Music News
Academy of Country Music Sets Special of Home, Acoustic Performances for ACM Awards Time Slot. The stars set to participate in 'Our Country,' which will also feature guests taking viewers through clips of their favorite moments from the awards' 55-year history, have yet to be announced. A starry lineup of country music stars will do their bit by practicing social distancing, staying home and keeping the tunes coming for a special broadcast event, ACM Presents: Our Country. A yet-to-be revealed list of famous guests will perform at-home acoustic performances for the CBS special, scheduled to air 8pm ET on April 5, the slot left vacant by the postponed Academy of Country Music Awards. Also on the night, guests will talk viewers through clips of their favorite moments from the Academy of Country Music Awards' 55-year history. The TV special will go some way to filling the void left by the rescheduling of the ACM Awards, due to the far-reaching impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. "Although the highly anticipated 55th ACM Awards show is unable to take place on April 5 due to the health crisis, we still wanted to deliver fans an entertaining ACM Country Music special as planned," said Damon Whiteside, CEO of the Academy of Country Music, in a statement. "We are thrilled to announce ACM Presents: Our Country, an all-new special that allows fans to connect with their favorite Country artists and to relive some of the greatest moments of the ACM Awards, all from the comfort and safety of their own homes." The Academy of Country Music and Dick Clark Productions are producing the upcoming TV event, with participating artists to be announced in the coming weeks. In an update on the rescheduled 55th Academy of Country Music Awards, reps say the gala is expected to air on CBS in September, though dates and venues have yet to be confirmed. Dick Clark Productions and Billboard share a parent company, Valence Media. (Hollywood Reporter)
Florida Georgia Line Gives Nashville Restaurant Employees $1K Each During Closure -- Totaling $117K. The country duo said Dierks Bentley's previous generosity "inspired" them to help the employees of their local restaurant amid the virus outbreak. Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley are helping where they can. On Wednesday, the Florida Georgia Line duo posted a video on Instagram, announcing that they would be offering financial assistance to the employees of their Nashville restaurant, FGL House, which recently closed amid coronavirus concerns. The musicians committed to giving $1,000 to each of the staff members -- a total of $117,000. "We really hope this helps out in a time of need," Hubbard, 33, said in the clip. "We very vividly remember what it's like to be in the service industry." "We're so grateful for everyone who helps make our restaurant run," added Kelley, 34. "@fglhouse would be nothing without our amazing staff," the two captioned the post. "We know it takes a village, and we're so thankful for all 117 of you and we hope this helps out while the bar and restaurant is closed." Hubbard and Kelley said they felt "inspired" to make the generous commitment after fellow country star Dierks Bentley announced that he would be giving a grand to the 90 hourly employees at his Nashville bar, Whiskey Row, while it's closed. "We've been blessed by y'all and we are excited to follow @dierksbentley lead here and #giveback. With much love and gratitude bk and T," they added in their caption. On Sunday, FGL House -- which serves "Southern food with a California flair" -- officially announced that it would be shutting down "until further notice" in accordance with government public health guidelines in regards to the COVID-19 outbreak. "This decision follows the recommendation of Nashville Public Health Officials and Mayor Cooper," wrote the eatery on Instagram. "Our hearts go out to our neighbors and the Nashville Hospitality Community during this uncertain time and we continue to look forward to serving you in the future." Bars, restaurants and other gathering spaces across the country have either closed completely or transitioned to only carry out and deliveries, as new regulations aim to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. On Monday, Bentley, 44, revealed his plans to help out the staff at his bar during its shutdown, saying that his "heart goes out" to those whose jobs are affected amid the virus spread. "Just gave last call at @whiskeyrownashville as we close the doors for a while," Bentley wrote on Instagram. "My heart goes out to all the guys/girls down on Lower Broad. Feels like yesterday that it was me down there working for tips. I am going to immediately give each of our 90 hourly employees $1,000 to help in the short run as our community and country try to get a handle on the situation." Bentley also urged other restauranteurs to follow suit and prioritize the well-being of their employees. "@riothospitalitygroup and I encourage all bar owners on Lower Broadway to take care of their bartenders, bar backs, waitresses, security, dishwashers etc. the best they can," he added. "Lower Broadway is the heartbeat of Nashville. Let's make sure we help the folks that help make the music happen." (People)
