Here’s a roundup of this Friday’s new music releases:
Pentatonix has released their new spin on a classic Stevie Wonder tune. The a cappella group dropped their cover of “I Just Called to Say I Love You” on Friday. The song will appear on the group’s upcoming holiday album, Evergreen, out October 29.
JoJo has released what’s being called a “capsule project” — a 12-song EP titled Trying Not to Think About It. The project is described as an expression of different mental health issues. The singer also unveiled the music video for new single “Anxiety (Burlinda’s Theme).” JoJo says in a statement, “This song is about wanting to break up with your anxiety — talking to it like it’s an abusive relationship. CUZ IT IS. It can keep you small, isolated, unhappy, afraid, unable to perform to the best of your ability and reach your potential.”
Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett‘s duets album Love for Sale is out today, and along with the album, they’ve shared a behind-the-scenes video focusing on the making of the album cover. In the clip, set to the song “I Concentrate on You,” we see Tony sketching Gaga for the album artwork and Gaga getting emotional when she sees the finished product.
(NEW YORK) — The United States has been facing a COVID-19 surge as the more contagious delta variant continues to spread.
More than 696,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 while over 4.7 million people have died from the disease worldwide, according to real-time data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.
Just 65% of Americans ages 12 and up are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to data from the CDC.
Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern:
Oct 01, 3:02 pm
White House COVID-19 team on rapid testing, vaccine updates
The White House COVID-19 team told ABC News that they are aiming to double the number of rapid tests available at market within the next two months.
“You’re right that the at-home rapid test is under a lot of demand,” said White House COVID-19 response coordinator Jeff Zients. “The manufacturing is scaling up significantly, doubling across the next couple of months, and we’re just going to keep at it to encourage those manufacturers to increase capacity and to drive down the cost of those tests.”
Zients added: “Overall, we’ll continue to pull every level we can to further expand the manufacturing and the production of these tests in order to make them more widely available, and to drive down the cost per test.” He did not offer further specifics.
Surgeon General Vivek Murthy also said that the shots for children ages 5 to 11 are “on the horizon.” Murthy deferred to the FDA and CDC’s “rigorous review process” and independent advisory panels to determine further absolutes.
The White House team urges Americans not to let their guard down even though the latest surge of COVID-19 may be subsiding. White House chief medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci said that it is not an excuse for unvaccinated Americans to remain unvaccinated.
“I think that the people who are unvaccinated, when they see the curve starting to come down, that is not a reason to remain unvaccinated, because if you want to ensure that we get down to a very low level and that we don’t re-surge again,” Fauci said. “We still gotta get a very large proportion of those 70 million people who are eligible to be vaccinated who have not been vaccinated, we’ve got to get them vaccinated.”
-ABC News’ Sasha Pezenik
Oct 01, 2:11 pm
California to require COVID-19 vaccine for all students
California will be the first state to require the COVID-19 vaccine for all eligible students, faculty and staff in public and private schools. Gov. Gavin Newsom says that the COVID-19 vaccine will be one of 11 vaccines required to attend schools in California.
The vaccine will be required at the start of the upcoming school term following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s full approval of the vaccines. Terms begin in January and July.
The government has only fully approved the COVID-19 vaccine for those 16 and over.
School staff will be required to be vaccinated on the same timeline as grades 7-12, the earliest group to see full FDA approval.
There are exemptions for medical reasons and for personal and religious beliefs.
-ABC News’ Matthew Fuhrman
Oct 01, 12:20 pm
Vaccine acceptance at high amid delta surge: Polls
Polls found that coronavirus vaccine acceptance is at a high — with surveys finding 80% to 82% of people say they have been vaccinated or are likely to get vaccinated. These are the highest percentages [since the vaccine rollout began] ().
The CDC reports that 77% of adults have gotten at least one vaccine dose.
Vaccinations have gone up since August, and a study by [health policy research organization Kaiser Family Foundation] () indicates that gaps by race and ethnicity are almost eliminated — 73% of Hispanics, 71% of white people and 70% of Black people are said to be vaccinated.
However, vaccine gaps persist across party lines — KFF found that 90% of Democrats say they’ve gotten at least one dose of the vaccine, compared with 68% of independents and 58% of Republicans.
However, unvaccinated people continue to express doubts concerning the vaccines’ effectiveness and resistance to vaccine mandates in the workplace.
In a poll by [the Axios/Ipsos Coronavirus Index] (), 71% of unvaccinated Americans believe that the vaccine booster shots and breakthrough infections are signs that vaccines are not as effective as they are said to be.
Only about 29% of unvaccinated workers say they would get a shot if their employer mandates it, according to the Axios/Ipsos Coronavirus Index.
Oct 01, 8:35 am
Merck announces virus-fighting breakthrough in pill form
Merck Thursday morning announced the results of an ongoing Phase 3 study of an antiviral pill that may slash the risk of being hospitalized or dying of the virus by 50%.
The study’s results are so compelling that an independent monitoring board recommended, in consultation with the FDA, ending the trial early so the companies can swiftly seek authorization.
