The 37-year-old Dominican American television personality, writer and comedian will join Larry Willmore to discuss the U.S. presidential election.
Willmore and Kid Mero, whose real name is Joel Martinez, will be joined by Robin Thede, Desus and co-hosts of Pod Save AmericaJon Lovett and Jon Favreau.
The Peacock late-night comedy, which airs on Friday evenings, will tackle the topic of ‘But Her Emails’, comparing where we are three weeks before this election to where we were three weeks before the 2016 election and drawing lessons.
Thede is the creator, showrunner, executive producer, writer and star of HBO’s A Black Lady Sketch Show. She was also the first African American woman to be the head writer of a late-night show when she worked on The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore, before becoming a host of The Rundown with Robin Thede.
Desus Nice and Kid Mero are the stars of the eponymous Showtime series, which airs twice a week.
They’ll join Wilmore for his lightning round this week, following the launch of their New York Times best-selling book God-Level Knowledge Darts – Life Lessons From The Bronx.
Lovett and Favreau are co-hosts of political podcast Pod Save America and co-founder of Crooked Media, the media company behind it. They’ve also recently launched Vote Save America, a one-stop-shop for voter engagement, which helps people get educated and activated ahead of the election.
Wilmore is going into his fifth show since launching on the streamer.
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.
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.
Chita Rivera is Biden her time before the upcoming presidential election…
The 87-year-old half-Puerto Rican Broadway star will be among the stars of the Great White Way who’ll stage a fundraising concert for Joe Biden’s presidential campaign, with plans to stream the event on October 21.
The event, which starts at 8:00 pm ET, is organized by the group Broadway for Biden and is called In Our America: A Concert for the Soul of the Nation, with donations going to the Biden Victory Fund.
In addition to Rivera, the lineup of the concert includes Derrick Baskin, Laura Benanti, Victoria Clark, Glenn Close, Chuck Cooper, Darren Criss, André De Shields, Renée Elise Goldsberry, John Goodman, Jayne Houdyshell, Jennifer Hudson, James Monroe Iglehart, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Samuel L. Jackson, Norman Lear, Norm Lewis, BrianStokes Mitchell, Rita Moreno, Karen Olivo, Ashley Park, Steven Pasquale, Carrie Preston, Kelani Queypo, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Phillipa Soo, Ephraim Sykes, BD Wong, the Broadway Dreams Foundation Choir, and the casts of Sixand KPOP.
Liesl Tommy, director of the upcoming Aretha Franklin biopic Respect (with Hudson in the lead role), will direct the show. Tommy is the executive producer along with Julie Boardman, Nolan Doran, Halle Morse, and Jennifer Mudge.
The concert will stream on YouTube via news publisher NowThis, on Facebook via Broadway for Biden and NowThis, and on Broadway Unlocked.
In a statement, Tommy said, “It is a tremendous honor to direct this incredible collective of performers and artists, who are coming together to amplify the promise of Broadway and a nation that are future-looking, accessible, and deeply inclusive.”
The evening will include original material, stagings of musical numbers that have never been seen, and previews of productions bound for Broadway. Among those contributing are Chad Beguelin, Tony Kushner, Lynn Nottage, Robert O’Hara, Stacey Rose, Aurin Squire, DeLanna Studi, Paula Vogel and John Waters.
Christopher Gattelli, Lorin Latarro, Ray Mercer, and Abbey O’Brien will provide original choreography, with music direction by Jason Michael Webb. Chris Boardman and Charlie Rosen will provide orchestrations. Sean McLaughlin will serve as director of photography and Grady Bowman will be associate choreographer.
The event is in the vein of a fundraiser in 2012 for Barack Obama’s reelection campaign, called Barack on Broadway, that was produced by Margo Lion and others.
The 29-year-old Mexican American drag performer and former RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant will team up with some of her fellow queens and Broadway celebrities to get out the vote for November’s presidential election.
Valentina and divas from the drag world and icons of the stage will come together for Divas For Democracy: United We Slay, a one-night-only variety show extravaganza promoting voter participation and key issues relating to the LGBTQIA+ community in the upcoming 2020 election.
Presented by the nonprofit voter engagement organization Drag Out the Vote and hosted by RuPaul’s Drag Race star Nina West and Entertainment Tonight‘s Keltie Knight, Divas for Democracy: United We Slay features scores of talent who’ll sing and lip-synch through dazzling performances of theater classics and pop songs.
