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Country Daypop

Morgan Wallen’s ‘More Than My Hometown Foundation’ donates $25K to wildfire relief efforts

Morgan Wallen and his More Than My Hometown Foundation has donated $25,000 to aid in the Smoky Mountain wildfires, specifically providing aid to the Sevier County wildfires disaster relief efforts in the form of hot meals for relief workers, mobile food pantries, clothing, and supplies for the communities in the affected wildfire areas near Wallen’s hometown of Sneedville, Tenn. Sneedville is located about 70 miles from the area of the two wildfires in Sevier County that impacted at least 300 structures and burned more than 3,000 acres. The fires also caused more than 11,000 homes to be evacuated from the area; hundreds of personnel including firefighters, hot shot crews, state and local incident commanders as well as volunteers have worked the fires.

Greater Good Music is an organization that brings music artists and volunteers working on the ground together in order to help communities in need on concert tours and in disaster zones around the United States.  Sheila Jones, executive director of Greater Good Music, said:  “We are so grateful to Morgan for helping us provide hot meals to firefighters and first responders in the fire zone, as well as assist families that have been displaced and in need of food, clothing, and supplies.”

Wallen’s More Than My Hometown Foundation was established by the country artist in 2021. According to More Than My Hometown Foundation, $3 from every ticket sold in Wallen’s current 58-show “The Dangerous Tour” benefits the foundation for continued community service.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

Garth Brooks’ Stadium Tour returning to Salt Lake City for additional date in June

Garth Brooks announced his return to Salt Lake City’s Rice-Eccles Stadium this summer on June 18th as part of his The Garth Brooks Stadium Tour.   The date marks the tour’s only return date for any city in North America.

Tickets for the June 18 concert go on sale Friday, April 22, at 10 a.m.  Tickets can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com/garthbrooks, or by phone at 1-877-654-2784, the Garth Brooks line at Ticketmaster
The Ticketmaster App on your phone or mobile device.

Seating will be in-the-round and there is an eight-ticket limit per purchase. Tickets will cost $94.95, all-inclusive.

Editorial credit: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com

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Pop Daypop

Netflix’s Jennifer Lopez documentary ‘Halftime’ to premiere opening night at the Tribeca Film Festival

The Tribeca Film Festival will feature the Jennifer Lopez Netflix documentary Halftime on its opening night. The premiere is set to take place on Wednesday June 8 at the United Palace in Washington Heights.

Halftime, which will debut on Netflix on June 14, follows Lopez as she reflects on her milestones and evolution as an artist and navigates the second half of her career.  Directed by Tribeca alum Amanda Micheli, the documentary ‘focuses on Lopez’s hard work and creative and cultural contributions as an artist and performer as well as her evolution as a Latina, a mother and a woman taking more agency in her career and using her voice for a greater purpose.’  Micheli said in a statement:  “It’s an honor to be selected for the opening night of Tribeca, and so fitting to be celebrating this critical milestone in Jennifer’s life and career just miles from where she grew up! To have the opportunity to share this film on the big screen with a New York audience is a dream come true.”

Tribeca Festival co-founder Robert De Niro added, “Powerful storytelling — whether in music, film, or games — encourages us to fight for universal values that bind humanity together. Halftime, featuring Jennifer Lopez, reminds us of that. The Tribeca Festival is eager to bring audiences from all over the world together to honor the importance of purpose-driven creative expression.”

The Tribeca Film Festival is set to run from June 8-19 throughout New York City.

Editorial credit: Ovidiu Hrubaru / Shutterstock.com

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Pop Daypop

J Balvin postpones 2022 tour due to COVID-19 ‘production challenges’

J Balvin has postponed his 2022 José tour – named after his latest album — citing COVID-19 related production challenges. The José tour was set to kick off in San Antonio before wrapping up on June 4 at Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Balvin said on Instagram tickets will be honored on dates to be announced in the future.  Said Balvin:  “Throughout the past year, we have been working tirelessly to bring you an exciting and immersive José Tour USA experience where everyone feels welcome to the party. Covid has caused so unforeseen production challenges, and I wouldn’t be able to keep my promise of giving you the best show possible. Because I believe you deserve that, I’ve made the difficult decision to reschedule the tour. I’m continuously in awe of all your love and support and I can’t wait to see you on the road where we will celebrate together and keep the good vibes rolling.”

Editorial credit: Ben Houdijk / Shutterstock.com

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Go Country 105

Nashville notes

Alabama's Randy Owen contributes his voice to “Hope of Alabama,” the new theme song for The Music of the World Games, which he co-wrote with his daughter Allison and World Games Artistic Director Dr. Henry Panion III. Other country artists singing on the track include Sara Evans, Jamey Johnson and more.

Blake Shelton this week released an acoustic version of “Austin,” his hit debut single from 2001.

Parker McCollum has released an Amazon Original cover of John Mayer's “Perfectly Lonely.” John's original version of the track came out in 2009.

