Debra Byrd Dies: ‘American Idol’ And ‘The Voice’ Vocal Coach Was 72

Willie Nelson may be.The nonagenarian country icon — who’s been on the road since the mid 1950s (!) — just announced that he’ll drop into Camden, NJ’s Freedom Mortgage Pavilion to celebrate July 4 with his Outlaw Tour co-headliners Bob Dylan and Robert Plant.Now if that’s not American, we don’t know what is.They’ll be joined by Plant’s partner in crime Alison Krauss as well as Mavis Staples, Maren Morris and Celisse at Nelson’s annual Fourth of July Picnic.It should be noted that while the concert is taking place in Camden, NJ, it’s being labeled as a Philadelphia event.In step with that sentiment, Nelson shared a statement.“I am thrilled to bring the 4th of July Picnic to Philadelphia for the first time in our storied history,” the 90-year-old said in a press release. “It’s an honor to host such an extraordinary lineup of talent in the birthplace of our country.

A Complete Unknown, in which he plays Bob Dylan.Yeah, the guy your dad loves!This content can also be viewed on the site it from.Set in the downtown NYC music scene of the '60s, the film features an ensemble cast of buzzy young actors, many of whom will be playing now-famous musicians. Think Patti Smith's Just Kids meets Inside Llewyn Davis.

Fans across the globe are familiar with Caitriona Balfe thanks to her role as Claire Fraser in the much-loved time-travelling drama Outlander.

American Idol has provided a platform for so much talent, from Kelly Clarkson to Carrie Underwood to Jennifer Hudson – but that doesn’t mean they always get it right.

Barbie film failed in the ’90s, long before the release of the 2023 hit starring Margot Robbie.In the latest episode of Dana Carvey and David Spade’s Fly on the Wall podcast this Wednesday (20 March), the Basic Instinct star said she was “thrown out” by an undisclosed studio for suggesting a story about the iconic doll.Detailing her pitch for the film, Stone said: “All the big people are chasing her [Barbie] around… it’s about the power of being Barbie and what Barbie could do in the world because she’s so powerful.”The Total Recall star, who switched her focus from acting to art during the COVID lockdown, recalled the studio’s negative reaction to the pitch.“I went to the studio to try and make Barbie in the 1990s with a producer, a friend of mine, and I had the then-CEO of Mattel on my side.

First Lady Jill Biden will make a fundraising swing through Southern California later this week, as she headlines events in Los Angeles and the Palm Springs area. She also will speak at the Human Rights Campaign Los Angeles dinner on Saturday.

Naman Ramachandran Picnik Entertainment has acquired U.K. distribution rights for “The Almond and the Seahorse,” starring Rebel Wilson and Charlotte Gainsbourg. Based on Kaite O’Reilly’s play, film’s cast also includes Trine Dyrholm (“In a Better World”), Celyn Jones (“Swede Caroline”), Meera Syal (“Yesterday”), Ruth Madeley (“Years and Years”) and Alice Lowe (“Hot Fuzz”).

J. Kim Murphy Production is now underway on “A Complete Unknown,” the coming Bob Dylan feature directed by James Mangold and starring Timothée Chalamet as the iconic American musician. Set photos from the New York City shoot have emerged online, offering a first look at the 28-year-old actor in costume.

EXCLUSIVE: Andscape, the Black multimedia platform from Disney and ESPN, on Monday revealed &360, a new documentary anthology intended to explore the influence of Black culture on American society, expanding perspectives, telling previously untold stories, and revealing truths about some of the biggest sports and cultural moments of our time.

Kelly Clarkson is seeking a new order against her ex-husband and his father’s management company!

The legal battle between Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock is heating up!

Louis Walsh has been sticking the boot in to many a famous acquaintance during his time in the Celebrity Big Brother house, but when he branded Jedward "vile" it sparked a furious reaction. Jedward just happened to be watching the ITV reality series from close pal Gemma Collins ' house and the trio hit back with their own anecdotes about Louis. But as viewers might have guessed, there's a long history to the animosity between the Irish stars after their X Factor collaboration turned sour.

