A musical show about Dolly Parton will be coming to The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
The venue has been making headlines in recent weeks due to the shakeup there following the re-election of President Trump. While some artists are refusing to perform in protest of Trump’s leadership, other major names like Parton are signing on, which is part of the plan to usher in the “Golden Age of the Arts.”
The <a href="https://www.kennedy-center.org/nso/home/2024-2025/nsop-dolly-parton/">concert</a>, which premiered in Nashville last year, is called &#8220;Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony.&#8221;
&#8220;The threads of my life are woven together through my songs. That’s why the project, Threads: My Songs In Symphony, is so special to me,&#8221; Parton said in the Kennedy Center&#8217;s announcement of the show. &#8220;It’s about sharing my music and my musical journey with audiences in a new way.&#8221;
The National Symphony Orchestra will be performing classic hits such as &#8220;Jolene,&#8221; &#8220;Coat of Many Colors,&#8221; and &#8220;I Will Always Love You.&#8221;
&#8220;Bringing Dolly Parton’s music to life through the power of a full symphony orchestra has long been a dream of mine,&#8221; National Symphony Orchestra Principal Pops Conductor Steven Reineke said, per <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/scoop-dolly-parton-symphony-concert-heads-dcs-kennedy-center-event-no-one-want-miss">Fox News</a>. &#8220;Dolly is one of the great storytellers of American music, and I am excited to bring her expansive catalog to the Kennedy Center. Through these unique symphonic charts, her music will be showcased like never before and will surely be an evening no one will want to miss!&#8221;
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Did you hear the National Symphony Orchestra is performing Dolly Parton’s 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴 at The Kennedy Center?! It’s a one-of-a-kind multimedia concert experience. Sing along to her greatest hits with live guest vocalists and stunning new orchestrations celebrating her… <a href="https://t.co/rSppzdz2gH">pic.twitter.com/rSppzdz2gH</a>
&mdash; The Kennedy Center (@kencen) <a href="https://twitter.com/kencen/status/1916890028229231017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
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This new show is coming to The Kennedy Center on June 26 and 27, with member tickets now <a href="https://www.kennedy-center.org/nso/home/2024-2025/nsop-dolly-parton/">available</a>. The venue is also promoting $75 membership, which includes early access to all upcoming shows. General access tickets to the show will be available beginning May 1.
The Kennedy Center has been in the news ever since President Trump took office and promised major reforms, including firing the entire board, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-dumps-kennedy-center-board-puts-immediate-end-to-drag-shows-for-kids">reported</a>.
“At my direction, we are going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., GREAT AGAIN,” Trump wrote on social media in February. “Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP.”
The changes the new board made led to full-scale meltdowns on the Left, including protests expressed through interpretive dancing. But their protests haven’t made much of a difference. The Kennedy Center just broke its all-time attendance record for a public event it hosted on March 29, welcoming 11,000 attendees, of whom 76% were there for the first time.

Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton Show Heads To Kennedy Center As They Usher In ‘Golden Age Of The Arts’

Dolly Parton Show Heads To Kennedy Center As They Usher In 'Golden Age Of The Arts'

Celebrities

Entertainment

Kennedy Center

Music

U.S.

Drummer Zak Starkey, who is the son of The Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, just publicly commented on his removal from the band The Who earlier this year after playing with them for almost three decades.
While rumors have circulated that Starkey was let go due to disagreements among the band members, Starkey said the issue was actually a “medical emergency.”
“I’m very proud of my near 30 years with The Who,” the 59-year-old musician told <a href="https://people.com/zak-starkey-ringo-starr-son-breaks-silence-exiting-the-who-exclusive-11716449?">People</a>, before referencing Keith Moon, the legendary drummer with The Who from 1964 until his death in 1978.  “Filling the shoes of my Godfather, ‘uncle Keith’ has been the biggest honor and I remain their biggest fan. They’ve been like family to me.”
“In January, I suffered a serious medical emergency with blood clots in my right bass drum calf,” Starkey continued. “This is now completely healed and does not affect my drumming or running.”
Starkey also seemed to reference an incident that occurred during a show at Royal Albert Hall last month, when Metro reported that singer Robert Daltrey was struggling to hear over the sound of the drums.
Starkey said, &#8220;After playing those songs with the band for so many decades, I’m surprised and saddened anyone would have an issue with my performance that night, but what can you do?&#8221;
“I plan to take some much needed time off with my family, and focus on the release of ‘Domino Bones’ by Mantra Of The Cosmos with Noel Gallagher in May and finishing my autobiography written solely by me,” added Starkey. “29 years at any job is a good old run, and I wish them the best,” he concluded.
A rep for The Who confirmed Starkey’s departure last month, describing it as a “mutual decision.” 
“The band made a collective decision to part ways with Zak after this round of shows at the Royal Albert Hall,&#8221; the rep <a href="https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/music/news/the-who-zak-starkey-fired-reason-roger-daltrey-oasis-lineup-b2734169.html">told</a> The Independent. “They have nothing but admiration for him and wish him the very best for his future.”
The Who formed in London in 1964. The band rose to fame with their popular live performances, which made them icons of the British Invasion alongside The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. They’re known for hits like “My Generation” and the rock opera “Tommy.”

