Maureen McGovern Shares Emotional Message Revealing Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease

Maureen McGovern announced in an emotional message on social media that she’s been diagnosed with a rare form of dementia.

The 73-year-old singer, best known for her Oscar-winning song “The Morning After,” took to her Facebook page on Friday (Aug. 19) to share the sad news with her fans.

“I’ve been diagnosed with posterior cortical atrophy with symptoms of Alzheimer’s and/or dementia,” McGovern says in a sentimental video clip after recounting her career highlights.

“What I do, or what I am still able to accomplish, has changed,” she continues. “I can no longer travel or perform in live concerts. In fact, I can no longer drive — how’s that for a kick in the butt?”

The Mayo Clinic describes posterior cortical atrophy as a “degenerative brain and nervous system (neurological) syndrome that results in difficulty with eyesight and processing visual information.” Common signs and symptoms include hallucinations, anxiety, confusion, and changes in behavior and personality.

McGovern also shared a transcript of the nearly seven-minute Facebook video on her official website.

The songstress won an Academy Award in 1972 for her song “The Morning After” from the The Poseidon Adventure. The track spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 the following year. She was also nominated for best new artist at the 16th annual Grammy Awards in 1974.

In her announcement, McGovern noted that the diagnosis “is not going to keep me from living my life” and that her “passion for music, for singing, remains profoundly robust.” The singer also plans to bring more awareness to music therapy.

“We are all patients and caregivers at some time in our lives,” McGovern says, noting that she has spent time performing hospitals, hospices, women’s prison, senior facilities and schools. “I have experienced how music and the arts free our spirits and opens our hearts to our common humanity.”

Watch McGovern’s announcement on Facebook here.

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5 Uplifting Moments in Latin Music This Week (August 20)

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.

Karol G Makes History

Puerto Rican hitmaker Bad Bunny leads the list of finalists for the 2022 Billboard Latin Music Awards, with a staggering 23 nods across 13 categories. Following Bad Bunny is Colombian star Karol G with 15 entries in 11 categories, a record number of nods for a female artist. (The old record was held jointly by Jenni Rivera, who had 12 nods in 2014, and Shakira, who had 12 in 2018.)

Farruko secures 11 entries, competing for artist of the year, Hot Latin Song of the year with “Pepas,” and Top Latin Album of the year with La 167. The 29th annual Billboard Latin Music Awards — set to take place Sept. 29 at the Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Fla. — will broadcast live on Telemundo and simultaneously on the Spanish entertainment cable network Universo and throughout Latin America and the Caribbean on Telemundo Internacional.

See the complete list of finalists here.

Romeo Santos’ New Album Is Coming

To officially get ready for a new season of Formula Vol. 3, the King of Bachata, Romeo Santos, revealed the release date of his new album with a 14-second teaser on social media. The video featured a crown spinning at the guitar’s sound of what could be his next single as his voice says: “You don’t forget Romeo! Y yo, ni te recuerdo (And me, I don’t even remember you).” The caption of the Instagram post read, “9.1.2022 FV3,” the date for the album’s release.

The album comes eight years since Santos released Vol. 2 in 2014. Following the LP’s release, it became the best-selling Latin album to move 100,000 copies in the first week, making it the best debut for a Latin album since teen pop group RBD’s “Celestial” in 2006. Since the last Formula album in 2014, Santos has released Golden (2017) and Utopia (2019).

More Talent Confirmed For 2022 Latin Music Week

Billboard unveiled today (Aug. 16) a list of additional talent set to take part at this year’s Latin Music Week in Miami, which will take place Sept. 26-30 at the Faena Forum.

New additions to the roster range from leading musicians to notable muralists, and includes Chris Chill, Dannylux, Dimelo Flow, Eladio Carrion, Elena Rose, Foreign Teck, Justin Quiles, Kuinvi, Lili Zetina, Mariah Angeliq, Subelo Neo, Tini, Tokischa, and Ugly Primo.

