Month: May 2024

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News Daypop

Former ‘General Hospital’ actor Johnny Wactor fatally shot after attempted robbery in Los Angeles

Johnny Wactor at the "The Mule" World Premiere at the Village Theater on December 10^ 2018 in Westwood^ CA

Actor Johnny Wactor, best know for his role on the long-running ABC soap opera ‘General Hospital,’ was shot and killed on Saturday after he interrupted three male suspects who were allegedly attempting to remove a catalytic converter from his parked vehicle.

Per ABC NEWS, the Los Angeles Police Department said that the incident happened around 3:25 am PT on Saturday. The actor’s mother, Scarlett Wactor, said her son saw someone at his car after he finished work at a rooftop bar, and initially thought his car was being towed. As he approached his car, one of the suspects, who was wearing a mask, later opened fire at him, adding that the police told her Wactor did not do anything wrong. While the suspects fled to an unknown location following the shooting, Wactor was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. No arrests have yet to be made, and the case remains under investigation by the LAPD Central Division Homicide.

The 37-year-old Wactor has nearly 50 film and television credits to his name on IMDB, appearing on shows including “Criminal Minds,” “Siberia” and “Westworld,” among others. He is best known for his performance as Brando Corbin on General Hospital from 2020-2022. The show said in a statement on X: “The entire General Hospital family is heartbroken to hear of Johnny Wactor’s untimely passing. He was truly one of a kind and a pleasure to work with each and every day. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his loved ones during this difficult time.”

Scarlett Wactor said in a statement about her son: “There are not enough words to tell what a beautiful soul he was. He was a kind loving son and brother, he lived life to the fullest. He set goals and went after them. There is a very large hole on our hearts and lives.”

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

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Pop Daypop

Lenny Kravitz announces exclusive ‘Blue Electric Light’ engagement in Las Vegas

Lenny Kravitz at the 29th Annual Critics' Choice Awards held at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica^ USA on January 14^ 2024.

Lenny Kravitz has announced an exclusive, limited Las Vegas engagement dubbed Blue Electric Light Las Vegas.

A post on social media read: “The Blue Electric Light Tour is coming to the US, only in Las Vegas. October 18-26, 2024 at Dolby Live at Park MGM.   The singer/musician, who just turned 60 years old, will perform a series of concerts held October 18, 19, 23, 25 and 26, 2024 at Dolby Live at Park MGM.

The Blue Electric Light show shares a name with Kravitz’s 12th studio album which just dropped, featuring the singles “TK421” and “Human,” along with 10 other songs. The album is Kravitz’s first in nearly 6 years, since 2018’s Raise Vibration. 

Kravitz said in a new interview with Flaunt magazine that his “sole purpose in music and in art is to amplify love. That is what I love to do. That’s the message to continually project. There’s not enough. It’s endless. I could write about love for a thousand years. Love is endless.”

Tickets for Kravitz’s Blue Electric Light Las Vegas engagement are on sale now via Ticketmaster.

Editorial credit: Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com

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Pop Daypop

‘Bridgerton’ Season 3 soundtrack includes covers of BTS, Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift/Lana Del Rey and more

Banner advertising Bridgerton TV Series is displayed on the Unirea Shopping Center^ in downtown Bucharest.

The soundtrack for Season 3 of Netflix’s Bridgerton was revealed, which will feature string quartets playing modern day pop songs. Artists covered in Season 3 include Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey, BTS, Nick Jonas and Billie Eilish.

A string version of Eilish’s “Happier Than Ever” is included, The Vitamin String Quartet covering additional Eilish songs, as well as BTS’s “Dynamite” and Sia’s “Cheap Thrills.”  In addition, The Atwood Quartet covers Swift and Del Rey’s “Snow on the Beach,” and Jonas’s song, “Jealous.”

For the first time, Bridgerton will feature an original song, “All I Want,” Rogét Chahayed, Wesley Singerman, Taylor Dexter and Nicole Cohen. Tori Kelly will perform the song live at Bridgerton events this month, while an instrumental version of “All I Want,” adapted by composer Kris Bowers, will appear in Part 2.

“Bridgerton” Season 3 will include a total of eight episodes that are split into two parts. Part 1, comprised of four episodes, premieres Thursday, May 17; with Part 2 to debut the additional four episodes beginning on June 13. The soundtrack will also be released in two parts, with Part 1 dropping on May 16.

“Bridgerton” Season 3 music supervisor Justin Kamps said to Netflix’s Tudum website: “I start to try to think of songs from the past that could maybe work for this and then also current hits that could possibly make sense .. It’s really down to the script and then the themes. And sometimes initially it’s about what matches the choreography and then later it’s about what matches the scene and the emotion.”

