The first performers for the 2021 American Music Awards have been announced: Olivia Rodrigo, BTS, Megan Thee Stallion and Bad Bunny are all playing the show, which airs November 21 on ABC.
BTS will be giving fans the world TV premiere of their hit “Butter,” but what’s exciting is that Megan will be joining them for the performance. Olivia will be making her American Music Awards debut; she’s this year’s leading nominee with seven nods. Both BTS and Olivia are nominated for Artist of the Year.
Cardi B will host the show; voting is now open globally via TikTok. You can vote once per category per day by searching “AMAs” on TikTok, or you can vote online.
Maria Shriver is sticking up for her son-in-law Chris Pratt, commenting on that post about his new baby that caused such a flap online.
Pratt was flamed online last week for a sweet post to his wife, in which he thanked her for giving him a “gorgeous healthy daughter” that some read into that as a dig against Faris, as their child was born premature, and because of that, suffered health complications.
“I want to remind you today what a good man you are,” responded Shriver, the mom of Pratt’s wife, Katherine Schwarzenegger, who’s the daughter of Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Shriver, 66, mentioned both of Pratt’s children: 8-year-old Jack, from his marriage to ex Anna Faris, and his baby daughter with Katherine, Lyla.
“What a great father you are to Jack and Lyla, what a great husband you are to Katherine [and] what a great son in law you are to me and what a great sense of humor you have!!” said Shriver. “I love you Chris, keep being your wonderful self, rise above the noise. Your kids love [you] your family loves you [and] your wife loves you. What a beautiful life, I’m proud of you xo.”
While not addressing the situation directly, Pratt took to Instagram on Friday in a series of Stories to say he was feeling “depressed,” but found some peace in running in nature and listening to praise music.
(HENRY COUNTY, Ga.) — Investigators in Georgia and NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal are offering a $30,000 reward for any information regarding a suspect who shot and wounded a police officer last week.
Henry County Police Officer Paramhans Desai, 38, was responding to a domestic disturbance on Thursday and was attempting to make an arrest, the Henry County Police Department said in a statement. Jordan Jackson, 22, of McDonough, Georgia, allegedly shot Desai and fled the scene in a 2016 Honda Civic, according to the police.
Desai was taken to Grady Medical Center and was listed in critical, but stable condition Sunday, the police said. Desai, who is married and has two children, has been with the Henry County PD for two years and previously worked for the Georgia Department of Corrections and DeKalb County Police, the police said.
On Sunday, a reward for information on Jackson’s whereabouts was announced and the money came from several sources.
The Harris County Sheriff’s office and the U.S. Marshals Office each offered $10,000, Crime Stoppers Atlanta offered $5,000, the Henry County PD said.
O’Neal, who lives in Henry County and is an honorary deputy in Clayton County, Georgia, also offered $5,000.
Anyone with tips can call Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 800-597-TIPS (8477).
(LAS VEGAS) — With an eye on both the midterm elections and 2024, a host of Republican lawmakers — including many potential presidential contenders — spoke in Las Vegas at the Republican Jewish Coalition Annual Leadership Meeting this weekend. Most called this past week’s election outcomes a signifier of things to come during midterms.
“As we move forward, the signs are clear and the trends are unmistakable,” House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy said Saturday. “A Republican wave is underway.”
Attendees aim to ensure that GOP gains continue through 2024’s presidential election, with possible candidates making their case without explicitly stating their intentions.
“A lot of people have come here to audition,” said Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Saturday night.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Ambassador Nikki Haley, Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and former Vice President Mike Pence all spoke at the event. The conference also featured a video message from former President Donald Trump.
“We will win back the House. We will win back the Senate,” Trump said in his video address. “And we will win back in 2024 that beautiful white building sometimes referred to as the White House.”
While there has been no shortage of commentary on the fact that Virginia Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin kept Trump at an arm’s length, most of the speakers in Las Vegas leaned hard into their support of Trump.
“President Trump’s single most redeeming characteristic — the man has a steel backbone and he doesn’t back down,” Cruz said Friday to boisterous applause. “After years of Republicans scared of their own shadows, there’s a reason we celebrate a leader who’s willing to stand up and fight.”
“Who’s going to be the nominee [in 2024]? I don’t know, but I do know this, that Donald Trump was a hell of a president,” said Graham.
On Friday night, Scott, who is the chair of the National Republican Senate Committee, told ABC News that Trump will do “whatever he can” to help Republicans take control of both chambers of Congress in 2022. Depending on the race, it could mean standing back.
“You should listen to the candidate because they know their state and they know their race,” Scott said. “And so you should let them figure out how involved you should be and that’s anybody, including the NRSC.”
