<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Legendary music producer Clive Davis passed away on Monday at the age of 94. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Davis made history in the music industry as the founder of Arista Records and president of Columbia Records. He was known for creating some of the most iconic stars in modern music. He died peacefully from age-related illness following a recent hospitalization for respiratory issues.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Among Davis’s many protégés are Whitney Houston, Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, and Neil Diamond. He won five Grammy Awards during his 59-year career.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“He discovered, mentored, and championed the greatest artists in modern music history, leaving an indelible mark on culture that will endure for generations,” said a family statement released after his death.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">His annual pre-Grammy party was one of the most significant social events of the year, and regularly featured the most influential stars in the industry. He was inducted into the Rock &amp; Roll Hall of Fame as a non-performer in 2000. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Raised in Brooklyn, Davis was a Harvard Law Graduate and never planned on a career in music. He began as a corporate lawyer for Columbia Records before transitioning into music. “I was thrust into it,” he once </span><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/22/entertainment/clive-davis-death"><span style="font-weight: 400;">remarked to CNN</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, “Never knowing I had a natural ear and gift for music that would become the passion of my life.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Many of his stars have posted tributes to him on social media, crediting him for their success. </span></p>
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<p>&#8220;Clive Davis convinced me to sign with Columbia Records many years ago. He recognized the talent of great musicians and understood the power of contemporary music. I will always be grateful to Clive for his recognition of the critical importance of songwriting. He undoubtedly enhanced the stature of the music industry during his tenure as president of Columbia Records,&#8221; Billy Joel commented.</p>
<p>Carlos Santana added, &#8220;Clive Davis was a visionary. He could hear the intangible before anyone else could see it. He believed in Santana from the beginning, and years later he believed in us again. That kind of faith is a beautiful blessing, and I will always be grateful.&#8221;</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Davis is survived by his four children — Fred, Doug, Mitchell, and Lauren — as well as eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“To his family, Clive was Dad and Granddaddy, the steady presence at the center of our lives, the source of wisdom, strength, encouragement, and unconditional love. No matter how extraordinary his professional accomplishments, he never lost sight of what mattered most: the people he loved,” said the family statement.</span></p>


Clive Davis and the Recording Academy Pre-GRAMMY Gala & GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Avery Lipman & Monte Lipman – Inside

Legendary Music Exec Clive Davis Dead At 94

Music

Music Industry

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Singer Olivia Rodrigo revealed one disgusting habit some of her fans allegedly participate in.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 23-year-old recording artist discussed the phenomenon during a recent interview with Kiss FM. Hosts Tyler West and Chloe Burrows asked Rodrigo about the worst place she’s had to use the restroom, and the pop singer responded by talking about all the times she’s suspected that concertgoers were wearing adult diapers so they could get and keep the best spots at her shows.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I can’t think of anything for myself,” Rodrigo said. “But I have been to certain concerts and certain festivals where people wear diapers so that they can be front row of the show, and that’s been an experience as a performer that I have … smelled.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“That is insane behavior!” Burrows said with a gasp. “I cannot believe that.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She said it’s not that surprising as it’s a known trend among New Year’s Eve revelers in New York City.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It’s also like in the ball drop in New York for New Year’s Eve,” Olivia continued. “Everyone is wearing diapers, they sit there all day.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“You’re pranking us,” West said in response. Rodrigo insisted that it’s true, though. “No, that’s a thing. I think about it kind of often.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The reactions online were ones of disgust. One viral </span><a href="https://x.com/crazyinIqve/status/2067297946777878646"><span style="font-weight: 400;">response</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> on X, which has close to 2 million views, says, “stop wearing diapers to concerts u weirdos yall making my girl smell ur piss on stage omg.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another person </span><a href="https://x.com/likesrosies/status/2067307745444073697"><span style="font-weight: 400;">agreed</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, writing, “this is insane if she could smell someone&#8217;s piss from all the way on stage just imagine what the people standing around that person were dealing with&#8230; no amount of being in the front row is worth humiliating yourself like this please BRING BACK SHAME!”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This isn’t the first time there have been rumors of adult diapers being worn at concerts. Legend has it that Taylor Swift fans do the same thing so they don’t miss a single note of her songs while waiting in line to use the facilities. </span></p>


