JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi legislators on Wednesday honored Chapel Hart, a country music trio that sang their way to the fifth place last year on “America’s Got Talent.”
The state House and Senate presented resolutions to Danica Hart and Devynn Hart, who are sisters, and their cousin Trea Swindle. The women are from Poplarville, Mississippi, about 75 miles (121 kilometers) northeast of New Orleans.
Speaking for the group, Danica Hart told the House that Chapel Hart tries to inspire young people.
“I just continue to encourage you guys to go out and take every bit of your Mississippi-ness with you,” she said.
Chapel Hart grabbed national attention during Season 17 of “America’s Got Talent” with the original song, “You Can Have Him Jolene” — a follow-up to the Dolly Parton classic. Danica Hart said on the show that the group had been trying to break into Nashville for a couple of years.
“It’s been kind of hard when, I think, country music doesn’t always look like us,” she said, referring to Black artists in a mostly white genre.
At the Mississippi Capitol on Wednesday, Republican Rep. Jansen Owen of Poplarville said: “I think it’s safe to say that from now on, country music will always look a lot like Chapel Hart.”
After appearing before the House and Senate, the trio was joined by a guitarist and performed in the Capitol rotunda, their voices echoing through the marble hallways. When they saw three young girls dancing, the singers called the children over for a conversation and photos.
BIGHIT MUSIC has shared additional information for fans regarding BTS’s Jin’s military service period.
On January 5, BIGHIT MUSIC released a statement kindly asking fans to refrain from sending letters to the training camp as well as visiting the site on the day of his recruit training graduation ceremony.
Read the full statement below:
Hello,
This is BIGHIT MUSIC.
Thank you to all the fans who always give their love to BTS. Thanks to your kind consideration and support, BTS member Jin has entered the military in December and is now performing his duties responsibly at the training camp.
Thank you for showing your interest and support on the day of his enlistment. We would like to share additional information for fans to keep note of throughout Jin’s military service period.
Jin is stationed at a training center designated specifically for military training together with regular military personnel. If a large number of letters and gifts from the fans arrive at the center all at once, it would be difficult to store them, and they could be easily lost. We ask that you please refrain from sending anything by mail. BIGHIT MUSIC will assist in making sure that Jin is able to check himself all the warm messages that fans leave on Weverse using the hashtag #Dear_Jin_from_ARMY.
Please refrain from sending letters and gifts even after he finishes his military recruit training and gets stationed at his military base.
We would also like to ask for your cooperation during Jin’s recruit training graduation ceremony. In order to prevent any issues that might occur from crowding, we ask fans to please refrain from visiting the site. Instead, we ask you to keep your heartwarming words of support and farewell in your hearts.
We ask for your continued love and support for Jin until he finishes his military service and comes back in good health. Our company will also strive to provide all support he needs during this time.
Thank you.
BTS’s Jin enlisted in the military on December 13 as an active duty soldier.
If you miss Jin, take a moment to reminisce with “Rookie King: Channel BTS” below:
STILLWATER, Okla. — Oklahoma artist Anita Fields has been selected to receive the Women in the Arts Recognition Award from the Cimarron Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.
Fields, a member of the Osage and Muscogee tribes, is noted for her clay and textile arts that reflect her native Osage culture. She was born in Oklahoma and is a graduate of Oklahoma State University. The Cimarron Chapter — located in Stillwater, in partnership with the OSU Museum of Art — nominated Fields for this award.
An award ceremony and reception will be 5-7 p.m. Jan. 19, at the OSU Museum of Art.
The Women in the Arts Recognition Award recognizes women for outstanding achievements in the non-performance arts, including fiber arts, fine arts, sculpture, music composition, literature and drama authorship, jewelry, metalwork, decorative painting and pottery. Recipients of the award demonstrate an outstanding contribution to their artistic field beyond mastery of technique. This may include innovative design work, featured exhibitions, publication, research and technique development. The criteria for this award are strict, and not all nominations are successful.
“Fields’ resume features an extensive list of exhibitions, publications and highly-coveted artist residencies for which she has been invited to participate,” Vicky Berry, OSU Museum of Art director said. “As an Osage textile and ceramic artist, she portrays her cultural influences through her highly textured and layered works. In addition to her work as an artist, Anita is recognized as an advocate for the Osage community and is an accomplished and highly sought-after teaching artist. Fields’ achievements are well-deserving of such an award.”
Her work can be found in several collections, such as the Minneapolis Institute of Art; Museum of Art and Design, New York City; Museum of Contemporary Native Arts, Santa Fe, N.M.; Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Ark.; Heard Museum, Phoenix; and the National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian, Washington, D.C.
Why go to a trade show in person? It’s a hard question to answer, until you’re waiting in line for the Panasonic press conference with loud club music pumping and the growing conviction that you’re going to see something extremely cool inside. And we were not disappointed! The first person to walk onstage at the Panasonic press conference was Kal Penn, the actor, author, and former White House consultant who was acting as Panasonic’s emcee. He was quickly followed by Nathan Chen, the Olympic Gold-winning figure skater (and also some videos of Michael Phelps and Naomi Osaka, go figure) to demonstrate Gen Z’s commitment to climate change.
Panasonic showed off a number of interesting new products, like the new MZ2000 TV and the Lumix GH6 camera, which my colleagues will be reviewing later. But what I found the most interesting was Panasonic’s sustainability initiatives, which apply from the ground up—whether they’re working on localizing electric vehicle battery production in the United States at their new plant in De Soto, Kansas, or promoting their Takeback program to recycle consumer electronics.
My Fave Device
Personally, the device that I found the most interesting was the MultiShape. It’s an all-purpose bathroom device (stick with me here) with one motor, on which fit multiple heads—whether that’s an electric razor, toothbrush, or what looks like a screwdriver head but which my colleague Chris Haslam says is a nose-hair trimmer? OK. As a rousing finale, celebrity DJ Sydney Poulson was supposed to use Panasonic’s new turntables to play some beats for Olympic breakdancing hopefuls Victor Montalvo and Sunny Choi.
There were some technical difficulties and the music didn’t work. But Victor and Sunny carried forth bravely on. I love live shows!
Each January since 2016, Greater Columbus concertgoers have gone on a musical journey to Russia in the company of the Columbus Symphony.
During the past seven years, the symphony has presented a “Russian Winter Festival” highlighting the often-dramatic, always emotional compositions of Russian-born composers.
“This genre represents some of the most popular works of the classical literature that we have, from Tchaikovsky to Prokofiev,” said Daniel Walshaw, the symphony’s chief operating officer. “Compared to some other composers, these composers have had a long-lasting power in the history of music.”
Columbus Symphony:New musicians discuss importance of diversity
This year, however, the content of the annual program will be much the same, but — in an acknowledgment of the nearly year-long war between Russia and Ukraine — it will be presented under a different title.
The “Winter Festival” — presented without a reference to Russia in its title — will take place Friday and Saturday in the Ohio Theatre. The concert will be conducted by Music Director Rossen Milanov.
“We decided . . . this music comes from a certain time and a certain place, and often represents its own pushing back against oppressive authority,” Walshaw said. “It’s important that we do this music — that, we’re not going to back down on.”
The removal of the word “Russian” from the concert title was a kind of “quiet protest” against the war, Walshaw said.
“We’re not putting the company formally in any kind of public display of protest,” said Walshaw, noting that the symphony is made up of members with roots around the world.
“We have an incredibly international organization, as far as the employees that we have onstage, who have family all over the world,” he said.
What will remain constant, however, is the power of the underlying works, which are part of a unified musical tradition.
“In Europe, especially during the late 19th century, every region had its different voice,” Walshaw said. “(There were) Czech composers and German composers and French composers all creating their own cultural identity through their music.”
Many Russian composers drew upon the folk music of their country.
“You can’t get away from it in that style of music,” said Walshaw, noting that the formation of the Soviet Union consolidated this inward-looking tendency among many Russian composers.
“At a time when the Soviet Union was clamping down on anything international, (composers) were immersed in this only-Soviet, only-Russian history,” he said. “They were not permitted to even explore the music of the rest of the world.”
Columbus Winter Fun 2023:Area groups to perform classical music, jazz concert and ballet
To be performed Friday and Saturday is a suite from “The Snow Maiden” by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and “Violin Concerto No. 1” by Sergei Prokofiev, the latter featuring guest violinist Bella Hristova, a native of Bulgaria.
The concluding work on the bill, however, reflects an artist grappling with government-imposed pressures: In “Symphony No. 6,” Dmitri Shostakovich produced a work far more abstract — and far less nationalistic — than had been anticipated by Soviet authorities.
“(Shostakovich’s) Fourth Symphony was considered too avant-garde, too far-reaching, and his Fifth Symphony was . . . written as an apology,” Walshaw said. “I think the Soviets thought that they had (Shostakovich) under their thumb at the time. And the Sixth Symphony came out and it was not at all what they thought they were going to get.”
No matter the title of the program, the concerts promise a musically rich and intellectually stimulating experience.
“We’ve all spent time in the house over the holidays, and it’s still cold outside . . . so let’s go experience the great joys of this city,” Walshaw said. “We have such wonderful art happening.”
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At a glance
The Columbus Symphony will perform the “Winter Festival” at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the Ohio Theatre, 39 E. State St. Tickets start at $9.84. For more information, visit columbussymphony.com. A dress rehearsal performance, open to the public and featuring complimentary coffee and donuts, will take place at 10 a.m. Friday and costs $14.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Symphony’s program of Russian music returns under new name
Chris Janson‘s debut single on BMLG Records will be called “All I Need Is You.”
The Missouri-born hitmaker unexpectedly announced he was leaving his longtime label home, Warner Nashville, for Big Machine in September. While with Warner, Chris scored number ones with “Buy Me a Boat,” “Fix a Drink,” “Good Vibes” and “Done.” He won ACM Video of the Year for his hit “Drunk Girl.”
Chris resumes his Heavy & Western Tour January 19 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. So far, we don’t know when “All I Need Is You” will be available to stream, but you should start hearing it on the radio the last half of February.
We hate to burst your bubble but Pop stars are here to stay.
Short for “popular,” these musicians representing genres that run the gamut from country and rap to R&B and of course Pop, have become some of the greatest icons of the modern day.
It’s no surprise that when it comes to some of the biggest celebrities on the globe, those who bring us our favorite tunes, pull on our heartstrings with powerful lyrics and speak the universal language of music, are indeed the ones that rule the world.
We become captivated by their albums, singles, stories and legacies, fascinated by who they are on—and off—stage. Buckle up as we dive into some of your favs!
To understand the world of pop music, the New York Post spoke exclusively with celebrity music producer Craig J Snider. As a team, we put our heads together to create the definitive list of pop stars astrology and the zodiac.
During our conversations, Craig discussed wanting to think outside of the box when it comes to his choices—so very few of the pop stars we’ve labeled actually are their particular zodiac sign. He wanted to spin it in a way that each of his choices mirrors the energy of each zodiac sign—and I totally applaud his creativity for that!
ARIES (MARCH 21 – APRIL 19): Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga embodies the archetype of Aries.Getty Images for Live Nation
When it comes to a powerhouse who was “born this way,” there’s only one Lady Gaga. Her legacy exemplifies a “no holds” barred approach to life, music, songwriting, fashion, acting and more. This is why she’s the perfect embodiment of the fire within an Aries! This queen has not only pushed the cultural and musical needle forward, but reinvented herself as an artist and performer numerous times. She’s a straight up warrior, for love and pop poetry! Anyone that can dominate remaking “A Star is Born” is a true legend.
