Elton John collaborates on album
Elton John is releasing an album of collaborations with artists from several generations and genres, including Nicki Minaj, Young Thug, Miley Cyrus, Lil Nas X, Stevie Nicks and Stevie Wonder.
“The Lockdown Sessions,” a collection of 16 songs, will be released Oct. 22 by Interscope Records, the label announced Wednesday.
The pandemic project was spurred by John having to pause his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour in March 2020, and by his Apple Music talk show “Rocket Hour,” through which he got to know many of the artists with whom he would work.
The tracks were recorded with the artists remote from each other in some cases, together with safety precautions in others.
John said it pushed him into unfamiliar musical territory, dipping into hip-hop, country and electronic dance music, sometimes in the same song.
“I realized there was something weirdly familiar about working like this,” he said in a statement. “At the start of my career, in the late ’60s, I worked as a session musician. Working with different artists during lockdown reminded me of that. I’d come full circle: I was a session musician again. And it was still a blast.”
UK regulator clears Morgan:
Britain’s media regulator on Wednesday cleared TV personality and journalist Piers Morgan of any violations for making comments about Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, that drew more than 50,000 viewer complaints.
The Office of Communications said Morgan did not breach the broadcasting code when he said on “Good Morning Britain”
that he did not believe what Meghan said during a March interview with Oprah Winfrey in which the duchess said she had suicidal thoughts while struggling to fit in with the monarchy. Meghan married Prince Harry in May 2018.
Spears’ lawyer alleges extortion:
Britney Spears and her new attorney say her father is trying to get about $2 million in payments before stepping down from the conservatorship that controls her life and money, a move they liken to extortion in a court filing Tuesday.
The document filed by lawyer Mathew Rosengart says the upcoming accounting of the conservatorship, which James Spears says he wants completed before he steps down, will mean significant payments for him.
“Britney Spears will not be extorted,” the filing says. “Mr. Spears’ blatant attempt to barter suspension and removal in exchange for approximately $2 million in payments, on top of the millions already reaped from Ms. Spears’ estate by Mr. Spears and his associates, is a non-starter.”
The filing is a supplement to Rosengart’s July petition on Britney Spears’ behalf for the removal and suspension of her father, which will be addressed at a Sept. 29 hearing.
Lil Nas X honored: Lil Nas X has been awarded the inaugural Suicide Prevention Advocate of the Year Award from the advocacy group The Trevor Project, a nonprofit dedicated to suicide prevention and crisis intervention for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning young people.
The group cited Lil Nas X’s “openness about struggling with his sexuality and suicidal ideation, his continued advocacy around mental health issues, and his unapologetic celebration of his queer identity.”
Sept. 2 birthdays: Singer Sam Gooden is 87. Singer Jimmy Clanton is 83. Singer Joe Simon is 78. Singer Rosalind Ashford is 78. Sportscaster Terry Bradshaw is 73. Actor Mark Harmon is 70. Actor Keanu Reeves is 57. Actor Salma Hayek is 55. Singer K-Ci is 52. Actor Tiffany Hines is 38. Actor Allison Miller is 36. DJ Zedd is 32.