Kirstin Maldonado & Her Pentatonix Group Mates to Perform at iHeartRadio Holiday Special

Posted on November 6, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Kirstin Maldonado is helping people get into the holiday spirit…

The 29-year-old half-Mexican, part-Spanish American singer and her Pentatonix group mates will perform Christmas classics at the second annual iHeartRadio Holiday Special later this month.

Pentatonix is part of a lineup that includes Kelly Clarkson, Michael Bublé and Train.

Hosted by Mario Lopez, the virtual concert will take place on November 24 at 7:00 pm ET.

It will be broadcast across iHeart AC, Hot AC and Classic Hits stations and on the iHeartRadio app, with a video stream on the company’s YouTube and Facebook pages. Fans can also watch the concert in VR through the Horizon Venues app on Meta Quest.

The concert will mark the annual switch to exclusively holiday music through Christmas Day on more than 80 stations in key markets nationwide.

According to iHeartMedia, that switch sometimes doubles the audience size for a station from typical non-holiday programming.

“Our listeners always anxiously await the day our stations flip to Christmas music,” said Tom Poleman, chief programming officer for iHeartMedia. “Kelly Clarkson, Michael Bublé, Train and Pentatonix have some of the best songs of the holiday season, and we’re excited to have them perform on our show.”

Pentatonix dropped their sixth holiday-themed project Evergreen, which features collabs with Alessia Cara and Lindsey Stirling, on October 29; the a cappella group also kicks off a Christmas tour on November 27 in Baltimore.

In addition to local stations, listeners can head to the iHeartRadio Holiday page to see all the dedicated Christmas stations across the iHeartRadio app and beyond.

Kirstin Maldonado & Her Pentatonix Mates to Perform on ABC’s “The Queen Family Singalong”

Posted on October 16, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Kirstin Maldonado is bringing some Love to ABC…

The 29-year-old half-Mexican, part-Spanish American singer and her Pentatonix group mates will take part in the fourth installment of the network’s successful Singalong franchise with The Queen Family Singalong.

Hosted by Darren Criss, the special one-hour, one-night-only event will air at 8:00 pm on Thursday, November 4.

The special will feature an hour of killer Queen hits, performed by musical artists including Pentatonix performing “Somebody to Love.”

Other performers include Adam Lambert (“The Show Must Go On”), Derek Hough and Alexander Jean (“Another One Bites the Dust”), Fall Out Boy (“Under Pressure”), Jimmie Allen with Miss Piggy (“Crazy Little Thing Called Love”), JoJo Siwa and Orianthi (“We Will Rock You”) and OneRepublic (“We Are the Champions”).

Additional performances will be announced at a later date.

In a celebration of Broadway’s reopening, Disney Theatrical Production’s Broadway cast members from The Lion King and Aladdin will come together to perform a showstopping version of “Don’t Stop Me Now.” Performers include Milo Alosi, Tia Altinay, Lissa DeGuzman, Bonita Hamilton, Mduduzi Madela, Brandon McCall, Michael James Scott and Adrienne Walker.

The Disney Family Singalong premiered in April 2020 as TV’s highest-rated show among Adults 18-49 on any network on any night since ABC’s 2020 broadcast of The Oscars. The three editions of The Disney Family Singalong drew in a combined 29.9 million Total Viewers after 35 days of delayed viewing on linear and digital platforms.

The Queen Family Singalong is produced by Done+Dusted.

Kirstin Maldonado & Her Pentatonix Group Mates Taking on Wilson Phillips on This Week’s “Celebrity Family Feud”

Posted on September 18, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Kirstin Maldonado is feudin’ for a cause…

The 29-year-old half-Mexican, part-Spanish American singer and her Pentatonix group mates are facing off against Wilson Phillips on Sunday night’s new episode of Celebrity Family Feud.

In a clip from the upcoming episode of the primetime ABC game show, premiering exclusively on Billboard, host Steve Harvey introduces the Grammy-winning a cappella group.

“Y’all can sing,” Harvey tells the quintet.

Harvey introduces each individual member — Scott Hoying, Maldonado, Matt Sallee, Mitch Grassi and Kevin Olusola — and pays special attention to the “smooth” pronunciation of beatboxer Olusola’s last name.

Pentatonix recently released a deluxe edition of their latest album The Lucky Ones on September 10, via RCA Records, following up the album’s initial February 12 release with seven additional songs.

One of those new tracks is “Midnight in Tokyo,” for which PTX joined forces with all-female Japanese vocal group Little Glee Monster and released a music video along with the deluxe edition.

Tune in to Celebrity Family Feud at 8:00 pm ET on Sunday night on ABC to see Pentatonix take on Wilson Phillips for harmonic supremacy.

Gina Brillon Among the 10 “America’s Got Talent” Finalists Vying for $1M Grand Prize

Posted on September 14, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Gina Brillon’s got Talent-ed plans…

America’s Got Talent’s 16th season will end this week with the 41-year-old Latina comedian among the finalists who could walk away with the $1M grand prize.