JoJo Rewrites Her Hit Song 'Leave (Get Out)' with New Coronavirus-Themed Lyrics. "Stay In! Right now! Do it for humanity!" JoJo sings in her new tune, which she dubbed "Chill (Stay In)." JoJo is doing her part to educate fans about the importance of social distancing and self-isolating amid the novel coronavirus crisis. On Wednesday, the 29-year-old singer rerecorded her hit 2004 single "Leave (Get Out)" with new lyrics urging listeners to remain indoors. She posted the updated tune, now called "Chill (Stay In)," to her TikTok page as well as her Instagram account. "Stay In! Right now! Do it for humanity!" she sings in the new chorus. "I'm deadass! About that! But we will survive / So you gon' learn how to cook now / and practice good hygiene / I know you're bored and want to f -- around but not on me." In other lyrics, JoJo stresses the importance of using "common sense," and refers to COVID-19 as "such a nasty bitch." "Tell me why you acting so confused / When the CDC laid it out for you / Come on I know you're not dumb," JoJo says. "To go behind by my back and hit the bar / Shows how immature you really are / Keep exposure to a minimum." Her new lyrics proved popular with fans, who quickly spread her tune across social media. "Dropping the full version of 'Chill (Stay In)' tomorrow," JoJo wrote on Twitter early Thursday morning. "Just doin' my part, y'all ??." "Leave (Get Out)" was JoJo's debut single, dropping when she was just 13 years old. The song, produced by Danish duo Soulshock & Karlin, reached No. 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and topped its Pop Songs chart, making JoJo the youngest female solo artist to have a chart-topping single in the U.S. Since then, JoJo has released two other LPs, including The High Road (2006) and Mad Love (2016). Her new album, Good to Know, is set to be released on May 1. It'll be her first on her new record label imprint with Warner Bros. Records, Clover Music. The record's first single "Man" and its music video both dropped last Friday. "I called the album Good To Know because of everything I've learned in the past few years every piece of feedback, criticism (internal or external), whatever it is it's all just information," JoJo said in a release. "And it's all good! I've been lucky to have the space to reflect on my own journey up to now, and I hope people can take comfort in the fact that I am not anywhere near perfect, and I will never sugar-coat anything. We are all constantly living and learning, and that's what makes this life so fun." Meanwhile, coronavirus continues to spread throughout the globe, with cases now identified in all 50 states in the U.S. alone. As of Thursday morning, March 19, at least 147 deaths in the country have been attributed to the illness, The New York Times reported, with at least 8,317 people testing positive. Worldwide, there have been 222,642 reported cases and 9,115 deaths as of Thursday morning, the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) reported. (People)
American Idol Suspends Filming to Ensure Contestants Can Return Home Amid Coronavirus Pandemic. American Idol episodes will continue to air as scheduled until the live shows, which are set to begin in April. American Idol has shut down production over coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns, PEOPLE has learned. The ABC singing competition is enacting additional precautions across its production amid the ongoing health crisis, suspending any new filming and enabling remote work for the rest of its employees, PEOPLE can confirm. Staffers are also ensuring contestants get home to their families during the health crisis. Episodes will continue to air as scheduled until the live shows, which are set to begin in April. A source recently told PEOPLE that American Idol judge Katy Perry "seems more cautious since she is pregnant" amid the rapid spread of COVID-19, as she and fiance Orlando Bloom prepare to welcome their first child together this summer. "Orlando is back at home. He isn't sick," the insider explained of Bloom, 43, who recently arrived back in the U.S. from Europe after production on his show Carnival Row was suspended due to the spread of the virus. "Katy is well too. They will spend time at home together and monitor the situation," added the source. "They are happy to be back in the U.S. They have no plans to work for now and will instead lay low." In addition to American Idol, production for many shows have gone dark in response to the coronavirus outbreak. The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Grey's Anatomy and The Price Is Right have all temporarily shut down production. The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Late Night with Seth Meyers have suspended production through their previously planned hiatuses, while Saturday Night Live will not resume production following its previously scheduled break. The first cases of the mysterious respiratory illness -- what is now known as COVID-2019, a form of coronavirus -- began in Wuhan, China in late December. Since then, the