On Saturday, Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel told attendees that connecting voters on issues they care about and presenting a united party to the electorate are the keys to winning more elections.
The Republican Jewish Coalition meeting typically centers on foreign policy, like relations with Israel and with other nations in the region. Former Vice President Mike Pence largely touted the accomplishments of the Trump administration as it pertains to Israel, including moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem.
“Under the Trump-Pence administration, if the world knew nothing else the world knew this. America stands with Israel,” said Pence. “Our administration was able to take historic steps to strengthen the ties in the American people and the Jewish state of Israel.”
In addition to U.S.-Israeli relations, this time around at the annual meeting there was a great deal of attention paid to domestic issues.
Among the most talked-about issues was teaching so-called critical race theory in schools, a topic that has emerged as a flashpoint in conservative circles. Every speaker referred to critical race theory during their remarks, with some, like Haley, calling it “liberal indoctrination.”
“We’ve got the midterm elections next year where the stakes couldn’t be higher,” she said Saturday. “Those elections are about whether we stop socialism, defend our borders, return on fiscal sanity and get the liberal indoctrination out of our schools.”
“We’re watching critical race theory and during the woke curriculum infiltrate our school districts,” Noem said.
Opposition to vaccine mandates was also a frequently mentioned topic.
DeSantis spoke of his opposition to voting reform, framing changes as a danger to Republican ability to wield power.
“They want to make conservative Americans second-class citizens,” said DeSantis. “They want to lock us out from being able to exercise power to be able to exercise policy.”
President Joe Biden’s agenda, including his newly passed infrastructure plan, also made waves. Most framed Biden’s agenda as being hijacked by progressives in comparison to how he campaigned. The word “socialism” was used freely to describe the Democratic agenda throughout the event.
During Christie’s remarks Saturday, he cited his record of supporting Trump, but implored the crowd to give up on trying to relitigate the 2020 election. The response from the crowd to Christie, an ABC News contributor, was tepid.
“We can no longer talk about the past and past elections. No matter where you stand on that issue, no matter where you stand, it is over,” said Christie.
Cardi B was the one who was sparkling after running into Twilight star Robert Pattinson over the weekend. Apparently, the “Up” rapper is a big fan of Edward Cullen.
“Look who I met the other day ! I felt like a teen!,” Cardi raved when sharing a video of her losing her mind while hanging out with the British actor.
The two were both attending a black-tie event in Los Angeles, which Page Six reports was a celebration thrown in honor of British Vogue‘s editor-in-chief.
“Come, look at my friend, guys,” Cardi announced when firing up the video before Pattinson swoops in and puts an arm around her.
The Grammy-winning rapper than puts a hand against her chest and screams in delight as the star of the upcoming The Batman grins.
The first Twilight movie hit theaters in 2008, meaning Cardi would have been 16 when she first laid eyes on a young RPattz twinkling in the sunlight.
Ahead of Friday’s two-year anniversary of the launch of Disney+, dubbed Disney+ Day, the streaming service from ABC News’ parent company has announced a week-long celebration.
From November 12 through November 14, more than 200 AMC Theatres will celebrate with four daily surprise screenings of fan-favorite movies, for just $5 a ticket, at participating AMC locations.
ShopDisney will provide free shipping in the U.S. and Europe from November 12 to November 14 to subscribers of Disney+, and will offer all-new branded merch, from shows like Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Loki and more.
To boot, Disney and VeVe, have just launched a series of NFTs featuring beloved and iconic characters from some of its fan-favorite properties, including Star Wars, Marvel Studios, The Simpsons and others.
Also just announced are the following titles coming to the streaming service on Disney+ Day, including:
The Making of Happier than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles about Billie Eilish’s recent Disney+ cinematic concert experience
Marvel Assembled: The Making of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Marvel Studios Legends: Hawkeye, an episode that revisits all of Hawkeye’s epic moments from the MCU in preparation for the upcoming Disney+ Original Series
2007’s live-action/animated musical fantasy romantic comedy film Enchanted, starring Amy Adams and Patrick Dempsey
As previously reported, Friday will also see the launch of a slew of new titles on Disney+, including Shang-Chi, Jungle Cruise, Home Sweet Home Alone, Olaf Presents, The Simpsons in Plusaversary, Under the Helmet: The Legacy of Boba Fett, and Marvel Studios’ 2021 Disney+ Day Special.
On Friday at 9:00am Eastern time, fans can check out sneak peeks of upcoming Disney+ movies and series from the worlds of Pixar, Disney, Star Wars, Marvel and more.
Ed Sheeran celebrated the success of his number-one album, = (Equals), by transforming a New York City hotel into a traditional English pub this past weekend.
