Sheeran, 33, posted a clip of the interaction Sept. 17 Instagram, explaining in his caption that he was filming a video on a boat when he spotted the woman running on a nearby sidewalk.

“Was filming a video on the canal today, played a request. If anyone knows the runner lemme know so we can have their POV video for the lols,” wrote Sheeran, who shared a shorter version of the clip on TikTok.

The video shows Sheeran holding a guitar and floating along a canal when he sees the woman running alongside his boat.

“Hi!” Sheeran says with a wave before asking the woman, “Any requests?”

After slowing down a bit, the runner responds, “Can you do ‘Tenerife Sea’?”

Just then, Sheeran begins playing a note-perfect version of his romantic 2014 ballad, prompting the woman to whip out her phone to record the special moment.

After he finishes, Sheeran cheerfully raises his thumb and tells his lone audience member, “Have a good rest of your run.”

The woman gives Sheeran a little wave and takes off again.

The runner, whose name is Nikki Atkins, later identified herself by posting her version of the footage in her Instagram stories, which has since vanished. Atkins also spoke to the BBC about how thrilling it was to be serenaded by the star.

Sheeran’s followers responded to his video to say they probably wouldn’t have been as calm as Atkins was had they been in her shoes.

“Love this! She was just so casual with her request,” one marveled while another wrote, “I think I’d pass out.”

“That kind of thing never happen to me bc I would jump in the water,” said a third fan.

Meanwhile, another fan was inspired by Sheeran’s video to take up jogging herself. “I think i need to start running. How lovely,” she joked.

This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

• When breast cancer left a 38-year old woman weak and vulnerable, this 1 simple workout was a ‘transformative experience’
• I take at least 1 night off parenting every week. This experiment has saved my family
• 30 famous Hispanic Heritage Month quotes to share now and forever

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Souther, who collaborated on some of the Eagles’ biggest hits, such as “Best of My Love,” “James Dean,” “New Kid in Town,” and “Heartache Tonight,” died Tuesday at his home in New Mexico, according to an announcement on his website.

He also worked with James Taylor, Bob Seger, Bonnie Raitt and many more, and also found success as a solo artist. He was about to start a tour with Karla Bonoff on Sept. 24 in Phoenix, now canceled.

When he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2013, Souther was described as “a principal architect of the Southern California sound and a major influence on a generation of songwriters.” He was also at the heart of the social scene, his girlfriends including Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell and Stevie Nicks, who in a 1982 interview with High Times magazine remembered him as “very, very, very male chauvinistic and very sweet and cute and wonderful but very Texas.”

Souther was born in Detroit and grew up in Amarillo, Texas. He moved to Los Angeles in the late 1960s, where he met fellow Michigan native Glenn Frey, a founding member and guitarist of the Eagles. The two began a longtime partnership, starting with a band called Longbranch Pennywhistle. Frey would credit Souther with introducing him to country music.

“Our first year together will always seem like yesterday to me,” Souther said in a statement after Frey died in 2016. “His amazing capacity for the big joke and that brilliant groove that lived inside him are with me, even now, in this loss and sorrow. … The music and the love are indestructible.”

Souther was so close to the Eagles, he even appeared on the back cover of their 1973 album, “Desperado,” with Souther and others reenacting the capture of the legendary Dalton Gang. He described his start with Frey at The Troubadaour, the popular West Hollywood music club, as “the best study in songwriting I can imagine.”

“So many great songwriters came through — Laura Nyro, Kris Kristofferson, Randy Newman, Elton John, James Taylor, Tim Hardin, Carole King, Rick Nelson, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Waylon Jennings, Tim Buckley, Gordon Lightfoot, Taj Mahal and more,” he said in a statement on his website. “It seems impossible now to imagine that much music in a year and a half or so, but that was my life and the Troubadour was our university.

“It’s also where I met Linda Ronstadt and where Don Henley and Glenn Frey met to form this little country rock band called Eagles that would go on to make musical history,” Souther wrote.

On his own, Souther recorded his self-titled debut in 1972 before forming The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band with former Byrds member Chris Hillman and Poco’s Richie Furay. A second solo effort in 1976, Black Rose, included a duet with Ronstadt, his one-time girlfriend, “If You Have Crying Eyes.” Other duets he had recorded with her include “Prisoner in Disguise,” “Sometimes You Can’t Win” and “Hearts Against the Wind,” the latter featured in the 1980 film “Urban Cowboy.”

His biggest hit as a solo artist was “You’re Only Lonely,” from the 1979 album of the same name.

Other songs he wrote include “Run Like a Thief,” for Bonnie Raitt, and “Faithless Love” and “White Rhythm and Blues” for Ronstadt. He collaborated and sang with James Taylor on “Her Town Too.”

Among other artists he worked with as a singer were Don Henley, Christopher Cross, Dan Fogelberg and Roy Orbison.

He appeared as an actor on television in “thirtysomething,” “Nashville” and “Purgatory” and in the films “Postcards from the Edge,” “My Girl 2,” and “Deadline.”

The event will be hosted by Uncle Boobies Bookstore at Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church located at 2800 W. Cheltenham Ave on Wednesday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m.

Eve is expected to have a captivating discussion about the memoir, her life and her incomparable career.

Event organizers say all tickets to the event come with a signed copy of the new book.

In the book, Eve talks about everything from growing up in West Philadelphia and Germantown to becoming the successful superstar she is today.

For more information on the book event, visit unclebobbies.com/events.

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The Grammy-nominated band announced on social media that it will retire from touring in 2025 due to irreconcilable differences between singer Kevin Cronin and bassist Bruce Hall.

“So, it is with great sadness that we announce REO Speedwagon will cease touring effective January 1, 2025,” the band said in a statement posted Monday.

The band – which currently also includes guitarist Dave Amato, keyboardist Neal Doughty and drummer Bryan Hitt – formed in 1967 and produced hits like “Can’t Fight This Feeling” and “Can’t Stop Loving You.”

The group recently completed a summer tour with the band Train.

Hall underwent back surgery in November and had been replaced for recent performances by Matt Bissonette.

“Bruce has intended to be Back On the Road Again by now,” the band’s post read. “If it were up to just him, he’d be back on tour… but it’s not up to just him. The consensus opinion was that he had not recovered sufficiently to be able to perform at the level the fans have come to expect. Bruce respected that opinion and is grateful that Matt has been around to keep the Wagon rolling through the summer tour.”

The post went on to say that both Hall and Cronin had no intention of leaving the band.

“Due to this complex situation, irreconcilable differences arose between Bruce and Kevin,” the band wrote.

In closing, the post read: “Neal, Kevin, and Bruce thank their fans for all their years of loyal support and for giving back to the band such wonderful memories that will remain with each of them forever.”

Hall made his own Facebook post shortly after.

“Never ever thought it would end like this and I’m heartbroken,” he wrote. “Please know Neal and I did everything in our power to try and keep the Wagon rolling.  I am so appreciative of ALL the amazing love & support.  You guys have been very vocal and clear in your wishes for me to return to the stage.  Trust me…that’s all I wanted too.  We all deserved a farewell tour.

“For the record, I wanted REO Speedwagon to continue to tour with the lineup of Kevin, myself, Dave, Bryan and Derek. Just as it was prior to my necessary, planned and successful back surgery.”

The band has 19 remaining concerts scheduled through Nov. 23, starting with a performance at Agua Caliente Casino in California on Sept. 27.

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“The band have made the difficult decision to take some time away as a group. As such, they will be cancelling the remainder of the tour,” the band said in a brief statement Monday.

The move comes after videos captured Farrell lunging at Navarro at a Friday concert in Boston, bumping Navarro with his shoulder before taking a swing at the guitarist with his right arm. Navarro is seen holding his right arm out to keep Farrell away before Farrell is dragged away by others on stage. The show ended shortly after and the band apologized.

The band is known for edgy, punk-inspired hits “Jane Says,” “Been Caught Stealing” and “Just Because” in the late 1980s and early 1990s as the alternative rock and grunge music movements were growing. It has three top five hits on Billboard’s Alternative Airplay chart.

“Perry’s frustration had been mounting, night after night, he felt that the stage volume had been extremely loud and his voice was being drowned out by the band,” Etty Lau Farrell, Farrell’s wife, wrote in an Instagram post Saturday morning.

She said her husband had been suffering from tinnitus and a sore throat and “by the end of the song, he wasn’t singing, he was screaming just to be heard.” She said her husband later broke down “and cried and cried.”

The band’s “Imminent Redemption” tour — with opening act English rock band Love and Rockets — started in early August and was to end on Oct. 16 at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles.

The North American shows marked the first time since 2010 that the original Jane’s Addiction lineup — Farrell, Navarro, drummer Stephen Perkins and bassist Eric Avery — played an extended run of shows together.

The band is known for edgy, punk-inspired hits “Been Caught Stealing” and “Mountain Song” in the late 1980s and early 1990s as the alternative rock and grunge music movements were growing.

In videos post on social media from Friday night’s concert in Boston, Farrell, 65, is seen singing loudly into his mic and then lunging at guitarist Dave Navarro, bumping Navarro with his shoulder before taking a swing at Navarro with his right arm. Navarro is seen holding his right arm out to keep Farrell away before Farrell is dragged away by others on stage. The show ended shortly after.

“Perry’s frustration had been mounting, night after night, he felt that the stage volume had been extremely loud and his voice was being drowned out by the band,” Etty Lau Farrell wrote in an Instagram post Saturday morning.

She said her husband had been suffering from tinnitus and a sore throat and “by the end of the song, he wasn’t singing, he was screaming just to be heard.” She said her husband later broke down “and cried and cried.”

The band’s “Imminent Redemption” tour started in early August and has 15 dates left, including a show in Connecticut on Sunday night.

The band has not yet made a statement about the future of the tour.

Sheeran, 33, posted a clip of the interaction Sept. 17 Instagram, explaining in his caption that he was filming a video on a boat when he spotted the woman running on a nearby sidewalk.

“Was filming a video on the canal today, played a request. If anyone knows the runner lemme know so we can have their POV video for the lols,” wrote Sheeran, who shared a shorter version of the clip on TikTok.

The video shows Sheeran holding a guitar and floating along a canal when he sees the woman running alongside his boat.

“Hi!” Sheeran says with a wave before asking the woman, “Any requests?”

After slowing down a bit, the runner responds, “Can you do ‘Tenerife Sea’?”

Just then, Sheeran begins playing a note-perfect version of his romantic 2014 ballad, prompting the woman to whip out her phone to record the special moment.

After he finishes, Sheeran cheerfully raises his thumb and tells his lone audience member, “Have a good rest of your run.”

The woman gives Sheeran a little wave and takes off again.

The runner, whose name is Nikki Atkins, later identified herself by posting her version of the footage in her Instagram stories, which has since vanished. Atkins also spoke to the BBC about how thrilling it was to be serenaded by the star.

Sheeran’s followers responded to his video to say they probably wouldn’t have been as calm as Atkins was had they been in her shoes.

“Love this! She was just so casual with her request,” one marveled while another wrote, “I think I’d pass out.”

“That kind of thing never happen to me bc I would jump in the water,” said a third fan.

Meanwhile, another fan was inspired by Sheeran’s video to take up jogging herself. “I think i need to start running. How lovely,” she joked.

This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

• When breast cancer left a 38-year old woman weak and vulnerable, this 1 simple workout was a ‘transformative experience’
• I take at least 1 night off parenting every week. This experiment has saved my family
• 30 famous Hispanic Heritage Month quotes to share now and forever

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

No need to wait a fortnight to find out who won at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards.

The annual ceremony kicked off on Sept. 11 at the UBS Arena in New York, with Megan Thee Stallion — who came into the show with seven nominations — serving as both the host and one of the night’s performers.

And this year’s competition for the much-coveted Moon Person was fierce. Taylor Swift proved that her summer had been anything but cruel, notching a whopping 12 nods as the leader in the pack of nominees.

Meanwhile, her “Fortnight” duet partner Post Malone earned 11 — including two in the Best Collaboration category for his work on both the “Tortured Poets Department” track and his “I Had Some Help” collab with Morgan Wallen.

Trailing close behind in nominations were Eminem with eight, Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter with seven each and SZA with six.

And Beyoncé was looking to extend her record as the most-winningest artist in MTV VMAs history. Heading into the show with three nods, including Song of the Year for “Texas Hold ‘Em,” the singer had massive potential in adding to her already-impressive collection of 30 VMAs, which includes the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award she won in 2014.

This year, Katy Perry was announced as the honoree of the non-competitive prize.

But who else who won big? Keep reading to find out.

