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The 10 most memorable moments in sports in 2021

December 28, 2021 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — As athletes returned to the playing field and fans returned to the stands, there was some level of normalcy in the sports world in 2021.

Still, COVID-19 left its mark on athletics this year — from the empty venues at the delayed Tokyo Olympics to controversies over vaccination with players like Aaron Rodgers and Kyrie Irving.

COVID wasn’t the only way health was spotlighted in sports in 2021, though. Stars like Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles brought renewed attention to mental health as well. While not a sports moment, the health of all-time golf great Tiger Woods made worldwide headlines after he was seriously injured in a car accident in February.

When it came to winning trophies, it was a very good year to be a Tampa sports fan.

Here’s a look at the top 10 moments in sports from 2021, in reverse order:

10. Lightning win back-to-back Stanley Cups (July 7)

The first of two Tampa Bay championships on this list came from the Lightning, which won its second straight Stanley Cup and denied the Montreal Canadiens’ pursuit of the first Canadian championship since 1993. Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the series MVP with a shutout in the Stanley Cup-clinching Game 5. Pat Maroon, who played for the Stanley Cup-winning St. Louis Blues in 2019, also became the first player to win three straight titles in almost 40 years.

9. Braves win the World Series (Nov. 2)

The Braves meandered through an unremarkable 2021 season, sitting at or below .500 into August. When Ronald Acuña Jr., the team’s superstar outfielder, blew out his knee on July 10 there were no expectations Atlanta would make the playoffs, let alone win the World Series. But the Braves snuck into the postseason by winning the lowly NL East with just 88 wins — the lowest of any team in the playoffs. And then the magic happened. They first knocked off the 95-win Brewers and shocked the juggernaut Dodgers in the NLCS. MVP Jorge Solar’s magic at the plate, including a homer leading off the World Series and a game-winning blast in Game 4, carried Atlanta to its first title since 1995.

8. US dream team wins women’s 4-x-400 meter relay gold (Aug. 7)

Track aficionados will tell you the 4-x-400 meter relay is the best event of any track meet. So when the U.S. women’s team strode to the track in Tokyo at the biggest meet in five years it was hard not to get giddy. The runners were a dream team across multiple disciplines — all of whom dominated in their own individual events. Sydney McLaughlin, who had already set a world record in the 400-meter hurdles, led off the relay. She handed the baton to the legendary Allyson Felix, who passed it off to former 400-meter hurdle world record holder and 2016 gold medalist Dalilah Muhammad. Muhammad made the final pass to 19-year-old sensation Athing Mu, who had torched the competition for gold in the 800 meters in Tokyo and brought home the relay win by 4 seconds. It was a breathtaking display of American dominance. The gold was also Felix’s 11th Olympic medal — the most by any U.S. track and field athlete.

7. Emma Raducanu wins battle of the teens at US Open (Sept. 11)

Britain’s Emma Raducanu came into the U.S. Open in the qualifier bracket, but she left as women’s tennis’ new teenage sensation. The 18-year-old wasn’t even born on 9/11 — the U.S. Open women’s final was played on the 20th anniversary of the attacks — but neither was her opponent for the title: 19-year-old Canadian Leylah Fernandez. It was a most unexpected final in the last major of the year, but that made for edge-of-your-seat drama throughout the three weeks in Queens. Fernandez first garnered headlines for upsetting Naomi Osaka, whose breakdown during and after the match sparked new discussion of mental health and sports, before beating two top-5 opponents in the quarterfinals and semifinals. Raducanu bounced back from a mid-match panic attack at Wimbledon to not drop a set the entire tournament.

6. Bryce Young rallies Alabama to beat Auburn in four OTs (Nov. 27)

The Iron Bowl wasn’t supposed to be close this year, but the Tigers’ stifling defense gave them a 10-3 lead with 1:35 left in the game and the Crimson Tide pinned at their own 3-yard line. It was just the type of Heisman moment sophomore quarterback Bryce Young needed. He led them 97 yards, spreading the ball around to Alabama’s arsenal of offensive weapons, culminating with a beautiful 28-yard touchdown pass to Ja’Corey Brooks with 24 seconds left to play to tie the game. In the third and fourth overtimes, Young found star receiver John Metchie III for two-point conversions and a 24-22 win. We’ll have to wait until New Year’s Eve to see if Young can lead Alabama to the title game in 2022.

