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Rihanna is world’s wealthiest female musician with an estimated worth of $1.7 billion, reports ‘Forbes’

August 4, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Singer, actress and entrepreneur Rihanna has put in a lot of hard “work” — and now she’s a billionaire.

Forbes estimates the Grammy-winner’s worth is now $1.7 billion, making her the wealthiest female musician in the world and second to Oprah Winfrey as richest entertainer.

While Rihanna is known for her number-one hits like “Work,” “Umbrella” and “We Found Love,” and starring in big budget films like Ocean’s 8, she is also a fashion icon. In 2017, she teamed up with French company, LVMH — the fashion house behind Louis Vuitton and Dior — to launch her now wildly popular Fenty Beauty cosmetics line.

The following year, Rihanna spearheaded Savage by Fenty, a lingerie line promoting body positivity and inclusivity.

“The majority of her $1.7 billion estimated net worth is not from singing but from cosmetics,” Forbes editor Kerry Dolan told ABC’s Good Morning America. “From a super-successful cosmetics line which, when it was launched, drew lots of praise because there were something, like, more than 40 shades for all range of skin tones, which was something that at the time, not very many cosmetics lines had been that inclusive.”

While Fenty’s luxury clothing line was shut down earlier this year, the brand catapulted the singer-turned-mogul into billionaire status.

Rihanna joins Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner on the coveted Forbes list as one of Hollywood’s most successful female self-made entrepreneurs.

“Women are making more headway, slowly but surely as super-successful entrepreneurs,” said Dolan. “So we will see more famous artists, entertainers, performers go into a successful entrepreneurial vein. It’s been proved as a proven formula for some people so others would like to try it.”

Kesha ready to go “full crazy” on tour following pandemic

August 4, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Kesha is definitely ready to hit the road this month after the COVID-19 pandemic sidelined her for a year-and-a-half.

“I might just be inconsolable. I know we’re all gonna go full crazy,” she tells Billboard.

The “Tik Tok” singer says quarantine was “confusing” and left her feeling “a little helpless,” so she’s “beyond excited and grateful” to finally hit the stage.

“You don’t realize how much you appreciate something until it’s taken away from you and I realize my connective tissue to the world is being on stage,” she adds. “I want people to come [to my show] and go absolutely nuts and not feel like they have to censor themselves at all.”

“I’m so excited to provide the happiest place,” says Kesha, who describes the vibe of her tour as a “skanky Disneyland that’s covered in glitter with way more bad words.”

The Kesha Live tour, featuring opener Betty Who, kicks off August 13 in Billings, MT and is scheduled through August 29 in Cincinnati, OH.

Da Brat says ‘Brat Loves Judy’ is a “serious inside look” at her “vulnerability”

August 4, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Veteran hip-hop artist Da Brat is sharing a never-before-seen side of herself in the new WE tv reality series Brat Loves Judy.

As someone who only recently became open about her sexuality, Da Brat says being proposed to by her girlfriend, Jesseca “Judy” Dupart, was something she “never, ever, ever, ever” thought would happen.

“First of all, it was ridiculous,” Brat tells ABC Audio of the surprise proposal. “Like, I was so stunned because I had no idea.”

She continues, “I was told that I was going to a photo shoot for [Judy’s] Kaleidoscope Hair Products…And I get there and it’s this huge thing. And I just almost passed out at least 15 times. Like everybody was there that I loved that I hadn’t seen in years. I couldn’t understand how she was able to keep this secret for so long.”

While marriage was something that Da Brat says she “just never thought about,” she now smiles when she thinks about Judy’s “breathtaking” proposal.

“I was like on cloud 10,000 every second,” she says. “Every time I turned around, [I] was like, ‘Oh, my God! Oh, my God! Like, it was so dramatic.”

And if fans are looking for more “dramatic” moments like that on the show, they’ll get it — along with a softer side of Da Brat.

“This show is going to show the most cream-puffish side of me that the world has ever seen, because I never show that,” she admits. “I’ve always felt like I should keep that side for only people that I already know and that love me already. So, they’re gonna really get a serious inside look of my vulnerability, and my love for [Judy].”

Brat Loves Judy premieres Thursday at 9 p.m. ET on WE tv.

Camila Cabello promises to use social media to promote body positivity

August 4, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Isabel Infantes/PA Images via Getty Images

Camila Cabello understands that social media can be both a delightful and terrifying place — that is why she swears to use her platform to promote only positive messages.

Speaking to the British show Lorraine on Tuesday, the “Don’t Go Yet” singer addressed the pressures people face — particularly when it comes to beauty standards — when browsing social media.

“It can be fun, but it can also be a lot,” Camila, 24, explained, saying she sees the benefit of using social media. “For me, like posting about that video that I posted about my body and being like, ‘I have cellulite and stretch marks and gain weight sometimes and that’s normal.’ And kinda having messages like that feels really liberating.”

