Omar Apollo to Perform at Atlanta’s Music Midtown Festival

Omar Apollo is headed to The Big Peach

The 24-year-old Mexican-American singer-songwriter and entrepreneur will perform at this year’s Music Midtown Festival in Atlanta, which is getting a reboot.

Omar Apollo

The popular downtown gathering that took a year off in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic is ready to roar back this fall with a lineup packed with superstar voices.

Among the headliners for the September 18-19 event at Piedmont Park are Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers, Maroon 5, 21 Savage and DaBaby.

Other acts scheduled to appearinclude: Megan Thee Stallion, Machine Gun Kelly, Adrian Quesada’s Black Pumas, Jack Harlow, AJR, Yungblud, Bleachers, Dashboard Confessional, Surfaces, Lauv, 24KGoldn, Latto, Oliver Tree and Tierra Whack.

Tickets purchased for the 2020 edition will be honored and organizers said that a limited number of general admission passes are on sale now before the prices go up on Friday (June 4) at 10:00 am ET.

The summer’s festival scene is beginning to heat up following last year’s total shutdown, though at press time Music Midtown had not announced whether this summer’s gathering will be at Piedmont’s full, pre-pandemic 70,000-person capacity. Other events, such as Chicago’s Lollapalooza, have said they will return at full capacity, though attendees will need to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or, for those not vaccinated, a negative test result within 24 hours of attendance.

Adrian Quesada & Black Pumas to Perform at This Year’s Austin City Limits Festival

Adrian Quesada is takin’ it to the Limits

The 44-year-old Latino Grammy-winning guitarist and producer and singer/songwriter Eric Burton’s Black Pumas will be performing at this year’s Austin City Limits festival.

Adrian Quesada, Black Pumas

The event will be taking pace over two weekends, October 1-3 and October 8-10 at Austin’s Zilker Park.

Headlining this year’s two-weekend festival are George Strait, Billie Eilish and Stevie Nicks.

In addition to Quesada’s Black Pumas, top billing honors at ACL Fest 2021 also go to Miley CyrusRüfüs Du SolDaBabyErykah BaduMegan Thee Stallion and Doja Cat.

Three-day tickets are on sale now at aclfestival.com.

This year’s lineup features standout talent including Modest MousePhoebe BridgersJack HarlowJon PardiFinneasChet Faker (Weekend One), Sofia Valdes, La Doña, Dermot KennedyTierra WhackTanya Tucker (Weekend One), Omar Apollo, Trixie Mattel (Weekend Two) and much more.

Homegrown Texans include St. Vincent (Weekend One), Marc RebilletSurfacesDayglowMissioCharley CrockettHeartless Bastards (Weekend Two) and Asleep at the Wheel (Weekend One).

“Music is coming back strong to the Live Music Capital of the World,” said Austin Mayor Steve Adler. “The return of Austin City Limits as an in-person festival celebrates that our efforts as a community to become vaccinated are working. Health and safety remain our top priority, and we will work closely with the organizers and Austin Public Health to ensure ACL Fest is in line with our health standards. We must continue to get everyone vaccinated and keep up our success.”

ACL Fest organizers are in regular communication with local health and public safety officials and will follow current recommendations and guidelines at the time of the festival. As the weekends approach, ACL Fest patrons will receive regular updates with important information regarding safety policies and procedures before entering Zilker Park. ACL Fest will partner with the City of Austin and Austin Public Health to encourage vaccination in the months prior to the festival.

“Austin City Limits 2021 is a result of successful vaccine efforts and more than a year’s worth of protection measures,” said Austin-Travis County Interim Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott. “Taking the shot is our shot at getting things back to normal and we envision this happening before October if we stay the course as a community.”

Zilker Park has been the home of the Austin City Limits Music Festival for two decades. Since 2006, ACL Festival, in partnership with Austin Parks Foundation, has generated more than $41 million towards improvements to Zilker Park and parks across the city. In 2019, through a percentage of ticket sales, fans of ACL Fest contributed $6 million to improving Austin’s public parks, trails and green spaces.

