The Oak Ridge Boys announce ‘American Made: Farewell Tour’

The Oak Ridge Boys announced they will be hitting the road one last time off the ‘American Made: Farewell Tour,’ which includes tour dates in 2023 through 2024.

The band’s current lineup includes: lead singer Duane Allen, baritone singer William Lee Golden, tenor vocalist Joe Bonsall, and bass singer Richard Sterban. All four members joined in 1973, and this year marks their 50th anniversary together.

Golden said to Billboard: “When you’re saying farewell, there’s a lot of people you want to say farewell to. It’s all the people that supported you along the way, the ones that called the radio stations, the ones that come and bought tickets to see us sing and sat in the rain with the rest of us while we were able to play and sing music. It’s a lot of emotions because we as the Oak Ridge Boys are a family.”

Added Bonsall: “We’ve worked nearly 150 dates a year almost every year. We’ve never booked tours like a lot of groups do — making an album and doing maybe 50 or 60 days to support it. We may tour under a different tour name every year, but it’s really the never-ending tour. We’ve never known how to stop or slow down, for sure. So what we have put a concentrated effort in our thought pattern here in the last year or so into how can we slow it down some, but still keep moving forward.”

For information on the The Oak Ridge Boys  ‘American Made: Farewell Tour’, head to their official website.

The Oak Ridge Boys announce historic farewell tour

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Comedian Dane Cook marries Kelsi Taylor in Hawaii

Comedian Dane Cook and fitness instructor Kelsi Taylor were married at a private estate in O’ahu, Hawaii, over the weekend. The couple got engaged in July 2022 after five years together.

Cook told People Magazine: “We chose Hawaii because it has such a special place in our hearts and our relationship. It was one of the first trips we ever went on together and we continue to go back often.”

Cook later posted on X: “Last night I married the girl of my dreams here in Hawaii. The greatest feeling in the world is knowing you’ve got the strongest person you could ever imagine by your side and giving them all of your love in return. The years of laughs, adventures and accomplishments we’ve shared were solidified in front of some of our dearest friends and family during an emotional ceremony. I can’t wait to share more but for now just know this.. I’ve never felt this way. It’s so wonderful.”

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Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner come to temporary agreement on custody of children

Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner have come to an agreement on the custody of their daughters in light of their recent breakup. Turner sued Jonas last week, alleging that Jonas was withholding their daughters passports despite her wishes to return to the UK with the children. According to Page Six, an interim consent order was signed by the former couple on Monday morning (September 25th) which bars either of them from removing their kids from New York. Jonas and Turner are scheduled to appear for a pretrial conference on October 3rd.

Turner claimed in her lawsuit that the “wrongful retention” of their two daughters began on September 20th and that she and Jonas had agreed over Christmas 2022 that the UK would be the “forever home” for the children. Turner also alleged that she found out about their divorce “through the media,” following an argument on Jonas’ birthday.  In response, Jonas issues a statement via his rep calling the lawsuit misleading:  “After multiple conversations with Sophie, Joe initiated divorce proceedings in Florida, as Florida is the appropriate jurisdiction for the case. Sophie was aware that Joe was going to file for divorce. Joe and Sophie had a cordial meeting this past Sunday in New York, when Sophie came to New York to be with the kid. They have been with her since that meeting. Joe’s impression of the meeting was that they had reached an understanding that they would work together towards an amicable co-parenting setup.”

The singer also alluded to the ongoing divorce battle at a Jonas Brothers show over the weekend when he gave a shout-out to parents.

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NASA capsule brings asteroid samples back to earth

For the first time in NASA history an asteroid sample collected by the agency has touched down on Earth, seven years after launching the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft into space. The capsule flew by Earth Sunday to deliver the pristine sample from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu. which will allow scientists the opportunity to learn more about the origins of the solar system.

OSIRIS-REx, which stands for Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer, lifted off in 2016 and began orbiting Bennu in 2018. The spacecraft collected the sample in 2020 and set off on its lengthy return trip to Earth in May 2021. The mission traveled 3.86 billion miles total to Bennu and back.