Zak Starkey

‘The Who’ Drummer Breaks Silence After Being Kicked Out Of Band

'The Who' Drummer Breaks Silence After Being Kicked Out Of Band 

United Kingdom

Composer Cristóbal Tapia de Veer, the man behind the theme song for the first three seasons of &#8220;The White Lotus,&#8221; says he quit ahead of season four amid drama with the show’s creator and director, Mike White.
The 51-year-old composer did a tell-all <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/02/style/white-lotus-composer-season-4-leaving.html">interview</a> with The New York Times ahead of the season three’s highly anticipated finale, which airs on Sunday. It was just announced that the popular HBO comedy-drama has been renewed for another season.
Tapia de Veer told the outlet that he had &#8220;hysterical&#8221; discussions with producers about the theme music, which changes for each season to match the new location. The composer compared the drama to &#8220;a rock ’n’ roll band story&#8221; where &#8220;the guitar player doesn’t understand the singer at all.&#8221;
He said that he &#8220;announced to the team a few months ago” that he was “not coming back,&#8221; and that he purposely &#8220;didn&#8217;t tell Mike for various reasons&#8221; and &#8220;wanted to tell him just at the end for the shock.”
Tapia de Veer also described some disputes over the music he’s been having with White over the years.
&#8220;I thought we could do some kind of &#8216;Hawaiian Hitchcock,&#8217; and [White] really grabbed on that and he started laughing,&#8221; the composer said of season one’s music. &#8220;I was on the phone with her [Heather Persons, one of the show’s producers] all the time, and she was trying to convince Mike about this theme, because he didn’t want the theme.&#8221;
Tapia de Veer said his original idea for season three’s music was altered. There has been a lot of discussion and feedback on social media about how the theme music was much different than the first two seasons, which he also blamed on White.
&#8220;I had TMZ calling me, even people from England and from France, because they wanted some kind of statement about the theme,&#8221; he told NYT. &#8220;People are furious about the change of the theme, and I thought that was interesting.&#8221;
That made Tapia de Veer want to share the &#8220;uncut ending&#8221; of the song publicly.
&#8220;I texted the producer and I told him that it would be great to, at some point, give them the longer version with the ooh-loo-loo-loos, because people will explode if they realize that it was going there anyway. He thought it was a good idea. But then Mike cut that — he wasn’t happy about that,&#8221; he said.
&#8220;I mean, at that point, [Mike and I] already had our last fight forever, I think. So he was just saying no to anything. So I just uploaded that to my YouTube,&#8221; Tapia de Veer said.
The composer said he’s &#8220;pretty proud&#8221; that he &#8220;never gave up&#8221; fighting for the music he envisioned.
&#8220;Maybe I was being unprofessional, and for sure Mike feels that I was always unprofessional to him because I didn’t give him what he wanted. But what I gave him did this, you know — did those Emmys, people going crazy,&#8221; the musician said. Tapia de Veer added, &#8220;it was worth all the tension and almost forcing the music into the show.&#8221;
When asked how White reacted to him leaving, Tapia de Veer said, &#8220;He says a lot of things, but I can’t really talk about that.&#8221;
He continued, &#8220;There was a French movie, &#8216;La Cage Aux Folles.&#8217; You know how there’s Albin, which is like the star, and there’s Renato, who is the producer who is always taking care that Albin doesn’t lose his mind about something, because Albin is the diva and Renato is the guy who is trying to make everything work. To me, the show felt very much like that.&#8221;
A representative for HBO told Entertainment Weekly in a <a href="https://ew.com/white-lotus-composer-leaving-show-mike-white-feud-11708331">statement</a> via email, &#8220;We’ve got nothing to add at this time (but can confirm only that Cristobal isn’t returning to the show).&#8221;
Tapia de Veer won three Emmys for his work on the show&#8217;s music, including one for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music and two for Original Dramatic Score.

