Pop Music

Dolly Parton Twice Turned Down Medal Of Freedom From Trump, But Not For The Reason You Would Think

The Today Show reports: The queen of country, 75, told TODAY in an interview that former President Donald Trump’s administration tried to give her the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, twice but she had to turn them down. “I couldn’t accept it because my husband was ill and then they asked me again about it and …

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Tony Bennett’s Family Reveals His Alzheimer’s Diagnosis

AARP Magazine reports: Tony Bennett has Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of age-related dementia. Alzheimer’s is characterized by a progressive memory loss that robs its sufferers of many of the gifts that we all take for granted — speech, understanding, treasured memories, recognition of loved ones — and leaves them utterly dependent on caregivers. Although he can still recognize …

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Olivia Newton-John Says She Won’t Get COVID Vax

Page Six reports: Olivia Newton-John said she has no plans yet to get the COVID-19 vaccine, despite being eligible in her home state of California, where they’re being offered to older adults. When asked if she’d get the shot, the 72-year-old actress said, “Not at this point, no,” Australia’s Herald Sun newspaper reported. Newton-John didn’t elaborate on her decision, but …

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Coachella Music Festival Canceled For Third Time

Variety reports: The April dates of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and its companion Stagecoach country music festival have been canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, according to Riverside County Public Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser. A rep for the officer tells Variety that it remains possible that the festivals could be rescheduled for later in the …

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Producer/Killer Phil Spector Dies In Prison At Age 80

Rolling Stone reports: Phil Spector, a monumentally influential music producer whose “Wall of Sound” style revolutionized the way rock music was recorded in the early 1960s, died Saturday at the age of 80. Spector’s life was tumultuous and ultimately tragic; as groundbreaking as his studio accomplishments were, those achievements were all but overshadowed by his 2009 conviction for the murder …

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Lady Gaga And J-Lo To Perform At Inauguration

ABC News reports: Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez will lend their voices to President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration next week, performing when he officially becomes the 46th president of the United States, Biden’s Presidential Inaugural Committee announced Thursday morning. Gaga, who appeared on the campaign trail with Biden during the 2020 election and worked with the then-vice president on his “It’s …

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You’re Not Welcome Anymore: Gloria Gaynor To Dismiss 2020 In Times Square With Classic “I Will Survive”

The New York Daily News reports: Gloria Gaynor has the right message for 2020: You’re not welcome anymore. The disco diva will perform her anthemic — and suddenly appropriate — 1978 breakup hit “I Will Survive” on New Year’s Eve at the Crossroads of the World during the Times Square Alliance’s “Heroes of 2020” event to honor essential workers and …

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Country Legend Charley Pride Dies Of COVID At 86

Rolling Stone reports: Charley Pride, the pioneering black country singer known for such hits as “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’” and “Is Anybody Goin’ to San Antone,” has died from complications related to Covid-19, according to his publicist. He was 86. Born in Sledge, Mississippi, Pride picked cotton and served in the Army before becoming country music’s first black superstar. …

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Obama Calls It His “Screw Up” That Dolly Parton Didn’t Get A Presidential Medal Of Freedom: “I’ll Call Biden”

The Hill reports: Former President Obama says it was a major “screw up” of his administration that he failed to honor Dolly Parton with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. “That’s a mistake. I’m shocked,” Obama said Monday on CBS’ “The Late Show” after host Stephen Colbert asked how it was possible the “9 to 5” singer hadn’t received the country’s …

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Beyonce Tops 2021 Grammy Nominations With 9 Nods

Entertainment Tonight reports: Beyoncé is the 2021 GRAMMY Awards most nominated artist with nine nominations. Even more impressively, the singer pulled out front this year without even releasing an album. Instead, Queen Bey is being recognized in major categories — including Song of the Year and Record of the Year — for her Black Lives Matter anthem, “Black Parade” and …

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Dolly Parton Partly Funded Moderna’s COVID Vaccine