“TikTok seems like it’s a positive platform where people can just be funny, be honest, be inspiring [and] be truthful,” the three-time Grammy nominee continued. However, she admits her experiences on TikTok do not reflect what she witnesses on other sites.

“[Social media] is a lot,” Camila continued. “Yesterday, I had a day off and I was just like, ‘I can’t be on social media today!’ I just notice it just makes my brain go so fast and sometimes you just need to take a break.”

When opening up about the downside of social media, the Cinderella star said women face an additional pressure to look and act perfect at all times.

“A lot of the times I feel and I’m sure a lot of people feel, especially like female pop stars or pop singers, that the narrative can be kind of written for you,” she explained, adding that she finds it “frustrating” when people try to define her.

As for how she overcomes the obstacle, Camila said she takes “control of my own narrative” to share “who I am.”

Bruce Springsteen, Eddie Vedder featured on Tom Morello’s new cover of AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell”

August 4, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello is on a “Highway to Hell,” and he’s brought Bruce Springsteen and Pearl Jam‘s Eddie Vedder along for the ride.

That’s right, The Boss and Vedder are featured on Morello’s just-released new cover of the classic AC/DC song “Highway to Hell” that’s available now via digital formats.

The track will appear on Morello’s upcoming second solo album, The Atlas Underground Fire, which will be released October 15.

“Our version of ‘Highway to Hell’ pays homage to AC/DC but with Bruce Springsteen and Eddie Vedder, brings this legendary song into the future,” Morello says in a statement.

Explaining how the cover of “Highway to Hell” came about, Tom notes that he played the song live a few times with Springsteen – and Vedder on guest vocals — when he was touring as a temporary member of Bruce’s E Street Band in Australia in 2014.

“I began to wonder, what does the most ferocious version of this song sound like in 2021?” notes Tom. “I put together a pretty rocking demo and sent it over to Bruce and Eddie with my fingers crossed. This is what we got back: one of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll songs of all time, sung by two of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll singers of all time, and then I play a shredding guitar solo. Thank you and good night.”

The Atlas Underground Fire, which you can pre-order now, will feature a variety of other guests, including country star Chris Stapleton, reggae artist Damian Marley and many more.

Here’s The Atlas Underground Fire‘s full track list:

“Harlem Hellfighter
“Highway to Hell” — featuring Bruce Springsteen and Eddie Vedder
“Let’s Get the Party Started” — featuring Bring Me the Horizon
“Driving to Texas” — featuring Phantogram
“The War Inside” — featuring Chris Stapleton
“Hold The Line” — featuring grandson
“Naraka” — featuring Mike Posner
“The Achilles List” — featuring Damian Marley
“Night Witch” — featuring phem
“Charmed I’m Sure” — featuring Protohype
“Save Our Souls” — featuring Dennis Lyxzén of Refused
“On the Shore of Eternity” — featuring Sama’ Abdulhadi

Mel Brooks to release memoir ‘ALL ABOUT ME! My Remarkable Life in Show Business’ in November

August 4, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Legendary entertainer and EGOT winner Mel Brooks is releasing a memoir on November 30 called ALL ABOUT ME! My Remarkable Life in Show Business.

The 95-year-old writer, actor, and director will also narrate the audiobook version of his life’s story.

Publisher Random House explains, “the long-awaited memoir from one of the greatest influences ever known to American (and global) comedy” will “cover everything from his childhood…to his service in World War II, to his early years in show business alongside such greats as Sid Caesar, Neil Simon and Carl Reiner, to his array of dazzling films…”

Among those films, of course, are The Producers, for which he won an Oscar for Best Screenplay, and the beloved Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, History of the World Part I, and Spaceballs. And that was before Brooks adapted The Producers into a Tony-winning smash.

For his part, Brooks says in a statement, “It was joyous and at times bittersweet writing this book and reliving the peaks and valleys of my incredible journey from Brooklyn to Hollywood to Broadway. I hope fans of comedy will get a kick out of the stories behind my work, and really enjoy taking this remarkable ride with me.”

Guests at this year’s Met Gala will need to be vaxxed and masked

August 4, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Get ready to see some pretty elaborate face masks. The celebrities and other guests at this year’s Met Gala on September 13 will need to wear face coverings and prove they’re vaccinated against COVID-19, ABC Audio has confirmed.

A spokesperson for New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art noted, “Currently, all attendees at The Met Gala…must provide proof of full vaccination and will also be expected to wear masks indoors except when eating or drinking,” adding that guidelines will be updated “as needed.”

The news comes a day after New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio announced vaccines will be required for patrons seeking admittance to restaurants, gyms, and most every indoor space in the city.

The Met Museum itself currently requires face coverings even if visitors are vaccinated.