In addition to Brillon, the 10 finalists include aerialist Aidan Bryant, singers Brooke Simpson, Jimmie Herrod and Victory Brinker, magician Dustin Tavella, comedian Josh Blue, quick change artist Lea Kyle, Northwell Health Nurse Choir, and the World Taekwondo Demonstration Team.

The show’s top ten finalists will be joined by a swathe of celebrity guests on the show on Wednesday September 15 including Idina Menzel, Pentatonix, Bishop Briggs, George Lopez, Rico Rodriguez, Olympic Silver Medal gymnasts Jordan Chiles and MyKayla Skinner and AGT season nine winner and Las Vegas headliner Mat Franco/

In addition to the grand prize, the winner join America’s Got Talent Las Vegas Live at Luxor Hotel and Casino this fall.

It comes as the show, which was created by Simon Cowell and is produced by his Syco Entertainment and Fremantle, remains the most-watched summer program for the eighth consecutive year and the most-watched summer broadcast unscripted program for the 16th consecutive year.

NBC said that the show had reached more than 60M viewers across linear and digital platforms.

Kirstin Maldonado & Her Pentatonix Mates Release Mash-Up of BTS’ “Dynamite” & “Butter”

Posted on August 21, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Kirstin Maldonado is K-poppin’ it like it’s hot…

The 29-year-old half-Mexican, part-Spanish American singer and her Pentatonix group mates have released a mash-up of two Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits from BTS.

Cutting into the group’s rendition of Jung Kook‘s hook on “Dynamite,” Scott Hoying slides in like a “criminal undercover” with the first verse of “Butter.”

Pentatonix’s colorful jackets and suspended newspaper props had a more serious air once the video turned black-and-white, like the official “Butter” music video. But don’t get it twisted: Hoying led the group into a groove that was anything but serious.

Eventually Matt Sallee and Mitch Grassi took the lead when the two got back into Pentatonix’s technicolor “Dynamite” performance before switching back to black-and-white with the group’s airy “Dyn-na-na-na, na-na, na-na, ayy” harmonies smoothly flowing into “Get it, let it roll!”

In late July, Pentatonix asked their Twitter fans in a poll which BTS song they should cover between “Butter” and “Dynamite,” and even though the former single took the lead, the quintet decided why not just go for both?

Auli’i Cravalho to Perform at PBS’ Televised Independence Day Celebration “A Capitol Fourth”

Posted on June 18, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Auli’i Cravalho is embracing the independence…

The 20-year-old part-Puerto Rican actress/singer will perform at this year’s Independence Day celebration A Capitol Fourth, which will feature a pre-taped concert and live fireworks from Washington, D.C.

The city has lifted almost all COVID-19 restrictions, and President Joe Biden is planning an event at the White House that day, his goal for having at least 70% of the country with at least one COVID-19 shot.

But producers have been planning the show for months, with COVID-19 forcing them to set aside the traditional live concert on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol.

In addition to Cravalho, others who will perform at the event are Jimmy Buffett, Cynthia Erivo, Alan Jackson, Pentatonix, Jennifer Nettles, Train, Gladys Knight, Mickey Guyton, Ali Stroker, Jimmie Allen and Laura Osnes.

The National Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Jack Everly, will perform John Williams’ Olympic Fanfare, honoring U.S. participation in the upcoming Summer Olympic Games. The orchestra and the Joint Armed Forces Chorus will accompany the fireworks with Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture.

Vanessa Williams will host the event, with Renee Fleming set to open the show with the National Anthem. The concert will honor men and women of the military, with other participants including the U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own,” the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, The Joint Armed Forces Chorus and The Armed Forces Color Guard provided by the Military District of Washington, D.C.

The concert, a co-production of Michael Colbert of Capital Concerts and WETA-TV, will air on July 4 from 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm ET on PBS, and it also will be broadcast to the American Forces Network. NPR stations also will air the event, and it will be streamed on Facebook, YouTube and PBS.org through July 18.

Cravalho rose to acclaim as the voice of the title character in Disney’s computer animated musical Moana. Her other credits include NBC’s Rise and Netflix’s drama film All Together Now.

CNCO to Perform on NBC’s New Year’s Eve 2021 Special

Posted on December 21, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

CNCO has major plans for the New Year…

The Latin boy band will be ringing in the new year with a performance on NBC’s New Year’s Eve 2021 program.

CNCO joins a roster of new additions to the lineup that includes Gwen Stefani, Blake Shelton, Chloe x Halle, Jason Derulo, Kirstin Maldonado and her Pentatonix group mates.

Carson Daly will host NBC’s New Year’s Eve special live from Times Square in NYC. Amber Ruffin, the star of Peacock’s The Amber Ruffin Show and writer for Late Night With Seth Meyers, and Stephen “tWitch” Boss, DJ and co-executive producer for The Ellen DeGeneres Show, will join him as co-hosts.

