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Alan Jackson canceled Saturday night’s (Aug. 27) concert in Kansas City, Missouri, after testing positive for COVID-19.
“I’m so sorry I can’t be there tonight,” Jackson said, according to a statement published by the venue, the T-Mobile Center. “I hate to disappoint my fans.”
A representative for Jackson confirmed to Billboard that the country star has COVID-19 and that the show was called off.
The T-Mobile Center says organizers intend to reschedule the concert date, and that those who purchased tickets for the original date will have them honored at the rescheduled date.
The show was part of his Last Call: One More for the Road” Tour, which launched in June and runs through early October. At the time of publication, the Aug. 27 date is the only one postponed. Jackson’s next scheduled concert is on Sept. 9 in Lexington, Kentucky.
The tour marks Jackson’s first time on the road since revealing a health diagnosis last fall, when he told fans about his battle with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a degenerative nerve condition that impacts the peripheral nervous system and causes balance problems. $1 from every tour ticket sold was to be donated to the CMT Research Foundation, which funds research for Charcot-Marie-Tooth drug development.
“I have this neuropathy and neurological disease,” Jackson, who released the 21-track album Where Have You Gone? in 2021, said last year. “It’s genetic that I inherited from my daddy … There’s no cure for it, but it’s been affecting me for years, and it’s getting more and more obvious. I know I’m stumbling around on stage. And now I’m having a little trouble balancing, even in front of the microphone, and so I just feel very uncomfortable. It’s not going to kill me. It’s not deadly.”
Latto continues to speak out against the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
The “Big Energy” rapper has joined forces with Planned Parenthood for a public service announcement urging people to join the fight for abortion rights and access.
“We already know who’s going to be hurt the most by these ridiculous abortion bans: Black women, Brown women, the LGBTQ+ community, and communities with low incomes,” Latto said in a statement. “Because of this country’s history of racism and discrimination, these folks already have a hard time getting the health care they need. We all deserve to be safe and it’s every person’s right to make decisions about their own bodies.”
She concluded, “As an artist, I want to use my platform to let these politicians know: My body is for no one to control, but me.”
The 30-second PSA arrives ahead of Sunday’s 2022 MTV Video Music Award, where the Atlanta rapper is nominated for four awards, including the video for good award for her new track “P*ssy,” a hard-hitting feminist anthem in response to the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
This isn’t Latto’s first time advocating for women’s reproductive rights. Earlier this summer, the hip-hop artist spoke with Billboard about how to take action following the Supreme Court’s latest ruling.
“To be a woman in this industry is hard. And to be a woman right now in general is scary,” Latto told Billboard. “It’s a human right to control your own body. This is not just one person or group’s fight; we should all be shouting how unjust this is and supporting the right for someone to decide what happens to their body. I want to see men supporting by protesting alongside women and voting for candidates that push forward our right of choice.
She added, “We will continue to fight the fight for what’s right. Do your research on candidates, their policies and what they stand for. Every election, local or national, counts. Tune into the debates, show up and vote, set reminders for your local elections, and let your friends know. I’ll do my part to use my platform to remind my fans in Atlanta when to turn out to vote. The time to act is now.”
Watch Latto’s Planned Parenthood PSA below.
Comments made by country singer Jason Aldean‘s wife, Brittany, are coming under fire after she posted a transphobic joke on Instagram.
“I’d really like to thank my parents for not changing my gender when I went through my tomboy phase. I love this girly life,” Brittany wrote earlier this week, on Aug. 23, as a caption to a before-and-after makeup video set to Beyoncé’s 2006 song “Upgrade U,” (even though Beyoncé is known to be an ally to the LGBTQ+ community). Husband Jason left a laughing emoji in the comments and replied, “Lmao!! Im glad they didn’t too, cause you and I wouldn’t have worked out.”
