There are several exciting all-star collaborations on the new project. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
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There are several exciting all-star collaborations on the new project. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
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Over the summer, Frankie Muniz announced that he and wife Paige Price were divorcing after five years of marriage.
The Malcolm in the Middle star revealed the news with a celebratory video in which the couple danced with their young son.
He deleted the post after taking flak for celebrating an event that may well prove traumatic to his kid.
Now, Muniz has definitely changed his tune, and he now says he’s suffering as he never has before.
In a shockingly candid social media post, Muniz described his life as a “nightmare” that’s left him feeling as though he has “nowhere to hide.”
“The last 6 weeks of my life have been a nightmare I’m praying to wake up from. Everything felt heavy, unclear, and like it was falling apart at the same time,” he wrote, adding:
“I wouldn’t wish this season on anyone.
“The unexpected gift in the middle of it is that I’ve had nowhere to hide. I’ve had time to sit with myself, do real self-reflection, and finally see the areas of my life that need work if I want to become a better version of me. Not the polished version I show the world…the actual one.”
Muniz does not appear to have any substance abuse issues — in fact, he says he’s never even been drunk — but he describes his current state as “rock bottom.”
“I read that sometimes hitting rock bottom is the thing that wakes you up. It forces the changes you needed to make all along so you can live the best life possible,” he wrote, adding:
“That idea has been sitting with me. In five years I believe I’ll look back at this exact low point and feel grateful for it, because the high I’ll be standing on then only exists because I went through this.
“This isn’t the end of the story. It’s the part where I start doing the work…the uncomfortable, unglamorous, necessary work. I’m choosing to treat this season as the foundation, not the finish line.
“If you’re in a low place right now too, you’re not broken. You’re being rebuilt. Let’s keep going!”
For obvious reasons, Frankie’s post has sparked concern among fans.
Thankfully, he concluded it on an optimistic note.
Frankie has not offered any further clarification, but it feels safe to assume the challenges he’s referring to are the result of either his divorce or the pushback he received for his announcement.
Everybody deals with challenges in their own way, of course. And we hope the public will not continue to fault Frankie for remaining optimistic in the face of life’s setbacks.
Frankie Muniz Says His Life Is a ‘Nightmare’ He’s ‘Praying to … was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip
SESSION LESSON: Assemblymember Alex Bores would really like to take another swing at regulating Big Tech before he leaves office at the end of the year.
The New York lawmaker faced the multimillion-dollar wrath of the tech industry after leading the charge on crafting state regulations for artificial intelligence, falling short in his quest to move on to the halls of Congress.
But he said he’s optimistic about policymakers taking action amid growing public alarm over the risks of AI — and that he’d support a special session in Albany on the issue.
“This is an urgent problem, and too frequently we have left it to California to set the nationwide standards,” Bores said. “We’ve got some pretty darn talented people here in New York … and I would love to give them the chance to lead.”
The outgoing assemblymember, who has work experience in the industry, has positioned himself as a national leader on the issue with the launch of a $30 million group to develop the Democratic agenda on AI rules.
There are currently no plans for a special session on AI, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office.
The lack of plans to return to Albany before January to work on AI rules contrasts with discussions in California, where Gov. Gavin Newsom has mused on the possibility of calling lawmakers back to Sacramento.
Newsom signed an executive order today to speed up implementation of recently passed AI safety laws and consider proposals like requiring a “kill switch” for advanced AI models. New York regulators issued an order requiring gas, electric and water utilities to report on their use of AI yesterday, and New York Attorney General Letitia James urged employees at AI companies to report any rulebreaking.
The jockeying between states to act on AI comes amid a crescendo of alarm, including from the industry itself, that the technology is outpacing humans’ abilities to monitor and control it. Hochul has also said she wants to take additional actions, but without offering specifics.
The rhetorical flurry among state officials is also being sparked by the Trump administration’s dismissal of AI safety threats and a widespread sense that there’s little chance Congress will act on the issue anytime soon.
Democratic lawmakers who’ll be returning to Albany in January are discussing their options — and gearing up for pushback from the industry.
“The crux of the fight is in clawing back power from these oligarchs and putting real people in the driver’s seat,” said state Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, chair of the Internet and Technology committee.
Read the full story from POLITICO Pro’s Marie J. French.
HEALTH CARE
SETTLEMENT WATCH: NYU Langone agreed to pay $8.5 million and stop providing puberty blockers and hormonal treatment to minors under an agreement with the Justice Department announced today.
