Breland Teases ‘Country-Twerk’ Song Featuring Keith Urban

Breland teased a new song, featuring Keith Urban, during the CMA Summer Stay-Cay livestream on Wednesday (July 1) and said it will be out this year.

Breland labeled the track a “Country-Twerk” song and described it as one that he hasn’t seen much before.

During the CMA Summer Stay-Cay, presented by Budweiser Nitro Reserve Gold, there was a Zoom conference featuring Breland, Lauren Alaina, Devin Dawson and Hardy.

When Dawson asked Breland, “How was your write with Keith Urban?” Breland responded, “Oh, it was great. He’s gonna be on my next joint, I’m really excited about it.”

“Getting Keith on a track that says that is pretty exciting,” he added. “It’s a Country-twerk song,” Breland explained and teased a lyric, “Drop it low you can blame it on the jack.”

In May, Breland released a self-titled EP, that contains “My Truck,” a collaboration with Sam Hunt. The record also features “In the Woulds,” a collaboration with Alaina and Chase Rice.

Mandatory mask order begins for all of Madison County at 5 p.m. Tuesday 7/7/2020

Madison County Health Officer Dr. Karen Landers has issued a health order requiring most people to wear face coverings in public places in Madison County to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19. The order takes effect on July 7 at 5 p.m.

“We need to do all we can to limit the spread of COVID-19,” State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris said. “Until we have a vaccine or treatment for COVID-19, wearing a face covering in public is a key measure we have available to prevent transmission of the virus.”

This health order has the unanimous support of the Madison County Board of Health, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Madison Mayor Paul Finley, and County Commission Chair Dale Strong.

“This is a simple math problem,” said Mayor Battle. “Since June 16, the number of positive cases in Madison County has tripled, and the number of hospitalizations has increased 660 percent. We need to take precautionary measures, such as wearing face covers, distancing 6 feet, and handwashing to provide a safe environment for our citizens.” Finley said, “Since day one we as elected officials have said we would work to find the balance of personal versus economic health. While personal responsibility is still paramount, our dramatic rising numbers dictate this step be taken to continue to support all citizens’ safety.”

A face covering is defined as a device to cover the nose and mouth of a person to impede the spread of saliva or other fluids during speaking, coughing, sneezing, or other intentional or involuntary action. Medical-grade masks are not required. Coverings may be made from scarves, bandanas, or other fabrics.

COVID-19 infection is usually spread to others through a respiratory route, and this can occur without symptoms. Studies illustrate how COVID-19 can be spread through speaking, coughing, and sneezing–including by asymptomatic people. Face coverings create a barrier between a person’s face and the air around him or her. Face coverings prevent people from spreading respiratory droplets and can prevent them from acquiring the virus from others.

Face coverings are required in the following Madison County locations:

Indoor spaces of businesses or venues open to the public, including stores, bars, restaurants, entertainment venues, public meeting spaces, or government buildings.
Transportation services available to the public, including mass transit, paratransit, taxi, or ride-sharing services.
Outdoor areas open to the public where 10 or more persons are gathered and where people are unable to maintain a distance of 6 or more feet between persons not from the same household.

Exceptions to wearing face coverings or masks include:

Children age 2 and under.
Persons while eating or drinking.
Patients in examination rooms of medical offices, dental offices, clinics or hospitals where there examination of the mouth or nasal area is necessary.
Customers receiving hair care services, temporary removal of face coverings when needed to provide hair care.
Occasions when wearing a face covering poses a significant mental or physical health, safety or security risk. These include worksite risks.
Although not mandated, face coverings are strongly recommended for congregants at worship services and for situations where people from different households are unable to or unlikely to maintain a distance of 6 feet from each other.
When effective communication is needed for hearing-impaired persons and those speaking to a large group of people, provided the speaker can stay at least 6 feet away from other persons.
Indoor athletic facilities. Patrons are not required to wear face coverings while actively participating in permitted athletic activities, but employees in regular interaction with patrons are required to wear face coverings or masks.
Private clubs and gatherings not open to the public and where a consistent 6-foot distance between persons from different households is maintained.

