Month: November 2021

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Entertainment Daypop

Good Morning America’s Michael Strahan to fly to space on Blue Origin

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Good Morning America co-host and NFL legend Michael Strahan announced that he will fly to space on Jeff Bezos’ ‘Blue Origin’ on its next flight, to take place on December 9.  It will be the rocket’s third human flight this year, and marks the first flight with a full astronaut manifest of six crew members in the capsule. Liftoff is set to take place at 9 a.m. CT on Dec. 9 at the “Launch Site One” facility in the West Texas desert.

Strahan said that one of the reasons he wants to travel on Blue Origin is the opportunity to be part of space exploration: “I believe that this is the way of being innovative, creative, pioneers in aviation, now space travel. And it’s going to take a while but I do believe that it will bring a lot of technological breakthroughs and also innovations to us here on Earth, and I just want to be a part of it.”

Joining Strahan on the mission will be Laura Shepard Churchley, the eldest daughter of Alan Shepard, who is the first American to fly to space and the namesake of New Shepard on the space flight. They will also be joined by Space industry executive and philanthropist Dylan Taylor, investor Evan Dick, and Bess Ventures founder Lane Bess and his child, Cameron. Lane and Cameron will be the first parent-child pair to fly in space.

Strahan began preparing for the mission two weeks ago, and has spoken to his fellow crew members via Zoom. The crew members will meet in Texas to begin training and undergo safety briefings soon.

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Entertainment Daypop

General Hospital’s Steve Burton fired for not complying with the show’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate

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General Hospital’s Steve Burton, who has played the role of Jason Morgan on and off since 1991, is leaving the long-running ABC soap opera after deciding not to get vaccinated. The 51-year-old actor took to social media on Tuesday, November 23 to confirm he had been fired by the series for not complying with the show’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

Burton said via Instagram: “Well, I know there’s a lot of rumors and speculation about me and General Hospital, and I wanted you to hear it from me personally. Unfortunately, General Hospital has let me go because of the vaccine mandate.”  In his video, Burton explained that he “did apply for my medical and religious exemptions, and both of those were denied, which, you know, hurts. But this is also about personal freedom to me.”  He also noted that he’ll always be grateful for the show that gave him his start, adding: “I love it there, I grew up there, I grew up with some of you. Maybe one day if these mandates are lifted, I can return and finish my career as Jason Morgan. That would be an honor.”

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the network later confirmed that Burton was dismissed for his inability to comply with their vaccine policy. His last day was October 27.  Burton’s departure comes two weeks after his costar Ingo Rademacher, who played Jasper “Jax” Jacks on GH, was also fired for refusing to get the vaccine. Rademacher had been outspoken on social media about his opposition to vaccine mandates, posting Nov. 7th on Instagram: “I will stand with you to fight for medical freedom” and adding the hashtag “no mandates.”

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Pop Daypop

2022 Grammy Nominations: Olivia Rodrigo, Doja Cat, Billie Eilish lead this year’s nominees

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Nominations for the 2022 Grammy Awards were revealed on Tuesday by the Recording Academy via a Livestream from Los Angeles. Olivia Rodrigo and Billie Eilish both earned seven nominations, with Doja Cat, Justin Bieber, and H.E.R. earning eight nods each.  Jon Batiste earned the most nominations, with 11 in total.

Olivia Rodrigo’s seven nominations include Record of the Year (“Drivers License”), Song of the Year (“Drivers License”), and Best New Artist.  Eilish earned nods for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album for “Happier Than Ever”, as well as Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Music Video for its title track.  Doja Cat’s Planet Her was nominated for Album of the Year, as well as Best Pop Vocal Album.

Justin Bieber and H.E.R. are each up for eight Grammys. Bieber’s “Peaches” is up for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best R&B Performance, and Best Music Video.

You can see the full list of nominees here. The 64th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony will be held on January 31, 2022, live on CBS.

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Pop Daypop

Taylor Swift earns her 8th No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 with ‘All Too Well (Taylor’s Version)’

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Taylor Swift just scored her eighth Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 with her recently re-recorded track “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version)”.  This marks Taylor‘s 30th Hot 100 top 10, making her the sixth artist to reach that milestone.

According to Billboard, the two versions of the song – both the original 5-minute track and the extended 10-minute one – were combined into one listing for Billboard‘s chart Streams for the extended mixes the charts dominated, earning 62% of its clicks and 78% of its downloads. As the 10-minute version is the dominant track, it can be considered the longest No. 1 by run time in the Hot 100′s history. “All Too Well” beat out previous record holder, the eight-minute, 37-second 1971 Don McLean hit “American Pie (Parts I & II),” which held the record as the longest song for nearly 50 years.

Red (Taylor’s Version) also debuted at No. 1 in the U.S. making Swift the first artist ever to simultaneously top the Billboard 200 and Billboard Hot 100 for the third time.

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Sports Daypop

New Orleans Saints and Taysom Hill agree to unique four-year, $40M extension which will pay according to position

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Taysom Hill and the New Orleans Saints agreed to a contract extension for four years and $40 million with $22.5 million guaranteed for injury and $20 million fully guaranteed.

