Imagine Dragons’ Dan Reynolds reveals what he learned from Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Bryan Steffy/Getty Images for Tyler Robinson Foundation)

Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds has a tremendous amount of respect for Ukraine’s president,  Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and revealed he sat down with the leader to discuss how he can help the war-torn country.

Speaking with People, Dan spoke about barring his band’s music from being sold in Russia after the country invaded Ukraine. Since then, he has worked to bring relief to Ukraine as an ambassador for UNITED24.

“We got in touch with people over there and had the honor of sitting down with President Zelenskyy on Zoom,” he recalled. “[We were] able to ask him how we could actually help more than just words and thoughts and all the things that come with social media.”

Reynolds continued, “The interesting thing he said was, ‘First of all, thoughts, words, those things actually do matter. So get on our social media, and don’t forget about us. Keep talking about us. That’s how it gets in the news.'”

The “Enemy” singer said that advice can help bring change by pressuring those in power to do more. “Ukraine is being bullied, and children are being killed,” he rallied.

Elsewhere in the interview, the singer opened up about making the albums Mercury – Act 1 and Mercury – Act 2. He said the albums were born from a period of loss, adding, “It’s been incredibly cathartic.” He lost several people over the past five years — including a manager, an ex-girlfriend, one of his best friends and his sister-in-law — to cancer.

“When you lose that many people close to you, or even one person, it makes you rethink life,” Reynolds said. “I couldn’t help but write about that.”

He said making music is “a therapy session for me” and he writes “a song almost every day, and it’s like a journal entry.”

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Michelle Branch officially files for divorce from Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney

Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images for Triller

After a drama-filled week which saw her being arrested for domestic assault, Michelle Branch has now filed for divorce from her husband of three years, Patrick Carney of The Black Keys, Billboard reports.

According to the divorce complaint, which was filed August 12, Michelle cites irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split. She lists the date of separation as August 11, and requested primary residential custody of the couple’s two children and that Carney pay child support.

Last Thursday, Michelle posted and then deleted a tweet in which she accused Carney of cheating on her. She then issued an official statement saying she is “totally devastated” and that “the rug has been completely pulled from underneath me.” She was subsequently arrested after she slapped Carney; she was released on $1,000 bond.

Michelle and Carney have a 6-month-old daughter and a 4-year-old son; Michelle also has a 17-year-old daughter from her previous marriage. When she wed Carney in 2019, it was her second marriage and his third.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Michelle Branch arrested for slapping estranged husband Patrick Carney

Metropolitan Nashville Police Department

Following the news that Michelle Branch and her husband of three years, Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney, are separating, comes the news that Michelle was arrested early Thursday morning for slapping Carney.

According to a police report viewed by ABC Audio, officers were called the couple’s home about a possible domestic disturbance, and Michelle said she’d slapped Carney in the face one or two times. Carney confirmed that, though he had no visible injuries, and Michelle was taken into custody.

TMZ reports that Michelle’s bail was set at $1,000. She was subsequently released from custody early because she’s currently breastfeeding the couple’s 6-month-old daughter, Willie.

As previously reported, Michelle issued a statement to People about the split, which read, “To say that I am totally devastated doesn’t even come close to describing how I feel for myself and for my family. The rug has been completely pulled from underneath me and now I must figure out how to move forward.”

Michelle and Carney share two children, Willie and 4-year-old Rhys. Michelle has a 17-year-old daughter, Owen, from her previous marriage. She and Carney wed in 2019.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

After three years of marriage, Michelle Branch and husband Patrick Carney are separating

Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images for Triller

Michelle Branch is gearing up to release her new album The Trouble with Fever, which she made with her husband, Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney. But now it appears their music will outlast their relationship.

In a statement to People, Michelle says she and Carney are separating after three years. “To say that I am totally devastated doesn’t even come close to describing how I feel for myself and for my family,” Michelle says.

“The rug has been completely pulled from underneath me and now I must figure out how to move forward,” she adds. “With such small children, I ask for privacy and kindness.”

According to People, on Wednesday night, Michelle had tweeted and then deleted a note in which she accused Carney of cheating on her while she was home with their six-month-old daughter, Willie.  The couple also shares a four-year-old son, Rhys.  Michelle has a 17-year-old daughter, Owen, from her first marriage.

Michelle and Carney wed in New Orleans in April of 2019.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

‘Billboard’ Music Awards complete winners list

NBC

The Billboard Music Awards winners were revealed in ceremonies Sunday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, and broadcast live on NBC. Sean “Diddy” Combs served as the host of this year’s ceremony.

