Robert Trujillo & His Metallica Band Mates to Host Helping Hands Benefit Concert for Third Year

Robert Trujillo is offering a helping hand 

The 57-year-old half-Mexican American musician and his Metallica band mates are bringing their Helping Hands benefit concert back for a third year, the band has announced.

MetallicaOn behalf of the rockers’ All Within My Hands foundation, the 2022 edition of the Helping Hands Concert and Auction will make its Southern California debut on December 16, when Metallica will hit the stage at L.A.’s Microsoft Theater with a number of yet-to-be-revealed special guests.

Tickets for the special event will go on sale to the general public starting Friday, September 23 at 10:00 am local time. Customers will have two-ticket limit per person — with 100 percent of proceeds going directly to Metallica’s non-profit organization, which aims to create “sustainable communities by tackling issues including hunger and workforce education.”

The band’s last Helping Hands Concert and Auction took place in November 2020 with a livestream that ultimately raised more than $1.8 million for work with partners including Feeding America, the American Association of Community Colleges and a number of COVID-19 and disaster-relief funds.

For more information on the upcoming concert as well as access to two different pre-sales, visit the event’s AXS site.

This weekend, Metallica is headed to New York City to headline the 10th annual Global Citizen Festival along with the likes of Mariah Carey, the Jonas Brothers, Charlie Puth, Måneskin, Rosalía and Mickey Guyton and host Priyanka Chopra. A parallel show will also take place in Accra, Ghana, featuring Usher, Stormzy, H.E.R., Tems, Uncle Waffles and others to commemorate the 65th anniversary of Ghana’s independence and the 20th anniversary of the African Union.

Rita Moreno to Take Part in ABC’s Animated & Live-Action Blended Special “Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration”

Rita Moreno has landed a beauty of a project…

The 90-year-old Puerto Rican Oscar-winning actress, dancer and singer will be part of the cast of ABC’s animated and live-action blended special, Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration.

Rita Moreno,Moreno, an EGOT winner (EmmyGrammy-Oscar-Tony Award winner), will serve as the night’s narrator.

Josh Groban is set as the co-lead opposite H.E.R. in the project.

Groban, who previously recorded a song for the 2017 Beauty and the Beast live-action movie, will play Beast alongside previously announced H.E.R. as Belle. Joshua Henry has been tapped to play antagonist Gaston.

Presented by The Wonderful World of Disney, the two-hour reimagining of the beloved story of Beauty and the Beast will be taped in front of a live audience at Disney Studios and will air December 15 on ABC and on Disney+ the next day.

Jon M. Chu is set to executive produce the special and Hamish Hamilton set to direct.

Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration is produced by Done+Dusted in association with Walt Disney Television Alternative and Electric Somewhere.

Rosalia to Perform at This Year’s Global Citizen Festival

Rosalia is taking the global stage…

The 29-year-old Spanish singer and songwriter will take part in this year’s Global Citizen Festival, which is set for Saturday, September 24 with twin shows in New York City and Accra, Ghana.

RosaliaRosalia will be part of the U.S. leg alongside Metallica, Charlie Puth, Jonas Brothers, Måneskin, Mariah Carey and Mickey Guyton.

Other New York City performers include Angélique Kidjo and Billy Porter.

Bollywood star and Global Citizen ambassador Priyanka Chopra Jonas will host Global Citizen Festival: NYC, to be staged in Central Park.

For its 10th anniversary edition, Global Citizen expands its program with a show at Ghana’s Black Star Square, featuring performances by Usher, SZA, Stormzy, Gyakie, H.E.R., Sarkodie, Stonebwoy, Tems, and Uncle Waffles.

That show will mark the 65th anniversary of Ghana’s independence and the 20th anniversary of the African Union.

The annual concert-with-a-cause will call on world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly and ahead of the G20 and COP27 this November to invest in the future, and to end global hunger.

The international advocacy organization and its supporters want to action, not words.

Among its list of requests, an investment of $600 million into the future of women and girls; close the annual $10 billion climate financing shortfall; $500 million to help African farmers respond to the global food crisis; and provide urgent relief from crushing debts to end extreme poverty.

The health crisis has pushed nearly 100 million more people into extreme poverty and is “reversing recent trends of shrinking inequality, leading to the loss of at least three years of progress,” reads a statement. “Without urgent action now this backsliding will only worsen.”

Also, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has “aggravated the situation further, with as many as 323 million people now facing acute hunger, and 1.2 billion people now live in nations experiencing a perfect storm of food, energy, and financial crises. If we don’t take action now, as many as 200 million more people may be plunged into extreme poverty by November.”