virus has spread worldwide, leading the World Health Organization to declare a public health emergency, the first since the zika epidemic in 2016. At first, this coronavirus was contained to China, but Wuhan is a major transportation hub with hundreds of flights leaving and landing from the city of 11 million each day. Soon, as people flew from the area to different countries, the coronavirus reached more countries, including the United States. Never miss a story -- sign up for PEOPLE's free weekly newsletter to get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday. The first U.S. case was found in Everett, Washington, just outside of Seattle, in a man who had recently returned from Wuhan. The number of cases grew slowly from there and the virus began to spread more rapidly in communities across the U.S. As of Wednesday morning, there have been at least 5,881 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the U.S. and 107 deaths. (People)
Florida Georgia Line Gives Nashville Restaurant Employees $1K Each During Closure -- Totaling $117K. The country duo said Dierks Bentley's previous generosity "inspired" them to help the employees of their local restaurant amid the virus outbreak. Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley are helping where they can. On Wednesday, the Florida Georgia Line duo posted a video on Instagram, announcing that they would be offering financial assistance to the employees of their Nashville restaurant, FGL House, which recently closed amid coronavirus concerns. The musicians committed to giving $1,000 to each of the staff members -- a total of $117,000. "We really hope this helps out in a time of need," Hubbard, 33, said in the clip. "We very vividly remember what it's like to be in the service industry." "We're so grateful for everyone who helps make our restaurant run," added Kelley, 34. "@fglhouse would be nothing without our amazing staff," the two captioned the post. "We know it takes a village, and we're so thankful for all 117 of you and we hope this helps out while the bar and restaurant is closed." Hubbard and Kelley said they felt "inspired" to make the generous commitment after fellow country star Dierks Bentley announced that he would be giving a grand to the 90 hourly employees at his Nashville bar, Whiskey Row, while it's closed. "We've been blessed by y'all and we are excited to follow @dierksbentley lead here and #giveback. With much love and gratitude bk and T," they added in their caption. On Sunday, FGL House -- which serves "Southern food with a California flair" -- officially announced that it would be shutting down "until further notice" in accordance with government public health guidelines in regards to the COVID-19 outbreak. "This decision follows the recommendation of Nashville Public Health Officials and Mayor Cooper," wrote the eatery on Instagram. "Our hearts go out to our neighbors and the Nashville Hospitality Community during this uncertain time and we continue to look forward to serving you in the future." Bars, restaurants and other gathering spaces across the country have either closed completely or transitioned to only carry out and deliveries, as new regulations aim to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. On Monday, Bentley, 44, revealed his plans to help out the staff at his bar during its shutdown, saying that his "heart goes out" to those whose jobs are affected amid the virus spread. "Just gave last call at @whiskeyrownashville as we close the doors for a while," Bentley wrote on Instagram. "My heart goes out to all the guys/girls down on Lower Broad. Feels like yesterday that it was me down there working for tips. I am going to immediately give each of our 90 hourly employees $1,000 to help in the short run as our community and country try to get a handle on the situation." Bentley also urged other restauranteurs to follow suit and prioritize the well-being of their employees. "@riothospitalitygroup and I encourage all bar owners on Lower Broadway to take care of their bartenders, bar backs, waitresses, security, dishwashers etc. the best they can," he added. "Lower Broadway is the heartbeat of Nashville. Let's make sure we help the folks that help make the music happen." (People)
JoJo Rewrites Her Hit Song 'Leave (Get Out)' with New Coronavirus-Themed Lyrics. "Stay In! Right now! Do it for humanity!" JoJo sings in her new tune, which she dubbed "Chill (Stay In)." JoJo is doing her part to educate fans about the importance of social distancing and self-isolating amid the novel coronavirus crisis. On Wednesday, the 29-year-old singer rerecorded her hit 2004 single "Leave (Get Out)" with new lyrics urging listeners to remain indoors. She posted the updated tune, now called "Chill (Stay In)," to her TikTok page as well as her Instagram account. "Stay In! Right now! Do it for humanity!" she sings in the new chorus. "I'm deadass! About that! But we will survive / So you gon' learn how to cook now / and practice good hygiene / I know you're bored and want to f -- around but not on me." In other lyrics, JoJo stresses the importance of using "common sense," and refers to COVID-19 as "such a nasty bitch." "Tell me why you acting so confused / When the CDC laid it out for you / Come on I know you're not dumb," JoJo says. "To go behind by my back and hit the bar / Shows how immature you really are / Keep exposure to a minimum." Her new lyrics proved popular with fans, who quickly spread her tune across social media. "Dropping the full version of 'Chill (Stay In)' tomorrow," JoJo wrote on Twitter early Thursday morning. "Just doin' my part, y'all ??." "Leave (Get Out)" was JoJo's debut single, dropping when she was just 13 years old. The song, produced by Danish duo Soulshock & Karlin, reached No. 