Country music icon Loretta Lynn dies at age 90

Country music icon Loretta Lynn has died at the age of 90. The country music superstar’s family shared that Lynn passed peacefully in her sleep from natural causes early Tuesday morning at home in rural Tennessee.  In a statement to the Associated Press, the family wrote: “Our precious mom, Loretta Lynn, passed away peacefully this morning, October 4th, in her sleep at home in her beloved ranch in Hurricane Mills,” adding that a memorial for the beloved songwriter will be announced later. In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to be made to the Loretta Lynn Foundation.

Lynn amassed 51 Top 10 hits over the course of her 60-year career, and broke down barriers for women with songs like “Don’t Come Home a Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ on Your Mind),” “Fist City” and “Coal Miner’s Daughter.” Thanks to the Oscar-winning 1980 film Coal Miner’s Daughter starring Sissy Spacek, Lynn’s story and songs were brought to a wider audience.  Lynn joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1962, won four Grammy awards, seven American Music Awards and eight Country Music Association awards. She was the first woman to win the Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music awards for Entertainer of the Year, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1988, the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2008, and was awarded the Kennedy Center Honors in 2003 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013. In total Lynn sold over 45 million albums worldwide.

Lynn was pre-deceased by her husband of 48 years Oliver Vanetta “Doolittle” Lynn, her daughter Betty Sue Lynn and son Jack Benny Lynn. She is survived by her daughters Patsy Lynn Russell, Peggy Lynn, Clara (Cissie) Marie Lynn and her son Ernest Ray Lynn, as well as multiple grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

Country music icon Loretta Lynn dies at age 90

Country music icon Loretta Lynn has died at the age of 90. The country music superstar’s family shared that Lynn passed peacefully in her sleep from natural causes early Tuesday morning at home in rural Tennessee.  In a statement to the Associated Press, the family wrote: “Our precious mom, Loretta Lynn, passed away peacefully this morning, October 4th, in her sleep at home in her beloved ranch in Hurricane Mills,” adding that a memorial for the beloved songwriter will be announced later. In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to be made to the Loretta Lynn Foundation.

Lynn amassed 51 Top 10 hits over the course of her 60-year career, and broke down barriers for women with songs like “Don’t Come Home a Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ on Your Mind),” “Fist City” and “Coal Miner’s Daughter.” Thanks to the Oscar-winning 1980 film Coal Miner’s Daughter starring Sissy Spacek, Lynn’s story and songs were brought to a wider audience.  Lynn joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1962, won four Grammy awards, seven American Music Awards and eight Country Music Association awards. She was the first woman to win the Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music awards for Entertainer of the Year, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1988, the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2008, and was awarded the Kennedy Center Honors in 2003 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013. In total Lynn sold over 45 million albums worldwide.

Lynn was pre-deceased by her husband of 48 years Oliver Vanetta “Doolittle” Lynn, her daughter Betty Sue Lynn and son Jack Benny Lynn. She is survived by her daughters Patsy Lynn Russell, Peggy Lynn, Clara (Cissie) Marie Lynn and her son Ernest Ray Lynn, as well as multiple grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit announce 2023 tour dates

Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit will launch a 2023 tour in January and February. The three-week run includes shows in Florida, Alabama, Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina and Kentucky, and will feature Peter One as support.

The tour starts in Florida, kicking-off on Jan. 19 at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, Fla., before wrapping up at the Paramount Arts Center on February 3 in Ashland. Kentucky.

Tickets for the Florida shows go on sale Friday, October 7 with tickets for all other newly confirmed tour dates available now.   You can find additional ticketing information at Jason Isbell’s official website.

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Take a look at the new trailer for the sequel film ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

Marvel Studios has shared a new trailer for the sequel film ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ featuring Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira and Tenoch Huerta.

‘Wakanda Forever’ is a sequel to 2018’s ‘Black Panther’. The sequel was filmed following the death of Chadwick Boseman, who played T’Challa, aka Black Panther, in the first film. Boseman died at age 43 in August 2020, and his role was not recast.