5. Gonzaga beats UCLA at the buzzer in the Final Four (April 3)

In one of the greatest basketball games in Final Four history, Gonzaga and UCLA traded blows for a chance to head to the national championship game. The undefeated Bulldogs were a big favorite against No. 11 seed UCLA, but the Bruins answered every score. Bruins guard Johnny Juzang had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but was called for an offensive foul. The game went to overtime tied 81-81 when All-American Drew Timme took over. He scored three quick baskets in the post for the Zags who pulled ahead to 87-83. But UCLA stuck with it. Down two with 3 seconds left, Juzang missed a floater in the lane but got his own rebound and put it back in to tie the game. Off the make, Jalen Suggs, a freshman phenom and eventual top-5 NBA draft pick, took the inbound pass for Gonzaga, crossed midcourt and threw up a prayer that he banked in for the walk-off win. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, the Baylor Bears ruined their dream season two days later with a dominant, upset title win.

4. Suni Lee steps up to win gold in all-around (July 29)

The Tokyo Olympics were supposed to be Simone Biles’ time to cement herself as the greatest gymnast of all-time. Her struggles to perform still stole the headlines, but an 18-year-old from Minnesota stole the competition. When Biles dropped out of the individual all-around, despite being the No. 1 qualifier, the hopes of the U.S. fell on Suni Lee’s shoulders. The U.S. had won the individual all-around at the last four Olympics, so there was no small amount of pressure on Lee. Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade, the highest qualifier remaining, took first in her best discipline: the vault. Lee took first in her best discipline: the uneven bars. The gold medal came down to the fourth rotation: the floor. Lee performed admirably, but Andrade was the last to go. After stepping out twice on tumbling passes, Lee knew she had become the fifth straight American gold medalist.

3. Giannis goes for 50 as Bucks win the NBA title (July 20)

Giannis Antetokounmpo already had a league MVP, multiple All-Star appearances and a killer nickname (“The Greek Freak”), but he simultaneously became an NBA champion and a worldwide superstar when he dropped 50 points on the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the Finals. Antetokounmpo became just the seventh player in NBA history to score 50 in an NBA Finals game and that was after a pair of 40-point games earlier in the series. He also became the first person to score 50 in a clinching Finals game. The same series saw the ascension to stardom for the Suns’ Devin Booker — who had 40-point performances in Games 4 and 5 — but it was Giannis’ Game 6 performance that will live in history.

2. Simone Biles overcomes obstacles to compete on beam (Aug. 3)

Simone Biles is used to winning gold, but it was a bronze medal that captured the attention of the world in Tokyo. After getting a case of “the twisties” — a term gymnasts use to explain getting lost in midair — and struggling with her mental health, it appeared as though Biles’ Olympics were slipping away with each event she dropped. She dropped out of the team all-around midway through and then removed herself from the individual all-around and event finals in the vault and floor. Heading into Tokyo, she was expected to win gold in all of them with relative ease. She dropped the uneven bars as well, not her strongest apparatus, but announced she would compete in the last event of the Olympics: the balance beam. She wasn’t at her competitive best, but she called the bronze her proudest accomplishment nonetheless.

1. Brady goes it alone, leads Bucs to Super Bowl win (Feb. 7)

Author F. Scott Fitzgerald once famously wrote “there are no second acts in American lives.” Tom Brady surely would’ve helped him change his mind. The future Hall of Famer shocked the NFL — and countless Patriots fans — by exiting New England to sign with Tampa Bay prior to the 2020-2021 season. It was a gamble to leave Bill Belichick in the dust, but one that paid off. Brady’s first season was an up-and-down affair, but the team secured a wild card berth and hit its stride in the playoffs. The Super Bowl itself, played in Tampa, turned into a one-sided affair thanks to a porous Kansas City offensive line and, of course, a commanding performance by Brady (21-for-29, 201 yards, three touchdowns) and his former Patriot running mate Rob Gronkowski (two touchdowns). Away from Belichick and the New England machine, Brady’s seventh title was one of a kind.

‘High risk’ of armed conflict over Ukraine, Russian defense ministry warns

December 28, 2021 by WDNY Radio

(MOSCOW) — Russia’s deputy defense minister warned foreign ambassadors of a “high risk” of conflict between the country and its neighbor Ukraine — one day after President Vladimir Putin threatened “diverse” military and technical responses if the West doesn’t address his stated concerns.

