Month: April 2023

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News Daypop

Former President Donald Trump pleads not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records

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Former President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records on Tuesday, stemming from an investigation into an alleged hush money payment he made to adult film star Stormy Daniels while he was a presidential candidate in 2016. The indictment against the 76-year-old former president was unsealed and the charges against the former president were read to him in court before he himself made the plea to a judge. Trump, who is campaigning for another term in the White House, is the first sitting or former president in U.S. history to face criminal charges.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office said that Trump would not be placed in handcuffs or have his mug shot taken when he surrendered to authorities, as that is only reserved for flight risks or threats to the district attorney or court personnel. He was fingerprinted upon arrival at the courthouse.

The investigation that led to unprecedented charges against the former president traces back to an alleged affair Trump had with Daniels, and the allegation that Trump arranged a $130,000 payment to Daniels a month before the 2016 election to ensure she’d keep quiet about the alleged affair they’d had years earlier.

A Manhattan grand jury voted to indict Trump last week after investigating the payment that prosecutors allege was falsely documented as “legal expenses” in the financial records of the Trump Organization. Trump and his longtime lawyer Michael Cohen initially denied the claims of an affair, however Cohen later admitted that there was a payment made to Daniels. Cohen told The New York Times that he paid Daniels $130,000 out of his own pocket in 2016, calling it “a private transaction.”  He said Trump had not reimbursed him. Trump since admitted he authorized the $130,000 payment, but has continued to deny the underlying claims that the two had an affair or that the payment was in any way connected to his campaign.

Editorial credit: Evan El-Amin / Shutterstock.com

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News Daypop

Former top aide to ex-Maryland Gov. Hogan dies after manhunt

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Roy McGrath, the former chief of staff to ex-Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, died after he was captured in Tennessee. McGrath was Hogan’s deputy chief of staff in 2015 before Hogan appointed him to lead the Maryland Environmental Service in December 2016. He briefly returned as Hogan’s chief of staff in 2020, before resigning amid backlash over a large severance payout from the service.

Lawyer Joseph Murtha said in an email that McGrath, 53, suffered a gunshot wound and succumbed to injuries. Murtha said it was unclear whether the injury was self-inflicted or whether it occurred in an exchange of gunfire with FBI agents. “The loss of Roy’s life is an absolute tragedy,” Murtha said. “I think it is important for me to say that Roy never wavered about his innocence.” FBI spokesman Shayne Buchwald said an “agent-involved shooting” is under review but declined to comment further on who fired the fatal shot, adding that McGrath suffered the injury during his arrest in Knoxville at 6:30 p.m.

The incident occurred nearly three weeks after he failed to appear for trial on federal wire fraud, theft and falsification charges on March 13. Two weeks later, the FBI offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to his arrest, saying he was a fugitive and an international flight risk.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland had accused McGrath of using his position at the nonprofit public corporation to enrich himself by fraudulently claiming Hogan had approved the payout. Federal prosecutors in Maryland also accused McGrath of illegally recording private conversations with officials, falsifying time sheets and directing service funds to a museum where he was a member and to pay for tuition benefits.

Editorial credit: Dzelat / Shutterstock.com

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Go Country 105

Kane Brown's ready to record more songs with Katelyn

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Kane Brown has been sharing many exciting firsts with his wife, Katelyn, recently.

The two performed their hit duet, “Thank God,” on television for the very first time at the 2023 CMT Music Awards on April 2 and took home the highest honor: Video of the Year.

Though Kane’s a bona fide superstar who’s played on stages across the world, the performance spotlight is still relatively new to Katelyn.

“It’s amazing to me: I get to share it with her and, y’know, I’m kinda living my career again through her,” Kane told ABC Audio backstage after their Video of the Year win. “Y’know, the ‘first’ of things, which I love, and I just get to see the excitement on her face when she performs with me on tour.”

With their chemistry both on and off the stage, Kane says he’s looking forward to collaborating on more music with Katelyn. 