Video of the Year

Ariana Grande – “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)”
Billie Eilish – “LUNCH”
Doja Cat – “Paint The Town Red”
Eminem – “Houdini”
SZA – “Snooze”
WINNER: Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” 

Artist of the Year

Ariana Grande
Bad Bunny
Eminem
Sabrina Carpenter
SZA
WINNER: Taylor Swift

Song of the Year

Beyoncé – “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM”
Jack Harlow – “Lovin On Me”
Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us”
WINNER: Sabrina Carpenter – “Espresso”
Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight”
Teddy Swims – “Lose Control”

Best New Artist

Benson Boone
WINNER: Chappell Roan
Gracie Abrams
Shaboozey
Teddy Swims
Tyla

MTV Push Performance of the Year

August 2023: Kaliii – “Area Codes”
September 2023: GloRilla – “Lick or Sum”
October 2023: Benson Boone – “In The Stars”
November 2023: Coco Jones – “ICU”
December 2023: Victoria Monét – “On My Mama”
January 2024: Jessie Murph – “Wild Ones”
February 2024: Teddy Swims – “Lose Control”
March 2024: Chappell Roan – “Red Wine Supernova”
April 2024: Flyana Boss – “yeaaa”
May 2024: Laufey – “Goddess”
WINNER: June 2024: LE SSERAFIM – “EASY”
July 2024: The Warning – “Automatic Sun”

Best Collaboration

Drake ft. Sexyy Red & SZA – “Rich Baby Daddy “
GloRilla, Megan Thee Stallion – “Wanna Be”
Jessie Murph ft. Jelly Roll – “Wild Ones”
Jung Kook ft. Latto – “Seven”
Post Malone ft. Morgan Wallen – “I Had Some Help”
WINNER: Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight”

Best Pop

Camila Cabello
Dua Lipa
Olivia Rodrigo
Sabrina Carpenter
Tate McRae
WINNER: Taylor Swift

Best Hip-Hop

Drake ft. Sexyy Red & SZA – “Rich Baby Daddy“
WINNER: Eminem – “Houdini”
GloRilla – “Yeah Glo!”
Gunna – “fukumean”
Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA”
Travis Scott ft. Playboi Carti – “FE!N”

Best R&B

Alicia Keys – “Lifeline”
Muni Long – “Made For Me”
WINNER: SZA – “Snooze”
Tyla – “Water”
Usher, Summer Walker and 21 Savage – “Good Good”
Victoria Monet – “On My Mama”

Best Alternative

WINNER: Benson Boone – “Beautiful Things”
Bleachers – “Tiny Moves”
Hozier – “Too Sweet”
Imagine Dragons – “Eyes Closed”
Linkin Park – “Friendly Fire”
Teddy Swims – “Lose Control (Live)”

Best Rock

Bon Jovi – “Legendary”
Coldplay – “feelslikeimfallinginlove”
Green Day – “Dilemma”
Kings of Leon – “Mustang”
WINNER: Lenny Kravitz – “Human”
U2 – “Atomic City”

Best Latin

WINNER: Anitta – “Mil Veces”
Bad Bunny – “MONACO”
KAROL G – “MI EX TENÍA RAZÓN”
Myke Towers – “LALA”
Peso Pluma & Anitta – “BELLAKEO”
Rauw Alejandro – “Touching The Sky”
Shakira & Cardi B – “Puntería”

Best Afrobeats

Ayra Starr ft. Giveon – “Last Heartbreak Song”
Burna Boy – “City Boys”
Chris Brown ft. Davido & Lojay – “Sensational”
Tems – “Love Me JeJe”
WINNER: Tyla – “Water”
Usher & Pheelz – “Ruin”

Best K-Pop

Jung Kook ft. Latto – “Seven”
WINNER: LISA – “Rockstar”
NCT Dream – “Smoothie”
NewJeans – “Super Shy”
Stray Kids – “LALALALA”
TOMORROW X TOGETHER – “Deja vu”

Video For Good

Alexander Stewart – “if you only knew”
WINNER: Billie Eilish – “What Was I Made For (From The Motion Picture “Barbie”)”
Coldplay – “feelslikeimfallinginlove”
Joyner Lucas & Jelly Roll – “Best For Me”
RAYE – “Genesis.”
Tyler Childers – “In Your Love”

Best Direction

Ariana Grande – “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)”
Bleachers – “Tiny Moves”
Eminem – “Houdini”
Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Please Please Please”
WINNER: Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight”

Best Cinematography

WINNER: Ariana Grande – “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)”
Charli XCX – “Von dutch”
Dua Lipa – “Illusion”
Olivia Rodrigo – “obsessed”
Rauw Alejandro – “Touching The Sky”
Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight”

Best Editing

Anitta – “Mil Veces”
Ariana Grande – “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)”
Eminem – “Houdini”
LISA – “Rockstar”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Espresso”
WINNER: Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight”

Best Choreography

Bleachers – “Tiny Moves”
WINNER: Dua Lipa – “Houdini”
LISA – “Rockstar”
Rauw Alejandro – “Touching The Sky”
Tate McRae – “Greedy”
Troye Sivan – “Rush”

Best Visual Effects

Ariana Grande – “the boy is mine”
WINNER: Eminem – “Houdini”
Justin Timberlake – “Selfish”
Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA”
Olivia Rodrigo – “get him back!”
Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight”

Best Art Direction

Charli XCX – “360”
LISA – “Rockstar”
WINNER: Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA”
Olivia Rodrigo – “bad idea right?”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Please Please Please”
Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight”

Best Trending Video

Beyoncé – “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM”
Camila Cabello ft. Playboi Carti – “I LUV IT”
Chappell Roan – “HOT TO GO!”
Charli XCX – “Apple”
WINNER: Megan Thee Stallion ft. Yuki Chiba – “Mamushi”
Tinashe – “Nasty”

Best Group

NSYNC
Coldplay
Imagine Dragons
NCT Dream
NewJeans
WINNER: SEVENTEEN
TOMORROW X TOGETHER
Twenty One Pilots

Song of the Summer

Ariana Grande – “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)”
Benson Boone – “Beautiful Things”
Billie Eilish – “BIRDS OF A FEATHER”
Chappell Roan – “Good Luck, Babe!”
Charli XCX & Billie Eilish – “Guess featuring Billie Eilish”
Eminem – “Houdini”
Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar – “Like That”
GloRilla & Megan Thee Stallion – “Wanna Be”
Hozier – “Too Sweet”
Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us”
Post Malone ft. Morgan Wallen – “I Had Some Help”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Please Please Please”
Shaboozey – “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”
SZA – “Saturn”
WINNER: Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight”
Tommy Richman – “MILLION DOLLAR BABY”

VMAs Most Iconic Performance

Beyoncé – “Love on Top”
Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Madonna & Missy Elliot – “Like a Virgin” & “Hollywood”
Eminem – “Real Slim Shady” & “The Way I Am”
WINNER: Katy Perry – “Roar”
Lady Gaga – “Paparazzi”
Madonna – “Like a Virgin”
Taylor Swift – “You Belong With Me”

Music fans both here in Philadelphia and around the world have reason to mourn on Wednesday as legendary R&B artist, songwriter and producer Frankie Beverly has died.

He was 77 years old.

On Wednesday morning, Beverly’s family announced the founder of the funk and soul band Maze — who was born Howard Stanley Beverly — passed away the day before.

“Grieving the loss of a loved one is a deeply personal and emotional experience. During this time, as we are navigating feelings of sorrow, reflection, and remembrance we kindly ask for privacy and understanding, allowing us the space to grieve in our own way,” the family wrote in a message online. “This period for is one of healing, and your respect for our need for solitude is appreciated as we honor the memory of our beloved Howard Stanley Beverly known to the world as Frankie Beverly.”

The family’s statement continued to say that Beverly “lived his life with pure soul as one would say, and for us, no one did it better. He lived for his music, family and friends. Love one another as he would want that for us all.”

Beverly was born in Philadelphia and attended Germantown High School in his youth.

“After catching the attention of legendary songwriter and producer Kenny Gamble, the group had several releases under Philly-based record label Cameo Parkway,” wrote Tribune correspondent O.J. Spivey on Beverly’s beginnings after the musician was recently honored by having the 6000 block of Norwood Street in Germantown named in his honor.

After moving to the West Coast, Beverly’s group changed their name to Raw Soul and then to Maze, who Beverly went on to release nine gold albums with.

Maze is perhaps best known for their classic song “Before I Let Go” which peaked at #13 on the Billboard R&B chart in 1981 and has been a staple at cookouts, weddings and parties for families across the country for decades.

The song was also covered by popstar Beyonce in 2019.

Other notable songs from the band include “Joy and Pain,” “We Are One,” “Back in Stride,” and “Can’t Get Over you.”

Earlier this year, after performing and touring for 50 years, Beverly played a farewell show at the Dell Music Center in North Philadelphia. Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts attended the concert and appeared on stage with him, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

Hurts posted about Beverly’s death on X on Wednesday.

His timeless music, his powerful words and his lasting impact. I’m devastated to hear about this one.. My prayers are with the Beverly family and the many Frankie fans across the world! His legacy will live on forever. Rest easy my friend. Long Live Frankie 🕊️

— Jalen Hurts (@JalenHurts) September 11, 2024

Last year, Hurts played “Back in Stride” in the Eagles locker room ahead of their season opener, NBC Sports Philadelphia’s John Clark reported.

Jalen Hurts was playing old school Back In Stride by Philly group Maze and Frankie Beverly in the lockeroom today

“We like the joy but we can't really stand the pain”

Eagles are Back in Stride getting ready for the season opener.
They say they are forming a new identity pic.twitter.com/WxtRfybRy6

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) September 6, 2023

Longtime WDAS radio host Patty Jackson, a friend of Beverly’s, spoke with NBC10 about his death.

“I’ve known him for so long but I am so glad that I got a chance to say, ‘I love you Mr. Beverly.’ And he said, ‘I love you too.’ So yeah, but playing his music and knowing him, it’s like losing a member of your family,” she said.

Beverly’s family has not detailed a cause of death.

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When viewers tune in to the 2024 MTV VMAs on Wednesday night, they’ll be able to shop the outfits and designer looks they’re seeing in real time, as legacy media companies look for new ways to monetize content.

As part of a new partnership between Paramount Global — the parent company of cable TV network MTV — and shoppable advertising company Shopsense AI, viewers will be able to shop the outfits they’re seeing on screen using the startup’s new AI-powered lens, which will launch at the start of the awards show, Shopsense told CNBC.

The software will allow viewers to snap photos of their favorite looks as they come up on screen and then browse similar options suggested by Shopsense’s product recognition algorithm, the company said.

The partnership and potential future deals could boost both retailers taking a hit as consumers pull back discretionary spending, and legacy media companies that have tried to maintain profits in a challenging landscape. Each time a person buys something through the new feature, or in some cases even when they just click on an item, some revenue will go back to Paramount, according to Shopsense.

“Everyone’s got their phone or their tablet in their hand while they’re watching TV,” Bryan Quinn, a former Amazon executive and Shopsense’s co-founder and president, told CNBC in an interview. “This allows folks, in a non-disruptive way … to go through that shopping journey without pausing the content.” 

Paramount’s partnership with Shopsense was a key component of its Upfront presentation in May, a time when media companies make their annual pitch to advertisers. The agreement comes as legacy media companies look to generate new revenue streams and find different ways to monetize their content.

While media companies have relied on ad revenue for some time, it’s become more important as they look to make their streaming businesses profitable. Paramount — which recently agreed to a merger with Skydance Media — will air the VMAs on both MTV and its streaming platform, Paramount+. 

Legacy meets AI

Advertisers and media companies have been leaning into generative AI tools, such as shoppable advertising. Disney announced a similar partnership earlier this year with Gateway Shop, and launched a beta program for its first native streaming shoppable ad format.

Across the ad industry, the growth of AI is “revolutionizing how brands reach audiences,” said Natalie Bastian, global chief marketing officer at Teads.

“The integration of AI is driving measurable outcomes, maximizing media effectiveness and improving return on ad spend across the industry,” Bastian said.

Since most celebrities attending the VMAs on Wednesday will likely be wearing custom, couture items, the Shopsense software will suggest so-called dupes at a range of price points. It can recognize more than 1 billion items that are sold off the rack, according to Shopsense.

“For impulse buys, the immediacy of this format is particularly effective, as it capitalizes on the viewer’s spontaneous desires, often triggered by limited-time offers or exclusive deals,” said Laura Taylor, retail media investment lead at Goodway Group.

TV viewership is largely driven by live events, namely sports, news and awards shows such as the VMAs. As it draws the most eyeballs, live content has attracted the most advertising dollars, even as the ad market is in the midst of a rebound from down years. 

The ad market slumped soon after the onset of the pandemic, as companies often pull back on advertising spending during times of economic uncertainty. However, companies have reported this year that the ad market is on the rebound, especially for streaming and digital players. 

While advertising revenue for Paramount’s traditional TV business dropped during its second quarter, Paramount+ turned its first profit, driven by subscriber growth and higher prices. Though a wave of consumers has shifted from the pay TV bundle toward streaming, the majority of viewership still comes from traditional TV viewing, said John Halley, president of Paramount Advertising. 

As Paramount gears up for another major live event, Halley called the Shopsense integration “totally game changing” when it comes to how viewers will experience the VMAs.

“It’s something that provides brands an amazing access point and opportunity to reach consumers … in an environment that is actionable to purchase their products,” said Halley.

“Once you get the consumer into the environment, No. 1, they tend to dwell, so they’ll go through and look at a bunch of stuff, and No. 2, the revenue per user in those environments is extremely high. The conversion rates are high,” he said. “It’s really a matter of bringing the consumer into the second screen experience and the tech does the rest of it.”

Down the line, Shopsense is looking to work with other media companies and their wardrobe teams so viewers can shop the exact products featured on all sorts of television programs, such as the power blazers featured on HBO’s “Industry” or the cookware featured on Fox’s “MasterChef.”

“We’re turning TV into this retail powerhouse, right?” said Glenn Fishback, Shopsense’s CEO and other co-founder. “We’re promoting, enabling and activating and allowing the prospective TV broadcasters to win back the living room and create this curated secondary screen experience. This should be a form of entertainment that not only am I enjoying the shows, I can buy the furniture. I’m a part of it, and that’s what we think the Lens does.”

Quinn declined to say what other broadcasters the retailer is in negotiations with, but did say Shopsense is in “active conversations with all the major media companies.” 

What about the retailers?

Shopsense has teamed up with over 1,000 retailers, including Macy’s, Nordstrom, Urban Outfitters and Revolve, to feature their products in the platform. The partnership gives retailers a chance to capture customers at the moment they’re inspired by something they’re watching on television. It’s another example of how they’re leveraging artificial intelligence to make online shopping more experiential and engaging — though it’s unclear whether it drive significant sales.