These latest messages from Moscow are the kind that have had U.S. and other western officials on edge that Putin will launch an assault on Ukraine, even after President Joe Biden warned him doing so would bring massive penalties.

The Biden administration has repeatedly called for diplomacy with Russia to de-escalate tensions and end the war in Ukraine’s eastern provinces, nearly eight years after Russian troops armed separatist forces in a conflict that continues to simmer and claim lives.

But Russia’s demands for security guarantees, including that Ukraine be barred from joining NATO, have been called “unacceptable” by U.S. officials — possibly purposefully so, so that Russia can later claim to have given diplomacy a shot.

Russia has said it has no plans to invade but demanded the U.S., NATO, and Ukraine take seriously its concerns.

“We didn’t make the proposals just to see them blocked in terms of the diplomatic process, but for the purpose of reaching a negotiated diplomatic result that would be fixed in legally binding documents. We will aim at this,” Putin said Sunday.

His Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin blamed NATO again Monday for provoking conflict by sending warships and reconnaissance planes to back Ukraine. That echoes a statement last week by his boss, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who claimed Ukraine, with U.S. mercenary help, is preparing a chemical weapons attack.

“The alliance has recently switched to the practice of direct provocations accompanied by the high risk of turning into armed confrontation,” Fomin said during a meeting that included envoys from 14 NATO countries.

It’s the kind of false pretext for an invasion that U.S. officials and analysts have warned Russia may create to justify an invasion.

“Russia is ostensibly outraged by a crisis of their own making,” said Mick Mulroy, a senior Trump administration Pentagon official and ABC News national security analyst. “It was Russia that put around 175,000 troops on the border and threatened to invade again if its demands were not met — ‘Do what I ask, or I will attack and occupy a sovereign country against all international norms.'”

The estimated number of Russian troops near Ukraine have ranged from 60,000 to over 100,000, with one leaked U.S. intelligence document warning Russia could be prepared to swiftly deploy as many as 175,000. U.S. officials have cited those troop movements, along with Russian propaganda attacks on Ukraine, which they say have increased tenfold, and bellicose rhetoric as evidence of a possible invasion.

But diplomacy could stave off war. The U.S. and Russia have agreed to hold talks in January to address each side’s concerns, along with talks between NATO and Russia and meetings at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, according to U.S. officials. The OSCE, a key security forum, has deployed a war monitor in eastern Ukraine for years as the conflict has taken some 14,000 lives.

After coordinating a meeting between the Ukrainian government and the Russian-controlled separatists last week, the OSCE declared Thursday that both sides showed a “strong determination to fully adhere” to a July 2020 ceasefire agreement. The statement was heralded by Biden’s National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and the State Department, whose spokesperson said, “We hope the resultant peace will create the diplomatic space necessary to de-escalate regional tensions and provide a positive atmosphere for further discussion.”

There has been no “resultant peace.” Three Ukrainian soldiers were wounded in shelling that last for hours on Sunday. There had been five times more ceasefire violations this month than last December, according to the OSCE.

But there was some notable Russian troop movements, according to state-run Interfax news agency, which reported that more than 10,000 troops pulled back from near Ukraine’s borders after military drills. The Kremlin also said Monday that it made sense to engage NATO directly about its security concerns, in addition to the U.S.

Whether that is yet a sign for hope that war can be avoided is unclear. U.S. officials have said it’s still unknown whether Putin has decided to invade, with tens of thousands of troops still in the area, including in Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula Russia invaded and seized in 2014.

Holiday travel nightmare continues with COVID-related flight cancellations

December 28, 2021 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — The omicron variant continues to wreak havoc on holiday travel from coast to coast.

Over the weekend, airlines reported more than 3,000 flight cancellations with at least one stop in the U.S, according to FlightAware, and the travel troubles don’t seem to be letting up anytime soon. As of 11:30 a.m. Monday morning, nearly 1,000 flights had already been canceled, and the number was steadily creeping up by the hour.

United, Delta, JetBlue, American and Alaska cited the recent COVID-19 surge as one of the reasons for the cancellations because it has left them with crew shortages. In an effort to avoid more disruptions, JetBlue and Alaska have even resorted to offering extra pay to healthy employees who can pick up additional shifts.

