Parks wins Mercury Prize for album
Soulful British singersongwriter Arlo Parks has won the prestigious Mercury Prize for her debut album “Collapsed in Sunbeams.”
The Londoner, 21, beat acts including singer Celeste, rapper Ghetts and bands Wolf Alice and Mogwai to the $30,000 prize, which recognizes the outstanding British or Irish album of the year.
Parks cites an eclectic array of musical inspirations, including Harry Styles, Frank Ocean, Solange and Massive Attack.
The judging panel said the album “captured the spirit of the year” and addressed “such complex issues as mental health and sexuality with real empathy, displaying a lyrical wisdom that belied her 21 years.”
Accepting the award Thursday, Parks said “it took a lot of sacrifice and hard work to get here, and there were moments where I wasn’t sure whether I would make it through — but I am here today so thank you very much.”
Collins can ‘barely hold’ drumsticks:
In an interview with BBC Breakfast, Phil Collins, 70, admitted that he can no longer play the drums.
“I’d love to but you know, I mean, I can barely hold a stick with this hand,” the singer said. “So there are certain physical things that get in the way.”
He has a nerve problem in his left hand and hearing issues, and suffered a head injury in 2017 and a spinal injury in 2007.
Joining Collins during the interview were his Genesis bandmates, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks. After their reunion tour was postponed last
year due to COVID-19, the group is ready to take the stage once again, but with Collins’ son Nic taking over drumming duties.
Collins added that he doesn’t know if he will perform again once the band’s tour concludes.
Hudson one award short of EGOT: Singer Jennifer Hudson won a Daytime Emmy Thursday for her role as executive producer in Baobab Studios’ “Baba Yaga,” putting her one award short of achieving EGOT status. The VR-animated film won in the interactive media for a daytime program category.
Hudson won an Oscar for supporting actress in 2007 for her role in “Dreamgirls.” She also has two Grammy awards, including best R&B album and best musical theater album. All she needs is a Tony Award to become an EGOT.
Wallen headlines first
post-scandal gig: Morgan Wallen returned to the stage Thursday in Nashville for his first officially billed headlining gig since his career went into crisis following his use of a racial slur in February.
At the end of Thursday’s benefit concert for victims of the recent flooding in and around Humphreys County, Tennessee, Wallen appeared on stage with a giant check showing a total of $725,000 had been raised. That total
“far exceeded anything I could have ever imagined,” Wallen said.
Sept. 11 birthdays: Actor Earl Holliman is 93. Comedian Tom Dreesen is 82. Actor Lola Falana is 79. Actor Amy Madigan is
71. Sportscaster Lesley Visser is 68. Actor Roxann Dawson is 63. Singer
Harry Connick Jr. is 54. Actor Taraji P. Henson is 51. Rapper Ludacris is 44. Actor Elizabeth Henstridge is 34.