Hill receives $10 million each season over the next four years if he remains in his current role in which he serves as backup quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end, as well as being a special teams ace. However, the deal can be worth up to $95 million if Hill becomes the Saints’ starting quarterback over the next four years.  The deal includes $22.5 million in guarantees. Hill, 31, was scheduled to become a free agent after this season after he signed a two-year, $21 million extension with the Saints in 2020.

Hill hasn’t started any games at quarterback so far this season is because he was dealing with a concussion in Weeks 5-8 and a foot injury this past week that held him out of practice on Wednesday and Thursday. Hill  is 7-of-8 passing for 56 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. He has run the ball 20 times for 104 yards and three TDs. And he has four catches for 52 yards.

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Sports Daypop

Denver Broncos WR Courtland Sutton agrees to 4-year extension worth nearly $61M

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The Denver Broncos announced that wide receiver Courtland Sutton has agreed to a four-year extension worth just under $61 million, which includes $34.9 million in guarantees. Sutton will receive $18 million in the first year of the deal. He was scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent at season’s end.

Sutton, 26, said on Monday:“This is home … Denver gave me opportunity and getting drafted was one of the best days of my life. I’ve always said being a Bronco is something I want to do for life.”  The wide receiver missed all but two games in 2020 with a torn ACL and has returned to lead the Broncos in receptions (43) and receiving yards (617) this season.

Courtland Sutton agrees to four-year extension in Denver

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Entertainment Daypop

Bobby Flay and The Food Network agree to new deal

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Celebrity chef Bobby Flay has signed a new deal with Food Network, whom he has been with for nearly three decades. Courtney White, president of Food Network and food streaming content for Discovery, told Variety on Monday: “We are thrilled to continue Bobby Flay’s long-standing relationship with Food Network. He captivates our audience with his incredible culinary skill, fierce competitive spirit and his trademark ability to share a deep passion for food. Bobby generously invites viewers into his culinary world, sharing his #WeCook philosophy and inspiring everyone in the kitchen. Continuing this creative relationship with such an extraordinary talent is the perfect way to usher in the holidays.”

The restaurateur and cookbook author has been at the Food Network since the channel began in 1994. The deal will keep Flay at The Food Network for three years after his current contract is up at the end of 2021. Multiple media outlets reported last month that Flay planned to leave the network at the end of this year because they couldn’t come to terms that were satisfactory for both sides.

Over the years, Flay has hosted or appeared on the shows Grillin’ and Chillin,’ Beat Bobby Flay, Brunch at Bobby’s, Chopped, Iron Chef America, Worst Cooks in America, The Best Thing I Ever Ate, The Next Food Network Star, The Flay List, The Throwdown! with Bobby Flay and Boy Meats Grill.

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Pop Daypop

Taylor Swift releases re-recorded version of ‘Christmas Tree Farm’

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Taylor Swift released a new, re-recorded version of her 2019 holiday song “Christmas Tree Farm” on Monday. The new version titled “Christmas Tree Farm (Old Timey Version)”is available to stream exclusively on Amazon Music (here), and adds a 70-piece orchestra, which was recorded at the iconic Abbey Road Studios in London.  Said Swift: “This new version is amazing because it feels like it’s that more, sort of laid back Christmas feel of doing all your shopping and relaxing by a fire. It’s definitely a little bit more of that old-school, Christmas song feel.”

“Christmas Tree Farm (Old Timey Version)” comes after Swift recently released her re-recorded version of 2012 album Red, titled Red (Taylor’s Version). The album contains 30 songs in total including never-before-released tracks such as collaborations with Chris Stapleton, Phoebe Bridgers, Mark Foster and Ed Sheeran, and also contains a 10-minute version of “All Too Well.”

Swift took home Favorite Female Pop Artist and Favorite Pop Album for Evermore at the American Music Awards on Sunday.

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Pop Daypop

Twenty One Pilots announce 2022 ‘The Icy Tour’

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After recently wrapping up the U.S. leg of their Takeøver Tour , Twenty One Pilots have announced that they will be hitting the road next summer for a North American arena trek, dubbed The Icy Tour 2022.  The 23-date tour is set to kick off on August 18th in St. Paul, MN at the Xcel Energy Center and will be wrapping up on September 24th in Seattle, WA at the Climate Pledge Arena.

Twenty One Pilots — comprised of Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun — celebrated the tour announcement with the surprise release of a digital deluxe version of their new album, “Scaled And Icy,” which includes never before released performances of fan favorite tracks from the group’s global streaming event, “Twenty One Pilots – Livestream Experience” that took place back in May.

For more info, head to twentyonepilots.com/tour

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Pop Daypop

2021 American Music Awards: See The Full List Of Winners

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The 49th annual American Music Awards (AMAs) were held on Sunday live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, with Cardi B serving as host.

BTS took home the biggest award of the night, Artist of the Year, beating out fellow nominees Ariana Grande, Drake, Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift and The Weeknd. The K-pop band also won the award for favorite pop duo or group and favorite pop song for “Butter.”

Olivia Rodrigo, who led the nominations with seven, won the award for New Artist of the Year, and Megan Thee Stallion received three wins, for favorite trending song for “Body,” female hip-hop artist and hip-hop album for “Good News.” Doja Cat had the same amount of honors, winning collaboration of the year for “Kiss Me More” with SZA, as well as favorite female R&B artist and R&B album for “Planet Her.”

For a full list of 2021 AMA winners, check out the link below or visit https://www.theamas.com/

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