In 2022, Walmart teamed up with Roku to create interactive product ads that allowed viewers to use their remote to click on an item and purchase it. However, the consumer was required to pause the content and use their TV screen to check out, which took them away from what they were watching and wasn’t exactly a seamless shopping experience. 

“The biggest difference here is complete lack of friction. You pull a phone out, you point it at the TV, and here comes the gallery,” said Paramount’s Halley. “What we’ve learned over and over and over again is it has to be a seamless experience. You can’t require a viewer to take a fundamentally different behavior, right? People are typically watching television with their phones and an opportunity to extend the … experience right there to the second screen is incredibly compelling.”

Not only will consumers be able to find the looks they’re seeing on television, Shopsense will also feature curated collections inspired by the content. For example, as the VMAs kick off on Wednesday night, it’ll feature lookalikes from last year’s event and a curated “Get ready with me” selection from Macy’s that includes red carpet looks, fragrances and accessories, Shopsense said.

“We’re often times bringing in similar items that are thematically aligned with the content,” said Quinn. 

For example, a curated selection of winter looks in New York could accompany a season of Disney’s “Only Murders in the Building” or a range of burnt-orange clothing could be offered with a Texas Longhorns game. 

Jessica Ramirez, a senior research analyst at Jane Hali & Associates, said marrying television with retail is a great way to help consumers with product research and reel them in when many are cutting back on discretionary purchases. 

“When you’re watching TV, you’re looking at something. ‘Oh I really like that lipstick, I like that dress, maybe it’s something I want to wear for a wedding’ and if there’s a way for you to easily browse while you’re shopping, it’s another channel,” said Ramirez. “It’s a great idea and it makes sense, but with these kinds of things, execution is crucial.”

Scialfa shared the news in “Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band,” which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival on Sunday, Sept. 8, according to Variety.

“This affects my immune system, so I have to be careful what I choose to do and where I choose to go,” the 71-year-old said in the film. “Every once in a while, I come to a show or two, and I can sing a few songs on stage, and that’s been a treat. That’s the new normal for me right now, and I’m OK with that.”

Variety reported Scialfa didn’t attend the premiere for the documentary. The current state of her health and whether she is receiving treatment for her myeloma is unclear.  

E Street Band was founded in 1972, nearly two decades before Springsteen and Scialfa married in 1991. In 2014, she, along with the rest of E Street Band, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

What is multiple myeloma?

The cancer Scialfa was diagnosed with, multiple myeloma, creates cancerous plasma cells in the bone marrow, which prevent the body from producing antibodies and reducing the ability to fight off infection, per Mayo Clinic. It’s not clear what causes it and there’s no cure.

Not everyone with multiple myeloma receives treatment. In some cases, if the cancer is not progressing and not causing symptoms, doctors may opt for a wait-and-see approach. It’s not clear if Scialfa needed or still needs treatment for her myeloma.

Symptoms of multiple myeloma include:

• Bone pain, especially in the hips, spine or chest
• Digestive issues, such as nausea, constipation and loss of appetite
• Mental issues, such as tiredness and brain fog
• Infections
• Weight loss
• Weakness
• Thirst and needing to pee more than usual

The cancer is more common in people in their late 60s, as well as men, Black people and those with a family history of multiple myeloma. Treatments, if needed, include immunotherapy, CAR-T cell therapy, chemotherapy, bone marrow transplant, radiation and more.

Between 42% and 82% of people diagnosed with multiple myeloma survive for four years or more, according to Cleveland Clinic.

Bruce Springsteen’s health issues

Scialfa isn’t the only band member who’s had to deal with illness. In 2023, Springsteen revealed health issues of his own. The “Born to Run” singer announced via X that he and the E Street Band would be postponing their shows because Springsteen had a peptic ulcer.

In 2024, he announced via Instagram that he’d be postponing additional concert dates until the following year on doctor’s orders due to “vocal issues,” TODAY.com reported at the time.

A few months later, Springsteen shared additional details about the ordeal with SiriusXM’s E Street Radio. “When I had the stomach problem, one of the big problems was that I couldn’t sing,” Springsteen said. “You sing with your diaphragm. My diaphragm was hurting so badly that when I went to make the effort to sing, it was killing me. So, I literally couldn’t sing at all.”

Springsteen’s also gotten candid about his mental and physical health. In 2012, Springsteen told The New Yorker that he’d dealt with “intervals of depression.” Scialfa added that therapy has helped him.

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Billy McFarland, the founder of the original 2017 music festival that was shrouded in controversy, sat down for an interview with NBC News’ Savannah Sellers on TODAY Sept. 9 to reveal exclusive details.

“Fyre Festival II is happening April 25, 2025, so we’re seven and a half months away,” he said. “We have a private island off the coast of Mexico in the Caribbean, and we have an incredible production company who’s handling everything from soup to nuts.”

He said the festival will run for three days until April 28, 2025. He couldn’t confirm the name of the island just yet, but said the plan is to lean on existing infrastructure for lodging, eateries and restrooms. The aforementioned production company, the name of which he didn’t indicate, will handle logistics.

He added, “But we are developing and building out the private island for the actual festival festivities.”

The initial Fyre Festival in April 2017, which promised a luxury experience on a private island in the Bahamas with top entertainment, took a disastrous turn and went viral online when attendees who paid thousands for tickets ended up with no concert, sleeping in tents and eating cheese sandwiches in takeout boxes.

In March 2018, McFarland pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges involving the event. He then pleaded guilty in July 2018 to separate fraud charges related to another ticket-selling scam, NBC News reported. He was sentenced in October 2018 to six years in prison. He served about four years before he was released early in May 2022. 

More than a year after his release, in August 2023, he resurfaced to announce on Instagram that Fyre Festival II was on the way.

In his interview with Sellers, McFarland said he is still in the planning stages of booking acts.

“We haven’t booked any talent for Fyre II,” he said. “It’s not going to be just music — for example, karate combat. We’re in talks with them to set up a pit to have, like, live fights at Fyre Festival II.”

Asked how McFarland would pitch artists following the failure of the first Fyre Festival, he said he and organizers have “the chance to embrace the storm.”

“Since 2016 Fyre has been the most talked about music festival in the world,” he said. “Obviously, a lot of that has been negative, but I think that most people, once they kind of get under the hood and study the plans and see the team behind Fyre II, they see the upside. We have the chance to embrace this storm and really steer our ship into all the chaos that has happened. And if it’s done well, I think Fyre has a chance to be this annual festival that really takes over the festival industry.”

It won’t be cheap to go to Fyre Festival II, either. McFarland said he already sold 100 tickets for $500 a piece, and other packages will soon go on sale ranging from $1,400 to $1.1 million.”

So what, exactly, will attendees get with a $1.1 million ticket?

“You will be on a boat, have the luxury yachts that we partner with who will be docked and parked outside the island,” he said. “But once again, Fyre is not just about this, like, luxury experience. It’s about the adventure. So you’ll be scuba diving with me. You’ll be bouncing around to other islands and other countries on small planes.”

As for convincing others let down by the first festival to return, McFarland said he has a plan for that, too.

“It’s hard because this is the deeper issue, where there are people who were legitimately hurt and let down from Fyre I, whether that was an employee and a family of a member of an employee, a ticket holder,” he said. “So there’s a lot of work that needs to be done to repay those people. I don’t think it’s practical. I don’t actually think it’s right to try to do all that in the first year. I think that would lead to short term decisions. So we were trying to find small ways to give back to everybody that was hurt along the way.”

Although he is looking to revamp the festival and the brand this time, one thing will remain: the cheese sandwiches. The meal in the styrofoam box that went viral in 2017 will get a twist for Fyre Festival II.

“We will have cheese sandwiches,” he said. “They’re going to be super expensive, too. We’re going to make them, like, really good. That’ll be, like, the highest priced food item, I think.”

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The musician’s family confirmed his death on Facebook Saturday.

Flowers was a founding member of the pop group Blue Mink, who later joined the rock band T Rex. He won acclaim for his work with many of the biggest names in U.K. music in the 1970s, giving Reed’s “Walk On The Wild Side,” from the 1972 “Transformer” album, its recognizable twinned bassline.

He also played bass for Bowie’s “Space Oddity,” Bryan Ferry’s “The Bride Stripped Bare,” and Paul McCartney’s “Give My Regards To Broad Street,” and featured in two of John’s early ’70s albums, among many others.

In a tribute, Bowie’s estate said “his work with Bowie and associates over the years is too long to list here.”

“Aside from his incredible musicianship over many decades, he was a beautiful soul and a very funny man. He will be sorely missed,” it said.

Tim Burgess, lead singer for The Charlatans singer, said on the social media platform X that Flowers “made the greats sound greater.”

Flowers also founded the instrumental rock band Sky in the late 1970s, releasing seven albums.

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Seven years after the death of frontman Chester Bennington, Linkin Park is back with new music featuring a new co-lead singer.

The bestselling group announced in a news release on Sept. 5 that Emily Armstrong of the band Dead Sara has joined Linkin Park to be a co-vocalist with band veteran Mike Shinoda.

They also announced an upcoming tour and released their first single since 2017, a song called “The Emptiness Machine” that features vocals by Armstrong.

The single is part of their forthcoming album titled “From Zero,” which will be released Nov. 15. It comes on the heels of their spring release of “Papercuts (Singles Collection 2000-2023)” featuring the band’s greatest hits.

Drummer Colin Brittain is also joining the band, which includes original members Shinoda, Joe Hahn, Phoenix and Brad Delson. Brittain has been a songwriter and producer for G Flip, Illenium and One OK Rock.

“The more we worked with Emily and Colin, the more we enjoyed their world-class talents, their company, and the things we created,” Shinoda said in the news release. “We feel really empowered with this new lineup and the vibrant and energized new music we’ve made together. We’re weaving together the sonic touchpoints we’ve been known for and still exploring new ones.”

Armstrong made her debut onstage in a one-hour global livestream of a concert in Los Angeles on Sept. 5 featuring the new version of Linkin Park. They performed “The Emptiness Machine” as well as their hits “Somewhere I Belong,” “Numb,” “Faint,” “Bleed It Out,” “One Step Closer, “What I’ve Done” and “In the End.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, that is Emily Armstrong, make some noise,” Shinoda said to introduce Armstrong onstage after performing their new single.

“When I started to hear Emily’s voice on things, it was like the first time that my brain would accept it as a Linkin Park song,” Shinoda told Apple Music’s Zane Lowe in a band interview posted Sept. 6. “And then all of a sudden we’re here and it’s very real, and it’s really big.”

Armstrong also spoke in the interview with Lowe about stepping in for Bennington.

“Obviously on the side of like the feelings and the emotions of it, I would love to do him proud,” she said.

She opened up about singing Linkin Park hits that featured Bennington.

“It’s never a thought where it’s like I need to make this song my own,” she said. “It’s like, ‘How do I make this song have the same impact, as much as possible, with my voice?'”

“There was a huge leap of faith that we had to say, ‘I think she’s the one,'” Shinoda said in the interview.

The remaining members of the group had been meeting up in recent years “without expectations” of trying to “restart the band,” but while collaborating with other artists, they “found a special kinship with Armstrong and Brittain,” according to the news release.

Ahead of playing the band’s hit “Crawling” at the Los Angeles concert, Shinoda referenced Bennington. The singer died by suicide at 41 in 2017 shortly after the group released its album “One More Light.”

“And in the role of Chester Bennington this afternoon is each of you,” he told the crowd. “Are you ready to sing with us?”

Linkin Park ‘From Zero World Tour’ dates

The group has scheduled six upcoming shows on its “From Zero World Tour,” starting on Sept. 11 at Kia Forum in Los Angeles and also hitting venues in New York City, Germany, London, South Korea and Colombia.

Presale tickets for the tour are available for the band’s LP Underground fan club Sept. 6 and then for the general public on Sept. 7. 

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The death Thursday of the Brazilian pianist, songwriter and arranger was confirmed in a statement by his family.

“His wife and musical partner for the past 54 years, Gracinha Leporace Mendes, was by his side, as were his loving children,” the statement Friday said. “Mendes last performed in November 2023 to sold out and wildly enthusiastic houses in Paris, London and Barcelona.”

His composition “Mas que Nada” was one of the songs that helped popularize the Brazilian music genre bossa nova worldwide in the 1960s.

In 2006, a modern version of the song topped U.S. charts, as performed by Black Eyed Peas. It was included in his album “Timeless,” produced by will.i.am and featuring Stevie Wonder, Justin Timberlake and the Black Eyed Peas, among others.

“Sergio Mendes was my brother from another country,” trumpet player Herb Alpert wrote on Facebook, along with a photo from decades ago, sitting next to Mendes at the piano. “He was a true friend and extremely gifted musician who brought Brazilian music in all its iterations to the entire world with elegance.”

Mendes also composed the soundtrack for the film “Pelé,” featuring saxophonist Gerry Mulligan, and even produced an album recorded by the Brazilian legendary soccer player.

Mendes won the 1992 Grammy Award for Best World Music Album for “Brasileiro” and two Latin Grammy Awards. He also received an Oscar nomination in 2012 for Best Original Song for “Real in Rio,” from the animated film “Rio.”

Mendes’ family said they will provide details regarding funeral and memorial services at a later date.

The band was in the middle of performing their hit song “Longview”  at Comerica Park when video showed a crew member entering the stage as the music then suddenly stops and front man Billie Joe Armstrong is seen racing off, alongside his bandmates.

Fans reported screens then changed to a message that read “Show pause. Please, standby for details.”

The delay lasted several minutes before the band ultimately continued on with their performance with no explanation of what happened.

“How you guys doing? Everybody OK?” Armstrong reportedly said as the group returned to the stage, asking fans to put their phones away at the time.