The new set of artists join an already announced star-studded lineup that includes Grupo Firme, Chayanne, Ivy Queen, Maluma, Romeo Santos, Camilo, Nicky Jam, Eslabon Armado, Bizarrap, Blessd, Luis R. Conriquez, Ovy on the Drums, Kunno, and The Rivera Family.

More participants will be announced in the weeks leading up to the 2022 Latin Music Week. Registration is now open at BillboardLatinMusicWeek.com.

Camilo & Grupo Firme Release New Collab

Camilo and Grupo Firme released a new banda anthem that, at its core, is a heartbreak song. Powered by traditional banda instruments such as the tuba and accordion, “Alaska” is the Colombian artist and the Mexican group’s first joint effort.

The track — which really thrives on a play on words à la Camilo — arrived alongside a music video directed by singer-songwriter Evaluna (also Camilo’s wife). In it, Evaluna becomes the designated driver to Camilo and the Firme crew as they sing their sorrows away while taking more than a few tequila shots.

Anuel AA Sneakers

Calling all Anuel AA fans! The Puerto Rican hitmaker has announced his collaboration with footwear and apparel company Reebok. Foot Locker is launching the official debut of rapper’s Reebok’s sneaker collaboration, “The Sky Above the Street,” which will feature two signature Reebok models: the Classic Leather and Pump Omni Zone 2 in red and black colorways – “inspired by the sun-faded vibrant urban neighborhoods and outdoor courts of Puerto Rico and celebrates the beauty of the community and its people,” according to a press release.

Anuel will be donating to the local non-profit organization SER De Puerto Rico, supporting the organization’s mission uplifting people with disabilities. The collection launches Aug. 26 at 10 a.m. ET exclusively at Foot Locker.

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A cottonmouth ate a Burmese python in Florida, Zoo Miami says. See X-ray of the meal

You’ve heard of the expression, “It’s a dog eat dog world.” This being Florida, the saying may have to be tinkered with a bit. A python became another snake’s meal, … Click to Continue »
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Florida’s jobless rate matches pre-pandemic mark, while Miami-Dade posts among lowest county rates

Florida’s unemployment rate dipped to 2.7% in July, matching the level before the COVID-19 pandemic slammed into the economy in March 2020, state officials said Friday. The July rate was … Click to Continue »
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9/11 Tribute Museum closed after financial struggles

NEW YORK — The 9/ 11 Tribute Museum in downtown Manhattan has closed its doors just a month shy of the 21st anniversary of the terrorist attacks that destroyed the … Click to Continue »
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Miami Herald and el Nuevo Herald launch newsletters on Spanish-language media claims

Election season has returned, which means disputed claims abound on the radio and social media, and in private chat groups and campaign ads. To help voters sort through a flood … Click to Continue »
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Blake Shelton Is Prioritizing Gwen Stefani & Stepsons in the ‘New Phase of My Life’

Blake Shelton is loving his life married to Gwen Stefani above all else.

In a new interview with ET, the country superstar revealed that in his new married life, his career might take a “backseat” to his wife and stepsons. “Look, I love music and I love The Voice. I love all the cool things I get to do with my job, but those things all take a backseat now to Gwen and the kids and it’s just a new phase of my life,” he said.

“I’m having fun putting out songs when I feel like it and luckily the record label allows me to do that,” he continued. “They always support it when I do it and my stupid ideas of doing a ’90s country video — they’re always on board and because of that, we have a ‘God’s Country’ once in a while or a ‘Happy Anywhere.’”

As for what young Shelton would have said if he had known one day he’s marry Stefani, the singer revealed, “I would have probably said, ‘Are you talking about that girl that holds up the orange in her video?’ I never understood until now that she’s from Orange County. My entire life of knowing who Gwen Stefani even was was ‘Is that the girl that holds the orange up in the video? Oh my god, she’s so hot, but why is she obsessed with this freaking orange, you know?’”