The 2022 Global Citizen Festival will be broadcast and streamed on ABC, ABC News Live, FX, Hulu, iHeartRadio, TimesLIVE, Twitter, YouTube, and more.

ABC will also broadcast a primetime special Global Citizen Festival: Take Action NOW, on Sunday, September 25 at 7:00 pm ET. Additional tune-in details will follow in the weeks ahead.

Tickets to the festivals are free and can be earned by downloading the Global Citizen app or visiting www.globalcitizen.org to participate in its campaigns.

For each “action” taken, users earn points that can be redeemed for tickets.

More performers and special guests will be announced in due course.

Christina Aguilera to Perform During People’s Choice Awards Show

Christina Aguilera is ready for a Choice performance…

The 40-year-old half-Ecuadorian American Grammy-winning singer will perform during this week’s 2021 People’s Choice Awards show.

Christina Aguilera

No word on what song(s) Aguilera, who’ll be honored with the inaugural Music Icon award, will perform.

Others set to take the stage include H.E.R., who will perform a tribute to the life and legacy of Motown legend Marvin Gaye. This year marks the 50th anniversary of his landmark album What’s Going On.

Blake Shelton is also set to perform on the People’s Choice Awards, which will be hosted by Kenan Thompson.

The show will air simultaneously on NBC and E! for the first time, after airing only on E! the last three years. From 1975-2017, the show aired on CBS.

The 2021 People’s Choice Awards will air on Tuesday, December 7, at 9:00 pm ET from the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif.

E! will kick off the night with a red-carpet special, Live From E!: The 2021 People’s Choice Awards, at 7:00 pm ET.

Both shows are produced by Den of Thieves with executive producers Jesse Ignjatovic, Evan Prager and Barb Bialkowski.

Performers:
Christina Aguilera
H.E.R.
Blake Shelton

Presenters:
Becky G
Cardi B
Chase Stokes (Outer Banks)
Eliza Coupe (Pivoting)
Ginnifer Goodwin (Pivoting)
Jack Quaid (Scream)
Jojo Siwa (Siwas Dance Pop Revolution)
Laverne Cox (Live from E!)
Leslie Jones (Coming 2 America)
Lil Rel Howery (Free Guy, Vacation Friends)
Lili Reinhart (Riverdale)
Maggie Q (Pivoting)
Mike Epps (The Upshaws)
Paris Jackson (American Horror Stories)
Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria)
Tracee Ellis Ross (Black-ish)
Wanda Sykes (The Upshaws)

Cardi B Releases New Single “Bet It” for New Halle Berry MMA Film “Bruised”

Cardi B isn’t afraid to get Bruised

The 29-year-old half-Dominican American rap superstar has released the grinding new single “Bet It” for the soundtrack to the new Halle Berry MMA film Bruised.

Cardi B

Cardi B executive produced the landmark album featuring all-female rappers alongside Berry — who also makes her directorial debut with the film — taking listeners on a steely eyed trip through her rise to global superstardom over a chilled-out beat, subtle strings and a prominent Spanish-language sample.

 

“And my life is a movie, only Cardi could direct it/ Only take cash, they ain’t never gave credit/ Had to risk it all in myself so I bet it/ Started on the pole, in the end don’t regret it,” Cardi raps in the first verse, in which she takes shots at haters who’ve tried to question her authenticity.

The chorus of the Cool and Dre-produced song prominently features a swaying sample of “Algo de Mí” by Camilo Sesto, the 1972 title track from the Spanish singer’s debut album.

The second verse dips into more torn-from-the-headlines career highlights, as Cardi B spits, “I got dressed for the stages, got dressed for the court/ Dressed for my husband, told him ‘Rip this s–t off/ Got dressed for the GRAMMYs, then I left with awards/ Hundred thousand dollars dress left on the floor/ They was losin’ they mind when I hit the Met Gala/ Tail so long, it dragged thirty minutes after.”

Cardi B also casually mentions her mansion (and its in-house chef) as well as plans to set up her three-year-old daughter with husband Offset, Kulture. In the end, well, she all she does is win. “Now I get a big bag, that’s a big move/ From the Bronx to the ‘burbs, make big moves/ Rock red bottoms, made ’em big shoes/ Play goose, and I’m so focused/ ‘Cause the money never made me bein’ broke b—h.”

In a recent interview about the movie, Berry said she wanted a powerful roster of women on the soundtrack of the film about a disgraced MMA fighter who steps back into the octagon after her infant son comes back into her life.

