ED SHEERAN is covered in tattoos. He has a Heinz ketchup bottle, the Gingerbread Man from “Shrek”, and the animated penguin from the children’s show “Pingu”. Kevin Paul is Ed’s main tattoo artist, so he gets a lot of heat for it on social media. Even HE agrees that most of Ed’s tattoos are garbage . . . but they’re what he wants. Kevin say, “Every single thing that he’s got is personal to him.” That includes Pingu . . . which he got along with HARRY STYLES, because they both loved him when they were kids. He says, “Ed is the best thing to happen to my career and the worst.”
HBO has announced a new late night-style talk show that’ll be hosted by ELMO from “Sesame Street”. It’s called “The Not Too Late Show with Elmo” and he’ll interview celebrity guests just like the late night shows do. Production begins next month. It WON’T air on HBO, it’ll be on their upcoming streaming service HBO Max. In fact, ALL of HBO’s “Sesame Street” content is moving to HBO Max . . . both new episodes, and reruns of all the classic episodes from the past 50 years. HBO Max is expected to cost around $15 a month. HBO says the new episodes of “Sesame Street” will air for free on PBS “at some point” after debuting on HBO.
FELICITY HUFFMAN will start serving her prison sentence for the college admissions scandal in 3 weeks and a former inmate compared the prison to, “college dorm living.” She said, “Just imagine four people crammed into a teeny-weeny broom closet that barely fits four beds. Then, there’s a toilet and sink, all in that little bitty room.” Felicity will have to wear khaki clothing and do chores like washing dishes. The former inmate said, “You get up at the crack of dawn, and you clean pots and pans. Everybody has a job to do. Nobody gets [out of] it, not even Felicity!” Felicity only has to endure it for two weeks. She’ll begin her sentence on October 25th.
The New York Rangers kicked things off at home last night, and it had an embarrassing start for one player. Swedish center Lias Andersson – the Rangers’ #7 pick in the 2017 draft, came skating out during the pre-game player introductions . . .But he tripped over a mic cord or some sort of cable, and WIPED OUT on the ice. Every other player in the Rangers’ opening night lineup successfully managed to avoid the wire. Although it was probably a little easier for the players who came AFTER Lias.
JON PARDI got engaged on Wednesday to his girlfriend, Summer Duncan. It was a surprise to her, and you could call it romantic – if romance means hundreds of people staring at you and hanging on your answer. He asked her on stage during his show at the Ryman Auditorium. Obviously, she said yes and then they hugged and kissed, and danced to Lionel Richie’s 1983 smash, “My Love”. He chose The Ryman because it was one of their first date spots. Dierks Bentley was in the house and he posted some pics of the proposal, and a clip of Jon performing.
MGM Resorts reached a deal with the Route 91 victims. The resort will pay between $735 million and $800 million to settle lawsuits. MGM owns Mandalay Bay and the grounds where the festival took place.
THE HIGHWOMEN were on yesterday’s “Ellen”, and she asked them how the whole thing started. AMANDA SHIRES had the concept in her head but she’s shy and it took her a while to get up the courage to ask BRANDI CARLILE if she was interested. She finally went to one of her shows and just tossed it out there cold turkey. She said, “I just blurted out all up in her face. ‘Hi, I’m Amanda Shires and I want to start a band called The Highwomen with you.'” Fortunately, Brandi was into it and she said yes. Eventually, so did MAREN MORRIS and NATALIE HEMBY.
KELSEA BALLERINI and HALSEY are doing a “CMT Crossroads” together. Kelsea has posted clips of them doing karaoke . . . and singing at home while NOT breaking glasses of wine. They’re taping the episode on October 11th, and it’ll air early next year.
KEITH URBAN announced his 2020 All for the Hall line-up. It includes Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton, Brothers Osborne, Tanya Tucker, Luke Combs, and Tenille Townes, with more on the way. It’ll be held February 10th in Nashville with proceeds benefitting the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
TIM MCGRAW posted a video on Instagram of what looks like him and Shy Carter rehearsing in an empty arena. They’re on stage performing their new song, “Way Down”. The place isn’t completely empty, though. FAITH HILL and a few random people are dancing like crazy.
On Thursday Chip and Joanna Gaines announced their latest venture: a hotel. Their Magnolia Market at the Silos shopping/eating project brings an estimated 1.6 million visitors to the city each year. The Gaines will fix up an old 53,000-square-foot former office building. The hotel will open in 2021
This week’s CD Releases include new music from Brantley Gilbert.
Dakota Johnson is 30.
Heidi Newfield is 49.
Susan Sarandon is 73.
