Elton John‘s Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour is back on and, as of now, it’ll officially end in Australia in 2023. But the Rocket Man has just announced a new date, which will mark his final show ever in London, England, the city where he first got his start as a musician and songwriter.
Elton will headline next year’s BST Hyde Park, the annual series of summer concerts that take place in London’s Hyde Park. The show will take place June 24, 2022. Tickets go on sale Friday, September 10, but if you pre-order Elton’s new album, The Lockdown Sessions, via his official store, you’ll get guaranteed access to a pre-sale ticket.
“This will be my final tour date in London, and I can’t wait to perform in one of my favorite cities in the world,” Elton wrote on Instagram.
Elton’s Farewell tour will resume May 27, 2022, in Europe before heading to North America on July 15, 2022. His final shows in the U.S. will be at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on November 19 and 20, 2022.
(Courtesy Ross and Angeline Eschette) Ross and Angeline Eschette pose with their newborn daughter at Nacogdoches Medical Center, in Nacogdoches, Texas.
(LOCKPORT, La.) — Ross and Angeline Eschette and their 7-year-old son evacuated their home state of Louisiana for Texas this weekend as Hurricane Ida prepared to hit.
The Eschettes will return to their home in Lockport later this week as a family of four after Angel Eschette gave birth while evacuated.
“She wanted to be part of the hurricane party,” Ross Eschette said of the couple’s newborn daughter, Adeline Grace, born on Aug. 30, just after Ida battered Louisiana as a fierce Category 4 storm.
Angeline Eschette’s original due date was Sept. 17, but her water broke overnight on Aug. 30 as they stayed with extended family members at a hotel in Nacogdoches, Texas.
The Eschettes, both natives of Lockport, a small town of about 3,000 people one hour outside of New Orleans, said they had weathered hurricanes before, but did not want to take any chances with Ida while expecting their second child.
“My No. 1 concern was to get as far away from the storm as possible, just to keep her from having the baby,” said Ross Eschette, 36. “In planning the evacuation, it wasn’t just let’s find a [hotel] room and go there, it was let’s find a hospital and then find a room nearby.”
The Eschettes said they not only had to evacuate their home and find a hospital away from home that they could be near, but also did so while Angeline Eschette, 33, dealt with a higher risk pregnancy due to gestational diabetes and was quarantining after testing positive for COVID-19.
“I was waiting to get vaccinated until after I gave birth. Even though they said there’s no harm, I still had my concerns about it,” she said. “But I was very lucky to not have a severe case.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last month strengthened its recommendation for COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy, stating that all women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to get pregnant now or might become pregnant in the future should get a COVID-19 vaccine.
The Eschettes and their family members drove an RV six hours from their home in Lockport to Nacogdoches, where Angeline Eschette gave birth at Nacogdoches Medical Center.
Ross Eschette, who did not contract COVID-19, was able to stay with his wife and daughter in the hospital room, but was not allowed to leave due to COVID restrictions.
Adeline Grace was born healthy, weighing in at 8 pounds and one ounce, according to her parents.
Both of Adeline’s great-great-grandmothers are, by chance, named Ida, according to Angeline, who said she did not consider the name for her daughter.
“When Hurricane Katrina hit our area, everybody named their babies Katrina after that, so my nephew thought it would be funny to name her Ida and then said he was going to call her Ida Lynn,” said Angeline. “I said, ‘No, that’s not going on the birth certificate.'”
Both Angeline and Ross Eschette said they have had to balance their joy at the birth of their daughter with the heartache of the devastation caused by Hurricane Ida, particularly in Lockport.
The family said the hospitals in the area, including where Angeline planned to give birth, all had to evacuate their patients during the storm for various reasons.
“In the situation that we were in, we definitely made the right choice,” said Ross Eschette. “And we’ve been treated with the utmost respect [at Nacogdoches Medical Center]. They definitely made our experience everything we needed it to be.”
“I feel lucky to be safe in a place that was out of harm’s way and that I had a safe place to deliver,” added Angeline Eschette.
The couple said they have heard from neighbors that their home’s roof was severely damaged but their house is still standing. They expect electricity in their town to be out for the next three to four weeks.
As of Wednesday, over 884,000 customers remained without power in Louisiana, according to a report from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) obtained by ABC News.
“It’s hard for us to stay here for a while financially so we will try to make our way back home towards the end of the week,” said Angeline Eschette, who was discharged from the hospital on Wednesday. “We have a camper and they have a few campgrounds where we’re going to try to set up because we can’t go back home right now. Our town is just a disaster.”
Ross Eschette said he has been in touch with friends who stayed behind in Lockport to see what supplies are needed so that they can try to get them in Texas before they drive home.
