Month: December 2022

Categories
Go Country 105

The Year in Music 2022: Country says goodbye to Loretta, Naomi, Alabama's Jeff Cook and more

abc-rss-feed-20221230090001

While there were plenty of happy moments in country music in 2022, we also collectively mourned some beloved artists.

In October, the iconic Loretta Lynn passed away peacefully at her home in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee at age 90. The Coal Miner’s Daughter helped pave the way for women in country music, writing and singing songs that tackled infidelity, motherhood, divorce, and alcoholism. 

April brought the year’s most heartbreaking loss, as Naomi Judd took her own life at age 76, after years of mental illness and just one day before she and daughter Wynonna were to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. At the time, the duo was preparing for their Farewell Tour, which Wy continued on her own, with the help of a who’s who of artists like Faith Hill, Trisha Yearwood, Little Big Town and more. The trek continues into next year.

Right before the CMA Awards in November, we lost Jeff Cook of the legendary country group Alabama at age 73. After winning Vocal Group of the Year, Old Dominion‘s Matthew Ramsey remembered the legendary guitarist and fiddle player during his acceptance speech.

Another country great we lost in 2022 is Mickey Gilley at age 86, one of the men who helped create the Urban Cowboy movement, which took country music to a whole new audience in the eighties.

We also lost Mickey’s cousin, Jerry Lee Lewis, aged 87, the legendary rocker who also had nearly thirty top ten country hits. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame just days before his passing. 

In August, the world mourned the passing of Olivia Newton-John, aged 73, who broke through with a string of country hits and won both CMA and ACM awards in the seventies, prior to her massive success in the pop world and the movies, most notably in the film version of the musical Grease.

If you are in crisis or know someone in crisis, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or by visiting 988lifeline.org. You can also contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
News Daypop

President Biden signs $1.7 trillion government spending bill

shutterstock_2229011449

President Joe Biden on Thursday signed a $1.7 trillion government spending bill, averting a government shutdown. The bill includes more aid to Ukraine and funding for his domestic priorities.

The White House said Thursday that the bill ‘caps off a year of historic bipartisan progress for the American people:’  The bill will advance cutting-edge research on cancer and other diseases, make communities safer, deliver for our veterans, prioritize mental health care, improve access to high quality health care for Indian country, and strengthen worker protections for pregnant women. It also provides the resources needed to support Ukraine, provides the highest funding level for the Violence Against Women Act in history, and takes long overdue action to shore up our democracy and preserve the will of the people by reforming the Electoral Count Act.

Biden tweeted: “Today, I signed the bipartisan omnibus bill, ending a year of historic progress. It’ll invest in medical research, safety, veteran health care, disaster recovery, VAWA funding – and gets crucial assistance to Ukraine. Looking forward to more in 2023.”

The bill was approved last week by the Senate and House of Representatives after a speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy before Congress in a plea for funding to “guarantee the future of our common freedom.” The spending package will provide an additional $45 billion in emergency assistance for Ukraine The spending plan includes $772.5 billion for domestic priorities, and $858 billion for defense. The bill also includes roughly $40 billion in disaster relief for communities recovering from hurricanes, wildfires, drought and other natural disasters. It also includes reforms to the Electoral Count Act, and a ban of the use of TikTok on government phones, among other projects for lawmakers.

Editorial credit: Salma Bashir Motiwala / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Go Country 105

The Year in Music 2022: Morgan Wallen bounces back big in 2022

abc-rss-feed-20221230030001

2021 was a year filled with controversy for Morgan Wallen, after he was caught on video in February of that year using a racial slur, but the East Tennessee native bounced back in a big way in 2022. 

Morgan took home the ACM Album of the Year trophy for his double set, Dangerous, and also picked up two CMA noms, including one for the prestigious Entertainer of the Year title. The Academy of Country Music also gave Wallen its Milestone Award in recognition of his impact on the genre, including the album’s 63-week stay at the top of the country albums chart.

Dangerous also broke the Billboard record for the most time a singular artist spent in the Billboard 200 all-genre album chart, with 86 non-consecutive weeks. Additionally, Wallen became the first artist to simultaneously hold the top three spots on Billboards streaming, airplay and sales-based Hot Country Songs chart.

In 2023, Morgan heads out on his One Night at a Time World Tour, which includes 26 stadium shows, as well as stops in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
News Daypop

Brazilian soccer legend Pelé dies at age 82

shutterstock_1370411072

Brazilian soccer icon Pelé has died after battling cancer, his family announced Thursday on social media. He was 82.

Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, the man widely known as Pelé died at the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Pelé’s cancer was discovered when he underwent colon tumor removal surgery in 2021. He was admitted to the hospital Nov. 29 for a respiratory infection, and was re-evaluated for the chemotherapy treatment. The hospital said last week that his colon cancer had progressed and continued to impact his kidney and heart function, saying in a news release: “The Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein regretfully confirms the death of Pelé, today, December 29, 2022, at 3:27 p.m, due to multiple organ failure, a result of the progression of colon cancer associated to his previous clinical condition. Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein sympathizes with “the family and everyone who suffers from the loss of our dear King of Football.”

