Alan Jackson performed 23 songs during his final concert and he ended with a hit that brings it all home, literally. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
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Month: June 2026
The-Dream has announced a new full-length album, Love/Hate II. In anticipation of the album, the singer, songwriter, and producer has shared “Tampa,” a song featuring longtime collaborator Usher. Love/Hate II arrives July 10 via RadioKilla Records/Republic Records. Exclusive signed CD and vinyl editions are available for pre-order now, as well as official merchandise.
“Tampa” is a bedroom-ready banger boasting soulful harmonies and a cocky chorus: “This is where your man should be instead of worrying about me.” The R&B titans have worked together on fan favorites like Usher’s “Cold Blooded” in 2024 and The-Dream’s “Forget About Her” from 2016.
The-Dream offered the first preview of Love/Hate II earlier this year with “Bring That Body,” his first official solo single in more than a decade. The project dives head-first into the complicated realities of love today. “I want to make a record about where love is now,” he says. “Relationships became cheapened. People used to fight for their love.”
Love/Hate II is the sequel to his 2007 debut Love/Hate. Showcasing a powerhouse cast of collaborators, the album also features appearances from Pusha T, Swizz Beatz, T.I., Kelly ‘Dria’ Rowland, Rick Ross, and more. In an interview with Variety, The-Dream called the project the first taste of what’s shaping up to be a sonic progenitor of its predecessor,” while teasing contributions from Pharrell Williams, Mike Dean, Swizz Beatz, and more.
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The New York Times recently named The-Dream among “The 30 Greatest Living American Songwriters.” The publication noted, “Name a post-aughts R&B smash, and his imprint is probably on it…,” citing contributions to Rihanna’s “Umbrella,” Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” Mariah Carey’s “Touch My Body,” and Justin Bieber’s “Baby,” among many others.
The-Dream continues to shape the sound of contemporary music across genres, with recent contributing to records like The Clipse’s “All Things Considered,” Rosalía’s “Sauvignon Blanc,” and “Allegedly” with Summer Walker. His work has earned numerous accolades, including the Grammy Award for Album of the Year for his contributions to Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter.
Listen to THE-DREAM’s Love/Hate II here.
Discover more about the world’s greatest R&B artists | uDiscover Music
By: Corinne Smith, Alaska Beacon
An Anchorage judge ruled on Friday the Alaska Division of Elections’ decision to disqualify a U.S. Senate candidate with the same name as the incumbent was unlawful. The state immediately appealed the decision, sending the case to the Alaska Supreme Court on Monday.
In the Friday night ruling, the judge determined Dan J. Sullivan, a retired teacher from Petersburg, is an eligible candidate for U.S. Senate and that the division shall include his name on the August 18 primary ballot.
The division’s decision to disqualify Sullivan because it determined his candidacy was not filed in “good faith” was unconstitutional, Superior Court Judge Thomas Matthews ruled. “The director’s assertion that Mr. Sullivan seeks to confuse or misguide voters is not supported by a preponderance of evidence,” he wrote.
Matthews wrote that the division accepted “at face value” complaints against the candidate made by the incumbent and the Alaska Republican Party while disregarding Sullivan’s assertions that his campaign was sincere.
The division made the unprecedented decision to remove Sullivan from the ballot on June 15, following allegations from Republican groups that he was a “sham candidate” and cited his similar name, party affiliation and campaign materials as evidence of an intention to confuse voters by running for U.S. Senate. In court on Friday morning, an attorney for the division defended the decision, saying it was within the division’s authority to remove a candidate to prevent voter confusion, and if a candidate is seeking to be placed on the ballot to “compromise the fairness of the ballot.”
Sullivan defended his candidacy as genuine, and appealed the division’s decision in state court. In oral arguments, his attorney argued Sullivan met all the constitutional requirements for candidacy, and the division had unlawfully added a subjective criteria.
The judge agreed, saying the division does not have the authority to add additional requirements for a candidate. While the director has the authority to prepare the ballot in the interest of “fairness, simplicity and clarity” for voters, the judge said the statute supports “ballot design solutions,” including name formatting and instructions. “It does not authorize the removal of a candidate who satisfies the legal qualifications for office,” Matthews wrote.
State regulation already prescribes what should happen if two identically named candidates appear on the same ballot. The ballot would include candidates’ middle initials — Dan J. Sullivan for the candidate from Petersburg, and Dan S. Sullivan for the incumbent senator.
The judge also denied the Alaska Republican Party’s motion to intervene in the case as a third party, but said the court would consider its position as an amicus brief.
The case is being fast-tracked ahead of the division’s deadline to certify and print primary ballots on Tuesday at noon. The Alaska Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments in the state’s appeal for 10am on Monday, which will be livestreamed for the public.