Olivia Rodrigo

Pop Singer Reveals Disgusting Habit Her Fans Can’t Quit

concert

Entertainment

New Year's

singer

<p><i>This article is part of </i><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/introducing-upstream-a-lifestyle-and-culture-section-of-the-daily-wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><i>Upstream,</i></a><i> The Daily Wire’s new home for culture and lifestyle. Real human insight and human stories — from our featured writers to you.</i></p>
<p><i>***</i></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Grammy-winner Phoebe Bridgers just announced her concert dates for the end of the year. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">But unlike most arena circuits, it will feature one unique detail. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I’m going on tour no phones,” Bridgers posted on </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DZNSNKxFqyX/?img_index=1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Instagram</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Cue expressionless Gen Z chaos. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">All manner of tech, including smartwatches, smartphones, digital cameras, and other portable recorders, will be corralled into neoprene Yondr pouches designed to block functionality, providing the artist with a distraction-free space while fans maintain possession of their personal effects. The pouch locks and unlocks outside the designated perimeter, or in an assigned Phone Use Area within the venue.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Even if you don’t recognize Phoebe Bridgers from her other bands, Boygenius and Better Oblivion Community Center, I&#8217;m guessing you already formed an opinion on locking your phone in koozie prison. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“If any of you figured out how to stick an Apple Watch up your a** or whatever to record, just please don’t put it on the internet,” </span><a href="https://archive.is/kgQl5#selection-423.0-423.133"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bridgers announced</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> on stage.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bridgers tested the Yondr pouch strategy at a sold-out show at Madison Square Garden this month, where not even a </span><a href="https://www.gq.com/story/phoebe-bridgers-no-phones-msg-show"><span style="font-weight: 400;">pencil</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and paper were allowed, lest fans transcribe unreleased lyrics and post them online, spoiling future album releases and shows. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sad-girl indie lovers who paid </span><a href="https://atwoodmagazine.com/live-phoebe-bridgers-madison-square-garden-nyc-2026-concert-review/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">as little as $1</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> for lottery-style entry seemed to be largely on board with acting as a human popemobile to protect Bridgers&#8217; divine intellectual property. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“All of you are gonna be happy,” two fans gushed on </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/byspencerthomas/reel/DZMQ7Xvg-Ih/?hl=af"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Instagram</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> after the show. “It was beautiful and perturbing … the songwriting was there.”  </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another awestruck </span><a href="https://youtu.be/DURK9Jj7B10?t=8"><span style="font-weight: 400;">girl recalled</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, “My jaw was open the entire time, it was absolutely incredible.” Her friend added, “It was insane not seeing any phones there. People brought out lighters halfway through … I didn’t even know that was a thing people did, still.” </span></p>
<p>Reviews were intentionally murky and slightly confusing. Many sounded like someone trying to get you to taste a food for the first time. Maybe that&#8217;s the point. You have to be there. You have to experience it for yourself. No janky livestream could ever do it justice.</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Meanwhile, one rogue audience member reportedly found a way to hack the Yondr sitch to document the no-phones show. “Girl on the bus recorded the entire Phoebe Bridgers MSG concert through her Yondr pouch and is currently listening to the audio file,” an </span><a href="https://x.com/meh_sofia/status/2062728066804203879"><span style="font-weight: 400;">X user</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> reported. Signs point to audio sounding like it was recorded underwater. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Back in the day, </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">not</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> filming concerts was a normal thing. Thirsty for every last note from iconic artists, fans produced the first bootleg in 1969 featuring </span><a href="https://www.avclub.com/a-brief-history-of-live-concert-bootlegging-1798284737"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bob Dylan</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> sessions that had never officially been released. It’s still </span><a href="https://www.romanolaw.com/is-it-legal-to-record-and-publish-live-performances-key-considerations-for-content-creators-and-concert-goers/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">technically illegal</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to publish someone else’s live performance without their consent, but fair use rules around commentary and education blur the lines. Still, rebels remain, even when the no-phones vibe appears to be largely consensual.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Hill I’ll die on: phone free concerts are utter bullsh*t in this economy,” one </span><a href="https://x.com/RAGNAROKNR0LL/status/2062908976191201354?s=20"><span style="font-weight: 400;">X user</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> wrote. “For what you’re charging me … i’ll record whenever and whatever i want … i have to right to take pics, videos, MEMORIES.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It’s an artists job and the fans PAY THEM TO PLAY,” a </span><a href="https://x.com/fictionalangst/status/2063280199232368710?s=20"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bridgers fan</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> posted. “Concerts are not about what an artist wants or being as good as possible for the artist. It’s about the fans experience, that’s the whole reason the show is being put on.” </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Plenty of other commenters noted that no one’s forcing anyone to buy concert tickets.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bridgers follows other major acts that have enacted the same policy. </span><a href="https://www.ebony.com/we-got-a-seat-inside-bruno-mars-no-phones-las-vegas-residency-and-nightclub-heres-what-went-down/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bruno Mars</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> famously banned phones from his Las Vegas residency. One fan recalled that he said on stage, &#8220;Yes, I made you lock your phones up … I just want us to be able to forget about all that is going [on] in the world right now and have a good time.” Or something like that.</span></p>
<p><a href="https://www.nme.com/news/music/jack-white-bans-phones-gigs-2227093"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jack White</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> was doing this almost a decade ago, advising audiences, “Enjoy a phone-free, 100% human experience,” and telling them to repost official Jack White social media content as desired. As if that would ever satisfy the like economy.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Still, maybe Bridgers could have softened the statement into something sounding more like an organic suggestion. Bridgers’ friend, </span><a href="https://x.com/BBCR1/status/1145413016785170435?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1145413016785170435%7Ctwgr%5E7f3aaa1ac332f1ca132933b951907dd0174864e5%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.teenvogue.com%2Fstory%2Fbillie-eilish-glastonbury-performance"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Billie Eilish</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, made a similar request at Glastonbury in 2019. “All I ask is that we all try to live in the moment,” Eilish told the crowd. “Look at me in my eyes … We’re never gonna be right here, this second, on this day, and this age ever again.” </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Other musicians have enacted </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">alternative</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> vibe checks. </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1712883046417355"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Morgan Wallen</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> ripped a phone out of a venue security worker’s hands and threw it across the stage during one recent performance. And Misfits singer </span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Danzig/comments/1h2pagl/danzig_kicking_cell_phone_out_of_fans_hand/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Glenn Danzig</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> unapologetically kicked a phone out of a fan’s grasp, mid-set. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Rowdy concertgoers throwing phones on stage and injuring </span><a href="https://ew.com/riley-green-wanted-to-dive-into-the-crowd-after-a-fan-hit-him-phone-11989104"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Riley Green</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><a href="https://abc7.com/post/drake-chicago-hotline-bling-fan-throws-phone-on-stage/13471963/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Drake</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> only further escalate the tension between artists and audiences. Metal band Bring Me the Horizon frontman </span><a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/music/music-news/bring-me-the-horizon-singer-concussion-phone-throw-concert-1236594029/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Oli Sykes</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> endured a concussion from a projectile phone in May — and continued the show.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After sharing intimate details about her life during lockdown, Bridgers was forced to learn how to protect herself from in-person verbal attacks and invasions of her personal space by followers who assumed a too-familiar relationship. “There’s a higher chance that you’ll meet a fan that you hate than a fan that you love,” </span><a href="https://archive.is/kgQl5#selection-1425.500-1425.589"><span style="font-weight: 400;">she said</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Maybe this plays into the phone thing, too.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The drive to control outrageous fan behavior makes sense. And who really wants to pay $200 to look through a sea of screens hovering over general admission? Instead of filming and posting footage during the show, maybe you sing along with Phoebs on older songs and listen as she rolls out new ethereal tracks. Sip a $25 beer, vape if it’s your thing, and sway to the tune of a musical conversation in the present tense.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bridgers plans to donate </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DZNeqoWlXpQ/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">$1 from every ticket</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> sold on her North American leg to anti-abuse organization RAINN. But with fans reporting $500 price tags for the better seats, some of Bridgers’ followers may be left out in the cold. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">One person claimed Bridgers’ younger contingent may be too broke to afford her solo shows, while </span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/phoebebridgers/comments/1u15z40/comment/oqncpao/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=web3x&amp;utm_name=web3xcss&amp;utm_term=1&amp;utm_content=share_button"><span style="font-weight: 400;">another posted</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, “Guys. Can’t call her indie anymore.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Still, with fans posting about everything </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">but </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">actual shows — and selling the heck out of the vibe, like kids who went nuts on the Dole Whips at Disney World — maybe “no phones” offers the best way to drum up enough FOMO to sell out a two-month tour. At least Phoebe Bridgers seems to think so.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It’s so sick,” </span><a href="https://youtu.be/DURK9Jj7B10?t=74"><span style="font-weight: 400;">said a fan</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, still reeling from a phone-free Phoebe Bridgers set. “It’s really cool.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In an age where most of us feel lost without our devices, ditching our phones for a couple of hours might be the greatest gift we could give ourselves. Even better if you get to do it while listening to your favorite song.</span></p>


