NEWS
#ObamaCommencement2020: Barack Obama To Address High School Class Of 2020 Students
Source: OLIVIER DOULIERY / Getty With the nation still grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic and the halt of everyday activities and events, folks are finding innovative ways to come together. Our forever president, Barack Obama, will join a star-studded lineup and speakers in a live broadcast commencement event for graduating high school seniors this evening. Presented by XQ Institute, the LeBron James Family Foundation, and the Entertainment Industry Foundation, Graduate Together: America Honors the High School Class of 2020 will feature Mr. Obama and a host of other stars such as King James, Pharrell Williams, H.E.R., Lena Waithe, and more. The event will be simulcast across various social media platforms and major broadcast networks, including YouTube, NBC, ABC, FOX, CBS, Instagram, and...
Eddie Vedder and Dennis Rodman Once Flew to Vegas and Back Just to See Jane’s Addiction
Eddie Vedder is a devoted Chicago Bulls fan and Dennis Rodman listened to Pearl Jam while working out, so it was only a matter of time before the two became friends. During a recent chat with Bill Simmons, Vedder detailed his “long, long, deep friendship” with the eccentric NBA star and told a crazy story where the two flew to Vegas and back just to see Jane’s Addiction. The Bulls were in Seattle to play the Supersonics, and Vedder was hanging out at the Four Seasons with the team when Rodman’s security guard George took out three plane tickets. “Jane’s Addiction is playing in Vegas,” Rodman said. “And I’m like, Jesus Christ, it’s like fuckin’ 6 o’clock,” Vedder recalled. “He’s like, ‘We’ll get there by 9, they don’t go on until 9:30.” The Bulls coach Phil Jackson liked Vedder because...
Watch Subtronics Drop Filthy Unreleased Marshmello Collab at EDC Virtual Rave-A-Thon
Many artists graced the virtual stage last night for the EDC Las Vegas Virtual Rave-A-Thon, but it was Subtronics who sent ripples quaking through the EDM world with the drop of one song. EDM Twitter unsurprisingly dove headfirst into a virtual vortex of theories as to what exactly the ID was and who may have collaborated with Subtronics on it. Unable to contain his excitement about the colossal unreleased tune, he took to Twitter last night to reveal that it is a new collaboration with Marshmello. It wasn’t long before Twitter user @cult_of_rezz shared a clip of the track’s thunderous, screeching dubstep drop, which should do well to keep fans at bay in anticipation of its official release. The sound design here is unmistakable, with Subtronics’ crunchy ba...
Zedd Teases Classically Inspired Track from Forthcoming Album
Zedd is turning one of his older unfinished works into a song for his forthcoming sophomore album. Taking to Twitter, the “Good Thing” producer commented that the newly finished, unreleased work would be a stylistic blend of classical and dance music. Zedd also shared a live performance snippet of the track. Longtime fans are likely to recognize the project as one of Zedd’s previous live show introductions from a few years ago. Zedd’s debut album True Colors just hit its five-year anniversary on May 15th of this year. While Zedd has confirmed his long-awaited sophomore album is in the works, he has been deliberate in suggesting that it won’t be released until it meets his highest expectations. Despite being most closely associated with both dan...
Rufus Wainwright Recruits Family and Friends for ‘Hard Times’ Cover
Saturday marked the end of Rufus Wainwright’s 60-day Quarantunes/Robe Recitals Instagram series, and the singer-songwriter closed it out with a bang. Recruiting his musical Canadian family, the McGarrigles, Wainwright compiled a touching rendition of Stephen Foster’s “Hard Times.” “This is a song that has been dear to our family for many, many years, and I think is incredibly poignant right now, in terms of what we’ve all been through,” he said in the video before introducing the performance. “I think it’s a wonderful way to end Robe Recitals, and also begin a new period with the lines ‘hard times, come again no more.’” The “Hard Times” cover features Rufus’ sister Martha Wainwright, along with Anna Mcgarrigle, Jane Mcgarrigle, Lily Lanken, Sylvan Lanken, Vinny Dow, Patrick Ferris, Gi...
Kaskade Performs Breathtaking Set Atop Grand Canyon Skywalk
In a historic performance, Kaskade has netted a new achievement as the first producer to perform at the Grand Canyon Skywalk. In the first-ever effort, Kaskade brought his music to the wonder of the world, and performed against a breathtaking natural backdrop unlike any other. The Skywalk is a horseshoe-like platform that extends seventy feet over the edge of the Grand Canyon. The tourist attraction is not for the faint of heart, however, as it has a see-through glass floor and towers an astounding 4,000 feet above the Grand Canyon floor. The great heights did not seem to bother Kaskade in the slightest. As day turned to night, he danced on the glass floor the whole way through. The sunset performance included timeless Kaskade originals such as “I Remember” and ̶...