DOJ has announced similar agreements with five other hospital groups, including the Mount Sinai Health System in New York City, as part of a nationwide investigation into gender-affirming care that came at the direction of President Donald Trump.
NYU Langone spokesperson Steve Ritea said the DOJ agreement “protects our providers and secures the privacy and confidentiality of our patients and their families,” noting the health system denied any wrongdoing or liability as part of the agreement.
“Under this agreement, DOJ has agreed to resolve its investigations, removing the threat that NYU Langone would have to provide the confidential information previously demanded about patients under 18 who received gender-affirming care at our institution,” Ritea said in a statement.
NYU Langone’s statement echoes comments by Mount Sinai upon reaching a similar agreement with the Justice Department. — Maya Kaufman
MEASLES ON THE RISE: In response to a growing number of measles cases in rural New York, state Health Commissioner James McDonald is calling on all New Yorkers to make sure they’ve received the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.
McDonald said yesterday at a Public Health and Health Planning Council meeting that there are 66 cases across the state, with roughly two-thirds of those in adults aged 18 years old and older. The state’s new measles dashboard reports 51 cases, but it hasn’t been updated since Saturday.
The outbreak is primarily in rural and western parts of the state. Fifteen counties have reported at least one case, but the majority of cases are concentrated in Steuben, Seneca, Otsego and Allegany counties.
McDonald said he’s been in contact with health officials in neighboring Pennsylvania, where 767 cases and four deaths have been reported in a fatal outbreak there, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health dashboard.
“I can’t explain why the federal government is being as confusing as they are about vaccines,” McDonald said yesterday. “But I’m not confused. There was no new research or new science when they did their executive order. Nothing changed in New York State. States determine what the required vaccines are.”
He said the state has been working with local health departments to distribute more than 700 MMR vaccine doses to people living in the affected counties, where health officials traditionally face skepticism surrounding healthcare and vaccines.
The push is part of a broader effort to overcome confusion over an executive order signed by President Trump last month that directs federal agencies to reduce the number of recommended vaccines children receive and spread the shots out over a longer time period.
The executive order has ignited renewed hope among parents seeking exemptions from the state’s vaccine laws, which do not include a religious exemption and have proven to be a challenge when attempting to qualify for a medical exemption. — Katelyn Cordero
FROM CITY HALL
SCHOOL SAFETY: A longtime union leader is demanding Mayor Zohran Mamdani come up with a plan to keep classrooms safe amid recent weapons seizures at public schools.
Gregory Floyd, who heads Teamsters Local 237, pointed to several recent incidents, including a student caught with a loaded gun at a Staten Island high school.
His union represents nearly 2,000 municipal workers, including school safety officers.
“He’s yet to say anything, he’s yet to address it,” Floyd told Playbook. “Before we get further into the school year, we want him to come up with a comprehensive plan to make sure that no one in the public school system is seriously injured or possibly killed.”
Floyd decried a shortage of school safety agents, noting that the city has lost 2,000 agents since 2022. And the Mamdani administration, he said, isn’t hiring.
A City Hall spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The city saw a decrease in major felony crimes in schools, according to the mayor’s management report released Thursday.
Mamdani faced criticism over the summer after eliminating vacant school safety agent positions, drawing backlash from parents and advocates as felony assaults in schools rose.
Floyd pointed specifically to a lack of metal detectors. The most current version in schools, he said, has proven incapable of detecting smaller scalpels, which he described as an emerging threat in schools. Fewer than 100 schools currently have full-time scanners, according to Floyd. — Madina Touré
IN OTHER NEWS
— STOKING SPECULATION: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez plans to campaign for candidates across New York, reigniting speculation she’ll run for senator or president in 2028. (The New York Times)
— PRE-K PAY: After severe funding delays, providers of free childcare in New York City are finally being paid by the Mamdani administration, but some are still waiting. (Gothamist)
— $10M PAYOUT: Family of Robert Brooks, man beaten to death by corrections officers, to get $10 million settlement. (WPTZ)
Missed this morning’s New York Playbook? We forgive you. Read it here.
Politics
Jhené Aiko recently returned with her first album in six years, Westside Whimsy. Now, she’s shared a new video for the album track “Nothing Nice To Say.”
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In the video shot by Topshelf Junior, Aiko simply performs the song in a minimal space, wearing diamond necklaces that read ‘Westside’ and ‘Whimsy’. “So I been being quiet / Cuz I’ve had nothing nice to say / Been sitting here in silence / While you keep playing in my face,” she sings. The video’s opening shot of Aiko in a traditional kasa hat references the video for “Ark to Agatha,” released alongside the album.