This Concert Rule Is Sending Gen Z Into Meltdown Mode

no phone policy

phoebe bridgers

Upstream

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The White House issued a response to pop singer Ariana Grande on Thursday after she slammed the Trump administration for using one of her songs in a social media video about ICE arrests.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&#8220;We’ll say this one last time: what’s actually barbaric, inhumane, and heinous are the criminal illegal aliens who have injured and murdered innocent American citizens,&#8221; White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson </span><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/white-house-fires-back-ariana-grande-told-never-use-music-ice-deportation-video"><span style="font-weight: 400;">told</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Fox News Digital in a statement. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This was in response to the “Wicked” actress commenting on a TikTok video put out by the White House by saying, &#8220;please do not ever use my music in relation to this barbaric, inhumane, heinous nonsense. f*ck ice.&#8221;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The music appears to be removed from the video as of Thursday, as the outlet noted.</span></p>
<blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@whitehouse/video/7649426430756916511" data-video-id="7649426430756916511" data-embed-from="oembed" style="max-width:605px; min-width:325px;">
<section> <a target="_blank" title="@whitehouse" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@whitehouse?refer=embed">@whitehouse</a> </p>
<p>Bye-bye 👋 President Trump has delivered the most secure border in history </p>
<p> <a target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - The White House" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7649426470075026206?refer=embed">♬ original sound &#8211; The White House</a> </section>
</blockquote>
<p> <script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Like many other celebrities, Grande has made anti-ICE statements in the past. She conflated illegal immigration with lawfare attacks against President Donald Trump to her more than 270 million Instagram followers last summer.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Could someone explain which crimes get you deported and which ones get you elected president? It’s so confusing,” she wrote at the time, as The Daily Wire previously </span><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-ice-men-cometh-and-hollywood-comes-unglued"><span style="font-weight: 400;">reported</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Then last September, the “Thank U, Next” singer shared an Instagram post that said, &#8220;immigrants have been violently torn from their families and communities have been destroyed.&#8221;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The same month, she called out Trump voters with a snarky, sarcastic post on Instagram, asking if they were happy with their decision to select the Republican candidate to lead the country.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I want to check in with trump voters. I have one very genuine question: it’s been 250 days. Now that immigrants have been violently torn from their families and communities have been destroyed, now that trans people have been blamed for virtually everything and live in fear, now that free speech is on the brink of collapse for us all — has your life gotten better?” the singer’s Instagram story said. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Grande publicly endorsed Kamala Harris ahead of the 2024 election and subtly mocked fellow recording artist Carrie Underwood for performing at Trump’s presidential inauguration in January.</span></p>


