Month: January 2021

Categories
News Daypop

Dow jumps 300 points as firms rally against GameStop stock transactions

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The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 300.19 points while the S&P 500 climbed 0.98% and the Nasdaq Composite increased 0.50% as U.S. markets rebounded on Thursday.  Brokerage firms took steps to restrict an influx of transactions on heavily shorted stocks, after the stock trading app Robinhood restricted trades involving GameStop, AMC, Blackberry, and Nokia. 

All four stocks plummeted Thursday; they were popular on Reddit r/WallStreetBets, where users banded together to drive up prices of such stocks despite traditional hedge funds that had shorted them. AMC fell 56.63%, GameStop dropped 44.29%, Blackberry fell 41.63% and Nokia slipped 28.4%.

Robinhood said it restricted trading in the stocks “in light of recent volatility” and also updated its instructional tools to help people “educate themselves, including how to make sense of a volatile market.”

Stocks soar as GameStop, AMC get pounded

Via www.foxbusiness.com
U.S. equity markets rallied Thursday as heavy trading in shares of GameStop, AMC and others…
 

Categories
News Daypop

First cases in the U.S. of South African COVID-19 variant reported in South Carolina

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Health officials in South Carolina announced Thursday that they have identified two cases of a COVID-19 variant that emerged recently in South Africa. The two cases are the first found of the mutated virus in the United States. According to South Carolina’s Department of Health and Environmental Control, federal officials identified the B.1.351 variant in adults from the state’s Lowcountry and Pee Dee regions. The patients have not traveled internationally and did not know each other.

Interim DHEC Public Health Director Dr. Brannon Traxler said in a statement, “The arrival of the SARS-CoV-2 variant in our state is an important reminder to all South Carolinians that the fight against this deadly virus is far from over. While more COVID-19 vaccines are on the way, supplies are still limited. Every one of us must recommit to the fight by recognizing that we are all on the front lines now. We are all in this together.”

New variants first reported in Britain and South Africa are said to be more transmissible, but most experts have said the available vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna should also be effective against the mutated strains.

First U.S. cases of COVID-19 variant from South Africa found in South Carolina

Via www.cbsnews.com
A new and highly contagious coronavirus variant first identified in South Africa has been found…
 

Categories
Country Daypop

Kris Kristofferson has officially retired from music

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With no fanfare, actor and singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson has officially retired from music. According to a report regarding his estate, Kristofferson – who turns 85 this June – permanently stepped out of the spotlight in 2020. Kristofferson’s estate is now being represented from a management standpoint by Morris Higham Management, and his son, John Kristofferson, is now leading the Kristoffersons’ family businesses — including KK Records, Kristofferson’s indie record label. Tamara Saviano, a longtime friend and colleague, is in charge of public relations. Included in this news release was a note that Kris Kristofferson “officially retired in 2020,” though this announcement about new estate management was the first time the general public is hearing the news. 

Kristofferson put out 17 solo albums and was part of the Highwaymen with Cash, Jennings and Willie Nelson. As an actor, he is well known for his role in the 1976 iteration of A Star Is Born, for which he won a Best Actor Golden Globe Award.

Kristofferson was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1977, the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1985 and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2004. As of 2016, he is a member of the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame, and in 2019, he received the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award from the Country Music Association.

Kris Kristofferson has retired

Via www.msn.com
Country music legend Kris Kristofferson quietly retired last year, according to a new press…
 

Editorial credit: Sterling Munksgard / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

Florida Georgia Line’s Brian Kelley hoping to bring country musical ‘May We All’ to the big screen

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Florida Georgia Line’s Brian Kelley hopes to bring the country-music musical “May We All” to life as a stage production, as well as a movie version to be developed simultaneously. Kelley and his partners announced they have teamed up with director Andy Fickman for the film version, whose credits include directing and exec-producing CBS’ TV series “Kevin Can Wait” as well as a number of feature films and stage productions.

The stage version was set for a developmental production at Memphis’ Playhouse in the Square in fall 2020, to have been followed by an official Nashville premiere in 2021. However due to the coronavirus pandemic halting live shows, producers decided to move up the film adaptation.

In a synopsis, “May We All” is described as being about “disappearing small-town America as seen through the hopeful eyes of its youth,” with a “fledgling country singer” protagonist who “reluctantly comes home after a rough start in Nashville, ultimately to discover that her roots may take her a lot further than her dreams.” The book for the stage version was being written by Troy Britton Johnson and Todd Johnson.

Florida Georgia Line’s Brian Kelley Set To Bring “May We All” Musical Project To The Big Screen

Via www.cmt.com
Florida Georgia Line’s Brian Kelley has expanded his plans for “May We All,” a…
 

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Pop Daypop

The Weeknd releasing greatest hits album ‘The Highlights’ ahead of Super Bowl halftime show performance

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The Weeknd has announced a greatest hits album called The Highlights. The career-spanning collection is listed on his official website with a release date of Feb. 5.

The 18-track CD, which includes hits such as Blinding Lights and Can’t Feel My Face, arrives just two days before The Weeknd’s Super Bowl halftime show performance in Tampa, Florida, on Feb. 7.

You can pre-order The Highlights now.

The Weeknd releasing ‘The Highlights’ album ahead of Super Bowl performance

Via www.msn.com
If you like The Weeknd but aren’t sure you’ll know all the songs he’ll be playing during his…

Editorial credit: Christian Bertrand / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Pop Daypop

Justin Bieber teases new album with photos and video from the studio

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Justin Bieber is sharing behind-the-scenes clips from the studio where he is working on his upcoming album. 

Bieber shared pictures on Instagram, and in one photo, the singer sits in the studio intently looking over some papers. “Going over track listing for the album,” read the caption. A second photo showcased just how excited he is to be releasing the upcoming project, with the caption, “How this album makes me feel.” 

Bieber also shared a video clip of him playing the drums, along with a message about using your God-given potential: “So grateful for the gifts god has given me, my hope is to grow into all that God has for me in all areas of my life,” he wrote. “…God uses our potential to unlock our purpose! Go out there today and maximize your potential and watch fulfillment in your heart start to grow.!”

Justin Bieber shares an update on his upcoming album with his fans

Via www.msn.com
Bieber shared a series of posts and photos from the recording studio on Instagram. The posts…
 

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Go Country 105

Country star trivia

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Comstock/Thinkstock On this day in 2012, this singer known as The Chief scored his first #1 single with “Drink in My Hand.” Can you guess who it is? ANSWER: Eric Church. 

By Cillea Houghton 
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
Go Country 105

Nashville notes

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Burke/Triolo Productions/ThinkstockEmmylou Harris has been announced as one of the headliners on The Outlaw Country Cruise next year sailing February 25 – March 3 from Miami to Mexico and Belize. Other performers include Rodney Crowell, Lucinda Williams and Steve Earle & The Dukes.

Jake Hoot has released his duet with Kelly Clarkson on “I Would’ve Loved You” off his new EP, Love Out of Time.

Alyssa Trahan is sharing a new song, “We Used to Be Happy” off her forthcoming album, Baby Blues & Stilettos. 

By Cillea Houghton 
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
Go Country 105

Brett Young's “strong-willed” little “Lady” gets ready to be a big sister

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Riker BrothersAs Brett Young and his wife Taylor prepare for the arrival of their second little one this summer, their older daughter Presley is just past the one-year mark, having celebrated her birthday on October 21.

While Brett says she’s definitely a mama’s girl, he sees shades of her dad as well.

“I watched Taylor immediately take to motherhood,” he reflects, “and so there’s been this connection with her and Presley since Presley was born. So I feel like just because of their immediate connection, she’s probably drawing more from her mom.”

“But unfortunately for both of them, I think there’s a little more of my kind of strong-willed personality in there,” he grins.

The California native goes on to illustrate exactly what he means.

“She has a thing now where when she wants something, she just points at it and grunts,” he explains. “And I’m like, ‘That’s kind of how I treat food.’ So I think she got that one from me.”

“So I think, you know, in terms of learning, she’s still in that early stage with Mom, where she’s spending more time with Mom and she’s probably learning more new things from Mom. But I think genetically, she might have got a little more of Dad, which could suck for everybody,” he laughs. “But we’re keeping our fingers crossed.”

Both Presley and Taylor are immortalized in Brett’s latest hit, “Lady,” which is closing in on country’s top fifteen. 

By Stephen Hubbard
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
Country Daypop

Brett Young and Wife Taylor Expecting Baby No. 2

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Brett Young and his wife, Taylor, are expecting their second child. The couple, who tied the knot in 2018, are already parents to a daughter, 1-year-old Presley.

“And then we were 4,” 39-year-old Brett wrote on Instagram. “It seems like just yesterday we found out our little Presley was on her way. We are beyond blessed by this growing little family!”

“Sweet baby, you are already so loved and we cannot wait to meet you!” Taylor, 35, captioned her announcement post. “Baby #2 coming this summer.” People was the first to report the news of the couple’s baby on the way. 

Brett Young, Wife Taylor Expecting Their Second Child

Via tasteofcountry.com
She’s in need of some foolproof morning sickness tips. Continue reading…
 

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com