Winter weather in the western part of the country didn’t help — slamming airports in Seattle, Los Angeles and Denver. Those three airports accounted for more than 600 flight cancellations on Sunday alone.

“COVID delivered this disruption,” Spokesperson for the Allied Pilots Association Capt. Dennis Tajer said. “And it just shows you how tight the buffer is in the airline business right now, where they’re trying to fly as many flights as possible with just a handful of folks. So this is a little bit of a, you can’t plan for something like this, but you certainly should have a little bit better of a buffer, especially in this important travel period where folks are trying to get to their families.”

A majority of the flight cancellations luckily landed on traditionally slow travel days — Christmas Eve and Christmas — but there are still an estimated 16.5 million more fliers before the end of the holiday travel rush, according to the Transportation Security Administration.

“Omicron places airlines in a very tough position,” aviation expert Henry Harteveldt told ABC News. “Still reeling from major financial losses in 2020, airlines don’t want to forfeit any opportunity to generate revenue and, possibly, profits. Plus, no airline wants to cancel fully booked flights at any time — especially at Christmas. Given the random nature of how omicron strikes people, it’s also impossible for airlines to know who will get sick.”

He says that for now there is no end in sight to the travel chaos.

“It’s impossible to predict an end date for the omicron-related cancellations,” Harteveldt said. “Unlike when an airline suffers a disruption caused by weather, this virus is random. The best way to estimate its impact on airlines and other industries is to look at the broader trend.”

Airlines for America, the group that lobbies on behalf of all major U.S. airlines, has been calling on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to shorten the quarantine time for fully vaccinated individuals in attempt to minimize disruptions from the omicron surge.

“The omicron surge may exacerbate personnel shortages and create significant disruptions to our workforce and operations,” Nick Calio, A4A’s CEO, said in a letter on Thursday to CDC Director Rochelle Walensky.

Calio proposed the isolation period to be shortened to five days from symptom onset for breakthrough infections.

“In turn, those individuals would be able to end isolation with an appropriate testing protocol,” Calio wrote.

The letter comes after Delta Air Lines and JetBlue Airways, both A4A members, also asked for isolation periods for fully vaccinated individuals to be shortened.

ABC News’ Joanne Aran and Erielle Reshef contributed to this report.

Five dead, officer injured in ‘killing spree’ across Denver, police say

December 28, 2021 by WDNY Radio

(DENVER) — A shooter allegedly went on a “killing spree” across the Denver area, killing four and wounding three, including a police officer, officials said on Monday.

The violence unfolded in Denver, with gunshots reported in at least four locations, and ended more than an hour later in neighboring Lakewood, where the suspect died, officials said. Authorities did not publicly identify the suspect.

“We believe that this individual was responsible for this very violent series of events that took place in the Denver metro area,” Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen said in a press conference.

The incident began at about 5 p.m. on Monday in downtown Denver, where the suspect shot three people, Pazen said. Two women were killed and a man was injured, he said.

Police received a call moments later about a second shooting nearby, where one man was killed, Pazen said. Gunshots were then reported at a third location, but no injuries were reported, he said.

“Denver police officers identified a vehicle associated with this incident. There was a pursuit that ensued,” Pazen said. “There was an exchange of gunfire between the individual, the suspect, here, and our officers.”

There were no injuries in that exchange, Pazan said, but the suspect disabled a police vehicle and fled into neighboring Lakewood.

Lakewood Police then responded to a report of a shooting at about 6 p.m., said John Romero, the department’s public information office. One person was killed in that incident, he said.

Lakewood police then located the suspect’s vehicle at a shopping center, Romero said. The suspect shot at officers, before fleeing on foot to a nearby store and then a Hyatt Place hotel, he said. The suspect shot a clerk at the hotel, Romero said.

The suspect shot and injured a Lakewood officer while fleeing the hotel, Romero said. That officer was in surgery, Romero said during the press conference.

The suspect and officers then exchanged gun fire, and the suspect was shot and killed, Romero said.

“This is the holiday season. To have this type of spree take place is not normal for our community,” Pazen said. “We cannot lose sight of the victims in this, the people who are still fighting for their lives, including a Lakewood agent.”

An investigation is ongoing, officials said. Neither the FBI nor the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are currently involved in the investigation, spokespeople for each said.

