Miranda Lambert, Enrique Iglesias team for ‘Space in My Heart’

Country music star Miranda Lambert and Latin pop star Enrique Iglesias have teamed up for the collaboration “Space in My Heart.” written years ago by Iglesias along with Carlos Paucar, Simon Wilcox, Ross Golan and Nolan Lambroza.

Recorded in Nashville, “Space in My Heart” is the third single from Iglesias’s upcoming album Final Vol. 2. Lambert and Iglesias previously teased the collaboration via social media with Lambert saying, “Texas meets Spain! Can’t wait for y’all to hear this one.”

Take a listen to “Space in My Heart” – here.
To stream “Space in My Heart”, head here

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

Keith Urban drops his latest single ‘Messed Up As Me’

Keith Urban has dropped the second single for his upcoming 12th album, titled “Messed Up As Me”. The new track follows the upcoming album’s lead single “Straight Line.” Along with Urban, “Messed Up As Me” was produced by his longtime collaborator Dan Huff, who has produced most of Urban’s music starting with 2002′ Golden Road.

Urban said of the song: “Messed Up As Me” is about toxic relationships that aren’t easy to get out of. Most of us have been in dysfunctional relationships before, where there’s not a lot of compatibility, except for that one area where it’s so good you put up with all the rest. A phone call or a night out and you’re right back where you shouldn’t be.”

Urban’s last album, The Speed of Now Part 1, dropped 2020. The new album, expected to drop sometime later this year, is still unnamed. Urban said of the new LP that each song included “carries an energy and a life force that became a very strong through line. I hope you feel it. I’m so excited for everyone to hear the whole thing.”

Check out the track “Messed Up As Me”- here.

Keith Urban shares ‘Messed Up As Me’

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

Cameron Diaz and husband Benji Madden announce birth of second child

Actress Cameron Diaz and her husband, ‘Good Charlotte’ co-founder Benji Madden, have announced the birth of their second child, a son they named Cardinal.

The couple posted on Instagram a colorful illustration accompanying their announcement, reading, “A little bird whispered to me,” in a nod to Cardinal’s name.  The baby announcement stated: “We are blessed and excited to announce the birth of our Son, Cardinal Madden❤🙏He is awesome and We are all so happy he is here! For the kids safety and privacy we won’t be posting any pictures- but he’s a really cute ☺We are feeling so blessed and grateful 🍀Sending much love from our fam to yours 🙏❤Best wishes and Good Afternoon!! 🤘⚡

Diaz, 51, and Madden, 45, have been married since 2015; they are also the parents to 5-year-old daughter, Raddix.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ is No. 1 at the weekend box office with $45.2M in earnings

“Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” was No. 1 at the box office, earning $45.2 million in ticket sales over the weekend.

The opening of “Frozen Empire” was nearly identical to the opening earnings for “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” in 2021, which rebooted the franchise with original cast members Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson and Bill Murray returning in supporting roles. ‘Afterlife’ came in at the time with a $44 million opening weekend.

The No. 2 spot at the box office this weekend went to “Dune: Part Two,” starring Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya, which added $17.6 million in its fourth weekend of release bringing its domestic total to $233.4 million. Universal’s “Kung Fu Panda 4” fell to third place with $16.8 million in its third weekend, bringing its domestic total to $133.2 million.

In fourth place was the weekend’s other new release, “Immaculate,” which debuted with $5.4 million on 2,354 screens. The horror film starring Sydney Sweeney as an American nun at a remote Italian convent premiered at SXSW, costing less than $10 million to make.

Editorial credit: chingyunsong / Shutterstock.com

Lawmakers unveil $1.2 trillion gov’t funding package ahead of potential shutdown

Lawmakers have unveiled the $1.2 trillion government funding deal in the hopes of preventing a government shutdown this weekend.

The bill covers half of the 12 yearly government funding bills, providing funding for the departments of Defense and Health and Human Services, the Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Homeland Security, in addition to general government and foreign operations. Additionally, the funding package includes $824.3 billion for the Department of Defense, $19.6 billion for Customs and Border operations and $90 billion for Homeland Security.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a statement Republicans got $20 billion in proposed cuts to the IRS, and also welcomed funds that increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention capacity and funding for 22,000 Border Patrol agents.  Johnson added: “overall, during the FY24 appropriations process, House Republicans have achieved significant conservative policy wins, rejected extreme Democrat proposals and imposed substantial cuts to wasteful agencies and programs while strengthening border security and national defense.”  Democrats received $1 billion increase in child care and Head Start funding, as well as more money for Alzheimer’s and cancer research and “climate change and resilience activities.”