The star-studded lineup also includes AJR, Goo Goo Dolls, Kylie Minogue, Busta Rhymes with Anderson .Paak, Bebe Rexha with Doja Cat, and Sting with Shirazee.

NBC’s New Year’s Eve 2021 will air on Thursday, December 31, at 10:00-11:00 pm and 11:30 pm-12:30 am. ET on NBC.

Aloe Blacc to Take Part in City of Hope’s Livestream Concert Fundraiser

Posted on December 9, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Aloe Blacc isn’t losing Hope…

City of Hope’s Music, Film and Entertainment Industry Group’s Future Hope New York Committee has announced that it will be partnering with Bandsintown for a special livestream concert fundraiser, featuring the 41-year-old Panamanian American singer/songwriter.

In addition to Blacc, the star-studded event will feature performances by Almost Monday, Andy Grammer, Anna Shoemaker, For King & Country, Gunnar Gehl, Jack Newsome, John Splithoff, JP Saxe, Kalie Shorr, Leslie Odom, Jr., Lovelytheband, Matt Nathanson, Pentatonix, The Happy Fits, Train and more.

The show will benefit City of Hope’s mission to eliminate cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening diseases.

“Bandsintown has always been at the forefront of supporting the artists and their fans,and bringing them together. With that said, our Future Hope team is excited to be partnering with Bandsintown, and with these talented artists and their label and management teams, to help raise awareness and support for City of Hope,” said Future Hope New York co-founder Anthony Iovino in a press statement. “It’s a blessing to take what we do each day in this industry and put that energy and passion towards helping others. City of Hope is a special place that does amazing things, and it makes us all want to step up and do amazing things to support that mission of hope!”

Catch the public event on Wednesday, December 16 at 3:00 pm ET/12:00 pm PT via live.bandsintown.com. Those wanting to help the cause will also be able to donate via the landing page.

Kirstin Maldonado & Her Pentatonix Group Mates Release Genre-Bending “12 Days of Christmas”

Posted on December 1, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Kirstin Maldonado is counting down to Christmas in an entertaining way…

The 28-year-old Mexican & Spanish American singer and her Pentatonix group mates are ringing in the annual countdown to the season but with a sonic twist in their new “12 Days of Christmas” music video.

Starting midway on the sixth day of Christmas, the five golden singers in the Grammy-winning a cappella group – Maldonado, Scott Hoying, Mitch Grassi, Kevin Olusola and Matt Sallee – deliver their verses with a wide range of genres, including hip-hop, electro-pop, island folk and more, predominantly backed by Olusola’s beatboxing.

“The PTX holiday cheer continues as we countdown to Christmas with our version of ’12 Days of Christmas,'” Pentatonix wrote on their social media. “We had fun putting our touch on this iconic Christmas song!”

Their funky-yet-festive rendition of “12 Days of Christmas” is the first song on their sixth holiday set We Need a Little Christmas, which peaked at No. 4 on Billboard‘s Top Holiday Albums chart, dated November 28.

The five-piece group also released holiday visuals for “Thank You” and “Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)” off the Christmas album.

Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” Tops the First Billboard Holiday 100 of the Christmas Season

Posted on November 30, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Mariah Carey has reclaimed her Christmas crown…

Billboard’s Holiday 100 has returned to the charts menu, ranking the top seasonal songs of all eras, with the 51-year-old half-Venezuelan American Grammy-winning songstress ruling the roost.

Claiming its familiar perch atop the Holiday 100, Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” rules the ranking for a 41st week of the chart’s 46 total weeks since the list launched in 2011; it has topped the tally for 26 consecutive weeks, dating to the start of the 2015-16 holiday season.

The Holiday 100 uses the same formula as the Billboard Hot 100, blending streaming, airplay and sales data.

The only other Holiday 100 No. 1s to date: Justin Bieber‘s “Mistletoe,” for a week in the 2011-12 holiday season; Pentatonix‘s “Little Drummer Boy” (one, 2013-14) and “Mary, Did You Know?” (two, 2014-15); and Ariana Grande‘s “Santa Tell Me” (one, 2014-15).

Carey’s 1994 carol crowns two of the three Holiday 100 component charts (with all tallies dated December 5): Holiday Airplay (21.5 million audience impressions, up 37%, in the tracking week, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data) and Holiday Streaming Songs (17.6 million U.S. streams, up 51%). On Holiday Digital Song Sales, it ranks at No. 4 (4,000 sold, up 26%).

Rounding out the Holiday 100’s top five is a quartet of multi-generational favorites: Brenda Lee‘s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” at No. 2, as it tops Digital Song Sales for the first time (7,000 sold); Bobby Helms‘ “Jingle Bell Rock” (No. 3); Andy Williams‘ “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” (No. 4); and Wham!‘s “Last Christmas” (No. 5).

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