Here’s the full lineup:

Adrian Quesada & His Black Pumas to Perform at Milwaukee’s Summerfest

Adrian Quesada has some big summer plans…

The Grammy Award-winning producer and guitarist and his Black Pumas will be performing at one of summer’s staple events, Milwaukee’s Summerfest.

Adrian Quesada, Black Pumas

The festival is back this year with a packed lineup after taking 2020 off due to the global coronavirus pandemic. After canceling for the first time in its 53-year history, organizers announced the star-studded roster of acts slated to perform over three weekends: September 2-4, 9-11 and 16-18.

 

In addition to Quesada’s Black Pumas taking the stage, the nation’s biggest music festival will feature headline sets in the 23,000-capacity American Family Insurance Amphitheater from Miley CyrusLuke BryanChance the Rapper, the Jonas BrothersChris Stapleton, and Dave Matthews Band, as well as performances from Sheryl Crow, the Zac Brown Band, Gabby Barrett and 24kGoldn.

Others on tap to play are 311, Run the Jewels, Brett Eldredge, G-Eazy, Wilco, Diplo, Charlie Wilson, Pixies, ZZ Top, Rise Against, Fitz and the Tantrums, Dirty Heads, Jake Owen, Bleachers, Flo Rida, Lindsey Stirling, Goo Goo Dolls, T-Pain, Ludacris, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, The Struts, Nelly, Cam, Blanco Brown, Sugarhill Gang, Psychedelic Furs, Maddie & Tae, Liz Phair, Claud and many more.

“We could not be more excited to unveil the lineup for Summerfest,” Milwaukee World Festival Inc. President/CEO Don Smiley said in a statement. “From first-timers, including Chance the Rapper, Miley Cyrus, and Run the Jewels, to Fest favorites including Dave Matthews Band, T-Pain, Styx and Chris Stapleton, our lineup continues to be one of the most diverse and unique in the industry.”

Summerfest has traditionally run from late June to early July over an 11-day stretch, but this year organizers have pushed it back to the fall as the nationwide COVID-19 vaccine roll-out continues and the nation attempts to reach herd immunity.

Selena Gomez Launches Mental Health 101 Campaign with Her Rare Beauty Brand

Selena Gomez is hoping to raise awareness of mental health issues…

The 28-year-old Mexican American actress/singer has launched a new Mental Health 101 educational campaign with her beauty brand Rare Beauty.

Selena Gomez

In a note to her 222 million Instagram followers, the singer wrote about how Mental Health 101 “is so close to my heart because of my own struggles with mental health.”

She opened up about her bipolar diagnosis for the first time with Miley Cyrus on her Bright Minded Instagram Live series a year ago, in April 2020.

In September 2019, Gomez won the 2019 McClean Award for her mental health advocacy and detailed her struggles with anxiety and depression during her acceptance speech.

Read best total health and fitness related blog here.

“I know first hand how scary and lonely it can feel to face anxiety and depression by yourself at a young age. If I had learned about my mental health earlier on — been taught about my condition in school the way I was taught about other subjects — my journey could have looked very different,” she continues writing.

Mental Health 101 is the education Gomez wished she’d had in school but is now dedicated to providing for others. The initiative, which coincides with May being Mental Health Awareness Month, is “dedicated to supporting mental health education and encouraging financial support for more mental health services in educational services,” according to her follow-up Instagram post. The set of slides — which starts off by listing mental health as its own school subject next to math, science, history and P.E. — contain shocking statistics about mental health, a petition calling on the philanthropy community to support mental health services in schools, and a fundraiser for the Rare Impact Fund that she launched on her 28th birthday last July.

The original plan for the Rare Impact Fund is to raise $100 million over the next 10 years to provide mental health services to underserved communities, with 1% of annual sales on Rare Beauty products in addition to funds raised benefiting the fund. Once Gomez reaches this goal, the Rare Impact Fund will become one of the largest known funds supporting mental health from a corporate entity. Now she’s zeroed in on distributing the money to organizations that have “created evidence-based programs that address social and emotional learning in schools, strengthen youth support networks through mental health trainings, and provide more suicide prevention and crisis response in educational settings ranging from K-college,” according to the GoFundMe page. On her second IG post, Gomez wrote that Rare Beauty will be matching $200,000 of donations.

