and Michelle Buteau.
The concert’s house band will be led by longtime CBS Orchestra bassist Will Lee, and will include former Bob Dylan and Levon Helm touring guitarist Larry Campbell, Eric Clapton touring drummer Steve Gadd and Fleetwood Mac touring keyboardist Ricky Peterson.
More information about the concert is available at LoveRocksNYC.com and GLWD.org.
Meanwhile, Browne, who last year released a new studio album titled Downhill from Everywhere, will kick off a Canadian leg of his joint tour with James Taylor on April 21 in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
The xx‘s Oliver Sim has premiered his debut solo single, “Romance with a Memory.”
“I’m thrilled, excited, ecstatic, over caffeinated and overjoyed to be sharing ‘Romance with a Memory’ with you all,” Sim says. “Terrifyingly, this is the first song I’ve ever released under my own name, I really hope you all enjoy it.”
“Romance with a Memory” is available now via digital outlets. You can watch its accompany video, starring a dancing Michael Myers — the Halloween one, not the Wayne’s World one — streaming now on Sim’s YouTube channel.
Sim is now the third and final xx member to release solo material, following band mates Jamie xx and Romy Madley Croft. The trio’s most recent album together is 2017’s I See You.
In related news, The xx has launched a new series on Apple Music 1 called Interludes Radio. The first episode, hosted by Sim, is out today.
