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Pop Daypop

Screen adaptation of the Broadway show ‘Wicked’ to be split into two films

Director Jon M. Chu announced that the movie adaptation of the Broadway show ‘Wicked” will be split into two films. The first film is scheduled for release December 2024. Wicked premiered on Broadway in 2003.

Chu cited misgivings about attempting to condense the Broadway musical into a single film, saying in part: “As we tried to cut songs or trim characters, those decisions began to feel like fatal compromises to the source material. With more space, we can tell the story of Wicked as it was meant to be told while bringing even more depth and surprise to the journeys of these beloved characters.”

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo will play Glinda and Elphaba, the witches of Oz. Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel originated those roles on Broadway. Chu said rehearsals will begin prior to filming and he plans to share updates on production and post-production.

Editorial credit: Ovidiu Hrubaru / Shutterstock.com

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Pop Daypop

Post Malone’s new album ‘twelve carat toothache’ to be released June 3

Post Malone’s new album twelve carat toothache will be released on June 3.  It will be the pop-rap star’s third album and his first since Hollywood’s Bleeding was released in 2019.

twelve carat toothache will clock in at just 45 minutes, making it Malone’s shortest album to date.  He told Billboard’s Lyndsey Havens that the new tracks “speak more to how [he’s] feeling at the moment: the ups and downs and the disarray and the bipolar aspect of being an artist in the mainstream.”

Post Malone recently previewed new songs on Instagram Live, including collaborations with the Kid Laroi, Doja Cat, Roddy Ricch, and Fleet Foxes’ Robin Pecknold.  You can pre-save/pre-order twelve carat toothachehere.

Editorial credit: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com

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Go Country 105

Nashville notes: Jon Pardi, Lainey Wilson and more

Jon Pardi and Midland have released the video for their new collaboration, “Longneck Way to Go.” 

Lainey Wilson will perform as part of Marty Stuart‘s Late Night Jam at the Ryman Auditorium on June 8. Also on the bill is Marty’s wife, Connie Smith, plus Emmylou Harris, Billy Strings, Marcus King and more. 

Chris Janson and Travis Tritt will co-headline The Can’t Miss Tour from October 17-November 19. 

The Country Music Association has announced the recipients for its annual Music Teachers of Excellence Awards, honoring 30 educators from around the country. The awards ceremony will be held in Nashville on October 19.

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Go Country 105

“Long live the Judds”: Carly Pearce reflects on singing at The Judds' Country Music Hall of Fame induction

Carly Pearce says it was an emotional experience performing at Sunday’s Country Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony in honor of The Judds

The fellow Kentucky native was on hand at the ceremony in Nashville, one day after matriarch Naomi Judd  passed away. Carly says it was with a heavy heart that she attended the ceremony to perform one of The Judds’ signature hits, “Grandpa (Tell Me ‘Bout the Good Old Days),” revealing that she’d been approached by the Hall two months prior to be a surprise performer for The Judds’ induction. 

Though at the time it was “exciting news,” the hit singer shares that performing in the wake of Naomi’s death was “one of the most emotional experiences I have ever had in my life.”

“Singing ‘Grandpa’ in light of such tragic loss, looking in the eyes of Naomi's beautiful daughters. I am forever grateful & send Wynonna and Ashley all my love,” she continued, adding that she’s “loved” the duo for her “whole life.” “Long live the Judds.” 

Naomi passed away on April 30 at the age of 76. A joint statement from Wynonna and Ashley stated that the cause of death was related to mental illness.

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Go Country 105

Family tradition: Walker Hayes reflects on touring with his family

Walker Hayes is reflecting on life on the road. 

Recently, he closed in an important chapter in his music career when he wrapped up the headlining Fancy Like Tour — but he didn’t go at it alone. Walker’s wife Laney and their six children — Lela, Chapel, Baylor, Beckett, Loxley and Everly — all joined him on the road, piling on to the tour bus and traveling with the hit singer across the country on nearly 20 dates. 

In a nostalgic post, Walker says he’s “sad” the tour has come to an end, but is “excited” for the future, and expressed gratitude for being able to share in the experience with his family for the first time. 

“This was the first tour I was ever able to bring my family along. At first I was afraid they wouldn't enjoy road life BUT turns out, they love it more than staying home SO.for now, touring is a family tradition,” Walker shares alongside photos of two of his young children snuggled on one of the bunk beds on the bus, along with his wife Laney smiling from her bunk. 

“To the people who came out, I don't even know how to thank y'all. The energy and atmosphere y'all created at these venues absolutely lit us up!” Walker continued, while also praising his band and crew. “Every single night of this tour was electric. Preciate it.” 

Though the Fancy Like Tour is a wrap, Walker has an even brighter future ahead, as he’s set to headline arenas for the first time on the Glad You’re Here Tour, kicking off on September 29. 

The tour gets its name from Walker’s new book that he wrote with his friend Craig, available today. 

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

“Be free, my beautiful mother. Be free”: Ashley Judd shares moving post in honor of mother Naomi Judd

Ashley Judd is taking a walk down memory lane as she reflects on the passing of her mother, Naomi Judd

The actress took to Instagram following The Judds‘ induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame to share how the family has been honoring the memory of Naomi, who passed away on Saturday at the age of 76 due to mental illness. 

In the loving post, Ashley shared a photo of her and sister Wynonna Judd with their backs to the camera, looking at the bronze plaque of The Judds that sits in the rotunda at the Country Music Hall of Fame, along with a photo of Carly Pearce performing at the ceremony. 

