Megan Thee Stallion isn’t allowing the pandemic to prevent her from performing for her fans. The “Hot Girl Summer” announced Monday her “Enter Thee Hottieverse” virtual reality concert tour in 10 cities between April and July 2022.
Fans will be able to go to their local movie theater and enjoy the VR concert performance featuring a variety of of environments and custom wardrobes. The virtual tour begins April 5-10 in Los Angeles, followed by stops in San Francisco, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Miami, Charlotte, Washington, D.C., and New York City.
“Virtual reality has always been an interest of mine and I’m glad that we’ll be able to make history with this experience,” Megan said in a statement. “My hotties will get to watch me perform in a completely different and unique way and I appreciate the AmazeVR team for helping me to bring this VR vision to life.”
“We are thrilled to work with Megan to launch AmazeVR’s very first VR Concert Tour,” says Ernest Lee, Amaze VR co-CEO. “She’s an artist who has incredible stage presence and can create iconic moments that will make the most of the VR technology we’re developing.”
“Not everyone owns a headset, and not everyone can make it to their favorite artist’s live show,” Lee adds. “A VR Concert by AmazeVR opens up the possibilities for fans to encounter artists in a completely new way, while knocking down all the barriers to entry that have made it hard to access the amazing experiences VR can provide.”
The “Savage” rapper will be performing n person on the Dua Lipa tour beginning March 15 in Denver. Megan will also be featured at the Coachella Festival April 16 and April 23.
The 2022 ACM Awards will be a special occasion for Lainey Wilson in more ways than one.
The singer admits that while she’s been invited to the show in the past, she wanted to wait for the right reason to attend: and now she has two with nominations for New Female Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for “Things a Man Oughta Know.”
“My friends would be like, ‘do you want to go to the ACMs?’ But I always said, ‘I don’t really want to go until I have a reason to be there.’ And [it] turns out this year I do,” she explains, calling her nominations “mind blowing.” “It’s still really crazy to me that anybody even knows my name. So I’m just honored to be there.”
But the way the singer got there is by writing her truth. Lainey says she pulled the lyrics from her chart-topping hit from a personal place.
“It’s a little mind blowing, but it shows you too that if you write what you know, if you write your truth, even if it is super personal…those are things that my daddy taught me,” she expresses. “I was writing my story, and if you do that, then you never even know the amount of people who are going to relate to it.”
The Louisiana native will be bringing her parents with her to the star-studded ceremony in Las Vegas. “My daddy did not get on an airplane for the first time ever until about two years ago, and it was to go to the rodeo in Vegas. So he’s going to feel like a hotshot shot rolling up there,” she laughs.
The ACM Awards air live from Allegiant Stadium on March 7 on Amazon Prime Video at 8 p.m. ET.
Michael Bublé opened up about why he chose now to return to music, after not having released an album since 2018’s Love.
“The pandemic, in a strange way, has made it easier for me to [do things],” the singer said during a virtual conference in the Philippines recently, according to Filipino media company ABS-CBN News. “People are willing to do Zoom, unlike before, [where] you had to fly to LA or take off to London. [The pandemic] made the world smaller. I was so open to working with new people, and trying different things.”
The “I’ll Never Not Love You” singer explained how these changes impacted his family, saying “it was difficult to make music” even prior to the pandemic. Michael says he was “still hurting” from the ordeal of his now eight-year-old son Noah‘s 2016 liver cancer diagnosis and recovery. “I don’t know if I was ready to come back [to music],” he admitted.
“What I found interesting was when the pandemic hit, it put everyone on a level playing field. For the first time, every single person, from every country. I don’t care if you’re Black, white — we all felt the same thing. All of us were scared. We were anxious,” the Grammy winner noted. “Our metal health became an issue. For the first time, we need to cling to each other for hope.”
Michael also said that, while the pandemic brought out the best in people, some people “didn’t learn anything,” so he wanted to combat that with his new music.