Sep 30, 4:33 pm
Daily hospital admissions down 32% in last month
Since the beginning of September, the U.S. has seen a drop of more than 27,000 patients in hospitals across the country, according to federal data. A little less than half of those patients come from Florida.
Daily hospital admissions are down by nearly 15% in the last week and by 32% in the last month, according to federal data.
The country’s daily case average has fallen to 107,000 — a 33% drop in the last month. However, about 97% of counties are still reporting “high” or “substantial” community transmission.
Tracy Morgan is back as Tray Barker in the fourth season trailer for TBS’ The Last O.G.
TBS announced that the new season will premiere on Tuesday, October 26, with back-to-back new episodes starting at 10 p.m. ET. The remaining eight episodes will then air Tuesday nights at 10:30 p.m. ET. The fourth season will once again follow Morgan as Tray, a recently released inmate trying to navigate and “adapt to a changing world so he can do some good for the Brooklyn he loves.” The Last O.G. also stars Ryan Gaul, Taylor Mosby, Dante Hoagland, Anna Maria Horsford and Da’Vine Joy Randolph. Guest stars include Janet Hubert, Malik Yoba, Wood Harris and Gary Dourdan.
In other news, BET has released a first-look teaser for the second season of Games People Play. The new season, which stars Karrueche Tran and Lauren London, will premiere Tuesday, October 19, at 10 p.m. ET. Based on Angela Burt-Murray‘s popular book Games Divas Play, the series centers on a group of ambitious Los Angeles women and the men in their lives. Game People Play also stars Sarunas J. Jackson, Karen Obilom, Parker McKenna Posey and Jackie Long, among others.
Finally, Tyler Perry is teaming up with producer Jason Blum for a new thriller titled Help, Deadline has learned. Although plot details are being kept under wraps, it was revealed that the forthcoming film will be written and directed by Alan McElroy. Production on Help is expected to begin sometime next year at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta.
If the ABBA comeback needs a drummer, then look no further than Dave Grohl.
Last month, the Swedish pop icons announced plans for their first new album in 40 years, and released a pair of new songs: “I Still Have Faith in You” and “Don’t Shut Me Down.” The news was very exciting for Grohl, who, one might say, has been brokenhearted — blue, even — since they day ABBA parted.
“Oh my god, I’m such a big ABBA fan,” Grohl tells the BBC. “When I saw that they were coming back and they had a record, I shot that link to 100 people I knew, then listened to the new song and wept like a baby. I cried like a baby. Oh man!”
When the interviewer suggests the idea that the former Nirvana drummer could reprise his role on ABBA’s 2022 reunion tour — which will feature digital avatars of the group — Grohl did not hesitate.
“Listen, I will get up and play drums at the opening of an envelope,” he says. “Show me a drum set and I will sit down to it. So yes, I would play with ABBA.”
Lil Wayne celebrated his 39th birthday Monday in Miami with several of his Young Money Entertainment artists, including Drake, who hosted the party. However, one of the biggest stars on the label, Nicki Minaj, was missing — because, Nicki says, she was not invited.
As photos of the big bash were posted on the Internet, Pink Barbie reacted, sarcastically commenting, “I had so much fun” under a group shot from the event.
Label president Mack Maine quickly apologized to the “Motorsport” rapper for the oversight.
“Lawwwdddd,” Mack wrote. “Don’t do it like that Nicketo!!! This s**t was so last minute. We could run it back deaux it wasn’t complete without you.”
Despite not being at the party, Minaj showed love for Wayne, her mentor, who launched her career in 2009 on the We Are Young Money compilation album. She posted a photo of her with Weezy on her Instagram Story and commented, “The 1st pic I took w the man who changed my life. Happy Birthday to my everything,” as captured by Rap-Up.
Nicki celebrated a very special birthday on Thursday: her son, whom she calls Papa Bear, turned one year old.
On Saturday, Sting celebrates his 70th birthday. The man born Gordon Sumner is truly one of rock’s renaissance men, and not just because he literally recorded an entire album of Renaissance-era lute songs in 2006.
Over the years, Sting’s artistry has expanded from fronting the now-legendary new wave band The Police into a thriving solo career, acting on the stage and screen, composing for movies and the theater, collaborating with dozens of artists across multiple musical genres, and working tirelessly for various charitable causes.
Music
With The Police, Sting released five albums, four of which made the list of Rolling Stone‘s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. The Police officially disbanded in 1986 but reunited in 2007 for a hugely successful one-off tour. The Police have sold more than 75 million records, won six Grammys and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003.
Sting launched his solo career in 1985 with The Dream of the Blue Turtles and was immediately successful. He’s continued releasing solo albums at a steady pace, including best-sellers Ten Summoner’s Tales,…Nothing Like the Sun and The Soul Cages. His 15th solo album, The Bridge, is due in November. As a solo artist, he’s won more than 10 Grammys.
Movies & TV
Sting’s acting career started in 1979, when he appeared in not one but two movies, the most famous of which is Quadrophenia, based on The Who‘s 1973 concept album. Since then, he’s acted in films like Dune, Plenty, The Bride, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, and appeared as himself in Zoolander 2 among others.