The White Lotus Mike White

‘The White Lotus’ Theme Song Composer Details Drama With Creator Mike White, Says He Quit The Show

'The White Lotus' Theme Song Composer Details Drama With Creator Mike White, Says He Quit The Show

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday that targeted ticket resellers and scalpers who profit from jacking up the prices.
Recording artist Kid Rock joined the president for the signing. The order directs the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice to team up with state attorneys general to enforce laws that prevent entertainers and fans from being overcharged and price gouged by resellers, per <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5224370-trump-executive-order-ticket-scalping-reselling/amp/">The Hill</a>.
The EO also highlights the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act and promotes it being enforced by consumer protection authorities.
It also ensures price transparency at all stages of the ticket-purchasing process, including the secondary ticket market, as a better protection for concertgoers. The EO says it will take action to prevent &#8220;unfair, deceptive, and anti-competitive conduct&#8221; in the secondary ticketing market.
&#8220;Anyone who&#8217;s bought a concert ticket in the last decade, maybe 20 years, no matter what your politics are, knows it is a conundrum,&#8221; Kid Rock, who was decked out in red, white, and blue, told reporters. 
&#8220;If you buy a ticket for 100 bucks by the time you check it out, it&#8217;s 170. You don&#8217;t know what you can charge for it, but more importantly, these bots you know, they come in to get all the good tickets to your favorite shows you want to go to, and then they&#8217;re relisted immediately for sometimes a 4 or 500% markup.&#8221; 
Kid Rock explained that the artists &#8220;don&#8217;t see any of that money.&#8221;  
“It bothers him, it bothers a lot of other artists too,” Trump said of Kid Rock. 
Trump mentioned tackling high concert ticket prices while on the campaign trail last year.
“Scalpers and bots prevent fans from getting tickets at the prices artists set, and we thank President Trump for taking them head-on. We support any meaningful resale reforms — including more enforcement of the BOTS act, caps on resale prices, and more,” Live Nation Entertainment told The Daily Wire in a statement on Tuesday morning.
Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino echoed that sentiment in an X <a href="https://x.com/Michael_Rapino/status/1906842969078120667">post</a> thanking President Trump and Kid Rock for &#8220;taking ticket-scalping head on.&#8221;
&nbsp;