Pelé was a three-time World Cup champion, scoring 12 times in 14 career appearances at the tournament. Additionally, he scored nearly 1,300 goals over his professional career. Pelé’s daughter, Kely Nascimento, wrote on Instagram: “Everything we are is thanks to you. We love you infinitely. Rest in peace.” In addition, a message posted to Pelé’s Instagram account read: “Inspiration and love marked the journey of King Pele, who peacefully passed away today. On his journey, Edson enchanted the world with his genius in sport, stopped a war, carried out social works all over the world and spread what he most believed to be the cure for all our problems: love. His message today becomes a legacy for future generations. Love, love and love, forever.”

Tributes to Pelé flooded social media Thursday afternoon, with messages from the Brazilian Football Confederation and other national teams, and players from around the world including Neymar Jr., Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo wrote on Instagram: “My deep condolences to all of Brazil, and in particular to the family of Edson Arantes do Nascimento.  A mere ‘goodbye’ to the eternal King Pelé will never be enough to express the pain that the entire football world is currently embracing. An inspiration to so many millions, a reference yesterday, today and forever. The love you always showed me was reciprocated in every moment we shared even from distance. He will never be forgotten and his memory will live forever in each and every one of us football lovers. Rest in peace King Pelé.”

Editorial credit: Nelson Antoine / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

The Highwomen honor Amy Grant at Kennedy Center Honors

shutterstock_187104740

During the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony, The Highwomen – comprised of Natalie Hemby, Brandi Carlile, Amanda Shires, and Maren Morris —were among the featured performers of the night which payed tribute to the five Kennedy Center honorees— Amy Grant, George Clooney, U2, Gladys Knight, and Tania León. The ceremony took place on Dec. 4 in Washington, D.C. Elsewhere in the night were tributes by Garth Brooks and Patti LaBelle to Gladys Knight; tributes to George Clooney from Julia Roberts and Matt Damon; and more.

To honor Grant, aka the “Queen of Christian Pop,” The Highwomen performed Grant’s 1997 release “Somewhere Down The Road.” Hemby said of Grant: “Thank you for being a porch light at our crowded table,” after the supergroup applied their four-part harmony to the track, while staying true to Grant’s original version.

Brandi Carlile wrote on social media prior to the broadcast: “This was such a beautiful experience. Congratulations @amygrant and @U2 on this well-deserved honor. I loved getting to sing with my sisters @TheHighwomen to honor Amy Grant and my dear friend @Hozier and @jamala to honor U2. What a night Tune in to watch tonight on CBS.”

Grant said of the honor: “Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine ever receiving this prestigious Kennedy Center Honors. Through the years, I’ve watched so many of my heroes serenaded by colleagues and fellow artists, always moved by the ability of music and film to bring us together and to see the best in each other. I cannot wait to celebrate with my fellow honorees, friends, and family. Thank you for widening the circle to include all of us.”

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

All-star collaborations are revealed for ‘New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash’

shutterstock_2202866417

All-star collaborations have been revealed for ‘New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash’, the star-studded special hosted by country music stars Jimmie Allen and Elle King, and Entertainment Tonight‘s Rachel Smith. The five-hour broadcast will feature 50 back-to-back performances and cross multiple time zones live from Nashville; and will count down with the East Coast at midnight, keeping the party going through midnight Central Time with the city’s renowned Music Note Drop.

Collaborations throughout the night will include Jimmie Allen And Flo Rida, Kelsea Ballerini And Wynonna Judd, Sheryl Crow And Ashley McBryde, Steve Miller With King Calaway, Thomas Rhett With Riley Green, and Zac Brown Band With The War And Treaty.

The full lineup of artists set to perform includes Jason Aldean, Jimmie Allen, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, King Calaway, Sheryl Crow, Flo-Rida, Riley Green, Wynonna Judd, Elle King, Little Big Town, Ashley McBryde, Steve Miller, Thomas Rhett, Darius Rucker, Lainey Wilson, The War And Treaty, and Zac Brown Band.

‘New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash’ will air live from Music City on Saturday, December 31st from 8-10 pm ET/PT and 10:30 pm-1:30 am ET/PT on the CBS Television Network, and stream live and on demand on Paramount+.

Editorial credit: Ron Adar / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Pop Daypop

The Weeknd teases new video for his song, ‘Is There Someone Else’

shutterstock_731141839-4

The Weeknd released his fifth studio album, Dawn FM, in January, and now he is teasing an upcoming video for the song “Is There Someone Else”.  When a fan asked how he felt after a year that saw the album go to #1 on the Billboard sales chart, The Weeknd tweeted back, saying “i feel istheresomeoneelsemusicvideo-ish.”