This is a developing story, please check back for updates.

The Year in Entertainment 2021: TV viewers binge ‘Squid Game,’ ‘Ted Lasso’ and more

December 28, 2021 by WDNY Radio

TV viewing choices ran the gamut in 2021, from the wholesome Ted Lasso to the brutal Squid Game. Here are some of the highlights:

— Red light, green light — if you didn’t watch Squid Game this year, really, what were you doing with your life? The addictive Korean Netflix series — in which needy people were kidnapped and forced to compete in children’s games for money, with death the punishment for losing — was all anyone was talking about following its September release.

— Disney+’s Marvel series offerings also had a big year, starting with the release of WandaVision, followed by The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, then Loki, the animated What If…?, and then the Christmas-themed Hawkeye closing out the year.

— The Crown and The Queen’s Gambit won big at the 73rd Annual Emmy Awards in September, with each series earning 11 awards. Saturday Night Live followed behind with eight trophies, while Ted Lasso and The Mandalorian won seven. Kate Winslet’s buzzy HBO miniseries Mare of Easttown picked up four awards.

The Emmys weren’t without controversy, however. #EmmySoWhite began trending after the winners were counted, and not a single Black, Brown or Asian actor won an acting award. This, despite heading into the night with the most diverse nomination field in the show’s history, with 49 people of color up for acting and reality competition awards.

— After tons of hype, Friends: The Reunion Special aired on HBO Max in May, featuring the entire core cast and special guests including Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber.

— The Sex and the City sequel, And Just Like That…, debuted on HBO Max in December and pretty much immediately sparked fan ire for how it handled the absence of Kim Cattrall’s Samantha, and for killing off Chris Noth’s Mr. Big. Following his departure from the show, Noth was soon after accused of sexual assault by multiple women and was dropped from his other show, CBS’ The Equalizer.

The Year in Music 2021: The British Re-Invasion — Adele and Ed Sheeran return

December 28, 2021 by WDNY Radio

In 2021, two of music’s biggest superstars — Ed Sheeran and Adele — released their eagerly awaited new albums to an adoring public.

–In February, Ed celebrated his 30th birthday. In June, he released a new single, “Bad Habits,” and in August, he announced that his new album would be called = [Equals] and that it’d be released on October 29.

–In September, Ed celebrated the 10th anniversary of the release of his debut album, + (Plus), with a special concert at London’s O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, and announced a massive 2022 European stadium tour kicking off in April.

–On October 24, after a massive worldwide promotional blitz, Ed and his daughter Lyra both came down with COVID-19, just days before the release of = [Equals]. However, he managed to make it out of quarantine to perform on Saturday Night Live November 6.

— = [Equals], Ed’s first new solo album since 2017’s world-beating ÷ [Divide], debuted at number one in the U.S. and has so far spun off three hits: “Bad Habits,” “Shivers” and “Overpass Graffiti.“

–While = [Equals] sold a respectable 118,000 equivalent album units in its first week in the U.S., in the U.K., it had the biggest opening week of 2021, and the biggest overall since ÷ [Divide] in 2017. Both of those records were broken the following week by ABBA‘s comeback album, Voyage.

–“Bad Habits” peaked at number two in the U.S. but topped the charts for 11 weeks in the U.K. In November, it received a Grammy nomination for Song of the Year.

–And in December, Ed and his pal Elton John teamed up for an instantly successful holiday single, “Merry Christmas.”

But any dreams that Ed had of truly dominating the charts in 2021 were squashed by Adele.

–In October, after years of speculation, Adele announced a new single, “Easy On Me.” That was followed by the news that her her first album in six years, titled 30, would arrive November 19.

–“Easy On Me” arrived October 15. In five hours, it entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 68, and then rose to the number-one spot a few days later, becoming Adele’s first number one since 2015’s “Hello.”

–After a promotional push that included a sit-down with Oprah Winfrey on CBS, 30 entered the chart at number one, earning 839,000 equivalent album units in its first week, giving Adele the biggest debut week of any album in 2021.

–By December 6, 30 had earned one million in traditional album sales — meaning CDs, vinyl, cassettes and digital album downloads — making it the first album in more than a year to do so.

–On November 30, Adele announced a Las Vegas residency, Weekends with Adele, which will see her playing two shows at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas every weekend from January 21, 2022 through Saturday, April 16.

