Nick Cannon to Fill in As ‘Beat Shazam’ Host – Jamie Foxx has left a big absence in his hosting duties on “Beat Shazam” … a hole Nick Cannon hopes to fill while Jamie remains hospitalized with a serious mystery condition. TMZ has confirmed Nick will take over the hosting duties of the popular FOX game show where contestants attempt to guess songs with lyrics from hits of all genres. We’re told Kelly Osbourne will work as the show’s DJ … a position held by Jamie’s daughter, Corinne, as she takes leave to help with her dad’s recovery. The hugely popular music lyric game show was scheduled to go into production just days after Jamie was hospitalized with what Corinne described as a “medical complication” but that was delayed. Nick and Kelly started shooting Wednesday. – read more at TMZ
‘Drag Isn’t Dangerous’ telethon: How to watch, what to expect – Several drag stars and allies will perform — live and in pre-taped appearances — on Sunday on the Drag Isn’t Dangerous Telethon. Charlize Theron, Melissa McCarthy, Billy Eichner, Ali Wong, Adam Lambert, Amy Schumer, Jesse Eisenberg, Leslie Jones, Margaret Cho, Elizabeth Banks, Kelly Osbourne, Orville Peck, David Cross, Amber Tamblyn, Whitney Cummings, Marcia Gay Harden and Sarah Silverman will make appearances. “We want to raise awareness and funds to make a difference in the lives of LGBTQ people who are under attack.” The telethon airs online Sunday, starting at 7 p.m. EDT on dragisntdangerous.com. Tickets, which are $20, are available at the site. – Read more at UPI
The Voice winner Bryce Leatherwood to open for Dwight Yoakam – “I’m proud to announce I’ll be going on tour with the LEGENDARY Dwight Yoakam! @dwightyoakam SEE YALL THERE!,” Bryce wrote on his instagram account. The dates begin on June 22 in Bonner Springs KS.
Lauren Spencer Smith to drop Debut Album Mirror on July 14 – The American Idol season 18 Top 20 contestant is signed to Island Records. “I’ve been working on this album for years. It has been with me through so much in my life, the highs and the lows, and it means more to me than I can put into words. It tells a story of reflection, healing and growth, and has helped me do all those things so much. I hope it can do the same for you. Love u guys,” the singer wrote on Instagram.
‘American Idol’ Alum Lauren Spencer-Smith at Center of Massive $45M Libel Lawsuit – In the meantime…according to an April 26 article in the Daily Beast. Lauren’s former manager David Ehrlich is suing UMG Recordings, Island Records, and Republic Records for $45 million, citing libel, slander, and tortious interference with contract. The lawsuit claims that Island-Republic made “defamatory, false, and malicious statements” about Ehrlich to Spencer-Smith, including that he engaged in “unlawful behavior with women by taking photos of them” and “unlawful harassment towards women.” Ehrlich, the suit claims, subsequently suffered economic and non-economic damages, as well as “substantial harm” to his reputation. The lawsuit alleges that Spencer-Smith prematurely ended her contract with Ehrlich’s firm, based on Island-Republic’s “intentional acts and misconduct.” In doing so, the suit alleges, the New York-based firm lost “several prospective business relations.” Lauren is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit. Read more at Yahoo News.
Lauren Alaina Promises Her Next Album Is ‘A Whole Lot More Country’ – “I’ve always kind of leaned a little bit like power pop country and this, it’s very different. It’s hard to explain….The ballads are more acoustic-driven. It’s just different. But you know what? It feels like my hometown, it feels like where I came from,” she explained. “I don’t ever feel like I got away from myself because I’m pretty comfortable in who I am and I’ve always kind of ran after that and tried to be the best version of myself.” Among this new batch of songs is “Walk in the Bar,” a feisty breakup anthem she co-wrote with Lydia Vaughan, Casey Brown and Parker Welling. The hook is a play on the idiom “a walk in the park.” – Read more at Country Now
Syesha Mercado highlights natural healing two years after child custody battle – Two years after authorities placed her infant son in foster care over concerns about malnutrition and later briefly took her newborn baby girl into protective custody, “American Idol” finalist Syesha Mercado says her reunited family is healing day by day. And she is re-emerging with her first significant public event that marks the 15th anniversary of one of the high points in her music career. Mercado now says her children are happy and thriving. Amen’Ra is 3 and Ast is 20 months old. That approach to life is behind the Syesha Day Celebration, which will be held 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 6 at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park, 2523 Cocoanut Ave., Sarasota. “I teach the children culture through melodies. I have a bunch of songs that are rooted in nature to teach children about their connection to nature and also teach them about their anatomy, about nutrition and teach them about life,” she says. – Read more at HeraldTribune
‘Voice’ star Ricky Duran back in Mass. for shows at Hanover Theatre, Wang Theatre – In the time since his second-place finish on “The Voice” in 2019, the road has taken longtime Worcester music scene stalwart Ricky Duran all over the country, but when he was reached by phone last week, he was home in the Bay State. More particularly, he was in Beverly, rehearsing for “SPLASH,” the 29th annual performance for Express Yourself, a nonprofit organization that serves young people with mental and behavioral health issues by immersing them in the arts. “They’ve got me in a purple suit and playing ‘Purple Rain,’ ” says Duran, adding that he’s also playing a Michael Jackson song. From his gleeful tone, he’s clearly enjoying the experience. He also performed in Express Yourself’s annual concert last year. – Read ore at Worcester Magazine