The trailer for ‘Wakanda Forever’opens with T’Challa’s family and the nation of Wakanda mourning T’Challa’s death. The film will see Wakanda face off with the underwater kingdom of Talocan, ruled by Namor (Tenoch Huerta). In addition, the preview introduces a new hero in the Black Panther suit, who appears to be a woman. The person is speculated to be Shuri (Wright), an inventor and T’Challa’s sister.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever opens in theaters Nov. 11. Take a look at the trailer – here.

‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ trailer teases new hero in the suit

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Arctic Monkeys announce 2023 North American tour

Arctic Monkeys have announced their 2023 North American tour in support of their upcoming seventh album titled The Car, which is set for release on October 21st. Prior to their North American run, Arctic Monkeys will tour South America, Australia, and the UK/Europe (with The Hives).

The 21-date North American run is set to kick-off on August 25th in Minneapolis, and sees Arctic Monkeys making stops in Chicago, Toronto, Montreal, Boston, Philadelphia, New York, Nashville, Seattle, Vancouver, San Francisco, and Los Angeles through the end of September 2023.  Fontaines D.C. will provide support for the entire North American leg.

Fans can register for a Ticketmaster Verified Fan Presale; fan pre-sale will then begin October 6th at 10:00 a.m. local time, followed by a general on-sale on October 7th at 10:00 a.m. local via Ticketmaster.

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Depeche Mode announces first tour and new album in five years

Depeche Mode have announced they will launch a world tour in 2023, as well as release their first new music in five years.  The Memento Mori Tour will serve as support the band’s forthcoming 15th studio album, Memento Mori, due out in spring 2023. Memento Mori will be Depeche Mode’s 15th studio album and the follow-up to 2017’s critically acclaimed Spirit. 

Dave Gahan and Martin Gore have revealed that the tour will begin with a limited series of North American arena dates, kicking-off March 23rd, before the band heads to Europe for their summer stadium tour on May 16th. The North American dates will feature stops at New York’s Madison Square Garden, Chicago’s United Center, Los Angeles’ Kia Forum and Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena, among others; while the European stadium tour will make stops at the Stade de France in Paris, Berlin’s Olympic Stadium, Milan’s San Siro Stadium, and London’s Twickenham Stadium, and more.

The Memento Mori Tour will be Depeche Mode’s 19th tour and their first in over five years. The band’s most recent outing, the 2017-2018 Global Spirit Tour saw the band playing to more than three million fans over the course of 130 shows across Europe and North America.

Pre-sales start Wednesday, October 5th in select markets. General on sale starts Friday, October 7th at 10 am local time via Ticketmaster.

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Russell Dickerson announces self-titled third album

Russell Dickerson is set to release his third studio album, a 15-track self-titled project, on November 4th. Dickerson, who co-wrote on all 15 tracks, also served as co-producer alongside Dann Huff, Zach Crowell, Casey Brown, Josh Kerr, Ben Johnson and Alysa Vanderheym.  Dickerson posted on social media: “RD3. 15 songs. Nov 4th. Pre-order now! ”   To pre-order head here.

A new track from the album, ‘I Wonder’, is out now. Said Dickerson:  “No matter how far we get into this, I want people to know it’s still me. I’m still the hyper, outgoing, fun-loving, crazy dude on stage. But also these songs are so meaningful to me. It’s not all hype and smoke and lights. I am a songwriter, I trust my instincts, and now my instincts are telling me to share 100-percent me, and creatively just let it flow.”

Dickerson’s chart-topping singles include “Yours”, “Blue Tacoma”, “Every Little Thing”, “Love You Like I Used To”, and most recently Dickerson’s current single “She Likes It” ft. Jake Scott, which has already been certified Gold

Dickerson will also embark on a sold-out tour in the UK and headline a tour throughout the US starting in November.