Special segments will highlight LGBTQIA+ activists in a nonpartisan effort to shine a light on community participation in the political process, including celebrity appearances by Tony winner Cyndi Lauper, Drag Race panelist Michelle Visage, Harvey Fierstein, James MonroeIglehart, Bianca Del Rio, Shangela, Cheyenne Jackson, Mila Jam, and Oscar-winning actress Allison Janney.
In addition to Valentina, other drag superstars slated to perform during the broadcast include Alaska, Jinkx Monsoon, Jujubee, Peppermint, Cynthia Lee Fontaine, Shuga Cain, Honey Davenport, and Drag Out the Vote’s national co-chairs Brita Filter, Marti Gould Cummings, and Pixie Aventura.
Broadway figures set to appear include legendary three-time Tony-winning actress Chita Rivera, as well as Tony winners Stephanie J. Block, Lea Salonga, Nikki M. James, Beth Leavel and Annaleigh Ashford. Also joining the program are stage stars Shoshana Bean, Eden Espinosa, Jenn Collela, Chilina Kennedy, Keala Settle, Tamika Lawrence, L Morgan Lee, and Our Lady J.
The presentation will be directed by Josh Rhodes and Lee Wilkins, whose joint careers include work choreographing Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, First Date, It Shoulda Been You, and Bright Staron Broadway. Tony winner Stephen Oremus will serve as music supervisor.
“One in five LGBTQIA+ people is not registered to vote, and 100 million people did not vote in the 2016 election. We must fix this,” said Drag Out the Vote founder Jackie Huba in a press statement. “We are excited to bring together the worlds of Broadway and drag to inspire voters to sashay their way to the polls or their mailboxes.”
Divas for Democracy: United We Slay airs October 18 at 8:00 p.m. ET exclusively on StageIt. Tickets — available on a “donate-what-you-can” basis — go on sale Thursday at 10:00 a.m. ET at divasfordemocracy.com.
Madi Diaz is hoping to bring a little light to the darkness surrounding this year’s dark political climate…
In the wake of this year’s highly charged first presidential debate, Grandstand Media has announced the second edition of the fittingly titled compilation album, Good Music to Avert the Collapse of American Democracy, featuring the 34-year-old half-Peruvian American singer-songwriter.
The 77-track album is made up of never-before-heard new songs, covers, remixes, live versions and unreleased demos from artists like Pearl Jam, David Byrne, Yoko Ono, Mark Ronson, Cold War Kids, John Prine, Shakey Graves, Margo Price, My Morning Jacket, Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, Flume and many more.
Diaz performs a cover of the iconic classic American western folk song “Home On The Range.” Dr. Brewster M. Higleyof Smith County, Kansas, wrote the lyrics in the poem “My Western Home” in 1872.
Indie pop band The Marías, composed of Puerto Rican lead singer María Zardoya and Los Angeles drummer Josh Conway, also appear on the album. The Marias perform “Hold It Together (Demo)” on the album.
Chicano Batman appears on the album, singing “Invisible People (Live).” The Latino band, composed of Eduardo Arenas, Carlos Arévalo, Bardo Martinez and Gabriel Villa.
Mexico City-based Mexican Institute of Sound also appears on the album. The electronic music project performs “La Cura” on the album.
All the net proceeds from the album’s sales will go to Voting Rights Lab, a nonpartisan organization which fights for voting rights through state advocacy, policy, and legislative expertise. The organization works with others across the country to secure, protect and defend American voting rights.
Additionally, limited edition signed poster by Sofia Coppola will be sold to benefit Voting Rights Lab as well. See it here.
Good Music to Avert the Collapse of American Democracywill be available for only 24 hours via Bandcamp, starting at 12:01 a.m. ET Friday (Oct. 2) as part of their Bandcamp Fridays initiative.
See the full track list below.
