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Elton John & Ed Sheeran top British chart with Christmas single, but will have to fend off…themselves?

December 10, 2021 by WDNY Radio

It was surprising enough that Elton John scored a number-one single this year, but now he’s racked up two.

“Merry Christmas,” Elton’s duet with Ed Sheeran, has topped the U.K. singles chart. It’s Elton’s second song to lead that chart in 2021, following his Dua Lipa duet “Cold Heart.”

However, Elton and Ed may soon find themselves competing with themselves to hold onto the top spot on the chart. The reason why is pretty complicated, but here goes.

It’s a huge deal in the U.K. to have the song that’s number-one on Christmas Day. Each year, the competition for the “Christmas Number One” slot is intense.

For the past three years, a husband-and-wife duo billed as LadBaby have scored the Christmas number one with novelty songs about food — specifically, sausage rolls. They donate the proceeds from the songs to the Trussell Trust, a charity that’s trying to end hunger in the U.K.

Now, Ed and Elton have teamed up with LadBaby to record a new song and video called “Sausage Rolls for Everyone” — a reworking of “Merry Christmas” with food-based lyrics. As before, 100% of the song’s profits will go to charity.

The song comes out next Friday, and the U.K. Christmas Number One will be announced December 24, so it just may come down to a battle between Ed and Elton’s original, and “Sausage Rolls for Everyone”

LadBaby said in a statement to the U.K.’s Official Charts Company, “Ed and Elton are pop royalty and they’ve both had huge success at Christmas, so we’re honored and excited to be coming together to help families this Christmas.”

“It’s time to bring back some Christmas magic with the power of sausage rolls!” Elton notes.

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Peloton releases statement after shocking death on ’Sex and the City’ sequel ‘And Just Like That…’

December 10, 2021 by WDNY Radio

(SPOILERS AHEAD) Sex and the City fans were served a major surprise at the end of the first episode of the new sequel series, And Just Like That…

Mr. Big, husband to Sarah Jessica Parker‘s Carrie Bradshaw, shockingly dies of a heart attack after an intense workout on a Peloton bike. Having suffered from heart-related issues throughout the series, Carrie returns home to find that Big had collapsed in the shower, and he dies in her arms.

That scene has prompted Peloton to respond publicly, apparently to disabuse anyone of the notion it was their bike that caused his demise.

“I’m sure SATC fans, like me, are saddened by the news that Mr. Big dies of a heart attack,” Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, member of Peloton’s Health & Wellness Advisory Council, tells Entertainment Weekly in a statement. “Mr. Big lived what many would call an extravagant lifestyle — including cocktails, cigars, and big steaks — and was at serious risk as he had a previous cardiac event in season 6.”

Steinbaum goes on: “These lifestyle choices and perhaps even his family history, which often is a significant factor, were the likely cause of his death. Riding his Peloton Bike may have even helped delay his cardiac event.”

And Just Like That… premiered on HBO Max on Thursday. The 10-episode series airs through February 3.

Donnie Wahlberg roasts Jenny McCarthy’s vocal chops after singing clip goes viral

December 10, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Donnie Wahlberg roasted wife Jenny McCarthy after she seemingly belted out a song during the most recent episode of The Masked Singer.

For those wondering if those soaring vocals really belonged to the 49-year-old actress, Donnie claims his wife doesn’t possess that particular talent.

“Dear @MaskedSingerFOX, I will confirm that @JennyMcCarthy can’t really sing like this,” he tweeted out on Thursday. He then took a swipe at Ken Jeong, who also serves as judge on the singing competition series, when announcing that Jenny could “probably sing better” than him, but “barely.”

The New Kids on the Block singer concluded, “I won’t confirm if it’s @carrieunderwood wearing a @JennyMcCarthy mask or if @JennyMcCarthy’s miming @carrieunderwood’s voice.”

Jenny later admitted that she wasn’t actually singing in the now-viral clip and that she had stolen Carrie Underwood‘s vocals.

“Did you guess whose voice this was? Hint: She has THE MOST beautiful voice in the world. It’s the amazing, insanely talented @carrieunderwood She so FREAKING talented! Love you girl!,” she tweeted.

The Masked Singer airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.

Dear @MaskedSingerFOX,

I will confirm that @JennyMcCarthy can’t really sing like this, but she can probably sing better than @kenjeong (barely). 🎭🎤

I won’t confirm if it’s @carrieunderwood wearing a @JennyMcCarthy mask or if @JennyMcCarthy’s miming @carrieunderwood’s voice. https://t.co/9N0LGQpbSH

— Donnie Wahlberg (@DonnieWahlberg) December 10, 2021

Tupac Shakur Estate announces the Immortal Collection NFT series

December 10, 2021 by WDNY Radio

The legacy of the late Tupac Shakur is being celebrated with a new Immortal Collection NFT series inspired by his personal jewelry.