“We gotta get some more songs out there,” notes the singer. 

“Thank God” is featured on Kane’s latest album, Different Man. The 17-track LP also includes “One Mississippi,” “Like I Love Country Music” and Kane’s new single, “Bury Me in Georgia.”

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
Country Daypop

Chapel Hart announce new album ‘Glory Days’ dropping May 19

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Chapel Hart has announced their new album Glory Days, set to drop May 19. The trio–comprised of sisters Danica and Devynn Hart, and first cousin Trea Swindle—were made famous on America’s Got Talent, performing their track “You Can Have Him Jolene” — a spin on the Dolly Parton favorite, “Jolene.”

While on America’s Got Talent, the late Loretta Lynn saw their audition and requested they write a song inspired by her 1968 hit “Fist City.”  Said Danica of their inspired song: “‘Welcome to Fist City’ feels like 1968 revamped to right now. I really believe Ms. Loretta would’ve been so proud! I’d like to believe the generation who laid the foundation just wants to know that they are leaving country music in capable hands, and my prayer is that we are doing just that. I hope we are making them proud!”  

‘Welcome to Fist City’ will be featured alongside the previously-released title track on the new album, which is the trio’s first full-length project since finishing in the Top 5 on AGT.

Take a listen to ‘Welcome to Fist City’ – here.
To pre-order Glory Days, head here.

Editorial credit: Ioan Panaite / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

Dan + Shay team up with Charlie Puth for new song “That’s Not How This Works”

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Dan + Shay have teamed up with pop star Charlie Puth for the new song “That’s Not How This Works,” out now.

Produced and written by Puth and co-written with Dan Smyers, “That’s Not How This Works” opens with solo vocals featuring Puth accompanied by only his piano, narrating the back-and-forth of a relationship at its end. The track continues, integrating the vocals and harmonies of Dan + Shay.

The official video for “That’s Not How This Works,” directed by Phillip R. Lopez, also stars singer, songwriter, and actress Sabrina Carpenter as Puth’s love interest. Through a series of flashbacks, we see the pair navigate the highs and lows of their relationship.

Check out the video for “That’s Not How This Works” – here.

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

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Pop Daypop

G-Eazy shares video for his new single ‘Tulips & Roses’

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Rapper G-Eazy announced the debut of his latest single, “Tulips & Roses,” the first new music he’s released since the death of his mother in 2021.  ‘Tulips & Roses” samples the song “Blame” by Gabriels.

An accompanying black and white video for the song, which was filmed in Paris, shows G-Eazy first in bed with his reported girlfriend Janaye Noah (daughter of tennis legend Yannick Noah). The camera pans to the couple’s view of the Eiffel Tower and then shows G-Eazy rapping in different locations around the city.

Born Gerald Earl Gillum in Oakland, G-Eazy has released four studio albums since his major label debut Must Be Nice in 2012. Since releasing his 2021 album These Things Happen Too, he experienced the lost of his mother, art professor Suzanne Olmstead, in November 2021. Since then he’s only releasing one song, “Angel,” in tribute to her. G-Eazy said in a statement last year: “Grief can be a difficult thing to navigate. It’s definitely not a linear process and it comes at you in waves. There will never be enough words to describe the feeling of losing your best friend, or the desire to see them again. In a literal sense, I tried to capture that feeling of longing in the lyrics of the song.”

Editorial credit: DFree / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Pop Daypop

Khalid drops his new track “Softest Touch”

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Khalid has dropped his latest single, titled “Softest Touch,” alongside an accompanying lyric video. The single arrives ahead of Khalid’s forthcoming LP, EVERYTHING IS CHANGING.