“Let’s be here, right now,” he said.

Green Day later wrote on X, in a now-deleted message, that the delay was due to “a potential safety issue.”

“DPD quickly resolved the situation, and we were able to continue. Thanks for understanding,” the message read.

Police told the Detroit Free Press the issue stemmed from a drone being flown over the venue. The Detroit Police Department reported the operator of the drone was located and detained “pending further investigation.

Green Day is currently on their massive “Saviors” summer tour, which recently also made stops in Chicago and Milwaukee.

The band is marking the 30^th anniversary of the release of the album “Dookie,” along with the 20^th anniversary of the release of “American Idiot.”

In a statement Thursday, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said its investigation into Live Nation Entertainment’s unit Ticketmaster will look specifically at “dynamic pricing,” whereby prices can vary rapidly in light of changing market conditions.

Many Oasis fans who queued online at the Ticketmaster site for many hours on Saturday complained that they ended up paying more than double the face value of the ticket as a result of this dynamic pricing.

The watchdog said it would scrutinize whether the sale of Oasis tickets by Ticketmaster may have breached consumer protection law and whether the company engaged in unfair commercial practices.

“It’s important that fans are treated fairly when they buy tickets, which is why we’ve launched this investigation,” said Sarah Cardell, the watchdog’s chief executive. “It’s clear that many people felt they had a bad experience and were surprised by the price of their tickets at check-out.”

The band is led by brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher, who said in a statement Wednesday that they knew nothing about “dynamic pricing,” that they leave matters around ticketing to their management team.

The tickets that went on sale Saturday were for the band’s concerts July 4 and 5 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, Heaton Park in Manchester, on July 11, 12, 16, 19 and 20, London’s Wembley Stadium on July 25, 26 and 30 and Aug. 2 and 3, Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh on Aug. 8, 9 and 12; and Croke Park in Dublin on Aug. 16 and 17.

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On Wednesday, another two dates were announced at Wembley on Sept. 27 and 28. These will open only to people who were unable to get tickets in the initial Ticketmaster sale.

Formed in Manchester in 1991, Oasis was one of the dominant British acts of the 1990s, producing hits including “Wonderwall,” “Champagne Supernova” and “Don’t Look Back in Anger.” Its sound was fueled by singalong rock choruses and the combustible chemistry between guitarist-songwriter Noel Gallagher and singer sibling Liam.

Oasis split in 2009, with Noel Gallagher quitting the band after a backstage dustup with his brother at a festival near Paris. While the Gallagher brothers, now aged 57 and 51, haven’t performed together since, both regularly perform Oasis songs at their solo gigs. They’ve also fired off criticisms of each other in the press.

The British rockers, known for hits like “Wonderwall,” “Champagne Supernova” and, yes, “Don’t Look Back in Anger,” announced in August that they would reunite for a tour for the first time in 15 years.

But some Oasis fans say when they tried to purchase tickets to concerts scheduled for next year in the U.K. and Ireland over the weekend, Ticketmaster let them down.

Outraged fans have taken to social media where they report experiencing extensive wait times, system glitches and head-spinning surges in ticket prices for the concert dates.

On Aug. 31, British journalist Faye White posted a time-lapsed video on TikTok to document her experience when she tried to purchase Oasis concerts.

“I’ve been in the line now for an hour and a half and there’s still 14,000 people ahead of me,” White said at one point. Later, White said Ticketmaster offered her three tickets at prices equal to between $555 and $660 per ticket.

“I just think it’s too much,” White said, adding, “So it’s the end of the road for me.”

Billboard Music Awards Aug 27

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Celebrity News Aug 26

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British YouTube star Paul Wood posted a nearly seven-minute rant on TikTok and Instagram to express his frustration with Ticketmaster after he said he unsuccessfully tried to secure Oasis tickets for nine hours.

“Where do we start with Ticketmaster? The fact that your systems can’t handle this is an absolute joke. We’re in 2024, people. And your systems can’t handle the traffic. Disgrace,” Wood said in a video.

British television host Dan Walker posted on X about his own frustrations when he tried to purchase Oasis tickets, writing, “There has got to be a fairer, simpler, more efficient way of selling tickets that isn’t so open to touts, scammers, resellers & bots.”

“In the queue, out of the queue, refresh / don’t refresh, wait in line, back of the line, accused of being a bot… timed out,” Walker said.

A message on Ticketmaster UK’s website stated the ticket distribution company doesn’t set prices for concert tickets. “Promoters and artists set ticket prices. Prices can be either fixed or market-based. Market-based tickets are labeled as ‘Platinum’ or ‘In Demand,’” the message states.

Official “Platinum” tickets are not resale tickets, rather the price is adjusted based on supply and demand, “similar to how airline tickets and hotel rooms are sold,” according to a blog post on Ticketmaster’s website.

While Oasis didn’t directly address the issues fans faced when they tried to purchase tickets to its concerts over the weekend, the band repeatedly warned fans on X to be wary of counterfeit and void tickets. “Tickets can ONLY be resold, at face value, via @TicketmasterUK and @Twickets,” read one of band’s messages.

NBC News reached out to Ticketmaster and Live Nation for comment but didn’t hear back at the time of publication.

It’s a story familiar to Taylor Swift fans who faced similar issues when they tried to purchase tickets to the “Eras Tour” from Ticketmaster.

In November 2022, Ticketmaster bungled a presale rollout for Swift’s “verified” fans who applied for a code to early ticket access. Many applicants never received a code or were waitlisted for one.

On Nov. 15, 2022, the day the presale began, Ticketmaster.com crashed, leaving those lucky enough to receive a code waiting in online queues for hours.

The same day, Ticketmaster issued a statement addressing the glitches, saying there has been “historically unprecedented demand” for tickets to Swift’s concerts.

Another presale for Capital One card holders was marred by similar problems, prompting Ticketmaster to cancel a ticket sale to the general public.

Swift herself responded to the fiasco in a lengthy message on social media, saying the situation “really pisses me off.”

“It goes without saying that I’m extremely protective of my fans,” Swift said Nov. 18, 2022, on her Instagram story. “It’s really difficult for me to trust an outside entity with these relationships and loyalties, and excruciating for me to just watch mistakes happen with no recourse.”

Swift went on to say that she was “trying to figure out” what exactly had gone wrong on Ticketmaster’s end.

“I’m not going to make excuses for anyone because we asked them, multiple times, if they could handle this kind of demand and we were assured they could,” she told fans.

Ticketmaster followed up by issuing an apology to Swift’s fans for their “terrible experience.” In a statement on its website, the company explained that not only did a “record number of fans” seek tickets for Swift’s concert tour, the company was also besieged by a “staggering number of bot attacks” as well.

Some U.S. lawmakers and state authorities took note of the brouhaha at the time and criticized Ticketmaster, alleging it had a monopoly over the distribution and sale of concert tickets.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, told Ticketmaster in an open letter that she had “serious concerns about the state of competition in the ticketing industry and its harmful impact on consumers.”

“Ticketmaster’s power in the primary ticket market insulates it from the competitive pressures that typically push companies to innovate and improve their services,” wrote Klobuchar. “That can result in the types of dramatic service failures we saw this week, where consumers are the ones that pay the price.”

Meanwhile, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti announced plans to launch an anti-trust probe into Ticketmaster, Nashville NBC affiliate WSMV reported.

“There is an incentive there for the company to profit twice off the sale of these ticket,” Skrmetti said, according to WSMV. “I am not saying it happened, but we are going to make absolutely sure it didn’t.”

In May 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice, joined by 30 state and district attorneys general, filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and Live Nation for “monopolization and other unlawful conduct that thwarts competition in markets across the live entertainment industry.”

The lawsuit “seeks to restore competition in the live concert industry, provide better choices at lower prices for fans, and open venue doors for working musicians and other performance artists.”

Live Nation’s Executive Vice President for Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Dan Wall wrote in a lengthy blog post on the company’s website that the case “misleads the public into thinking that ticket prices will be lower if something is done about Live Nation and Ticketmaster.”

“This lawsuit against Live Nation and Ticketmaster won’t reduce ticket prices or service fees,” Wall said.

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Sheeran, 33, posted a clip of the interaction Sept. 17 Instagram, explaining in his caption that he was filming a video on a boat when he spotted the woman running on a nearby sidewalk.

“Was filming a video on the canal today, played a request. If anyone knows the runner lemme know so we can have their POV video for the lols,” wrote Sheeran, who shared a shorter version of the clip on TikTok.

The video shows Sheeran holding a guitar and floating along a canal when he sees the woman running alongside his boat.

“Hi!” Sheeran says with a wave before asking the woman, “Any requests?”

After slowing down a bit, the runner responds, “Can you do ‘Tenerife Sea’?”

Just then, Sheeran begins playing a note-perfect version of his romantic 2014 ballad, prompting the woman to whip out her phone to record the special moment.

After he finishes, Sheeran cheerfully raises his thumb and tells his lone audience member, “Have a good rest of your run.”

The woman gives Sheeran a little wave and takes off again.

The runner, whose name is Nikki Atkins, later identified herself by posting her version of the footage in her Instagram stories, which has since vanished. Atkins also spoke to the BBC about how thrilling it was to be serenaded by the star.

Sheeran’s followers responded to his video to say they probably wouldn’t have been as calm as Atkins was had they been in her shoes.

“Love this! She was just so casual with her request,” one marveled while another wrote, “I think I’d pass out.”

“That kind of thing never happen to me bc I would jump in the water,” said a third fan.

Meanwhile, another fan was inspired by Sheeran’s video to take up jogging herself. “I think i need to start running. How lovely,” she joked.

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Born Isaac Freeman III, the 53-year-old rapper was closing out Hamden’s summer concert series when he collapsed on stage.

The New York City native is best known for a long career as a radio personality and hip-hop hype man. One of his greatest hits was the 1999 jam “Be Faithful.” He also had guest performances on Missy Elliott’s “Lose Control” and “It’s Like That” by Mariah Carey.

Hamden Mayor Lauren Garrett said Fatman Scoop was transported by ambulance to the hospital after his collapse in the middle of his performance.

“Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers,” she wrote.

The rapper’s tour manager, Birch Michael, confirmed Freeman’s death Saturday morning.

“I am honestly lost for words… You took me all over the world and had me performing alongside you on some of the biggest and greatest stages on this planet, the things you taught me have truly made me the man I am today,” he wrote on Instagram.

Fatman Scoop had just released the music video for his song “Let It Go” with Dyce Payso on Friday morning.

This story is developing.

The mostly German-speaking city on the Rhine River bordering both France and Germany was selected over Geneva in a faceoff that generated buzz and anticipation across Switzerland.

Basel’s city council said in a statement that it was “delighted with the decision and sees hosting the world’s largest music competition as a great opportunity,”

“Basel will do everything in its power to be a good host,” it said.

The Alpine country won the right to host the annual glitzy song-and-dance extravaganza, which draws hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide, after Swiss singer Nemo won the contest’s 68th edition in May in Sweden.

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Nemo’s winning song, “The Code,” is an operatic pop-rap ode to the singer’s journey toward embracing a nongender identity. Nemo is the first nonbinary winner of the contest that has long been embraced by the LGBTQ+ community.

Conradin Cramer, president of the Basel regional council, said the 2025 contest would reflect “the spirit of Basel, which is an open-minded spirit, a diverse spirit.”

He said that as a double border city, “we are used to having guests from all around the world and we will offer those guests an unbelievable experience.”

Swiss public broadcaster SSR-SRG said the selection of Basel and the St. Jakobshalle indoor arena was made based on criteria including the hall’s suitability to host the event, sustainability and safety issues, funds made available and “creative ideas for the side events.”

The song contest is organized each year by the European Broadcasting Union, which is based in Geneva, with dozens of participating broadcasters.

Basel’s city council cited an EBU study that found this year’s contest in the Swedish city of Malmö reached more than 160 million TV viewers and over 80 million YouTube users around the world. It said the advertising value of the event was estimated to be 805 million euros ($892 million).

Switzerland hosted and won the first edition in the southern city of Lugano in 1956. Nemo is the first Swiss winner since 1988, when Canada’s Celine Dion competed under the Swiss flag.

Eurovision is a celebration of the unifying power of pop, but it is often roiled by rivalries and political tensions. The 2024 contest was overshadowed by the war in Gaza and accompanied by large street protests against the participation of Israel.

Video of Ludacris tasting the glacial water and proclaiming, “Oh my God!” got millions of views on TikTok and Instagram. Some viewers expressed concern that he was endangering his life by drinking the untreated water, warning it might be contaminated with the parasite giardia.

But an expert on glaciers from the University of Alaska in Fairbanks said the online brouhaha “was ludicrous.”

“He’s totally fine,” glaciologist Martin Truffer said Wednesday.

“It’s sort of understandable that somebody would be concerned about just drinking untreated water, but if you drink water from a melt stream on a glacier, that’s about the cleanest water you’ll ever get.”

Ludacris donned ice cleats to knock off a bucket list item and walk Knik Glacier, about 40 miles north of Anchorage, while he was in the nation’s largest state to perform Friday at the Alaska State Fair. He was clearly pleased by the taste of the glacial water.

“I’m a water snob,” he said in a later video before a concert Tuesday in Minneapolis. “It was the best tasting water I’ve ever had in my life.”

Alaska

Animals and Wildlife Aug 19

Hunter in Alaska recovering after being mauled by bear and shot amid effort to fend it off

Animals and Wildlife Jun 20

Baby moose trapped in a lake is saved by Alaska man and police as its worried mom watches

Symptoms of giardiasis, the illness caused by giardia, include diarrhea, stomach cramps and dehydration. It can spread from one person to another or through contaminated water, food, surfaces or objects. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests people avoid swallowing water while swimming and boiling or filtering water from lakes, springs or rivers before drinking it to prevent getting sick.

