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Pop Daypop

Jennifer Hudson drops deluxe holiday album, featuring ‘Mary, Did You Know?’

Jennifer Hudson has released the extended version of her holiday album The Gift of Love (2024), which includes her cover of “Mary, Did You Know?;” the original version of the song debuted in 1991, cowritten by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene.

The Gift of Love debuted in the top 10 of Billboard’s Top Holiday Albums chart when it was released in 2024. The album featured 17 songs including classics such as “Carol of the Bells,” “Little Drummer Boy,” “Winter Wonderland,” “O Holy Night,” and “Auld Lang Syne” alongside original songs such as “Santa for Someone,” “Find The Love,” and “Carol of the Bells” featuring The Joy.

The extended holiday edition of the album incudes “Mary, Did You Know?” and “Let There Be Joy,” an original song heard in Hallmark’s 2024 Joy to Your World campaign.

Hudson said on Instagram: “I could not be more excited to share this news with you! 🎄✨ The extended edition of my GRAMMY-nominated holiday album “The Gift of Love” is coming your way and this time I had to include another one of my all-time favorite Christmas songs, “Mary Did You Know?” This song has been close to my heart for years, and I cannot wait to share my version with you all! #TheGiftofLove ♥

Stream ‘The Gift Of Love (Extended Holiday Edition)’ – HERE.

Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com

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Pop Daypop

Christina Aguilera concert film ‘Christmas in Paris’ coming to theaters in December

Christina Aguilera has set a limited December theatrical release for her new holiday concert film, “Christine Aguilera: Christmas in Paris.” The film is set to play in theaters for two days only in the United States on Dec. 14 and Dec. 21.

The “dazzling” live concert movie was created in honor of the 25th anniversary of Aguilera’s 2000 holiday album, “My Kind of Christmas,” and is directed and executive produced by Sam Wrench (“Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour”).

A press release states: “Shot in Paris before an intimate audience of 250 guests, Christmas in Paris transports viewers to a winter-garden terrace high above the Musée du Quai Branly. Against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower – fashioned into a shimmering Christmas tree – Aguilera delivers an immersive performance with the city skyline as both stage and witness.”

Tickets for the film and additional information can be found HERE.

Editorial credit: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com

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Go Country 105

Grand Ole Opry 100th anniversary show to be livestreamed

The Grand Ole Opry will officially turn 100 on Friday, and the two star-studded shows it’s staging on that day will stream live globally.

You’ll be able to watch the celebration on the Opry’s Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube channels. Among the artists who’ll be appearing are the Opry’s longest-serving member, Bill Anderson, and its newest inductee, Kathy Mattea. In between, you’ll see Vince Gill, Dustin Lynch, Scotty McCreery, Pam Tillis, Ricky Skaggs, Marty Stuart, Trace Adkins, Lorrie Morgan, The Gatlin Brothers, Mark Wills and Suzy Bogguss, plus many more.

The shows begin at 7 p.m. CT and 10 p.m. CT. Tickets are on sale now.

Since it began on Nov. 28, 1925, the Opry has produced more than 15,000 broadcasts and now boasts more than 200 members. The celebration will continue into 2026 with more special shows.

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Go Country 105

Hudson Westbrook merch gets spotlight at Buc-ees

On the way to your celebrations this holiday season, stop at Buc-ees and pick up some Hudson Westbrook merchandise.

The Stephenville, Texas, native is one of only four artists – and only the second Texan – ever to have a line of merch in Buc-ees stores nationwide, following Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson and Lainey Wilson. The collection includes T-shirts, a hoodie and hats, including a “Well Darlin'” trucker hat.

Meanwhile, Hudson will ring in the new year Dec. 31 at Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He’ll release his new EP, Exclusive, on Jan. 23; it is now available to preorder. Later in the new year, he’ll be opening for Morgan Wallen on his 2026 Still the Problem Tour.

 

Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Zach Bryan announces With Heaven On Tour for 2026

Zach Bryan has announced a world tour for 2026 that will be his biggest yet.

He wrote on Instagram, “due to popular demand and some life changes as of late, we're going on tour next year.” He’ll kick off the With Heaven On Tour March 7 in St. Louis, Missouri, and then travel across the U.S., Europe and the U.K. He’ll return to the U.S. for another tour leg in July, and the whole tour wraps up Oct. 10 in Auburn, Alabama.

The tour comes in support of his new album, With Heaven on Top, due Jan. 9. Among the multiple opening acts are rock bands Kings of Leon and Alabama Shakes.

Zach recently set a record for the largest single ticketed concert in U.S. history with his September concert at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor.