For vital operations like Defense, Homeland Security, State Department and Labor, Health and Human Services departments to avoid interruption, the funding package must be finalized by Saturday morning. President Joe Biden said the House and the Senate are working to pass the package, which he pledged to sign immediately.

Editorial credit: Cvandyke / Shutterstock.com

Justice Department sues Apple over iPhone monopoly in landmark antitrust case

The Justice Department sued Apple in an antitrust case, saying that the iPhone maker has a monopoly over the phone market that harmed consumers, developers, and rival companies. The lawsuit, filed by the DOJ and 16 attorneys general in federal court in New Jersey, claims Apple’s anti-competitive practices extend beyond the iPhone and Apple Watch businesses, citing Apple’s advertising, browser, FaceTime and news offerings. Sixteen state and district attorneys general joined the DOJ in bringing the case.

The Justice Department said in a release that to keep consumers buying iPhones, Apple moved to block cross-platform messaging apps, limited third-party wallet and smartwatch compatibility, and disrupted non-App Store programs and cloud streaming services.  Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement announcing the lawsuit: “We allege that Apple has maintained monopoly power in the smartphone market, not simply by staying ahead of the competition on the merits, but by violating federal antitrust law. If left unchallenged, Apple will only continue to strengthen its smartphone monopoly. Each step in Apple’s course of conduct built and reinforced the moat around its smartphone monopoly.”

Garland said at a news conference that the Supreme Court defines monopoly power as “the power to control prices or exclude competition .. As set out in our complaint, Apple has that power in the smartphone market,” Garland said. “If left unchallenged. Apple will only continue to strengthen its smartphone monopoly.”

Apple said in a statement that it would fight against the premise of the lawsuit. with an Apple spokesperson saying:  “This lawsuit threatens who we are and the principles that set Apple products apart in fiercely competitive markets. If successful, it would hinder our ability to create the kind of technology people expect from Apple—where hardware, software, and services intersect. It would also set a dangerous precedent, empowering government to take a heavy hand in designing people’s technology.”

The lawsuit could force Apple to make changes in the iPhone, in which Apple reported more than $200 billion in sales in 2023, the Apple Watch, part of the company’s $40 billion wearables business, and its profitable services line, which reported $85 billion in revenue. The Justice Department said Apple has fought cloud streaming services on its App Store platform, blocking consumer access to high-quality video games on iPhones. Garland said the DOJ is also looking at changing policies around Apple Wallet, the company’s app for phone-based credit cards and payments.

Editorial credit: achinthamb / Shutterstock.com

Little Big Town, Hardy, Nickelback among CMT Music Awards Weekend programming

CMT has announced their newest music specials ahead of the CMT Music Awards, sharing in a press release that it will broadcast new specials featuring Little Big Town, Nickelback and Hardy leading up to the awards show. A post on their socials read: “we’ve got two new specials premiering during #CMTAwards Weekend #CMTStorytellers: @littlebigtown – Friday, April 5 at 8/7c on CMT#CMTcrossroads: @Nickelback & @HardyMusic – Saturday, April 6 at 8/7c on CMT”

CMT Storytellers: Little Big Town will air Friday, April 5th at 8 p.m. EDT, featuring intimate performances and storytelling spanning Little Big Town’s 25 years together. It includes such hits as “Better Man,” “Boondocks,” “Rich Man,” “Girl Crush” and more.

CMT Hot 20 Countdown: 2024 CMT Music Awards Preview will broadcast Saturday at 9 a.m, hosted by Cody Alan, Carissa Culiner and Marley Sherwood. The special episode of the CMT weekend countdown will give a look at this year’s CMT Music Awards nominees, including Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, Bailey Zimmerman, Jason Aldean and Kelsea Ballerini.

CMT Crossroads: Nickelback & Hardy will air Saturday at 8 p.m, which will see Nickelback and Hardy swap stories and collaborate on each other’s biggest songs, including “Savin’ Me,” “Animals,” “Truck Bed,” “Give Heaven Some Hell” and a mashup of both “Rockstar” singles.