Ashley then takes viewers inside the Judds’ home, sharing a photo of the altar she created in her mother’s honor that includes a picture of her silhouette from when she was 11 years old, surrounded by flowers and a book titled Grief Therapy. She also shares a video of Naomi’s husband, Larry Strickland, singing “How Great Thou Art,” along with a throwback photo from childhood of the sisters with their mom at Little Cat Creek in their home state of Kentucky. 

“Speechless,” Ashley begins in the caption. “Your outpouring is reaching me. Thank you for every thought, prayer, message, text, email, post, expression. We each are alone and we are in fellowship, broken and held, protected from nothing and sustained in everything. It's the beginning of an old story, life and death, loss and life. Be free, my beautiful mother. Be free.” 

Ashley and Wynonna were both present at the Country Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Nashville Sunday, where they paid a tearful tribute to their late mother, who died one day before the event.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Luke Combs teases unreleased song, “Middle of Somewhere”

The hits just keep on coming for Luke Combs.

Last week, the singer announced his headlining Middle of Somewhere Tour, and now he’s revealing the inspiration behind the title. On Monday, Luke took to Instagram to share a clip of the unreleased original song that the tour gets its name from, a tune that pays tribute to small-town America. 

“And we like life that way/Sweet and slow and simple/Ain’t for much we pray/’Cause all we need’s a little/So just remember when you’re driving through nowhere/To us that’s the middle of somewhere,” Luke sings in the chorus. 

“For those wondering where the tour name came from.,” Luke teases in the caption. 

Fans may have to wait and see if “Middle of Somewhere” is included on Luke’s highly anticipated third studio album, Growin’ Up, which drops on June 24. The tour launches on September 2 and 3 in Bangor, ME with Jordan Davis and Lainey Wilson among the opening acts. 

In the meantime, Luke will celebrate eight of his #1 hits with a concert at BMI in Nashville on June 8 where he’ll perform “Beer Never Broke My Heart,” “Even Though I'm Leaving,” “Does to Me,” “Beautiful Crazy” and more alongside his co-writers. 

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

I feel the earth move: Garth Brooks concert registered as mini earthquake

Garth Brooks‘ concert at Tiger Stadium was a seismic event — literally. 

The country superstar recently headlined the massive venue in Baton Rouge, LA that has a capacity of just over 102,000 people. While performing of his hit, “Callin’ Baton Rouge” — which is played at every home game for Louisiana State University’s football team, the Tigers — the sold-out crowd was so loud that their volume registered as a minor earthquake on the university’s seismograph, in what is now being deemed “Garthquake.”  

“Nobody gets close to what those people did. I've done a lot of shows, that was a once in a lifetime thing for me,” Garth raved during ?Inside Studio G Monday night. “They hit hard. It wasn't a concert, it wasn't a party, it was a title bout. A heavyweight title fight. It was awesome.”

Following the rowdy show in Baton Rouge, Garth returned to Nashville where he performed at the Country Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony honoring new inductee, ?Ray Charles, with a performance of “Seven Spanish Angels.” 

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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News Daypop

Former Philadelphia police officer charged with murder in shooting of 12-year-old boy

A former Philadelphia police officer who was fired after he fatally shot 12-year-old Thomas “TJ” Siderio in the back in March has been charged with murder.  District Attorney Larry Krasner announced during a press conference on Monday that 26-year-old Edsaul Mendoza was arrested Sunday night and charged with first-degree murder, third-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter and possessing an instrument of crime.  Mendoza is being held without bail.

Mendoza and three other plainclothes officers had responded to reports involving a stolen gun; they were conducting surveillance in an unmarked car when they spotted Siderio holding a Taurus 9MM handgun with another 17-year-old boy, identified as N.K., on March 1.   Krasner said that Mendoza and the other officers — identified as Kwaku Sarpong, Robert Cucinelli and Alexander Camacho — activated their emergency lights and drove toward the boys when Siderio allegedly fired into the car, adding, “when the child fired the gun, that immediately caused three officers to take cover and police officer Mendoza began what can fairly be called a tactically unsound foot chase of the 12-year-old.”  Mendoza fired three shots, including the one that killed Siderio, and another officer fired a single shot “once at no target in particular.”

Krasner said the charges against Mendoza come after a grand jury viewed video footage that has not yet been made public, which he summarized during the press conference.

Editorial credit: DuskyJay / Shutterstock.com

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News Daypop

Supreme Court unanimously rules against city of Boston for refusing to allow Christian flag to fly

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled against the city of Boston, saying they violated the First Amendment when they denied a group the opportunity to fly the Christian Flag outside City Hall four years ago.

In 2017, the New Hampshire-based group Camp Constitution — which focuses on promoting “Judeo-Christian moral heritage” — had asked to fly the flag from one of three 83-feet-tall city flag poles outside Boston City Hall to celebrate Constitution Day.  Created in 1907, The Christian Flag features a white field and a red Latin cross inside a blue canton and has been used by many churches from varying denominations in the United States since its adoption by the Federal Council of Churches in 1942.

Camp Constitution’s founder Hal Shurtlef said that the commissioner of Boston’s property management department told him that his organization could not fly the flag because he worried it would violate the U.S. Constitution’s establishment clause and that there was no instance of the city ever raising such a flag. Camp Constitution sued, arguing that the Christian Flag was the only one from a civic group that had ever been denied, and that Boston had flown around 50 unique flags since 2005 during similar public events.

Two lower courts had sided with the city of Boston, before the Supreme Court said it would hear the case last September. Arguments were presented before the high court in January. Justice Stephen Breyer wrote that the court concluded that the flagpole served as a public forum and that Boston had not used it as a form of governmental speech.  He wrote: “The parties dispute whether, on these facts, Boston reserved the pole to fly flags that communicate governmental messages, or instead opened the flagpole for citizens to express their own views.”

Editorial credit: Bob Korn / Shutterstock.com