“When I thought of what would be the voice that would be the pinnacle of what this soundtrack could be, of course I thought of the queen. Like who wouldn’t want to have a Cardi B song and have her voice and have her talents on their debut?” Berry said.

The actress/director noted that there were initially some copyright issues with the track that affected its ability to get cleared, but after Cardi B fought for its inclusion they worked it out. “Cardi, being so of her word, didn’t say, ‘Oh, it can’t happen.’ She went the extra mile and you made sure that we got the rights to use the record,” Berry said. “I can say, honestly, not everybody would have done that, and I so respect you. You said yes, and you stood by your word.”

City Girls, H.E.R., Saweetie and Baby Tate all feature on soundtrack, in addition to Flo Milli, Rapsody, Erica Banks, Young M.A. and Latto.

City Girls’ “Scared” and Baby Tate’s “Dungarees” were the first two songs available from the collection; the Bruised soundtrack is out now and the film — in theaters now — will hit Netflix on November 24.

Cardi B Earns Three Soul Train Award Nominations

Cardi B’s got soul…

The nominations have been announced for this year’s Soul Train Awards, with the 29-year-old half-Dominican American rap superstar picking up three nods.

Cardi B

Cardi B is nominated in the Video of the Year category for her sexified “Wild Side” collaboration with Normani.

The “WAP” singer is also nominated twice in the Best Dance Performance category. She earned a nod for her “Rumors” collaboration with Lizzo, as well as her “Wild Side” collab with Normani.

The Soul Train Awards, which recognizes the best in soul and R&B, will be taped at the legendary Apollo Theater in Harlem on November 20. It will premiere on Sunday, Nov. 28 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET and BET Her. As previously announced, Tisha Campbell and Tichina Arnold will co-host the show for the fourth consecutive year.

Bruno Mars is also up for three awards…

The 36-year-old part-Puerto Rican Grammy-winning singer and his Silk Sonic group Anderson .Paak are nominated for Song of the Year, Video of the Year and The Ashford and Simpson Songwriter’s Award for their chart-topping single, “Leave the Door Open.”

Jhené Aiko is nominated for Best R&B/Soul Female Artist, while Ashanti is nominated in the Certified Soul category.

H.E.R. leads the 2021 Soul Train Awards nominations with eight nods.

The show will be special on two counts. This will mark the first time the show has been taped at the Apollo (or in New York, for that matter). It will also honor the 50th anniversary of Soul Train, which made its debut in October 1971.

Connie Orlando, EVP, specials, music programming & music strategy, will oversee the show, with Jamal Noisette VP, specials, music programming & music strategy, set to co-executive produce for BET. Jesse Collins Entertainment’s Jesse Collins and Jeannae Rouzan–Clay will serve as executive producers.

Here’s the complete list of nominees for the 2021 Soul Train Awards:

Song of the year:
Blxst feat. Ty Dolla $Ign & Tyga – “Chosen”
Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak (Silk Sonic) – “Leave the Door Open”
H.E.R. – “Damage”
Jazmine Sullivan – “Pick Up Your Feelings”
Wizkid feat. Tems – “Essence”
Yung Bleu feat. Drake – “You’re Mines Still”

Album of the year:
Blxst – No Love Lost
Doja Cat – Planet Her
Giveon – When It’s All Said and Done… Take Time
H.E.R. – Back of My Mind
Jazmine Sullivan – Heaux Tales
Wizkid – Made in Lagos

Video of the year:
Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak (Silk Sonic) – “Leave the Door Open”
Chris Brown, Young Thug feat. Future, Lil Durk, Latto – “Go Crazy (Remix)”
H.E.R. – “Damage”
Jazmine Sullivan – “Pick Up Your Feelings”
Normani feat. Cardi B – “Wild Side”
Wizkid feat. Tems – “Essence”

Best R&B/soul female artist:
Alicia Keys
Doja Cat
H.E.R.
Jazmine Sullivan
Jhené Aiko
SZA

Best R&B/soul male artist:
Blxst
Chris Brown
Giveon
Lucky Daye
Tank
Usher

Best collaboration:
Chris Brown, Young Thug feat. Future, Lil Durk, Latto – “Go Crazy (Remix)”
Doja Cat feat. SZA – “Kiss Me More”
H.E.R. feat. Chris Brown – “Come Through”
Jazmine Sullivan feat. H.E.R. – “Girl Like Me”
Wizkid feat. Tems – “Essence”
Yung Bleu feat. Drake – “You’re Mines Still”

Best new artist:
Blxst
Capella Grey
Morray
Tems
Tone Stith
Yung Bleu

Certified soul award:
Anthony Hamilton
Ashanti
Charlie Wilson
The Isley Brothers
Jam & Lewis
T-Pain

