Music News

TuesdayApr062021 Simon & SchusterRichard Marx is writing a memoir called Stories to Tell, but since he's Richard Marx, it's also going to come with a soundtrack. Now, he's shared a snippet of one of the songs he's just recorded for that project. Before he became a star in his own right, a then-unknown Richard co-wrote the song "Crazy" with the late country superstar Kenny Rogers. It was a massive hit, topping the country chart. Richard has now recorded his own version of the song for his book's soundtrack. Sharing a snippet of the recording on Twitter, Richard wrote, "Just recorded my vocal on 'Crazy' which I wrote with Kenny Rogers in 1983 when I was 19. Hit #1 in ‘84. Did it at my son Lucas’ studio and it’ll be on the soundtrack to my book Stories To Tell in July." "So many memories and emotions as I sang it," Richard added. "Holy s**t does life fly by." Stories to Tell comes out July 6, and features Richard's straightforward take on his..

TuesdayApr062021 ABCMorgan Freeman is using his signature voice in a powerful new PSA promoting the COVID-19 vaccine. The actor teamed with the Creative Coalition on Monday in hopes of easing people's concerns about the vaccine. In addition, Morgan, 83, furthers that getting vaccine is the right thing to do because it will make the world safer. And who could argue with the voice of God (at least in the movies Bruce Almighty and its sequel Evan Almighty)? Morgan, who's seated in his library as gentle music swells in the background, starts by declaring that he is not a scientist, but expresses why he strongly supports getting the vaccine. "I’m not a doctor, but I trust science. And I’m told that, for some reason, people trust me," the Oscar winner declares. "So here I am to say I trust science and I got the vaccine. If you trust me, you’ll get the vaccine." Morgan takes his PSA a step further by encouraging others to think about protecting others against the infectious CO..

TuesdayApr062021 ABCKelsea Ballerini admits it's hard to pick a favorite song off an album when they all feel like your "babies," but it was a no-brainer selecting "Half of my Hometown," featuring Kenny Chesney, as her next radio single. During a virtual appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show, Kelsea shared that her duet with the fellow Tennessee native is "very easily" her favorite song off her 2020 album, kelsea. "It's one of my favorite songs I've ever written and been a part of," she declared. "Having the guy that was from Knoxville, my home town, that I grew up listening to hop on the song just adds a level that I really can't explain. "It's special...and I'm stoked about it." "Half of my Hometown" follows Kelsea's previous chart-topping single "Hole in the Bottle," which she also released as a remix featuring another one of her idols, Shania Twain. By Cillea Houghton Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

TuesdayApr062021 Comstock/Thinkstock On this day in 1937, this country legend known for iconic hits including "Mama Tried," "Okie From Muskogee" and "Pancho and Lefty" was born in Bakersfield, California. He passed away in 2016 on his 79th birthday following a battle with pneumonia. Can you name him? ANSWER: Merle Haggard. By Cillea Houghton Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

TuesdayApr062021 Courtesy of The DoorsDoors drummer John Densmore has designed his own signature drumsticks that are available now at his band's official online store. The Doors 7A drumsticks are made from maple wood, are painted black and feature the band's logo and a replica of Densmore's signature. They're priced at $16.99 a pair. The 76-year-old Rock & Roll Hall of Famer says in a statement, "I've been waiting all my life to have a drumstick in my name. I thought, now that I'm almost dead, that the drum companies would step up but...never mind...I got to design it myself!" In other news, a video of John reading a passage he wrote about the late Janis Joplin from his 2020 memoir The Seekers has been posted on Joplin's social media sites in honor of the recent 50th anniversary of the release of Janis' posthumous 1971 album, Pearl. "I realized I was once again in the presence of someone gifted when I met Janis Joplin, who ultimately turned..