Ariana Grande

White House Responds To Ariana Grande Over Absurd ICE Video Criticism

White House Responds To Ariana Grande's ICE Video Criticism

Celebrities

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

<p>Comedian and HBO host Bill Maher ripped into artists who have abandoned plans to perform for America&#8217;s 250th birthday celebrations, arguing that they&#8217;ve played into President Donald Trump&#8217;s hands.</p>
<p>Maher, during his show on Friday, said that when musicians declared that they would not take part in the festivities, they were making it look as though they did not love the United States — which is exactly the position Trump and others have accused them of taking.</p>
<p><strong>WATCH:</strong></p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Bill Maher SLAPS AROUND the artist that PULLED out of the Freedom 250 Concert: “They all pulled out. This is a question of what looks best for the Democrats because I don’t think that looks good. It looks like you are just what people say about you: you don’t really love America.… <a href="https://t.co/DJP35wbT1P">pic.twitter.com/DJP35wbT1P</a></p>
<p>— RedWave Press (@RedWavePress) <a href="https://x.com/RedWavePress/status/2063344878566662324?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 6, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>&#8220;I think these people — they all pulled out,&#8221; Maher said. &#8220;They all pulled out. This is a question of what looks best for the Democrats because I don’t think that looks good. It looks like you are just what people say about you: you don’t really love America. It looks like you think that Trump is more important than the country itself.”</p>
<p>“Now it’s just a big MAGA rally, this whole thing, because they all pulled out,&#8221; Maher complained. &#8220;So now it&#8217;s just Trump and Lee Greenwood.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Wouldn’t it have been better to play this gig?&#8221; he asked. &#8220;It&#8217;s a month-long gig, lots of people, like — just celebrating America. Can’t we all just celebrate America itself and leave Trump out of it?&#8221;</p>
<p>Nineties rap icon <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/vanilla-ice-blows-up-the-america-250-boycott-narrative">Vanilla Ice</a> — who has not withdrawn from the America 250 celebrations — made a similar case earlier in the week.</p>
<p>&#8220;All we’re doing is celebrating the birthday of our country, what’s the big deal here? And as far as entertainers, I don’t think it’s fair to put any of us on a pedestal like that as far as politics goes because, you know, it shouldn’t matter: we’re just here to play,&#8221; he said.</p>


Bill Maher

Bill Maher Rips Artists For Pulling Out OF America 250 Concerts

America 250

Media

Politics

Vanilla Ice

<p>At least 12 people were shot at an Ohio music festival on Saturday — and two suspects, according to local police, have not yet been apprehended.</p>
<p>The Old West End Festival, billed as a family-friendly event, came to a screeching halt when two suspects — believed to be shooting at each other — opened fire and sent bystanders fleeing in all directions. According to several reports, around sixteen shots were fired around 5:4o pm local time — and at least 12 people were shot.</p>
<p>Ohio State Rep. Josh Williams (R) shared video that showed the chaos unfolding on the scene.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">What should have been a day to celebrate our community and enjoy family activities in Toledo’s Old West End was once again marred by senseless gun violence. Enough is enough. We need tougher penalties for violent offenders, which is exactly why Ohio must pass HB5. <a href="https://t.co/k1msAtir5M">pic.twitter.com/k1msAtir5M</a></p>
<p>— Rep. Josh Williams (@JoshWilliamsOH) <a href="https://x.com/JoshWilliamsOH/status/2063489839115244009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>According to a CNN <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/06/us/old-west-end-festival-toledo-ohio-shooting?Date=20260607&amp;Profile=CNN&amp;utm_content=1780796424&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter">report</a>, Toledo Police Deputy Chief Joe Heffernan said Saturday that authorities believe the shooting began as a dispute between the two suspects who were &#8220;probably shooting at each other,&#8221; neither of whom have yet been apprehended.</p>
<p>Police Lt. Dan Gerken spoke at a news conference on Saturday evening, saying that he&#8217;d spoken to the victims — who range in age from 14 to 61 — and that he believes the suspects can be found with some help from the local residents.</p>
<p>&#8220;If we get help from the community, it’ll be hopefully sooner than later. There’s kids out there that probably know more than all of us standing here,&#8221; he said.</p>
<p>Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz told reporters that all of the victims in Saturday&#8217;s shooting were expected to survive, although two remain critical according to a <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/06/06/us-news/multiple-people-rushed-to-hospital-after-shots-fired-at-family-friendly-ohio-festival/">report</a> from The New York Post.</p>
<p>Festival organizers responded to the tragic turn of events in a Facebook post, ultimately announcing that the remainder of the festivities scheduled for Sunday, June 7, would be canceled.</p>
<p>&#8220;Too often we turn on the news and learn of a celebration somewhere that turns into a tragedy. Now, that news comes from our own neighborhood. We are heartbroken about those that were injured at the Old West End Festival. Many people want to know how we proceed from such a dark place,&#8221; the post read. &#8220;After discussion with festival organizers, law enforcement and the City of Toledo, we feel that it would not be compassionate, responsible or possible to continue festival. Therefore, all festival events for Sunday June 7th are cancelled.&#8221;</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FOldWestEndFestival%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02PNKe8CeLKVWWkKgKAcKRfNCP9w65zbxzgAtXaN5GLgGvAYMsajoB5VtgbWrEsrH5l&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="313" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>