His TV resume includes Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building, Saturday Night Live,The Simpsons, Ally McBeal, The Larry Sanders Show and more.
Sting’s also found great success in writing music for films. He’s been nominated four times for the Best Original Song Oscar, and also either wrote or recorded songs for The Thomas Crown Affair, Leaving Las Vegas, The Three Musketeers and Lethal Weapon 3, among many others.
Theater
Sting made his Broadway debut as Macheath, aka Mack the Knife, in a 1989 production of The Threepenny Opera. His original musical, The Last Ship, debuted on Broadway in 2014 and received two Tony nods. In the final weeks before it closed in 2015, Sting also starred in the show.
Philanthropy
It’s difficult to find a major musical charity event that Sting hasn’t appeared at in the past 30 years, from Amnesty International-sponsored tours to Live Aid to the 9/11 fundraiser A Tribute to Heroes. However, he’s most associated with the Rainforest Foundation Fund, which he and his wife, Trudie Styler, founded in 1989. It’s since funded projects that have protected 28 million acres of rainforest around the globe.
Sting has also held regular benefit concerts at New York’s Carnegie Hall to support the Rainforest Foundation Fund, with star-studded lineups that have included the likes of James Taylor, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John and Lady Gaga.
(NEW YORK) — Breast Cancer Awareness Month has started and Victoria’s Secret is launching several new initiatives around the cause.
The lingerie line is launching its first mastectomy bra throughout October and while supplies last.
The Body by Victoria Mastectomy Bra was created to support thousands of women who undergo mastectomies each year as part of their fight against breast cancer, the company says.
The undergarment features a wire-free design made with soft micro fabric and lace. The bra also includes a pocket located within the inner lining to fit a prosthetic.
Priced at $49.50, the bra is available in black and champagne white. One hundred percent of sales will be donated to The Victoria’s Secret Global Fund for Women’s Cancers to support breast cancer research and discoveries.
In addition to Victoria’s Secret’s new mastectomy bra, the company has teamed up with fashion designer Stella McCartney to launch a public service announcement that aims to create a greater understanding of the risks of breast cancer and the importance of early detection.
“As the world’s leading lingerie brand, the health and well-being of women is paramount to our community,” said Victoria’s Secret chief marketing officer Martha Pease in a statement.
She continued: “We have a unique opportunity but also a responsibility to use our platform and scale of our global footprint to bring greater awareness to the risks of breast cancer, especially among younger women, and educate around the effectiveness of self-checks.”
The campaign extends now through Oct. 31, 2021, and will also include a #CheckYourself reminder along with a guide provided by The Stella Cares Foundation, on how to effectively perform a breast self-exam.
The campaign will extend to social media and over 25,000 Victoria’s Secret employees worldwide will receive educational materials to help reach hundreds of thousands of women, the company said.
The company also said it will invest at least $5 million annually in cancer research, including examining and addressing racial and gender inequities and unlocking new innovations that improve cancer outcomes for all women.
The news of Victoria’s Secret’s breast cancer awareness plans comes a few months after the brand announced a total rebrand that aims to include diverse, inclusive messaging.
The company also launched VS Collective — a platform created to develop new associate programs, revolutionary product collections, compelling and inspiring content and rally support for causes vital to women. Notables such as Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Megan Rapinoe, Paloma Elsesser and several more are a part of the collective.
Ahead of her next major movie role in House of Gucci this fall, Lady Gaga is opening up about getting into character as Patrizia Reggiani, the ex-wife of designer Maurizio Gucci, who hired a hitman to kill him in 1995.
The Oscar-winner tells The Wall Street Journalit was important for her to authentically play the part. She spent six months perfecting an Italian accent and then stayed in the accent for the entire shoot.
“I knew I was about to play a murderer,” she says. “I also knew how Tony [Bennett] feels about Italians being represented in film in terms of crime. I wanted to make a real person out of Patrizia, not a caricature.”
“I felt the best way to honor Maurizio and Italians was for my performance to be authentic, from the perspective of a woman,” Gaga adds. “Not an Italian-American woman, but an Italian woman.”
She says working on a film set in Italy also brought her closer to her roots. “When I went over to film this year, every day I was able to plant my feet on the ground and know that I was in a place where my family lived before coming here and working hard so I could have a better life,” Gaga says.
House of Gucci hits theaters November 24. Gaga’s new duets album with Tony Bennett, Love for Sale, is out today.
(CHANDLER, Ariz.) — A helicopter and a fixed-wing plane collided in mid-air in Chandler, Arizona, Friday, local authorities confirmed.
Chandler police tweeted that they are currently at the scene.
“We are at the scene of a mid-air collision between a plane and helicopter at a Chandler Airpark. We ask anyone who possibly witnessed or caught this incident on camera to contact Chandler PD at 480-782-4130,” the police posted.
The plane was able to land safely, but the helicopter crashed and caught on fire, the Chandler Fire department reported. Chandler Police have confirmed two deaths.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