The CMT Music Awards will take place Sunday at Moody Center in Austin, Texas. The show will air at 8 p.m. on CBS and also be available to stream on Paramount+.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

Sara Evans reveals she’s reunited with husband Jay Barker after breakup, arrest

Sara Evans revealed she has reconciled with her estranged husband Harry “Jay” Barker, two years after he was arrested for domestic violence. Barker was charged with felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in January 2022, accused of attempting to hit a car Evans was riding in with his own car. He subsequently entered a “best interest” plea to a misdemeanor charge of reckless endangerment and received one year of probation.

Evans, 53, confirmed that she and Barker, 51, reconciled after she filed for divorce nearly three years prior during the Thursday, March 21, episode of her podcast, “Diving in Deep with Sara Evans”. She noted that she will be addressing her ups and downs with Barker in an upcoming album titled ‘Unbroke’. 

Evans said that she and Barker originally separated in April 2021 after 13 years of marriage, but when they met for lunch in January 2022 they got into a verbal argument, which later resulted in the domestic violence incident and arrest after the couple’s daughter called the police, causing Barker to leave the scene. (Evans shares daughters Audrey, 19, and Olivia, 21, and son Avery, 24, with ex-husband Craig Schelske.)

Evans shared:“We’re so happy now, but I don’t want anyone to think that I’m advocating staying in a relationship where you are ever, in your gut, you know that you need to exit the situation. Every woman needs to follow her gut on that and do what is best for her. I believe and I hope that I’ve done that.” The musician acknowledged that not everyone would agree with her decision to reconcile with Barker, and that “a lot of women will judge me and want to judge me” but noted that Barker has become a “completely different” person: “.. we’re all Christians, and I’ve taught my children to forgive. My three children have forgiven him and we’re all back together. Every day we thank God that we didn’t split.”

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

Take a look at the trailer for the ‘Dora’ reboot series from Paramount+

Paramount+ has shared the trailer and premiere date for its Dora the Explorer reboot series. ‘Dora’ is created by Chris Gifford and Valerie Walsh Valdes and produced by Nickelodeon Animation. The original Dora the Explorer aired on Nickelodeon from 2000 to 2014, inspiring several spinoffs, including the 2019 live-action feature film ‘Dora and the Lost City of Gold’ starring Isabela Moner.

The streaming service’s ‘Dora’ is a CG-animated preschool series following Dora (Diana Zermeño), a young Latina explorer, and her best monkey friend Boots (Asher Colton Spence), as they embark on epic adventures in a fantastical rainforest. An official synopsis reads: “Guided by trustworthy Map (Anairis Quiñones), Dora and her friends must work together to overcome many obstacles while being challenged by the sneakiest fox, Swiper (Marc Weiner).”

Kathleen Herles, the original voice of Dora the Explorer, and Mike Smith Rivera will voice the roles of Mami and Papi. The cast also includes Maria Canals-Barrera, Danny Burstein, Katarina Sky, Donovan Monzon-Sanders, Tandi Fomukong, Quintún Muñoz and Chris Gifford, with Taboo and Kate del Castillo as guest stars.

‘Dora’ will consist of 26 11-minute episodes, and is set to premiere on April 12 on Paramount+. Take a look at the ‘Dora’ trailer – here.

Editorial credit: Mohan 0842 / Shutterstock.com

Amy Schumer, Will Forte to star in Netflix’s ‘Kinda Pregnant’

Amy Schumer and Will Forte have signed on to star in the new Netflix comedy movie, Kinda Pregnant, directed by Tyler Spindel with a screenplay from Julie Paiva. Schumer will produce the film alongside Adam Sandler under his ‘Happy Madison banner.

“Kinda Pregnant” will also star Jillian Bell, Damon Wayans Jr., and Brianne Howey and Chris Geere, as well as recent additions to the cast including Alex Moffat, Joel David Moore & Lizze Broadway. Details as to their roles are under wraps.

Schumer will star as Lainy, a woman jealous of her friend’s pregnancy who decides to wear a fake baby bump. As it turns out, her deception leads her to meet the man of her dreams. The series synopsis reads: “Jealous of her best friend’s pregnancy, Lainy wears a fake baby bump…and accidentally meets the man of her dreams.”

Alex Moffat, Joel David Moore & Lizze Broadway Among Final Additions To Netflix’s ‘Kinda Pregnant’

Editorial credit: Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com