Stefani shares Kingston, Zuma and Apollo with ex-husband Gavin Rossdale. The former couple were married for 13 years — and dated for nearly six years before that — but parted ways in 2015. Shelton and Stefani tied the knot in 2021, and have been going strong ever since. “I love my stepfather, and I looked up to him, and he’s like a father to me, so I have a good inspiration in my life for how to do this and the kind of stepdad I want to be,” Shelton previously explained in an interview KFROG’s The Ride with Kimo & Heather. “I also have a blast with it, I’m not gonna lie. I don’t take it so serious that I’m not enjoying this time, because I really am, especially now that we’re five years into this thing. I can’t imagine my life without these kids now.”

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Lea Michele Rehearses for ‘The Role of a Lifetime’ in First ‘Funny Girl’ Promo: Hear Her Sing Now

Hello, gorgeous! Broadway’s Funny Girl unveiled the first official preview of Lea Michele in the starring role on Friday (Aug. 19).

“The role of a lifetime. Lea Michele joins the cast of FUNNY GIRL as Fanny Brice beginning September 6. See you at the August Wilson!” the production shared on its official Twitter account with a short teaser video to get fans excited for Michele’s big debut.

The brief, black-and-white clip shows the Glee alum running through rehearsals with the cast as she sings part of “I’m the Greatest Star” as Fanny Brice. “Who is the pip with pizzazz?/ Who is all ginger and jazz?/ Who is as glamorous as?/ Who’s an American beauty rose/ With an American beauty nose/ And 10 American beauty toes?/ Hey Mr. Ziegfeld, here I am,” she belts out over escalating flourishes on the piano.

Since her pending takeover of the role was announced, Michele has been hard at work in rehearsals, sharing behind-the-scenes looks at her preparations, whether nailing tap choreography or performing Act 1 closer — and famous Rachel Berry Sectionals number — “Don’t Rain on My Parade” for the first time on a Broadway stage.

While Michele’s co-star Jane Lynch exited her own role as Mrs. Brice two weeks before the former was set to take the stage, The Weakest Link host insisted there’s nothing but good vibes between the two. “It has nothing to do with not wanting to see Lea,” Lynch said. “I text with Lea. She and I are fine. I’m thrilled for her.”

In the wake of original star Beanie Feldstein’s early exit for the show, standby Julie Benko is currently filling Fanny Brice’s shoes until Lea steps into the role on Sept. 6.

Watch Michele in the Funny Girl promo below.

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BLACKPINK’s Jennie Stars in Calvin Klein’s Fall 2022 Campaign

BLACKPINK‘s Jennie is continuing her high-end collaboration with Calvin Klein, and on Thursday (Aug. 18), HypeBae revealed that the star will be appearing in a new campaign for the Fall 2022 season.

The campaign will debut on billboards in New York City and Los Angeles, along with a full campaign to be revealed later this month. The photos, shot by Alasdair McLellan, will be posted on the Houston Street billboard in NYC and the La Cienega billboard in LA.

See the first look photos of Jennie here, in which she’s rocking CK’s Bonded Flex bralette and bikini.

The “SOLO” artist previously starred in Calvin Klein’s Spring 2022 community-themed campaign, in which she’s seen rocking number of looks while riding around on a bicycle and posing on what looks to be a cityscape rooftop. She joined joined an all-star roster including Euphoria’s Dominic Fike, Solange, Vince Staples, Arlo Parks and Burna Boy to promote the line.

The Fall 2022 campaign photos come fresh off the release of BLACKPINK’s newest single, “Pink Venom,” the lead track off their upcoming album, Born Pink, due out Sept. 15. In “Pink Venom,” the four-piece K-pop girl group interpolated an instantly noticeable reference to Rihanna‘s 2005 hit “Pon de Replay,” which is heard in the lyrics, “It goes one by one, even two by two.”

The group — also comprised of Jisoo, Lisa and Rosé in addition to Jennie — are slated to debut the track live and in-person at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards, which will take place on Aug. 28.

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Tank Releases 10th & Final Studio Album ‘R&B Money’

It was party central at popular West Hollywood nightspot the Peppermint Club last night (Aug. 18) as hosts Tank and Jamie Foxx welcomed guests including singer-actress LeToya Luckett, producer/A&R executive Hitmaka and singer-songwriter Eric Bellinger to the R&B Money Jam Show. The one-night only event — dress code: “black and gold” — celebrated the release of Tank’s 10th and final album R&B Money on Friday (Aug. 19; R&B Money/Atlantic Records).