Ahmaud Arbery’s Alleged Murderer Was Encouraged By Cops To Be A Vigilante
Source: Sean Rayford / Getty As more details unfold regarding the senseless murder of Ahmaud Arbery, it appears that Gregory McMichael was put up to the task of vigilante justice by local police. According to a text message exchange between cops and the homeowner of a residence under construction, the elder McMichael was framed as the point man for overseeing criminal activity in the neighborhood. TMZ reports: According to text messages between an officer of the Glynn County Police Department and Larry English, the owner of the home under construction where Ahmaud’s alleged killers claim he was trespassing, police told English to call Greg instead of cops whenever Larry needed assistance. The officer texted Greg’s phone number to Larry, informing him McMichael was his neighbor and instruct...
5 Things I’d Rather Do Than Listen to Lionel Richie’s Upcoming ‘We Are the World’ Remake
Remember when Lionel Richie threatened to curate a new version of “We Are the World” a few months ago? Reuters reports that Richie, along with his American Idol co-hosts Katy Perry and Luke Bryan, will perform the song on Sunday night’s edition of the show, featuring several bodies hidden under Idol’s floorboards: Fantasia, Jordin Sparks, Katharine McPhee, Kellie Pickler, Lauren Alaina, Ruben Studdard, and Scotty McCreery, as well as this season’s remaining 11 finalists. 5. Lick an entire package of q-tips. After it’s been used. 4. Let Robert Pattinson cater my wedding. 3. Eat a stop sign, covered in pigeon shit. 2. Perform one hour of (unpaid) emotional labor for Mike Pence. 1. Look through the Trapt guy’s browser history. Enjoy former renditions of the sweet kiss of death ...
5 Uplifting Moments in Latin Music This Week (May 16)
From career milestones and new music releases to major announcements and more, Billboard editors highlight the latest news buzz in Latin music every week. Here’s what happened in the Latin music world this week: Shakira honors professors in Colombia In honor of Teacher’s Day in Colombia on Friday (May 14), Shakira shared photos of students and teachers from her Fundación Pies Descalzos in action. “Teachers are the pillars of society. With their dedication they build a world with equal opportunities for all boys and girls every day, inspiring them to develop their full potential in life! Now more than ever their work is essential!” she expressed on Instagram. Wisin & Yandel kick off fan contest Despite putting most of their 2020 plans on hold, Wisin & Ya...
Astrid Kirchherr, Photographer of The Beatles, Dead at 81
Astrid Kirchherr, the German photographer who shot some of the earliest and most striking images of The Beatles and helped shape their trend-setting visual style, has died at age 81. She died Tuesday in her native Hamburg, days before her 82nd birthday, her friend Kai-Uwe Franz told The Associated Press. Her death was first announced by Beatles historian Mark Lewisohn, who tweeted Friday that Kirchherr made an “immeasurable” contribution to the group and was “intelligent, inspirational, innovative, daring, artistic, awake, aware, beautiful, smart, loving and uplifting.” According to the German publication Die Zeit, she died of a “short, serious illness.” “God bless Astrid a beautiful human being,” Ringo Starr tweeted. George Harrison’s widow, Olivia Harrison, tweeted that Kirchherr was “so...
Little Richard to Be Buried at Historically Black College in Alabama
Rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Little Richard will be buried at Oakwood University, a historically black university in Huntsville, Alabama. Gerald Kibble, director of Oakwood Memorial Gardens, said the private funeral will be held Wednesday (May 20) and will not be open to the public. Little Richard’s close friend Pastor Bill Minson said the singer was an alumnus of the university. Little Richard died May 9 at the age of 87 in Tennessee due to bone cancer. The cemetery is owned by the Seventh-day Adventist university.
Hailey & Justin Bieber Say This Sitcom Is a ‘Palate Cleanser for the Soul’
For the latest installment of their Facebook Watch series, The Biebers on Watch, Hailey and Justin Bieber went live to answer questions from fans. When asked about the sitcom Friends, the couple couldn’t help but gush, noting that it’s their favorite show. “We watch Friends every night before we go to bed,” Hailey revealed, before adding, “I watched all of Friends from start to finish when I was single, I watched it every day.” “It’s a good palate cleanser for the soul in the sense of–you know how you have ginger when you have sushi? Same vibe,” the “Sorry” singer added. The conversation soon turned to the topic of marriage, and fans wanted to know how the couple felt about being married so young (Justin was 24 and Hailey...