 

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Go Country 105

Megan Moroney on her ‘sassy’ new album, pop pals and Taylor Swift: ‘I’d like to thank her’

Megan Moroney‘s new album, Cloud 9, is coming Feb. 20, and while she loves it, she’ll be OK if you don’t.

Speaking to People StyleWatch, Megan says, “This is my best foot forward for where I’m at, and if you don’t like it, then you just don’t like my music, and that’s okay, because I really love it and I’m the one that’s got to get up there and sing it every night.”

Megan calls Cloud 9 her “favorite child” among her albums, joking, “I think I would ditch the first two for this one.” She describes the music as “sassy” with some sarcasm thrown in. Megan also shares that it will include a song she’s been teasing for a few years: “Wedding Dress.”

She explains, “Had [the fans] not been constantly bugging me about it, it probably wouldn’t have made the record, just because I’m so past that feeling.”

While we don’t know yet if there are any featured artists on Cloud 9, Meghan tells People that she’s “going on vacation” with pop star Tate McRae and would love to release a song with her.

“[W]ho knows? Maybe we’ll get some margaritas and want to write something,” she says of Tate, who joined Morgan Wallen for his #1 hit “What I Want.” Plus, Megan says she’s been trying to figure out the perfect song to record with Ed Sheeran, who she’s performed with several times.

But Taylor Swift‘s the pop star she really wants to meet. “I find it so inspiring that she can put out 12 different albums, and they all sound different,” says Megan. “The way that she’s handled all the business side of things is something that I’ve learned from, so I’d like to thank her – and maybe get some drinks or something.”

Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Pour them a drink: Post Malone’s bar offering free Thanksgiving meals to Nashville first responders

Post Malone‘s Nashville eatery, Posty’s Bar, is giving men and women in uniform something to be thankful for this weekend.

“To the ladies and gentlemen who keep Nashville safe each day, we'd love to thank you for your service!” the bar’s Instagram feed announced. “On-duty, uniformed first responders are invited to please join us Wednesday, November 26, through Friday, November 28, to enjoy a complimentary meal at Posty's!”

One fan wrote in the comments, “Being a retired first responder, this means so much to those away from their families during the holidays. At least they can eat with their work families. THANK YOU.”

Post Malone opened Posty’s Bar in early October and won his first-ever CMA Award on Nov. 19: musical event of the year for “Pour Me a Drink,” his collaboration with Blake Shelton. His album F-1 Trillion, which was up for album of the year, lost to Lainey Wilson‘s Whirlwind.

Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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News Daypop

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene refutes presidential run claims, days after announcing Congress resignation

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is pushing back against reports that she’s eyeing a future White House bid, days after revealing she will leave Congress early next year. The Georgia Republican, who announced Friday she will resign in January following a public split with former President Trump, said online speculation about a 2028 presidential campaign is unfounded.

TIME Magazine and NOTUS reported that Greene had privately discussed running for president, but she dismissed those accounts in a lengthy post on X, calling the reporting a “complete lie.” She added, “I’m not running for President and never said I wanted to and have only laughed about it when anyone would mention it.”

Greene — once one of Trump’s most visible allies — has recently broken with GOP leadership over issues including health care costs, spending negotiations and the government shutdown. Trump has since withdrawn his support and publicly criticized her, fueling questions about her political future. Her resignation announcement on Friday surprised colleagues and immediately triggered speculation about potential Senate, gubernatorial or presidential ambitions, all of which she has rejected.

Greene posted her resignation message on Friday, stating she ran for Congress in 2020 believing “Make America Great Again meant America First” and she asserted she’s had one of the most conservative voting records in Congress. “However with almost one year into our majority, the legislature has been mostly sidelined, we endured an 8 week shut down wrongly resulting in the House not working for the entire time, and we are entering campaign season which means all courage leaves and only safe campaign re-election mode is turned on,” she said.

Responding to the latest reports, Greene argued that pursuing the presidency “requires traveling all over the country, begging for donations all day everyday to raise hundreds of millions of dollars, arguing political talking points everyday to the point of exhaustion, destroying your health and having no personal life in order to attempt to get enough votes to become President all to go to work into a system that refuses to fix any of America’s problems.” She said she is “not motivated by power and titles,” contending that the “Political Industrial Complex has destroyed our country and will never allow someone like me or you to rise to power and actually solve the crises that plague all of us.”

Since entering Congress in 2021, Greene has built a national profile as a staunch conservative firebrand. Her decision to depart — and her sudden fallout with Trump — has reshaped her political trajectory and left supporters in her northwest Georgia district expressing disappointment. Greene has not indicated what she plans to do after leaving office, insisting only that she is not preparing for a presidential run.

Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com

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News Daypop

Rubio calls talks between U.S. and Ukraine ‘productive’ regarding peace plan with Russia

As officials from the United States, Ukraine and Europe continued intensive negotiations in Geneva this weekend over the peace proposal from the U.S. aimed at halting the nearly three-year war in Ukraine, Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the latest round as the most “productive” to date.

Rubio said the delegations were working through revisions in hopes of narrowing remaining disagreement, with top U.S. officials — including Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll, envoy Steve Witkoff and senior national security advisers — meeting with Kyiv’s representatives as President Donald Trump signaled that further bargaining was still possible.

Rubio said that “I think this was a very, very meaningful – I would say probably best – meeting and day we’ve had so far in this entire process, going back to when we first came into office in January. But there’s still some work left to do and that’s what our teams are going to be doing right now … We’re making some changes and adjustments in hopes of further narrowing the differences and getting closer to an outcome that both Ukraine and the United States can be comfortable with,” Rubio said, promising updates after additional meetings.

Similarly, Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, said after meeting with Rubio that “We have very good progress and we are moving forward to the just and lasting peace.”

Following a call with French president Emmanuel Macron later on Sunday, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy posted that “our teams in Geneva are working with partners, and it is very important that there is a practical result and that it brings Ukraine and all of Europe closer to reliable peace and security.”  Zelenskyy also addressed the U.S. and Trump, saying in part “we count on our partners to hear our arguments. The leadership of the United States is important, we are grateful for everything that America and President Trump are doing for security, and we keep working as constructively as possible,” writing in part that “the crux of the entire diplomatic situation is that it was Russia, and only Russia, that started this war, and it is Russia, and only Russia, that has been refusing to end it throughout the full-scale invasion.”

The draft 28-point peace plan shared with both Ukraine and Russia includes highly contentious measures: ceding additional territory in the Donbas, recognizing Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk as Russian, sharply reducing Ukraine’s military and blocking any future NATO membership. It also calls for Moscow’s reintegration into global institutions, including a return to the G8. Critics in Washington and Europe have warned the terms resemble Russian demands rather than a balanced settlement.

Confusion over the proposal’s authorship deepened the debate. Some lawmakers said it reflected a “wish list” from Moscow, but the State Department insisted it represents the Trump administration’s position, informed by input from both Kyiv and the Kremlin. Ukrainian officials have struck a cautious tone, saying the plan contains elements aligned with their priorities but still requires significant changes.

Despite public friction — including Trump’s criticism of Ukraine and European allies —  Zelenskyy has emphasized continued engagement, urging partners to strengthen air defenses amid ongoing Russian strikes and stressing that any agreement must provide durable security.

Moscow, meanwhile, has publicly acknowledged receiving the proposal. Russian President Vladimir Putin told his Security Council, “I believe that it could also form the basis for a final peace settlement, but this text has not been discussed with us in detail,” adding, “I believe the reason is the same: the U.S. administration has not yet managed to secure the agreement of the Ukrainian side, as Ukraine is opposed to it.” He also claimed, “Apparently, Ukraine and its European allies are still under the illusion that they can inflict a strategic defeat on Russia on the battlefield.”

U.S. officials say additional meetings — including one with Russian representatives — are expected as diplomacy accelerates. Whether the proposal can be reshaped into a mutually acceptable agreement remains unclear, but negotiators on all sides say time and battlefield realities are tightening the pressure for a breakthrough.

Editorial credit: Daniel Hernandez-Salazar / Shutterstock.com

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Go Country 105

Why Canadian Josh Ross grew up celebrating American Thanksgiving

After a whirlwind year that gave him his first #1 in the U.S. with “Single Again,” Josh Ross may just take it easy during the holidays. 

“No plans yet. It’s crazy,” he tells ABC Audio. “Everybody’s asking me that. It’s like, I don’t even know what I’m doing for Thanksgiving or Christmas. I’m probably just gonna lay low, honestly, stay in the Nashville area and relax.”

Josh admits that’s not something he’s particularly good at, however: “I say that I’m looking forward to sitting on the couch and then I sit on the coach for five minutes. I’m like, ‘Oh, what do I do? What am I doing?’ So we’ll figure it out.”

Since Josh is from Waterdown, Ontario, and Canadian Thanksgiving is the second Monday in October, you’d think turkey day in the States wouldn’t be a big deal for him. But you’d be wrong. 

“Cool fact is like most of my family’s in the U.S., so actually my family from the U.S. drives to Canada for American Thanksgiving,” he reveals. “So they’re all celebrating Thanksgiving, but in Canada. We just grew up like always celebrating American Thanksgiving because all of the family there, so it’s interesting. I get to do both, which is awesome.”  

“Hate How You Look,” Josh’s second single from his debut album, Later Tonight, has just started its climb on the U.S. country chart. 

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