Here’s the complete list of winners:

Top Artist
Drake

Top Female Artist
Olivia Rodrigo

Top Male Artist
Drake

Top Duo/Group
BTS

Top New Artist
Olivia Rodrigo

Top Billboard 200 Artist
Taylor Swift

Top Billboard 200 Album
Olivia Rodrigo, SOUR

Top Hot 100 Artist
Olivia Rodrigo

Top Hot 100 Song
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber, “STAY”

Top Streaming Songs Artist
Olivia Rodrigo

Top Radio Songs Artist
Olivia Rodrigo

Top Billboard Global 200 Artist
Olivia Rodrigo

Top Billboard Global (Excl. U.S.) Artist
Ed Sheeran

Top Tour
The Rolling Stones (No Filter Tour)

Top R&B Artist
Doja Cat

Top R&B Male Artist
The Weeknd

Top R&B Female Artist
Doja Cat

Top R&B Tour
Bruno Mars (Bruno Mars at Park MGM)

Top Rap Artist
Drake

Top Rap Male Artist
Drake

Top Rap Female Artist
Megan Thee Stallion

Top Rap Tour
Omarion & Bow Wow (The Millennium Tour 2021)

Top R&B Tour
Bruno Mars (Bruno Mars at Park MGM)

Top Rap Tour
Omarion & Bow Wow (The Millennium Tour 2021)

Top Country Artist
Taylor Swift

Top Country Male Artist
Morgan Wallen

Top Country Female Artist
Taylor Swift

Top Country Duo/Group
Dan + Shay

Top Country Tour
Eric Church (Gather Again Tour)

Top Rock Artist
Glass Animals

Top Rock Tour
The Rolling Stones (No Filter Tour)

Top Latin Artist
Bad Bunny

Top Latin Male Artist
Bad Bunny

Top Latin Female Artist
Kali Uchis

Top Latin Duo/Group
Eslabon Armado

Top Latin Tour
Los Bukis (Una Historia Cantada Tour)

Top Dance/Electronic Artist
Lady Gaga

Top Christian Artist
Ye

Top Gospel Artist
CeCe Winans

Top Billboard 200 Album
Olivia Rodrigo, SOUR

Top Soundtrack
Encanto

Top R&B Album
Doja Cat, Planet Her

Top Rap Album
Drake, Certified Lover Boy

Top Country Album
Taylor Swift, Red (Taylor’s Version)

Top Rock Album
twenty one pilots, Scaled And Icy

Top Latin Album
KAROL G, KG0516

Top Dance/Electronic Album
ILLENIUM, Fallen Embers

Top Christian Album
Ye, Donda

Top Gospel Album
Ye, Donda

Top Song Sales Artist
BTS

Top Streaming Song
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber, “STAY”

Top Selling Song
BTS, “Butter”

Top Radio Song
Dua Lipa, “Levitating”

Top Collaboration
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber, “STAY”

Top Billboard Global 200 Song
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber, “STAY”

Top Billboard Global (Excl. U.S.) Song
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber, “STAY”

Top Viral Song
Doja Cat ft. SZA, “Kiss Me More”

Top R&B Song
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak), “Leave The Door Open”

Top Rap Song
Lil Nas X ft. Jack Harlow, “INDUSTRY BABY”

Top Country Song
Walker Hayes, “Fancy Like”

Top Rock Song
Måneskin, “Beggin'”

Top Latin Song
Kali Uchis, “telepatía”

Top Dance/Electronic Song
Elton John & Dua Lipa, “Cold Heart – PNAU Remix”

Top Christian Song
Ye, “Hurricane”

Top Gospel Song
Ye, “Hurricane”

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

‘Billboard’ Music Awards: Glass Animals wins Top Rock Artist

Rich Polk/NBC

Glass Animals brought the heat to the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday night, winning Top Rock Artist.  This marks their first major win at the BBMAs.

The British band, who headed into the night with four nominations, saluted their fellow nominees in the category.  Said frontman Dave Bayley, “Joe [Seaward] and I were literally just whispering, saying, ‘We are the least rock and roll people in the world and we will never win this award.'”

“But we did!'” continued Bayley. “We’re officially rock and roll. And I can’t wait to tell my mom. Thank you so much, guys.” 

Glass Animals were pitted against Imagine Dragons, Machine Gun Kelly, Italian rock band Måneskin
and twenty one pilots for Top Rock Artist.  They were also nominated for Top Streaming Song, Top Duo/Group and, for their hit single “Heat Waves,” Top Viral Song.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Grammys 2022: The Backstage Scene

Francis Specker/CBS ©2022 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Backstage at the Grammys Sunday night in Las Vegas, artists answered questions from both reporters who were actually backstage at the MGM Grand Arena, and reporters who’d logged in on Zoom from around the country.  But some of the night’s biggest winners didn’t appear backstage.