For some, “final’ might be a difficult concept to embrace. However, Tank tells Billboard he “feels good” about his career’s next chapter that was triggered in part by loss of hearing in his right ear in 2021.

“Earlier this year, it was like wow … this is going to be my last album,” says the singer-songwriter-producer from the backyard rec room at his L.A.-area home. “But now it’s like, yes! That’s because so many other cool, super-exciting things are happening between my podcast, finding and working with new artists for my R&B Money label with Atlantic, dedicating time to becoming the actor that I want to be and cultivating other ideas that I have. It’s not solely about waiting, auditioning or hoping for a phone call. It’s more about creating my own phone calls and hiring myself for projects I want to develop, direct and/or produce.”

But first things first as the promotion campaign for R&B Money gets underway. Tank, set to perform at DJ D-Nice’s Club Quarantine in Las Vegas on Sept. 3, describes the last album of his 25-year career as being “very much me; it channels the sex, love and pain that I’m known for.” Pointing out that three-quarters of the album is “almost like an uninterrupted sex tape” — in a nod to his R&B influences such as Marvin Gaye, Teddy Pendergrass, Keith Sweat and Al Green — Tank adds, “The feeling in their music is what inspired me.”

Tank wrote or co-wrote all of the album’s 17 tracks (“How can you beat the number 17, with 1 being the beginning and 7 the completion?” he explains). Standouts among the eight tracks he played for Billboard are the sensual “When You Dance,” sizzler “No Limit” featuring Alex Isley, the insightful “See Through Love” with Chris Brown and the moving “It’s Nothing” (his daughter’s favorite”). Despite the hearing loss, Tank’s emotive vocals and range are still commanding.

Additional guests include Rotimi, Vedo, Blaq Tuxedo, TVERSE, Feather and J. Valentine, who appears on the album’s latest single “Slow” — which has reached a No. 12 peak so far on the R&B Airplay chart. Reaching No. 1 on that same tally are R&B Money’s first two singles: “Can’t Let It Show” and “I Deserve.”

During his recording career, Tank has landed eight albums on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, including five No. 1s. Each of his first eight studio albums also reached the top 20 of the chart. He’s charted 15 songs on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, including a pair of top 10 hits (“Maybe I Deserve” in 2001 and “Please Don’t Go” in 2007). Some of his biggest achievements have come on the Adult R&B Airplay chart. He’s racked up 23 titles there — with six No. 1s and 12 overall top 10 hits. Tank scored his most recent top 10 this summer via a featured spot on J Brown’s “Don’t Rush,” which entered the top 10 in July and climbed to a No. 7 best (so far) in August.

In the midst of completing this last album, the five-time Grammy nominee and J. Valentine recently launched their R&B Money podcast via iHeartMedia and Charlamagne tha God’s Black Effect Podcast Network. Kicking off with actor/comedian/artist Foxx as its first guest, the weekly podcast spotlights the history and ongoing cultural influence of R&B through chats with artists and executives working in the genre.

Intent on furthering his move into acting, Tank co-starred in the Lifetime film Lust: A Seven Deadly Sins Story and BET’s American Gangster Presents: Big Fifty — The Delronda Hood Story with Remy Ma. He recalls being bitten by the bug when he was asked to audition for the role of Effie White’s (Jennifer Hudson) younger brother C.C. in the 2006 film Dreamgirls. In the end, it came down to him and actor/singer Keith Robinson, who ultimately got the part.

“I’ve been acting a fool my whole life,” says Tank with a laugh. “Now I’m channeling that and putting it in the right space. The encouragement I’ve received since the Dreamgirls audition and other acting projects from Jamie [Foxx] and others means I’m going in the right direction, so I’ll keep learning and pushing.”

And while R&B Money is his final album, that doesn’t mean Tank won’t be back onstage. He’s been doing gigs as a stand-up comedian as well. “I can’t walk away from the stage,” he pledges. “Right now, however, I’m just rearranging my priorities.”

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