Last summer, Rare Beauty also created the Rare Beauty Mental Health Council, which brings mental health experts from universities, organizations and companies together to guide the company’s strategy. Members of the Rare Beauty Mental Health Council include Permission to Feel author Dr. Marc Brackett of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence; Dr. Scott L. Rauch of McLean Hospital; Dr. Jane Delgado of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health; Sad Girls Club CEO/founder Elyse Fox; NAMI National Director of Strategic Partnerships Katrina Gay; singer-songwriter Justin TranterThe Cut Editor-in-Chief Lindsay Peoples WagnerThe Happiness Project author Gretchen Rubin; Sephora Vice President of Merchandising, Makeup Jennifer Cohen; and YouTube‘s Global Social Impact Marketing Director Kit Hayes.

“For anyone who is hurting right now, I hope you know that you are not alone. I’m a believer in seeking help. Getting support and educating myself on mental health has changed my life, and it can change yours, too,” her note concludes. “I hope that Mental Health 101 will be the stepping stones for others that I wish I had… to get connected to the resources they need, and to empower young people in ways that may not have been possible before.”

Demi Lovato to Appear on Second Season of YouTube’s Music Series “Released”

Demi Lovato is being released

YouTube has renewed its music series Released for a second season, with the 28-year-old half-Mexican American singer/actress among the artists set to appear in future episodes.

Demi Lovato,

The new season will kick off with rapper DDG, with upcoming episodes featuring Lovato and Sub Urban to follow.

A revival of MTV’s TRLReleased premieres every Thursday night at 11:45 pm ET, moments before the artists drop their latest music videos. Each 15 minute episode provides unfiltered access to the week’s featured artist and their new music ahead of its official release on YouTube.

The show also reveals exclusive music news, special announcements, and check-ins with other artists as music fans around the world countdown to the premiere together.

Sub Urban will be the featured artist on March 25 and Lovato on April 1.

Artists who previously joined the weekly YouTube series are BLACKPINK, Miley Cyrus, Dua Lipa and more. Washington D.C DJ Little Bacon Bear hosts the series, which is produced by Den of Thieves and Gunpowder & Sky.

Van Toffler praised the artists for their ability to create new music amidst the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

“We had a great run with the first 20 episodes of Released. From BLACKPINK to Paul McCartney to Dua Lipa to 24kGoldn, all episodes were produced during a global pandemic yet each artist rose to the occasion and chose this show to unveil new music,” the Gunpowder & Sky CEO said. “Released has quickly become the go-to home to discover what’s about to break out in music.”

“No matter the conditions, we are always proud to be part of a show that resonates with viewers at home. To see such huge success with Released after launching during a pandemic is even more thrilling, and we’re excited to continue working with this incredible team to elevate it even further,” added Den of Thieves co-founders Evan Prager and Jesse Ignjatovic.

E! Kicking Off “True Hollywood Story” Reboot with Cardi B Episode

Cardi B is kicking off E!’s iconic docuseries…

The entertainment network’s television docuseries True Hollywood Story will officially return on Monday, March 15, starting with an in-depth look at the 28-year-old half-Dominican American Grammy-winning rapper.

Cardi B

The first episode will track how the “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)” rapper built herself from the ground up, including interviews with television producer Mona Scott-Young (VH1‘s Love & Hip Hop), “Bodak Yellow” music video director Picture Perfect and fellow New York rapper Maino.

The rest of the second season’s episodes will focus on the tragic deaths of Selena and Christina Grimmie at the hands of those obsessed with them (“Death of Innocence” will air March 29); the sisterhood bond that withstands the celebrity spotlight between Beyoncé and Solange KnowlesBritney and Jamie Lynn Spears, and Miley and Noah Cyrus (“Star Sisters” will air on April 10); trail-blazing billionaires like Jay-Z (“Billionaires: Fierce, Fearless & Filthy Rich” will premiere this summer); and Hollywood’s most talked-about and mysterious cases including Whitney Houston‘s death (“Hollywood Mysteries” will premiere in the fall).

