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"I feel good!" A grateful Al Roker returns to 'Today' following cancer surgery

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Nathan Congleton/NBC(NEW YORK) — Al Roker returned to 30 Rock Monday morning, his first day back on the Today show after he underwent prostate cancer surgery two weeks ago. 

“I feel good, I really do,” beamed the beloved weatherman and morning show mainstay, who cracked a few “TMI” jokes about his condition. “Let me tell you, after that first week you can get that catheter out, and I’m feeling good!” he said to laughs from his NBC co-hosts.

Roker also got serious in thanking his surgeon Dr. Vincent Laudone, who operated on the the 66-year-old Roker at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.  Roker also thanked his wife, Deborah Roberts, and their three children, as well as well-wishers among his TV audience. 

“I’m a blessed man,” Roker said. “You know, usually you’re dead when you get all of this love, so this is happy.”

Roker said he’ll have blood work done in January, and every six months from then on for five years to make sure his recovery is on the right track. 

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

Chris Stapleton is 'Starting Over' with #1 debut

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ABCChris Stapleton is back on top. 

The country superstar has debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart with his latest project, Starting Over, and reached #3 on the all-genre Billboard 200, with sales of more than 102,733 units since its November 13 release.  

The album also bows at the top of the Billboard Americana/Folk Albums and Digital Albums charts. Starting Over’s title track is currently in the top 10 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. 

This marks Chris’ fourth consecutive album to claim the number one spot on the Top Country Albums chart following Traveller, From A Room: Volume 1 and From A Room: Volume 2. 

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

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Fans, fellow actors rally around 'Euphoria' star after director 'poor-shamed' his apartment

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iStock/shironosov(LOS ANGELES) — (NOTE LANGUAGE) By now, you should respect the power of the Zoom mute button, but in case you need a reminder, look no further than Euphoria star Lukas Gage, who caught a famous director on a hot mic shaming the actor for his small apartment. 

Gage was about to audition via Zoom, when he overheard the British director pitying the performer’s place. “These poor people live in these tiny apartments,” the director says, not knowing Gage is listening — and recording the moment. Gage interrupts him.

“I know it’s a sh***y apartment, that’s why give me this job so I can get a better one,” the actor smiles.

“Oh my God, I’m so, so sorry, Lukas!” says the “mortified” director. 

Gage was “totally” willing to call it even, saying, “Listen: I’m living in a four-by-four box, it’s fine. Just give me the job and we’ll be fine.” 

The actor later posted a “PSA” to his followers with the video, captioning it, “if you’re a sh** talking director make sure to mute ur shit on zoom mtgings.”

The exchange attracted calls of support for the actor.

“What an honest young actor. What a dumba** director. You’ll go farther than he will…” Tweeted Aquaman‘s Patrick Wilson. 

Judd Apatow tweeted, “As a young man I would have dreamed of an apartment like this one. Look at that sweet flat screen! The guitar! The moldings!” 

Another Twitter user agreed, asking for a shot of the actor’s apartment to use as his own Zoom background.

Incidentally, many Internet commenters on Deadline allege that the filmmaker is Kingsman series director Matthew Vaughn, who’s married to model Claudia Schiffer. That rumor got rolling when his alleged baby mama and X-Men: First Class star January Jones replied to Gage’s post with, “I have a guess.” 

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

Dan + Shay on a potential Christmas album: "Hopefully there will be one at some point"

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Emma McIntyre/AMA2020/Getty Images for dcpDan + Shay made their holiday music debut earlier this month with “Take Me Home for Christmas,” closely followed by “Christmas Isn’t Christmas.” The tracks fulfilled fans’ longtime requests for holiday tunes, but also beg the question: Do Dan + Shay have a Christmas album in the works?   

“I don’t know, maybe,” Dan Smyers said with a smile backstage at the 2020 American Music Awards. “We’ve always wanted to do a Christmas album. Our fans ask for it every year and we continually let them down,” he added, jokingly.  

Dan notes that the twosome is typically busy with touring this time of year, which has stood in the way of making a Christmas record in the past. But with the COVID-19 pandemic keeping them mostly off the road this year, the duo were ready to get into the holiday spirit early with the original songs. 

“We’ve been home and we’ve had nothing but time on our hands and we got in the spirit a little bit early,” Dan said. “I think we all needed to get in that spirit, have a little bit of joy and positivity in our lives. They kind of fell out of the sky and we’re very grateful for it, but the response on it’s been amazing so far.” 

Though fans shouldn’t expect a Dan + Shay Christmas album album this holiday season, don’t give up hope.  “No Christmas album recorded yet, but hopefully there will be one at some point,” Dan declared.  

The duo cleaned up nicely at the AMAs, taking home every award they were nominated for, including Collaboration of the Year and Favorite Song — Country for their hit with Justin Bieber, “10,000 Hours,” in addition to Favorite Duo — Country.

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

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'The Library That Dolly Built' documentary to premiere via free livestream

• No Comments • Country Music News

Valerie Macon/Getty ImagesA documentary about Dolly Parton‘s Imagination Library is premiering next month. 

The Library That Dolly Built dives deep into how the global icon created the beloved nonprofit that delivers free books to children across the country each month. The film follows her journey from launching the program in her hometown of Sevierville, Tennessee to gifting books to 1.7 million children in all 50 states.  

Directed by Nick Geidner and narrated by actress and mathematics educator Danica McKellar, the doc features interviews with Dolly, along with book recipients, authors and others impacted by the library.

The Dollywood Foundation and Abramorama have partnered to present the film with a one-night-only livestream premiere on Facebook, followed by a discussion and live acoustic performance by the legendary singer-songwriter. 

“I am so excited that we can finally tell the whole story of the Imagination Library. It is certainly not just about me. Our story is the story of children, of families and communities who all share the dream to inspire kids to love to read and to love to learn,” Dolly explains.

“My hope is this documentary will encourage more towns, more states and even more countries to jump onboard. One thing is for sure, I think this is the best investment I have ever made!” she adds.  

The Library That Dolly Built streams on the Imagination Library Facebook page on December 9 at 7 p.m. ET. It will be widely available on digital platforms in early 2021.

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

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