Close-up of Police Tape in Front of Police Car

Festival Horror: At Least 12 Shot As Hunt For Suspects Intensifies

At Least 12 Shot At Music Festival, Suspects Still At Large

Crime

Ohio

Shooting

<p>Thank God For Country Music. That’s what Lakelin Lemmings is saying as she heads into her second CMA Fest, the Country Music Association&#8217;s annual festival in Nashville, this week, just up the road from where the 20-year-old grew up with a guitar in her hand.</p>
<p>The West Tennessee native’s ties to country music began the day she was born. Her father toured in a band, and when Lakelin wanted to get involved in the music industry, he knew just who to call.</p>
<p>Ash Bowers, the lead singer of her father&#8217;s band, had already established himself as a hit songwriter, securing cuts with Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, and Dustin Lynch, before getting into the management side.</p>
<p>Bowers, who is now the executive vice president for Quartz Hill Music Group, signed Lemmings at 19 years old, making her the record label’s youngest artist.</p>
<p>Since signing her deal, Lemmings has released a flurry of songs, with her single &#8220;Get Around Boy&#8221; landing on a prestigious list as a &#8220;Top 5 Most Added&#8221; song in April.</p>
<p>&#8220;I just want to make good music that if you&#8217;re six years old, you can listen to, if you&#8217;re 90 years old, you can listen to it,&#8221; Lemmings told The Daily Wire.</p>
<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve been called to do this. I just felt like it&#8217;s only right that I mention the guy that got me here,&#8221; she said.</p>
<p>The artist draws on her faith, penning the song &#8220;Life of Mine,&#8221; which echoes the melody of the beloved hymn &#8220;This Little Light of Mine.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;My faith is super important to me,&#8221; Lemmings said. &#8220;And not only was this like a dream of mine as a child &#8230; growing up, but I remember I felt the calling by God to pursue this.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;There [are] so [many] drinking songs and cheating songs and all this kind of stuff, and some of them are great, but I feel like there was a need for just positive, good country music.&#8221;</p>
<p>She&#8217;s putting an album out this summer, and you can expect her southern roots to shine through on tracks like &#8220;American Dreamin,&#8221; which drops later this June, focusing on the things that shaped her in her small Tennessee town: family, faith, and the obvious… country music.</p>
<p>&#8220;It kind of leans a little bit faith-based, but I like to say that I&#8217;m not a country Christian artist, I&#8217;m just a country artist that&#8217;s Christian,&#8221; Lemmings said.</p>
<p>As she’s already started making her CMA Fest rounds, which Lemmings says is surreal, knowing she’s playing at the premier Nashville country fest she’s grown up coming to since she was a little girl.</p>
<p>&#8220;Going to the free things like the Riverfront Stage, and then in 2023 to have actually saved up some money to go to Nissan Stadium to see it, which was super fun … but as an artist, CMA Fest means a lot just because it&#8217;s a way to connect with fans.&#8221;</p>
<p>Lainey Wilson and Ella Langley are just a couple of big names in country music who, not too long ago, were playing a small stage for an even smaller number of fans. Lemmings is aware of their rapid trajectory and is prepared to work hard to headline CMA Fest one day, too.</p>
<p>&#8220;I think for me that goes to show that I need to buckle up because it can happen quicker than you think,&#8221; she said.</p>
<p>Lemmings self-titled album drops in July.</p>


Credit: Noah Johnson

‘I Felt The Calling By God To Pursue This’: Lakelin Lemmings On Faith And Country Music

CMA Fest

Nashville

News

Tennessee

U.S.

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Katy Perry celebrated the advent of June with an announcement that many of her fanatic followers would consider to be out of this world and her critics wish had been lost in space.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I know so many of you are doing so much for this month, but me? I’d like to introduce the earth to the world’s first gaylien!” Perry crowed in a </span><a href="http://instagram.com/reel/DZDritwyxy_/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">post</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> on social media.</span></p>
<p>This announcement joins the laundry list of Pride-related shoutouts that no one asked for.</p>
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<p style="max-width: 728px; margin: 0 auto;"><iframe style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; max-width: 100%; width: 100%; border: 0; height: auto;" title="DW Player" src="https://public.dailywire.com/preroll-player/embed.html?playback-id=b6QXC8fKimDhfWwJWy01Q6rGds2dvCAcW&amp;ad-tag-url=https%3A%2F%2Fpubads.g.doubleclick.net%2Fgampad%2Fads%3Fiu%3D%2F61914415%2Fdw.video.article%26description_url%3Ddailywire.com%26url%3D%26tfcd%3D0%26npa%3D0%26sz%3D640x480%26min_ad_duration%3D5000%26max_ad_duration%3D60000%26gdfp_req%3D1%26unviewed_position_start%3D1%26vpos%3Dpreroll%26output%3Dvast%26plcmt%3D1%26env%3Dvp%26vpa%3Dclick%26vpmute%3D0%26impl%3Ds%26correlator%3D%5Bcachebuster%5D" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Perry&#8217;s “gaylien&#8221; wore a tangerine orange beanie and a black, white, and orange sweatshirt emblazoned with a green alien face. The person in the costume wore a mask that looked like a shriveled gray mummy with stereotypically beady alien eyes. </span></p>
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<p><script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Despite rumors that the man in the alien costume was her boyfriend former Canadian Prime Minister </span><a href="https://people.com/katy-perry-shares-new-photos-justin-trudeau-miranda-kerr-instagram-11964886"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Justin Trudeau</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, the alien was likely just a backup dancer.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Perry proceeded to join the alien in doing a dance that appeared to be a mix of a forgotten &#8217;90s workout routine and a mating ritual from a lame bird of paradise.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the video, the man in the alien costume jumped up into the air and proceeded to do an extended squat. He shook his legs and his butt in seizure-like contortions while swaying his hands and wrists in a circular fashion. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">He then feigned a melodramatic collapse on the floor, came back up to do off-brand Michael Jackson moonwalk step, then fell to the floor again.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The gaylien will reportedly be making appearances at Perry&#8217;s European summer festivals to celebrate pride.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Perry has been notorious for being supportive of gay rights, with her hit song “I Kissed a Girl” being famous for its depiction of a lesbian relationship. She has also shown an interest in space with her song “E.T.” and her widely mocked </span><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/blue-origin-sent-celebs-up-for-minutes-they-came-back-with-astronaut-egos?author=Lauren+Bair&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Blue+Origin+Sent+Celebs+Up+For+Minutes.+They+Came+Back+With+Astronaut+Egos."><span style="font-weight: 400;">Blue Origin flight</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<p>Perry&#8217;s &#8220;gaylien&#8221; also seems to ride on the wave of renewed public interest in aliens, especially after the U.S. government has released documents <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-admin-opens-secret-ufo-vault-tells-americans-to-decide-whats-real">detailing</a> UFO sightings.</p>