“People are watching the news and seeing the devastation of what our hometown and the surrounding area are going through, but the number one thing about us is we are the most resilient people in the world,” he said. “We all come together and we’re going to rebuild better than ever. It’s definitely not going to stop us.”
(NEW YORK) — Former NFL wide receiver David Patten, three-time Super Bowl champion, died in a motorcycle crash in South Carolina on Thursday, the Richland County coroner said. Patten was 47.
The agent for the former New England Patriot, Sam Gordon, confirmed Patten’s death to ESPN.
“We are all very heartbroken,” Gordon said, adding that he had spoken with Patten’s widow.
Authorities said a motorcycle driver – identified by the coroner as Patten – crossed the median and caused a crash involving two other vehicles. One of the other drivers was taken to a hospital with undisclosed injuries.
“I am heartbroken by the news of David’s passing,” Patriots owner Robert Kraft said in a statement.
Patten played for five teams in his 12-year career, but enjoyed most of his success with New England. He caught the only offensive touchdown for the Patriots in their first Super Bowl win, during the 2001 season.
He retired as a Patriot in 2010, calling his time in New England the highlight of his career.
“It breaks my heart to hear of David’s tragic passing at such a young age,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said in a statement. “I am grateful to have coached David. He is an essential person and player in Patriots history, without whom we would not have been Super Bowl champions.”
Former teammates and coaches reacted to Patten’s death on social media Friday.
Shocked and saddened about the sudden tragic death of David Patten. Excellent player, even better person. Family guy, team guy, devout Christian. Prayers all directed this way. RIP David. You will be sorely missed.
“Astronaut in the Ocean” rapper Masked Wolf has announced the release of his debut mixtape, Astronomical.
The 17-track project, arriving September 10, will include “Astronaut in the Ocean” as well as the previously released tracks “Bop,” “Say So” and “Gravity Glidin.”
Ahead of the album’s release, the Australian rapper has dropped a new track, “Razors Edge,” featuring X Ambassadors, along with a cinematic video. X Ambassadors frontman Sam Harris says, “Masked and I were on a Zoom call, working on a completely different song. We finished that one up, and he said ‘What else you got?’”
“We’d had the original beat/hook for ‘Razors Edge’ for a couple months, and I was dying to get someone really dope on it,” Harris adds. “So I played that one for him. He wrote verses literally in front of me right then and there.”
Masked Wolf says, “’Razors Edge’ has such a unique sound..as soon as I heard it, I told Sam that it was mine and nobody else could have it. From there, the magic happened.”
Masked Wolf, born Harry Michael, recently received a special Australian award celebrating one billion streams of “Astronaut in the Ocean,” according to Billboard. Other recipients of the award include Lorde, Five Seconds of Summer, Goyte, Sia, Dean Lewis and Tones & I.
Here’s the track listing for Astronomical:
“Astronomical”
“Just Names”
“Gravity Glidin”
“Razors Edge” (Feat. X Ambassadors)
“Say So”
“Bop”
“Where’s Wally”
“Ain’t Gonna Change”
“Pandemonium”
“Paper Planes”
“Interstellar”
“Tightrope” (Feat. NICOLOSI)
“Work”
“Galaxy Garden”
“Reflections”
“Thief In The Night” (Feat. Kevin Gates)
“Astronaut in the Ocean”
Sara Bareilles says her return to Broadway has been an emotional journey.
Sara made her grand return to the stage this week, reprising the lead role of Jenna Hunterson in her hit Waitress for a limited-time engagement. And in a preview clip of a new NBC News Now special called Return to Broadway, which you can watch on E!, she discusses her feelings about the Great White Way reopening.
“It’s been so intense, deeply emotional, very surreal, completely exciting and joyful,” Sara says in the preview clip, describing being back on stage after the COVID-19 pandemic shut down Broadway for 16 months. “I cannot get over how quickly it starts to feel just like ‘we’re back.'”
One of the new aspects of the pandemic theater experience is that guests are required to be fully vaccinated and wear a mask — requirements that the singer is in full support of.
“A thousand percent,” Sara affirms about whether the mandate makes her feel more comfortable performing for a live audience, calling it a “no-brainer.” “We’re a progressive industry and we have to hold these high standards.”
Sara stars in Waitress until October 17. The NBC News Now special Return to Broadway premiering on September 6 at 7 p.m. ET. NBC News Now is available on Peacock, The Roku Channel, YouTube TV, Tubi, NBCNews.com and other streaming outlets.
Mod Sun has released a new song called “Down,” featuring Travis Barker.
The Blink-182 drummer lends his signature skills to the pop-punk track, and also appears on the single cover, which features Mod sitting down next to a wall covered in photos of Barker.
“Down” follows Mod’s 2021 album, Internet Killed the Rockstar, which includes his Avril Lavigne collaboration, “Flames.”
