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20 years of “Austin”: Blake Shelton commemorates his debut single with a special vinyl release

• No Comments • Country Music News

Warner Music NashvilleNext month marks the 20th anniversary of the release of “Austin,” Blake Shelton’s debut single, which also became his first chart-topping country hit.

To celebrate, the singer is releasing a commemorative vinyl version of the song, featuring an updated version of the same cover art used for the original release. The vinyl will also include the single’s original B-side track, “Problems at Home.”

You can order the anniversary vinyl edition beginning April 16, which is the exact date that Blake first shared “Austin” with the world back in 2001.

“I remember the first time I heard ‘Austin’ on the radio,” Blake recalls. “I was driving on 440, and I kept looking to both sides trying to see if other drivers were singing along!…This song started it all for me. I couldn’t be prouder to celebrate its 20th anniversary.”

The years that have elapsed since “Austin” have been memorable ones for the singer, who’s amassed a slew of hit songs, awards show trophies and more. His newest single, “Minimum Wage,” is a top-30 hit and climbing.


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

Priyanka Chopra asserts her star power after critic claims she's unqualified to announce Oscar nominees

• No Comments • Entertainment News

ABC News/Stephen Iervolino(LOS ANGELES) — Priyanka Chopra reminded a critic that she was qualified to announce the 93rd Oscars nominations, which she and husband Nick Jonas read off on Monday.

After the two wrapped the livestream and went home to enjoy a celebratory cheeseburger and pizza for a job well done, Australian entertainment reporter Peter Ford attempted to rain on their parade.

“No disrespect to these two but I’m not sure their contribution to the movies qualifies them to be announcing Oscar nominees,” he tweeted and shared a promotional photo of the married couple holding up an oversized Oscar statuette.

Apparently, Ford was unaware that Chopra was already a global Bollywood superstar and recording artist even before she stepped foot in Hollywood.

Chopra, 38, took his snide remark as an opportunity to flex her acting chops and responded Tuesday, “Would love your thoughts on what qualifies someone. Here are my 60+ film credentials for your adept consideration.”

She enclosed a video of her scrolling through her lengthy IMDb page, which lists her 78 acting credits, 59 award wins and 39 nominations.

While fans commended Chopra’s response, Ford doubled down on his initial belief that she and her husband were unqualified for the honor.

“Thank you. They are certainly more considerable than I realized and I accept your guidance. However this doesn’t change my opinion of your selection or that of your husband for this particular exercise,” he responded.

The White Tiger actress nor her husband have yet to entertained his follow up.

John Cho and Issa Rae announced last year’s Oscar nominees and, in 2019 Tracee Ellis Ross and Kumail Nanjiani revealed the 91st Academy Awards nominees.  Other recent announcers include Tiffany Haddish and Andy Serkis in 2018 and, in 2016, Guillermo del Toro and Ang Lee.

The 93rd Academy Awards air Sunday, April 25 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

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

Zendaya is still proud she called out Giuliana Rancic's hurtful comments at 2015 Oscars

• No Comments • Entertainment News

ABC(LOS ANGELES) — It’s been six years since Zendaya wore locs when walking the red carpet at the 2015 Academy Awards and the Spider-Man: Far From Home star still reflects on the “change” her hairstyle sparked.

Television personality Giuliana Rancic found herself in hot water when talking about Zendaya’s hair, saying, “I feel like she smells like patchouli oil and weed. Maybe weed.”

The Disney Channel star, who was 18 at the time, later took to Instagram to call out Rancic’s “disrespectful” and “offensive” comments.

“There is already a harsh criticism of African-American hair in society without the help of ignorant people who choose to judge others based on the curl of their hair,” she wrote at the time.

Looking back at her remarks in a recent W Magazine interview, Zendaya is proud of the way she handled the controversy.

“That’s how change happens,” the 24-year-old actress stated. “And it made me think, ‘How could I always have a lasting impact on what people saw and associated with people of color?'”

Although the controversy started with a negative light, Zendaya is glad she was able to turn it into a meaningful conversation about inclusivity and breaking down stereotypes.

“My wearing my hair in locs on an Oscar red carpet was to showcase them in a positive light, to remind people of. color that our hair is good enough,” Zendaya wrote in 2015. “To me locs are a symbol of strength and beauty, almost like a lion’s mane.”

Rancic later apologized for her remarks, saying at the time, “This incident has taught me to be a lot more aware of cliches and stereotypes, how much damage they can do.”

When accepting the apology, Zendaya noted, “I’m glad it was a learning experience for you and for the network.”

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

Rare high risk for tornadoes in South, blizzard warning for southern Plains

• No Comments • National News

ABC NewsBy MAX GOLEMBO, ABC News

(NEW YORK) — The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Prediction Center issued a rare high risk for severe thunderstorms that could produce intense, long-track tornadoes, huge hail and damaging straight-line winds.

On Wednesday morning, storms are already moving through Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas with severe thunderstorm watches and warnings for damaging winds and large hail.

The same line of storms that is moving through Texas this morning is expected to intensify as it moves east into the Gulf Coast states as supercell thunderstorms will fire up and are expected to produce dangerous large tornadoes, straight-line winds over 70 mph and huge hail.

The biggest threat for these storms today will be from northern Louisiana and southern Arkansas through Mississippi and into western Alabama.

The most dangerous part is that these storms will continue to be active through Wednesday night into Thursday morning producing night time tornadoes across the South.

By Thursday afternoon, severe storms will move into the Southeast from Florida to Virginia with the biggest threat for strong tornadoes from Georgia to South and North Carolina.

On the back side of this dangerous storm system there is a blizzard warning for five states, the Texas panhandle, northwestern New Mexico, southern Colorado, the Oklahoma panhandle and southern Kansas and these areas could see wind gusts near 50 mph and up to 7 inches of snow, creating whiteout conditions.

On Wednesday morning, more than a dozen states are under snow, flood and high wind alerts.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

LeBron James becomes part-owner of Red Sox

• No Comments • Sports News

George Pimentel/WireImageBy ABC News

(NEW YORK) — Lebron James made history this week as he and business partner Maverick Carter became the first Black partners at Fenway Sports Group, which owns Liverpool FC and the Boston Red Sox.

“I think for me and for my partner, Maverick, to be the first two Black men to be a part of that ownership group in the history of that franchise, I think it’s pretty damn cool,” James said Tuesday night after a victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. “It gives me and people that look like me hope and inspiration that they can be in a position like that as well, that it can be done. It gives my kids at my I Promise School more and more inspiration as well.”

Watch the full ABC News report below:

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.