Kid Rock and Trump

Trump Signs Executive Order Targeting Ticket Scalpers And Resellers

President Trump Signs EO Targeting Ticket Scalpers And Resellers

concert

Donald Trump

Executive Orders

Kid Rock

Music Industry

Politics

Pop singer Chappell Roan is getting all kinds of backlash following an interview she did on the popular “Call Her Daddy” podcast with Alex Cooper.
The 27-year-old singer, who quickly rose to fame and is popular for her unique, drag queen aesthetic and prickly personality, is facing criticism for comments she made about parenting, and politics in particular.
First the Grammy-winning artist, whose real name is Kayleigh Amstutz, talked about going back to her hometown after getting famous and seeing everyone married with regular jobs and children.
“I don’t know when that’s gonna happen for me,” the singer said. “Like, I don’t know when that is realistic.”
“Do you want that?” Cooper asked.
“Like get married and … yeah, I don’t know,” she replied. “Part of me is like, is it even gonna be legal to marry, like, my wife one day, you know? I don’t know.”
“But kids? All my friends who have kids are in hell,” Amstutz continued. “I don’t know anyone – I actually don’t know anyone who’s like, happy and has children at this age,” she went on, rattling off ages of children five and under as examples. “I literally have not met anyone who’s happy, anyone who has like light in their eyes, anyone who has slept.”
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Many commenters pointed out that Amstutz’s friends may have very young children, and could have just been voicing normal complaints.
“Chappell Roan going on call her daddy saying none of her friends with kids are happy is a prime example of why you cannot just vent to anyone,” one popular reply on X <a href="https://x.com/tallowmom/status/1905721349156544714">says</a>. “Because I guarantee she has this perspective because a few of her mom friends are going through it…. may a friendship like that never ever ever ever find me. May the friendships of narcissistic childless women with no sense of loyalty ever find me.”
“This is why you only vent about parenting to other mom friends who get it,” another person <a href="https://x.com/smalltown_wife/status/1906058559991009305">agreed</a>.
“Her viewpoint was SO out of touch and disappointing. Imagine being those friends that probably had a bad day and confided in her and hearing her spin on their situation on an international podcast. So wrong and so sad. We need to celebrate motherhood,” another person chimed in.
Amstutz also talked about her feelings on discussing politics after fans came after her during the 2024 election for not explicitly endorsing Kamala Harris.
The singer discussed how she doesn’t have time to care about politics. “Tour. Write. Perform. Interview. Sleep. Eat. And eat! And f***ing work out. How can they do it all? And lead the team, and be a boss, and pay people … and be like, f***ing so politically educated.”
“It’s exhausting,” Cooper agreed.
“And it’s also impossible,” Amstutz replied. “Also, why the f*** are you looking to me for some political answer? You think I have the f***ing answer? I&#8217;m a pop star. I wish I had the answers, I wish the president was a pop star, but she&#8217;s not,” the singer said.
The “Pink Pony Club” singer also reflected on her childhood. “I don’t even know if my young self would be able to register that as a part of me. That’s how removed … I was so, so, so opposite of me now,” she told Cooper. “It just wasn’t [awakened].”
“Young Kayleigh just felt so restricted because I was a problem child and so angry and so depressed and I felt like no one understood me,” Amstutz continued. “Now, that part of me is so alive … I just wanted to be free, but I didn’t think it would actually happen. Now that it has, it’s like she wouldn’t believe it at all. I don’t think she’d believe that this is what I do.”

Chappell Roan

Singer Chappell Roan Called Out For Saying All Her Friends With Children ‘Are In Hell’

Singer Chappell Roan Called Out For Saying All Her Friends With Children 'Are In Hell'

Parenting

Actor Will Smith just dropped his first studio album in 20 years, and he referenced the infamous moment at the 2022 Academy Awards when he slapped presenter Chris Rock across the face.
The rap artist included many collaborations on his new album, “Based On a True Story,” and the first song, “Int. Barbershop — Day,” begins with the line, “Will Smith is canceled,” as Variety <a href="https://variety.com/2025/music/news/will-smith-new-album-chris-rock-oscars-slap-1236350689/">noted</a>.
The song&#8217;s credits say it’s a collaboration between DJ Jazzy Jeff and B. Simone. It includes several voices repeating rumors about Smith in a freestyle rap, such as “Who the f** Will Smith think he is?” and “I ain’t never going to forgive him for that sh** he did.” 
One of the song lyrics says, “I heard he won the Oscar but he had to give it back/ And you know they only made him do that sh** because he’s black.”
The outlet notes that Smith did not have to return his Oscar, but he was banned from attending any Academy events for at least ten years.
The “Men in Black” star shocked the entertainment world by responding physically to Rock telling a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Will strode onto the stage and slapped Rock, then said, “Keep my wife’s name out of your f***ing mouth.”
Later in the telecast, Smith was awarded the Oscar for Best Actor for his film “King Richard.”
Another line in the song mentions the incident again: “Him and Jada both crazy girl, what you talkin’ bout?/ You better keep his wife’s name out of your mouth.”
The album’s second song, “You Lookin’ for Me?” also references the drama in his personal life. The lyrics say, “Took a lot, I’m back on top/ Y’all gon’ have to get acclimated/ Won’t stop, my sh** still hot/ Even though I won’t get nominated.” 
Previously, Smith <a href="https://thesource.com/2025/03/28/will-smith-shares-advice-from-jay-z-kendrick-lamar-on-new-album/">mentioned</a> that he had received guidance from Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar for the new album. He said Jay-Z told him to “be true to your story,” which helped inspire the title. Lamar told Smith to “say that sh** you always been scared to say.”