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and topped its Pop Songs chart, making JoJo the youngest female solo artist to have a chart-topping single in the U.S. Since then, JoJo has released two other LPs, including The High Road (2006) and Mad Love (2016). Her new album, Good to Know, is set to be released on May 1. It'll be her first on her new record label imprint with Warner Bros. Records, Clover Music. The record's first single "Man" and its music video both dropped last Friday. "I called the album Good To Know because of everything I've learned in the past few years every piece of feedback, criticism (internal or external), whatever it is it's all just information," JoJo said in a release. "And it's all good! I've been lucky to have the space to reflect on my own journey up to now, and I hope people can take comfort in the fact that I am not anywhere near perfect, and I will never sugar-coat anything. We are all constantly living and learning, and that's what makes this life so fun." Meanwhile, coronavirus continues to spread throughout the globe, with cases now identified in all 50 states in the U.S. alone. As of Thursday morning, March 19, at least 147 deaths in the country have been attributed to the illness, The New York Times reported, with at least 8,317 people testing positive. Worldwide, there have been 222,642 reported cases and 9,115 deaths as of Thursday morning, the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) reported. (People)
American Idol Suspends Filming to Ensure Contestants Can Return Home Amid Coronavirus Pandemic. American Idol episodes will continue to air as scheduled until the live shows, which are set to begin in April. American Idol has shut down production over coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns, PEOPLE has learned. The ABC singing competition is enacting additional precautions across its production amid the ongoing health crisis, suspending any new filming and enabling remote work for the rest of its employees, PEOPLE can confirm. Staffers are also ensuring contestants get home to their families during the health crisis. Episodes will continue to air as scheduled until the live shows, which are set to begin in April. A source recently told PEOPLE that American Idol judge Katy Perry "seems more cautious since she is pregnant" amid the rapid spread of COVID-19, as she and fiance Orlando Bloom prepare to welcome their first child together this summer. "Orlando is back at home. He isn't sick," the insider explained of Bloom, 43, who recently arrived back in the U.S. from Europe after production on his show Carnival Row was suspended due to the spread of the virus. "Katy is well too. They will spend time at home together and monitor the situation," added the source. "They are happy to be back in the U.S. They have no plans to work for now and will instead lay low." In addition to American Idol, production for many shows have gone dark in response to the coronavirus outbreak. The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Grey's Anatomy and The Price Is Right have all temporarily shut down production. The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Late Night with Seth Meyers have suspended production through their previously planned hiatuses, while Saturday Night Live will not resume production following its previously scheduled break. The first cases of the mysterious respiratory illness -- what is now known as COVID-2019, a form of coronavirus -- began in Wuhan, China in late December. Since then, the virus has spread worldwide, leading the World Health Organization to declare a public health emergency, the first since the zika epidemic in 2016. At first, this coronavirus was contained to China, but Wuhan is a major transportation hub with hundreds of flights leaving and landing from the city of 11 million each day. Soon, as people flew from the area to different countries, the coronavirus reached more countries, including the United States. Never miss a story -- sign up for PEOPLE's free weekly newsletter to get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday. The first U.S. case was found in Everett, Washington, just outside of Seattle, in a man who had recently returned from Wuhan. The number of cases grew slowly from there and the virus began to spread more rapidly in communities across the U.S. As of Wednesday morning, there have been at least 5,881 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the U.S. and 107 deaths. (People)
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