Month: September 2023

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Go Country 105

Kane Brown unveils 2024 In The Air Tour

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Kane Brown is set to hit the road in 2024 for his In The Air Tour.

The newly announced 29-city trek kicks off March 28 in Charlottesville and will hit Houston, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Los Angeles and more before concluding in Arlington on September 14.

Tyler Hubbard, Jon Pardi, Chris Young, Cole Swindell, Bailey Zimmerman, Parmalee, LOCASH and RaeLynn will open for Kane on select dates.

Tickets go on sale Thursday, September 28, at 10 a.m. local time. However, fans can register their interest now at tour.kanebrownmusic.com for access to the presale on Tuesday, September 26, at 10 a.m. ET. A full list of can be found on Kane’s website.

Coming up, Kane will release his brand new single, “I Can Feel It,” on Thursday, September 21, at 11 a.m. CT. You can presave it now to hear it as soon as it drops.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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News Daypop

Charges filed against Ray Epps, protester at center of far-right Jan. 6 conspiracy theory

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The former U.S. marine who became the center of a Jan. 6, 2021, conspiracy theory, has been charged with a misdemeanor offense in connection with the U.S. Capitol riot. Ray Epps is expected to plead guilty, according to court papers filed Tuesday.

Epps is charged with disorderly or disruptive conduct on restricted grounds, court records show. Epps attorney, Edward J. Ungvarsky, said in an email that the case was filed with an anticipation that Epps would plead guilty to the charge. The judge has scheduled a plea agreement hearing for Wednesday.

Epps, a one-time supporter of Donald Trump, claimed in a lawsuit filed this year that Fox News Channel made him a scapegoat for the Capitol riot. Epps has said he went to Washington to protest the 2020 election, was falsely accused by Fox of being a government agent who was whipping up trouble that would be blamed on Trump supporters. Although the lawsuit mentions Fox News personalities Laura Ingraham and Will Cain, former Fox host Tucker Carlson is cited as the leader in promoting the theory. Epps was featured in more than two dozen segments on Carlson’s prime-time show, the lawsuit said.

Epps’s lawsuit against Fox News says the U.S. Justice Department told him in May that he faces criminal charges for his actions on Jan. 6, and he blames that on “the relentless attacks by Fox and Mr. Carlson and the resulting political pressure.” However, in an appearance before the House Judiciary Committee in July, FBI Director Christopher Wray denied having any knowledge of Epps being a “secret government agent.” Wray said: “I will say this notion that somehow the violence at the Capitol on Jan. 6 was part of some operation orchestrated by FBI sources and agents is ludicrous.”

Epps was a previously member of the far-right Oath Keepers extremist group, serving as an Arizona chapter leader before parting ways with the anti-government group a few years before the Jan. 6 attack. Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and other members were convicted of seditious conspiracy in the Jan. 6 attack.

Editorial credit: Sebastian Portillo / Shutterstock.com

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News Daypop

President Biden urges allies to assist in aide to Ukraine in U.N. speech

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In a speech Tuesday to the United Nations General Assembly, President Joe Biden urged world leaders not to abandon Ukraine in its war against Russia. Biden implied that if the U.S. and other nations that have aided Ukraine were to withhold support, every nation would feel vulnerable and isolated in the face of an attack.

Biden warned that Russia was hoping on other nations growing “weary” of the fight, saying in his speech to UNGA: “If we allow Ukraine to be carved up, is the independence of any nation secure? I respectfully suggest the answer is no.”  Biden drew applause when saying that the United States and its allies would stand with Ukraine’s fight for freedom:  “Russia alone bears responsibility for this war. Russia alone has the power to end this war immediately.”

Biden’s remarks come as polls show that U.S. support for Ukraine’s defense is beginning to wane, despite Biden’s pledge to support Ukraine for “as long as it takes.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who attended and applauded Biden’s remarks ahead of his own speech at UNGA on Tuesday, is scheduled to. meet Thursday with Biden at the White House, as well as meet some congressional leaders.