Katy Perry

Katy Perry’s ‘Gaylien’ Will Make You Wish You Weren’t On Planet Earth

Aliens

Dance

Gay Rights

pop music

Pride

Pride Month

Social Media

<p>President Donald Trump suggested that he would take the place of multiple &#8220;third rate&#8221; artists who have dropped out of the Freedom 250 concert planned for next month, calling himself &#8220;the Number One Attraction anywhere in the World.&#8221;</p>
<p>At least five artists <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/what-the-america-250-concert-reveals-about-our-broken-political-culture">pulled out</a> of the concert earlier this week, claiming that the event has become too politicized. After the Great American State Fair announced the lineup, artists Morris Day &amp; The Time, Martina McBride, Bret Michaels, Young MC, and the Commodores all announced they had changed their minds about performing at one of America&#8217;s 250th anniversary celebrations, which begin next month.</p>
<p>Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116664367963376218">suggested</a> on Saturday that the concert might be replaced by an &#8220;America is Back&#8221; rally.</p>
<p>&#8220;I understand Artists are getting &#8216;the yips&#8217; having to do with their performance on Wednesday, so I am thinking about bringing the Number One Attraction anywhere in the World, the man who gets much larger audiences than Elvis in his prime, and he does so without a guitar, the man who loves our Country more than anyone else, and the man who some say is the Greatest President in History (THE GOAT!), DONALD J. TRUMP, to take the place of these highly paid, Third Rate &#8216;Artists,&#8217; and give a major speech, rallying the Country forward like I have done ever since being President!&#8221; he wrote on Truth Social.</p>
<p>Some of the artists scheduled to perform have remained committed to the concert, but with the loss of five headline singers, the Freedom 250 event could be forced to make major last-minute changes to the programming.</p>
<p>&#8220;I don’t want so-called &#8216;Artists&#8217; that get paid far too much money, who aren’t happy,&#8221; Trump added on Saturday. &#8220;I only want to be surrounded by Happy People, Smart People, Successful People, and People that know how to WIN.&#8221;</p>
<p>The artists who dropped out complained about so-called partisanship in the concert programming, arguing that it was a Trump-backed event.</p>
<p>&#8220;The artists were never told about any political involvement with the event. And despite the claims by the organizers that the event is non-partisan, SPIN magazine describes it as Trump-backed. I hope to perform in D.C. in the near future at an event that is not so politically charged,&#8221; Young MC said.</p>
<p>Michaels released a similar statement and added that he and his team had faced threats after it was announced that he was performing.</p>
<p>&#8220;Unfortunately, what was presented to us as a celebration of our country has evolved into something much more divisive than what I agreed to be a part of,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Concerns have also been raised regarding the safety of my fans, band, crew, family and myself, including threats that are completely unfounded and unforgivable.&#8221;</p>
<p>Freedom 250, the nonprofit dedicated to uniting Americans around the nation&#8217;s 250th anniversary, said the concert will be non-political.</p>
<p>&#8220;Freedom 250 is focused on our signature celebrations and events that honor our history and engage all Americans — welcoming all who share our goal of commemorating this milestone in a way that uplifts and unites America,&#8221; spokeswoman Rachel Reisner told CBS News.</p>


US-POLITICS-TRUMP

Trump Hints At New Programming For Freedom 250 Concert After ‘Third Rate’ Artists Drop Out