Karl Wallinger, the multi-instrumentalist and solo force behind the band World Party and former member of The Waterboys, has died.Wallinger, 66, passed away Sunday, his publicist said. No cause of death was announced.Wallinger had worked as musical director for a production of “The Rocky Horror Show” in London’s West End when he was recruited on keyboards for The Waterboys in 1983, playing synthesizer and singing backup vocals on their most commercially successful song, “The Whole of the Moon.”Waterboys founder Mike Scott called him “one of the finest musicians I’ve ever known” in a post Monday on X, formerly Twitter. “Travel on well my old friend,” he said.Creative differences with Scott led Wallinger to go his own way in 1985 to start World Party, where he created a sound infused with influences of the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and Sly Stone.“It just became obvious that it wasn’t going to go anywhere than where it’s gone,” Wallinger told Penny Black Music in 2022 interview.

Two days after the news broke that American Idol vocal coach Debra Byrd had died, one of her most successful students has paid tribute.

American Idol, The Voice, Canadian Idol, Military Idol and Majors and Minors, and personally coached the likes of Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Clarkson, Barry Manilow and Bob Dylan.She died in Los Angeles on Tuesday (March 5), with no cause of death given.Reacting to the news, Hudson – who rose to fame as a finalist in the 2004 season of American Idol – wrote: “Heartbroken over the passing of Debra Byrd, the vocal coach on American Idol. She encouraged and supported us from the very beginning!”“I am so grateful for everything she taught us.

American Idol star Debra Byrd has sadly passed away at the age of 72, with Jennifer Hudson leading the tributes to the singer and professional music coach. Debra was a familiar face on TV, known for her role as a vocal coach on American Idol, The Voice, Canadian Idol and Military Idol. She passed away on Tuesday in Los Angeles, but the cause of her death is yet to be confirmed.

Timothée Chalamet has said that he would love Austin Butler’s version of Elvis Presley to show up in his upcoming Bob Dylan biopic.The two actors, who co-star in Dune: Part Two, which is in cinemas now, were speaking to NME about their respective roles as the American music icons, and speculated about the possibility of there being a shared universe between the two films.Speaking about his preparation for A Complete Unknown, in which the Wonka star will play Dylan, Chalamet said he had been “picking” Butler’s brain non-stop for tips on how to portray such a legendary music figure.Check out the interview below:“I can’t wait for that film,” Butler replied. “I wish I could be on set every day to just watch the magic happen.”“I wish you were in it!” Chalamet responded.

Billy Joel and Stevie Nicks will team up for a gig at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium as part of their ongoing ‘Two Icons, One Night Tour.’Based on our findings, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers — currently also conducting their own solo tours — don’t skimp at these co-headliner shows and play all the classics.For Joel, that means “Piano Man,” “Uptown Girl,” “We Didn’t Start The Fire” and more; according to Set List FM, he played 23 songs at their last concert.Alternately, Nicks performed 15 tracks that night including “Rhiannon,” “Landslide” and “Edge of Seventeen.”If this sounds like the classic rock hit parade for you, it isn’t too late to grab last-minute tickets.At the time of publication, the lowest price we could find was $120 before fees on Vivid Seats.Floor-level tickets start at $363 before fees.Can’t wait to jam out with Joel and Nicks but need a few more details?We’ve got everything you need to know and more about their Arlington ‘Two Icons, One Night’ concert below.All prices listed above are subject to fluctuation.A complete breakdown of all the best prices by section can be found here:(Note: The New York Post confirmed all above prices at the publication time. All prices are in US dollars, subject to fluctuation and include additional fees at checkout.)Vivid Seats is a verified secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand.

The X Factor 2018 finalist Scarlett Lee has only gone and auditioned for American Idol. Six years after finishing as runner-up in Simon Cowell's UK singing competition, which saw Dalton Harris showered with confetti at the time, 26-year-old Scarlett looked a different person while covering 'Clown' by Emeli Sandé infront of judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan recently. Gone was her dark fake tan, but she did once again opt for a red dress for the occasion.

Todd Longwell Charles D. King has an impressive list of accomplishments, including an Oscar nomination for best picture for his 2021 feature “Judas and the Black Messiah.” But his proudest moment came when he told his young sons that he was quitting WME, where he was the first Black partner, to launch Macro, a multi-platform media company amplifying the voices and perspectives of people of color. “They said to me, ‘Dad is going to be a boss!’ and started jumping up and down on their bed,” recalls King.