Will Smith

Will Smith References Infamous Oscars Slap On His First Album Drop In 20 Years

Chris Rock

Jada Pinkett Smith

Rap Music

80s rock star Nancy Wilson of the band Heart is facing backlash after she recently compared being an American to how it was during the Vietnam War, saying it’s “more embarrassing now.”
During an interview earlier this month, the “Barracuda” rocker talked about the early days in the group while discussing the band’s huge hit “Crazy on You,” which came out in 1975, <a href="https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/music/2025/03/18/hearts-nancy-wilson-on-hanging-with-chappell-roan-anns-health-more/82267300007/">Milwaukee Journal Sentinel</a> reported.
“We were kind of embarrassed at that time to call ourselves American because of the dirty politics of the Vietnam War,” Wilson said.
“To be as subtle as possible,” she added. &#8220;It’s more embarrassing now.”
Later in the interview, the rocker said the group’s 1977 hit “Barracuda&#8221; was even “more relevant in the salacious billionaire culture with the grab-them-by-the-p***y mentality.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Heart’s Nancy Wilson slammed for saying it’s ‘more embarrassing than ever’ to be an American: ‘Then leave’ <a href="https://t.co/qNZlz9pl2Z">https://t.co/qNZlz9pl2Z</a> <a href="https://t.co/qvnZMrEMW6">pic.twitter.com/qvnZMrEMW6</a>
— New York Post (@nypost) <a href="https://twitter.com/nypost/status/1904344709688078720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2025</a></blockquote>
It was a clear reference to comments President Donald Trump made during an interview in 2005, more than a decade before he ran for office.
“I think for women in the culture the pendulum will come back again, and there’ll be another renaissance in the arts to push back against the oppression of the cranky old rich white guys,” Wilson said. “I hope I am alive to see that next revolution.&#8221;
Later, the comments from the interview surfaced on social media — and resulted in many people blasting Wilson for slamming America, the <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/03/24/entertainment/hearts-nancy-wilson-says-its-more-embarrassing-than-ever-to-be-american/">New York Post</a> noted.
“Says the millionaire who made TONS of dough playing music,” <a href="https://x.com/yea_karen53/status/1904241909834408324">one user on X </a>wrote. “I just can’t with these people right now.”
Another person wrote, “The b***h is welcome to find a more suitable country for her needs. I’m willing to wager on the makeup of the country should she be a woman of her convictions.”
While a third person wrote, “Stop playing 80’s Heart music and it’s not as embarrassing.”
Another person added, “It’s embarrassing to be a Heart fan now.”
Others suggested that if the singer from Heart doesn’t like it here, no one is asking her to stay.
“Then leave you won’t be missed,” one social media user wrote.
Another added, “Move I guess.”
While a third person <a href="https://x.com/MatthewNichol5/status/1904676378043183260">wrote</a>, “I hope Nancy Wilson leaves. What a disgusting pos. I used to love Heart, but I will never listen to them again. These fans did the right thing. They do not pay to see their political opinion.”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/anti-war-activist-country-group-the-chicks-to-sing-national-anthem-at-dnc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Anti-War Country Group The Chicks To Sing National Anthem At DNC</a>

Heart Nancy Wilson

80s Rock Star Called Out After Saying It’s ‘More Embarrassing Than Ever’ To Be American