“There’s so much negativity, so many things to drive us apart. I was hoping I could have a small part in bringing people together,” he said of his new album.
Michael’s “ambitious” new album, Higher, arrives March 25.
High-quality audiophile versions of the Electric Light Orchestra‘s fourth studio, 1974’s Eldorado, will be released in the coming months by Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab — as a two-LP box set mastered at 45 rpm, a single LP mastered at the standard 33 rpm, and on the hybrid SACD format.
All three versions have been remastered from the original analog tapes, and can be pre-ordered now at MusicDirect.com.
The single-LP version and vinyl box sets, which are both pressed on 180-gram “SuperVinyl,” will be available in March and September, respectively, priced at $59.99 and $125.
The LPs in the two-disc collection were created using Mobile Fidelity’s ultra-hi-fi UltraDisc One-Step lacquering process. The sets are limited to 10,000 numbered copies.
The SACD version will be released in April and is priced at $29.99.
Originally released in September ’74 in the U.S., Eldorado was a concept album that frontman Jeff Lynne wrote about a man who escapes the disillusionment of his dull life by journeying into fantasy worlds via his dreams. Musically, the record is heavily influenced by The Beatles, and blends pop and rock sounds with orchestral and choral elements.
Eldorado became ELO’s first album to break into the top 40 of the Billboard 200, peaking at #16. It featured the group’s first stateside hit, “Can’t Get It Out of My Head,” which reached #9 on the Billboard Hot 100.
“Our team is proud and honored to reissue ELO’s groundbreaking album Eldorado,” says Mobile Fidelity executive president John K. Wood. “We want to bring fans closer to the music by revealing all the intricate sonic details and subtle nuances in Jeff Lynne’s mix of this iconic album.”
Here’s the full Eldorado track list:
“Eldorado Overture”
“Can’t Get It Out of My Head”
“Boy Blue”
“Laredo Tornado”
“Poor Boy (The Greenwood)”
“Mister Kingdom”
“Nobody’s Child”
“Illusions in G Major”
“Eldorado”
“Eldorado Finale”
It was time for hometowns on Monday’s episode of The Bachelor.
Clayton‘s first stop was Poquoson, Virginia, where he got a brief — and at moments painful — lesson in jiu-jitsu from Susie and her instructor, before meeting her mom, dad, sister and best friend. The evening proves to be a breeze for Clayton, who wins over all four of them.
Next, it was off to Gabby‘s hometown of Denver for a hike in the Rockies, followed by a meeting with her aunt, uncle, cousin and grandfather.
A touching moment came when her father, who couldn’t be there because his girlfriend of 10 years had cancer and he couldn’t risk catching COVID-19, paid a surprise visit. Recreating an iconic scene from the movie Love, Actually, he stood outside and flashed cue cards expressing his feelings for her and his hope that she’d find love with Clayton.
Clayton’s third stop was Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where he and Serene took there relationship to new heights — 80 feet to be exact — at Riversport Adventures’ Sky Trail, which consisted of a series of challenges, increasing in difficulty as they climbed, and culminating in a jump off the tippy top. Then it was off to meet Serene’s mom, best friend and brother, all of whom gave Clayton a thumbs-up.
Finally, it was Rachel‘s hometown of Clermont, Florida, and a day of kayaking before meeting her family, including her demanding father, who only agreed to give his blessing after he talked to his daughter. Clayton got his approval in the form of a pat on the arm — a signal they’d worked out in advance.
That led to another shocking rose ceremony, that saw the end of Serine’s time on the show.
Here are the women going to fantasy suites:
Gabby, 30, an ICU nurse from Denver, Colo.
Rachel, 25, a flight instructor from Clermont, Fla.
Susie, 28, a wedding videographer from Virginia Beach, Va.
The Bachelor returns with a special two-night event, Monday and Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
(NEW YORK) — Russian forces are continuing their attempted push through Ukraine from multiple directions, while Ukrainians, led by President Volodymr Zelenskyy, are putting up “stiff resistance,” according to U.S. officials.
