Month: June 2021

Billie Eilish apologizes after video containing racial slur resurfaces

Post author By Staff
Post date June 23, 2021
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Billie Eilish is apologizing for her behavior after video resurfaced that appears to show her mouthing an anti-Asian remark. An edited compilation of several videos that was posted on TikTok last week appears to show the singer mouthing an Asian racial slur used in Tyler the Creator’s 2011 song “Fish” and imitating various accents.

Eilish responded to the backlash via her Instagram story, writing: “I love you guys, and many of you have been asking me to address this. And this is something that I WANT to address because I’m being labeled something that I am not. There’s a video edit going around of me when I was 13 or 14 where I mouthed a word from a song that at the time I didn’t know was a derogatory term used against members of the Asian community. I am appalled and embarrassed and want to barf that I ever mouthed along to that word. This song was the only time I’d ever heard that word as it was never used around me by anyone in my family. Regardless of my ignorance and age at the time, nothing excuses the fact is that it was hurtful. And for that I am sorry.”

Editorial credit: DFree / Shutterstock.com

Go Country 105

'Honky-Tonk Hippies': Lanco announces new EP and tour

Post author By abookbinder
Post date June 22, 2021
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Lanco are “Honky-Tonk Hippies” in their upcoming EP and tour.

The country group has revealed that they are releasing a new EP, Honky-Tonk Hippies, on July 2 and will embark on tour this fall.

Named after the EP, the tour launches on September 12 in Isle of Palms, South Carolina, and makes stops in St. Louis, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, at Joe’s Live in Illinois and more, before wrapping at Grizzly Rose in Denver on December 17. Ross Ellis joins as the opening act.

“Making up for lost time y’all.Who’s ready?!” the “Greatest Love Story” singers tease on Twitter. Tickets are available for pre-sale now.

The five-song EP was recorded at the legendary Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. It follows their 2018 debut album, Hallelujah Nights, which reached #1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. Lanco recently shared the new songs “Near Mrs.” and “Save Me.”

Go Country 105

Luke Bryan on why doing a Las Vegas residency was the “smartest thing”

Post author By abookbinder
Post date June 22, 2021
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As we begin to move towards post-pandemic life, Luke Bryan is ready to try something new in his career with his upcoming Las Vegas residency.

Luke will welcome 2022 with an eight-night stay at the Theatre at Resorts World Las Vegas in February 2022. The superstar says he’s been pitched the idea of a Vegas residency multiple times over the years, but finally feels like the stars have aligned to make it happen.

“I just said it would be fun to try it, to be able to do my regular tour dates and then pop in out there and just kind of turnkey,” he notes in an interview with the Academy of Country Music’s publication, ACM Tempo.

The American Idol judge adds that he’s excited about the opportunity to perform at a “brand new, shiny casino,” and has “a lot of confidence” in the team behind Resorts World. He also says that with the uncertainty that the COVID-19 pandemic brought to the music world, he believed Vegas would be ahead of the curve when it came to opening up venues.

“With a lot of the uncertainties of touring in COVID, I felt like the odds were good that Vegas was going to open up and would have it figured out too,” he shares. “So it just kind of seemed like the smartest thing for all of us.”

Carrie Underwood and Luke’s fellow Idol judge Katy Perry have also booked residencies at Resorts World Las Vegas.

Go Country 105

Garth Brooks hopes to be an “example on doing things the right way” with his Stadium Tour

Post author By abookbinder
Post date June 22, 2021
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As Garth Brooks prepares to resume his Stadium Tour next month, he hopes to set a positive example.

The superstar has spent the past few weeks unveiling new stadium tour dates throughout the summer, including Kansas City and Lincoln, Nebraska, and will perform his first show at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on July 31, with more to follow.

“Somebody has got to take the first step,” Garth shares with USA Today. “The thing that’s going to ease your anxiety the most is to know it’s done right. Are these people taken care of when they come in the stadium?”

The legendary singer is working to ensure that his band and crew stay healthy, in addition to the venues providing face masks to guests.

“All the stars lined up and we feel very, very lucky that that happened for us. To be one of the first people out to step into the stadiums, it’s an honor, but also it’s a great responsibility,” says Garth. “I owe it to this country to hopefully be some kind of example on doing things the right way. Let’s show up and watch what happens. Music is a great unifier, but it’s also a great healer.”

The Stadium Tour resumes on July 10 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Go Country 105

“A whole new perspective”: Chase Rice releases acoustic version of 'The Album'

Post author By abookbinder
Post date June 22, 2021
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Chase Rice has shared a reimagined version of The Album.

Following the project’s release in May, Chase has transformed each of the 15 songs into acoustic renditions after reconnecting with his acoustic guitar while being off the road during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As we all slowed down this year, I found myself gravitating back to how it all began for me — writing songs with just myself and a guitar,” Chase explains. “I started sharing videos of me playing some of the new music that way and fans really loved it, so that inspired me to go back to each song and create these acoustic versions, which give The Album a whole new perspective.”