David Byrne – People Tell Me
2. Pearl Jam – Get It Back
3. Little Dragon – Night Shift
4. The Postal Service – We Will Become Silhouettes (Live from Berkeley, CA 2013)
5. Cold War Kids – Almost A Crime6. Black Pumas – Colors (Live)
7. Mark Ronson & Ilsey Juber – No Time To Die (Bond Demo)
8. Guided By Voices – Game Of Pricks (Live from the Teragram Ballroom, LA on 12/31/19)
9. Phoenix – No Woman (Whitney Cover)
10. Yola – To Be Young, Gifted and Black (Song: Nina Simone, Arrangement: Aretha Franklin)
11. Ciggy Black – Flypaper
12. Arcade Fire feat. David Byrne – This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) [Talking Heads Cover, Live]
13. Nilüfer Yanya – Day 7.5093
14. Hippo Campus – No Poms (Live From First Ave)
15. YOKO ONO PLASTIC ONO BAND – There’s No Goodbye Between Us (Remix by Deakin of Animal Collective)
16. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Criminals (Atlas Sound Cover)
17. The Harlem Gospel Travelers – Keep On Praying
18. Perfume Genius – Jory (Demo)
19. Feist – Human Touch (Nina Simone Cover)
20. Jack Johnson – My Mind’s For Sale (Live in Lake Tahoe, NV 2017)
21. Phantogram – You Are So Beautiful (Joe Cocker Cover)
22. Big Boi and Sleepy Brown – We The Ones, ft. Killer Mike and Big Rube (Organized Noize Remix)
23. Tenacious D – Rize of the Fenix (Live from Lollapalooza 2019)
24. Alex Ebert – No Jokes Left
25. John Prine – Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You Into Heaven Anymore (Live) feat. Margo Price, Jeremy Ivey, and Kenneth Pattengale
26. Courtney Marie Andrews, Liz Cooper and Molly Sarlé – America (Simon & Garfunkel Cover)
27. Jenny Lewis – Callaloo
28. NNAMDÏ feat. Lala Lala – Dislocate
29. !!! – Feels Good
30. PUP – Edmonton
31. Beach Bunny – Dream Boy (Live)
32. Madi Diaz – Home On The Range
33. Sturgill Simpson – All Around You – Live From The Ryman – 100% Grass Fed
34. Shakey Graves – Good Listener
35. Bob Mould Band – In A Free Land (Live in Seattle, WA 2019)
36. Andrew Bird – Tables and Chairs
37. Caleb Giles – Focus
38. The Marías – Hold It Together (Demo)
39. The War On Drugs – Eyes To The Wind (Live)
40. Aimee Mann – Batten Down
41. Chicano Batman – Invisible People (Live)
42. Buzzy Lee – Cinderblock
43. Fleet Foxes – Drops In The River (Live From The Ryman)
44. Charly Bliss – Ohio (Demo)
45. The Gossip – Room For You (Demo)
46. KHEMIST – 40oz of Freedom
47. The Dip – Friday Mixer
48. Rhiannon Giddens and Dirk Powell – Wish In Vain
49. Margo Price – Devil’s In The Details
50. My Morning Jacket – Big Decisions (Jim’s Demo)
51. Old 97’s – Southern Girls (Cheap Trick Cover)
52. Colin Meloy – Bring On The Dancing Horses (Echo & The Bunnymen Cover)
53. Matt and Kim – Let’s Go (Acoustic)
54. Songhoy Blues Feat. FOKN Bois – Don’t FOKN Worry
55. Wolf Parade – ATA
56. Tunde Adebimpe (Of TV on the Radio) – Comfortably Numb (Pink Floyd Cover)
57. Stone Gossard – Near
58. Dan Deacon – Rally Banner
59. Girlpool – Babygirl and Mental
60. Calexico – All Systems Red (Live in Tucson, AZ 2005)
61. MUNA – Walk On Water (Toyin’s Song)
62. Nada Surf – Stories Going ‘Round
63. Surfer Blood – New Direction
64. illuminati hotties – content//bedtime / superiority complex (big noise) (Live at BetaWave)
65. Mexican Institute Of Sound – La Cura
66. Marginal Prophets – What The Man Don’t Know (Won’t Hurt Him)
67. MICHELLE – Sunrise (Remix)
68. Whitney – Valleys (My Love) (Live from SPACE)
69. Bright Eyes – Pan and Broom (Demo)
70. Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit – Fooled Around and Fell In Love (Elvin Bishop Cover, Live)
71. Bedouine – Let Me In Your Life (Bill Withers Cover)
72. RHYE – Hymn (Becky and the Birds Remix)
73. Faye Webster – Vanishing Twin (Blake Mills Cover)
74. Deaf Charlie – Something Real
75. Thao & The Get Down Stay Down – Chosen
76. Nick Hakim – QADIR – Extended
77. Flume x Toro y Moi – The Difference (slowboi version)
Gloria Trevi is sending a highly targeted message about the importance of voting…
With the U.S. presidential election right around the corner, the 52-year-old Mexican singer-songwriter is calling on a specific segment of her fanbase to make their voices heard.
On Thursday, Trevi teamed up with GLAAD to share a message aimed at young Latinx LGBTQ people, where she urged her fans to get out and vote this November.