In a wordier statement via Instagram Stories on Friday (Aug. 26), Brittany expanded upon her unsolicited thoughts on transgender youth and their rights to gender-affirming care: “Advocating for the genital mutilation of children under the disguise of love and calling it ‘gender affirming care’ is one of the worst evils. I will always support my children and do what I can to protect their innocence,” she wrote. “The other day Memphis wanted to be a dinosaur and tomorrow Navy will want to be a cat. They’re children. Some parents want to be accepted by society so badly that they’re willing to make life-altering decisions for their children who aren’t old enough to fully comprehend the consequences of those actions. Love is protecting your child until they are mature enough as an adult to make their own life decisions. Thankful my parents allowed me to go through my tom boy phase without changing my gender.”
Country singers RaeLynn and Whitney Duncan, as well as the wives of country singers Chuck Wicks, Jon Pardi, Shay Mooney and Granger Smith were among those to leave comments showing support on Brittany’s posts.
But elsewhere, country stars slammed Brittany Aldean. “You’d think celebs with beauty brands would see the positives in including LGBTQ+ people in their messaging. But instead here we are, hearing someone compare their ‘tomboy phase’ to someone wanting to transition. Real nice,” Cassadee Pope remarked on Twitter Friday (Aug. 26) in reaction to Brittany’s posts.
Maren Morris replied to Pope’s tweet in agreement, writing, “It’s so easy to, like, not be a scumbag human? Sell your clip-ins and zip it, Insurrection Barbie.”
At that point, conservative Candace Owens decided to insert herself into their conversation, replying: “It’s easier to not castrate your children. But I guess whatever helps sell bad records.”
Morris responded, “Oh my god, not you. My Grammy is positively sobbing right now. Also, why do y’all always go to ‘castration’ and ‘pedophiles’ to try and shut an argument down? It’s honestly concerning and worth looking into.” Here, Perez Hilton chimed in as well: “Where is the castration of children happen[ing]? Because I don’t know any doctors that perform that gender-affirmation surgery on minors in America,” he pointed out.
On Instagram, Morris continued to talk about Brittany Aldean with Pope: “You know, I’m glad she didn’t become a boy either because we really don’t need another a–hole dude in the world. Sucks when Karens try to hide their homophobia/transphobia behind their ‘protectiveness of the children.’ Weren’t they putting their kids in ‘Biden-is-a-pedo’ shirts on social media? Sounds like a real safe way to protect them from millions of eyes! F— all the way off to Insurrection Barbie and the fellow IB’s trolling this comment section with their hypocritical, hateful a–es.”
Morris also replied to comments from others, like one Twitter user who found the singer’s reaction “confusing” and told her to “put down the phone and focus on the guitar.” Morris shot back, “If it’s confusing to you, it’s because you think we’re ‘fighting’ over politics. We’re not. This isn’t political. We’re calling someone out for being transphobic and thinking it’s hilarious. It isn’t.”
On Morris’ Instagram Stories on Saturday, she shared a video clip of herself thanking her fans for their support, while suggesting they redirect their effort to those who probably needed more support than her after seeing Brittany Aldean’s post.
“Y’all have been so sweet and supportive today of me and Cassadee,” Morris noted. “I will say we can handle this s—. We’ve dealt with idiots, you know, for years saying insanely stupid stuff at us. But I would say check on your trans friends. Check on your gay friends. Anyone that is in country music and had to look at that bulls— today and feel subhuman. Check on your friends.”
“I’m just so sick of looking at absolute horses— on the internet and people getting away with it, much less being celebrated for it,” Morris said.
Morris’ husband, fellow artist Ryan Hurd, also reassured followers on Twitter that they were OK but would continue to speak up: “Getting a lot of people telling me our career is over, as if the last time she spoke up about something it disappeared. Honestly, we’re pretty ok over here. Tours are good, got a 2 year old we love, we’re f–ing fine, and I promise she isn’t going to shut up now … Scoring quick points by picking on trans kids isn’t something that is brave at all. And I’m proud of Maren for sticking up for them. Badge of honor to have CO engage in completely normal discourse, too. Shut up and sing only applies to those who you disagree with.”
See Brittany’s original post and the reactions from Morris, Pope and more below.
You’d think celebs with beauty brands would see the positives in including LGBTQ+ people in their messaging. But instead here we are, hearing someone compare their “tomboy phase” to someone wanting to transition. Real nice.