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation does not recommend drinking untreated surface water, spokesperson Kelly Rawalt said in an email. It also has produced a flyer with safe drinking practices for outdoor enthusiasts, including adding chlorine or iodine to quart-size water containers and letting them sit an hour before drinking.

Truffer, who acknowledged he knew of Ludacris only because his neighbor in Fairbanks named his cat after the rapper, said it’s not always safe to drink water from a stream in the wild. But he said the water Ludacris drank hadn’t had any exposure to biological activity.

“There’s just really no concern on these glacial streams about safety,” he said.

“I’ve done this many, many times myself without ever having any issue,” he said.

Alaska is home to about 100,000 glaciers, with the icy masses covering about 28,800 square miles (74,590 square kilometers) — or 3% of the state. According to the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, that’s 128 times the area covered by glaciers in the other 49 states.

For some visitors to Alaska, seeing a glacier is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But climate change is taking its toll, and the melting of Juneau’s icefield is accelerating, according to a study that came out last month. The snow-covered area is now shrinking 4.6 times faster than it was in the 1980s.

It marks her first time hosting an award show, though she’s guest hosted “Saturday Night Live” and served as a co-host for “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” in the past. This time, it’s in front of her musical peers.

The 2024 award show promises star-studded performances, tons of moon people, and even more Taylor Swift.

Here’s everything you need to know about the MTV VMAs.

WHEN ARE THE MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS?

The VMAs will air live on Sept. 11 at 8 p.m. Eastern from the UBS Arena on New York’s Long Island.

The award show moved back a day because of the forthcoming U.S. presidential debate. ABC News recently confirmed that the campaigns of both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump had agreed to participate in a debate on Sept. 10.

WHO’S NOMINATED FOR THE VMAS?

Swift tops the VMA nominations with 10 — eight for her “Fortnight” music video and nods in the artist of the year and best pop categories. She’s followed by her “Fortnight” collaborator Post Malone, who has nine. He is nominated along with Swift eight times and earned his ninth nom for his country hit “I Had Some Help,” featuring Morgan Wallen.

Rounding out the artist of the year category nominees are Ariana Grande, Bad Bunny, Eminem, Sabrina Carpenter and SZA.

Grande, Carpenter and Eminem are tied with six nods; Megan Thee Stallion and SZA have five each. Blackpink’s LISA, Olivia Rodrigo and Teddy Swims follow with four nominations each.

This year features 29 first-time nominees, which include Wallen, Carpenter and Swims as well as Benson Boone and Tyla — the latter boast three nominations each.

Here’s the complete list of nominations

WHO WILL RECEIVE THE VIDEO VANGUARD AWARD?

Katy Perry will receive the Video Vanguard Award. She will also perform.

Previous recipients include Shakira, Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna and Missy Elliott.

Perry will return to the VMA stage for the first time since 2017, when she performed and hosted the award show.

The pop singer has won five VMAs across her career. She took home her first three awards in 2011: video of the year (“Firework”), best collaboration and best special effects (both for “E.T.,” featuring Kanye West).

WHO IS PERFORMING AT THE VMAS?

Performers will include Perry, Boone, Carpenter, Chappell Roan, GloRilla, Halsey, Lenny Kravitz, LISA, Rauw Alejandro, Anitta, Karol G, LL COOL J, Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello.

WHAT ABOUT VOTING?

Fan voting across 15 gender-neutral categories is live right now and ends Friday.

Voting in the best new artist category will remain active throughout the show.

Kingston, whose real name is Kisean Anderson, and his mother, Janice Turner, entered the pleas during an arraignment hearing before Broward Circuit Judge Ernest Kollra, the Sun Sentinel reported. Bond had already been set at $90,000 in a previous hearing, and Kollra did not make any changes, the newspaper said.

The performer and his mother pleaded not guilty to organized fraud and grand theft charges.

Kingston was originally arrested in Fort Irwin, California, in May on a warrant issued by the Broward Sheriff’s Office after a SWAT team raided his home in Southwest Ranches.

Kingston, 34, and Turner, 61, were accused of defrauding a jewelry business, a luxury bed company, a used luxury and exotic car dealership and a luxury microLED TV company since October 2023, arrest warrants said.

South Florida Jul 19

Singer Sean Kingston and his mother charged with wire fraud in $1M scheme

May 24

New warrants detail charges against singer Sean Kingston and his mother

Prosecutors said they purchased the items using fraudulent documents including bank wires and payment transfers, then kept or tried to keep the items despite not paying.

In one instance, Kingston allegedly fraudulently obtained a bed valued at more than $86,000 from a company named Maree, whose website said it “designs and creates the world’s largest luxury beds.”

In another, a Cadillac Escalade valued at $159,701.49 was fraudulently obtained from an exotic car dealership, the warrants said.

Also fraudulently obtained was jewelry valued at $480,000, the warrants said.

The total value of the items obtained exceeded $1 million, prosecutors said.

“We believe he’s innocent,” Kingston’s attorney, Robert Rosenblatt, told NBC Miami. “We’re looking forward to trying this case either in state or federal court, or both if necessary.”

Kingston was already serving a two-year probation sentence for trafficking in stolen property.

Kingston and his mother are expected back in court Oct. 11, the newspaper said. They are also facing related charges in federal court.

Kingston broke into the music scene at the age of 17 in 2007 with the hit “Beautiful Girls,” which laid his lyrics over the musical track of “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King.

Judge Pamela K. Chen in Brooklyn wrote that Shkreli must produce all copies of what is sometimes referred to as the world’s rarest album and report the names of anyone he distributed the music to by Sept. 30, along with any revenues he received from it.

In June, Shkreli was sued by a cryptocurrency collective that bought the only known copy of the album for $4.75 million.

The collective, PleasrDAO, accused Shkreli of retaining digital copies of the album in violation of their deal and disseminating them widely among his social media followers.

PleasrDAO attorney Steven Cooper said in a statement that Chen’s ruling was “an important victory for our client.”

He added: “We are pleased that Judge Chen recognized that immediate relief was necessary to thwart the continuing bad acts of Mr. Shkreli.”

Edward Paltzik, a lawyer for Shkreli, said in an email that the judge’s order maintained “the perceived status quo” of the lawsuit’s progression and has “no bearing whatsoever on the final outcome of the case.”

He also noted that the judge did not make a finding that PleasrDAO was likely to succeed on the merits or that its allegations were true.

The Wu-Tang Clan spent six years creating “Once Upon a Time in Shaolin” before putting a single copy of the 31-track double album up for auction in 2015 on the condition that it not be released publicly. The multiplatinum hip-hop group wanted it viewed as a piece of contemporary art.

Shkreli bought the album for $2 million before he was convicted of lying to investors and cheating them out of millions of dollars in two failed hedge funds he operated.

In 2021, “Once Upon a Time is Shaolin” was sold to satisfy some of Shkreli’s court debts.

Shkreli was released from prison in 2022 after serving much of a seven-year sentence.

Sheeran, 33, posted a clip of the interaction Sept. 17 Instagram, explaining in his caption that he was filming a video on a boat when he spotted the woman running on a nearby sidewalk.

“Was filming a video on the canal today, played a request. If anyone knows the runner lemme know so we can have their POV video for the lols,” wrote Sheeran, who shared a shorter version of the clip on TikTok.

The video shows Sheeran holding a guitar and floating along a canal when he sees the woman running alongside his boat.

“Hi!” Sheeran says with a wave before asking the woman, “Any requests?”

After slowing down a bit, the runner responds, “Can you do ‘Tenerife Sea’?”

Just then, Sheeran begins playing a note-perfect version of his romantic 2014 ballad, prompting the woman to whip out her phone to record the special moment.

After he finishes, Sheeran cheerfully raises his thumb and tells his lone audience member, “Have a good rest of your run.”

The woman gives Sheeran a little wave and takes off again.

The runner, whose name is Nikki Atkins, later identified herself by posting her version of the footage in her Instagram stories, which has since vanished. Atkins also spoke to the BBC about how thrilling it was to be serenaded by the star.

Sheeran’s followers responded to his video to say they probably wouldn’t have been as calm as Atkins was had they been in her shoes.

“Love this! She was just so casual with her request,” one marveled while another wrote, “I think I’d pass out.”

“That kind of thing never happen to me bc I would jump in the water,” said a third fan.

Meanwhile, another fan was inspired by Sheeran’s video to take up jogging herself. “I think i need to start running. How lovely,” she joked.

This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

• When breast cancer left a 38-year old woman weak and vulnerable, this 1 simple workout was a ‘transformative experience’
• I take at least 1 night off parenting every week. This experiment has saved my family
• 30 famous Hispanic Heritage Month quotes to share now and forever

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Sheeran, 33, posted a clip of the interaction Sept. 17 Instagram, explaining in his caption that he was filming a video on a boat when he spotted the woman running on a nearby sidewalk.

“Was filming a video on the canal today, played a request. If anyone knows the runner lemme know so we can have their POV video for the lols,” wrote Sheeran, who shared a shorter version of the clip on TikTok.

The video shows Sheeran holding a guitar and floating along a canal when he sees the woman running alongside his boat.

“Hi!” Sheeran says with a wave before asking the woman, “Any requests?”

After slowing down a bit, the runner responds, “Can you do ‘Tenerife Sea’?”

Just then, Sheeran begins playing a note-perfect version of his romantic 2014 ballad, prompting the woman to whip out her phone to record the special moment.

After he finishes, Sheeran cheerfully raises his thumb and tells his lone audience member, “Have a good rest of your run.”

The woman gives Sheeran a little wave and takes off again.

The runner, whose name is Nikki Atkins, later identified herself by posting her version of the footage in her Instagram stories, which has since vanished. Atkins also spoke to the BBC about how thrilling it was to be serenaded by the star.

Sheeran’s followers responded to his video to say they probably wouldn’t have been as calm as Atkins was had they been in her shoes.

“Love this! She was just so casual with her request,” one marveled while another wrote, “I think I’d pass out.”

“That kind of thing never happen to me bc I would jump in the water,” said a third fan.

Meanwhile, another fan was inspired by Sheeran’s video to take up jogging herself. “I think i need to start running. How lovely,” she joked.

This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

• When breast cancer left a 38-year old woman weak and vulnerable, this 1 simple workout was a ‘transformative experience’
• I take at least 1 night off parenting every week. This experiment has saved my family
• 30 famous Hispanic Heritage Month quotes to share now and forever

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Miranda Lambert has reached icon status.

The country music superstar will receive the Country Icon Award at the 2024 People’s Choice Country Awards, NBC and Peacock announced on August 22.

Lambert will be recognized for her decades-long music career, as well as her work as a shelter animal advocate, restaurateur and New York Times best-selling author.

“A tour de force in country music for more than 20 years, Miranda Lambert’s groundbreaking albums continue to capture the hearts of fans around the world,” Jen Neal — Executive Vice President of Live Events and Specials at NBCUniversal Entertainment — said in a statement. “We’re so excited to celebrate her career, fierce individualism and innovation in the industry with the Country Icon Award.”

Lambert is the second performer to receive this award following last year’s inaugural PCCAs, where late country music legend Toby Keith was honored.

As for this year’s ceremony, airing Sept. 26, Shania Twain will serve as host—a duty she previously said she is “honored” to take on.

“Country has some of the most passionate fans in music and us artists are so lucky to be supported in doing what we love,” the “Man! I Feel Like a Woman” singer said in a July statement. “Get ready for an unforgettable show with lots of big hair, glamour, rhinestones, hats, boots and incredible performances. Giddy Up!”

But she won’t be the only star walking down the red carpet. After all, this year’s lineup of nominees is fierce, with Zach Bryan leading the pack with 19 nods.

Meanwhile, Beyoncé follows with 17 nominations, including The People’s Artist, Social Country Star and Album of 2024 for her country crossover record Cowboy Carter.

Kacey Musgraves, Shaboozey, Kane Brown, Morgan Wallen and Luke Combs are also nominated.

So, who will walk home a winner? Find out at the 2024 People’s Choice Country Awards — held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville — on Sept. 26, airing on NBC and Peacock.

Sheeran, 33, posted a clip of the interaction Sept. 17 Instagram, explaining in his caption that he was filming a video on a boat when he spotted the woman running on a nearby sidewalk.

“Was filming a video on the canal today, played a request. If anyone knows the runner lemme know so we can have their POV video for the lols,” wrote Sheeran, who shared a shorter version of the clip on TikTok.

The video shows Sheeran holding a guitar and floating along a canal when he sees the woman running alongside his boat.

“Hi!” Sheeran says with a wave before asking the woman, “Any requests?”

After slowing down a bit, the runner responds, “Can you do ‘Tenerife Sea’?”

Just then, Sheeran begins playing a note-perfect version of his romantic 2014 ballad, prompting the woman to whip out her phone to record the special moment.

After he finishes, Sheeran cheerfully raises his thumb and tells his lone audience member, “Have a good rest of your run.”

The woman gives Sheeran a little wave and takes off again.

The runner, whose name is Nikki Atkins, later identified herself by posting her version of the footage in her Instagram stories, which has since vanished. Atkins also spoke to the BBC about how thrilling it was to be serenaded by the star.

Sheeran’s followers responded to his video to say they probably wouldn’t have been as calm as Atkins was had they been in her shoes.

“Love this! She was just so casual with her request,” one marveled while another wrote, “I think I’d pass out.”

“That kind of thing never happen to me bc I would jump in the water,” said a third fan.

Meanwhile, another fan was inspired by Sheeran’s video to take up jogging herself. “I think i need to start running. How lovely,” she joked.