America

Dixie Chicks

rock

Alternative 90s band Semisonic said President Donald Trump’s White House “missed the point entirely” about their song “Closing Time” and that they “did not authorize” the use of it for a viral deportation video.
“We did not authorize or condone the White House’s use of our song in any way,” a statement from the band to the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/semisonic-trump-cling-time-b9984c537f8aca5c68e80454aaa1cf22">Associated Press</a> read. “And no, they didn’t ask.”
“The song is about joy and possibilities and hope, and they have missed the point entirely,” the statement added about the song.
It came after a video posted by the White House on <a href="https://x.com/WhiteHouse/status/1901658649522503816">X</a> went viral, showing illegal immigrants in handcuffs being put on planes. The caption with the clip included a lyric from the song that read, “You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here.”
During Monday’s press briefing, Daily Wire White House Correspondent Mary Margaret Olohan asked Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt about the viral video with Semisonic’s song.
“I think the White House and our entire government clearly is leaning into the message of this president,” Leavitt explained, “and we are unafraid to double down and to take responsibility and ownership of the serious decisions that are being made.”
“The president was elected with an overwhelming mandate to launch the largest mass deportation campaign in American history, and that’s exactly what he is doing and to this very day, we are now, I think 56 or seven days into the administration, by my count, the president still receives an overwhelming public support for the policies that he is enacting, so we are unafraid to message effectively what the president is doing on a daily basis to make our communities safer.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🎶You don&#8217;t have to go home but you can&#8217;t stay here🎶 <a href="https://twitter.com/CBP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CBP</a> <a href="https://t.co/yWWhlvKQrb">pic.twitter.com/yWWhlvKQrb</a>
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1901658649522503816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
“The specific video you referenced,” added Leavitt, “I think it sums up our immigration policy pretty well: ‘You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here.’”
U.S. Customs and Border Protection also shared the White House post and captioned it, “It&#8217;s closing time. We are making America safe again.”
Semisonic’s “Closing Time” hit the charts in 1998 from their album “Feeling Strangely Fine.” It was a huge hit for the group, with it earning the band a Grammy nomination for best rock song after it hit No. 4 on Billboard’s Adult Alternative Airplay chart, the AP noted.
The band’s complaint against the White House joins a long list of other performers who have been upset about their songs being used by Trump in the past. That list includes the likes of Neil Young, Panic! at the Disco, R.E.M., Guns N’ Roses, Celine Dion, Beyoncé, Adele, ABBA, and more.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/singer-defends-her-performance-at-one-of-the-trump-inauguration-balls" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Singer Defends Her Performance At One Of The Trump Inauguration Balls</a>

Semisonic

‘They Have Missed The Point’: Alt Band Upset White House Used Song In Viral Deportation Video

Illegal Immigration

White House

Ken Casey, lead singer of the Celtic punk rock band Dropkick Murphys, didn’t hold back his opinion of a fan who attended a show in Boston over the weekend with a MAGA hat in tow.
He began his rant by saying that Republicans “all wear” a “Chinese f***ing red” MAGA hat, which he claims is “dyeing their brains.” Casey continued, saying, “They&#8217;ve got the black-on-black Elon Musk, true Nazi edition. And then my man here, he&#8217;s getting ready for summer with a nice, f***in&#8217; white one.&#8221;
“Bro, listen, I admire your dedication,” the Dropkick Murphys singer continued while addressing the fan, “But I will ask everyone, if you’re in a room full of people and you want to know who’s in a cult, how do you know who’s in a cult?” He pointed at the fan. “They’ve been holding up a f***ing hat the whole night to represent a president.”
“This is America,” he yelled, “there’s no kings here!”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
EXCLUSIVE: This just happened onstage in front of 6,000 Bostonians at the Dropkick Murphys concert. &quot;This is America, no kings here!&quot; Dropkick Murphys nails it again!! <a href="https://t.co/kLUd7IVDMV">pic.twitter.com/kLUd7IVDMV</a>
&mdash; MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) <a href="https://twitter.com/MeidasTouch/status/1901151661529460851?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
As the audience cheered, Casey said, “Anyway, anyway, if you mind, sir, we’re gonna play a song about our grandparents and people who fought Nazis in the war and s***. So if you could just shut the f*** up for five minutes.”
The band has singled out Trump voters in the past. At a show in Clearwater, Florida, in March, Casey made headlines for singling out a fan wearing MAGA gear and betting that the items he was wearing were not made in the United States.
“The reason we speak out, we don’t care if we lose fans, because when history is said and done, we want it known that the Dropkick Murphys stood with the people, we stood with the workers,” Casey said at the time. “It’s all a f***ing scam, guys.”
He also <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/punk-singer-dropkick-murphys-bet-maga-shirt-made-usa-2042315">bragged</a> that Dropkick Murphys “always sells proudly made in America merchandise only.” Casey said to the concertgoer, “And here’s the bet I’d like to make: If you lose the bet, we switch shirts, OK? If you win the bet, I give you $100 and the shirt.”
“It’s made in Nicaragua!” Casey said from the stage. “He’s taking the shirt off. We’re taking crime off the streets.”
The band formed in Quincy, Massachusetts, in 1996 with Casey being the only remaining original member. Dropkick Murphys are known for taking influence from Irish heritage when creating their music.