TAURUS (APRIL 20 – MAY 20): Nicki Minaj
Nicki Minaj is a pop star not to be messed with.PA Images via Getty Images
When it comes to a pop star with a hard-hitting, stubborn edge, there’s none other than Nicki Minaj. As if she’s ruled by the planet Venus—just like Tauruses are—she brings a swag, confidence and feminine glamour to her work. Minaj is immensely strong and lives like a queen: just like the zodiac sign of the bull. However, the point that sealed the deal with this pop star pick is that she definitely has the temperament of the bull—peaceful and charming, and never someone to mess with. Beware her horns if you’ve pushed her too far!
GEMINI (MAY 21 – JUNE 20): Katy Perry
Katy Perry brings a mysterious, exciting edge to everything that she does.ABC via Getty Images
Spontaneous, hilarious and unique, Katy Perry is tremendously multi-faceted. The thing about her is that you can’t keep her in a cage! She is also the queen of camp, showing that she isn’t afraid of keeping things fresh and entertaining while having fun—just like a Gemini. She’s very smart and witty, always ready for her next big adventure. Also, anyone that jumps off the Auckland Harbour Bridge mid-tour in New Zealand is about as badass as it gets!
CANCER (JUNE 21 – JULY 22): Post Malone
Post Malone sings from the heart.Getty Images
Post Malone exemplifies the Cancer energy—and it also happens to be his actual zodiac sign! This is because on the outside, he can show he has a tough exterior, but underneath it all, he’s as sensitive, emotional and passionate as they come! This shows pure and potent Cancer vibes. He has the heart of a lover and even has found that becoming a parent is one of his greatest journeys: something that all Cancers thrive within.
LEO (JULY 23 – AUGUST 22): Beyoncé
Beyoncé is regal being that became a real life Queen.Getty Images For Parkwood Entert
When we talk about “the Queen B,” there’s no other Beyoncé! She embodies the raw fire and energy of a leader and the regality of royalty more than any other pop star on this list—and because of that, she’s the Leo pick! Since her first days in Destiny’s Child, she’s shown that she’s the main event and can carry powerful, deep musical narratives throughout her body of work.
Not only this, though, she knows how to break musical boundaries, truly create along many different mediums and “break my soul.” Another trait that links her to the Leo archetype is that she’s as loyal as they come—always standing by her man—Jay-Z. Talk about a power couple!
VIRGO (AUGUST 23 – SEPTEMBER 22): Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez has unlimited tenacity.Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images
When it comes to one of the hardest working pop stars on Earth, Jennifer Lopez embodies the unending tenacity, perseverance and desire for perfection that aligns with the archetype of Virgo. Her list of accomplishments—and skills—continues to go on and on as she pushes herself to be the best version of herself at all times. She’s a multi-talente dancer, singer, actress, fitness buff, business woman and mother. No one works harder with more esprit de corps than J Lo! What a force to be reckoned with!
LIBRA (SEPTEMBER 23 – OCTOBER 22): Jay-Z
Jay-Z has unlimited charm.FilmMagic
When it comes to a pop star who can spit rhymes, keep people on their toes and build an empire, there’s the king of hip hop for all time: the great Jay-Z! He knows how to work people—and crowds and the media—with the perfect sense of grace. Just as Libra is ruled by the planet Libra, Jay-Z knows how to blend art, music, business and pleasure! He can spin all the plates strategically and with ease!
SCORPIO (OCTOBER 23 – NOVEMBER 21): Madonna
Madonna slithers with sex.Getty Images for dcp
When it comes to a pop star who embodies pure and total sexual desire and raw power, there’s the one-and-only Madonna. Her ability to push boundaries—as well dive into her “shadow self” and emerge like a phoenix through her art and life—aligns her with Scorpio.
Scorpio rules sex—as well as transformation—something we’ve seen her do in her art, performances, video and other masterpieces, as well. She’s also “all or nothing” about everything with endless passion, drive, business-saavy and sexual libido in spades!
SAGITTARIUS (NOVEMBER 22 – DECEMBER 21): Lizzo
Lizzo is unapologetic.AFP via Getty Images
Sagittarius energy is all about being big, bold, beautiful and unapologetic! This is why Lizzo embodies the archetype of always feeling “good as hell!” Jupiter, the planet of miracles and expansion, rules Sagittarius and is an optimistic, “go big or go home” vibe—and also aligns with how Lizzo has absolutely taken the world by storm. Lizzo’s persona bucks the current trend of lithe waifs that sing breathlessly in your ear. She comes roaring like a cannonball and dominates the stage! She is eager—and confident—as she breaks the barriers of what female artists should look and sound like. And then coming in hot with the flute? Slay, queen, slay.
CAPRICORN (DECEMBER 22 – JANUARY 19): DJ Khaled
DJ Khaled is a powerhouse.Getty Images
Capricorn energy is ambitious, long-lasting and business-saavy—so our choice for this zodiac sign is DJ Khaled! Not only has he built an empire over the last decade, he’s shown that he was a mastermind all along. This “big boss” energy—by orchestrating masterful collaborations with A-list “who’s who” music celebrities—has shown that he likes his luxury and can manifest swag forever.
AQUARIUS (JANUARY 20 – FEBRUARY 18): Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift is a revolutionary.Getty Images for Amazon
Multi-faceted, ever fluid and groundbreaking: there’s only one Taylor Swift. Aquarius is ruled by the planet of freedom and the future, Uranus. Swift brings a genre-bending and ever evolving approach to her music: from country to pop to dance to indie singer-songwriter!
The other reason we placed her here is because she’s unafraid of change and growth, as the Aquarius archetype always seeks progressive transformation. Community is also a big part of Aquarian energy, and when it comes to an artist who has inspired a generation of women—as well as a devoted, large and fierce fan base—Swift has done it all.
PISCES (FEBRUARY 19 – MARCH 20): Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber possesses tremendous levels of creativity.WireImage
Of all the icons that embody the multi-dimensional energy of Pisces, there’s only one Justin Bieber. Built from a passion to sing, express his creativity and lay his heart on his sleeve, Bieber has shown that he’s a feelings first kind of pop star! Not only this, but as Pisces is the zodiac sign most closely aligned with spirituality due to them being ruled by Neptune, he’s even found his divine connection to his “holy energy.”
Special thanks to celebrity music producer Craig J Snider for collaborating with me on this article!
Craig J Snider, Celebrity Music Producer. @CraigJSniderINKEDKENNY
Craig J. Snider is a Composer, Producer, Remixer, Songwriter, and Multi-instrumentalist who works between Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago. His work includes 35+ Billboard Dance Chart #1 hits by artists such as Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Katy Perry, Justin Timberlake and Madonna. Recently, he and his band “The Shamanic” scored top ten hits with their first singles’ “Fire” and “FK Always.”
Astrology 101: Your guide to the stars
Kyle Thomas is a globally recognized pop culture astrologer who has been featured in “Access Hollywood,” E! Entertainment, NBC & ABC television, Cosmopolitan Magazine, Hulu, Bustle, Elite Daily, Marie Claire and more. He is known for his cosmic guidance for celebrities, business executives and prominent influencers. His work harnesses the power of the stars in regards to entertainment lifestyle and trends affecting people worldwide. For more information, visit KyleThomasAstrology.com.
An Emmy-winning and multiplatinum-selling musician will bring his music education program to Auburn High School in March.
Mark Wood, an original member of Trans-Siberian Orchestra, will work with the school’s band, choir and orchestra through his program, Electrify Your Symphony. Together, they will create a rock orchestra that will perform for the public on Tuesday, March 14, in the auditorium of the school, 250 Lake Ave., Auburn. Tickets will be $10 for adults, $5 for students and free for Auburn district students.
