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Matt Damon “so happy” for buddy Ben Affleck as Bennifer 2.0 goes public

July 27, 2021 by WDNY Radio

While he previously dodged knowing anything about the then-rumored re-kindled romance between his pal Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, now that Bennifer 2.0 is officially a thing, Matt Damon is all smiles.

“I’m just so happy for him. He’s the best,” the Stillwater star tells Extra of his childhood friend and fellow Good Will Hunting Oscar-winning screenwriter. “He deserves every happiness in the world. I’m glad for both of them.”

Affleck and Lopez reportedly re-coupled in April, but it took until this past weekend, while the pair vacationed in St. Tropez for Lopez’ 52nd birthday, for them to go “Instagram official.”

In a slideshow that featured Lopez sunning, and stunning, in a bikini aboard a yacht, the pair exchanged a passionate smooch. The post has been liked more than 8.4 million times.

The romance between the Gigli co-stars began in 2002 and the two announced their engagement later that year. Jennifer and Ben never made it to the altar, though, going their separate ways in 2004.

Affleck married actress Jennifer Garner and went on to have three children with her. They divorced in 2015. Meanwhile, Lopez wed singer Marc Anthony and had twin children with him. Their marriage ended in 2011.

Lopez later became engaged to former New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez, but the two ended it in April.

Ooh, baby, ooh! Stevie Nicks’ ‘Bella Donna’ turns 40

July 27, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Bella Donna, Stevie Nicks‘ first solo album, was released July 27, 1981, and was an immediate success. To mark the 40th anniversary of the start of Stevie’s solo career, here are Five Fascinating Facts about Bella Donna.

5. Stevie began working on Bella Donna in between sessions for Fleetwood Mac‘s 1979 album, Tusk. She started recording it in 1980, after the Tusk tour ended.

4. The only song on the album Stevie didn’t write was “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around,” which was penned by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers frontman Tom Petty and guitarist Mike Campbell. Producer Jimmy Iovine, who worked with both acts, had the idea of having Stevie record it as a duet with Petty. The song’s video was the 25th video ever shown on MTV.

3. Nicks wrote Bella Donna‘s other duet, “Leather & Lace,” for an album by country star Waylon Jennings and his wife, Jessi Colter. When it didn’t make that album, Stevie recorded it with her ex-boyfriend, The Eagles‘ Don Henley.

2. Bella Donna includes Stevie’s signature song, “Edge of Seventeen,” which was inspired by Petty and his wife, as well as the deaths of both Stevie’s uncle and John Lennon. It was sampled by Destiny’s Child for their number-one hit “Bootylicious,” and interpolated by Miley Cyrus on her 2020 single “Midnight Sky.” Stevie appeared in the “Bootylicious” video, and allowed Miley to do an “Edge of Midnight” remix with a sample of her original song.

1. Bella Donna hit number one on the Billboard chart, spun off four top-40 singles, and has been certified for sales of 4 million copies. Its huge success has allowed Stevie to run a solo career parallel to her work with Fleetwood Mac for decades. Having previously been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with Fleetwood Mac in 1998, Stevie went in again in 2019 as a solo artist, making her the first woman ever to be inducted twice.

Cuba Gooding Jr. to stand trial on sexual abuse charges in New York starting October 18

July 27, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Cuba Gooding Jr. will stand trial in New York for forcible touching and sexual abuse beginning October 18, a judge ruled Tuesday.

The charges stem from an alleged encounter with a woman at the Magic Hour Rooftop Bar and Lounge in the Moxy Times Square Hotel. A patron at that bar claims the actor groped her breast, an allegation Gooding denies.

Gooding was formally charged with misdemeanor forcible touching at the NYPD’s 25th Precinct in Harlem, New York, in 2019, and later indicted.

He pleaded not guilty to one misdemeanor count each of forcible touching and sexual abuse in the third degree.

Attorneys for the Jerry Maguire star had previously sought to dismiss the case, arguing that a video of his encounter with the woman in question shows that he didn’t grope her. A judge declined to dismiss the case.

Tyrese Gibson’s in no rush to drop new music: “Other than Jesus…my main source of income is movies”

July 27, 2021 by WDNY Radio

It’s been a while since actor-singer Tyrese Gibson has been in the studio to make new music. Gibson, who reprises his role as Roman Pearce in the latest Fast & Furious installment, F9, says there’s a reason for that.