NOTN- Residents affected by recurring glacial lake outburst floods in Juneau are calling for a faster path toward a long-term flood mitigation solution, arguing that years of annual preparation, uncertainty and recovery are taking a growing toll on the community.
Members of Juneau Flood Solution Advocates gathered recently at Chapel by the Lake to hear updates from scientists studying Suicide Basin as well as mining industry leaders to discuss potential solutions for reducing the threat posed by floods along the Mendenhall River.
The grassroots group formed in 2024 following major flooding in the Mendenhall Valley. Since then, members have worked to support neighbors, coordinate resources and advocate for permanent flood mitigation measures.
“We can’t do this every year,” said Debbie Penrose Fisher, a member of the group, “Whatever it takes to get this expedited on a fast track, and to include local experts, that’s the path to the finish line. Folks are exhausted, and they’re exhausted from the equipment, the noise, the intrusion on their property, to the anxiety of preparing, and we just want a solution.”
Many residents have expressed frustration with the timeline for a permanent solution. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been studying several long-term mitigation options, including a proposed tunnel that would continuously drain water from Suicide Basin to reduce the likelihood of catastrophic releases.
Fisher said some residents would like to see additional expertise brought into the discussion, including mining industry engineers with experience in large-scale tunneling and earth-moving projects.
“The mining industry can do this. They do this all the time,” Fisher said, “The challenge is that, and the city is working really hard to protect us, The Corp is saying six plus years until a long term solution, and even recently are back to 10 to 15 years. We can’t wait that long. We can’t. Our push is to get the mining industry into a conversation with the Corps, so together they can solve this.”
At the same time, city officials say the challenge remains unprecedented and requires balancing safety, environmental concerns, costs and regulatory requirements.
“There is no playbook for how to address glacial lake outburst flooding in an urban area,” Said Deputy City Manager Robert Barr in an email response to News of the North, “For every decision, we and our counterparts at other agencies are having to balance public safety considerations, cost and fiscal considerations, and the regulatory processes that bound any mitigation actions.”
Officials said they understand residents’ concerns and are continuing to gather public input through community meetings and outreach efforts. Many of the same questions being asked by residents are also being asked by city leaders, including what future floods may look like, what would happen if temporary flood barriers fail and how permanent solutions can be implemented as quickly and safely as possible.
The city has invested heavily in temporary flood protection measures, including the installation and reinforcement of HESCO barriers along vulnerable sections of the river. Officials say those efforts helped reduce damage during a larger flood event last year compared with the devastating flooding experienced in 2024.
“Nature always has the potential to humble us,” Barr said. “No human-created solution to a natural phenomenon is going to be perfect.”
He emphasized that current projects are intended to reduce risk while longer-term solutions are evaluated.
The city also noted that the flood threat is unlike any faced by another urban community worldwide.
“This hazard does not occur in any other urban area in the world,” officials said. “Which is why it is so critical for us all to be working together and pulling in the same direction. The way our community has come together to research and learn about the science and potential solutions is impressive. It wasn’t too long ago where we became a community full of knowledge and understanding about things like antigens and antibodies, PCR tests and vaccines. Today, we’ve learned more than we ever thought we would about glacial dynamics, dams, levees, bank armoring, and tunnels. I’m optimistic, with all of the people and agencies tackling this problem, we’ll get to a solution as quickly as possible.”
While no definitive timeline has been established for a permanent solution, city officials said the situation remains fluid and pledged to keep residents informed as new information becomes available.
Upcoming public engagement opportunities include a Community Flood Preparedness Training event scheduled for July 11 at Dimond Park and a July 20 Committee of the Whole meeting, where U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials are expected to provide updates on ongoing studies and mitigation efforts. Officials encouraged residents with questions or concerns to contact the city at floodresponse@juneau.gov or reach out to their Assembly representatives
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Lauryn Hill is a living legend, and one of the most influential musicians of our time.
Over the weekend, the BET Awards honored her with the appropriately named Living Legend Icon Award.
Not only did she accept the accolade, she took things one step further.
Hill treated the audience to an impromptu performance of one of her biggest hits. And she didn’t stop there.
She received the Living Legend Icon Award
On Sunday, June 28, Hill delighted BET Awards viewers — in person and at home — with a classic.
Her 1998 hit, “Ex-Factor,” is only a small part of what earned her the Living Legend Icon Awards.
Ice Cube introduced Hill to the stage.
Viewers saw a 20-minute tribute to her iconic career.
SZA, Doechii, Lizzo, Queen Latifah, and Common all performed in tribute. So, too, did Selah Marley and Zion Marley — her children.