Olivia Rodrigo and Silk Sonic, both of whom won multiple awards Sunday night, posed for photos, but didn’t talk to reporters. Doja Cat, who won Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group for “Kiss Me More,” also declined to speak with reporters, but her duet partner, SZA, did come backstage, despite the fact that she was on crutches due to, as she put it, “falling out of bed” the day before.

“That’s the way it goes,” she laughed. “Everything awesome in my life has always come with something very random, but it just adds to the energy.”

SZA’s Grammy was her first win after 11 nominations, and R&B songstress Jazmine Sullivan and country duo Brothers Osborne were two other artists who finally won for the first time Sunday night after multiple nominations.  Backstage, Sullivan, who actually won two trophies, said, “After losing so many times, I feel like I kinda gave up [hope of ever winning]…so it’s surreal to actually hold these babies!”

TJ Osborne of Brothers Osborne, who admitted that his mother “hates” that he dyed his hair blond, spoke about how “incredibly fulfilling” it’s been to perform for their fans since he came out as gay last year.

But country’s big winner was Chris Stapleton, who took home three trophies, including Best Country Album. Asked backstage who out there he’d like to collaborate with, Stapleton, who’s worked with Taylor Swift, Adele and Santana, among others, said he wouldn’t mind working with Harry Styles.

Country superstar Carrie Underwood won the Best Roots Gospel Album Grammy for her faith-based project My Savior and cried backstage as she spoke about how it “means the world” to her that she won because she’s wanted to make that kind of album “literally my whole career.”

H.E.R., who won the Best Traditional R&B Performance Grammy, was still buzzing from her performance with Lenny Kravitz on the show.  “I was having so much fun…growing up, I’d literally study all his videos…he’s one of the reasons why I even wanted to play guitar, so having this full circle moment…I was at a loss for words.”

And The Late Show with Stephen Colbert bandleader Jon Batiste, who had the most Grammys going into the show, also cited Lenny Kravitz as HIS full circle moment: Kravitz announced that Batiste had won the Album of the Year for his project We Are. “We played together when I was 16, so it was surreal,” Batiste told reporters, adding, “Seeing Uncle Lenny up there, it was just like a whole vibe, like, ‘This is far out.'”

Foo Fighters swept the rock categories, but sadly, they didn’t attend due to the death of drummer Taylor Hawkins. St. Vincent won Best Alternative Album for Daddy’s Home and backstage, she mentioned how happy she was that Jack Antonoff, her co-producer on the album, had been named Producer of the Year.

She also spoke about how “times are changing” in terms of women in alternative rock, while rock legend Bonnie Raitt, who won the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, praised the new crop of young female artists, including Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo.

“Across all genres, I think women are kickin’ it,” said Raitt.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Grammys 2022: The complete winners list

CBS

The 64th Annual Grammy Awards aired live from Las Vegas Sunday night on CBS, hosted by Trevor Noah.

Here is the complete list of winners in the major categories:

Record of the Year
“Leave the Door Open,” Silk Sonic

Album of the Year
We Are, Jon Batiste

Song of the Year
“Leave the Door Open,” Brandon Anderson, Christopher Brody Brown, Dernst Emile II & Bruno Mars, songwriters (Silk Sonic)

Best New Artist
Olivia Rodrigo

POP

Best Pop Solo Performance
“driver’s license,” Olivia Rodrigo

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
“Kiss Me More,” Doja Cat Featuring SZA

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
Love For Sale, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga

Best Pop Vocal Album
Sour, Olivia Rodrigo

ROCK/ALTERNATIVE

Best Metal Performance
“The Alien,” Dream Theater

Best Rock Song
“Waiting on a War,” Foo Fighters

Best Rock Performance
“Making a Fire,” Foo Fighters

Best Rock Album
Medicine at Midnight, Foo Fighters

Best Alternative Music Album
Daddy’s Home, St. Vincent

R&B/RAP

BEST R&B PERFORMANCE (TIE)
“Leave the Door Open,” Silk Sonic
and
“Pick Up Your Feelings,” Jazmine Sullivan

Best Traditional R&B Performance
“Fight for You,” H.E.R.