The Year in Rock 2021: Touring returns, but COVID still takes its toll

December 28, 2021 by WDNY Radio

After touring was sidelined due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, live music made its return in 2021, but not without complications.

Tour announcements started to pick up in the spring and summer as the vaccine rollout continued in the U.S., a welcome change of pace from the past year of show cancellations and postponements. One of the first biggest concerts back was Foo Fighters headlining New York City’s Madison Square Garden in June, marking the famed arena’s first full-capacity show since the pandemic began in March 2020.

Big tours that had been planned for 2020 finally happened in 2021, including the Hella Mega tour featuring Green Day, Fall Out Boy and Weezer, and The Rolling Stones‘ No Filter tour, which was the highest-grossing tour of the year.

Other artists who returned to the live stage included Guns N’ Roses, Metallica, Slipknot, Twenty One Pilots, Dave Matthews Band, Machine Gun Kelly, KISS, The Black Crowes, Tame Impala, Evanescence, Megadeth, St. Vincent and Shinedown. Additionally, festivals including Lollapalooza came back after going virtual in 2020.

COVID-19 safety measures including proof of vaccination or a negative test were often required for attendees. While many artists promoted and endorsed these policies, they were a source of contention for others. Eric Clapton claimed he wouldn’t play any venue with a vaccine requirement, while 3 Doors Down canceled two shows at venues with COVID “regulations.”

Beyond arguments over safety protocols, COVID-19 still took its toll on tours. The rise of the Delta variant forced some artists to reconsider their plans, whether that meant moving shows to outdoor venues or postponing dates.

Tours were also affected when artists themselves caught COVID-19, including System of a Down‘s Serj Tankian, KISS’ Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, and three members of Korn. Fall Out Boy missed three shows on the Hella Mega tour due to a touring party member testing positive; Evanescence postponed the last five dates on their co-headlining tour with Halestorm for the same reason.

Even with many bands returning to the road, some of the biggest tours originally planned for 2020 forewent 2021 entirely in favor of 2022. Among the tours set to finally happen next year include My Chemical Romance, Rage Against the Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Mötley Crüe.

Ciara teases new music: “I’ve been cooking up some stuff”

December 28, 2021 by WDNY Radio

New music from Ciara is on the way! Speaking with ABC Audio, the R&B singer teases, “All I gotta say is I’ve been cooking up some stuff and I can’t wait to share it with the world.”

It’s been almost three years since fans were blessed with Ciara’s last studio album, Beauty Marks, which featured the hit track “Level Up.” In the time since, she says she’s just been “enjoying life” with her “babies,” seven-year-old Future, four-year-old Sienna, and one-year-old Win.

“I think it’s so important to pause and do that,” Ciara shares, adding, “It’s been really amazing building out businesses this past year but my heart is always with the creativity as well.”

“I can’t wait to share with the fans what I’ve been working on and its about that time. So sometime soon should be the mark,” she promises.

Although Ciara didn’t share an exact release date for her new tunes, the “Goodies” singer, who is co-hosting Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rocking’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest for the fifth time, shared that viewers can expect “a little something-something” from her during the show.

“It’s gonna be a lot of energy,” she says of the annual event. “There’s gonna be that good nostalgic feeling that’s gonna happen at points mixed with some also cool energy, new energy.”

Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rocking Eve airs live December 31 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

The Year in Music 2021: Foo Fighters, Todd Rundgren, The Go-Go’s among the new Rock Hall inductees

December 28, 2021 by WDNY Radio

After the in-person ceremony was replaced by a virtual special in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction gala returned this year in full force with a star-studded event held October 30 at Cleveland’s Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

The honorees in the Performers category this year were Foo Fighters, Todd Rundgren, The Go-Go’s, Tina Turner, Carole King and JAY-Z. The other inductees included Musical Excellence Award recipients LL Cool J, late Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Randy Rhoads and the late Billy Preston; and Early Influence Award honorees Kraftwerk, late blues great Charley Patton and late soul/jazz poet Gil Scott-Heron; and music executive and entrepreneur Clarence Avant, who received the Ahmet Ertegun Award.