Donald Trump

Freedom 250

<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">This article is part of </span></i><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/introducing-upstream-a-lifestyle-and-culture-section-of-the-daily-wire"><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Upstream,</span></i></a><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> The Daily Wire’s new home for culture and lifestyle. Real human insight and human stories — from our featured writers to you.</span></i></p>
<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">***</span></i></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Welcome to the Bright Side, a weekly roundup of all the good news and ideas you might have missed from the past week.</span></p>
<p><b>Soft-launching sentimental summer </b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Autumn’s got a reputation for being the most nostalgic of the seasons. But sweater weather, crunchy leaves, and hot cocoa can’t hold a pumpkin spice candle to the playful sentimentality of summer.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I was teleported to my childhood in Pennsylvania the other day after seeing a lightning bug for the first time in 15 years. (I recently moved from Los Angeles to Nashville. Even though fireflies reportedly exist </span><a href="https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/news-events/the-buzz/lightning-bugs-5-things"><span style="font-weight: 400;">west of the Rocky Mountains</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, they’re not as into the bioluminescent thing, so who knows where they are in the dark.) The memory was so vivid, I could almost hear the soft hiss of lawn sprinklers and my Huffy bike chain jangling with every jumped curb. As kids, we also loved decorating smooth rocks from the creek behind my grandparents’ house and “selling” them to neighbors. If only we could have painted them like Junior Mints and McDonald’s hash browns, à la </span><a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/03/elizabeth-salokas-painted-rocks/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Elizabeth Saloka’s</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> odd-sized-brick art, we could have made a fortune.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Feeling seasonally snacky? This summer’s viral “</span><a href="https://thedotcakes.com/products/asap-dotcups-copy"><span style="font-weight: 400;">dot cake</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">” trend brings “candy caviar” energy with its throwback topping of analog nonpareils. But for lovers of frozen cherries and grapes in warmer weather, </span><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@nytcooking/video/7548162895536835871?_r=1&amp;_t=ZP-96hHROV1unu"><span style="font-weight: 400;">sweet and salty frozen grapes</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> feature a sweet lemon dressing pepped up by chili flakes and salt. Shake everything together in a zip-top bag, freeze, and bank a brand-new summer memory.</span></p>
<p><b>Okay, but is this really the best decade of music?</b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><a href="https://www.theamas.com/2026/05/winners-announced-for-the-52nd-american-music-awards/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">52nd American Music Awards</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> happened in Las Vegas on Monday. But before the Artist of the Year trophy went to </span><a href="https://www.billboard.com/lists/2026-amas-winners-list-american-music-awards/genre-neutral-categories-2/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">BTS</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and Sabrina Carpenter’s “Man’s Best Friend” won best album, a few industry icons revealed their opinions on “the best decade of music.” Wu-Tang may be “</span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRtJsvZg6zI"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Forever</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">,” but playlists featuring Britney, *NSYNC, Nirvana, and Snoop Dogg make the &#8217;90s the top choice every day of the week. Sorry not sorry, we’re never letting go of our obsession with this decade.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The &#8217;80s and early 2000s followed close behind. As early &#8217;90s choreography queen </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wAMI4g2s5hA?t=24&amp;feature=share"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Paula Abdul</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> declared, “The &#8217;80s was great for music, but not fashion and not hairdos.” She obviously has no idea what she’s talking about. Pass the hairspray — these frosted wings aren’t gonna feather themselves over the shoulder pads of my color-block windbreaker. </span></p>
<p><b>Human life in 60 seconds</b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Just before the neighborhood affair-slash-crime of passion was solved on “20/20,” my delulu Hulu court proceedings were interrupted by an </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Etsy commercial</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> creatively ticking off mile markers of the average human life. I was gently smacked into reality by the emotional swell of handmade crafts. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to the ad, we get 7</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">6 summers</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">. And most of us probably barely remember the first 20. Pour me a frosé and slather me in Hawaiian Tropic; it’s time to start appreciating the moment!</span></p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zo6GykyjB6Q?si=aJz_l7SZrSPhUwPG" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But there were other calculations to math. How many of us will work the average 12 jobs in a lifetime or experience 10 “fresh starts”? Can you already count more than six best friends, four “best dog friends,” and 15 “great loves” across your closest relationships? There’s something bittersweet about “three broken hearts” and “1,205 firsts.” As each of us gently marches toward our estimated 2.5 billionth heartbeat, fingers crossed, we all land above average on the things that matter most.</span></p>
<p><b>America’s soft spot for cheese</b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Doing the Lord’s work, vital research sponsored by </span><a href="https://talkerresearch.com/survey-finds-americans-turning-to-cheese-for-taste-versatility-and-protein/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Undeniably Dairy</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> has revealed that 52% of America is “cheese-obsessed.” (FYI, it’s 100% if we’re just surveying my apartment.) And out of all the stinky, melty, crumbly options out there, our national favorite cheese is cheddar, followed by mozzarella and Parmesan.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Clearly training for </span><a href="https://nationaldaycalendar.com/celebrations/national-cheese-day-june-4th"><span style="font-weight: 400;">National Cheese Day</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> on June 4, Wyoming, Illinois, and Alaska make up the top three cheese-eating states (even though the top cheese-producing states are </span><a href="https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/cheese-production-by-state"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Wisconsin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, California, and Idaho). And the cheesiest demo is Gen Z. Of course, everyone’s invited to the cheese party, no matter your age or emotional support dairy of choice. But someone please tell me where to sign up for Cheese Survey &#8217;27 because I’m gunning for Gruyère.</span></p>
<p><b>The comic genius of wildlife</b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I should confess that I’m a lifetime “America’s Funniest Home Videos” fan. Original host Bob Saget seemed like he could be everyone’s dad, and the corny jokes felt wholesome and perfect for Sunday night TV. Almost four decades into the series, I’d trade all of TikTok for the old VHS footage of </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7X54cJvVUk"><span style="font-weight: 400;">the little boy who was scared of a life-size Eeyore</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Bless his heart, that kid’s probably a grandpa by now.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Having recently spent five uninterrupted minutes filming a squirrel hauling a slice of pizza up an electrical pole (follow me for more inspirational cinematography), I was delighted to discover that there’s an actual award for funny wildlife videos. (</span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Real </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">ones, not Temu </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/UPXUG8q4jKU"><span style="font-weight: 400;">pizza rats</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.)</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the comic animal kingdom, it’s just another day in the wild as a </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdxD7FMCKzI"><span style="font-weight: 400;">grey heron surfs a hippo</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, a </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgG0ymK-jCg"><span style="font-weight: 400;">penguin ditches his friends</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> when the water’s too cold, and </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9xzsPcilEA"><span style="font-weight: 400;">two lions bro out like synchronized swimmers</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> on land. All captured by lucky onlookers.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you’re wondering why we think it’s hilarious to watch a </span><a href="https://youtu.be/W23u30bhw2g?t=108"><span style="font-weight: 400;">kangaroo</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> scratch its chest like it&#8217;s playing air guitar, founder Tom Sullam says, “This ability that we have to recognize either ourselves in the images, or our friends or loved ones, is why these pictures are so intriguing.” Founded over a decade ago as part of a conservation effort, the 2026 </span><a href="https://www.comedywildlifephoto.com/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> are open for submissions through June. But the </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niBeb0oGsRU"><span style="font-weight: 400;">chipmunk shoving peanuts into its mouth</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> already won my heart.</span></p>
<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">So glad you’re here! I always love reading your comments (you can </span></i><a href="mailto:lbair@dailywire.com"><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">email</span></i></a><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> me too). I hope lighter news like this brings some sunshine to your day! — Lauren </span></i></p>