Mod and Barker previously worked together on Machine Gun Kelly‘s Downfalls High, a musical film based on the “Bloody Valentine” rocker’s 2020 album, Tickets to My Downfall. They also collaborated on Mod’s 2014 song, “Never Quit.”
Last week, it was announced that Mod and MGK would be reuniting to write and direct a new film together titled Good Mourning with a U. The pair also co-directed and co-wrote Downfalls High.
Carrie Underwood and Dan + Shay just dropped their stunning collaboration, “Over Us.” The song, which was produced by Dan Smyers, is from the upcoming Dear Evan Hansen movie.
Dan + Shay spoke out about their duet on social media, saying they are “super fans” of Carrie.
“It’s always been a dream to collaborate with her,” they wrote, adding that the duet is “quite possibly the coolest thing that’s ever happened to us.”
Other artists appearing on the Dear Evan Hansen soundtrack include Sam Smith with Summer Walker, SZA, FINNEAS, Tori Kelly and more. The Dear Evan Hansen soundtrack will be released on September 24, which is the same day the film will be released nationwide.
L-R: Kanye West, Kenny Burns and Drake in 2015; Prince Williams/WireImage
As Drake takes over the music world with Friday’s release of his long awaited Certified LoverBoy album, Kanye West has taken another jab in their feud right in Drizzy’s hometown.
After the Champagne Papi erected billboards in Toronto with lyrics from CLB, West countered with billboards with the name of his new album, Donda, right next to them, as captured on Twitter by DJ Akademiks.
Kanye dropped Donda on Sunday, and now the superstars will battle for supremacy of the charts.
Certified Lover Boy features an all-star cast including Jay-Z, Travis Scott, Rick Ross, Future, Young Thug, Lil Wayne, Lil Baby, Lil Durk, Ty Dolla $ign, Kid Cudi and 21 Savage. Seven of those artists are also on Donda: Jay-Z, Scott, Lil Baby, Lil Durk, Young Thug, Cudi and Ty Dolla $ign.
The beef was reignited two weeks ago when Drake dissed Kanye on Trippie Redd‘s “Betrayal.” On the track, Drake raps, “All these fools I’m beefin’ that I barely know / Forty-five, forty-four (Burned out), let it go / Ye ain’t changin’ s*** for me, it’s set in stone.”
Forty-four-year-old Kanye responded by sharing Drake’s address in Toronto in a posted-and-deleted Instagram obtained by TMZ.
Kanye West bought out hella billboards for DONDA right next to CLB billboards in Toronto… pic.twitter.com/99xlgNzoH7
Director Pablo Larraín‘s movie Spencer just debuted at the Venice Film Festival, and Kristen Stewart is already winning raves for her portrayal as Princess Diana.
The Hollywood Reporter, for example, piled on the superlatives for the film, calling Stewart “incandescent,” and declares that the actress “has seldom been more magnetic, or more heartbreakingly fragile.”
Variety also praised the Oscar-nominated Jackie director’s new film as “masterly” and “enthralling,” and Stewart a “superb” in the story, which takes place over a Christmas weekend in the 1990s in which Diana’s rocky marriage to Prince Charles finally comes apart at the seams.
For her part, Stewart spoke about the role after the screening, saying she, “took more pleasure into my physicality making this movie than I have on anything.” According to Deadline, she continued, “I felt more free and alive and able to move, and taller even. Now put a leash on that.”
Stewart praised Diana, who eventually divorced Charles and remained an icon of fashion and a tireless humanitarian before her tragic death in a car accident in 1997. “There are some people that are endowed with an undeniable penetrating energy,” the actress explained. “I think it’s just something she was born with.”
Stewart continued, “I think the really sad thing about her is that as normal and casual and disarming her air is immediately, she also felt so isolated and lonely she made everyone else feel accompanied and bolstered by this beautiful light and all she wanted was to have it back.”
(CHICAGO) — Chicago Cubs manager David Ross and president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer have both tested positive for COVID-19, the team said on Friday.
A spokesperson for the Cubs said that both men are quarantining and feeling fine. Both are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.
In Ross’ absence, bench coach Andy Green will manage the club. Green previously served as manager of the San Diego Padres from 2016 to 2019.
All of Ross’ close contacts were tested on Friday, the Cubs said, with none returning a positive test. There was no immediate indication that any players would be unavailable.
The Cubs are one of seven teams in Major League Baseball that have failed to reach the 85 percent vaccination threshold required to enter relaxed COVID-19 protocols. They did, however, issue a vaccine mandate for non-playing employees, the team told ESPN Thursday.
That policy goes into effect next month, with employees needing to be fully vaccinated by October 4. A source tells ESPN that at least 90 percent of team employees have been vaccinated.
