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Alan Ladd Jr., producer who backed ‘Star Wars’, dead at 84

March 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Alan Ladd Jr., the producer who greenlighted George Lucas‘ Star Wars while at 20th Century Fox in 1977, has died. Deadline reports he was 84.

On social media, Ladd’s daughter Amanda Ladd-Jones wrote, “With the heaviest of hearts, we announce that on March 2, 2022, Alan Ladd, Jr. died peacefully at home surrounded by his family,” adding, “Words cannot express how deeply he will be missed. His impact on films and filmmaking will live on in his absence.”

Ladd not only backed Star Wars when other studios passed on the American Graffiti director’s tale of a “galaxy far, far away,” but he put his job on the line to defend it while it was being made.

Studio executives were furious at budget overruns on Lucas’ “science movie” as Star Wars‘ production dragged on, amid shooting delays caused by weather and technical problems from the movie’s groundbreaking special effects.

In the documentary Empire of Dreams: The Story of Star Wars Trilogy, Ladd recalled being confronted by one executive, and telling him, “‘It’s the greatest picture ever made.’ That ended the conversation. They were afraid to tell me…’You’re wrong, we want you out of the building by 5 p.m.'”

He added with a smile, “There were some tense moments.”

A former agent, Ladd went on to have a hugely successful career as a producer that also saw him credited with films including Moonstruck, A Fish Called Wanda and Thelma & Louise, among others. In 1996, he won an Oscar for Mel Gibson‘s epic Braveheart.

Evan Rachel Wood cast as Madonna…in “Weird Al” Yankovic biopic

March 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

While a search for someone to star in Madonna‘s upcoming biopic is reportedly ongoing, another movie has decided on who will play its Madonna.

Emmy-nominated Westworld star Evan Rachel Wood will portray the Queen of Pop in WEIRD: The Al Yankovic Story, a Roku Original movie about the life and career of famed parody singer “Weird Al” Yankovic that stars Daniel Radcliffe as Al. A still released from the film shows Wood as Madonna circa 1984 or 1985.

As for why Madonna is in the film, it likely has something to do with the fact that after her song “Like a Virgin” became a hit, she wondered to an acquaintance when Al would turn it into “Like a Surgeon.” The acquaintance knew Al’s manager and told him what Madonna had said, and the manager brought it up to Al.

In 1985, Al released “Like a Surgeon” — in the only instance of Al getting a parody idea directly from the artist who he was parodying.

As for Madonna’s biopic, which she’s co-writing and directing, the Hollywood newsletter The Ankler reports that Euphoria actresses Sydney Sweeney and Barbie Ferreira have both auditioned to play her, as has Julia Garner of Ozark. Madonna initially wanted Florence Pugh, but as The Ankler writes, “If they’re auditioning as many actresses as they have been, it doesn’t seem as though that one worked out.”

Eric Church books another stadium event, this time with Morgan Wallen and Ernest

March 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Eric Church is adding another stand-alone stadium show to his tour plans this summer. He has announced a performance billed as “One Hell of a Night” at Minneapolis’ U.S. Bank Stadium on June 11.

Eric already announced a Memorial Day Weekend stadium show in Milwaukee, with Brothers Osborne and Parker McCollum.

This time around, the Chief is enlisting Morgan Wallen to share the stage. Also on the bill is Ernest, an opening act for Morgan’s own headlining 2022 The Dangerous Tour.

Morgan remains a controversial figure in country music. In early 2021, he was benched by the industry after video footage emerged of him using a racial slur; he retreated from the spotlight for much of the year that followed.

But Morgan’s been mounting a comeback in recent months. His “Sand in My Boots” went number-one at country radio, and his Dangerous: The Double Album, a project that came out shortly before the scandal, was one of 2021’s top-selling albums.

Though Eric — who is a co-writer on one of Dangerous’ tracks — condemned the younger singer’s actions as “indefensible,” he’s had empathy for Morgan in the wake of the racist slur incident, and the two have remained in contact. Morgan shared a snapshot last April of them fishing together.

Earlier this week, Eric appeared to tease the possibility of a joint bill between him and Morgan, posting a photo of them onstage together and writing “We should do it again soon.”

Tickets for Eric and Morgan’s Minneapolis show go on sale March 11.