The attack began Feb. 24 as Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a “special military operation.”
Russians moving from Belarus towards Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, don’t appear to have advanced closer towards the city since coming within about 20 miles, although smaller advanced groups have been fighting gun battles with Ukrainian forces inside the capital since at least Friday.
Russia has been met by sanctions from the U.S., Canada and countries throughout Europe, targeting Russia’s economy and Putin himself.
Here’s how the news is developing Tuesday. All times Eastern:
Mar 01, 4:11 am
Russian bombardment strikes central square in Kharkiv
Russia on Tuesday launched a major bombardment of Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, hitting a central square and its civilian administration building.
Video from the scene shows a large projective hitting next to the regional state administration building on Kharkiv’s Freedom Square, causing a huge blast. Aftermath shot on phones from the scene and inside the building, show it shattered with debris strewn around.
Ukraine’s emergency services ministry said at least six people, including one child were injured. It was unclear if anyone was killed.
Kharkiv Mayor Oleg Sinegubov confirmed the strike, calling it a “war crime.”
Monday’s shelling followed a sustained bombardment of civilian areas yesterday and overnight in Kharkiv by Russian heavy artillery, including multiple rocket launchers and an alleged use of cluster munitions.
“What is happening in Kharkiv is a war crime!” Sinegubov wrote on Facebook. “The Russian enemy is shelling whole residential neighborhoods of Kharkiv, where there is no critical infrastructure, no Ukrainian armed forces positions, which the Russians could be targeting.”
Sinegubov accused Russia of conducting the attacks during the day, when civilians were on the street. He said the city’s emergency services are unable to keep up with the number of attacks and injured.
So far at least 11 are dead, with dozens injured, he said.
Russian forces in Kharkiv appear to have shifted tactics to employing heavy artillery indiscriminately against the city, in an apparent effort to bombard and terrorize it into submission.
Sinegubov claimed the Russians were changing tactics because their offensive capabilities on the ground were running out and so they had nothing left but to launch aerial bombardments.
Mar 01, 3:28 am
‘Leave Kyiv urgently today,’ Indian Embassy tells citizens
The Indian Embassy in Kyiv on Tuesday urged Indians still in the capital to “leave Kyiv urgently today.”
“All Indian nationals including students are advised to leave Kyiv urgently today,” the embassy said on Twitter. “Preferably by available trains or through any other means available.”
Mar 01, 2:48 am
’We will fight until the end,’ says Ukrainian parliament member
Solomiia Bobrovska, a member of Ukraine’s parliament, on Monday said Ukrainians would “fight to the end” as they defend Kyiv from a Russian invasion.
“That’s the mood of Ukrainians. We are staying behind altogether, and we do understand that with the total second line staying behind their shoulders. And I think we will fight until the end,” Bobrovska told ABC News’ Linsey Davis.
Mar 01, 12:14 am
Russian troops ‘operational’ near Ukrainian nuclear power plant, agency says
Ukraine said its nuclear power plants are still being operated “safely and securely,” the International Atomic Energy Agency wrote in an update late Monday.
However, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said he “remained gravely concerned about maintaining their safety and security during the current conflict.”
Ukraine’s foreign ministry told the IAEA on Monday that Russian troops are “operational” near a functioning nuclear power plant at Zaporizhzhia, but the troops haven’t entered it so far. Any fighting near nuclear facilities causes alarm, and Ukraine has four sites in total with 15 reactors.
“It is extremely important that the nuclear power plants are not put at risk in any way,” Grossi said in a statement. “An accident involving the nuclear facilities in Ukraine could have severe consequences for public health and the environment.”
The IAEA Board of Governors will hold a meeting Wednesday to discuss the “safety, security and safeguards implications of the situation in Ukraine.”
