Month: September 2021

U.S. Olympic Gymnasts testify as congress investigates FBI’s handling of Larry Nassar sexual abuse case

Post author By Staff
Post date September 16, 2021
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U.S. Olympic gymnasts Simone Biles, McKayla Maroney, Maggie Nichols and Aly Raisman testified before Congress Wednesday about what they say were failures in FBI’s handling of the sexual abuse case against Larry Nassar, a former USA Gymnastics team doctor who was sentenced in 2018 to up to 175 years in prison are pleading guilty to sexually assaulting hundreds of girls and women. The hearing was held as the Senate Judiciary Committee is investigating the FBI’s handling of the case.

Biles said during her testimony: “We have been failed, and we deserve answers. Nassar is where he belongs, but those who enabled him deserve to be held accountable. If they are not, I am convinced that this will continue to happen to others across Olympic sports.” Raisman cited failings of USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, saying: “It took over 14 months for the FBI to contact me despite my many requests to be interviewed by them,” she said. “I felt pressure by the FBI to consent to Nasser’s plea deal. The agent diminished the significance of my abuse and made me feel my criminal case wasn’t worth pursuing.”

Maroney accused the FBI of delaying documenting her claims against Nassar and of making false claims, saying to the senators: “Today, I ask you all to hear my voice. I ask you please do all that is in your power to ensure that these individuals are held responsible and accountable for ignoring my initial report, for lying about my initial report and for covering up for a child molester.” Nichols added, “I reported my abuse to USA Gymnastics over six years ago and still my family and I received even few answers and had even more questions why this allowed to occur and why dozens of other little girls and women at Michigan State had to be abused after I reported. In sacrificing my childhood for the chance to compete for the United States, I am haunted by the fact even after I reported my abuse so many women and girls had to suffer at the hands of Larry Nassar.”

A Justice Department inspector general report released in July found the FBI made “fundamental errors” in its response to allegations against Nassar that were first brought to the agency in July 2015.

Editorial credit: Petr Toman / Shutterstock.com

Go Country 105

Nashville notes

Mark Chesnutt has recovered from both back surgery and contracting COVID-19. The singer says he has been given a clean bill of health from his doctor, and is planning on returning to touring by the end of September.

The Isaacs are the newest members of the Grand Ole Opry. The family quartet was inducted into the Opry on Tuesday, September 14, by Ricky Skaggs and The Whites.

Martina McBride is headlining another Christmas tour. Her The Joy of Christmas Tour will kick off on November 26 in Rockford, Illinois. Tickets are on sale now.

Country Daypop

Oklahoma firefighters rescue Reba McEntire and boyfriend Rex Linn after stairwell collapses inside historical building

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Post date September 16, 2021
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Reba McEntire and her boyfriend Rex Linn were among seven people rescued by firefighters from a historic site in Oklahoma on Tuesday. TMZ reported that crumbling stairs left the couple stranded on the building’s second floor, and that the building’s “dilapidated stairs” were already set to be replaced before the incident.

Local news anchor Lisanne Anderson shared footage on Twitter, writing on social media: “Close call for Reba in Atoka, Oklahoma Tuesday (9/14/21). Sure glad she and boyfriend Rex Linn are ok! While touring an old building, a staircase collapsed. They were among seven people inside. Atoka’s finest came to the rescue. No one hurt, just some bumps and bruises.”

On Wednesday, McEntire posted on Facebook : “While my team and I were in Atoka, OK yesterday checking out an old historical building, a staircase collapsed. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured. We were safely evacuated from the building thanks to the quick response from the Atoka fire and police departments.”

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

Country Daypop

Jason Isbell announces charity covers album ‘Georgia Blue’

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Post date September 16, 2021
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Jason Isbell and his band The 400 Unit will release a covers album titled ‘Georgia Blue,’ a 13-track album that includes covers of Georgia natives R.E.M., Cat Power, Otis Redding, The Allman Brothers Band, Vic Chesnutt, James Brown, Gladys Knight & The Pips, The Black Crowes, Indio Girls, and more. Isbell and the 400 Unit are also joined on Georgia Blue by a number of guest collaborators, including Isbell’s wife Amanda Shires, Brandi Carlile, Julien Baker, Béla Fleck, Brittney Spencer, and Adia Victoria. In anticipation of Georgia Blue’s release, Isbell and the 400 Unit have shared their version of R.E.M.’s “Driver 8” featuring John Paul White. Take a listen here.

Isbell says in a statement: “Georgia Blue is a labor of love. On election day 2020, when I saw that there was a good chance the state of Georgia might go blue, I came up with an idea: to record an album of Georgia-related songs as a thank you to the state and donate the money to a Georgia-based non-profit organization.” Proceeds from the album will specifically benefit three non-profit organizations: Black Voters Matter, Fair Fight, and Georgia STAND-UP.

To pre-order Georgia Blue head here. Isbell and the 400 Unit are also currently out on tour in support of their latest album, Reunions; tickets are available for purchase at the link here.

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

Pop Daypop

Lauren Jauregui announces debut solo project ‘Prelude’ and shares trailer for global livestream

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Post date September 16, 2021
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Fifth Harmony’s Lauren Jauregui is officially kicking off her solo career. After having teased solo music with her 2020 singles “Lento” and “50ft,” Jauregui has finally released details about her debut album, titled ‘Prelude.’

