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Garth Brooks delivers "Amazing Grace" and an unforgettable exit at President Biden's inauguration

• No Comments • Country Music News

Drew Angerer/Getty ImagesGarth Brooks offered the final musical performance of President Joe Biden’s inauguration on Wednesday, delivering an a capella rendition of the classic hymn, “Amazing Grace.”

Clad in a dark shirt and jacket, the seven-time CMA Entertainer of the Year wore his signature cowboy hat as he walked to the podium, but removed it before he began to sing. Taking his initial pitch from a trumpet, Garth launched into what are traditionally considered the first and last verses of the John Newton standard, encouraging everyone both at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. and watching at home to join him as he reprised the initial stanza.

Though his performance was stellar, it’s perhaps his exit that most will remember, as Garth couldn’t help but display his innate warmth and humanity. The Oklahoma native began by shaking hands with newly-inaugurated President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and former Vice President Mike Pence. As he continued to recede through the audience, Garth forgot all social-distancing, stopping to hug the Obamas, Clintons and more, as the former presidents seemed to recognize they were seeing their friend.

Previously, Garth performed his anthem “We Shall Be Free” at the 2008 first inauguration of President Barack Obama, and has shown up for every president since Jimmy Carter in some capacity, with the exception of Ronald Reagan.

Today, Garth followed the same convention as fellow superstars Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez, forsaking their own songs for traditional fare, with Lady Gaga performing the national anthem, and J-Lo offering a medley of “This Land Is Your Land” and “America the Beautiful.”

Tonight, Tim McGraw and Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard continue country’s inaugural contributions, as they deliver their new hit “Undivided” on the Celebrating America special, which begins airing at 8:30 p.m. ET on all the major networks.

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

"This isn't going to be quiet": Daniel Kaluuya recalls when 'Black Panther' went from being a movie to a "moment"

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Marvel Studios(LOS ANGELES) — As part of Variety‘s ongoing “Actors on Actors” series, Oscar-nominated Get Out star Daniel Kaluuya sat down — virtually — with his fellow Marvel movie star Tom Holland and discussed the cultural impact Black Panther had. 

Brit actor Kaluuya played W’Kabi, the friend who betrays the peaceful ideals of the late Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa, after Michael B. Jordan’s Killmonger appears to take the Wakandan throne.

Spider-Man star Holland asks, “You must have been aware that you guys were sitting on one of the biggest, most cultural enriching blockbuster movies of all time.” 

Kaluyya didn’t disagree. “I think it’s something that we were aware that was bubbling,” the actor replied. “There was one day, we did the waterfall scene, and obviously in between takes, everyone just stays on set, and there were hundreds of people on set,” Kaluuya recalled.

“And we had actual drummers in between the takes. They would play the beat for Snoop Dogg’s ‘Drop It Like It’s Hot.’ And then everyone would go ‘Snoooooop!'” Kaluuya sings, imitating one of the hooks.

“Like, hundreds of people would literally do that, and when I saw that, I was like, ‘Yeah, this isn’t going to be quiet.’ There was just an energy. Everyone was so privileged to be part of this moment.”

He added, “It felt like a moment,” Kaluuya adds. “We’re able to show this world in a way that we see us, and [because it’s] a Marvel film — you’re bringing something into the world that doesn’t exist, and that’s just really difficult because…there’s no template. And there’s some pain in that. But when people…take it as their own, and kids and families are going dressed to the cinemas, it makes everything worth it.”

Marvel Studios is owned by Disney, parent company of ABC News.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Mickey Guyton posts sweet pregnancy update: “Baby I’m so glad that you’re mine”

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ABC/Image Group LAMickey Guyton is gearing up to welcome her first child any day now, and the singer posted a sweet and glamorous snapshot from her maternity shoot on social media.

In the photograph, the “Black Like Me” star cradles her stomach, dressed in a black top with her hair styled into flowing “Stop for a minute. Baby I’m so glad that you’re mine,” Mickey captioned her post, nodding to the lyrics of the 1991 hit “Baby, Baby,” by singer, and wife of Vince Gill, Amy Grant.

It’s the second maternity photoshoot shot Mickey’s shared in the past week. The first was a powerful black and white image of Mickey and her baby bump, accompanied by a quote on motherhood from Maya Angelou.

Late last year, Mickey revealed she’s expecting a boy, adding that the prospect of raising a Black son weighed heavily on her in light of the racial injustice she’s seen happen both to her husband and also across the nation, especially during 2020. Still, in conversation with People, she described her baby-to-be as “an absolute miracle.”

While the singer hasn’t shared her exact due date, Mickey did recently joke that her labor was fast approaching. “I’m officially 9 months pregnant,” she tweeted last weekend. “Lord give me strength and comfort for what is coming next.”

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

C2C Music Festival pushed to 2022 due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic

• No Comments • Country Music News

Courtesy of C2C FestivalThough promising news of a vaccine is on the horizon, the COVID-19 pandemic still poses significant concerns for concert-goers and large-scale events organizers.

As a reminder of that fact, the C2C Music Festival, Europe’s largest annual country music event, has postponed its 2021 festivities until 2022. The news came via a social media update, in which the organization explains that due to the current restrictions on mass gatherings and travel, it will be impossible for this year’s event to go on as planned.

C2C was originally scheduled to take place in March. The 2020 iteration of the fest became one of the first major events affected by the pandemic, as it was canceled on March 12, 2020 — just one day before it was set to begin.

“In March of 2020, we could never have foreseen the extent of what has unfolded and the prospect that we would be without C2C for two years running was unthinkable,” organizers share. “We are devastated that we are unable to deliver you the event that we all love.”

At the same time, they assure fans that plans for C2C 2022 are already underway. Tickets purchased for 2021 will remain valid for next year’s event, and ticket-holders can also get a refund by contacting the point of purchase.

The C2C Festival is now scheduled to resume March 11-13, 2022.

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

Jeremy Renner reveals how he's training for his upcoming Disney+ series 'Hawkeye'

• No Comments • Entertainment News

Marvel Studios(LOS ANGELES) — With gyms closed because of COVID-19, Marvel star Jeremy Renner admits he had to get creative in order to prepare for his upcoming role in the Disney+ series Hawkeye.

Renner, 50, plays Clint Barton a.k.a. Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, who hung up the bow and arrow and retired from the hero life following the events of Avengers: Endgame.

The archer’s story will continue, however, in a brand new series set to premiere later this year.  The story is believed to center around Kate Bishop, Clint’s protege in the comics, who eventually takes on the Hawkeye mantle.

With production underway, the Oscar nominee revealed how he’s keeping his archery skills sharp while abiding by all health and safety measures in light of the pandemic.

As it turns out, Renner has been running around his household while firing off a toy bow and arrow.

“Quarantine training at home … like an 8 year old,” the actor joked while sharing a video of him striking several heroic poses while letting the little suction-cup arrows fly.

While little is known about the Hawkeye series, a major casting decision was unofficially announced in December.

Hailee Steinfeld confirmed that she will be playing Kate Bishop in the upcoming series.  When asked by ABC Audio about her new gig, she expressed that she is “honored to be part of the MCU.”  

The announcement was still under wraps at the time, said Steinfeld, but photos of her dressed in costume on the Subway leaked online and forced her hand.

“We were just trying to get somewhere and a couple of pictures were taken and now here we are,” she laughed at the time. 

Hawkeye is slated to premiere on Disney+ in the fall.

Marvel is owned by Disney, the parent company of ABC News.

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