The collection consists of four pieces: the “Artist,” which is represented by his 2PAC ring; the “Activist,” symbolized by his Makaveli bracelet; the “Sinner” solitaire diamond ring; and the “Saint,” which is represented by the Euphanasia medallion necklace Shakur wore in the last photo ever taken of him in 1996.

“Tupac’s belief that everyone has the right to express themselves honestly through whichever art form they saw fit includes everything from music, to acting, from writing to dance, from photography and culinary art to self-expression through fashion,” the estate says in a statement, according to Complex.com. “For Tupac, this included his choice of jewelry. In the last year of his life, he had the luxury of not just affording higher-end items, but he started to design them himself, down to the smallest details.”

The NFTs, the first authorized by the Shakur Estate, will be available December 15 on the Makers Place digital art market. The collection provides a sneak peek at some of the items that will be displayed at the “Tupac Shakur. Wake Me When I’m Free” exhibit, which will open January 21, 2022 at The Canvas @ L.A. Live in Los Angeles.

Trailer for ‘Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre’ shows Jason Statham, Hugh Grant & more in action

December 10, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Jason Statham is back in the action-packed trailer for Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre.

The film follows Statham’s Orson Fortune, an elite spy who is tasked with stopping billionaire arms dealer Greg Simmonds, played by Hugh Grant, from selling deadly technological weaponry that would wreak havoc across the globe.

In true Statham fashion, the trailer shows him fighting crime with plenty of explosions, action sequences and his signature growl. “As a private contractor, you possess a unique set of skills,” a voice over says in the beginning, followed by shots of Statham taking down a team of criminals in an elevator.

The supporting cast of Grant, Josh Hartnett, Aubrey Plaza and Cary Elwes are also seen in action, Josh starring as Danny Francesco, a movie megastar tasked with going undercover and infiltrating Simmonds’ empire, with Aubrey also taking part in Statham’s crime-fighting team.

Operation Fortune is co-written and directed by Guy Ritchie. It’s set to premiere on January 21.

Sign of the Dimes: Harry Styles rakes in $95 million thanks to his Love on Tour

December 10, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Sign of the Dimes: Harry Styles rakes in million thanks to his Love on Tour

Harry Styles is seeing a lot of green, and it’s not because it’s the holidays. Billboard reports that the “Adore You” singer is rolling in the money — $95 million to be exact — from his Love on Tour.

Harry wrapped his 42-stop outing November 28, on which he sold over 719,000 tickets in the U.S., adding a lush $94.7 million to his bank account. Billboard further estimates he sold about 17,100 tickets per show, which earned him roughly $2.25 million a night.

These numbers eclipse his first headlining tour, Harry Styles: Live on Tour, which ran for 80 dates and grossed $63 million.

New York City earned Harry the most money on his latest tour. A five-night run at Madison Square Garden moved over 93,000 tickets, earning Harry $13.8 million. He also enjoyed a strong showing in Los Angeles after selling more than 50,000 tickets across his three show-stay at The Forum. That put an extra $6.6 million in his pockets.

Billboard estimates Harry’s stops in Nashville, Atlanta and Chicago raked in $4 million each. His final bow at Long Island’s UBS Arena was his highest-grossing single-night concert, selling more than $3.2 million in tickets.

The British singer is next set to take over the Capital One Beach Bash on December 30 at South Beach, Florida’s Lummus Park. The show is free, but tickets must be reserved in advance starting Tuesday, December 21 on the Orange Bowl’s website.

Hardy, Morgan Wallen and Chris Shiflett are “Goin’ Nowhere” in the grand finale track drop for Hixtape: Vol. 2

December 10, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Hardy gets an assist from Morgan Wallen and Chris Shiflett on “Goin’ Nowhere,” the 14th and final track to be released off of Hixtape: Vol. 2.

Backed by loud, hard rock-inspired guitar work, the singers trade verses on the song before coming together for a powerful chorus. Lyrically, it’s the story of a guy who’s stuck in the same town he grew up in, with a twist: Sure, “all them daughters’ daddies were right” that he’s “goin’ nowhere,” but as far as he’s concerned, that’s not a bad thing.

“‘Cause why in the hell would I leave? / I don’t need anything but fried chicken and crickets / If there’s a yellow pine box you can carry me in it / This red dirt, you can bury me in it / I’m goin’ nowhere,” the three proclaim in the chorus.

“Goin’ Nowhere” dropped on Friday, along with the Hixtape as a whole. For the past 14 weeks, Hardy’s been sharing one track off his massive collaborations project every Friday, leading up to the album’s release date.