OSIRIS-REx dropped the sample capsule — containing an estimated 8.8 ounces of asteroid rocks and soil — from a distance of 63,000 miles (102,000 kilometers) above Earth’s surface early Sunday, and entered the planet’s atmosphere at 10:42 a.m. ET while traveling at a speed of about 27,650 miles per hour (44,498 kilometers per hour).

The sample landed in the Defense Department’s Utah Test and Training Range about 10 minutes after entering the atmosphere. NASA administrator Bill Nelson said: “Congratulations to the OSIRIS-REx team. You did it.  It brought something extraordinary, the largest asteroid sample ever received on Earth. This mission proves that NASA does big things, things that inspire us, things that unite us. It wasn’t mission impossible. It was the impossible that became possible.” OSIRIS-REx will continue its tour of the solar system, with the spacecraft set to capture a detailed look at a different asteroid named Apophis.  That mission now has a new name: OSIRIS-APEX (for Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-APophis EXplorer).

Details about the sample will be revealed through a NASA broadcast from Johnson Space Center on October 11.  NASA said the science team will not have had time to fully assess the sample, but researchers expect to collect some fine-grained material at the top of canister for a quick analysis that can be shared in October.

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6 killed in Tampa, Florida after train crashes into SUV on tracks

According to a news release, six people, including three children, are dead after a train crashed into their SUV sitting on the tracks at a railroad crossing near Tampa, Fla. on Saturday evening. Hillsborough County Sherif Chad Chronister shared during a press conference that seven people were inside a Cadillac Escalade when the crash happened, with five of the passengers being “violenting ejected” from the vehicle upon impact.

Video on the front of the freight train showed the driver approaching the crossing in the area of Highway 92 and Jim Lefler Circle in Plant City, which reportedly wasn’t signalized. However, instead of yielding at the posted stop sign, Chronister said the driver slowly crawled across the tracks. Sheriff Chronister said: “the conductor of the train did everything he could to try to slow this train down. He signaled these loud train horns that they’re equipped with along with the flashing lights. We know that even from the witness that was parked by the tracks that he also was hitting the horn of his vehicle – all trying to get the driver’s attention and get [them] to stop and look both ways.” Once the train collided with the SUV, the vehicle reportedly catapulted and flipped multiple times before landing a distance away from its origin.

The driver and front passenger were rescued from within the car, according to Chronister, and were taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. It was later announced Sunday morning that the driver died from his injuries and was identified as 52-year-old Jose G. Hernandez. The other victims of the crash were also identified: Enedelia Hernandez, 51; Jakub A. Lopez, 17; Alyssa Hernandez, 17; Anaelia Hernandez, 22; and Julian Hernandez, 9. One passenger remains hospitalized in critical condition and was identified as 23-year-old Guillermo Gama.

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New Orleans Saints QB Derek Carr injures shoulder, removed from game vs. Packers

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr left Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers with a shoulder injury.

Footage from the game shows the moment when the incident occurred; Packers defensive lineman Rashaan Gary threw Carr down onto his right shoulder. As seen here, Carr remained on the ground in pain for several moments. Carr was eventually able to walk off the field and immediately went into the injury tent; minutes later he walked to the locker room, where he was X-rayed on his throwing shoulder. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Carr was taken to a local hospital to have tests in addition to the X-rays he got at the stadium. Doctors will reportedly check for a number of things, including internal injuries.

The Saints initially announced that Carr was being evaluated for a shoulder injury before ruling him out in the fourth quarter; New Orleans led 17-0 when Carr left the game. Jameis Winston replaced Carr at quarterback for the Saints, his first game action for Winston this season. He started three games last season for the Saints, with Winston throwing four touchdown passes and five interceptions.

Carr completed 13 of 18 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown before leaving the game, while Winston finished with 101 yards on 10-of-16 passing. The Saints went on to lose to the Packers with a score of 18-17.

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Kane Brown to launch 2024 ‘In The Air Tour’

Kane Brown has announced details for his 2024 “In The Air Tour.”

The tour, kicking-off in March 2024, will hit 29 cities including Toronto, Las Vegas, Atlanta and more before wrapping in Arlington, Texas at Globe Life Field on Sept. 14. Brown will play five major stadium shows during the trek, returning to Fenway Park in Boston, where he made history earlier this year as the first black artist to sell out a headlining show in the venue’s 100-plus year history. Artists supporting him on various dates include Tyler Hubbard, Jon Pardi, Chris Young, Bailey Zimmerman, Cole Swindell, Parmalee, LoCash and RaeLynn.

