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Lin-Manuel Miranda on his hopes for the "legacy" of 'Hamilton' on Disney+

• No Comments • Entertainment News

Disney+(NEW YORK) — On Wednesday, the Tony and Grammy-winning musical Hamilton was nominated for a Best Film Golden Globe trophy in the musical or comedy category, some six years after its Broadway debut. 

The nominated film is a recorded version of a pair of 2016 stage performances with the phenomenon’s original cast, which debuted last summer on Disney+.

Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda was nominated in the Best Actor — Musical or Comedy category for this years Golden Globes as well. 

The Grammy, Tony, and Emmy winner told ABC Audio that he hopes the successful project will change how people perceive Broadway shows, particularly now that live theaters remain shuttered because of the pandemic. 

“What I really think the legacy of that will be, more than anything, really [is] the ‘silo’ of musical theater,” Miranda explains.

“Because for so long the conventional wisdom of musical theater was you can’t do a screen capture of your show too early, because you will somehow cannibalize the appetite for it in the world — when the opposite is true. People can’t wait to see Hamilton live again once they can do so safely.”

Miranda adds, “I’ve heard from other musical theater creators, [and] the race is on to get live captures their show, to remind folks of why you come to the theater and what is on offer there. So…I hope that the legacy is that more shows build that in, and making your show more accessible becomes a legacy of the success of that film.” 

Disney is the parent company of ABC News.

By Stephen Iervolino
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Mickey Guyton calls on country industry to hold Morgan Wallen accountable: “Crickets won’t work this time”

• No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LAAfter video footage surfaced Tuesday night showing Morgan Wallen shouting racial slurs, including the N-word, during a night of partying, Mickey Guyton called on the industry to hold Morgan accountable for his actions.

After the footage surfaced, Morgan apologized for his behavior, but for many, including Mickey, that apology fell flat. “Promises to do better don’t mean s***,” she stated on Twitter.

“This is not his first time using that ‘unacceptable’ racial slur and we all know that,” Mickey pointed out. “So what exactly are y’all going to do about it. Crickets won’t work this time.”

With songs like “Black Me” and “What Are You Gonna Tell Her?,” Mickey has been open about her experience as a Black woman in country music both in music and in sharing the instances of hate and racism she routinely encounters.

On social media, she reflected on “why I continue to fight to be in an industry that seems to hate me so much,” saying that she draws inspiration from young artists of color entering the industry.

“This artist might not have the strength to fight for themselves. But I do. And I will be that artist’s warrior as they pursue their dream of singing country music, because their dreams are valid, too,” the singer continued. She then named a number of artists who have supported her and her fellow Black performers, including Kacey Musgraves, Maren Morris, Keith Urban and many more.

Finally, while she stressed that Morgan should face repercussions for his actions, Mickey cautioned her followers against cancel culture.

“Watching anyone fall from grace is a terrible thing to see,” she said. “People must all be given a chance to change. Morgan must feel the weight of his words but completely throwing someone away is detrimental to anyone’s mental health.”

Morgan has already faced serious repercussions for his actions.  His record label has “indefinitely” suspended his contract several national radio station chains have pulled his music from their playlists, and CMT announced they’re “in the process of removing his appearances from all of our platforms.”

By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Ahead of the Super Bowl, LoCash head to Florida to perform a socially distanced show for health care workers

• No Comments • Country Music News

Courtesy of BBR Music GroupAhead of this year’s Super Bowl LV in Tampa, Florida, country duo LoCash are joining the pre-game festivities for the third year in a row.

On Thursday, the pair will perform a socially distanced acoustic set at nearby venue the Sparkman Wharf, exclusively for healthcare workers. They planned the show in conjunction with Pepsi Stronger Together, an initiative that aims to give back to communities nationwide.

Though it’s not the first time LoCash has helped celebrate the Super Bowl, this year’s game is an especially meaningful one for the band. Not only does band mate Chris Lucas live in Tampa — where the 2021 game is taking place — but LoCash also recently released the song “Cloud of Dust” featuring The Gronkowski brothers, one of whom is playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

“Excited again to be a part of our Pepsi family and the Super Bowl! Of course, I’m even way more excited that it’s in my home city of Tampa,” says Chris.

“We’re so honored to be performing for our healthcare workers who have done so much for the community,” adds fellow LoCash member Preston Brust. “They’ve shown courage and heroism throughout a tough year and it feels good to celebrate them and show them how much they mean to all of us!”

LoCash isn’t the only country act set to participate in Super Bowl festivities this year: Eric Church is on deck to sing the National Anthem before the big game, along with R&B star Jazmine Sullivan.


By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

"Is that viral?!" Dax Shepard reacts to video of daughter ignoring his dad dance moves

• No Comments • Entertainment News

Courtesy Motor Trend(NEW YORK) — Dax Shepard is so used to being ignored by his daughters that he had no idea a video proving it had been all over the Internet. 

On Monday, his wife Kristen Bell posted an Instagram video of Shepard dancing full-out to Kool And The Gang’s “Ladies’ Night,” just inches from one of their unimpressed daughters, who doesn’t look up from her tablet.

“Sadly, even his best moves are no match for the gripping allure of screen time,” Bell wrote in the caption to the post, which has nearly 3.5 million views on Instagram.

“Is that viral?!” Dax asked ABC Audio, while promoting his new Motor Trend show Top Gear America, with co-host Rob Corddry. Hot Tub Time Machine alum Corddry was apparently one of those millions of viewers.

“Your daughter just goes ‘Uhhh’…just tries to push you away at one point,” he reenacted with a laugh.

Shepard added, “What a really smart viewer will recognize is, like, how many times had I done that before Kristen was like, ‘I’m gonna film this one.’ You know, you never film the first thing [that goes] up. Should be telling.” 

Shepard and Kristen share two daughters, 7-year-old Lincoln and 6-year-old Delta. It’s unclear which girl was in the video.

By Stephen Iervolino
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Dolly Parton celebrates side hustlers in “5 to 9” for a Squarespace ad spot airing during the Super Bowl

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ABC/Image Group LA

Dolly Parton is updating her classic workplace anthem, “9 to 5,” in honor of those who get home from their day jobs just to spend their evenings working on their side hustle.

The new song, “5 to 9,” is part of an ad campaign for website creation and hosting company Squarespace. The new ad spot, featuring Dolly’s re-worked lyrics, will air during the Super Bowl.

“Working 5 to 9, you’ve got passion and a vision / ‘Cause it’s hustlin’ time, whole new way to make a livin’,” Dolly sings. “Gonna change you life, do something that gives it meaning / With a website that is worthy of your dreaming…”

Tony Award winner Justin Peck oversaw choreography for the video, which features dancers from on and off Broadway. The commercial’s story line follows a sleepy office building that suddenly comes to life, with dancers leaping out of their cubicles, as the clock strikes five and they begin work on their passion projects.

“9 to 5” was originally released in 1980. It was a hit single for Dolly and won her a slew of awards. It’s also featured in the soundtrack of the 1980 hit comedy film of the same title, win which Dolly starred alongside Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda.

By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.