MTV’s Movie & TV Awards, and Movie & TV Awards: UNSCRIPTED returning live on June 5 and 6

March 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

MTV has announced that both its Movie & TV Awards and its reality show event, MTV Movie & TV Awards: UNSCRIPTED, will return live from Los Angeles, respectively, on Sunday, June 5th, and Monday, June 6th on MTV internationally in 180 countries.

Hosts, guests, and nominees will be announced at a later date.

Former SNL star and Coming 2 America co-star Leslie Jones hosted the festivities on the Movies & TV side last year, while comic and actress Nikki Glaser did the honors for the Unscripted show.

Both events to take place once again at LA’s Barker Hangar, the site of the 2018 and 2019 shows. Last year’s events, the first for Unscripted, were held at the Palladium.

In 2020, the pandemic cancelled the Movie & TV Awards, and instead Vanessa Hudgens hosted the virtual MTV Movie and TV Awards: Greatest of All Time.

Liam Gallagher premieres video for “Everything’s Electric” solo song

March 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Liam Gallagher has premiered the video for his latest solo song, “Everything’s Electric.”

The black-and-white clip features a newly recorded performance of the tune, paired with footage of cheering fans from past Gallagher shows. You can watch it now streaming on YouTube.

While he doesn’t show up in the video, Dave Grohl plays drums on “Everything’s Electric,” and also co-wrote the song.

“Everything’s Electric” will appear on Gallagher’s upcoming solo album, C’mon You Know, due out May 27.

Lizzo covers People magazine’s Women Changing the World Issue

March 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

“Good as Hell” pop star Lizzo gets personal about her road to success, body image, her experience learning about Blackness and more, as the cover girl of People’s Women Changing the World Issue.

“There was no Lizzo before Lizzo,” the 33-year-old superstar said in a sit-down interview. In detailing her road to success, the singer/songwriter said, “I had to blaze a trail.”

It took two years for Lizzo’s Grammy-winning hit single, “Truth Hurts,” to gain popularity but after blowing up on TikTok, the song – and Lizzo – became a music industry favorite.

Her success garnered millions of fans, some of whom were critical of her physical appearance.

“Okay, we all know I’m fat,” she said in the People article, which hits stands Friday. “I know I’m fat. It doesn’t bother me. I like being fat, and I’m beautiful and I’m healthy…”

The star has often spoken out about body shaming and being comfortable in her skin. “I really don’t understand why I can’t just exist in my body,” Lizzo told ABC last year.

In response to all of the body-image noise, Lizzo says she considers herself a “body icon.”

Lizzo also said growing up, she quickly learned the truth about being Black in America. Her parents made sure to enlighten her about the Black experience and how to maneuver it.

“I don’t think my dad wanted to tell us about the gruesome murders that happen to Black people all the time,” Lizzo said. “But Black parents have this responsibility to let their children know what can happen.”

The star recently announced her new body-positive reality TV show, set to air on Amazon Prime this month. She considers the new dance show, Watch Out for the Big Grrrls, the “greatest moment of my career yet.”

Avril Lavigne says she “had to fight my whole career” to make the music she wants

March 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Avril Lavigne says she’s fought “since day one” to make her music her way.

Speaking to Alternative Press, the Grammy nominee reflected on the upcoming 20th anniversary of her debut album, Let Go, and how far she’s come as an artist. Overall, Avril says she’s proud of her legacy because it’s 100 percent her design — but there was a small price to pay. Because she refused to be told what to do, it gave her somewhat of a negative reputation.

“I was tough. Honestly, a lot of people, when they meet me, [they] think I’m going to be a b****. I’m actually really nice. They’re always like, ‘Oh, my God, you’re totally not what I was expecting,'” she laughed, adding she views the label as “a good thing.”

“It means that you’re not a doormat. You’re not a pushover, and you speak your mind,” explained Avril. “I’m stubborn and strong-willed and strong-minded, and if I feel a certain way, I stick to it. I’m constantly fighting. I’ve been fighting since day one to write my own songs. I had to fight my whole career to write the type of music I wanted to write.”

The hitmaker continued, “Sometimes labels would give me pushback and didn’t understand my vision. I had to always fight, and fight on each album to keep going in the musical direction I wanted to go, even if they’re trying to sway me another way.”

“I’ve always been pretty good about keeping it real, and I’ve always been pretty unapologetic about it,” she declared.

