Categories
Pop Daypop

Megan Thee Stallion, Lauryn Hill and Red Hot Chili Peppers to headine 2023 Global Citizen Festival

The Global Citizen Festival announced its return to New York City with Megan Thee Stallion, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Lauryn Hill serving as headliners. The free, ticketed event will take place on the Great Lawn of Central Park in New York City on Saturday, Sept. 23. Conan Gray and Stray Kids are also featured performers at the event.

While tickets to the show are free, it requires attendees to fulfill a task as part of the international advocacy organization Global Citizen’s initiative to raise awareness about hunger, poverty, climate change, and inequities facing women around the world, among other related concerns.

A press release reads: “The 2023 Global Citizen Festival campaign takes aim at the major issues perpetuating extreme poverty, including the impacts of climate change on the Global South, the inequities affecting women and girls around the world, and the global hunger crisis, and will call on governments to protect and defend advocates everywhere. The campaign will unite millions of voices, amplified by the world’s biggest artists, to demand urgent action from world leaders gathering in New York City for the United Nations General Assembly in September.”

Hugh Evans, co-founder and CEO of Global Citizen expressed: “COP27, this year’s G7, the World Bank Spring Meetings and the Paris climate finance summit all failed to deliver tangible results, or disruption of the world’s unjust systems. But complacency can’t win. If we want to see breakthroughs on development and climate change, we need the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, and all G7 nations to meet the urgency of the hour. Every single citizen has a vital role to play, and together, we must be laser-focused on driving results and impact in September.”

For more information about the 2023 Global Citizen Festival, visit www.globalcitizen.org, and follow @glblctzn on Instagram, Tik Tok, Twitter, and YouTube.

Editorial credit: Ben Houdijk / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Pop Daypop

Sam Smith announces “Man I Am’ off ‘Barbie’ movie soundtrack

Sam Smith took to Instagram to share that they will be joining the star-studded Barbie movie soundtrack with their song, “Man I Am,” debuting on Friday, July 21, alongside the film and soundtrack.

Sam wrote, “I cannot begin to express how incredibly excited I am to be a part of the soundtrack to this already iconic film…I was invited by the incredible @iammarkronson and Greta Gerwig to write a song from the perspective of Ken for one of the scenes and we honestly had so much fun with this. I cannot wait for you to hear what we’ve created together. Man I Am is out 21st July Along with @barbiethemovie @barbiethealbum 🌸👛💖 BARBIE LAND HERE WE COME!!!!”

To pre-order/pre-add “Man I Am” from Sam Smith, head here.

Editorial credit: Chris Allan / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Go Country 105

Nashville notes: Zac Brown Band's giveaway + Ben Burgess' “Son of a Fireman”

Zac Brown Band is giving away a flyaway experience to one lucky fan and their guest to watch them live at Fenway Park in Boston on August 19. The winner will win a flyaway, hotel accommodations, two tickets and VIP Uncaged Lounge passes to the concert. Enter the contest now.

Ben Burgess has dropped his autobiographical new song, “Son of a Fireman.” “This one is a personal one, real close to my heart and i am excited to share it wit y'all,” says Ben.

Emily Ann Roberts is slated to release her debut album, Can’t Hide Country, on September 22. Presave the record now.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
Go Country 105

It's Bo Time: Lee Brice + Dale Earnhardt Jr. launch new Bojangles sandwiches

Country star Lee Brice and NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. have teamed up with Bojangles to launch the new Bo's BBQ and Carolina Gold Chicken sandwiches.

“I'm pretty dang excited to partner with @Bojangles and @DaleJr to create these new Bo's BBQ and Carolina Gold Chicken sandwiches. So good you're gonna wanna try both [wink face emoticon]” Lee tweeted alongside the Bojangles ad.

In the commercial, Lee and Dale split the mouth-watering chicken sandwiches to enjoy the best of both worlds.

The new Bo's BBQ and Carolina Gold Chicken sandwiches are available now at Bojangles and can be ordered in-store or via the Bojangles app.

For more information, visit bojangles.com.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
Go Country 105

Brett Young's dropping a new song, “Let Go Too Soon”

Brett Young‘s releasing a new song titled “Let Go Too Soon” on Friday, July 21.

“Did we #LetGoTooSoon? // NEW song out July 21st!! // We’ve been playing this one out on the road and y’all have been begging for us to put it out. Excited for it to finally be released!” Brett shared on Twitter alongside a preview clip of the uptempo track.

“Let Go Too Soon” will be the latest preview of Brett’s upcoming album, Across The Streets. Due out August 4, the eight-song project will include the previously released “Back To Jesus” and Brett’s new single, “Dance With You.”

Presave “Let Go Too Soon” now.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
Go Country 105

Garth Brooks, Lainey Wilson + more to perform at Sugar Bowl Country Kickoff

Garth Brooks has been tapped to headline the first Sugar Bowl Country Kickoff.

Presented by the Louisiana Office of Tourism, the event will take Saturday, September 2, at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. Also on the performance bill are Louisiana native Lainey Wilson and country group Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

“Being asked to be part of the first ever Sugar Bowl Country Kickoff is an honor,” Garth shares in a press statement. “The fun will be in getting to perform with legends Nitty Gritty and future legend Miss Wilson in front of arguably the greatest country music fans on the planet. Any trip to Louisiana is a guaranteed good time so please count me in!”

