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Chris Stapleton’s bluesy “I’m a Ram” cover is at the center of a new Ram Trucks ad campaign

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ABCChris Stapleton lends his voice to the Ram Trucks brand for their new “I’m a Ram” ad campaign, which soundtracks two new ad spots with two separate story lines.

Titled “Neighbor” and “Provider,” the two clips follow different people in different community roles, each using their Ram tracks to make something special happen. Both will reportedly debut this weekend during the NCAA March madness telecast.

In a behind-the-scenes clip, Chris explains how he landed on the idea of recording “I’m a Ram,” which was originally written and recorded by Al Green and came out in 1971. 

“One of my managers, Zach Peters, brought this song to us when we first started doing things with Ram, and said, ‘You know, it’d be really cool if you guys could do a version of this. Maybe it could turn into something,’” the singer recalls. 

“We played it, hopefully, with the most respect and reverence. We sure had a fun time doing it,” adds Chris. “It’s a great song. It makes you feel good. It makes you feel like you wanna get in a truck and drive down the road.”


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

Crew member dies after suffering "fatal medical event" on set of 'The Conners'

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ABC Press(LOS ANGELES) — An as-yet-unidentified crew member died from what was described as a “fatal medical event” on the set of the ABC sitcom The Conners Thursday evening.

According to TMZ, the staff member was on a catwalk at Stage 22 at the CBS Studio Center in Los Angeles, where the show is filmed, when he suffered the fatal event. Set medics were unable to resuscitate him, the gossip site said. 

Werner Entertainment, which produces the show, said in a statement, “With heavy hearts we regret to confirm that a member of our technical crew suffered a fatal medical event today. He was a much loved member of ‘The Conners’ and ‘Roseanne’ families for over 25 years.”

The statement continued, “As we remember our beloved colleague, we ask that you respect the privacy of his family and loved ones as they begin their grieving process.” 

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

Gabby Barrett offers tips to the next generation of 'American Idol' stars as they head into Hollywood Week

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ABC/Image Group LABack before Gabby Barrett became a bona fide country superstar with her chart-topping hit “I Hope,” she was an American Idol alumna: She came in third on the show in 2018, the first year it was on ABC.

This Sunday, Gabby’s headed back to her old stomping grounds as Idol’s Hollywood Week kicks off. What advice does she have for new contestants? Think strategically and keep some things close to the vest…for now.

“If you can play the piano and play different instruments and sing different genres and that kind of thing, I would just not show all of that right away,” Gabby tells ABC Audio. “I think it’s cool to just reveal the deck as time goes on, you just don’t slap your deck down! And so that’s kind of what I did with the show. And it worked out, thankfully for me.”

Gabby also notes that in addition to not “playing your cards all out,” “Song choice is really important. Go with what you think you sound best singing.”

When she’s not offering tips to the new generation of potential American Idol stars, Gabby’s hitting new songwriting milestones: she’s at the top of Billboard Country Songwriter’s chart for the first time ever this week, tied with her “I Hope” and “The Good Ones” co-writer Zach Kale.


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

Kris Jenner speaks out on Kim Kardashian and Kanye West divorce: "I want the kids to be happy"

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ABC/Rick Rowell(LOS ANGELES) — Momager Kris Jenner has broken her silence on daughter Kim Kardashian’s divorce from husband Kanye West, of whom she shares four children.

Speaking on the Kyle & Jackie O Show podcast on Thursday, Jenner explained she feels compassion for both sides.

“I think it’s always going to be hard,” the 65-year-old reality star explained. “The good thing about our family is that we are there for each other and supportive and we love each other very, very much.”

Jenner, however, says the main focus will be on her grandchildren and making sure they aren’t negatively affected by their parents’ divorce.

“All I want is for those two kids to be happy,” she said.  “That’s the goal.”

“I think we all want that for our families, just to be able to have the love and appreciation of one another, and that everyone’s okay. That’s what you want as a mom,” added Jenner.

As for how the divorce will play out on their reality series Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Jenner admits she isn’t sure how it will be handled.

“I don’t know what they have decided on in the finale, we haven’t even seen the first show yet,” she noted, saying how the first episode of the final season premieres Friday. “I’m sure they’re putting some final touches.”

However, show or not, Jenner insists, “I think it’s just a private time for them. Kim wanted to deal with this with her own family in her own time.”

“When she feels like it, I’m sure she’ll say what she needs to say,” the socialite added.

Kim and Kanye share four children together, North, 7, Saint, 5, Chicago, 3, and Psalm, 1.

The former couple wed in 2014 and filed for divorce on February 19, citing “irreconcilable differences.”

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

'The Simpsons' turns 700 episodes old Sunday

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(LOS ANGELES) —

Sunday’s episode of The Simpsons marks its 700th, further cementing Matt Groening‘s animated creation as the the longest-running scripted series in TV history.

The show was recently renewed for seasons 33 and 34, which would bring the total number of episodes to 757 by 2023. But could it crack 1,000 episodes? At that question, executive producer and showrunner Al Jean laughed, considering it would take another 11 years to reach that milestone. 

“We’re going to definitely do 757,” Jean told Variety. “I wouldn’t say that’s the end but I don’t know how much further we can go.”

However, with reboots of shows like Frasier and even Beavis and Butt-Head on the horizon, Jean allows anything is possible. “As soon as they cancel us, they’ll reboot us,” he predicted. “I’m confident, after I’m gone, there’ll be some sort of Simpsons coming. It’s too ubiquitous to think that it’ll just disappear.”

The Simpsons episode 700, “Manger Things” — which kicks off with a Bill Plympton-animated take on the show’s weekly “couch gag” — debuts Sunday night at 9 p.m. on Fox.

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