TuesdayApr062021 Kevin Winter/MTV VMAs 2020/Getty Images for MTVThe Black Eyed Peas' performance at the MTV VMAs last year has now brought us the world's first "smart mask." As The New York Times reports, the CEO of Salesforce, Marc Benioff, was impressed with the face covering that Peas frontman will.i.am was wearing during that performance, which was a weird gas mask-type thing. When he called will to find out what it was, he told Benioff it was an idea for a high-tech mask he'd been working on since March of 2020. Benioff then introduced will to the CEO of Honeywell, a company that was making N95 face masks, and presto: the new product, called the Xupermask, will arrive April 8. According to the Times, the mask, a joint venture between will and Honeywell, is made of silicon and mesh. It has three fans, a Honeywell HEPA filtration system, noise-canceling headphones, LED lights, a rechargeable battery and Bluetooth. Best of all, it even seals over the nose so your ..

TuesdayApr062021 Dey Street BooksDave Grohl is now officially adding "author" to his ever-growing résumé. The Foo Fighters frontman will release his debut book, The Storyteller, on October 5. According to a press release, The Storyteller will touch on everything from "hilarious childhood mishaps, touching family moments, leaving home to see the world at 18, to spectacular stories about Nirvana, Foo Fighters, David Bowie, Joan Jett, Iggy Pop, Paul McCartney, playing drums for Tom Petty on Saturday Night Live, performing at the White House, and even swing dancing with AC/DC." "There is a common thread that runs throughout everything that I do: storytelling," Grohl says. "Whether in song, documentary film or on the page, I have always felt compelled to share moments from my life. This inclination is a huge part of what excites me creatively but also as a human being." Grohl adds that he was inspired to finally write a book after the positive response to his @DavesTrueStories Instagra..

TuesdayApr062021 HYBE LabelsBTS keeps on lighting up the charts like "Dynamite." The hit from the South Korean septet has just broken the record for the most weeks spent at #1 on Billboard's Digital Song Sales chart: It just logged its 18th week at the top of the chart dated April 10. The song, which debuted at #1 back in September, bested the 2017 17-week run of "Despacito" by Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber. In case you're wondering, Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" only spent 16 weeks on top of that chart. "Dynamite" also became BTS' first #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and marked the first time an all-South Korean group topped that chart. Billboard reports that, according to MRC Data, the song has sold 1.5 million downloads since its release. By George Costantino Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

TuesdayApr062021 Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty ImagesAriana Grande is getting ready to walk down the aisle with fiance Dalton Gomez. While the "34+35" singer is keeping her lips sealed about her wedding plans, a source has allegedly spilled some of the secret details. The source tells OK! magazine that Ari is looking to throw a lavish and large wedding bash. "Ariana has started putting together her wedding plans...and it is going to be massive," the source claims. "The couple is looking towards the end of the year, when they hope COVID-19 restrictions have eased up." The source further dishes that Ariana's brother Frankie and her mom Joan have teamed up to help her "with planning a fairy-tale wedding." The source also claims that Ari is gunning to have Barbra Streisand perform on her big day. Other big names being floated as potential guests include Jimmy Fallon, Nicki Minaj, Justin Bieber, Meghan Trainor and Miley Cyrus. In tandem with prepping for her big day, Ari's als..

TuesdayApr062021 ABC/Eric McCandlessLet the All-star duets and solos continue! The journey to become the next American Idol continued on Monday night with the second group of 12 from the Top 24 contestants giving their best shot at both a solo and duet performance. For the duet round, each singer was paired up with an A-list mentor. The mentors on Monday night's episode were powerhouse singer Tori Kelly, country superstar Jason Aldean, Incubus frontman Brandon Boyd, multi-platinum artist Josh Groban, and Grammy-award winning musicians Jewel and PJ Morton. While judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan were there to give their expert advise following each performance, only eight of the contestants from each group will move forward in the competition and into the Top 16 -- and that decision will be determined by America's votes. Here's are the performances from Monday night. Jason Warrior - 25, Chicago, IL, Music Teacher Mentor: PJ Morton Solo: "Call Out My..