Best dance performance:
Chloe X Halle – “Ungodly Hour”
Chris Brown, Young Thug – “City Girls”
Lizzo Feat. Cardi B – “Rumors”
Normani Feat. Cardi B- “Wild Side”
Usher – “Bad Habits”

Best gospel/inspirational award:
Brian Courtney Wilson
James Fortune
Kelly Price
Kirk Franklin
Maverick City Music
Tasha Cobbs Leonard

The Ashford and Simpson songwriter’s award:
“Can’t Let It Show” – written by: Kate Bush, Durrell Babbs (Tank)
“Come Through” – written by: Carl Mccormick, Chris Brown, H.E.R., Kelvin Wooten, Michael L. Williams Ii, Tiara Thomas (H.E.R. Feat. Chris Brown)
“Damage” – written by: Anthony Clemons Jr., Carl Mccormick, H.E.R., James Harris, Jeff Gitelman, Terry Lewis, Tiara Thomas (H.E.R.)
“Essence” – written by: Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, Oniko Eddie Uzezi, Oniko Evawero, Richard Isong, Temilade Openiyi (Wizkid Feat. Tems)
“Leave the Door Open” – written by: Bruno Mars, Brandon Anderson, Dernst Emile Ii, Christopher Brody Brown (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic)
“Pick Up Your Feelings” – written by: Blue June, Chi, Audra Mae Butts, Jazmine Sullivan, Kyle Coleman, Michael Holmes (Jazmine Sullivan)

Ozuna Among the Los Angeles Performers for This Year’s Global Citizen Live Concert

Ozuna is preparing to go Global

Global Citizen Live has revealed the Los Angeles and London performer lineups, which includes the 29-year-old Puerto Rican singer, for its worldwide show on September 25.

Ozuna

Ozuna will play L.A.’s Greek Theatre as part of the multiple-network, 24-hour eventwhich will feature performances on six continents. His co-performers in the City of Angeles include Stevie WonderAdam Lambert, Chloe x HalleDemi Lovato, H.E.R., OneRepublic, The Lumineers and 5 Seconds of Summer. Wonder also played the 2017 Global Citizen Festival in New York’s Central Park.

Across the pond, Duran Duran will headline the London show at a to-be-determined location, with Kylie Minogue, Måneskin, Nile Rodgers and Chic and Rag’n’Bone Man also set. See the full lineups for the main concerts in New York City, Paris and Lagos, Nigeria, here.

Broadcast and streaming partners for Global Citizen Live include ABC, ABC News Live, BBC, FX, iHeartRadio, Hulu, YouTube, Time and Twitter.

Global Citizen, the international advocacy group behind the Vax Live concert in Los Angeles on May 8, said this month’s event is aimed at defeating poverty, COVID-19 and climate change.

Global Citizen’s stated goal for the event is call on world leaders, major corporations and foundations to donate at least 1 billion Covid-19 vaccine doses to those most in need by September, help the 41 million people on the brink of famine by contributing enough meals to feed everyone for the next year and combat climate change by developing science-based targets to reach net-zero emissions.

Jennifer Lopez to Perform as Part of “Global Citizen Live” Concert Event

Jennifer Lopez is going global to defend the planet…

Global Citizen Live has revealed additional names of performers for its worldwide show on September 25, with the 52-year-old Puerto Rican superstar among those taking the stage.

Jennifer Lopez

J.Lo — who also performed as part of Vax Live in Los Angeles a few months ago — Taboo and his fellow Black Eyed Peas and Meek Mill are among the acts just added to the 24-hour eventwhich will feature performances on six continents.

Global Citizen, the international advocacy group behind the Vax Live concert on May 8, said next month’s event is aimed at defeating poverty, Covid and climate change.

The acts revealed today join Adam Lambert, Alessia Cara, Andrea Bocelli, Angélique Kidjo, Billie Eilish, BTS, Burna Boy, Camila Cabello, Christine and the Queens, Coldplay, Davido, Demi Lovato, DJ Snake, Doja Cat, Duran Duran, Ed Sheeran, Femi Kuti, Green Day, H.E.R., Hugh Jackman & Deborra-lee Furness, Keith Urban, Lang Lang, Lizzo, Lorde, Metallica, Rag’n’Bone Man, Ricky Martin, Shawn Mendes, The Lumineers, The Weeknd, Tiwa Savage and Usher.