Hill also ended up closing the show, performing “Everything Is Everything.”
During the tributes, the music icon smiled, sang along, and applauded.
On the stage, she accepted the monumental honor.
Speaking to the audience, Hill encouraged everyone to embrace their gifts and to remain true to their purpose.
That is an important message, with the bleakness of streaming and the hard push for AI slop in every corner of what should be a creative industry.
‘It’s me fighting for my community’
“I fight for y’all,” Hill affirmed to everyone in the room.
“And fighting for y’all is me fighting for myself, it’s me fighting for my children,” she emphasized.
Hill added: “It’s me fighting for my community.”
In addition to her music career, she has also been a champion of various activist causes.
(Hill did need to be reminded by activists to cancel a 2015 performance in the apartheid state of Israel, but hey, at least she canceled.)
Hill launched her career as a member of the Fugees.
Then, she broke off and launched her solo debut, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
“Doo Wop (That Thing),” “Ex-Factor,” and “Everything Is Everything” remain some of her most iconic hits to this day.
The Living Legend Icon Award honors pioneers within the culture who have influenced generations — from enjoyers to fellow artists.
Hill more than qualifies.
Lauryn Hill Honored, Performs at BET Awards was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip
At a time when there appears to be an increasing demand for hair transplant surgery among young adults, the baldmaxxing trend may just be what society needs.
Health Digest – Health News, Wellness, Expert Insights
Lucas Trejo is facing an unimaginable loss.
The soccer player’s wife Yanina Maranella and their two children Aarón Trejo and Ainhoa Trejo were among the more than 1,400 people killed in the…
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If you like Asian food, there are many options available. Sometimes the best places are small mom-and-pop establishments in strip malls and grocery stores.
Mashed – Fast Food, Celebrity Chefs, Grocery, Reviews
The Little House on the Prairie is getting a big renovation.
Ahead of the Netflix adaptation of the beloved Laura Ingalls Wilder novels—which were originally turned into a TV series in 1974— cast…
E! Online (US) – Top Stories
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A horrific heatwave has laid siege to Europe, subjecting countries unprepared for summer weather to heat normally experienced in places like the southern US.
Despite the deadly heat, Harry Styles’ show was sold out.
His UK audience watched in horror as he appeared to collapse on stage. It was not a stunt.
Was it the heatwave? Or was there some other crisis?
Oh no!
Harry’s Friday night show at Wembley Stadium in London was sold out.
However, mid-performance, he appeared to collapse on the stage.
Yes, there are videos — plural.
As you can see, there’s a split-second where the audience wondered if Harry falling onto the stage was part of his performance or some sort of gag.
But he didn’t get up. He rolled slightly and coughed as thousands upon thousands watched and recorded.
@enricalatorre The man collapsed 😂😂 #harrystyles #harrystylesconcert #toghethertoghetertour ♬ original sound – Enrica Latorre
Temperatures in Europe soared to new heights, breaking records for scorching weather.
As some noted, a French broadcast that warned of what temperatures could one day reach without climate action looks very similar to the actual, real-life weather report from last week.
For much of the world, it may be hard to understand why so many households still do not have air conditioning. Those of us who’ve walked to work in 90 degrees or more of heat know that you need AC in your destination.
That’s really something for Europeans to figure out. It’s simply not part of their culture, and even though it should be, no amount of “please just get AC” is going to get people to protect themselves and their homes.
For performers like Harry, performing on a stage was always going to be hot. With so many buildings lacking air conditioning, it may be that there was no reprieve for him before his show or between performances to quickly cool off.
@hotchismedaily he is so cute #harrystyles #togethertogether #hot #whale #fyp ♬ original sound – hotchismedaily
It wasn’t the heat (it was the water)
However, TMZ reports that it was not the dreadful heat that took down Harry.
Instead, the issue was somehow water.
So what happened is that Harry intended to perform his “whale move,” which he normally executes without issue.
Instead, he ended up choking on water, which seemingly distracted him as he stumbled.
Harry lost his balance and fell to the stage.
PHOTO FOUR
To his credit, he did laugh it off, and exited the stage to make a show that he was uninjured.
Harry then returned to the stage, picking up again with “As It Was” to the delight of the crowd.
Truth be told, it’s good to remember that anyone can choke on anything — or, seemingly, nothing at all — at any time.
You can be alone in your apartment or on stage in front of 12,500 people (that’s the seating for Wembley Stadium).
Hydrating is smart, but make sure that it doesn’t take you out before the heat does.
Harry Styles Collapses on Stage During Deadly Heatwave, Insiders Explain Medical Event … was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip