PEOPLE IN THE NEWS
Diamond gives surprise performance 2 years after retiring
Despite having retired from touring, Neil Diamond is still surprising fans on the stage.
The 79-year-old took the stage at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, giving fans a rare show two years after announcing his retirement due to Parkinson’s disease.
Diamond performed at the 24th annual Keep Memory Alive Power of Love Gala benefit, where he was being honored.
According to People and the Las Vegas Review-journal, Diamond performed some of his greatest hits like “Hello Again,” “Forever in Blue Jeans,” and “September Morn.”
Diamond also performed his classic “Sweet Caroline” alongside Billy Ray Cyrus, Sammy Hagar, Chris Isaak, Katlyn Nichol and Kenny “Babyface”
Madonna, Pearl Jam cancel shows amid virus fears
Madonna canceled the last two stops of her latest tour in France after the country said it was banning events of more than 1,000 people to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
A statement posted onto the pop star’s website on Monday said her shows Tuesday and Wednesday in Paris will no longer take place.
Pearl Jam is postponing the North American leg of its Gigaton world tour because of virus concerns, the band announced. Seventeen U.S. and Canadian performances, beginning March 18 in Toronto through April 19 in Oakland, California, were indefinitely postponed.
Several musicians have canceled or postponed concerts because of the spreading virus, including Queen, Ciara, BTS, Khalid, Mariah Carey, Green Day and more. The South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, was canceled and the Ultra electronic dance music festival in Miami was postponed.
First lady cancels fundraiser, cites scheduling conflict
Melania Trump canceled a California fundraiser set for later this month.
Stephanie Grisham, the first lady’s spokeswoman, cited an unspecified “scheduling conflict” as the reason on Monday. The cancellation came as organizations and groups around the country are scrapping large gatherings amid an outbreak of the new coronavirus.
President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign had been asking supporters to make a donation for a chance to meet the first lady in California.