Global Citizen’s stated goal for the event is call on world leaders, major corporations and foundations to donate at least 1 billion Covid-19 vaccine doses to those most in need by September, help the 41 million people on the brink of famine by contributing enough meals to feed everyone for the next year and combat climate change by developing science-based targets to reach net-zero emissions.

Broadcast and streaming partners for Global Citizen Live include ABC, ABC News Live, BBC, FX, iHeartRadio, Hulu, YouTube, Time and Twitter.

Here are the full concert lineups for September 25, with more locations and performances to be announced, per Global Citizen:

NEW YORK CITY
Coldplay, Billie Eilish, Camila Cabello, Jennifer Lopez, Lizzo, Meek Mill, Shawn Mendes (with guest performances by Alessia Cara, Burna Boy, Cyndi Lauper, Jon Batiste and Lang Lang)

PARIS
Ed Sheeran, Doja Cat, DJ Snake, H.E.R., Black Eyed Peas, Christine and the Queens (with a guest performance by Angélique Kidjo)

LAGOS, NIGERIA
Femi Kuti, Davido, Tiwa Savage, Made Kuti

Lin-Manuel Miranda Among Artists Offering Civic Lessons in Netflix’s Animated Series “We the People”

Lin-Manuel Miranda is giving a civics lesson…

The 41-year-old Puerto Rican actor, singer, songwriter, rapper, producer and playwright, the mastermind behind the Tony Award-winning musical Hamilton, lends his voice to the new animated Netflix series We the People.

Lin-Manuel Miranda 

Created by Chris Nee and produced by Barack and Michelle Obama, the 10-part series provides a range of civics lessons through three-minute music videos on topics that include the Bill of Rights, immigration and the courts.

In addition to Miranda, the series also features award-winning artists H.E.R., Brandi CarlisleBebe Rexha and others.

Miranda took on the topic of “The Three Branches of Government” episode, writing and performing the song “Checks and Balances,” alongside Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Daveed Diggs, Brittany Howard and Robert Lopez.

With its light hip-hop bear, the catchy number explains the checks and balances of the United States government.

Meanwhile, Jorge R. Gutierrez directs the immigration-themed episode, which features the track “American Citizen,” performed by Bebe Rexha.

The 46-year-old Mexican animator, painter, writer, voice actor, and production designer helms Rexha’s pop message that lets everyone know from the second they are born, they are an “American Citizen.”

The episode is full of visual treats showing how the country is one built from a nation of immigrants, as animated versions of Sofia Vergara, Steven Chen, Anousheh Ansari and Padma Lakshmi are all featured to illustrate the point.

We the People premiered on Sunday, July 4 on Netflix.

Demi Lovato to Perform at This Year’s New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

Demi Lovato is getting jazzed for the fall…

The 28-year-old half-Mexican American singer/actor will perform at the 2021 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in October.

Demi Lovato

Lovato joins a roster of performers that includes Foo Fighters, The Beach Boys, Lizzo, H.E.R. and Brandi Carlile.

Organizers have announced that the festival, which annually celebrates the culture and heritage of New Orleans and Louisiana alongside performances by national and international artists, is scheduled over two weekends in the fall from October 8-10 and October 15-17. Approximately 50 of the artists who will take the stage have been announced, while the full lineup will be presented next month.

Lizzo, Foo Fighters, Stevie Nicks, H.E.R., Dead & Company, The Black Crowes, Norah Jones, Elvis Costello & The ImpostersWu-Tang Clan feat. The Soul Rebels, Tank and The Bangas, The Isley BrothersTrombone ShortyBig Freedia and PJ Morton are among the performers who were previously set for the 2020 edition of the festival, which was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The New Orleans Jazz Fest traditionally takes place at the end of April and early May for eight days and was once again scheduled for that time of year but was postponed due to COVID-19.

Additional performers include Jimmy Buffett, Tedeschi Trucks BandLudacris, Jon Batiste, Brittany Howard, Randy Newman and Nile Rodgers & CHIC.

Three-day weekend general admission passes, VIP packages and travel packages for the 2021 New Orleans Jazz Festival are currently on sale at nojazzfest.com. Single-day passes will go on sale in July.

Those who purchased the VIP and weekend packages for the 2020 festival and held on to their tickets will receive an email from the ticketing company with instructions on how to exchange their tickets for the weekend of their choosing. Single-day ticket-holders can make their selections when information about this year’s single-day passes is available next month.

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation Inc. is the nonprofit organization that owns the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. The foundation uses the proceeds from Jazz Fest, and other raised funds, for year‐round activities in education, economic development and cultural enrichment. The annual event is a co‐production of Festival Productions, Inc.‐New Orleans and AEG Presents.