Month: June 2021

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News Daypop

Michigan GOP Senate rejects Trump’s claim of election fraud

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A months-long probe of the presidential election led by Michigan Republican lawmakers found that claims by former president Donald Trump about widespread voter fraud were false.

According to a report released Wednesday, human error and lack of training were the only factors that contributed to inaccurate and unofficial vote counts, especially in Antrim County, where Trump and his supporters claimed votes were miscalculated in favor of Joe Biden. The report stated: “These errors were quickly discovered and rectified by the protective and redundant systems our state has built to verify and protect election integrity, including re-countable, paper ballots.  Even more significantly, the official vote count was never in doubt and was validated several times, including during a complete, hand recount.”

The four-person committee recommended that legislation strengthen the law regarding the conducting of “logic and accuracy” tests prior to the election, including prohibiting Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson from mailing unsolicited absentee ballot applications. It also recommends Attorney General Dana Nessel consider investigating those who pushed false claims “to raise money or publicity for their own ends.”

Biden won Michigan by 154,000 votes. Court decisions, canvassers and reviews by officials reinforced the outcome of the vote.

Editorial credit: Underawesternsky / Shutterstock.com

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News Daypop

President Joe Biden announces ‘major crackdown’ on illegal gun sales

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President Joe Biden said that his administration will implement a “major crackdown” on illegal gun sales, unveiling a plan to slow the increase of gun violence in the United States. Biden announced on Wednesday that the plan included gun control measures, support for law enforcement and helping formerly jailed individuals re-enter society amid an increase in homicides in the country and an expected rise in violence in the summer months. “We are announcing a major crackdown to stem the flow of guns used to commit violent crimes,” the President said. “It is zero tolerance for those who willfully violate key existing laws and regulations.”

The President’s plan aims to hold “rogue” firearms dealers responsible for violating federal gun laws, give law enforcement resources to address traditional summer increases in crime, invest in community violence interventions, support unemployment and youth programs, and assist initiatives that help formerly incarcerated people successfully re-enter the community. Biden said: “If you willfully sell a gun to someone who is prohibited from possessing it, if you willfully fail to run a background check, if you willfully falsify a record, if you willfully fail to cooperate with the tracing requests or inspections, my message to you is this. ‘We will find you and we’ll seek your license to sell guns.’”

Gun violence has also risen significantly in the United States in 2021, with several mass shootings in Atlanta and Boulder, Colo., in March and San Jose, Calif., last month.

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Go Country 105

Gabby Barrett celebrates a 'Goldmine' of hits, as Nashville brings back the #1 party

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Wednesday evening in Nashville, both Gabby Barrett and Music City marked a milestone. 

For the former American Idol contestant, it was the celebration of her first two chart-topping hits, “I Hope” and “The Good Ones.” For Music Row, it was the first number one party — a much-beloved Nashville tradition — since the arrival of COVID-19.

The significance of both wasn’t lost on the new mother, who welcomed daughter Baylah May in January. 

“Oh, my goodness. It’s awesome,” Gabby remarked. “It like kind of just solidifies everything for me because it’s so traditional for people to have a number one party when they have a number one.”

“We had to kind of stall from it for so long with COVID,” she added.

“I Hope” topped the country radio chart in April of 2020, with “The Good Ones” following in April of this year. For Gabby, the number one party took her back.

“It’s pretty cool,” she reflects. “It brings all the kind of emotions back to when I first got the call that the song went number one — for both songs… And so it’s just cool. I’m glad to be here and I’m glad to be celebrating some really cool songs.”

Next up, Gabby’s new single, “Footprints on the Moon,” aims to reach the same heights as her previous hits from her debut, Goldmine.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
Country Daypop

Lanco announces ‘Honky Tonk Hippies’ tour and new 5-song EP

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Lanco is launching their 30-city Honky Tonk Hippies tour this fall, and will be releasing a new 5-song EP of the same name on July 2.  The tour will kick-off on Sept. 12 in Isle of Palms, South Carolina at The Wind Jammer with Ross Ellis, traveling through Georgia the Theatre in Athens, Georgia, The Van Buren in Phoenix, and Fremont Theater in California before wrapping up at the Grizzly Rose in Denver.

Lanco’s upcoming EP was self-produced by the five-man band –comprised of Brandon Lancaster, Eric Steedly, Chandler Baldwin, Jared Hampton, and Tripp Howell — and each song on the new project was written by at least two members of the group.

Tickets for the Honky Tonk Hippies tour will be on sale beginning this Friday, June 25 at lancomusic.com.

Editorial credit: Olga Steckel / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

Kenny Chesney joins Jimmy Buffett at Nashville Club Show

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Jimmy Buffett performed a private, unannounced show with his Coral Reefer Band at the Nashville club Exit/In, the same small venue Buffett first performed in back in the 1970s.  As a surprise, country superstar Kenny Chesney joined Buffett to perform Mac McAnally’s “Back Where I Come From” and Buffett’s classic “Margaritaville.”

Both Buffett and Chesney shared video clips from the evening’s performances, with Chesney posting on Instagram: “Always a blast being on stage with my friends Jimmy Buffett, Mac McAnally, and the rest of the Coral Reefer Band. Thanks for the invite Jimmy.”

Opening in 1971, Exit/In celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.  The venue has hosted a wide-variety of performances from artists including R.E.M., Tom Petty, The Police, as well as numerous country.  One of the most recent performances was in 2019, a pre-pandemic appearance from Miranda Lambert to preview songs from her album Wildcard.