Ken Casey

Dropkick Murphys Singer Berates Fan In MAGA Hat At Boston Show: ‘Shut The F*** Up’

Dropkick Murphys Singer Berates Fan In MAGA Hat At Boston Show: 'Shut The F*** Up'

Boston

MAGA

MAGA Hat

Singer Billy Joel has postponed several tour dates after undergoing surgery for an undisclosed &#8220;medical condition.&#8221;
The 75-year-old recording artist will not be putting on eight scheduled shows between now and July. The next time Joel takes the stage will be at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on July 5, as Variety <a href="https://variety.com/2025/music/news/billy-joel-postpones-tour-dates-surgery-medical-condition-1236334413/">reported</a>.
The “Piano Man” singer did not disclose details of the medical concern other than to say his “health must come first.”
&#8220;Billy Joel&#8217;s upcoming concert dates will be rescheduled due to a medical condition,&#8221; the statement began. &#8220;The current tour will be postponed for four months to allow him to recover from recent surgery and to undergo physical therapy under the supervision of his doctors.&#8221;
&#8220;Joel is expected to make a full recovery,” it continued before ending with a message from the singer himself. 
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&#8220;While I regret postponing any shows, my health must come first,&#8221; he wrote. &#8220;I look forward to getting back on stage and sharing the joy of live music with our amazing fans. Thank you for your understanding.&#8221;
The postponed shows include scheduled stops in Detroit, Toronto, Syracuse, Salt Lake City, Charlotte, and Milwaukee, along with previously planned shows in Edinburgh, Scotland, and Liverpool, England. All concerts have been pushed to 2026 except for the Detroit show with Stevie Nicks, which will take place in November.
Current ticket holders will be able to attend the new dates with their current tickets.
Joel’s last show was on February 22, where fan footage captured the musician taking a tumble onstage at the Mohegan Sun resort in Montville, Connecticut. The star was singing “It&#8217;s Still Rock and Roll To Me” when he began spinning his microphone stand. He flung the stand across the stage, but the action caused him to stumble and fall.
It&#8217;s unclear if the falling incident had anything to do with the surgery.

Billy Joel

Billy Joel Postpones Concert Tour For Medical Reason: ‘My Health Comes First’

Billy Joel Postpones Concert Tour For Medical Reason: 'My Health Comes First'

singer

World

A podcaster has publicly apologized to rap artist Megan Thee Stallion after facing backlash for what’s been described as a &#8220;racist&#8221; comment.
Hannah Berner and her “Giggly Squad” podcast co-host, Paige DeSorbo, conducted celebrity interviews on the red carpet for Vanity Fair on Sunday during the outlet’s Oscars after-party event. The pair got to speak with Megan Thee Stallion, whose real name is Megan Pete, and one portion of that interview has since gone viral.
During the interview, both podcasters were praising the “Hot Girl Summer” singer. DeSorbo told Pete that she always starts her day with the artist’s songs, prompting Berner to say, “Your music has literally like, made me &#8230; when I want to fight someone, I listen to your music.”
“You want to throw that fighting sh** out the window,” Pete replied. “You want to get cute and be a bad b*tch.”
“When people are talking sh**, I go, ‘Turn on Megan Thee Stallion!’” Berner added, getting so excited that she started jumping up and down.
“Body-ody-ody, I look beautiful, I look so great,” Pete responded, referencing the chorus of her hit song “Body.” 
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TikTok commenters came after the interviewers, saying the interaction had “racist” undertones.
“This felt so racist. And they didn’t let her finish most her sentences,” one TikTok user wrote.
“Very micro aggressive. Megs music isn’t about fighting and the fangirling is a spectacle. Please hire real interviewers that know how to talk to black women as PEOPLE and not characters,” another person agreed.
“The racism is LOUD!” a third echoed.
“Lowkey ‘angry Black woman’ references in 2025? Please,” TyLisa Johnson <a href="https://www.poynter.org/commentary/2025/vanity-fair-megan-thee-stallion-hannah-berner-oscars-2025/">wrote</a> in an opinion column for Poynter.
“I’ve been a fan of Megan Thee Stallion since around 2016, when she was a young college student freestyling in cars. She has never made me want to fight. She makes me want to dance, be more liberated, stand up for myself and own my womanhood.”
The backlash became so extreme that Berner issued an apology via Instagram Stories on Thursday. &#8220;Interviewing Megan Thee Stallion was a dream of mine. I love her music and it&#8217;s my go to whenever I need to boost my confidence before a show. Looking back at the interview, I wish I used any other word except &#8216;fight&#8217; to describe how her songs impact me,&#8221; Berner wrote.
&#8220;It was a careless choice of words and though there was no ill intent, I recognize and acknowledge that what I said has a deeper meaning and I am so sorry to Megan,” she continued. “I appreciate everyone who brought this to my attention.&#8221;