(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Monday’s sports events:
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
INTERLEAGUE
Pittsburgh at Baltimore (Canceled)
Philadelphia at Boston (Canceled)
Atlanta at Detroit (Canceled)
Washington at Houston (Canceled)
Arizona at Kansas City (Canceled)
Seattle at LA Dodgers (Canceled)
Cincinnati at LA Angels (Canceled)
Oakland at San Diego (Canceled)
Colorado at Texas (Canceled)
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Minnesota at Tampa Bay (Canceled)
Chi White Sox at Cleveland (Canceled)
Toronto at NY Yankees (Canceled)
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Miami at St. Louis (Canceled)
St. Louis at NY Mets (Canceled)
Milwaukee at San Francisco (Canceled)
Chi Cubs at Arizona (Canceled)
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Orlando 119, Indiana 103
Minnesota 127, Cleveland 122
Toronto 133, Brooklyn 97
Miami 112, Chicago 99
Memphis 118, San Antonio 105
Sacramento 131, Oklahoma City 110
Milwaukee 130, Charlotte 106
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
New Jersey 7, Vancouver 2
Toronto 5, Washington 3
Boston 7, Los Angeles 0
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Baylor 68, Texas 61
Texas Tech 73, Kansas St. 68
Iowa 82, Northwestern 61
UCLA 77, Washington 66
Guys, what’s the one thing your girlfriend or wife doesn’t want to be called? According to a new study, it’s “Babe!” Researchers had hundreds of female volunteers complete a survey that asked them to rank the top pet names they love and hate. The result? “Babe” was voted the number one most hated pet name. It’s followed by:
Baby girl
Sweet cheeks
Muffin
Sexy pants
Pumpkin
Meanwhile, guys, take note – the top pet names women like to be called are:
Gorgeous
Beautiful
Love
Precious
Lovely
Ladies, what do you like to be called? Is there one name you can’t stand?
For most OLDER dogs, the answer is “no.” Because just like humans, it’s perfectly normal for dogs to go gray as they age. But according to a study in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science, it’s a different story for dogs 4 years old or YOUNGER… Because premature graying often signals some serious doggy problems!
In the study, researchers found that the top predictors for gray hair in younger pets are stress and impulsivity – which refers to their ability to control their emotions in unfamiliar situations.
For example: Does your dog shed an unusual amount of hair when they visit the vet? Are they hyperactive during walks? Do loud noises freak them out? And do they scratch, chew or hide whenever a stranger walks by?
Researchers say these behaviors trigger the release of stress hormones, which can reduce the amount of pigment in a dog’s hair follicles, and cause hair to turn gray… especially around their muzzle and face.
With an older dog, that’s no big deal… But if it’s happening to your dog before age 4, it means they’re experiencing an unusual amount of stress. And researchers say that’s true regardless of a dog’s breed, size, and spay or neuter status.
The fix? Veterinarian Dr. Camille King says the most obvious way to de-stress your pet is to enroll them in a training program, that teaches them to socialize with other animals and people. Then, for specific issues like biting, scratching and chewing, talk to your vet about starting a behavior modification program, to help get their fear under control. And the earlier you start, the better.
The next time you’re feeling overwhelmed with stress and anxiety, turn on some kids’ cartoons! It’s not just the bright colors and cute animation that help improve our mental health. Cartoons can actually provide relief by presenting a moreuplifting vision of the world, and messages of hope and comfort.
That’s according to Jack Cahalane, chief of adult mood and anxiety services at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He says, we already know that laughing, and the endorphins it releases, lower blood pressure and trigger feel-good brain chemicals. And cartoons are perfect for that purpose because they’re lighthearted and creative, so they help people stop ruminating. That’s compared to watching a drama, where the emotional upheaval can add to a person’s stress and anxiety.
Plus, cartoons are generally short, and don’t require intense concentration, like a drama. And psychotherapist Dr. Laurel Steinberg agrees. She says, kids’ cartoons can be a good addition to treatment because they incorporate themes like community, friendship, family, and good winning over evil. So the next time you’re feeling overwhelmed with stress and anxiety, take 30 minutes to watch kids’ cartoons.