Jauregui will reveal more details of the project in a cinematic livestream set to air on October 14 and 15. Jauregui shared a trailer for the livestream, and expressed her “deep gratitude” for the chance to finally share it with the world: “Deep gratitude to be able to finally birth the beginning of this project into the world. ‘Prelude’ is a piece of my heart and I can’t wait for you all to hear what that sounds like.”

Watch Jauregui’s ‘Prelude’ trailer – here.

Editorial credit: DFree / Shutterstock.com

Pop Daypop

Drake’s ‘Certified Lover Boy’ debuts at No.1 with highest first-week sales in 2021

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Post date September 16, 2021
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Billboard reports that Drake’s sixth studio album ‘Certified Lover Boy’ has secured the best first week sales of 2021 with 613,000 units sold.

‘Certified Lover Boy’ is Drake’s 10th No. 1 album and the biggest album debut since Taylor Swift’s ‘folklore’ debuted with 846,000 units in August 2020. Certified Lover Boy bumped the previous No. 1 album, Donda by Kanye West, down one spot to No. 2. Donda moved 309,000 equivalent album units in its first week, which made it the biggest debut of 2021, until now. It appears that Drake’s album nearly doubled the sales of Donda’s debut.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

Go Country 105

Lady A says their “intentions are true” amid ongoing legal battle over name

Post author By abookbinder
Post date September 15, 2021
No Comments on Lady A says their “intentions are true” amid ongoing legal battle over name

When Lady A changed their name from Lady Antebellum amid the racial tensions across the country last year, they never imagined the firestorm that would follow. But when blues singer Anita White, who also goes by Lady A, balked at their name change, Charles Kelley, along with band mates Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood, had an initially pleasant and hopeful conversation with her, before things quickly went awry. And apparently, the entire affair is still unsettled.

“I think there were some lawyers that probably knocked on her door and said, ‘There might be some money to be made here,'” Charles tells AZ Ce ntral. “And that’s when it kind of turned into something a little bit nastier.”

Lady A filed a lawsuit to be able to continue to go by thatr name, but Charles is still holding out hope for a resolution.

“Our intentions are true with this,” Charles says. “And I think her intentions are true with this. We just need to get on the same page of how to move forward.”

Go Country 105

Reba McEntire thanks firefighters after rescue from old building

Post author By abookbinder
Post date September 15, 2021
No Comments on Reba McEntire thanks firefighters after rescue from old building

Reba McEntire is speaking out after the fire department had to rescue her from the second floor of a building in Oklahoma, when the stairs collapsed while she and her boyfriend, Rex Linn, were inside.

“While my team and I were in Atoka, OK yesterday checking out an old historical building, a staircase collapsed,” Reba shared on social media. “Thankfully, no one was seriously injured. We were safely evacuated from the building thanks to the quick response from the Atoka fire and police departments.”

In a tweet posted by KTEN reporter Lisanne Anderson, Reba can be seen coming down a ladder, with help from a member of the fire department.

“Close call for [Reba] in Atoka, Oklahoma Tuesday,” Lisanne wrote. “Sure glad she and boyfriend Rex Linn are ok! While touring an old building, a staircase collapsed. They were among seven people inside. Atoka's finest came to the rescue. No one hurt, just some bumps and bruises.”

Reba’s Revived Remixed Revisited box set will be out on October 8.

Go Country 105

Luke Combs had a personal connection to Loretta Lynn's Hometown Rising concert

Post author By abookbinder
Post date September 15, 2021
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Luke Combs was one of the numerous artists who participated in Loretta Lynn’s Friends: Hometown Rising concert. The star-studded show was planned by Loretta Lynn to raise money for those affected by the devastating floods in Middle Tennessee last month.

Luke, who sang “Forever After All” and “Beer Never Broke My Heart” at the show reveals it was Loretta who called him personally to ask him to participate — a request he knew he could not deny.

“I live in midwestern Tennessee myself. and I started seeing all the devastation that happened out where I live,” Luke shared from stage. “When I got the call from Loretta, I said Whatever I need to do, I'm there. I want to help.'”

Luke was joined by Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Reba McEntire, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, BRELAND, Little Big Town, Chris Janson and Brittney Spencer for the show, which was held at the Grand Ole Opry.

A final tally of money raised has yet to be announced. Two autographed show posters netted $20,000, while a guitar strap signed by Keith and his wife, Nicole Kidman, raised $75,000. All proceeds go directly to the United Way of Humphreys County.

Go Country 105

Carly Pearce found her courage by writing “Diamondback”

Post author By abookbinder
Post date September 15, 2021
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By the time the world knew that Carly Pearce and Michael Ray were divorcing, after less than a year of marriage, Carly had already been dealing privately with the heartbreak for months. Her wide range of emotions comes out in all of the songs on her upcoming album 29: Written in Stone, including “Diamondback,” the first track on the record.

“I think it was the last song I wrote for this project,” Carly tells People. “You try to do the right thing and you try to stay quiet, and I just stopped caring in that moment. I went, ‘Hmm … I gotta go there’ – and I did.”

Carly grew up listening to strong female artists telling their own truth, which is what gave her the courage to not sugarcoat her story, either.

“All of the great women that I love as writers and as singers and as performers – [like] Natalie Maines of The Chicks, had those go-off moments,” Carly says. “I grew up loving those. Miranda [Lambert] writes from such an unapologetic place. Loretta Lynn writes from such an unapologetic place.”

29: Written in Stone is out on Friday.