Tickets go on sale Friday, July 21, at 10 a.m. CT on Ticketmaster.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
Go Country 105

Sit tight for a “big announcement” from Dan + Shay

Dan + Shay will share a “big announcement” Thursday, July 13, just a day before their single “Save Me The Trouble” drops.

“Since we're all staying up late tonight for SAVE ME THE TROUBLE at 11 PM CT, we might as well make another big announcement at, say, 6 PM CT?” the “Speechless” hitmakers write on Facebook.

“Save Me The Trouble” will be the first new music Dan + Shay release following their 2021 album, Good Things. Earlier in April, Charlie Puth enlisted the country-pop duo for his song “That’s Not How This Works.”

While you wait for Dan + Shay’s “big announcement, presave their new music now.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
Go Country 105

Jimmie Allen files countersuit against two women who accused him of sexual assault

Jimmie Allen is denying all allegations made against him by two women who claimed he had sexually assaulted them.

In May, Allen’s previous day-to-day manager, Jane Doe, sued him for sexual battery, assault, false imprisonment, sex trafficking and emotional distress, according to a report obtained by Variety. In June, Variety reported the second woman, Jane Doe 2, accused Allen of sexual assault and recording their sexual encounter without her consent.

Now, Billboard has reported that Allen’s lawyers have not only denied all claims but filed a “countersuit against each accuser and [are] seeking unspecified monetary damages.”

“Throughout the Variety article, Jane Doe made several untruthful statements which painted Allen and Doe's consensual affair as nonconsensual sexual misconduct,” his lawyers say. “Allen's reputation and relationships within the entertainment industry have also been severely damaged as a result [of] Jane Doe's statements in the Variety article.”

In response to Jane Doe 2’s assertions, Allen’s lawyers posit, “Before the encounter escalated further, Allen asked Jane Doe 2 if it was OK for him to set up his camera phone to record their encounter. Jane Doe 2 agreed. Allen left the balcony and set up his camera phone in plain view at the foot of the bed. Allen and Jane Doe 2 began to engage in a consensual sexual encounter in view of the camera phone.”

“As the son and brother of rape victims, and the father of daughters, these false claims are extremely hurtful to me and everyone around me,” Allen says in a statement to Billboard. “These false allegations have caused me to lose a vast number of business and endorsement opportunities that I worked extremely hard for. These false allegations have also not only harmed me, but have caused severe financial damage to my band, my team, and their families.”

The full report is available on Billboard.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
Go Country 105

25th anniversary edition of Shania Twain's 'Come On Over' features Elton John, Backstreet Boys and Chris Martin

On August 25 – three days before her birthday – Shania Twain is giving her fans a present: a new, expanded Diamond Edition of her 1997 album, Come On Over, which has sold 40 million copies worldwide.

The new release will be available in multiple configurations, including digital, vinyl and CD, many of which will include a bonus disc of remixes and live duets. Among those duets: “You’re Still the One” live from Las Vegas with Coldplay‘s Chris Martin, the same song live from Miami with Elton John and “From This Moment On,” also live from Miami with the Backstreet Boys.

The Diamond Edition also includes both versions of the original album: the U.S. version, which was more country-oriented, and the international version, which was remixed with a more pop sound, including drum loops and synthesizers.

“This was an album that was really meant to bridge genres, and I wanted to make sure that the fans were getting what they expected from me as a multi-genre artist,” Shania says in a statement, adding, “I'm so happy to see all the versions packaged together for this reissue.”

In addition to “You’re Still the One” and “From This Moment On,” Come On Over also features the hits “Man! I Feel Like a Woman,” “That Don’t Impress Me Much” and the title track. In a statement, Shania says, “With Come On Over, it was important for me to give what I thought was the best record of my life, and that is why there’s so many songs on it.”

“I thought, ‘Let’s just load this up in case there’s not another chance. Let's not hold anything back.'”

All versions of Come On Over are available for preorder now.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
News Daypop

President Biden reaffirms U.S. support for Ukraine at NATO summit

On Wednesday, President Joe Biden said in a speech that the U.S. and NATO allies reaffirm commitment to Ukraine, promising that its Western partners would not back away from its defense as Russia’s war on Ukraine past its 500th day.

Following a two-day high-level meeting with leaders at the NATO summit, Biden described support for Kyiv’s fight for democracy as “the calling of our lifetime.” The U.S. has sent more than $41 billion to bolster Kyiv in the nearly 18 months since Russian troops invaded Ukrainian borders. Biden said in his address from Lithuania’s capital, Vilnius: “We did what we always do. The U.S. stepped up, NATO stepped up and our partners in the Indo-Pacific stepped up. We will not waver … the U.S. will continue to support Ukraine ‘for as long as it takes.’”

The allies welcomed the arrival of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who reiterated calls to join NATO and vowed its membership would make the world’s most powerful military alliance stronger. Ukraine has sought NATO membership since 2002. It is bordered by four NATO allies: Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania.

An announcement on the first day of the summit revealed that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has agreed to support Sweden’s bid to join the NATO alliance. Sweden and Finland began the formal process of applying to NATO last May, which requires approval from all 30 members of the alliance. In April, Finland joined the alliance. Following this summit, Sweden is set to become the group’s 32nd member.

Editorial credit: Gints Ivuskans / Shutterstock.com