Editorial credit: LCV / Shutterstock.com

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Go Country 105

Nashville notes: Fresh tracks from Eli Winders, Lauren Watkins + more

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Eli Winders has released a reflective romantic ode, “Another Love.” Of the new track’s genesis, Eli shares, “It was one of the first songs I wrote that I thought was good enough for people to hear, now two years later and it's finally coming out. At the time I wanted to write the saddest song I could and that was what I came up with. It quickly became a fan favorite on social media, and I am so excited for everyone to hear the full song.”

Lauren Watkins has announced her 17-track debut album, The Heartbroken Record, arriving June 21. “It’s the past several years of my life, and that was just so much heartbreak and dramatic girl-feelings, but I think in a really deep and relatable way . and it just needs to get off my chest,” shares Lauren. The latest preview of the project, “Settling Things,” is out now.

T. Graham Brown and Randy Houser have teamed up for their duet rendition of “(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay.” It previews T. Graham’s forthcoming album, From Memphis to Muscle Shoals, arriving August 2. The record is available for presave and preorder now.



Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Tyler Hubbard, Maddie & Tae, Travis Denning + more join UMG Nashville fan event

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Universal Music Group Nashville has announced its second annual UMG Nashville Takeover.

Happening June 6-9 during CMA Fest, the event will offer fans free performances, artist photo & signing opportunities, fan club parties, listening events and more. 

The star-studded artist lineup includes Tyler Hubbard, Maddie & Tae, Travis Denning, Josh Turner, Kassi Ashton, Anne Wilson, Kylie Morgan, Mickey Guyton, Caylee Hammack, Dalton Dover, Catie Offerman, The War And Treaty, Terri Clark, Lee Greenwood and Mark Wills.

A full schedule of events and additional information will be revealed soon.

For more information, head to UMGNLive.com.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Zach Bryan spotlights a family funeral in “Pink Skies”

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Zach Bryan‘s “Pink Skies” may be about a family funeral, but not his.

The track, which arrived Friday, paints a scene of children and family members gathering for their kinfolk’s funeral.

“The kids are in town for a funeral/ So pack the car and dry your eyes/ I know they got plenty of young blood left in ’em/ And plenty nights under pink skies you taught ’em to enjoy,” Zach sings in the opening verse.

“If you could see ’em now, you’d be proud/ But you’d think they’s yuppi?s/ Your funeral was beautiful/ I bet God h?ard you comin’,” he continues over a folk production led by the guitar and harmonica.

Zach, however, hopped on social platform X to clarify that the song’s not autobiographical or paying direct homage to his late mom, who passed away in 2016.

“Pink Skies wasn't inspired by my story. Everytime I sing about someone dying people assume it's about my mom, this definitely was not,” he says. “I just think all the dynamics in families are beautiful and interesting and generationally it's a really cool thing.”

While it’s unclear if “Pink Skies” will be on Zach’s next album, he did offer new details about the forthcoming project.

“16 songs and a poem! Proudest I've ever been of a piece of work,” Zach told a fan when asked about the album’s length.

“Guys I'm teasing no body, I write and record music reckless and fast, just got the record finished so it'll be dropped on someone's head any day now,” Zach added in a separate X post. “I truly want to just say thank you for being so kind and patient, I'm really freaking grateful lately.”

Zach’s latest album is his 2023 self-titled record, which spawned the Grammy-winning “I Remember Everything.”
 

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Blake Shelton's loving his unreleased Post Malone collab

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It’s no secret that Post Malone‘s dipping his toes into country music.

He recently teamed with Morgan Wallen on “I Had Some Help,” HARDY and Morgan on Joe Diffie‘s “Pickup Man,” sang at the 2024 ACM Awards and has shared the stage with Reba McEntire, Brad Paisley and Sara Evans.

Now, Posty’s teased another collab, this time with “God’s Country” hitmaker Blake Shelton.

Posty recently shared a video of him listening to the recording of his collab with Blake, and Blake responded with a video of him bopping along to Posty’s video.

“Somebody pour me a drink/ Somebody bum me a smoke/ I'm ’bout to get on a buzz/ I'm ’bout to get on a roll,” Posty and Blake trade lines in the uptempo snippet.

You can check out the full clip now on Blake’s socials.

“I Had Some Help” is currently in the top 40 of the country charts.

Posty’s debut country album is slated for release later this year.


Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Dolly announces 'Smoky Mountain DNA' album + docuseries

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Dolly Parton will pay homage to her family’s lineage with her forthcoming album, Dolly Parton & Family: Smoky Mountain DNA – Family, Faith & Fables.

Arriving November 15 via Owepar Entertainment, the project, which Dolly’s cousin Richie Owens produced, will explore the heritage of the global icon’s two families – her paternal Parton family and her maternal family, the Owens. 