Selena’s husband Chris Perez and Grimmie’s brother Marcus will share intimate stories during the “Death of Innocence” special.

Season two of E! True Hollywood Story will debut on Monday, March 15 at 10:00 pm ET.

Christina Aguilera to Perform at This Sunday’s Ultimate Super Bowl LV After Party

Christina Aguilera is ready to bowl you over…

The 40-year-old half-Ecuadorian American Grammy-winning singer will take part in the ultimate Super Bowl LV after party.

Christina Aguilera

Aguilera joins a roster of performers that includes Alicia KeysBrandi CarlileBrittany HowardLuke Bryan and more.

The Verizon Big Concert for Small Business will start a multi-year commitment to provide 1 million small businesses with resources they need to succeed by 2030. Verizon will also donate $10 million to the non-profit organization Local Initiatives Support Corp (LISC), which has been financially supporting businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fans can make a one-time donation of $10 to LISC by texting SMALLBIZ to 20222 as part of Verizon’s text-to-give campaign.

Additional performers include H.E.R. and Jazmine Sullivan, who will respectively sing “America the Beautiful” and the National Anthem (alongside Eric Church) during the CBS Kick-Off Show at 6:00 pm ET, as well as Miley Cyrus, who’s set to kick off the TikTok Tailgate pre-show at 2:30 p.m. ET on TikTok and CBS.

The Weeknd is the headline performer of the 2021 Pepsi Super Bowl LV Halftime Show. He recently unveiled an 18-song collection of his greatest hits called The Highlights before his highly anticipated performance, which fans can purchase here this Friday (February 5).

The Verizon Big Concert for Small Business will stream immediately after Super Bowl LV on Sunday, February 7 at 11:00 pm ET on Yahoo and Fios as well as Verizon’s TwitterTwitchYouTube and TikTok accounts.

Jennifer Lopez Ends 2020 with Powerful & Emotional “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” Performance

Jennifer Lopez has ended the year as the belle of the (crystal) ball…

The 51-year-old Puerto Rican superstar closed out 2020 with a powerful and emotional performance on Thursday night, while taking the stage in New York’s Times Square.

Jennifer Lopez

Lopez, who headlined the 49th annual Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2021 on ABC. began by standing on a 20-foot tall column with a white coat covered in six large white feathered layers that cascaded all the way to the ground. JLo donned a glittery diamond head mask before taking it off, tossing off the massive coat, and showing off a glittering tight pants and a blazer with dramatic shoulders.

While performing her latest single “In the Morning,” J.Lo took a moment to reflect on the challenging year and remember the people we lost during the pandemic.

“2020 is almost over. We made it. We made it,” she said before getting teary-eyed. “If this year taught us anything, it taught us to be grateful for what we do have — to cherish every moment. We lost too many. Too many.”

Lopez also performed a montage of her hit songs, including “Dance Again” and “Waiting for Tonight,” and delivered a dazzling cover of Aerosmith‘s “Dream On.”

“Tonight we’re going to live, we’re going to love and we’re going to dance again,” she added, referring to her 2012 song “Dance Again.” “And we’re going to keep on dreaming. Twenty years ago, I sang this song, and we never needed it more than tonight.”

In addition to Lopez, the New Years Rockin’ Eve special also featured performances by Miley CyrusBilly PorterCyndi LauperNelly and others.

Demi Lovato to Take Part in “Honor Her Wish” Virtual Rally to Honor the Late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Demi Lovato is celebrating an Supreme (Court) legend…

The 28-year-old half-Mexican American singer/actress will take part in a special rally to pay tribute to late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg‘s legacy.