The Album features current single “Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen.,” a collaboration with Florida Georgia Line that sits inside the top 10 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart.

Go Country 105

Chris Stapleton, Darius Rucker & more featured on Metallica tribute album

Post author By abookbinder
Post date June 22, 2021
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Country music is crossing over into The Black.

Chris Stapleton, Mickey Guyton, Darius Rucker and Jon Pardi are all featured on The Metallica Blacklist, a remake of rock legend Metallica‘s Grammy winning 1991 self-titled album, also known as The Black Album.

In honor of the groundbreaking project’s 30th anniversary, the iconic heavy metal band has called on more than 50 artists to help reimagine the album’s classic tracks, with each one appearing on their favorite album cut.

Chris, Darius and Mickey lend their voices to individual renditions of “Nothing Else Matters,” while Jon covers “Wherever I May Roam.”

Proceeds from all the songs benefit Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation, with each artist also selecting a charity that their song will support.

Chris has chosen he and wife Morgane Stapleton‘s Outlaw State of Kind, while Darius’ will support Music Children’s Health in his home state of South Carolina. Mickey has selected the United Negro College Fund and Jon the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism.

The Metallica Blacklist and a remastered version of The Black Album will be released on September 10.

Go Country 105

“Made for You”: Jake Owen & hit songwriters to perform at Ryman Auditorium

Post author By abookbinder
Post date June 22, 2021
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Jake Owen is giving back to the songwriters who helped shape his career, and paying it forward to the CMA Foundation in the process.

On July 15, the singer will headline “Jake Owen & Friends: A Concert Made for You” at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.

The one-night-only show features Jake performing his catalogue of hit songs alongside the writers who crafted them, including “Homemade,” “I Was Jack (You Were Diane),” “Down to the Honkytonk” and the recent chart-topper, “Made for You.” Fans can also expect surprises throughout the night.

Proceeds from the show will benefit the CMA Foundation and their efforts to bring music education programs into schools across the country.

“Being able to play the Ryman Auditorium is always going to be special, but to be able to share the stage with some of the people who helped shape my career with their songs is something that I will remember forever,” Jake shares in a statement. “This Made for You' concert is made for country music fans, and it's going to be a special way to be a part of the shows that are welcoming live music back to Nashville.”

Tickets go on sale Friday at 11 a.m. ET.

News Daypop

Trump Organization sues NYC after golf course contract canceled in wake of Capitol attack

Post author By Staff
Post date June 22, 2021
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The Trump Organization sued the city of New York on Monday, after it ended its contract for a golf course at Ferry Point Park in the Bronx, in the wake of the attack on the US Capitol on January 6. In a lawsuit filed in state court in Manhattan, the company alleged wrongful termination of the contract in mid-January, saying the city and Mayor Bill de Blasio had “denounced President (Donald) Trump in the most inflammatory terms” and “incited others to terminate business with Trump-related entities” the day after the riot. The company also said in the lawsuit that “Mayor de Blasio had a pre-existing, politically-based predisposition to terminate Trump-related contracts, and the City used the events of January 6, 2021 as a pretext to do so.” The company had operated the Bronx golf course since 2015.

Mayor de Blasio’s spokesman, Bill Neidhardt, said on Twitter: “Donald Trump directly incited a deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. You do that, and you lose the privilege of doing business with the City of New York. It’s as simple as that.”

New York City had moved in January to terminate its business relationships with the Trump Organization in response to the then-President’s actions on January 6. They include two of his banks, Deutsche Bank and Signature Bank, credit card processor Stripe, Shopify and the PGA of America, which announced it was pulling a major golf tournament from one of Trump’s courses.

Editorial credit: John Hanson Pye / Shutterstock.com

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Judge dismisses lawsuits against federal officials in Lafayette Square protest

Post author By Staff
Post date June 22, 2021
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On Monday, a federal judge dismissed a series of lawsuits filed against the federal government for its use of force to drive Black Lives Matter protesters out of Lafayette Square last year. U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich ruled that claims filed against local officers involved in forcibly dispersing the crowd on June 1, 2020, could go forward, but rejected claims for damages against former officials including President Donald Trump, Attorney General William Barr and Defense Secretary Mark Esper along with some current officials.

The lawsuits, filed by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of Black Lives Matter D.C. and individual protesters alleged that protesters’ First Amendment and Fourth Amendment rights were violated when U.S. law enforcement agents fired tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets and flash bombs to force them and other peaceful protesters to disperse as Trump posed for photos at a nearby church.

A report by an Interior Departments watchdog earlier this month said that U.S. Park Police cleared the protesters from the area to erect fencing and not to make way for Trump’s photo.

Editorial credit: Allison C Bailey / Shutterstock.com