This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

• When breast cancer left a 38-year old woman weak and vulnerable, this 1 simple workout was a ‘transformative experience’
• I take at least 1 night off parenting every week. This experiment has saved my family
• 30 famous Hispanic Heritage Month quotes to share now and forever

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Sheeran, 33, posted a clip of the interaction Sept. 17 Instagram, explaining in his caption that he was filming a video on a boat when he spotted the woman running on a nearby sidewalk.

“Was filming a video on the canal today, played a request. If anyone knows the runner lemme know so we can have their POV video for the lols,” wrote Sheeran, who shared a shorter version of the clip on TikTok.

The video shows Sheeran holding a guitar and floating along a canal when he sees the woman running alongside his boat.

“Hi!” Sheeran says with a wave before asking the woman, “Any requests?”

After slowing down a bit, the runner responds, “Can you do ‘Tenerife Sea’?”

Just then, Sheeran begins playing a note-perfect version of his romantic 2014 ballad, prompting the woman to whip out her phone to record the special moment.

After he finishes, Sheeran cheerfully raises his thumb and tells his lone audience member, “Have a good rest of your run.”

The woman gives Sheeran a little wave and takes off again.

The runner, whose name is Nikki Atkins, later identified herself by posting her version of the footage in her Instagram stories, which has since vanished. Atkins also spoke to the BBC about how thrilling it was to be serenaded by the star.

Sheeran’s followers responded to his video to say they probably wouldn’t have been as calm as Atkins was had they been in her shoes.

“Love this! She was just so casual with her request,” one marveled while another wrote, “I think I’d pass out.”

“That kind of thing never happen to me bc I would jump in the water,” said a third fan.

Meanwhile, another fan was inspired by Sheeran’s video to take up jogging herself. “I think i need to start running. How lovely,” she joked.

This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

• When breast cancer left a 38-year old woman weak and vulnerable, this 1 simple workout was a ‘transformative experience’
• I take at least 1 night off parenting every week. This experiment has saved my family
• 30 famous Hispanic Heritage Month quotes to share now and forever

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Music legend John Oates is set to headline Saturday night of the festival, which runs from Friday, Aug. 16, 2024 to Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024.

Here’s your guide to three days of “exceptional music, community and culture:”

Where is the 2024 Philadelphia Folk Fest?

After taking a hiatus in 2023, the folk fest takes place this year at Old Pool Farm, 1323 Salford Station Road, Harleysville, PA 19438.

Who’s playing the 2024 Philly Folk Fest?

The aforementioned John Oates (of Hall & Oates fame) is set to take the stage Saturday night. Other Saturday night headliners include The Secret Sisters, RUNA and BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet.

Friday night performers include Gangstagrass, Alexis P. Suter Band, Windborne, AJ Lee & Blue Summit and Stephen Wade.

John Flynn will bring the festival to a close Sunday night.

Other performers include PIPER, Adam Ezra Group and Miss Emily.

How much are tickets?

You can buy day passes at the gate.

Adult tickets cost $100 for Friday, $120 for Saturday and $105 for Sunday. Kids 12 to 17 years old can get in for $55 Friday and Sunday and $60 Saturday. Kids 5 to 11 cost just $10 any day. And, so-called “wee folk” (children 4 and under) get in for free.

The festival really leans on on a family-friendly atmosphere.

“We offer children’s activities, from crafts to singing to learning how to play an instrument,” the folk fest says on its website.

Camping was offered ahead of the festival, but it was unclear if you could still purchase with the festival underway.

Click here for the festival website, which should answer any of your groovy questions.

“Jack is loved and remembered for his sense of humor, exceptional zest for life, and unshakeable contribution to rock and roll where his legacy will forever thrive,” said a statement posted Thursday to his Instagram page. The death was confirmed by K. L. Doty, author of Russell’s autobiography, “The True Tale of Mista Bone: A Rock + Roll Narrative.”

Russell recently stopped touring after announcing he had been diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia and Multiple System Atrophy, which causes loss of coordination and balance, and changes in speech.

Fellow metal stars mourned Russell, with ex-Cinderella member Fred Coury writing on X: “The world lost 1 of the nicest guys in the business & 1 of the great voices to sail across the airways of the 80’s.” Poison singer Bret Michaels posted: “To my friend Jack Russell, such an amazing voice. May you rest in peace.”

A different iteration of Great White that Russell led — performing under the name Jack Russell’s Great White — was involved in one of the most tragic concerts in U.S. history in 2003. During a show at The Station nightclub in Rhode Island, the band’s pyrotechnics sparked a fast-moving blaze that caused a bottleneck as fans tried to flee. The fire killed 100 people, including the band’s guitarist, Ty Longley, and injured more than 200 others.

Music & Musicians Aug 15

Greg Kihn, known for his '80s hit songs ‘Jeopardy' and ‘The Breakup Song,' dies at 75

Television Aug 15

‘Hollywood Squares' host and Broadway star Peter Marshall dies at 98

″It was a horrible tragedy,” Russell told The Roanoke Times in Virginia in 2010. “I wish we could go back in time and erase it. I wish there was something I could’ve done about it. This was one of those things where you don’t see it coming — there’s no way you can possibly see it coming. You just kind of pick yourself up and move on. You take what life gives you.

The only people criminally charged were Jeffrey and Michael Derderian, the owners of The Station nightclub, and Daniel Biechele, Great White’s tour manager, who set off the pyrotechnics without a permit. The three struck plea deals.

Great White held benefit concerts after the fire to raise money for the Station Family Fund, a charity that helped people who were severely burned, children who had lost parents and others. The band agreed to pay $1 million to more than 300 people as part of a settlement.

Russell was a California native who joined Great White in 1981 and found success with its blend of blues and hard rock, before he left to record a solo album. The band split up in 2001, and Russell reformulated a version under his own name.

Great White’s biggest hit was the Ian Hunter-penned song, “Once Bitten, Twice Shy” from its 1989 album, ”… Twice Shy,” peaking at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, aided by a popular MTV video. A Russell original, “The Angel Song,” reached No. 30 on the chart, and ”… Twice Shy” wound up selling about 2 million copies. The band would earn a Grammy nomination in the best hard rock performance category.

The band reunited in 2007 with original members to mark their 25th anniversary, issued a new studio album and spent the last two months touring Europe.

Kihn died of Alzheimer’s disease on Tuesday, his management team said in a statement posted to Kihn’s website. He was 75.

He was born on July 10, 1949, in Baltimore and moved to the San Francisco area in the 1970s. He was signed to Beserkley Records. With a songwriting style that blended folk, classic rock, blues and pop, his Greg Kihn Band had their first hit with “The Breakup Song,” released in 1981.

In 1983, the band’s song “Jeopardy” rose to No. 2 on the Billboard HOT 100 songs chart behind Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.” The song was also seen and heard regularly in the early years of MTV.

Kihn’s albums often carried entertaining titles that played off his name — from “RocKihnRoll” to “Kihntinued” to “Kihntagious and “Citizen Kihn.”

Martha Quinn, an original MTV VJ, posted to that effect in her tribute Thursday on social media. “My condolences go out to his loved ones, and thank you Greg for the Rock KIHN Roll,” Quinn wrote.

“Weird Al” Yankovic did a parody of the “Jeopardy” song in the ’80s called “I Lost on Jeopardy.” Kihn said he loved it and that it gave his song more of an afterlife than it might otherwise have had, Variety reported.

“It was a brilliant parody,” Kihn said. “He invited me to appear in his video, and I had a ball.”

Kihn was also a longtime DJ starting in the mid-1990s for KUFX radio in the San Francisco Bay Area and was a nationally syndicated nighttime radio host.

Kihn also wrote novels and short stories.

On his birthday in July, Kihn posted on his Facebook page — addressing his fans as Kihnfolk — thanking them for the birthday wishes and apologizing for not posting an update for nearly a year.

“After so many years of touring as well as doing radio shows … it’s finally time I get to chill out,” the post said. “Thank you to each and every one of you for all your love and support now and over the years. Rock on!”

On Aug. 14, TODAY exclusively shared nominees in two of the leading categories: the people’s artist of 2024 and the song of 2024.

Fans can head over to www.votepcca.com to start casting their votes. Voting is open through Friday, Aug. 23, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

The People’s Choice Country Awards will air live on Thursday, Sept. 26, at 8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT on NBC and Peacock from the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. The event will be hosted by five-time Grammy-winner Shania Twain. E! will also be live from the red carpet before the show at 6 p.m. ET.

This year, the People’s Choice Country Awards will feature some exciting new categories, such as best female song, male song, group/duo song, cover song, new artist song and storyteller song.

Read on for a list of People’s Choice Country Awards 2024 nominees.

People’s Choice Country Awards 2024 nominees

People’s artist of 2024

• Beyoncé
• Jelly Roll
• Kacey Musgraves
• Kane Brown
• Lainey Wilson
• Luke Combs
• Morgan Wallen
• Zach Bryan

Female artist of 2024

• Beyoncé
• Carly Pearce
• Dolly Parton
• Kacey Musgraves
• Kelsea Ballerini
• Lainey Wilson
• Megan Moroney
• Miranda Lambert

Male artist of 2024

• Bailey Zimmerman
• Chris Stapleton
• Cody Johnson
• Jelly Roll
• Kane Brown
• Luke Combs
• Morgan Wallen
• Zach Bryan

Group/duo of 2024

• Brothers Osborne
• Dan + Shay
• Old Dominion
• Ole 60
• The Red Clay Strays
• The War And Treaty
• Tigirlily Gold
• Zac Brown Band

Song of 2024

• “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” — Shaboozey (Songwriters: Collins Obinna Chibueze, Jerrel Jones, Joe Kent, Mark Williams, Nevin Sastry, Sean Cook)
• “Austin (Boots Stop Workin’)” — Dasha (Songwriters: Adam Wendler, Anna Dasha Novotny, Cheyenne Rose Arnspiger, Kenneth Travis Heidelman)
• “I Had Some Help” — Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen (Songwriters: Ashley Gorley, Austin Post, Chandler Paul Walters, Ernest Smith, Hoskins, Louis Bell, Morgan Wallen, Ryan Vojtesak)
• “I Remember Everything” — Zach Bryan feat. Kacey Musgraves (Songwriters: Kacey Musgraves, Zach Bryan)
• “Miles On It” — Marshmello & Kane Brown (Songwriters: CASTLE, Connor McDonough, Earwulf, Jake Torrey, Kane Brown, Marshmello, Nick Gale, Riley McDonough)
• “Pink Skies” — Zach Bryan (Songwriter: Zach Bryan)
• “Texas Hold ‘Em” — Beyoncé (Songwriters: Beyoncé, Brian Bates, Elizabeth Lowell Boland, Megan Bülow, Nate Ferraro, Raphael Saadiq)
• “Wild Ones” — Jessie Murph feat. Jelly Roll (Songwriters: Feli Ferraro, Gregory Aldae Hein, Jason Deford, Jeff Gitelman, Jessie Murph)

New artist of 2024

• Chase Matthew
• Chayce Beckham
• Dasha
• Koe Wetzel
• Nate Smith
• Shaboozey
• Tucker Wetmore
• Warren Zeiders

Social country star of 2024

• Bailey Zimmerman
• Beyoncé
• Dolly Parton
• Jelly Roll
• Kelsea Ballerini
• Luke Combs
• Morgan Wallen
• Reba McEntire

See the full list of nominees when casting your vote here.

This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

• George W. Bush painted a portrait of Hoda Kotb and her daughters for her 60th birthday
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The “Hollaback Girl” posted on Instagram that she has to reschedule her Atlantic City show, which was set for Aug. 17th at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

Stefani blames a “recent injury” for the decision but didn’t get into specifics.

Just a few weeks ago, she was promoting the concert at Hard Rock and other upcoming shows for the rest of the year.

Ticketmaster said the “event organizer has had to postpone the event” and that customers should hold onto their tickets as they will be valid for the new date.

If you are interested in getting a refund, visit www.ticketmaster.com for more information.

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Now why is Shawn Mendes saying this?

The 26-year-old released two singles “Why Why Why” and “Isn’t That Enough?” off of his upcoming album “Shawn” on Aug. 8 — and in the former, he hints at a pregnancy scare.

“I thought I was about to be a father,” Mendes sings on the track. “Shook me to the core, I’m still a kid / Sometimes I still cry out for my mother.”

Elsewhere on the track, the “Stitches” singer — who has previously been linked to Camila Cabello, Jocelyne Miranda and Sabrina Carpenter — details grappling with his past and current decisions, including leaving a past relationship.

“Sweating through the sheets, shakin’ in bed,” Mendes sings. “Visions of her naked in my head / But I went off and chose myself instead.”

E! News has reached out to Mendes’ rep for comment but has not yet heard back.

For Mendes, the process of creating the new music has been like “medicine,” he admitted.

“Two years ago I felt like I had absolutely no idea who I was,” the Grammy winner, who has been open about his mental health struggles, wrote in a July Instagram post. “A year ago I couldn’t step into a studio without falling into complete panic. So to be here right now with 12 beautiful finished songs feels like such a gift.”

Around the time mentioned in his personal post, he was still coming off of his 2021 breakup from Camila Cabello — although the duo briefly rekindled their romance during the summer of 2023.

And while, more recently, the “Señorita” duet partners caught up at the Copa America championship, Cabello has previously shared that her relationship with Mendes will likely not be romantic again.

“It doesn’t feel right,” she reflected on “Call Her Daddy ” in April. “I think luckily, I was in a place in my life where it took me less time to realize that — and it took us both less time to be like, ‘This doesn’t feel right and we don’t really need to try so hard to make it work. It’s all good. This is not feeling good, like ‘Let’s be friends, I love you. It’s all good, let’s move on.’”