Best R&B Song
“Leave the Door Open,” Silk Sonic

Best Progressive R&B Album
Table for Two, Lucky Daye

Best R&B Album
Heaux Tales, Jazmine Sullivan

Best Rap Performance
“Family Ties,” Baby Keem Featuring Kendrick Lamar

Best Melodic Rap Performance
“Hurricane,” Kanye West featuring the Weeknd and Lil Baby

Best Rap Song
“Jail,” Dwayne Abernathy, Jr., Shawn Carter, Raul Cubina, Michael Dean, Charles M. Njapa, Sean Solymar, Kanye West and Mark Williams, songwriters (Kanye West featuring Jay-Z)

Best Rap Album
Call Me If You Get Lost, Tyler, the Creator

COUNTRY

Best Country Solo Performance
“You Should Probably Leave,” Chris Stapleton

Best Country Duo/Group Performance
“Younger Me,” Brothers Osborne

Best Country Song
“Cold,” Dave Cobb, J.T. Cure, Derek Mixon & Chris Stapleton

Best Country Album
Starting Over, Chris Stapleton

DANCE/ELECTRONIC MUSIC

Best Dance Recording
“10%” by Kaytranada feat. Kali Uchis

Best Dance/Electronic Album
Alive, Rüfüs Du Sol

GOSPEL/CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC

Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song
“Believe For It,” CeCe Winans; Dwan Hill, Kyle Lee, CeCe Winans & Mitch Wong

Best Gospel Album
Believe For It, CeCe Winans

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
Old Church Basement, Elevation Worship & Maverick City Music

Best Roots Gospel Album
My Savior, Carrie Underwood

LATIN

Best Latin Pop Album
Mendó, Alex Cuba

Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album
Origen, Juanes

Best Regional Mexican Music Album
A Mis 80s, Vicente Fernandez

Best Tropical Latin Album
Salswing!, Rubén Blades y Roberto Delgado & Orquesta

COMEDY

Best Comedy Album
Sincerely, Louis C.K.

MUSICAL THEATER

Best Musical Theater Album
The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical, Composers/Lyricists Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, Producer Emily Bear

MUSIC FOR VISUAL MEDIA

Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media (TIE)
Caros Raphael Rivera, The Queen’s Gambit
and
Jon Batiste, Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor, Soul

Best Song Written For Visual Media
“All Eyes on Me” (from Bo Burnham: Inside), Bo Burnham

MUSIC VIDEO/FILM

Best Music Video
“Freedom,” Jon Batiste

Best Music Film
Summer of Soul, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, video director; David Dinerstein, Robert Fyvolent & Joseph Patel, video producers

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Grammys 2022: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivers powerful video message

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a surprise appearance at the 64th Grammy Awards and sent a powerful message about the cost of freedom and the healing power of music.

In a pre-taped video, the president spoke from an unknown location in his country, which is being bombarded by Russian bombs in an unprecedented attack to seize control of the country.  Zelenskyy remained poised and spoke with a stern, gravel-like tone about the cost of Russia’s ongoing war.

“The war.  What’s more opposite to music?  The silence of ruined cities and killed people.  Our children draw swooping rockets, not shooting stars.  Over 400 children have been injured and 153 children died and we’ll never see them drawing,” he said. “Our parents are happy to wake up in the morning.  In bomb shelters. Alive.”

Zelenskyy urged, “The war doesn’t let us choose who survived and who stays in eternal silence.”

“Our musicians wear body armor instead of tuxedos.  They sing to the wounded in hospitals.  Even to those who can’t hear them, but the music will break through anyway,” he continued, noting Russia is bringing “horrible silence with its bombs.  The dead silence.”

He urged those at the Grammy Awards to “fill the silence with your music” and to “tell our story” by sharing the “truth” of the Russian invasion “on your social networks, on TV — support us in any way you can.”

While naming the besieged cities of Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Volnovakha and Mariupol, Zelenskyy declared, “I have a dream of them living and free.  Free like you on the Grammy stage.”

The Ukrainian president’s speech was followed by John Legend‘s performance of “Free.” He was joined by Ukrainian instrumentalist Siuzanna Iglidan and singer Mika Newton for the inspiring number.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Smash Mouth introduces new singer, Zach Goode; releases “Never Gonna Give You Up” cover

Smash Mouth with Steve Harwell; Michael Tullberg/Getty Images

Hey now, Smash Mouth has a new singer.

The “All Star” outfit announced Tuesday that Zach Goode will now be fronting the band. Goode takes the place of founding vocalist Steve Harwell, who announced his retirement last fall to focus on his health issues.

Goode has played in a number of bands throughout his career, including several tribute acts. One of his groups, called Geezer, is described as blending “rock, comedy, rap and barbershoppe to hilariously swing the entire history of popular music from AC/DC and Dr. Dre back to Buddy Holly and the Beatles, mashed up mid-song with spot-on Weezer and Beastie Boys hits.”

Smash Mouth’s first song with Goode on vocals is a cover of Rick Astley‘s ever-memed classic “Never Gonna Give You Up,” which certainly sounds like a joke, but is, in fact, a real thing. You can listen to it streaming now on YouTube.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.