The Bright Side: The Viral Wildlife Awards Stealing America’s Heart

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

cheese

comedy wildlife awards

dot cake

elizabeth saloka

etsy

fireflies

summer

sweet and salty frozen grapes

the bright side

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The lead singer of Beartooth, an Ohio-based metalcore band, recently announced that he was gay despite being married to a woman for 14 years. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Caleb Shomo, 33, declared on social media that he’s “a proudly gay man” after fans speculated on his sexuality. Now his wife, Fleur, has added her perspective to the conversation.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Not really sure how to start this cause does anything even need to be said? But I guess I’ll just dive right in,” Fleur shared on Instagram Saturday. “The past few months have been a very disorientating and hurtful time to navigate. For both of us. But I will always want to love, protect, and support Caleb. I have cared more about his well being over the years than anything else in the world.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She continued, “To see the confusion and pain he went through and the highs and lows and wanting to help but not knowing how. You never want anything more for your person than for them to just be ok. You also ask yourself constantly if you’re a bad person for wondering wtf this means for your world &amp; the anger you also feel. …You can love and support your person through the hardest time in their life, whilst also be completely demolished &amp; lose yourself at the same time.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She confirmed the marriage is “over,” and wrote, “Nobody will know anything about our marriage like we do. And no one can ever truly know what depths of love exist between two people unless they are those people.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I already miss it &amp; my husband more than anything. Our story was a good one. And now it’s done,” </span>Fleur said.</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This was all in response to Shomo’s original <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DYr3ld8GzI3/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==">post</a> on Saturday, which said, “There has been a lot of speculation surrounding my personal life as of late and I feel compelled to set the record straight before it affects those I love any further. I am a proudly gay man,” he told his Instagram followers. “This is something I’ve been unpacking and reckoning with in my life for quite some time now. It’s been difficult to navigate the feelings surrounding the subject and figure out what to do with this fact.” </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The post went on, “When it comes to my art/Beartooth, I have always strived to chase who I am in the deepest part of my soul from album to album. As you could gather if you’ve followed the band at all in the earlier years, there are 4 very self deprecating albums about exploring my religious upbringing, depression, self hatred, self loathing, and hopelessness. I am grateful for all these albums, yet feel embarrassed at times that I wouldn’t allow myself to really dig up the roots for so long.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This was all after Shomo temporarily disabled his Instagram in March following the release of the music video for the Beartooth single &#8220;Free,&#8221; which featured him wearing a cropped leather jacket and dramatic makeup. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The rock star left social media after the onslaught of “homophobic” comments he received following the music video’s release. </span></p>


Shinedown: Dance, Kid, Dance Tour – New Orleans, LA

Rock Singer Comes Out As Gay And Wife Of 14 Years Reacts

Rock Singer Comes Out As 'Proudly Gay Man,' His Wife Of 14 Years Shares Her Reaction

LGBT

rock music

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Billy Joel is not happy about the upcoming biopic “Billy and Me” and says it&#8217;s being made without his permission.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Billy and Me” is told from the perspective of Joel’s first manager, Irwin Mazur, and details the time before he became famous with the release of the 1973 iconic single “Piano Man.” Per <a href="https://variety.com/2026/music/news/billy-joel-biopic-billy-and-me-john-ottman-1236753697/">Variety</a>, casting is currently underway, and the film is scheduled to start shooting later this year.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The moviemakers procured rights to Mazur’s life story and to that of drummer Jon Small, who played with Joel in the bands The Hassles and Attila. But they do not have the rights to Joel’s music or life. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A statement from Joel’s rep said, “Since 2021, the parties involved have been officially notified that they do not possess Billy Joel’s life rights and will not be able to secure the music rights required for this project. Billy Joel has not authorized or supported this project in any capacity, and any attempt to move forward without it would be both legally and professionally misguided.” </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Film producer Adam Ripp told Variety in reply to the statement, “The story of ‘Billy and Me’ is told from the perspective of Billy’s manager at the time, Irwin Mazur, and features Billy’s lifelong friend and former drummer Jon Small. The project has acquired the exclusive life story rights of Irwin Mazur, as well as the life story rights of Jon Small.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“‘Billy and Me’ focuses on the period surrounding Billy Joel and The Hassles, and features the cover songs performed by them during that era,” he added. “As such, characterizing ‘Billy and Me’ as ‘legally and professionally misguided’ does not accurately reflect the nature of the project nor the legally obtained rights underlying the production. The film is based on Irwin Mazur and Jon Small’s firsthand experiences and Irwin’s legitimate right to tell his own life story and perspective regarding the events depicted in the film.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The film will likely delve into the story of Joel’s first wife, Elizabeth Weber, the inspiration for his hit singles, “She’s Always a Woman” and “Just the Way You Are.” </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Weber was married to Small and had an affair with Joel. During a career decline, Joel became depressed and attempted suicide, as he <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/06/entertainment/billy-joel-documentary-suicide-attempts">discussed</a> in the HBO documentary, “And So It Goes.” Small found Joel after one of the attempts and brought him to the hospital. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Joel and Small became friends again, and he and Weber also repaired their relationship. They married in 1973, and she became his manager, then divorced in 1982. The Grammy Award-winning singer has been married to his fourth wife, Alexis Roderick, since 2015.</span></p>


Billy Joel

Billy Joel Is Really Mad About The Movie Coming Out About Him

Billy Joel Blasts Upcoming Biopic As 'Professionally Misguided'

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