— Cassadee Pope (@CassadeePope) August 26, 2022
It’s so easy to, like, not be a scumbag human? Sell your clip-ins and zip it, Insurrection Barbie.
— MAREN MORRIS (@MarenMorris) August 26, 2022
It’s easier to not castrate your children.
But I guess whatever helps sell bad records.— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) August 26, 2022
Oh my god, not you. My Grammy is positively sobbing right now. Also, why do y’all always go to “castration” and “pedophiles” to try and shut an argument down? It’s honestly concerning and worth looking into.
— MAREN MORRIS (@MarenMorris) August 26, 2022
If it’s confusing to you, it’s because you think we’re “fighting” over politics. We’re not. This isn’t political. We’re calling someone out for being transphobic and thinking it’s hilarious. It isn’t.
— MAREN MORRIS (@MarenMorris) August 27, 2022
Scoring quick points by picking on trans kids isn’t something that is brave at all. And I’m proud of Maren for sticking up for them. Badge of honor to have CO engage in completely normal discourse, too. Shut up and sing only applies to those who you disagree with.
— Ryan Hurd (@RyanHurd) August 27, 2022
Bob LuPone, who as an actor earned a Tony nomination in the original run of A Chorus Line and went on to help found and lead the influential off-Broadway theater company MCC Theater for almost 40 years, has died. He was 76.
LuPone, brother of Broadway icon Patti LuPone, died Saturday (Aug. 27) following a three-year battle with pancreatic cancer, according to Matt Ross Public Relations.
“The MCC Theater community mourns the loss of our much loved and uniquely inspiring partner, colleague and dear friend, Bob LuPone, who lived fearlessly and with great curiosity, good humor, a boundless passion for connection, and a whole lot of heart. We will miss him deeply and always,” the theater company said in a statement.
LuPone’s first professional job was in 1966, in the ensemble of the Westbury Music Fair’s production of The Pajama Game starring Liza Minnelli. He made his Broadway debut in the 1968 production of Noel Coward’s Sweet Potato and later appeared in Minnie’s Boys, The Rothschilds and The Magic Show.
LuPone was initially cast as Al in A Chorus Line, but convinced creator and director Michael Bennett to let him play Zach after the original actor left. LuPone would earn a best featured actor Tony nomination for the role.
Born in 1946 in Brooklyn, New York, LuPone graduated from the Juilliard School with a bachelor’s degree in dance in 1968.
He was teaching an acting class at New York University when one of his students was Bernie Telsey.
Together they would help form Manhattan Class Company in 1986 — known today as MCC Theater.
LuPone and Telsey, along with third co-artistic director Will Cantler, shaped MCC into a theatrical powerhouse, producing such Broadway-bound works as Frozen, Reasons to be Pretty, Hand to God, School Girls; or the African Mean Girls Play, The Snow Geese, The Other Place and the Pulitzer Prize-winning Wit.
While serving as co-artistic director of MCC, LuPone also worked as an actor, appearing in A View From the Bridge, True West and A Thousand Clowns, all on Broadway. He was in the Chicago premiere of Sam Shepard’s The Tooth of Crime and on TV was in The Sopranos, Sex and the City, Guiding Light and All My Children, for which he received a Daytime Emmy nomination.
He also served as director of the MFA drama program at the New School for Drama from 2005 through 2011 and served as president of the board of directors of A.R.T/ New York.
LuPone is survived by his wife, Virginia; his son, Orlando; sister, Patti; and brother, William
Turkish pop star Gulsen has been arrested on charges of “inciting hatred and enmity” with a joke she made about Turkey’s religious schools, the country’s state-run news agency reported.
The 46-year-old singer and songwriter, whose full name is Gulsen Colakoglu, was taken away from her home in Istanbul for questioning and formally arrested late Thursday (Aug. 25). She was then taken to a prison pending trial.
The arrest sparked outrage on social media. Government critics said the move was an effort by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to consolidate support from his religious and conservative ahead of elections in 10 months.