“To my dear friends in the LGBTQ community, we all know that our community leaders have the power to change many things that impact our lives,” the translation of her Spanish message said. “However, we also have the power to make change and to decide who those leaders are.”
Trevi emphasized in her message that voting is more than just a right for Americans, but something we should also recognize as an honor.
“It’s very important that everyone – LGBTQ, Latino and all communities – come together, and understand that this is not only our responsibility but a privilege,” she said. “Register to vote and exercise your right to vote.”
Along with her get out and vote message to the community, Trevi is also announcing a new partnership with GLAAD to help fund the organization’s Spanish-language work.
Every donation of $10 or more made to GLAAD here will enter fans into a sweepstakes, where they could win one of four spots on a special video call with Trevi, where the star will answer their questions in Spanish.
23-year-old Mexican and Cuban American singer and former Fifth Harmony member and John Legend have joined forces for crowdfunding campaign Free the Vote, which aims to restore voting rights in Florida for the formerly convicted.
Earlier this month, a Florida court ruled that people with felony convictions in Florida are required to pay off all of their fees and fines before they’re allowed to vote, putting 700,000 possible voters in jeopardy.
So Cabello and Legend have acted in response as Florida’s voter registration deadline looms on October 5, with public support from Leonardo DiCaprio, Amy Schumer, Kerry Washington, Uzo Abuda and Sacha Baron Cohen.
Since its Tuesday launch, the campaign has received more than 5,000 donations amounting to over $400,000.
“I am so proud to call Florida my home. It is full of unique and compassionate people from all backgrounds and lived experiences,” Cabello tells The Hollywood Reporter. “Voting is one of the most important ways Americans can make their voices heard. It is this diversity of voices and experiences that makes the state such a special place to live, and every single one of those voices — including returning citizens — deserves to be heard and counted.
“Florida’s pay-to-vote system unjustly prevents some formerly convicted individuals from casting their ballots,” she adds. “This system also disproportionately impacts people of color, creating obstacles for these communities as they try to exercise their right to vote.”
In 2018, Florida voters overwhelmingly passed Amendment 4, which ended the state’s lifetime ban on voting for former felons who completed their parole or probation periods and were not convicted of murder or sexual offenses. Legislators tried to limit the new law by imposing the fees and fines requirement, which was struck down in court, but then upheld on appeal September 11.
Aside from the public campaign, Legend has also quietly helped raise more than $20 million for the cause from private donors including Jeffrey and Marilyn Katzenberg, Kate Capshaw and Steven Spielberg, Michael Bloomberg and LeBron James for the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition. More than 56,000 donations have been made to the organization, with the goal of raising $25 million.
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Earlier this month, a Florida court ruled that people with felony convictions in Florida are required to pay off all of their fees and fines before they’re allowed to vote, putting 700,000 possible voters in jeopardy.
So Cabello and Legend have acted in response as Florida’s voter registration deadline looms on October 5, with public support from Leonardo DiCaprio, Amy Schumer, Kerry Washington, Uzo Abuda and Sacha Baron Cohen.
Since its Tuesday launch, the campaign has received more than 5,000 donations amounting to over $400,000.
“I am so proud to call Florida my home. It is full of unique and compassionate people from all backgrounds and lived experiences,” Cabello tells The Hollywood Reporter. “Voting is one of the most important ways Americans can make their voices heard. It is this diversity of voices and experiences that makes the state such a special place to live, and every single one of those voices — including returning citizens — deserves to be heard and counted.
“Florida’s pay-to-vote system unjustly prevents some formerly convicted individuals from casting their ballots,” she adds. “This system also disproportionately impacts people of color, creating obstacles for these communities as they try to exercise their right to vote.”
In 2018, Florida voters overwhelmingly passed Amendment 4, which ended the state’s lifetime ban on voting for former felons who completed their parole or probation periods and were not convicted of murder or sexual offenses. Legislators tried to limit the new law by imposing the fees and fines requirement, which was struck down in court, but then upheld on appeal September 11.
Aside from the public campaign, Legend has also quietly helped raise more than $20 million for the cause from private donors including Jeffrey and Marilyn Katzenberg, Kate Capshaw and Steven Spielberg, Michael Bloomberg and LeBron James for the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition. More than 56,000 donations have been made to the organization, with the goal of raising $25 million.
Prince Royce joins a roster of new additions that includes Bob Weir, Dave Matthews, Donna Karan, Dove Cameron, Gavin Rossdale, Kaia Gerber, Andrew “King Bach” Bachelor, Lenny Kravitz, Madison Beer, Meghan Trainor and Shawn Mendes.