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Swift was scheduled to play at the Austrian capital’s Ernst Happel Stadium on Thursday, Friday and Saturday as part of her Eras Tour.

Event organizer Barracuda Music said in a post on its Instagram channel late Wednesday that “we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety.” It cited government officials’ “confirmation” of a planned attack at the stadium.

Earlier Wednesday, authorities said they had arrested two suspected extremists, one of whom appeared to be planning an attack on an event in the Vienna area such as the upcoming concerts.

The 19-year-old main suspect was arrested in Ternitz, south of Vienna, and the second person in the Austrian capital.

Franz Ruf, the public security director at Austria’s interior ministry, said that authorities were aware of “preparatory actions” for a possible attack “and also that there is a focus by the 19-year-old perpetrator on the Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna,” the Austria Press Agency reported.

Ruf said the 19-year-old had pledged an oath of allegiance to the Islamic State group.

The Austrian citizen is believed to have become radicalized on the internet. Ruf said that chemical substances were secured and were being evaluated. He didn’t give more details.

The cancelation came hours after authorities said security measures for the Swift concerts would be stepped up. Ruf said that there would be a special focus among other things on entry checks and concertgoers should plan a bit more time.

Vienna police chief Gerhard Pürstl said at the same time that, while any concrete danger had been minimized, an abstract risk justified raising security.

“The situation surrounding the apparently planned terror attack in Vienna was very serious,” he wrote. But he added that, thanks to intensive cooperation between police, Austrian and foreign intelligence, “the threat could be recognized early on, tackled and a tragedy prevented.”

Barracuda Music said that “all tickets will be automatically refunded within the next 10 business days.” The same wording was posted under the Vienna dates on Swift’s official website.

The Vienna stadium had been sold out for the planned concerts, APA reported, with an estimated 170,000 fans expected for the concerts in Austria.

Swift fans took to social media to express their devastation at missing out on one of the superstar’s shows. Some who posted on X lamented months of now-wasted efforts to make friendship bracelets and pick out fashionable outfits for the performance.

Annmarie Timmins, a journalist who traveled from the U.S. for Thursday’s show, said she and her husband were waiting for the subway after dinner when they heard the news.

“I can’t even believe it,” she said. “There was a girl with her mom who looked so sad – even more than me. I gave her one of my bracelets. I wanted to hug her.”

In 2017, an attack at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England killed 22 people. Suicide bomber Salman Abedi set up a knapsack bomb in Manchester Arena at the end of Grande’s concert as thousands of young fans were leaving. More than 100 people were injured. Abedi died in the explosion.

An official inquiry reported last year that Britain’s domestic intelligence agency, MI5, didn’t act swiftly enough on key information and missed a significant opportunity to prevent the bombing, the deadliest extremist attack in the U.K. in recent years.

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NBC10’s First Alert Weather Team announced flooding in communities on Tuesday, Aug. 6, from Cherry Hill, New Jersey, to both sides of the Delaware River.

Zach Bryan fans get drenched, but eventually get a show

The storms even affected country music lovers at the Zach Bryan show in South Philadelphia, undoubtedly causing temporary disappointment among the fans.

The ‘Pink Skies’ and ‘Something Orange’ singer is currently on his “The Quittin Time Tour,” featuring two shows at the home of the Philadelphia Eagles, Lincoln Financial Field.

At his Aug. 6 show, fans waited patiently — some in the pouring rain — to see the singer after opening acts played.

They turned to social media hoping for updates on when the show could go on. At first Lincoln Financial Field posted on X about severe weather nearby: “for your safety, please remain sheltered in place away from the open seating areas.”

Just before 9:30 p.m., The Linc said “The Zach Bryan concert tonight is NOT cancelled. The gates will reopen when the severe weather shelter in place has been lifted.”

Fans regained hope at 10:06 p.m. when it was announced that Zach Bryan would perform at 10:20 p.m., nearly 3 hours after the scheduled start time.

NBC10 News reached out to Lincoln Financial Field for a comment, but did not get a response. Updates for events can be found on their X (Twitter Account).

Other shows impacted by weather

Ahead of more rain Wednesday, Camden County canceled a free concert form the rock band Eve 6 “in the interest of public safety.”

The county also postponed Thursday’s free concert with alternative rock icons Everclear scheduled for Thursday night. the show will now take place on Saturday, Aug. 17.

What happens if it’s stormy for Green Day at CBP?

So, with another Bryan show at The Linc Wednesday night and one Friday from punk rock icons Green Day at Citizens Bank Park with rain the forecast, how will fans know if the severe weather affects their plans?

A Citizens Bank Park ticketing office representative said, ”The show [Green Day] is still planning to perform on Friday and Saturday. If the weather is extreme, there is a possibility of a delay, and if it’s rained out, it will need to be rescheduled.”

Fans should stay updated by checking Green Day‘s and Citizens Bank Park‘s social media ahead of and during the Friday, Aug. 9, concert.

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The tour was set to begin on Friday in Tampa, Florida, but Ticketmaster‘s website says the event organizer canceled the entire tour, and no reason was given.

The New Jersey natives were supposed to perform at the Mann Center on Wednesday, Aug. 21.

The group, which consists of Hill, Wyclef Jean, and Pras Michel, has not yet issued a statement about the tour’s cancellation.

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Ticketmaster says refunds will be issued as soon as funds are received from the event organizer.

Sheeran, 33, posted a clip of the interaction Sept. 17 Instagram, explaining in his caption that he was filming a video on a boat when he spotted the woman running on a nearby sidewalk.

“Was filming a video on the canal today, played a request. If anyone knows the runner lemme know so we can have their POV video for the lols,” wrote Sheeran, who shared a shorter version of the clip on TikTok.

The video shows Sheeran holding a guitar and floating along a canal when he sees the woman running alongside his boat.

“Hi!” Sheeran says with a wave before asking the woman, “Any requests?”

After slowing down a bit, the runner responds, “Can you do ‘Tenerife Sea’?”

Just then, Sheeran begins playing a note-perfect version of his romantic 2014 ballad, prompting the woman to whip out her phone to record the special moment.

After he finishes, Sheeran cheerfully raises his thumb and tells his lone audience member, “Have a good rest of your run.”

The woman gives Sheeran a little wave and takes off again.

The runner, whose name is Nikki Atkins, later identified herself by posting her version of the footage in her Instagram stories, which has since vanished. Atkins also spoke to the BBC about how thrilling it was to be serenaded by the star.

Sheeran’s followers responded to his video to say they probably wouldn’t have been as calm as Atkins was had they been in her shoes.

“Love this! She was just so casual with her request,” one marveled while another wrote, “I think I’d pass out.”

“That kind of thing never happen to me bc I would jump in the water,” said a third fan.

Meanwhile, another fan was inspired by Sheeran’s video to take up jogging herself. “I think i need to start running. How lovely,” she joked.

This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

• When breast cancer left a 38-year old woman weak and vulnerable, this 1 simple workout was a ‘transformative experience’
• I take at least 1 night off parenting every week. This experiment has saved my family
• 30 famous Hispanic Heritage Month quotes to share now and forever

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Sheeran, 33, posted a clip of the interaction Sept. 17 Instagram, explaining in his caption that he was filming a video on a boat when he spotted the woman running on a nearby sidewalk.

“Was filming a video on the canal today, played a request. If anyone knows the runner lemme know so we can have their POV video for the lols,” wrote Sheeran, who shared a shorter version of the clip on TikTok.

The video shows Sheeran holding a guitar and floating along a canal when he sees the woman running alongside his boat.

“Hi!” Sheeran says with a wave before asking the woman, “Any requests?”

After slowing down a bit, the runner responds, “Can you do ‘Tenerife Sea’?”

Just then, Sheeran begins playing a note-perfect version of his romantic 2014 ballad, prompting the woman to whip out her phone to record the special moment.

After he finishes, Sheeran cheerfully raises his thumb and tells his lone audience member, “Have a good rest of your run.”

The woman gives Sheeran a little wave and takes off again.

The runner, whose name is Nikki Atkins, later identified herself by posting her version of the footage in her Instagram stories, which has since vanished. Atkins also spoke to the BBC about how thrilling it was to be serenaded by the star.

Sheeran’s followers responded to his video to say they probably wouldn’t have been as calm as Atkins was had they been in her shoes.

“Love this! She was just so casual with her request,” one marveled while another wrote, “I think I’d pass out.”

“That kind of thing never happen to me bc I would jump in the water,” said a third fan.

Meanwhile, another fan was inspired by Sheeran’s video to take up jogging herself. “I think i need to start running. How lovely,” she joked.

This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

• When breast cancer left a 38-year old woman weak and vulnerable, this 1 simple workout was a ‘transformative experience’
• I take at least 1 night off parenting every week. This experiment has saved my family
• 30 famous Hispanic Heritage Month quotes to share now and forever

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Frontman and lead singer Steven Tyler suffered a vocal cord injury last year, requiring the Boston-based band to pause its tour.

Aerosmith, which formed in 1970, made the announcement on social media.

“We’ve always wanted to blow your mind when performing. As you know, Steven’s voice is an instrument like no other. He has spent months tirelessly working on getting his voice to where it was before his injury,” the band wrote. “We’ve seen him struggling despite having the best medical team by his side. Sadly, it is clear, that a full recovery from his vocal injury is not possible. We have made a heartbreaking and difficult, but necessary decision — as a band of brothers — to retire from the touring stage.”

The band said anyone who had bought tickets through Ticketmaster will be fully refunded, and they ask anyone who purchased them via third-party sites to reach out to those organizations for more details.

“It has been the honor of our lives to have our music become part of yours,” Aerosmith wrote. “In every club, on every massive tour and at moments grand and private you have given us a place in the soundtrack of your lives.”

“A final thank you to you — the best fans on planet Earth,” the band continued. “Play our music loud, now and always. Dream On. You’ve made our dreams come true.”

Local music historian Donna Halper, who has followed the Boston music scene for decades, tells NBC10 Boston that Aerosmith never lost touch with their roots.

“Yes they were able to find what the next thing was. But they were always faithful to being Aerosmith. You knew who they were. You knew what they did. And they have done it consistently since 1970. That’s an amazing record,” she said.

Halper says longevity is the band’s legacy, evolving as music changed but staying true to their core values.

More on Aerosmith

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The best-selling female artist of all time announced that her annual Christmas extravaganza, “Mariah Carey’s Christmas Time,” is back and going national. She will visit 20 cities across the country, including Philadelphia.

Léelo en español aquí.

Carey will be performing all of her holiday hits at the Wells Fargo Center on Tuesday, Dec. 3.

“This tour marks Carey’s grandest holiday spectacle to date and is the first of many surprises she has in store to celebrate the 30th anniversary of her legendary album ‘Merry Christmas’ and its record-shattering single “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” The show will feature the global superstar’s timeless holiday classics alongside fan-favorite chart-toppers, promising an unforgettable festive experience,” concert organizers said.

Tickets will be available starting with the Verizon presale on Tuesday, Aug. 6, and additional presale will run throughout the week.

Then, Friday, Aug. 9 at 10 a.m. tickets will be available for the general public at LiveNation.com.

Fans can also purchase VIP packages that include premium tickets, access to the pre-show VIP Lounge, and exclusive VIP merch items. For more information, visit vipnation.com.

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Lady Gaga just revealed an Olympic-sized update about her personal life.

The 13-time Grammy winner is engaged to longtime partner Michael Polansky. During a conversation with French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal at the 2024 Paris Olympics July 28, Gaga introduced the politician to Polansky, referring to him as her “fiancé.”

E! News has reached out to the “Bad Romance” singer’s rep and has not heard back.

Attal posted a video of the conversation on his TikTok, captioning it, “Thank you Lady Gaga for your stunning performance at the opening ceremony. It was breathtaking.”

The 38-year-old, who performed a cover of French singer Zizi Jeanmaire’s “Mon Truc En Plumes” at the 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony July 26, had sparked engagement rumors in April when she stepped out wearing a sparkling ring on her left ring finger.

The “Bad Romance” singer and Polansky, a tech investor, first sparked relationship rumors in 2020, when they were photographed kissing at a New Year’s Eve party in Las Vegas.

The singer made their romance social media official the following February when the two attended the Super Bowl together.

In addition to engagement speculation, Gaga had also faced pregnancy rumors in June when she was photographed with Michael at her sister’s wedding.

“Not pregnant,” Gaga wrote on TikTok at the time, “just down bad crying at the gym.”

This marks the third engagement for Gaga, who split from ex-fiancé Christian Carino in 2019 and was previously engaged to actor Taylor Kinney before their 2016 breakup.

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Halsey might not be feeling so lucky.

Britney Spears offered clarification after a message on her X account claimed she felt “bullied” by Halsey’s new song “Lucky,” which samples Spears’ 2000 track of the same name about the difficulties of being famous.

In her version, Halsey—who said she got permission from Spears—details her journey as a “single mom” to son Ender Ridley Aydin, 3, as well as touches on her recent health battles with lupus and a rare T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder.

Shortly after the July 26 statement appeared on Spears’ account, the “Toxic” singer deleted the negative reaction and called it “fake news.”

“That was not me on my phone !!!” read another July 26 message on X. “I love Halsey and that’s why I deleted it.”

The original post accused Halsey (real name Ashley Nicolette Frangipane) of creating a music video that felt “illegal and downright cruel.”

“For obvious reasons I’m very upset about the Halsey video,” read the statement on Spears’ X account. “I feel harassed, violated and bullied. I didn’t know an artist like her and someone I looked up to and admired would illustrate me in such an ignorant way by tailoring me as a superficial pop star with no heart or concern at all.”

