GABRIELLE UNION and JULIANNE HOUGH only lasted one season at “America’s Got Talent” – with Gabrielle claiming she was fired for complaining about a toxic and racist workplace environment. SOFIA VERGARA from “Modern Family” will join SIMON COWELL and HOWIE MANDEL – along with HEIDI KLUM, who’s coming back after taking one season off. Heidi never really left – she’s been judging the spin-off “America’s Got Talent: The Champions”. The investigation into Gabrielle Union’s claims was supposed to wrap up last month . . . but if it did, the results weren’t made public.
LORI LOUGHLIN’s attorneys uncovered evidence that MIGHT prove she and her husband didn’t know they were bribing college officials. Their trial is currently scheduled to begin October 5th.
TAYLOR SWIFT wore prosthetics and lots of makeup to morph into a convincing MAN in her new video for “The Man”. THE ROCK voices the character, and the video takes some shots at some real-life men.
The ACM nominations were announced yesterday. Leading the pack -Maren Morris, Thomas Rhett, and Old Dominion with 5 each. Dan + Shay, Justin Bieber, and Blake Shelton each picked up 4. Justin Bieber showed up because of his collaboration with Dan + Shay on “10,000 Hours”. That song also got Dan Smyers two additional nominations – songwriter and producer and Shay Mooney an extra one as songwriter. Carrie Underwood has returned to the Entertainer of the Year category. She’s joined by Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Luke Combs, and Thomas Rhett. Carrie won that award in 2008 and 2009. Ashley McBryde has 3 nominations. She’s up for artist and songwriter for “Girl Goin’ Nowhere” and she’s one of 6 singers sharing the Music Event of the Year nomination for “Fooled Around and Fell in Love”. Keith Urban is hosting the show for the first time, taking over for Reba who did it 16 times. The “55th Academy of Country Music Awards” will air April 5th on CBS.
The MIDLAND guys were talking about their hobbies. JESS CARSON loves antiquing. Mark Wystrach is into surfing, but he also spent time as a model and actor so he probably had plenty of beach access in those years. As for bassist CAMERON DUDDY, he spends his free time climbing things. “I like to go bouldering, both on the road, and when we’re at home. If it’s the winter, you can find a climbing gym, and most college towns have them, and big cities [too.]
Frankie Muniz is married. The Malcolm in the Middle star and fiancée Paige Price, who eloped Oct. 3, had a wedding on Friday, Feb. 21, which was four years to the day from when they first met.
Yesterday’s ACM Nominations had the usual share of artists hitting up social media with their reactions . . . so “Billboard” put together a page of them. They include Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, Eric Church, Russell Dickerson, and Charles Kelley’s son Ward.
The 2010s was a lucrative time for some musicians. Forbes looks at touring data from Pollstar, music consumption numbers from Nielsen and interviews with people close to many stars. The top ten musicians of the last decade in order for lowest to highest earning are: Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Paul McCartney, Jay-Z, Elton John, Diddy, U2, Beyonce, Taylor Swift, and Dr. Dre ($950 million.)
The Federal Communications Commission received more than 1,300 complaints regarding the Super Bowl 54 halftime show starring Jennifer Lopez and Shakira. Viewers from 49 states didn’t approve of the performance. One commenter called the show “disgusting and offensive.” Another said, “How is a strip club act allowed as a half time show on the biggest watched game of the year?”
NBC has renewed all the “Chicago” shows and “Law & Order: SVU” for three more seasons each.
STEVEN TYLER just became a grandfather for the fifth time.
Jason Aldean is 43
Mario Andretti is 80.
Gavin MacLeod is 89.