Ed teamed with Spotify to turn The Bowery Hotel into ‘The Butterfly,’ an English pub with English food and decor, as well as beers inspired by his album. Fans and their families who attended also got to have an ‘English Sunday Roast‘ — a traditional meal that includes roasted meat, roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, gravy and vegetables.
Ed also entertained the guests by performing songs from = (Equals), including “Overpass Graffiti,” “Tides” and “The Joker & the Queen” — the first time he ever performed the latter for a live, in-person audience. In addition, Ed mingled with fans and took selfies, noting, “This was the first time getting to meet and interact with fans in a while.”
The event took place on Sunday, after Ed performed on Saturday Night Live.
A new eight-CD Steppenwolf box set featuring remastered versions of the band’s first six studio efforts and first two live albums will be released on November 19.
Magic Carpet Ride: The Dunhill/ABC Years (1967-1971) includes the band’s 1968 self-titled debut and its follow-up, The Second, released the same year; 1969’s At Your Birthday Party, Monster and the archival concert album Early Steppenwolf; 1970’s Steppenwolf 7 and Steppenwolf Live; and 1971’s For Ladies Only.
All of the albums in the box set are embellished with bonus tracks with the exception of Early Steppenwolf. That album captures the John Kay-fronted band performing in May 1967 — when it was still known as The Sparrows — at the San Francisco club The Matrix.
The Steppenwolf album features the band’s biggest hit and signature song, “Born to Be Wild,” which peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became an enduring counterculture anthem after its appearance in the classic 1969 film Easy Rider. It also includes the group’s cover of Hoyt Axton‘s “The Pusher,” which was heard in Easy Rider, as well.
The Second includes another huge hit for the group, “Magic Carpet Ride,” which reached #3 on the Hot 100.
At Your Birthday Party features Steppenwolf’s third and final top-10 hit, “Rock Me.”
Steppenwolf, The Second, Monster, Steppenwolf 7 and Steppenwolf Live all were certified gold by the RIAA for sales of over 500,000.
You can pre-order the Magic Carpet Ride box set and check out the full track list at CherryRed.co.uk.
Steppenwolf initially broke up in 1972, but the band re-formed in 1974 with almost the same lineup. Kay continued to lead various incarnations of the group until October 2018, when the band played what he says was their final concert.
Yungblud has announced an upcoming short film called Mars.
Named after a track off the British rocker’s 2020 album, Weird!, the scripted project is based on the life of a teenage Yungblud fan named Charlie Acaster, whom he had met on tour.
“This story is an uncensored, unfiltered portrayal of youth,” Yungblud says. “It revels in the fragile beauty of it, flirts with the pain of it and most importantly the undeniable, glimmering hope of it. It presents a generational shift towards acceptance of one’s self and others, and ever growing confidence in our own insecurities.”
Yungblud is a producer on Mars. The script was written by Chris Bush, and the film will be directed by Abel Rubinstein.
“The team we’ve assembled is incredible, I am so honored to stand with them all behind this beautiful project and to have them help me bring it to life,” Yungblud says. “I can honestly say if you don’t adore this movie, then I can guarantee you’ll f***ing learn something from it.”
Production for Mars is set to begin later this year. It’s currently scheduled to premiere in spring 2022.
It’s hard to believe that Gwen Stefani wouldn’t know that fellow The Voice coach Ariana Grande was in the audience for the final show of her Just a Girl Las Vegas residency this past weekend, but evidently, it was a surprise.
Gwen wrapped the 57-show residency on Saturday night, and on Sunday, she posted videos and pics to her Instagram Story, including footage Ariana shared of Gwen singing “Don’t Speak” onstage.
“Brilliant…congratulations on completing this incredible run, love you so much,” Ariana captioned the video.
Gwen also posted an additional clip from Ariana, showing Gwen and her husband, Blake Shelton, singing their duet “Happy Anywhere” onstage during the final show.
“That’s my grandpa @blakeshelton I’m so f***in proud, I love this song and you both,” Ariana captioned the video. Gwen wrote, “ummmm @arianagrande, u came to my show? Yay love u thank u.”
Gwen also posted a photo of flowers she received from none other than Ava Max, who wrote in the card, “Congratulations on an incredible final show. You are my idol (like #1) and I love you to pieces. Thank you for continuing to inspire me daily, and for the art you’ve put into the world.”
According to E!, fellow The Voice coach John Legend also attended Gwen’s final residency show, along with his wife, Chrissy Teigen.
On Instagram Sunday, Gwen wrote, “sometimes it’s just best to keep it simple and short so all i have to say is THANKYOU to everyone who made this an incredible chapter of my life.”
Gwen’s residency was supposed to wrap up in May of 2020, but the final performances were put on hold due to the pandemic.