The Just Vote campaign aims to engage young Americans to check their status, register and vote in the November 2020 general elections and beyond. The non-partisan campaign has the goal of engaging one million young voters and get 50,000 young people registered ahead of the 2020 elections.
The group joins previously announced participants Billie Eilish, Billy Porter, DJ Khaled, FINNEAS, Julianne Hough, Loren Gray, Nicky Jam, Quavo, Taylor Swift and Usher.
“We are at a pivotal moment in the campaign as we head towards the final stretch of voter registration,” said Hugh Evans, co-founder and CEO of Global Citizen. “Through this campaign, tens of thousands of young people have already checked their voter registration status, but we have to keep up the momentum. It’s more important than ever to engage young people in the political process, and with the support of these great artists, even more young people will get registered to vote.”
By checking their voter registration status, young people can unlock exclusive experiences, performances and memorabilia donated by artists and entertainers. Once they check their voting registration status, participants will have the opportunity to receive access to opportunities like a one-on-one video chat with Kravitz, an acoustic performance by Matthews, a virtual hangout with Trainor and more.
Alaina Castillo is playing her part in getting out the vote…
There are less than two months before the U.S. presidential election on November 3, and Spotify has unveiled a non-partisan initiative, featuring the participation of the Latina singer, that’ll leverage the wide reach of the streaming platform to encourage voter turnout.
Entitled “Play Your Part” and available on the “Home” section of Spotify’s official mobile app, the initiative is designed to provide resources, information and encouragement for users residing in the U.S.
The multi-faceted initiative, which kicked off on Wednesday, includes Spotify Voter’s Booth, a hub providing resources and information so users can register and make a plan to vote; new artist and influencer-curated playlists to keep users entertained during the voting process; special curated episodes about civic engagement from podcasts including Famous Fates: Movers & Shakers and Dope Labs; and video and audio voting reminders in several of Spotify’s flagship playlists.
Play Your Part includes a concerted effort to encourage young users to vote via partnerships with artists and influencers including Castillo, Conan Gray, King Princess, Chloe x Halle and more. From today, first-time voters on Spotify will receive messages from “fellow first timers” encouraging them to register.
Additionally, co-curated playlists from Seventeen Magazine and the music-focused voter registration organization HeadCount will be added to Spotify to encourage users to participate.
The Spotify-owned podcast company Anchor will also be launching an “election takeover” of its Sponsorships tool that will give podcasters the opportunity to donate their ad space to the voting nonprofits HeadCount, BallotReady and Democracy Works.
Earlier this year, Castillo was one of the artists featured as part of Spotify’s RADAR initiative, a global development program for emerging artists around the world. RADAR allows Spotify to deepen its commitment to young talent at all stages and strengthen their connections to their audiences.
Nicky Jam’s urging everyone to vote like your life depends on it…
The 39-year-old Puerto Rican & Dominican American reggaeton and Latin trap singer is taking part in the
Just Vote campaign, which the participation of other celebrities like Taylor Swift, Usher, DJ Khaled and Billie Eilish.
Just Vote is an initiative of international advocacy organization Global Citizen and voter registration body HeadCount, who’ve come together with a mission to motivate young people to exercise their democratic rights this November and in the many elections to come.
Also on board are Billy Porter, Finneas, Julianne Hough, Loren Gray, Quavo and others.
Young voters could hold the balance for the upcoming presidential election. The trick is getting them over the line, especially in a pandemic.
According to data published by Global Citizen, more than a third of eligible voters are Gen Z or Millennials, and upwards of 80% of nationals aged 18-29 believe their vote can affect change. On the flip side, juts 60% are planning to vote.
Just Vote’s aim is to engage 1 million young voters and get 50,000 vote-aged Americans to register ahead of Nov. 3, 2020.
To help hit those outcomes, several stars have agreed to participate in special fan experiences.
Once the voting registration status is completed, a virtual dance lesson is up for grabs with Usher and his choreographer, Nicky Jam is offering a never-before-seen performance, there’s a meet-and-greet with Quavo, and a virtual catch-up DJ Khaled.
“Major key alert!,” comments Khaled in a statement. “Checking your voting status and registering to vote is easy and important.”
He continues, “I’m partnering with Global Citizen and HeadCount, to make sure everyone has a chance to use their voice. I’m looking forward to hosting a virtual meet and greet with the Just Vote campaign to talk with young people who have taken the time to check their voter registration status.”