Demi Lovato

Lovato joins an all-star roster that includes Miley Cyrus, Jessica Biel, Kristen Bell, Beanie Feldstein, Elizabeth Banks, Yvette Nicole Brown and Mae Whitman, who’ll all take part in the “Honor Her Wish” virtual event.

The program, set for Monday, October 12 at 8:00 pm ET, will demand the U.S. Senate honor RBG‘s dying wish that her seat be filled after the inauguration next January. The event will will coincide with the first day of Republican hearings to confirm Donald Trump’s nominee for a Supreme Court replacement.

The new group of celebrities join previously announced participants Hayley Williams, Phoebe Bridgers, Kesha, Michael Stipe, Margo Price, John Batiste and Kathleen Hanna.

Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Stacey Abrams, Elizabeth Warren and more leaders will also speak out at the event.

“Honor Her Wish” is open to the public.

RSVP here in advance.

Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty to Raise $100 Million for Mental Health Services Through Rare Impact Fund

Selena Gomez is making an impact on her birthday…

The Mexican American singer/actress’ makeup company Rare Beauty launched the Rare Impact Fund on her 28th birthday on Wednesday. 

Selena Gomez

Through the fund, Gomez’s Rare Beauty plans to raise $100 million to provide mental health services to underserved communities.

Going forward with the mission-driven beauty brand’s very first sale, 1% of annual sales of Rare Beauty products in addition to funds raised by partners will benefit the fund, which plans to raise the $100 million goal over the next 10 years. 

After reaching its goal, the Rare Impact Fund will become one of the largest known funds supporting mental health from a corporate entity.

Rare Impact Fund

“I’m so grateful to be surrounded by a team that’s helped make the Rare Impact Fund a reality,” Gomez said in a press release. “Since the brand’s inception, we wanted to find a way to give back to our community and further support people who needed access to mental health services, which have had a profound impact on my life. Rare Beauty is focused on helping people feel more connected to one another and less alone in the world. The Rare Impact Fund will make a direct impact on many lives and, ultimately, make a difference in the world. I’m proud of the work we’ve begun to do with our partners to offer these services to anyone who needs support.”

Gomez founded Rare Beauty in Februarywith the self-affirming mission that “being rare is about being comfortable with yourself.” 

The title of the makeup line nods to Gomez’s third studio album Rare, which she released at the beginning of the year. The album debuted at No. 1on the Billboard 200.

“Our goal is ambitious. We want to raise $100 million for mental health in the next 10 years,” said Scott Friedman, CEO of Rare Beauty, in the release. “With the launch of the Rare Impact Fund, we will create one of the largest philanthropic efforts focused on mental health in the world. The funds will go toward increasing access to mental health services, particularly for underserved communities.” If you want more details about the Buttlane Pahrmacy blog, visit here.

Rare Beauty also created the Rare Beauty Mental Health Council, which brings mental health experts from universities, organizations and companies together to guide the company’s strategy. 

Members of the Rare Beauty Mental Health Council include: Permission to Feel author Dr. Marc Brackett of the Yale Center for Emotional IntelligenceDr. Scott L. Rauch of McLean HospitalDr. Jane Delgado of the National Alliance for Hispanic HealthSad Girls Club CEO/founder Elyse FoxNAMI National Director of Strategic Partnerships Katrina Gay; singer-songwriter Justin TranterTeen Vogue Editor-in-Chief Lindsay Peoples WagnerThe Happiness Project author Gretchen RubinSephora Vice President of Merchandising, Makeup Jennifer Cohen; and YouTube‘s Global Social Impact Marketing Director Kit Hayes.

Back in April, Gomez spoke candidly about her bipolar diagnosis with Miley Cyrus on her Bright Minded Instagram Live series and explained how she found out at McLean Hospital, a psychiatric hospital outside Boston, where she also won the 2019 McClean Award last September for her mental health advocacy.

“Recently, I went to one of the best mental hospitals in… America, McClean Hospital, and I discussed that after years of going through a lot of different things, I realized that I was bipolar,” Gomez told Cyrus. “And so when I got to know more information, it actually helps me. It doesn’t scare me once I know it.”