“My love for music doesn’t allow for me to do it as often as a lot of my supporters and fans want me to,” Gibson tells ABC Audio. “And, it’s like the Holy Grail, you know. I don’t touch it. I don’t play with it. I don’t sing unless I’m really coming from a real place.”

Gibson, whose last solo studio album was 2015’s Black Rose, says he knows that having the ability to pick and choose when he’ll make new music is a “luxury” that a “lot of people can’t afford.”

“So if you ain’t paying the bills, you got to pump an album out every year,” he continues. “You got to keep the relevancy, got to stay on the charts. You got to drop singles and videos and keep chasing that thing.”

Now as a successful film franchise and blockbuster star, Gibson says he doesn’t have to worry about those things anymore.

“Other than Jesus himself, my main source of income is movies,” he says. “And, it allows me to really get in the studio and do music when I’m able to sing from a real place. So whether it’s good, bad, challenging, or ugly — I sing from a real place.”

Gibson’s latest film project, F9, is currently in theaters nationwide.

Snoop Dogg provides update following his mother’s health scare: “She still fighting”

July 27, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Snoop Dogg expressed his gratitude to fans over the weekend, thanking them for their continued prayers for his mother, Beverly Tate, who fell ill last spring.

In May, the 49-year-old rapper asked fans to pray for his mother, but didn’t specify any details surrounding her health or the situation. Then Sunday, Snoop shared some positive news, posting a photo of his 70-year-old mom resting on a hospital bed while he and his siblings comfort her.

“Happy Sunday me and my brothers went to c mama today and she opened up her eyes to c us and let us know she still fighting,” he explained in the emotional caption. “God is good.”

“Thanks for all the prayers,” he concluded, adding, “1 day at a time.”

Snoop’s update attracted support from his famous friends, including Busta Rhymes, Queen Latifah, Jamie Foxx, Lizzo, Kenan Thompson and many others.

Snoop has yet to publicly disclose his mother’s ailment or condition.

Shortly after revealing his mother’s health struggles in May, Snoop shared in an Instagram video, “Gotta stay strong, gotta keep pushing on. They say God ain’t gon put nothing on you, you can’t handle. I’m being tested right now y’all. Make sure y’all pray for me and my family.”

USA Gymnastics takes silver at Tokyo Games after Simone Biles withdraws

July 27, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Without the GOAT leading her team for the finals competition, USA Gymnastics took the silver medal at the Tokyo games, following Simone Biles‘ surprise withdrawal earlier today.

The athletes from Russia came out on top, beating the cumulative U.S. score by more than three points. Great Britain won bronze.

The U.S. women’s gymnastics team was seeking to bring home the gold for the third time in a row at the competition on Tuesday.

This was one of the strongest gymnastics teams the world has seen, led by all-time great Biles and uneven bars phenom Sunisa Lee. The team is rounded out by Jordan Chiles and Grace McCallum.

After a rare stumble on vault Tuesday, Biles withdrew for what USA Gymnastics called a “medical issue.” She went on to cheer on her teammates from the sidelines.

Following news of her withdrawal, Simone got praise online, including from fellow Olympic medal winner Adam Rippon. The former figure skater noted on Twitter, “I can’t imagine the pressure Simone has been feeling. Sending her SO much love. It easy to forget she’s still human. WE LOVE YOU.”

After a shaky Olympic debut on Monday, Biles Instagrammed, “It wasn’t an easy day or my best but I got through it. I truly do feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders at times. I know I brush it off and make it seem like pressure doesn’t affect me but damn sometimes it’s hard hahaha! The Olympics is no joke!”

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Derek Hough reveals sound advice Jennifer Lopez gave him ahead of Las Vegas residency

July 27, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Andrew Eccles/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Derek Hough has a full plate already — from judging Dancing with the Stars to starring on High School Musical: The Musical: The Series — but the professional dancer is adding yet another project to his roster: a Las Vegas residency titled Derek Hough: No Limit.

While the 36-year-old Emmy winner is no stranger to performing live, he credited his World of Dance co-star Jennifer Lopez for inspiring him further with a pep talk.

“She gave me some good advice. Her MO is hustle, right?” Hough told Entertainment Tonight. “It’s like, ‘Make sure you hustle. Make sure you keep people out there seeing the show and you’re working,'” said Hough, who is set to become the first artist to take over The Summit Showroom, located at Vegas’ Venetian Resort.