“I cannot believe that it has been 60 years this month since I graduated from Sevier County High School and moved to Nashville to pursue my dreams,” Dolly tells the press. “My Uncle Bill Owens was by my side for many years helping me develop my music. I owe so much to him and all the family members past and present who have inspired me along this journey.”

“I am honored to spotlight our families' musical legacy that is my Smoky Mountain DNA,” she adds.

While the project’s track list has yet to be revealed, a press release shares that the album will feature Dolly’s immediate and extended family members spanning generations and chronicle their journey from the U.K. to present-day East Tennessee.

Accompanying the record is a four-part docuseries, which is currently in production.

Two preview tracks of Dolly Parton & Family: Smoky Mountain DNA – Family, Faith & Fables, alongside its preorder information, will be available June 21. 

To watch Dolly’s announcement and performance live from Dollywood, head to Dollywood’s Facebook.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Travis Denning rolls out debut album, 'Roads That Go Nowhere'

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Travis Denning‘s long-awaited debut album, Roads That Go Nowhere, has arrived. 

Travis co-wrote 12 of the 15 songs, and the project’s one that he says chronicles his life journey, especially the title track.

“The story [of the album's title track] is a picture into my life and the roads that went nowhere that I went down, and the roads that went somewhere that I’m still on,” Travis tells People. “I knew when I wrote that song that [it was] going to be the theme [of the album].”

“So whether it was life, love, heartbreak, happiness, marriage, where I come from, all those corners of life, I wanted to share all the ones that I had been down. It’s very reflective,” he adds.

Travis also dropped the music video for his HARDY-assisted song “Southern Rock” on Friday.

Of the collab, the Georgia native says, “This record’s about really dropping it on the ground of who I am and this song is the closest to a three minute, thirty-second autobiography that I can write.”

Travis will open for HARDY on select dates of his Quit!! tour. For tickets, head to travisdenning.com.

Roads That Go Nowhere is out now wherever you listen to music.

Here’s the Roads That Go Nowhere track list:

“Why I’m Drinking”
“I Know How It Sounds“
“Better At Leaving“
“Strawberry Wine and a Cheap Six Pack”
“Going Places“
“Someone That Isn’t Me”
“Southern Rock” (featuring HARDY)
“Love You Past That”
“Things I’m Going Through”
“Add Her To The List”
“Roads That Go Nowhere”
“The Sound of a Beer Getting Cracked” (featuring Josh Ross)
“Can’t Find One”
“Here and Her”
“Ocmulgee River”


Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
News Daypop

RNC accuses Secret Service of ignoring security concerns around party convention in Milwaukee

United States Secret Service (USSS) Uniformed Division patrol car at the entrance to The Eclipse park in-front of The White House.

The Republican National Committee is accusing the US Secret Service of ignoring its security concerns surrounding the party’s July convention in Milwaukee, warning that the agency was putting the event at risk. The convention, slated for July 15-18 in Milwaukee, includes a perimeter that encompasses a nearby park, Pere Marquette.

The Trump campaign sent a letter on Thursday to U.S. Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle, demanding she fix a “critical flaw” in the security perimeter of this summer’s Republican National Convention, claiming that attendees’ safety is at risk as protesters plan to descend on the area. Per CNN, the RNC has raised concerns over the proximity of planned protest zones to the pathway that convention attendees must walk to access the venue. The party has proposed an alternative location for the First Amendment Zone that would ensure attendees would not have to walk past protesters.

Todd Steggerda, counsel to the Republican National Committee, wrote in the letter that the Secret Service is ignoring their concerns and multiple attempts of outreach about adjusting the security perimeter, adding that the security environment around the convention was “rapidly deteriorating” and demanding action:  “To date, the local USSS team has been unresponsive to the RNC’s reasonable proposal, as set out in my April 26 letter, to alleviate these safety risks through a very modest alteration of the Perimeter — namely, to expand a small portion of the Security Perimeter approximately one block to the East to encapsulate the Park … Rather than dissipating, the overall security climate has worsened significantly over the past month of the USSS’s inaction,” Steggerdas said, adding that Cheatle’s “failure to act now to prevent these unnecessary and certain risks will imperil tens of thousands of convention attendees.”

Steggerda cited statements made by organizers for the Coalition to March on the RNC 2024 suggesting protesters may ignore law enforcement orders related to where they can demonstrate. In addition, many top Republican lawmakers, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, have reached out to the Secret Service to discuss their concerns. Said Steggerda: “With less than two months before the convention and even less time before the USSS finalizes the plan, it is imperative you take personal and immediate steps to fix this unacceptable flaw in the design of the security perimeter.’

Editorial credit: The Bold Bureau / Shutterstock.com