Noting that the “I’m a Slave 4 U” singer, 42, has her “own health problems,” the post continued by threatening legal action against Halsey.

E! News has reached out to reps for Spears and Halsey for comment but hasn’t heard back.

Following Spears’ clarification, Halsey responded to the sweet support.

“And I love Britney!!!! I always have and always will,” the 29-year-old wrote on X. “You were the first person who ever made me realize what it means to feel inspired. And you continue to inspire me every day.”

According to Halsey, she had received permission from Spears to record the track.

When one fan asked if she had “involved” Spears at all, the “Without Me” singer replied on X July 18, “yes of course! I wouldn’t even dream of doing it without her blessing!”

Halsey shared how Spears initially responded to her request in another July 25 tweet, noting, “I wrote her the longest, sappiest, stan letter of all time and she was soooo nice.”

Earlier this week, the “Bad At Love” artist also explained just how much the original “Lucky” impacted her growing up as a kid who idolized Spears.

“I remember the first time I heard her sing lucky,” Halsey tweeted July 25, “and it hitting me at such a young age that I had no idea what her life was really like. and that feeling resonates with me so much still. I found myself singing it when I started treatment and then I knew I had to do it.”

Darkness filled the iconic venue after Billy Joel walked off stage for the final concert of his residency, concluding a decade-long run where the regular crowd shuffled in each month.

It ended with the Piano Man’s 104th concert of the residency and 150th of his career, all of which have been sell outs.

“This is our last night of the residency that we’ve been doing here,” Joel told the crowd, drawing boos. “I know, I know. We don’t want to go either, but, it’s time. It’s 10 years. None of us knew we were going to be able to do this for this long. This has been the most amazing gig that we’ve ever done.”

The 75-year-old Joel kicked off the concert with the very song that opened the historic residency on Jan. 27, 2014: “Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway).”

He mixed the usual classics with appropriately-titled tracks for the occasion like “This Is The Time” and “Movin’ Out” and special appearances by Axl Rose and Jimmy Fallon.

“We are witnessing history here tonight,” Fallon told the crowd before revealing a banner commemorating Joel’s 150 lifetime shows that was raised to the Garden’s iconic roof. “I remember we talked when you first started the residency, saying, ‘How long are you gonna do this?’ This is not like a little club in the East Village, this is Madison Square Garden in New York City. No one does this!”

Rose, the lead singer of Guns N’ Roses, joined Joel on stage to perform “Live and Let Die” and AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell.” The 62-year old then returned to help Joel close the show, and the residency, with “You May Be Right” interluded with Led Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll.”

The night’s loudest ovation belonged to Joel’s youngest daughters — 8-year-old Della Rose and 6-year-old Remy Anne — who hopped onto the piano during “My Life.” Della than began working the stage, clapping, dancing and hopping on the mic to thank the Garden crowd.

“How do you follow that?” Joel asked. “I guess it’s ‘Her Life’ now.”

Joel’s life will no longer include the once-a-month trip to midtown Manhattan to perform as the house band of Madison Square Garden. His focus can shift to spending time with his family at his primary residence in Florida and playing other venues near and far.

Joel announced in June 2023 that the Garden run would be coming to a close.

That led to a surge in ticket demand, with StubHub telling NBC that sales for Joel’s final MSG residency concert was 41% higher than sales of his second best-selling show of the decade-long run, the penultimate performance on June 8. Hours prior to the start of Thursday’s show, the lowest price for a single ticket on StubHub started at nearly $500. Fans from 21 countries purchased tickets to the concert, per StubHub.

Other fans didn’t have to travel quite as far to forget about life for a while.

Once a month, Joel has taken his seat at his piano stool at the Garden. And once a month, some of the same fans have taken their seat in the stands.

Cindy Stellato and Mark Gagliardi of Peekskill, New York said they have attended nearly all 104 concerts of Joel’s residency — with Stellato missing one and Gagliardi missing two.

“My whole life has been centered around coming here,” Gagliardi said. “We haven’t taken a vacation in 10 years because we had to afford to buy Billy Joel tickets every month. So now that he’s ending, we figure maybe we can actually afford to take a vacation to Italy.”

They were both unable to attend the August 2018 show while in Florida for Gagliardi’s martial arts tournament, and Stellato brought a stand-in for the June 2019 show when Gagliardi underwent hip-replacement surgery.

“She wasn’t gonna miss the show with me having surgery,” he said. “So, she brought her 98-year-old mother.”

“Her first Billy Joel concert,” Stellato added.

For Joel’s 150th concert at the venue on Thursday, Madison Square Garden marked the occasion by unveiling a “Defining Moments” exhibit dedicated to Joel on the sixth-floor concourse. It included memorabilia from his legendary run; a “Scenes From an Italian Restaurant” themed concession stand that even offered cannolis; some interactive Joel-related photo ops and a merch pop-up.

Joel has regularly invited A-list performers to make surprise appearances during the residency.

At Joel’s 100th residency show in March, he was joined by comedian and fellow Long Islander Jerry Seinfeld, as well as Sting, who performed duets on Joel’s “Big Man on Mulberry Street” and The Police classic “Every Little Thing She Does is Magic.”

For Joel’s 100th career show at the Garden in on July 18, 2018 – an occasion that was declared “Billy Joel Day” in New York – Bruce Springsteen made a cameo to perform his hits “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out” and “Born to Run.”

Olivia Rodrigo in 2022 performed her song “Deja Vu” – which references Joel in the lyrics – and then partnered with him on “Uptown Girl.” Paul Simon and Miley Cyrus joined Joel in 2017 for an unlikely collaboration on “You May Be Right.” Brian Johnson, the lead singer of AC/DC, shook the Garden with Joel during a 2014 performance of “You Shook Me All Night Long.”

Other guests have included John Mellencamp, Tony Bennett, Patty Smyth, Aerosmith’s Joe Perry, Foreigner’s Lou Gramm and Mick Jones, John Fogerty, Elvis Costello, Bryan Adams, John Mayer and others.

There have been on-stage celebrity appearances by Jimmy Fallon, Howard Stern, Kevin Bacon, Mark Messier, Jon Stewart and Kevin James, and performances by Joel’s eldest daughter Alexa Rae.

Joel – who was born in the Bronx and raised in Hicksville, Long Island – played his first career concert at Madison Square Garden at the age of 29 on Dec. 14, 1978 after the success of his album “The Stranger.”

He has the most lifetime performances by any artist at the venue, with his total of 150 concerts comfortably ahead of Elton John (76 performances), Phish (68) and the Grateful Dead (52).

Will Joel eventually add to his total at Madison Square Garden? He told the crowd that he will one day turn the lights back on.

“I want to mention a couple of things we’ve done,” Joel said. “We were the first group that played in Yankee Stadium. We were the last band to play at Shea Stadium. We played in Berlin the night the Berlin Wall came down. We were the first American full-fledged performance in the Soviet Union. We were the first band after Castro came to power to play in Cuba. We played in front of the Colosseum in Rome for a half a million people, and the food was great. And out of all of them, this is the best. There’s no place like it. The band loves it. The crew loves it. We’ll come back.”

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Sheeran, 33, posted a clip of the interaction Sept. 17 Instagram, explaining in his caption that he was filming a video on a boat when he spotted the woman running on a nearby sidewalk.

“Was filming a video on the canal today, played a request. If anyone knows the runner lemme know so we can have their POV video for the lols,” wrote Sheeran, who shared a shorter version of the clip on TikTok.

The video shows Sheeran holding a guitar and floating along a canal when he sees the woman running alongside his boat.

“Hi!” Sheeran says with a wave before asking the woman, “Any requests?”

After slowing down a bit, the runner responds, “Can you do ‘Tenerife Sea’?”

Just then, Sheeran begins playing a note-perfect version of his romantic 2014 ballad, prompting the woman to whip out her phone to record the special moment.

After he finishes, Sheeran cheerfully raises his thumb and tells his lone audience member, “Have a good rest of your run.”

The woman gives Sheeran a little wave and takes off again.

The runner, whose name is Nikki Atkins, later identified herself by posting her version of the footage in her Instagram stories, which has since vanished. Atkins also spoke to the BBC about how thrilling it was to be serenaded by the star.

Sheeran’s followers responded to his video to say they probably wouldn’t have been as calm as Atkins was had they been in her shoes.

“Love this! She was just so casual with her request,” one marveled while another wrote, “I think I’d pass out.”

“That kind of thing never happen to me bc I would jump in the water,” said a third fan.

Meanwhile, another fan was inspired by Sheeran’s video to take up jogging herself. “I think i need to start running. How lovely,” she joked.

This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

• When breast cancer left a 38-year old woman weak and vulnerable, this 1 simple workout was a ‘transformative experience’
• I take at least 1 night off parenting every week. This experiment has saved my family
• 30 famous Hispanic Heritage Month quotes to share now and forever

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Sheeran, 33, posted a clip of the interaction Sept. 17 Instagram, explaining in his caption that he was filming a video on a boat when he spotted the woman running on a nearby sidewalk.

“Was filming a video on the canal today, played a request. If anyone knows the runner lemme know so we can have their POV video for the lols,” wrote Sheeran, who shared a shorter version of the clip on TikTok.

The video shows Sheeran holding a guitar and floating along a canal when he sees the woman running alongside his boat.

“Hi!” Sheeran says with a wave before asking the woman, “Any requests?”

After slowing down a bit, the runner responds, “Can you do ‘Tenerife Sea’?”

Just then, Sheeran begins playing a note-perfect version of his romantic 2014 ballad, prompting the woman to whip out her phone to record the special moment.

After he finishes, Sheeran cheerfully raises his thumb and tells his lone audience member, “Have a good rest of your run.”

The woman gives Sheeran a little wave and takes off again.

The runner, whose name is Nikki Atkins, later identified herself by posting her version of the footage in her Instagram stories, which has since vanished. Atkins also spoke to the BBC about how thrilling it was to be serenaded by the star.

Sheeran’s followers responded to his video to say they probably wouldn’t have been as calm as Atkins was had they been in her shoes.

“Love this! She was just so casual with her request,” one marveled while another wrote, “I think I’d pass out.”

“That kind of thing never happen to me bc I would jump in the water,” said a third fan.

Meanwhile, another fan was inspired by Sheeran’s video to take up jogging herself. “I think i need to start running. How lovely,” she joked.

This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

• When breast cancer left a 38-year old woman weak and vulnerable, this 1 simple workout was a ‘transformative experience’
• I take at least 1 night off parenting every week. This experiment has saved my family
• 30 famous Hispanic Heritage Month quotes to share now and forever

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Sheeran, 33, posted a clip of the interaction Sept. 17 Instagram, explaining in his caption that he was filming a video on a boat when he spotted the woman running on a nearby sidewalk.

“Was filming a video on the canal today, played a request. If anyone knows the runner lemme know so we can have their POV video for the lols,” wrote Sheeran, who shared a shorter version of the clip on TikTok.

The video shows Sheeran holding a guitar and floating along a canal when he sees the woman running alongside his boat.

“Hi!” Sheeran says with a wave before asking the woman, “Any requests?”

After slowing down a bit, the runner responds, “Can you do ‘Tenerife Sea’?”

Just then, Sheeran begins playing a note-perfect version of his romantic 2014 ballad, prompting the woman to whip out her phone to record the special moment.

After he finishes, Sheeran cheerfully raises his thumb and tells his lone audience member, “Have a good rest of your run.”

The woman gives Sheeran a little wave and takes off again.

The runner, whose name is Nikki Atkins, later identified herself by posting her version of the footage in her Instagram stories, which has since vanished. Atkins also spoke to the BBC about how thrilling it was to be serenaded by the star.

Sheeran’s followers responded to his video to say they probably wouldn’t have been as calm as Atkins was had they been in her shoes.

“Love this! She was just so casual with her request,” one marveled while another wrote, “I think I’d pass out.”

“That kind of thing never happen to me bc I would jump in the water,” said a third fan.

Meanwhile, another fan was inspired by Sheeran’s video to take up jogging herself. “I think i need to start running. How lovely,” she joked.

This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

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Prepare to lose yourself over Eminem‘s adorable ode to Hailie Jade Scott.

The “Houdini” rapper dedicated his emotional new song “Temporary” — released as part of his “Death of Slim Shady” album on July 13 — to his 28-year-old daughter with ex Kim Scott.

“A lot of people ask me, am I afraid of death? The truth is, I think what scares me the most is not being able to say all the things I wanna say to you when I’m no longer here,” Eminem raps on the intro to the song. “So, this song is for Hailie, for when that day comes.”

The Grammy winner — who also shares kids Alaina, 31, and Stevie, 22, with Scott — goes on to imagine what his daughter’s life will be like after he dies, assuring her that it won’t mean he’s no longer there for her.

“And, sweetie, be strong, I know I was your rock,” he tells her in the verses. “And I still am, saying goodbye is just not / Ever easy, why you crying? Just stop / Hailie, baby, dry your eye, this is not forever.”

And that’s not the only way Eminem — real name Marshall Mathers — pays tribute to Scott on the track, which also features singer Skylar Grey. Adorable voice recordings of the “Just a Little Shady” podcast host as a toddler can also be heard throughout the song.

Of course, music isn’t the only way the rapper — who has previously gushed about her on “Hailie’s Song” and “Mockingbird” — shows her how much she means to him. Back in May, the 51-year-old made sure to be by her side when she married husband Evan McClintock in an intimate wedding ceremony.

And his support didn’t go unnoticed by his daughter, who shared that “so, so many happy tears were shed” on her big day.

“Laughs & smiles were had, & so much love was felt,” Scott gushed in a May 20 Instagram post. “Evan and I are feeling so grateful for all of the family & friends that traveled to support us and be a part of this new chapter of our lives as husband & wife.”