Aiko announced Westside Whimsy only a few days before its September 11th release. She captioned a post of the tracklist “6 years in the making,” and thanked fans for their patience. The album has a number of features, including one from previous collaborator Kendrick Lamar on “So Good.” Back in 2013, Lamar contributed a verse to “Stay Ready (What A Life)” on Aiko’s debut EP Sail Out. Also appearing on the new record are Tyga on “Like, Whatever,” OHMA on “Golden Coast,” and Larry June on “Neighbors.”
In April, Aiko shared that her upcoming album was inspired by her home state. “All the music of the ‘90s has really influenced me but especially West Coast car culture, surfing culture, beach, laidback,” she said, according to Complex. “When I think of California, it’s just such a magical place and I love a good road trip and I’ve been doing them for many years.”
Fans first heard the title “Westside Whimsy” when Aiko chose it for her Erewhon smoothie collab. As she told Rolling Stone: “‘Westside Whimsy’ is a lifestyle. It’s not a project. It’s a lifestyle. Everything I do is that — you’ll see.”
Westside Whimsy currently holds the top spot on the iTunes Top Albums chart.
Listen to Jhené Aiko’s Westside Whimsy here.
Discover more about the world’s greatest R&B artists | uDiscover Music
Sofia Camara has announced a new six-track EP, Still Somewhere Here, which will be released on October 9. The announcement arrives alongside the new single “Hallucinating,” which is out now and explores the realization that someone once considered out of reach may feel the same way.
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Camara wrote “Hallucinating” from the perspective of someone who had previously felt invisible to her, shifting the point of view away from her own experience. Across Still Somewhere Here, she revisits past relationships, memories and earlier versions of herself, with songs addressing love, heartbreak, accountability and self-forgiveness. The project follows Hard to Love, which Camara described as coming from a more openly angry place. “There was a lot of anger in Hard to Love, and I think this EP is more about what comes after that,” she said. “You can be healed from what happened and still think about it. You don’t have to pack every memory away perfectly to move forward. Sometimes you can look back, feel nostalgic and still be at peace with where you are now.”
The EP follows a summer in which Camara performed at All Things Go, Rock in Rio Lisboa, Pinkpop, Montreux Jazz Festival and Lollapalooza Berlin. She also appeared as support for Bastille at a sold-out show at Cardiff Castle, adding to a run of performances across North America and Europe.
Born in Portugal and raised in Toronto, Camara has accumulated more than 235 million streams worldwide. Her earlier releases include “Who Do I Call Now? (Hellbent)” and “Girls Like You,” the latter of which reached the Top 5 at Canadian radio and spent more than 20 weeks on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100. She has also shared stages with artists including Stevie Nicks, Alex Warren and Alessia Cara.
Listen to Sofia Camara’s “Hallucinating” here.
Discover more about the world’s greatest R&B artists | uDiscover Music
Ina Garten knows that cabbage doesn’t need a complicated recipe to taste delicious. She uses on one simple ingredient to give the vegetable a big flavor boost.
Food Republic – Restaurants, Reviews, Recipes, Cooking Tips
With his new album, Silver Sands Marina, set to drop in one week, Kenny Chesney is opening up about the new project, admitting the 11-track collection is a true reflection of where he’s at in his life right now.
During an appearance on The TODAY Show, the Country Music Hall of Famer shared that the album is a reflection of his life and explained that he didn’t feel rushed throughout the album-making process.
“Well, I mean, you hope that the record that you put out is a reflection, is a mirror of where you are in your life. And I feel like this record is,” he said. “The thing that I love about it, I was afforded the gift of time for this one. Usually when an artist has a record and they put it out and it does well, the label kind of wants another one..In a 12 or 18 month period. But I wasn’t on that treadmill. I was at The Sphere for two years. I wrote a book. I was doing stuff. And so it took about three years to get this album where I wanted it. And I was very thankful.”
Silver Sands Marina is the follow-up to 2024’s Born and is fueled by the chart-climbing lead single, “Carry On.”
When assembling the project, Chesney says the thread holding everything together is joy, and he hopes fans feel that when listening. He was inspired to create that feeling when he thought about the fans who show up and sing his songs back to him each and every night.