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

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Pop Daypop

Britney Spears speaks at hearing asking to end conservatorship

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Britney Spears appeared before a judge on Wednesday, asking to end the court conservatorship that has controlled her life and money since 2008.  Spears’ request at a Los Angeles hearing was the first time she spoke in open court under the conservatorship during its 13-year existence.

In the written speech that lasted more than 20 minutes, Spears revealed many details that have been carefully guarded for years by the court.  Spears, speaking by phone, called the conservatorship “abusive” and condemned her father and the others who have controlled it, saying: “I want to end this conservatorship without being evaluated,” Spears said, adding, “This conservatorship is doing me way more harm than good. I deserve to have a life.”  Spears said she wants to marry her boyfriend Sam Asghari and have a baby, but the conservatorship won’t allow her to, telling the court she’s being forced to take birth control against her will. When an attorney representing her co-conservator said the hearing and transcript should be kept sealed, Spears objected, saying “They’ve done a good job at exploiting my life, so I feel like it should be an open court hearing and they should listen and hear what I have to say.”

James Spears serves as co-conservator of his daughter’s finances, and also had control of her life decisions for most of the conservatorship. The conservatorship was put in place as she underwent a mental health crisis in 2008.  Vivian Thoreen, attorney for James Spears, gave a brief statement on his behalf: “He is sorry to see his daughter suffering and in so much pain. Mr. Spears loves his daughter, and misses her very much.”

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

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Pop Daypop

Elton John announces North American and European dates on 2022 ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ tour

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Elton John announced on social media his final concert dates for North America and Europe as part of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour. John said in a video addressed to fans: “Shows that I announce today will be my final tour dates ever in North America and Europe. I’m going to go out in the biggest possible way, performing at my very best, with the most spectacular production I’ve ever had, playing in places that have meant so much to me throughout my career.”

The new dates will kick-off May 27, 2022 at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt, Germany and end on Nov. 22, 2022 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. John will also be touring in Australia and New Zealand in 2023.

John  first announced the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour back in 2018, but it was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Tickets go on sale for the general public in Europe next Tuesday, June 29th and on Wed, June 30 for North America. For pre-sale tickets, join the Rocket Club at eltonjohn.com/rocket-club

Editorial credit: stedalle / Shutterstock.com

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Go Country 105

Maren Morris, Miley Cyrus duet on “Dancing Queen” in a sneak peek of Miley's Pride Month special

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Miley Cyrus' Pride Month concert special, Miley Cyrus Presents Stand by You, airs on Friday, but before it does, fans can get a first look at the event now. A clip from the show, which was filmed at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, shows Miley sharing the stage with Maren Morris.

Decked out in glittering pink outfits, Miley and Maren trade verses on a duet rendition of ABBA's “Dancing Queen.” The Swedish pop group first released “Dancing Queen” in 1976, and it quickly became one of their biggest hits, topping charts worldwide and becoming the band's only U.S. number-one.

Maren shared the clip of herself and Miley rocking out to “Dancing Queen” on her Twitter feed, joking in the caption of her post, “I'm not sure we wore enough pink.”

Maren is just one of a number of country performers scheduled to appear on the bill. Little Big Town, Brothers Osborne, Mickey Guyton and Orville Peck are all also performing during the Miley Cyrus Presents Stand by You special.

The show will stream exclusively on Peacock on Friday, June 25.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Luke Bryan shares a “raw look into my life” with five-part docuseries, 'Luke Bryan: My Dirt Road Diary'

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Luke Bryan fans will get an unprecedented look inside the singer's journey to stardom in a new, five-part docuseries, called Luke Bryan: My Dirt Road Diary, which premieres this August. Ahead of release day, you can check out the trailer now.

“The devotion and support of my fans are the reason I have made it this far in my career,” explains Luke of his decision to put out the series. “Life can be tough, and the past 15 months have been very difficult for everyone. I hope in sharing this raw look into my life that it may be an encouragement to others. Through the heartaches, triumphs can come.”

Luke Bryan: My Dirt Road Diary features exclusive interviews with those closest to the country superstar, like his wife, Caroline, and mother LeClaire, as well as home videos from Luke's younger days.

The singer executive-produced Luke Bryan: My Dirt Road Diary alongside Kerri Edwards and Ryan Schmidt. Fly High Films' Michael Monaco also executive produces and directs.

All five episodes of the series will stream for free on August 6 on IMDb TV, which is Amazon's streaming service.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Walker Hayes is “Fancy Like” a number-one hit, thanks to his viral TikTok dance

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Less than a month after his Country Stuff EP arrived, and before he officially sends any of its songs to country radio, Walker Hayes has netted a number-one hit on Billboard's Digital Song Sales chart with “Fancy Like.”

That's due in part to the song's breakout success on TikTok, where a clip the singer posted of him dancing to the song with his 15-year-old daughter, Lela, has been viewed over seven million times.

“I have my first number-one on Billboard with a song that's completely me, through and through,” Walker says. “That's the coolest part. It almost seems too easy because it was just me being me, in the song and with my family.”

“Fancy Like” cruised to the top of the Digital Song Sales chart for the week ending June 17, with 10,300 units sold. That's a 943% jump, Billboard reports, according to MRC Data.

The song is one of six songs on Country Stuff. The EP features collaborations with Jake Owen, Carly Pearce and Lori McKenna.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.