The Guardian reports: It’s truly the greatest gift of all: a $1 million donation by Dolly Parton to coronavirus vaccine research supported the development of the Moderna vaccine, which shows 95% protection from the virus. In April, Parton donated to research after her friend Dr Naji Abumrad of the Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology and Inflammation at Vanderbilt University in …

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Bruce Springsteen: “It’s Time For An Exorcism” In DC

The New York Daily News reports: Bruce Springsteen asked his fans to perform an exorcism on the White House and vote out President Trump. “It is time for an exorcism in our nation’s capital,” Springsteen told his SiriusXM audience. “Welcome to our Halloween/Election Day monster mash. This is Vol. 14 of ‘From My Home to Yours’ titled ‘Farewell to the …

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Springsteen Lends Song To Anti-Trump Ad [VIDEO]

New Jersey Arts reports: Don Winslow has released, via his Twitter account, his new anti-Trump video, “America Needs Pennsylvania,” which is set to the music of Bruce Springsteen’s “Streets of Philadelphia,” with The Boss’ permission. The video’s release is planned to coincide with a trip today by Trump to Pennsylvania, which is considered a swing state. It uses grim images …

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Rocker Eddie Van Halen Dies Of Cancer At Age 65

Yahoo Entertainment report: Eddie Van Halen, whose innovative and explosive guitar playing kept the hard rock band that bore his family name cemented to the top of the album charts for two decades, died on Tuesday morning after a long battle with cancer. He was 65. Van Halen’s son Wolf announced the news. “He was the best father I could …

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Singer/Activist Helen Reddy Dies At Age 78 [VIDEO]

Sydney’s ABC News affiliate reports: Australian legend and activist Helen Reddy has passed away at the age of 78 in Los Angeles. The Melbourne-born singer is best known for her hit song I Am Woman, which has gone on to become a feminist anthem. “Helen Reddy’s story is an amazing one, a great story of talent and determination,” said entertainment …

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Village People Frontman Threatens To Sue Media Orgs “Or Anyone Else” Who Says “YMCA” Is About Gay Sex

Out Magazine reports: The heterosexual frontman for the Village People wants you to know the iconic song “YMCA” is not about illicit gay sex, warning he’s going to sue anyone who suggests otherwise. “I will sue the next media organization, or anyone else, that falsely suggests Y.M.C.A. is somehow about illicit gay sex,” Victor Willis warned via Facebook, later adding …

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Kid Rock To Headline Michigan Rally With Trump Junior

USA Today reports: Kid Rock will join Donald Trump Jr. in an event to promote the president’s reelection campaign Monday. The two will also be joined by Kimberly Guilfoyle, Trump Jr.’s girlfriend who serves as President Donald Trump’s senior adviser. The event will take place at Bumpers Landing Boat Club in Harrison Township at 7 p.m. This will be the …

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Trump Sued Over Use Of 80s Hit “Electric Avenue”

The New York Post reports: The musician who wrote reggae classic “Electric Avenue” sued President Trump for copyright infringement for using the song in a Twitter video that bashed Democratic nominee Joe Biden. Songwriter Eddy Grant filed the suit in Manhattan federal court Tuesday, claiming he has suffered and will continue to suffer if the video continues to spread across …

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LGBTQ Biden Event Headlined By Cher Raises $2 Million

Chris Johnson reports at the Washington Blade: “So ask yourself, do you believe in life after Trump?” That was the question asked by Cher, paraphrasing the title of her iconic song, at the virtual LGBTQ fundraiser she headlined for Joe Biden on Monday evening, according to a pool report. “Hi, it’s me,” Cher said at she appearing at end of …

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Devo Frontman Reveals His Near-Fatal Case Of COVID

Rolling Stone reports: Devo frontman Mark Mothersbaugh spent 18 days at L.A.’s Cedar-Sinai hospital battling Covid-19 in June, he revealed in a harrowing interview with the Los Angeles Times.  Mothersbaugh thinks he may have contracted the virus in late May while working near strangers at Mutato, his music production company. He dismissed early symptoms as mere fatigue, but called in …

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