A video for the song “Is There Someone Else” would be the sixth from Dawn FM.  The lead single “Take My Breath,” and the rest of the singles — “Out of Time,” “Sacrifice,” “Gasoline” and “How Do I Make You Love Me” all have previously released videos.

No further announcement has been made about a video release or who might star in or direct it. In the past, Tesfaye has worked most frequently with directors Cliqua, who recently did the “Out of Time” video, Anton Tammi (“In Your Eyes”), and Grant Singer (“Try Me”).

Editorial credit: Christian Bertrand / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Pop Daypop

Taylor Swift sets radio songs chart record with ‘Anti-Hero’

shutterstock_1894040893

Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero” became the No.1 song across US radio stations, making Swift the first artist to have landed on the top of Billboard’s Radio Songs chart in the 2000s, 10s, and 20s. Swift earned her seventh Radio Songs chart-topper, tying Maroon 5, Katy Perry, and Usher for the fourth-most No.1s dating to the chart’s beginning in December 1990.

In just eight weeks, Midnights achieved over six million album equivalent units worldwide, three million in the U.S. alone, and became the only artist ever to have five albums with over one million units during release week. Midnights moved almost 1.6 million during its debut week and is the first album to sell over one million physical albums since 2015. Swift also broke streaming, physical and vinyl album sales milestones around the world as Midnights became the fastest-selling album of her career, and became the first artist in history to capture the entire Top 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Chart.

Universal Music Group Chairman & CEO, Sir Lucian Grainge said, “Taylor is a multidimensional creative force whose achievements place her among the most accomplished artists in the history of music, and we are thrilled and honored to partner with her across so many aspects of her career.” Republic Records Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Monte Lipman said, “Taylor’s achievements over the past year have been absolutely spectacular! With more than two dozen historic milestones set by Midnights, it’s nearly unimaginable for any artist to sell more than six million albums in less than eight weeks during any era of our business. These accomplishments further exemplify Taylor’s prowess as the consummate artist and storyteller defining a generation.”

Taylor Swift Breaks Radio Songs Chart Record with “Anti-Hero”

Editorial credit: DFree / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Go Country 105

Nashville's Big Bash collabs revealed: Ashley McBryde + Sheryl Crow, Jimmie Allen + Flo Rida and more

abc-rss-feed-20221229134521

Music City's New Year's Eve party isn't just a star-studded countdown to 2023, it's also the scene of a whole lot of A-lister team-ups.

The complete lineup of collaborations for New Year's Eve Live: Nashville's Big Bash was revealed on Thursday, featuring several joint performances between some of the biggest stars in the country genre.

Thomas Rhett will take the stage with Riley Green, perhaps to perform their new chart-topping hit, “Half of Me” – while Kelsea Ballerini will split a performance with Wynonna Judd.

Meanwhile, Zac Brown Band will join forces with the rafter-ringing up-and-coming vocal duo The War and Treaty. Ashley McBryde is looking outside the country world for her New Year's Eve duet partner: She'll join forces with Sheryl Crow during the special.

Another cross-genre collaboration comes from Jimmie Allen, whose duet partner for the evening is rapper Flo Rida. The two acts recently released a duet called “No Bad Days.” Finally, rock legend Steve Miller will split a bill with King Calaway.

In addition to performing, Jimmie is co-hosting Nashville's Big Bash with Elle King. Elle was previously announced as one of the performers hitting the stage during the special, along with Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan and a slew of other stars.

The special will air on December 31 starting at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
News Daypop

U.S. to require negative Covid test for travelers arriving from China

shutterstock_1661297989

The Biden administration announced on Wednesday that travelers from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau will need to submit a pre-departure negative COVID-19 test before entering the United States, starting on Jan. 5. The new policy comes amid a surge in Covid cases in China and fears that a new, concerning variant could emerge. China is reporting more than 250 million positive cases in the first 20 days of December.

Under the new rule, travelers older than 2 must submit a negative COVID-19 test taken within two days of departing for the United States. Nationality and vaccination status will not have any bearing on whether a test must be provided. The policy also applies to travelers who have connecting flights in China. Passengers who tested positive 10 days before their flight can provide documented proof of recovery instead of a negative test.

The CDC warned that new variants of the COVID-19 virus are likely to emerge and go unidentified for longer due to China’s reduced testing and case reporting, saying in a press release: “Pre-departure testing and the requirement to show a negative test result has been shown to decrease the number of infected passengers boarding airplanes, and it will help to slow the spread of the virus as we work to identify and understand any potential new variants that may emerge.” 

The U.S. State Department issued a level-three travel advisory for China on Dec. 23, urging travelers to reconsider plans to visit the country “due to the surge in COVID-19 cases, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, and COVID-19-related restrictions.”

Editorial credit: Volkova Iuliia / Shutterstock.com