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CMT to honor Alan Jackson with ‘Artist Of A Lifetime’ Award

CMT announced that country music icon Alan Jackson will receive the “Artist of a Lifetime” award at the 2022 CMT Artists of the Year,  during a 90-minute special airing on CMT on Friday, October 14. CMT wrote on Instagram: “The 2022 CMT Artist of a Lifetime ⭐ @officialalanjackson ⭐ Join us as we honor and celebrate him on Friday, October 14 at 9/8c on CMT! #CMTAOTY”

Jackson will join the list of previous “Lifetime” honorees including Randy Travis (2021), Reba McEntire (2019), Loretta Lynn (2018), Shania Twain (2016), Kenny Rogers (2015) and Merle Haggard (2014). CMT said: “We’re honored to recognize the incomparable Alan Jackson as this year’s CMT ‘Artist of a Lifetime.’ For more than thirty years, his traditional sound, iconic voice and beloved catalog of music has captivated audiences across the globe and his talent as a recording artist and songwriter are simply unmatched. From his early beginnings in Newnan, Georgia, to selling out the world’s largest stages, Alan has led fans on a musical journey that proved to be a reflection of their own lives. As his songs continue to inspire new generations of fans, we are privileged to celebrate his lifetime of accomplishments.”

Jackson said in a press release: “I believe I’ve made more videos than just about anybody, and I know how important they have been in bringing my songs to life for the fans, so thank you CMT for all the years and for this sweet honor. I’m very proud.”

The 2022 CMT Artists of the Year will feature some of country music’s biggest stars taking the stage at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center in honor of Carly Pearce, Cody Johnson, Kane Brown, Luke Combs, and Walker Hayes. The star-studded event will premiere on Friday, October 14 at 9/8c.

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‘American Horror Story: NYC’ to premiere on FX on October 19

FX has unveiled a title and premiere date for Season 11 of the anthology horror series American Horror Story, tweeting: “New Season. New City. New Fears. FX’s AHS:NYC premieres 10.19 on FX. Stream on Hulu.”

Season 11 will be titled American Horror Story: NYC and have a two-episode premiere at 10 p.m. EDT on Oct. 19. Subsequent episodes will be released in pairs on Wednesdays, with episodes streaming the next day on Hulu.

American Horror Story: NYC stars Joe Mantello, Billie Lourd, Zachary Quinto, Russell Tovey, Leslie Grossman, Charlie Carver, Sandra Bernhard, Isaac Powell, Denis O’Hare and Patti LuPone.

The American Horror Story franchise is created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, and the series has already been renewed through Season 13.  Previous seasons were titled Murder House, Asylum, Coven, Freak Show, Hotel, Roanoke, Cult, Apocalypse, 1984 and Double Feature: Red Tide and Death Valley.

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‘Smile’ tops North American box office with $22M in its opening weekend

Paramount’s “Smile,” a horror movie starring Sosie Bacon and Jessie T. Usher, is the No. 1 movie in North America, earning $22 million over the weekend.  ‘Smile,’ Parker Finn’s debut feature film, cost just $17 million to make before marketing.  ‘Smile’ follows a therapist (Sosie Bacon) treating a graduate student (Caitlin Stasey) who recently witnessed a gruesome suicide. Jessie T. Usher, Kyle Gallner, Robin Weigert and Kal Penn co-star.

The marketing campaign for ‘Smile’ went viral in recent days after Paramount hired several people to maintain the film’s signature creepy smile when sitting behind home base at several major league baseball games. Paramount president of production Chris Aronson said: “It was the exclamation point on a great campaign.”

Olivia Wilde’s Don’t Worry Darling fell to the No. 2 spot wit a 62 percent drop, and putting the movie’s 10-day domestic total at $32.8 million.

Tri-Star’s The Woman King came in No. 3 with $7 million, down just 36 percent in its third weekend for a domestic total nearing $47 million.

Universal and Nicholas Stoller’s high-profile Bros, the first gay romantic comedy from a major Hollywood studio which cost $22 million to make, opened in a disappointing 4th place. Bros, starring Billy Eichner, was embraced by critics following its world premiere at the 2022 Toronto Film Festival.  It earned a 95 percent critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, and audiences gave it an A CinemaScore.

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