Biden’s address at the annual gathering was the centerpiece event of his three-day visit to New York, which will include meetings with the heads of five Central Asian nations, and the leaders of Israel and Brazil. On Wednesday, Biden will meet Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and join him in an event with labor leaders from Brazil and the United States. The President will also have his first face-to-face meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since Netanyahu regained power last December.

Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com

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Go Country 105

Conner Smith shares how mom inspired him to pursue country music

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For many who are born in Nashville, being surrounded by country music is inevitable.

But not only did Conner Smith grow up listening to the genre, he was introduced to the music industry at a young age by his veteran broadcaster mom, Jennifer Vickery Smith.

“Growing up, my mom was a TV reporter on the local station. But she always loved country music, so she would really kind of raise her hand for all those jobs. She would interview songwriters and artists,” Conner recounts to ABC Audio. “I remember she would go to number-one parties, and she’d pull me out of school every now and then. I remember she pulled me out of school one day to go to the ‘Why Don’t We Just Dance’ Josh Turner number-one party.”

As Conner embraced being a fly on the wall, he started analyzing interviews his mom had with hit songmakers – which later sparked his passion for country songwriting.

“She would interview songwriters, these [legends like] Craig Wiseman, Neil Thrasher, Kelly Lovelace, Tom Douglas. And I would just study these interviews of these guys that were telling the stories of these country songs,” Conner recalls. “That was where, [in] my heart, I was just like, ‘Whatever that is, I have to do that.’ So that’s really where it started for me.” 

Conner’s currently approaching the top 20 on the country charts with his single “Creek Will Rise.”

Tickets for Conner’s fall Creek Will Rise Tour are available now at connersmithmusic.com.

Conner’s mom, Jennifer, also hosts the Got It From My Momma podcast. Check it out at gotitfrommymommapodcast.com.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
Country Daypop

Wynonna Judd to host the NBC Christmas special ‘Christmas at the Opry’

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Country music star Wynonna Judd has signed on to host the two-hour program ‘Christmas at the Opry’, airing on NBC and Peacock this Dec. 7th. The Grand Ole Opry tweeted: “Be part of our live audience at the taping of @nbc’s new holiday special Christmas at the Opry, hosted by @Wynonnaat the Grand Ole Opry House on October 3rd! 🎄 Get tickets 🎁 : https://opryent.co/3LeA5C6”

The performer lineup for the event at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry venue is expected to be announced at a later date. Cassandra Tryon, senior vice president of live events at NBCUniversal Entertainment, said in a statement: “Wynonna is one of the most recognized and lauded performers in country music. Not only is she incredibly talented, her selflessness and passion for putting the needs of others in the spotlight is unmatched. We can’t think of a better person to honor as our inaugural ‘Country Champion’ and to celebrate the holidays with across these two major country music events.”

Tickets for the October 3 taping of “Christmas at the Opry” are available right now at Opry.com.

Editorial credit: Geoffrey Clowes / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

2024 Gulf Coast Jam announces Parker McCollum as fourth headliner

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The 12th Annual Gulf Coast Jam announced Parker McCollum as the fourth and final headliner, joining Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, and Morgan Wallen at the 2024 Gulf Coast Jam 2024. McCollium will hit the stage on Thursday, May 30, 2024.

Gulf Coast Jam shared: “Ladies & Gentleman….your 4 headliners for Gulf Coast Jam 2024, presented by Jim Beam, in beautiful @visit_pcb!! Sunday – @morganwallen Saturday – @codyjohnson Friday – @jellyroll615 Thursday – @parkermccollum ⚠WE HAVE LESS THAN 20% OF TICKETS REMAINING!!! Tickets and payment plans available at: www.gulfcoastjam.com”

Gulf Coast Jam COO Mark Sheldon said: “We have never had so few passes available this far ahead of the festival. With the announcement of Parker McCollum, we anticipate an even earlier sellout then this year. We encourage our Jammers to purchase their passes and secure lodging as quickly as possible.”