On Friday, Shy Carter released a steamy music video to go along with his country-soul slow jam, “Hurry.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Mickey Guyton says moms like Carrie Underwood, Maren Morris “rally” around her when she needs advice

Raising children while also managing a busy country music career is no joke.

Fortunately, Mickey Guyton's got a strong support system that “absolutely” includes fellow moms like Carrie Underwood and Maren Morris, the “Black Like Me” star tells People.

“I talk to my friend Maren about it, Carrie Underwood about it,” Mickey explains. “It's just interesting. Once you become a mom, the moms find you. Moms really rally around you because they get it.”

Having that support system is crucial. “You need that support because none of this is easy. It's the greatest, hardest thing you'll ever do,” Mickey adds.

Mickey and her husband, Grant Savoy, are parents to 14-month-old Grayson, and the birth of her son has shifted her perspective entirely.

“I saw kids [and thought], Oh, they're cute. Move on.' Now, I'm like, That's somebody's child.' There's a mom on the other end of that, or dad or two moms on the other end that are important…I just have a whole different respect for mothers.”

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Ingrid Andress kicks off a new album cycle with her self-reflective new song, “Good Person”

It's been just over two years since Ingrid Andress put out her Grammy-nominated debut album, Lady Like. Now, she's back to kick off album two.

First up off the as-yet-unnamed new project is “Good Person,” a self-reflective song that explores what it means to be “good” — and how to define “goodness” in ourselves and others.

“I wrote Good Person' when I was starting to question a lot of things,” Ingrid explains. “What makes somebody good and what does that look like, and in a world of being so judgmental of other people, what makes you better than them?”

Along with her new song, Ingrid put out a music video that contrasts footage of her dressed in black and waking up in a trash-strewn hotel room against more ethereal clips of her wearing white, against a backdrop of a blue sky.

“With the video, I really wanted to mesh these worlds of light and dark and highlight the parallels between the two,” the singer continues.

As she embarks on a busy summer, including a run as a support act on Keith Urban's 2022 tour, Ingrid says she's got big things in the works.

“Stay tuned fam. This is just the beginning,” Ingrid hints.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
Go Country 105

Gabby Barrett returning to 'American Idol' as a mentor

“I Hope” you’ll tune in when Gabby Barrett makes her return to American Idol.

The genre-busting country star came in third on the ABC show in 2018. Since then, she’s scored massive hits with her breakout single, “I Hope” — which was followed by a remix with pop sensation Charlie Puth — and “The Good Ones.”

The latter song is inspired by her husband, Cade Foehner, a fellow top 10 American Idol finalist whom she married in 2019.

Billboard reports that Gabby will return to American Idol as a mentor to this season’s top 14 contestants, in an episode airing April 24.

The show is now in its 20th season, and to celebrate, it's hosting a reunion special this year. Among the alumni returning to the stage are Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina and Laine Hardy. The reunion will air on May 2.

Meanwhile, Gabby's keeping busy on the road: She was just announced as one of the performers at this year's CMA Fest, and she's got tour plans with Brooks & Dunn and Jason Aldean this summer.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Cole Swindell's “Some Habits” video was his “first date” with his girlfriend: “They say songs are powerful”

With 10 number-one hits to his name and another — “Never Say Never,” with Lainey Wilson — quickly ascending to the top of the chart, Cole Swindell knows first-hand that songs can change lives.

But when he was making his new album, Stereotype, the power of music took on a whole new meaning for Cole. He got to know his now-girlfriend, Courtney Little, after he asked her to play the role of his love interest in the music video for his song, “Some Habits.”

“That was kind of like our first date,” the singer tells People, admitting that being in an on-screen relationship with someone he didn't yet know well in person was “pretty awkward.” Still, they hit it off, and went out after filming wrapped.

“And we've been together ever since,” Cole continues. “It's a pretty, pretty wild story, but you never know. They say songs are powerful. I feel like now, after meeting her, I can finally check all the boxes.”

Stereotype came out earlier this month.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
News Daypop

Accused Brooklyn subway shooter denied bail during court appearance

The man arrested for shooting ten people on a Brooklyn subway train Tuesday will stay in federal custody following a brief initial court appearance Thursday afternoon.  The accused shooter, Frank James, did not enter a plea and was ordered held on a permanent order of detention.  He spoke only briefly during the court appearance, replying “yes” when asked if he understood his rights and to two more questions.

Federal prosecutors wanted James to stay in jail pending trial.  A letter to Judge Roanne Mann from U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said in part: “The defendant committed a premeditated mass shooting on the New York City subway system and then fled the scene, with a stockpile of ammunition and other dangerous items stowed in his storage unit. The defendant presents a severe and ongoing danger to the community, as well as a serious risk of flight, that no set of release conditions can mitigate.” 

James is charged with conducting a violent attack on a mass transportation vehicle. and is accused of firing 33 rounds. Twenty-nine people were injured, including 10 who were shot. James faces a maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted, according to prosecutors.

Editorial credit: Sujatha Vempaty / Shutterstock.com