Brown wrapped his “Drunk or Dreaming Tour” earlier this summer, which included his first headlining arena show at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. He also wrapped the international leg of the same tour this year, which hit Sydney, London, Amsterdam and Berlin.

Tickets go on sale Oct. 5; head to kanebrownmusic.com for more information.

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Brantley Gilbert shares acoustic ‘Bury Me Upside Down (Live In Studio)’

Brantley Gilbert’s fan-favorite track of “Bury Me Upside Down (Live In Studio)” is being re-released with an acoustic reimagining.

The song is off Gilbert’s So Help Me God (Deluxe Edition) which featured 15 tracks all cowritten by Gilbert. Said Gilbert: “We’ve always been a little outside of the box when it comes to writing and recording. We always try to serve the song as it takes shape rather than shaping the song to serve us. If it’s asking for a harder edge, let’s do that. If it feels a little more introspective, let’s lean into that. This album intersects across a lot of different genres, and we’re proud to say that it’s something that happened naturally.”

Gilbert said of the new version of ‘Bury Me Upside Down (Live In Studio)’: “We’ve been having a blast playing this song out on the road. It raised its hand early on as a crowd favorite, so we wanted to give BG Nation this song in its purest form, hearing the guitars and vocals stripped-back, just like it sounded the day it was written with my buddies Brock Berryhill, Brian Davis, Brandon Day, Chase McGill, Josh and Taylor Phillips and Michael Ray.”

Take a listen to ‘Bury Me Upside Down (Live In Studio)’ – here.

Brantley Gilbert releases ‘Bury Me Upside Down’ acoustic version

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‘The Wonder Years’ canceled at ABC after two seasons

Variety has confirmed that the reimagined “The Wonder Years” has been canceled at ABC after two seasons.

The new show, based on the 1988 series of the same name, followed a Black middle-class family in Montgomery, Alabama, through the point of view of 12-year-old Dean. As he looks back on his childhood with the wisdom of his adult years, Dean’s hopeful and humorous recollections show how his family found their “wonder years” during the late 1960s.

Don Cheadle narrated the series as adult Dean Williams. Among the cast were Elisha “EJ” Williams as Dean Williams, Dulé Hill as Bill Williams, Saycon Sengbloh as Lillian Williams, Laura Kariuki as Kim Williams, Julian Lerner as Brad Hitman, Amari O’Neil as Cory Long and Milan Ray as Keisa Clemmons.

Lee Daniels and Marc Velez of Lee Daniels Entertainment executive produced the series along with the show’s original star, Fred Savage. Saladin Patterson serves as writer and executive producer. The series is produced by 20th Television, a division of Disney Television Studios.

“The Wonder Years” joins “Big Sky,” “Alaska Daily” and “The Company You Keep” among the many ABC’s canceled scripted series this year.

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Usher announced as headliner of Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show

The NFL, Roc Nation and Apple Music announced on Sunday that Grammy-winning artist Usher will headline the 2024 Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII halftime show on Feb. 11, 2024, at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, airing live on CBS.  In a video shared on X (Twitter), Usher gets an urgent call from Kim Kardashian, who tells the musician about his headlining spot.

The singer, 44, said in a statement: “It’s an honor of a lifetime to finally check a Super Bowl performance off my bucket list. I can’t wait to bring the world a show unlike anything else they’ve seen from me before. Thank you to the fans and everyone who made this opportunity happen. I’ll see you real soon.”

JAY-Z, whose Roc Nation company is returning to produce the halftime show for the fifth year, said: “Usher is the ultimate artist and showman. Ever since his debut at the age of 15, he’s been charting his own unique course. Beyond his flawless singing and exceptional choreography, Usher bares his soul. His remarkable journey has propelled him to one of the grandest stages in the world. I can’t wait to see the magic.” 

Usher’s performance will mark his second Super Bowl appearance. He previously performed alongside the Black Eyed Peas when the group headlined the halftime show back in 2011.

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