Proceeds from the concert will support Auburn school music programs. Tickets will be available at the door and at showtix4u.com.
“The Auburn Music Boosters, the high school music department and the Auburn Enlarged City School District are thrilled to be able to provide our students with this amazing musical opportunity,” Auburn High School representative Allison Fennessy said in a news release.
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Wood will perform with the students on his handcrafted seven-string fretted electric Viper violin, his invention, while performing his original material and his arrangements of music by Led Zeppelin, The Beatles and more. Vocalist Laura Kaye, who is Wood’s wife, will also perform. Before the performance, Wood and Kaye will prepare students in workshops, teaching improvisation, composition and more.
The program has been featured on “The Today Show,” “CBS Evening News” and more.
“(Electrify Your Symphony) builds on the strong foundation provided by the classically trained music teachers, creating a partnership that inspires students and boosts their self-esteem and motivation on stage and off,” the program said in the news release.
For more information, visit electrifyyoursymphony.com.
A few days ago, London-based teenage newcomer Vienna I released an EP titled XVIII. This 4-track project is an exhibition of her mastery of rap and singing. There are influences from R&B and soul to rap and hip hop.
While the Vienna has, in the past, already shown maturity beyond her years, XVIII marks her transition into adulthood. It includes the songs: “Hear You Say”, “Questions”, “Wish I Knew” and “Leads To You”.
The EP feels youthful and lively. Listen via Spotify and follow Vienna I on Instagram.
For its latest Tour Series true wireless earbuds, JBL is taking an interesting approach to the wireless charging case. The Tour Pro 2 comes with what the company calls “the world’s first smart charging case,” thanks to a 1.45-inch LED touchscreen display on the outside. This panel offers controls for both music and calls in addition to notifications for messages and social apps. The company touts the convenience of not having to look at your phone for said items, but you will have to keep the case within reach.
Aside from the case, the Tour Pro 2 is a set of flagship earbuds. They’re equipped with adaptive active noise cancellation (ANC) and ambient sound mode with 10mm drivers, spatial audio and JBL’s Pro sound inside. Personi-fi 2.0 allows you to customize the audio profile to suit your listening habit and an ear tip fit test can ensure a proper fit. JBL says you can expect up to eight hours of use with ANC on (10 with it off) and three additional charges in the case, plus a quick-charge feature will give you four hours of use in 15 minutes. For calls, a collection of six microphones are onboard with the company’s VoiceAware tech. And lastly, the earbuds are IPX5 rated so they should withstand workouts just fine.
The Tour Pro 2 will arrive in this spring in black and champagne color options for $249.95.
JBL Tour One M2
JBL
JBL is also expanding the Tour Series with a new set of noise-canceling headphones. The Tour One M2 is an over-ear model that offers both the company’s True Adaptive ANC and JBL Pro drivers. The noise-canceling tech monitors and adapts to your surroundings in real time. The company is also debuting a feature similar to Sony’s Speak-to-Chat tool that automatically pauses audio and activates ambient sound mode when you talk. JBL calls it Smart Talk and the feature resumes your previous ANC setting when you’re done speaking. The company’s Personi-Fi 2.0 is on these as well, giving you customized audio to meet your sonic sensibilities. JBL Spatial Sound is here too, as is a low volume EQ that keeps audio quality consistent when the content isn’t as loud.
In terms of battery life, the company says you can expect up to 30 hours with active noise cancellation on or up to 50 hours with it off. If you find yourself in a pinch, a quick-charge tool will give you five hours of listening in 10 minutes. JBL says four VoiceAware-equipped microphones help with calls, so on paper these should be suitable for any chats that might arise.
The Tour One M2 will arrive this spring in black and champagne color options for $299.95. JBL says a forthcoming over-the-air update will deliver Bluetooth 5.3 and LE Audio to both the Tour Pro 2 and Tour One M2.
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