The charges were based on a joke Gulsen made during an April concert in Istanbul, where she quipped that one of her musicians’ “perversion” stemmed from attending a religious school. A video of the singer’s comment began circulating on social media recently, with a hashtag calling for her arrest.
Gulsen — who previously became a target in Islamic circles due to her revealing stage outfits and for unfurling an LGBTQ flag at a concert — apologized for the offense the joke caused but said her comments were seized on by those wanting to deepen polarization in the country.
During her questioning by court authorities, Gulsen rejected accusations that she incited hatred and enmity, and said she had “endless respect for the values and sensitivities of my country,” the state-run Anadolu Agency reported.
Her request to be released from custody pending the outcome of a trial was rejected.
Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of Turkey’s main opposition party, called on Turkey’s judges and prosecutors to release Gulsen.
“Don’t betray the law and justice; release the artist now!” he wrote on Twitter.
The spokesman for Erdogan’s Justice and Development party, known by its Turkish acronym AKP, appeared however, to defend the decision to arrest the singer, saying “inciting hatred is not an art form.”
“Targeting a segment of society with the allegation of “perversion” and trying to polarize Turkey is a hate crime and a disgrace to humanity,” AKP spokesman Omer Celik tweeted.
Erdogan and many members of his Islam-based ruling party are graduates of religious schools, which were originally established to train imams. The number of religious schools in Turkey has increased under Erdogan, who has promised to raise a “pious generation.”
Another Friday, another busy release day in the Latin music space.
This week, CNCO dropped their latest album, XOXO, which will be the very last album for the boy band, who in July announced they were splitting. This album is special because it’s one of their last projects together. The group is disbanding after nearly seven years together. “We always thought that if we split, it had to be natural, and that’s how it happened,” the band previously told Billboard. “We’ve lived many things together, and grew together in this industry, and we’re ready to try new things to expand our careers. We’re very excited.”
The red-headed Karol G is also back with a new single, “Gatubela” in collaboration with Maldy. Produced by DJ MAFF, the song is an old-school reggaeton track laced with infectious perreo beats. In the lyrics, Karol is fiery and unapologetic, singing: “I’m not with anyone but I’m hooked/ I’m elevated, I feel like a Catwoman/ It feels good when he moves my panty to the side/ It feels good when you kiss me down there.”
Meanwhile, Steve Aoki released a collaboration that has been in the works since the pre-COVID times. Titled “Ultimate,” the track features Mexican rappers Santa Fe Klan and Snow Tha Product and is a fusion of sounds (cumbia to rap and EDM). Santa Fe and Snow, representing Mexican rap culture, join Aoki in this trap-heavy song powered by an infectious head-bobbing reggaeton beat that will be part of his upcoming album HiROQUEST: Genesis, which is expected to drop in September.
Which is your favorite new Latin music release of the week? Vote below!
Twitter will start recommending and streaming podcasts directly to users as part of a redesigned hub that groups live and recorded audio content by category.
The podcast integration, which signals Twitter’s continued expansions into audio, launched Thursday to a select group of English-speaking iOS and Android users via the Spaces tab on Twitter’s mobile app. Categories in the redesigned tab include news, sports and music; each category will include live audio rooms, replays of recorded rooms and popular podcast episodes from those categories that will be personalized based on user interests.
To bring the podcast episodes onto the platform, a Twitter spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter that the company is pulling from existing RSS feeds and will tailor the recommendations based on the topics a user follows and the general interests tied to their accounts. Users can also submit “thumbs up” and “thumbs down” reactions to podcasts to further customize their recommendations.
As of the test launch, Twitter appears to be following a Pandora-esque model for podcasts rather than trying to compete with Spotify and Apple Podcasts. The company, which said 45 percent of its users in the U.S. also listen to podcasts monthly, has not disclosed when it will roll out the podcast integration to all users.
“We know that some discussions need more than 280 characters, and bringing people closer to the ideas, content, and creators they know and love is core to Twitter no matter where the conversations take place,” Twitter said in a blog post announcing the test feature.
This article originally appeared on THR.com.