The full lineup will be announced in the coming weeks; tickets are currently on sale at www.GulfCoastJam.com.

Editorial credit: FloridaStock / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Pop Daypop

Teyana Taylor and Iman Shumpert split after 7 years of marriage

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Teyana Taylor and Iman Shumpert have called it quits after seven years of marriage.

Taylor, 32, posted on social media: “AHT AHT! Not too much on my bestie! In all fairness, Iman and I are separated and have been for a while. To be 1000% clear, ‘infidelity’ ain’t one of the reasons for our departure. We are still the best of friends, great business partners and are one hell of a team when it comes to coparenting our 2 beautiful children. Most importantly we are FAMILY & in the 10yrs together, 7yrs married we ain’t ever played with or about THAT. We just keep y’all asses out the group chat lol, which is the reason we’ve been able to successfully & peacefully separate without all of the outside noise.”  Taylor said she decided to share the breakup news to “quiet the narratives that have gotten a little out of hand .. It’s unfair to all parties involved.”

Taylor and Shumpert, 33, first met at a party in 2011. They were friends for years before they started dating in 2014, and were engaged one year later.  Taylor and Shumpert welcomed their first child, daughter Iman “Junie” Tayla Jr., in 2015 and tied the knot in 2016. They welcomed their second daughter, Rue Rose, in 2020.

Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com

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Pop Daypop

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky share first pictures of new son, Riot Rose

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Rihanna, 35, and A$AP Rocky, 34, have unveiled the first photos of Riot Rose, their second baby boy, joining big brother RZA, 16 months.  Photographer Diggzy shared the carousel of photos to his Instagram page with the caption: “It’s a FAMILY thing 💪🏽. Welcome to the World Riot Rose 🌹” He also shared additional snaps of the family in his Instagram Stories.

The family of 4 posed for a series of photos, showing Rihanna holding baby Riot while Rocky carries RZA on his shoulders. RZA is shown wearing the newly released FENTY x Puma Avanti, and Rihanna is also photographed carrying her newborn alone as she leans up against a car,  with additional pictures showing the couple playing with Riot on a blanket.

Rihanna revealed her second pregnancy during her headlining Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show performance, and confirmed that she was expecting through a British Vogue cover story featuring her family, which was released days after the performance. Rihanna gave birth to her first son, RZA Athelston Mayers, in May 2022. The couple’s new son’s name appears to be a reference to “RIOT (Rowdy Pipe’n),” a 2023 track from A$AP Rocky.

Editorial credit: Fred Duval / Shutterstock.com

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Go Country 105

Nashville notes: Luke Grimes' EP + The Oak Ridge Boys' Farewell Tour

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Rising country artist and Yellowstone star Luke Grimes is set to release his debut EP, Pain Pills Or Pews, on October 20. The Dave Cobb-produced EP features six songs, including “Burn,” which drops Friday, September 22. Pain Pill Or Pews is available for presave now.

The Oak Ridge Boys have announced their American Made: Farewell Tour. “We are doing a farewell tour because we owe it to our fans to say goodbye. They have always been there for us through the good times and the bad,” shares the group’s William Lee Golden. The full statement and tour schedule are available now at oakridgeboys.com.

Tyler Booth‘s EP, Keep It Real, is out now. “It's always cool for me to watch artists I look up to grow in their music and evolve. With this new music, I feel like I've moved on to another stage myself, which is a very cool thing and makes me really excited to share what I've been working on with the world,” Tyler says of his new six-track project.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas for Martina McBride

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Country icon Martina McBride is headed to a city near you this festive season.

Martina has announced the return of her The Joy of Christmas Tour. The 13-date trek kicks off November 24 in Raleigh, North Carolina, and will wrap in Englewood, New Jersey, on December 17.

“The Joy of Christmas tour is heading out for another run this year! [heart + Christmas tree emojis] This is one of my favorite tours, and it gets better and better every year!” Martina shares on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Tickets go on sale Friday, September 22, at 10 a.m. local time at martinamcbride.com.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.