Megan Thee Stallion

Podcast Host Apologizes For ‘Racist’ Comment While Interviewing Megan Thee Stallion

Podcast Host Apologizes For 'Racist' Comment While Interviewing Megan Thee Stallion

Racism

Roberta Flack, Grammy award-winning soul and R&amp;B singer/musician of “Killing Me Softly with His Song,” among many more ballads, died peacefully at her home surrounded by family. She was 88.
&#8220;We are heartbroken that the glorious Roberta Flack passed away this morning February 24, 2025,&#8221; a statement read on Monday to <a href="https://people.com/roberta-flack-dead-88-killing-me-softly-singer-7502305?utm_campaign=people&amp;utm_content=likeshop&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=instagram">People</a> magazine.
&#8220;She died peacefully surrounded by her family,” it added. “Roberta broke boundaries and records. She was also a proud educator.&#8221;
A cause of death has not yet been released. However, it comes after a representative for Flack shared in 2022 that the star&#8217;s singing career was over after she had been diagnosed with ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/roberta-flack-dies-61ad9755cc7b4f37b29884adc49c9340">Associated Press</a> noted.
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Legendary pop/R&amp;B vocalist Roberta Flack, who was launched to stardom in the early ’70s by the Grammy-winning hits “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” and “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” has died. She was 88. <a href="https://t.co/WfpVHIjz6y">https://t.co/WfpVHIjz6y</a> <a href="https://t.co/Q6dmM6z8Xg">pic.twitter.com/Q6dmM6z8Xg</a>
— Variety (@Variety) <a href="https://twitter.com/Variety/status/1894045103368425767?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
Born in 1937 in Black Mountain, North Carolina, and raised in Virginia, Flack was a trained pianist whose talent for singing was discovered after graduating from Howard University. Her career exploded in the 1970s with the release of her song, “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.”
And it was thanks to actor Clint Eastwood who pushed to have her song with her tempo included in the soundtrack to his 1971 movie “Play Misty for Me” with Donna Mills.
“The record label wanted to have it re-recorded with a faster tempo, but he said he wanted it exactly as it was,” Flack told the AP in 2018. “With the song as a theme song for his movie, it gained a lot of popularity and then took off.”
The song soared to the top of the Billboard chart in 1972 and she ended up winning a Grammy for record of the year, the AP noted.
The following year, she hit another gold with the release of her version of “Killing Me Softly with His Song” and won another Grammy for best record &#8212; a first for any artist.
Flack went on to find success with duet hits such as “Where is the Love,” &#8220;The Closer I Get to You,” and “Feel Like Makin’ Love,” which she performed with her close late-friend Donny Hathaway.
“We were deeply connected creatively,” Flack told Vibe in 2022, AP noted. “He could play anything, sing anything. Our musical synergy was unlike (anything) I’d had before or since.”
Following news of the singer’s death, musicians and artists took to social media to pay tribute to the singer.
Queen Latifah wrote on X, “Rest in peace to Howard graduate, classically trained pianist, songwriter, singer, &amp; the first artist to ever win a Grammy for Record of the Year in two consecutive years, Miss Roberta Flack. Her &amp; her fellow songwriter Donny Hathaway are now reunited.”
Jennifer Hudson wrote, “So sad to hear of Roberta Flack’s passing. One of the great soul singers of all time. Rest well, Ms. Flack. Your legacy lives on!!!”
Clint Eastwood added, “Rest in Peace Roberta Flack…”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/all-by-myself-singer-dead-at-74" target="_blank" rel="noopener">‘All By Myself’ Singer Dead At 74</a>

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