Here are some of the evening’s many highlights:

—Paul McCartney inducted Foo Fighters, and compared frontman Dave Grohl‘s post-Nirvana career to his own time in Wings, noting, “We had a great time with our groups, but eventually tragedy happened and my group broke up. Same happened with Dave. His group broke up under tragic circumstances. So the question is, what do you do now?”

Macca continued, “In my case, I said, ‘Well, I’ll make an album where I play all the instruments myself.’ So I did that. Dave’s group broke up…what’s he do? He makes an album where he plays all the instruments himself. Do you think this guy’s stalking me?”

The Foos performed “Everlong,” “Best of You” and “My Hero” before taking the podium. Grohl delivered a short acceptance during which he thanked his band and crew family, and his actual family. Drummer Taylor Hawkins campaigned in his speech for the eventual induction of Soundgarden and George Michael.

The night concluded with McCartney and Foo Fighters jamming on the Beatles classic “Get Back.”

–Rundgren, who’d said for many years that if inducted, he wouldn’t attend, pointedly booked a concert in Cincinnati on the night of the ceremony. He was virtually inducted by Patti Smith, who has known Todd since their twenties. A tribute video included commentary from Daryl Hall and The Bangles‘ Susanna Hoffs.

—Drew Barrymore inducted The Go-Go’s and paid homage to the cover of the all-female group’s debut album, Beauty and the Beat, by wrapping her hair in a bath towel and applying face cream, emulating the album’s cover image. “Beauty and the Beat blew the doors of my life off,” she told the crowd.

While the group accepting their honor, bassist Kathy Valentine said now that The Go-Go’s had been inducted, they’d be “advocating for the inclusion of more women.” The band then rocked the crowd with “Vacation,” “Our Lips Are Sealed” and “We Got the Beat.”

–Turner and King became the second and third women to become two-time Rock Hall inductees, following Stevie Nicks in 2019. Tina was first inducted in 1991 as one half of Ike & Tina Turner. Welcoming her as a solo performer was actress Angela Bassett, star of the Turner biopic What’s Love Got to Do with It. Tina didn’t attend the event, instead sending a pre-recorded thank-you video.

King, who’d been inducted as a songwriter in 1990, was ushered into the Rock Hall this time by Taylor Swift.

—Ringo Starr appeared via pre-taped video to induct Preston, who famously played and recorded with The Beatles during the making of Let It Be.

–JAY-Z was inducted by Dave Chappelle; Rhoads by Rage Against the Machine‘s Tom Morello; Kraftwerk by Pharrell Williams; LL Cool J by Dr. Dre; Scott-Heron by Common; Patton by Gary Clark Jr.; and Avant by Lionel Richie.

The Year in Music 2021: Britney Spears breaks free

December 28, 2021 by WDNY Radio

2021 was a big year for Britney Spears. She finally won her freedom from the 13-year conservatorship that had controlled nearly every aspect of her life. Here’s how Britney’s year unfolded:

— The fight for Britney’s freedom really ramped up in February, following the release of the New York Times’ unauthorized documentary, Framing Britney Spears, which shined a light on how the singer was unfairly treated by the media, as well as by her own family. Britney wasn’t exactly a fan of the doc, but it prompted an outpouring of support and even a long overdue apology from her ex, Justin Timberlake.

— In June, Britney spoke out for the first time publicly about her conservatorship, delivering explosive comments during a court hearing in which she asked for her father, Jamie Spears, to be removed as her conservator. She detailed a long list of grievances against her family, as well as some disturbing claims about the abuse she said she’d endured, telling the judge she believes everyone involved in the conservatorship “should be in jail.”

— Jamie Spears was suspended as the conservator of Britney’s estate in September, shortly before the New York Times dropped a follow-up documentary, Controlling Britney Spears, which included allegations that Jamie bugged Britney’s room and would secretly monitor her emails, phone calls and private conversations.

— Also in September, Britney got engaged to longtime boyfriend Sam Asghari.

— The conservatorship itself was finally terminated in November, “in its entirety, effective immediately.” Judge Brenda Penny delivered the ruling in an LA courtroom as #FreeBritney supporters cheered outside.

— After the court decision, Britney delivered a message to fans, telling them, “I honestly think you guys saved my life in a way. One hundred percent.” She’s since become more outspoken on social media, giving fans glimpses of her truth and hinting she may one day reveal the full story of what she went through.

— On December 2, Britney celebrated her 40th birthday as a free woman.

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