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Zac Brown Band, Brantley Gilbert to end 2020 with livestream shows

• No Comments • Country Music News

Jeff NelsonZac Brown Band and Brantley Gilbert are closing out the year with livestream concerts.

Zac Brown Band is presenting the “Proud American Thank You” concert honoring veterans and military personnel on December 27 at 8 p.m. ET on nugs.tv.

The virtual concert is in benefit of ZBB’s nonprofit Camp Southern Ground‘s Warrior programs, which offers mental health support to veterans transitioning back into society. 

The night of the show, presenting partner Polaris will match donations up to $25,000.  

Days later, the “Bottoms Up” singer will set up shop at “Brantley’s Dawg House” at his home in Georgia for a show that balances a full-band performances with an acoustic set.

“We know that this year has been tough for everyone, and we couldn’t think of a better way to wrap it up than doing what we do best,” Brantley says in a statement. “We wish we could be back out on the road with BG Nation in person but connecting with y’all through this livestream is the next best thing,”

The show streams on nugs.tv on December 30 at 8 p.m. ET

By Cillea Houghton
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

'Glee' alum Heather Morris apologizes to "victims of pedophilia" after defending late former co-star Mark Salling

• No Comments • Entertainment News

Salling and Morris in 2015 — Frazer Harrison/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) — Former Glee star Heather Morris is apologizing after she defended her former co-star Mark Salling, who died by suicide in 2018 after being convicted on child pornography charges. 

Last week, Morris tweeted a Glee cast photo of the former Fox phenomenon to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the show’s Christmas special.  In response, one Twitter user reposted the picture with the “puking emoji” over Salling’s face.

“The vomit face on Marks face is offensive,” Heather commented in a since-deleted tweet.  According to People, the rest of that tweet referenced the deaths of Glee co-stars Cory Monteith, who died of a drug overdose in 2013, and Naya Rivera, who drowned earlier this year.

Morris wrote of the three late Glee actors, “It is SO incredibl[y] tough to have to act like that 3rd one is invisible, because even though his actions are unjustifiable, he was a part of our family at one point and he was mentally SICK. Yes pedophelia [sic] is a sickness.”

But Morris returned to Twitter again Monday to comment, “Whether you, a friend [or] a family member has been a victim of pedophilia, I realize my words may have been insensitive. To all those who felt triggered by my message, I want to sincerely apologize for the harm I caused.”

“Whether you, a friend [or] a family member has been a victim of pedophilia, I realize my words may have been insensitive to your experience and for that I can’t express enough how sorry I am,” Morris concluded.

Salling’s suicide came weeks before he was to start a prison sentence for possession of tens of thousands of pornographic pictures and hundreds of videos investigators discovered following his arrest in 2015.

By Stephen Iervolino
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Thomas Rhett's 2020 "silver lining" was learning to slow down

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ABCThomas Rhett learned a valuable lesson in 2020 that he plans to carry with him into the new year. 

The singer acknowledges that a year ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic has presented a myriad of challenges for many people, and commends the tireless efforts of teachers and other frontline workers. 

“2020 has definitely been hard in many ways, especially for a lot of different families who have either lost work or people that have been on the front lines working in hospitals, or teachers trying to teach three-year-olds how to learn their letters and their numbers,” he says. 

But the “Life Changes” hit maker adds that spending the year off the road has had a few positive side effects for him and his family.

“…For us, I think 2020 has had several silver linings, and for me, I think I was going at such a rapid pace that 2020 definitely forced me to slow down,” he describes. “And so I hope I can take that mindset back into 2021.”

Thomas recently announced that he is taking a break from social media after receiving backlash for posting photos from a vacation he and wife Lauren took to Cabo. 

By Cillea Houghton
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Comic Natasha Leggero says goodbye to quarantine parenting in 'Yearly Departed'

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Amazon Prime(NEW YORK) — Amazon Prime’s upcoming Yearly Departed is a series of eulogies for the dumpster fire of a year that was 2020, given by a line-up of all female comedians including Tiffany Haddish, Rachel Brosnahan, Sarah Silverman and Natasha Leggero. 

Each very funny woman takes the podium at a funeral parlor and says goodbye to a different aspect of this year. Leggero is ready to bury pandemic parenting. “I mean, we’re not supposed to be spending all day with our kids,” she laughs to ABC Audio. “That’s why the women in the ’50s were popping pills all day, right? They all got divorces. This is like a new thing.”

She added with a smile, “I have a nanny now, but, you know, it was it was rough there for about nine and a half months.”

Leggero says, “It’s also challenging, your kids watching so much TV. And it’s like obviously in the same way that [appearing in] this show felt right, like every time I see my kid, like, watching something on YouTube that’s just on a loop, it feels wrong.”  

Yearly Departed, which also features a show-stopping “In Memoriam” segment sung by a very famous singer — no spoilers — hits Amazon Prime on December 30.

By Stephen Iervolino
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Lady A opens up about name change: "The heart of our decision still rings true"

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ABC/Chris HolloWhen Lady A announced this summer that they were changing their name from Lady Antebellum to their nickname in response to the Black Lives Matter movement, it ultimately led to a legal battle with blues singer Anita White, known by her longtime stage name Lady A, about owning the name’s trademark. 

During an appearance on the Tamron Hall Show, the country trio opens up about the experience, which is ongoing. 

“We knew this was going to be difficult, we knew we were going to alienate a lot of fans. We didn’t see some of these other things coming,” explains Charles Kelley. “We’re trying to resolve this issue with Anita and we’re trying to just really be a light out there for everybody and we know it’s going to be tough, it’s a very divisive issue, but it shouldn’t be.” 

Dave Haywood notes that the group’s decision came after “many conversations” with people of color and how the band’s original name was disconcerting due to its connection to the Antebellum South during the time of slavery. 

Hillary Scott adds that while the group “never saw that coming” in relation to the backlash and legal battle, they maintain the intention behind the name change.   

“The heart of our decision still rings true,” she says. “We want our music and our live shows and anything that we’re a part of for everyone to feel welcome and invited.”

By Cillea Houghton
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.