Hough said he’s continually inspired by Lopez’s work ethic, adding, “She’s great. She goes hard in her show. She goes hard in everything.”

He also said the door is open for Jennifer to join him during one of his shows, should she so choose. He also extended the invite to other people in his inner circle.

“I think I’m gonna leave a space in the show open for, you know, if I have Andy Grammer get up, or my sister [Julianne Hough], or Lindsey Stirling, or Ne-Yo,” he grinned, referencing past DWTS competitors. “There’s so many people I think that could be great on the show.”

As for what fans can expect when the curtain rises on September 22, the DWTS pro teased, “It’s gonna be a great show. Live music, I have a live band, incredible dancers… There’s a lot of pent-up energy that’s gonna be out there on that stage. I’m excited!”

Christmas in July: Carrie Underwood announces ‘My Gift (Special Edition)’

July 27, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Carrie Underwood has a new Gift to offer fans. The superstar singer is releasing a deluxe edition of her 2020 debut Christmas album, My Gift, on September 24.

My Gift (Special Edition) will include three new tracks: “Favorite Time of Year,” which was originally released in as an Amazon Original and featured in Ring’s holiday commercial; a cover of Michael W. Smith‘s “All is Well”; and a mashup of Carrie’s holiday original “Let There Peace” and hit song, “Something in the Water.”

“My Gift is an album I’ve wanted to make from the beginning of my career. It’s been such a blessing to share this special music and I’m excited to share even more with the release of My Gift (Special Edition),” Carrie says.

The trio of new songs join other holiday classics on the standard edition, including “O Holy Night,” “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” “The Little Drummer Boy,” which features an appearance from Carrie’s son, Isaiah, and more. Carrie also collaborated with John Legend on “Hallelujah.”

My Gift reached #1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums, Top Christian Albums and Top Holiday Albums charts following its release. It also peaked inside the top five on the all-genre Billboard 200.

My Gift (Special Edition) will also be available on vinyl on November 5.

Ed Sheeran teases “something special” in the works

July 27, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Ed Sheeran is busy cooking up “something special” for the fans.

On Monday, the English singer-songwriter teased a short video to Instagram with the vague caption, “Was recording something special today.”

In the clip, Sheeran is dressed in a black tee and black jeans with a semi-circle of background singers, also dressed in black, behind him. Together they sing an a capella version of his song “Afterglow,” in what appears to be a church, as the sunlight shines through the stain-glassed windows behind them.

While Sheeran didn’t spill any other details about the project, the teaser comes on the heels of his single “Bad Habits” landing the number one spot on Billboard‘s Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. charts.

“Bad Habits. One month at number one,” he celebrated on Twitter on July 23. “Thank you all for listening and supporting Ed’s new single.”

“Bad Habits” is the lead single off his upcoming fifth studio album. The title and the release date have yet to be announced.

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LeVar Burton honors Alex Trebek during ‘Jeopardy!’ guest-hosting debut

July 27, 2021 by WDNY Radio

LeVar Burton is kicking off his week-long tenure as the newest Jeopardy! guest host.

Taking the podium for the first time, Burton saluted former host, the late Alex Trebek. “As a longtime viewer of the show, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to guest host Jeopardy! And I’m proud to be here to honor Alex’s legacy,” Burton said. “I’m gonna do my best to ensure that these talented Jeopardy! contestants enjoy their moment here as well.”

Prior to his debut, Burton credited his fans for making his time on the show possible. Following Trebek’s passing, a Change.org petition was launched to have him take over the Jeopardy! reins. At last check, it had over 258,000 signatures.

In April, Jeopardy! show runners added Burton to their impressive roster of guest hosts, which included Mayim Bialik, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and Good Morning America hosts Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos, among others.

Following the announcement, the Star Trek: The Next Generation alum tweeted, “THANK YOU… to all y’all for your passionate support! I am overjoyed, excited, and eager to be guest-hosting Jeopardy!, and will do my utmost best to live up to your faith you in me.”

Burton will hold down the fort until July 30. Following his tenure will be CNBC broadcaster David Farber, who will take charge through August 6. The final guest host is Fox Sportscaster Joe Buck, who will take over Jeopardy! until August 13.

A permanent replacement for Trebek, who died November 8 from pancreatic cancer, has not yet been announced.

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