Earlier this year, the organizers behind Vogue‘s traditionally gonzo gala — technically called the Costume Institute Benefit — announced dates for two bashes: The first, a “more intimate” gathering on September 13, will highlight an exhibition of the same name, “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion,” which opens September 18 at the Anna Wintour Costume Center. The 2021 event will also commemorate the Costume Institute’s 75th birthday; the festivities were cancelled outright in 2020 over coronavirus concerns.

The 2022 Costume Institute Benefit, the Met Gala’s official name, will be held on May 2, 2022.

Officially, the Met Galas benefit The Costume Institute, “with its primary source of annual funding for exhibitions, publications, acquisitions, operations, and capital improvements.” Unofficially, the parties have become a place where celebrities show off outrageous red carpet outfits, such as Jared Leto‘s infamous decapitated head ensemble, and Lady Gaga‘s 25-foot-long Brandon Maxwell fuchsia pink cape gown.

More music festivals remove DaBaby from lineups following comments controversy

August 4, 2021 by WDNY Radio

The fallout continues for DaBaby, who was dropped by three additional music festivals on Tuesday in response to the remarks about HIV/AIDS that he made during his Rolling Loud performance in Miami last month.

Austin City Limits and the Music Midtown Festivals announced Tuesday that DaBaby, born Jonathan Kirk, has been removed from their rosters. In total, six music festivals have pulled him from their lineups, including New York’s Governors Ball, the Day N Vegas, and Lollapalooza.

Lollapalooza announced Sunday, the day he was set to perform, that he would not be welcome on stage, with Billboard reporting that his appearance was contingent on a promised video apology video that never appeared.

Sources tell Billboard that DaBaby’s team promised several venues the “Masterpiece” rapper would issue a sincere apology to the LGBT community for the hurtful remarks he made, but when he missed the deadline, the venues went ahead and pulled the plug on his performances.

The 29-year-old rapper issued a lengthy apology on social media Monday, saying in part, “I want to apologize to the LGBTQ+ community for the hurtful and triggering comments I made. Again, I apologize for my misinformed comments about HIV/Aids, and I know education on this is important.”

DaBaby has twice apologized for the controversial statement he made on July 25, where he told the Rolling Loud crowd, “If you didn’t show up today with HIV, AIDS, any of them deadly sexually transmitted diseases that’ll make you die in two or three weeks, put your cellphone light in the air.” The remarks were widely considered homophobic.

Guns N’ Roses reworks “Silkworms” rarity as “new” song, “Absurd”

August 4, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation

Guns N’ Roses debuted a new song live during their concert in Boston Tuesday. Well, sort of.

During their set, the “Welcome to the Jungle” rockers performed a track titled “Absurd.” While it now has a new title, the tune is actually a reworked version of the notably profane GN’R rarity, “Silkworms.”

“Silkworms” was one of the many songs written during the sessions for Chinese Democracy, the long-fabled Guns record that finally became reality in 2008 after a 10-year recording process. Though it was performed live in the early 2000s, “Silkworms” didn’t make the final Chinese Democracy track list.

You can watch fan-shot footage of the “Absurd” performance streaming now on YouTube.

Guns N’ Roses is currently in the middle of a U.S. tour, with support from Wolfgang Van Halen‘s Mammoth WVH. The outing was originally scheduled for 2020 before being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

(Video contains uncensored profanity.)

Obama scales back 60th birthday bash amid COVID questions

August 4, 2021 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — After plans to host hundreds of guests at his Martha’s Vineyard estate for a 60th birthday bash drew news media scrutiny, former President Barack Obama has decided to “significantly scale back” the affair, a spokesperson said Wednesday.

“This outdoor event was planned months ago in accordance with all public health guidelines and with COVID safeguards in place. Due to the new spread of the delta variant over the past week, the President and Mrs. Obama have decided to significantly scale back the event to include only family and close friends,” Hannah Hankins said. “President Obama is appreciative of others sending their birthday wishes from afar and looks forward to seeing people soon.”

She declined to give a new estimate of how many guests will attend the gathering.

A COVID coordinator had been slated to work the party, ensuring that all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state and local guidelines were followed, and collect proof of negative test results from guests, who would also attest their vaccination status.

Despite those measures, a source familiar with the decision-making process said the fast-moving COVID developments over the past week, such as rising cases fueled by the delta variant, and new CDC masking guidance for even vaccinated individuals, led to the downsizing in party plans.

“Even last Monday, things looked different than they do today,” the source said.

Obama is turning 60 on Wednesday.

Overall, the Obamas did not want to become a distraction from the Biden administration’s efforts to encourage Americans to get vaccinated, the source said.

According to the New York Times, some party guests had already arrived on Martha’s Vineyard when word of the scaled-down plans was shared.

President Joe Biden was not planning to attend the party.

“While President Biden is unable to attend this weekend, he looks forward to catching up with former President Obama soon and properly welcoming him into the over 60 club,” a Biden administration official said Monday.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment on the change of party plans.

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