Khalid sat down with Apple Music to discuss the inspiration behind “Softest Touch” —  “I felt like I needed this. It’s been an interesting couple of years. I feel like everybody’s been a little bit confused and sad and under the weather, and so I just wanted to put something out for my fans that I felt was undeniably happy. There’s good vibes, good energy, just contributing to the world and giving people some love to hold onto. It’s one of those instant moments where you’re in the studio and it’s you don’t have to try too hard, and it just comes to you … I want to provide the summer nights, summer days into the summer nights, and when you’re just with your people that you care about, that you love the most, and you just want to vibe, and you just want to chill. That’s what I’m here for as an artist.”

Khalid also opened up about his next album, revealing that it has “some of the best music of [his] career … I’ve been working on music for the past three years because I really want to be extremely particular with what sound I put out into the world when it comes to my album.”

Listen to Khalid’s latest track, “Softest Touch,” here.

Editorial credit: Ben Houdijk / Shutterstock.com

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Go Country 105

Nashville notes: Justin Moore's free show + Georgette Jones to the Opry

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Justin Moore will be hosting a free show and album release party at the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville on Thursday, May 4. Livestream options will be available on Circle All Access’ YouTube and Facebook pages. To attend in person, RSVP at the event link. Justin’s new album, Stray Dog, drops May 5.

Up-and-comer Avery Anna has released a new song, “Self Love.” Avery co-wrote the midtempo track with Andrew Goldstein, Ava Supplesa, David Fanning and Zarni de Vette.

Georgette Jones, daughter of country legends Tammy Wynette and George Jones, will return to the Grand Ole Opry stage on April 6 to honor her late mother’s passing 25 years ago. Georgette will cover Tammy’s “My Man” and “Till I Can Make It On My Own.” Tickets can be purchased at opry.com.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Old Dominion's Matthew Ramsey shares recovery update + reschedules more dates

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Old Dominion‘s Matthew Ramsey is updating fans on his recovery following an ATV accident that fractured his pelvis.

“I just want to say thank you, first of all, for all the support and love that you guys are sending me. The messages are awesome. They’re helping me get stronger. I’m getting stronger every. About a week out from the accident,” Matthew shares in a video on Instagram, before turning the camera to his walking frame and adding in jest, “Still hanging out with ‘Walker Hayes,’ as Trevor has named it.”

“But I just want to say unfortunately not strong enough to make it up on the bus yet, so we are gonna have to push Albany, New York; Reading, Pennsylvania; and Bangor, Maine, shows. We’re gonna have to reschedule those,” he continues. “I’m so sorry, I know how excited you guys get for these shows and me too. It’s really tough to be sidelined right now but we’ll see you soon, I promise. Getting stronger.”

The Reading stop for Old Dominion’s No Bad Vibes tour has been rescheduled for Wednesday, July 26, while the Albany and Bangor shows will now take place on July 27 and July 28, respectively.

More ticket information is available on Old Dominion’s Instagram post. 

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
Go Country 105

It's time to sail on a cruise with Midland

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Get ready to hop on a country music cruise with Midland.

The “Drinkin’ Problem” hitmakers have teamed up with Sixthman to set sail on The Last Resort Cruise from April 1 to April 5, 2024. The four-day cruise will depart from Miami, Florida, and sail to Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas, via the Norwegian Pearl.

The Last Resort Cruise will feature two special sets from Midland, along with performances from artists such as Orville Peck, Flatland Cavalry, Madeline Edwards and Stephen Wilson Jr.

“We've always felt like we have some of the best fans in country music, and when we were given the opportunity to curate a 4-day cruise ship with our Midlandero community, it was an easy decision,” shares Midland. “We booked an all-star lineup with some of our favorite artists and pals, we’re stocking the boat full of Insólito Tequila, and we’ll be hosting daily experiences that you won't find anywhere else. It’s really a dream vacation and we couldn’t be more excited to set sail.”

The first round of presale signups is available now until Sunday, April 16, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Presale signups will close on Wednesday, April 19, at 11:59 p.m. ET. All presales will also include a cabin photo opportunity with Midland. General sales begin on Friday, April 21, at 2 p.m. ET.

For the full performance lineup, and to get tickets and more information, visit midlandcruise.com.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.