Avril’s new album, LOVE SUX, is out now.

Listen to new Ghost song, “Twenties”

March 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Ghost has premiered a new song called “Twenties,” which will appear on the band’s upcoming album, Impera.

The track finds frontman Tobias Forge declaring “In the twenties/We’ll be singing in a reign of pennies,” perhaps commenting on our current decade, which has gotten off to a, let’s say, shaky start.

You can listen to “Twenties” now via digital outlets.

“Twenties” is the third song to be released from Impera, following “Hunter’s Moon” and “Call Me Little Sunshine.” The whole album arrives March 11.

Ghost is currently on a co-headlining tour with Volbeat, which concludes Thursday in Anaheim, California.

(Video contains uncensored profanity.)

Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley + more head up the lineup of inaugural Lasso Montreal country festival

March 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, Old Dominion and Kelsea Ballerini are just a few of the country A-listers headed north for the first-ever Lasso Montreal country music festival this summer.

The two-day festival is scheduled for August 12 and 13, with an additional event, Lasso in the City, set for August 11. Old Dominion and Dierks are headlining the first night, with acts like Ashley McBryde, Lily Rose and Tenille Townes also on the bill.

The next day, the lineup will include Breland and Riley Green, with Kelsea and Luke closing out the party.

Lasso Montreal will take place at Île Sainte-Hélène at Parc Jean-Drapeau, a two-island park that was once the site of the Expo 67 World’s Fair. Canadian country music will be well-represented, not only with the Grande Prairie, Alberta export Tenille Townes, but also with a bevy of talented local acts such as Five Roses, Brittany Kennell, Sara Dufour and Léa Jarry.

Tickets for the inaugural Lasso Montreal are on sale now. Fans can choose between GA passes and Gold Passes, the latter of which will offer access to fast-tracked entry, premium views and more.

Adoptive parents of two missing California boys arrested on murder charges

March 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(BAKERSFIELD, Calif.) — The more than yearlong search for two missing California toddlers took a disturbing twist Tuesday night when their adoptive parents were jailed on murder charges, authorities said.

Trezell West, 35, and Jacqueline West, 32, were being held without bail on Wednesday at the Kern County Jail, according to online jail records.

The couple was booked at the jail around 8 p.m. Tuesday on two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of willful cruelty to a child and a misdemeanor charge of making a false report of an emergency, according to jail records. They are expected to make their first appearance in court on Thursday.

The Wests reported their adopted children, 4-year-old Olson and his 3-year-old brother, Orrin, missing in December 2020 from the backyard of their home in California City near Bakersfield, setting off a massive search involving police and volunteers. A reward fund ballooned to more than $120,000 for information on the boys’ whereabouts.

Lt. Jason Townsend of the Bakersfield Police Department confirmed to ABC Bakersfield affiliate station KERO that the couple was arrested around 7 p.m. Tuesday. Townsend declined to release more information on the arrests except to say they were taken into custody in an unincorporated area of Bakersfield.

Kern County District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer has scheduled a news conference for Wednesday to discuss developments in the case.

Trezell and Jacqueline West reported the boys missing on Dec. 21, 2020, and have publicly denied being involved in their disappearance.

In an interview with KERO just two days after the boys vanished, Trezell West claimed he last saw them playing in their backyard.

“I realized that I left the back gate open and I panicked and came inside the house. [We] searched the house, me and my wife,” Trezell West said at the time. “Once that didn’t pan out, I got in the van. I looked down the street in both directions; it was getting dark, getting cold.”

Police investigators previously said the Wests were not suspects. It was not immediately clear what evidence led investigators to arrest the couple.

The whereabouts of Olson and Orrin remain a mystery. Since the outset of the search for the boys, police have said they suspect foul play was involved in their disappearance.

The Wests were initially foster parents to Orson and Orrin, who came to live with them in 2018. The couple officially completed the adoption process in 2019.

In addition to Orson and Orrin, the couple has four other children, including two who are adopted and two who are biological, investigators told ABC News. The Wests’ four other children had been moved into protective custody, police said.

In an interview with ABC News in February 2021, Trezell West’s mother, Wanda West, defended him and Jacqueline West as “really good parents as far as I’m concerned.”

ABC News’ Sabina Ghebremedhin and Zohreen Shah contributed to this report.

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