“I think there’s a lot of emotions on this record that make you feel really alive and I’m very proud of that. That’s one thing that I try. When we’re up there on stage, sometimes I edit myself to a fault because I’m constantly going, ‘okay, well, if I record this song, is anybody out there going to care the way I think they’re going to care?’ And sometimes, like I said, sometimes it’s to a fault. But being up there on stage and seeing everybody out there and see their eyes and how they react to a certain song, you can’t help but edit yourself like that. So it took me a minute to get this there. But when I did, it was joy. And I think about the audience when I look at their faces every night when I’m out there because it’s a real special thing to see.”
Chesney’s appearance on the TODAY Show also included a performance at Rockefeller Plaza, where he performed “Goldfish” and “Carry On” live for the first time ever.
Fans will soon have the chance to hear more of the new album live when Chesney plays a special pop-up show in Nashville. For one night only, the superstar will take the stage at The Pinnacle on Friday, Sept. 25, in celebration of the new project.
“This new music – maybe because we’ve had so much time to get it to this place – has taken me back to when albums mattered, the songs kind of spoke to each other, and we found some really special, unusual things,” he shared in a statement early Friday. “Between loving this record and just getting to play a little bit at ‘TODAY,’ I figured we should keep rocking – and maybe make it a little bit bigger than a Keg in the Keys or Keg in the Closet show.
“So, we got everybody together… and we’re taking over the Pinnacle in Nashville. One night only, probably not more than a couple thousand tickets, and we’re trying to make it fun and fair to get in. If the band and I can get it together, we’re gonna play five, six, maybe even seven of these eleven songs, and I can’t wait.”
Limited tickets to the highly anticipated event will be available for $10 through Fair AXS. Fans can register for the opportunity to purchase tickets through tomorrow, Sept. 19 at 9 p.m. CT at THIS LINK. Selected fans will receive a private ticket purchase link connected to their AXS account.
This exciting Nashville show comes just days after Chesney unveiled plans for his 19-city Original Vibe Room Tour for 2027.
The post Kenny Chesney Opens Up About New Album ‘Silver Sands Marina’: ‘I Was Afforded The Gift Of Time’ appeared first on Country Now.
Country Now
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It’s been nearly 30 years since Princess Diana was killed in a car accident while running from paparazzi.
And we’re still learning new details that make her story seem even more tragic.
A memoir by Diana’s brother, Charles Spencer, will be published next week.
And as expected, Spencer shares some highly unflattering recollections of Diana’s ex-husband, King Charles.
Spencer writes that Charles sounded “giddily elated – like a lottery winner” on the night of Diana’s death.
Later in the book, he flashes further back and shares a harrowing story about the week of his sister’s wedding.
“On the day of Diana’s wedding I woke early and went to Clarence House, where I found her already in her wedding dress, sitting quietly in front of a mirror,” Spencer writes in an excerpt published by The Daily Mail.
“Only much later would I discover that, as she confided to a close friend, her husband-to-be had told her the previous day that she needed to know he was very happy to marry her, but he was not actually in love with her.” he continues, adding:
“Diana had to absorb that hammer blow while also feeling certain that Prince Charles was entering their marriage with his heart elsewhere.”
This was not the first indication Spencer had had that Diana and Charles’ relationship was less than ideal.
“A month after her engagement, she had been photographed in tears saying goodbye to Prince Charles as he was about to board a plane on official business,” he writes.
“Newspapers cooed with delight at what they thought to be the pain of a lovestruck innocent being parted from her fiancé. The truth was very different. Diana was completely at sea, having found a bracelet that Prince Charles had bought for Camilla.”
Later, Spencer recalls that Diana tried to end the engagement on multiple occasions, but she was told by several people — including her own father — that it would not be possible to do so.
Diana struggled with an eating disorder throughout her adult life, and Spencer says the situation was exacerbated by Charles’ remarks about her weight.
“Her insecurity was increased a few days after the engagement announcement when Prince Charles had squeezed her waist and said, ‘Oh, a bit chubby here, aren’t we?’” Spencer writes, adding:
“This was a comment she found devastating (she would later share with me that her waist shrank from 29 to 23½ inches between her engagement and her marriage).”
These days, of course, Charles is king, and he’s married to the woman with whom he carried on an affair while he was married.
We all know that life isn’t fair. But sometimes, the gap between the life a person deserves and the one they get is so massive that all we can do is shake our heads.
King Charles Told Princess Diana That He Didn’t Love Her One Day Before Their … was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip
Boxed wine is finally overcoming its negative reputation, and according to Consumer Reports, this variety offers both high-quality taste and affordability.
Mashed – Fast Food, Celebrity Chefs, Grocery, Reviews