Hardy’s voice appears on only six of the 14 tracks; the others are collaborations between acts like Dierks Bentley, Jon Pardi, Midland, Brothers Osborne and many more.

“Goin’ Nowhere” is one of the first new songs out from Morgan since February, when he was ousted from many radio playlists and other aspects of the music industry due to the emergence of video footage that showed him yelling a racist slur. Hardy and Morgan are longtime buddies, and frequent co-writers and collaborators.

Though he’s become persona non grata in the industry, fandom for Morgan hasn’t cooled; in fact, his January Dangerous: The Double Album project topped Billboard’s all-genre 200 Albums chart for 2021.

Robbie Robertson is doing a Twitter listening party for reissue of The Band’s ‘Cahoots’

December 10, 2021 by WDNY Radio

The 50th anniversary edition of The Band‘s album Cahoots is out today, and next week, The Band’s Robbie Robertson will jump on Twitter to participate in a listening party for the release.

The new edition of Cahoots features the original album in newly remixed and remastered form, along with outtakes, instrumentals and other rarities, plus a partial recording of a frequently bootlegged concert from 1971.

Robertson, who oversaw the new mix, will share memories and stories about recording the original album during the “Tim’s Twitter Listening Party,” an ongoing online series which was started in March of 2020 by Tim Burgess of the U.K. band The Charlatans. It starts December 15 at 4 p.m. EST/1 p.m. PST. To participate, visit timstwitterlisteningparty.com.

Cahoots, The Band’s fourth studio album, features well-known tracks like “Life Is a Carnival,” their version of Bob Dylan‘s “When I Paint My Masterpiece” and the Van Morrison collaboration “4% Pantomime.”

Jessie J explains why she opened up about her miscarriage “just hours after I was told”

December 10, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Jessie J says she thought she was doing the right thing when she announced her miscarriage late last month, but she now says she didn’t give herself time to “process” her loss before she did.

“I posted about losing my baby just hours after I was told. I reacted in work mode,” Jessie explained on Instagram. “It’s safe to say I sometimes pour more energy into creating an unhealthy process of my own pain in front of a camera, than I do acknowledging it behind one in real time. ‘The show must go on’ mentality reacted before the human in me did.”

The British singer was set to perform a concert that night and, at the time, put her audience’s comfort before her own. Jessie said she wanted to “justify” why she “might be a little off” on the stage by turning her tragedy into an “inspirational” and “strong moment.” But the 33-year-old says she now understands that, while she meant well, that wasn’t what was in her best interests. She also has since removed her initial social media announcement.

“Truth is, I just needed to f****** cry and fall into someone’s arms and sob,” she said. “But at the time I was alone. I hadn’t processed anything. Nor did I have any idea what I was about to go through not just emotionally but physically after this show.”

Jessie says her experience opened her eyes about why society needs to normalize talking about miscarriages. She says it’ll not just make women feel alone, it’ll also help others truly understand the “physical pain and trauma” that comes with a pregnancy loss.

“You are allowed to be broken. You are allowed to cry,” she closed. “We know there will be sunshine, but we can’t avoid the rain.”

(Video contains uncensored profanity.)

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Jodeci reunites, signs with Charlie Wilson’s manager, Michael Paran

December 10, 2021 by WDNY Radio

One of the hottest male R&B vocal groups of the 90s is back: Jodeci.

Consisting of two sets of brothers, K-Ci and JoJo Hailey, with the DeGrate siblings DeVanté Swing and Mr. Dalvin, Jodeci debuted in 1991 with the RIAA triple-Platinum album Forever My Lady, featuring the number-one hits “Stay,” “Come and Talk to Me” and the title track.

Six years following their latest album, The Past, the Present and the Future in 2015, Jodeci has reunited under the management of the P Music Group, owned by Michael Paran, who also manages Charlie Wilson and Johnny Gill.

“During the pandemic, the guys starting reaching out to each other and began talking about reuniting,” Paran tells Billboard. “They’re ready to build something new, done the right way without continuing the missteps of the past. I want to be long-term with them and help them show the world that they’re back to begin a whole new era.”

“We’ve come a long way. It’s a blessing to be back together and give our fans what they’ve been asking for,” K-Ci said in a statement.

After debuting at number one on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart with Forever My Lady in 1991, the group also hit the top of the chart with Diary of a Mad Band in 1993, and The Show, the After Party, the Hotel in 1995.

The Hailey brothers also recorded five duo albums as K-Ci and JoJo, beginning with the RIAA triple-Platinum Love Always in 1999, featuring the number-one hit, “All My Life.”

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