Parents, guardians and caregivers must ensure the proper masking of children over age 2 in public places, ensure face coverings do not pose a choking hazard for children and can be worn safely without obstructing a child’s ability to breathe. Childcare establishments and schools are to develop their face covering policies and procedures.

All businesses and venues open to the public must provide a notice stating that face coverings are required inside the establishment. Signage is required at all public entrances

Dr. Harris said, “Wearing a face covering can help keep family, co-workers, and community safe. This is the simplest act of kindness you can take for yourself, your family and your community, especially for those who are at high risk of contracting the virus.”

The Alabama Department of Public Health advises these actions to prevent the spread of COVID-19:

Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds
Social distance by staying 6 feet away from others
Avoid people who are sick
Stay home if you can; work remotely if possible
Cover your mouth and nose with a face covering when around others
Cover coughs and sneezes
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces
Monitor your health

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides instructions about the use of face coverings at cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html.

For more information, visit alabamapublichealth.gov.

Fun Facts About Fried Chicken You Maybe Didn’t Know

Is there anything better than biting into a fresh piece of fried chicken? Hearing the crunch and feeling the crisp texture of the fried batter over the juicy slice of chicken beneath it? Fried chicken’s a greasy, deliciously indulgent comfort food enjoyed all over the world. Did you know that the ultimate soul food originated in our own backyard — where Scottish chicken-frying methods were combined with West African seasoning traditions — to create what is now one of the world’s favorite guilty pleasures? Fried chicken was an expensive delicacy up until World War II, but thanks to mass production techniques, we’re now able to indulge ourselves on the cheap in almost any city in the world. So on July 6, we get out our buckets ‘o’ chicken and napkins, because it’s National Fried Chicken Day.

According to a survey, only 5% of Americans say they don’t like fried chicken, while 16% like it so much they’d MARRY it. 6 out of 10 Americans think chicken and waffles belong together.

Sauce it up!

When it comes to dipping sauces for your fried chicken most people are purists. According to a new survey 16% of people prefer their chicken without a condiment. 13% of people prefer hot sauce. 15 % of people want to dip their chicken in BBQ sauce. 7% of people dip their chicken in ketchup. 10% prefer honey mustard. 5% of people like to dip their chicken in honey butter. 12% of people dip their chicken in ranch dressing. And 11% dip their fried chicken in gravy.

7-Eleven just spun off its own line of fried chicken restaurants. The chain is called Raise the Roost, and the menu is entirely fried chicken and biscuits. The first location just opened in New York City but there’s no word on when or where other stores might pop up.

KFC released a chicken sandwich JUST like the Popeyes sandwich that was a massive hit last year. And KFC even admitted they’re trying to rip off Popeyes, because they say their old chicken sandwich, quote, “wasn’t the one to beat.”.

There’s a discussion on Reddit right now where people are sharing the weird FOOD COMBOS that shouldn’t work but taste really good. Making the list: Fried chicken with ketchup AND gravy.

KFC teamed up with Crocs to make a special line of shoes. They have fried chicken printed on them, there’s a fake drumstick attached to the top, AND they’re CHICKEN-SCENTED. They went on sale this spring for $60.

According to a new survey, the average person will eat an INSANE amount of food during Super Bowl Sunday. We’re talking almost 11,000 CALORIES! Which is at least four times more than doctors recommend. That doesn’t even include calories from DRINKS, like soda and beer.

Here’s how it breaks down. The average person will eat NINETEEN different foods during the Big Game.

2.7 wings . . . 3.2 slices of pizza . . . 2.1 servings of fries . . . 3.4 bags of chips . . . 1.9 bowls of chili . . . 2.4 burgers . . . 1.7 sliders . . . two hot dogs . . . 2.7 portions of nachos . . . three pieces of fried chicken.

The Fried Chicken Sandwich:

Chick-fil-A allegedly invented the fried chicken sandwich sometime in the 1940s, according to the company. But, recipes and many historians believe that Scottish chicken frying techniques (lard and no seasoning) and West African chicken pan frying techniques (palm oil, lots of seasoning) were combined by enslaved African and African-Americans in the antebellum South and, thusly, fried chicken as we know it was born.

Is it possible that someone happened to put a deliciously, golden crispy slice of fried chicken between two slices of bread with a couple pickles during that time? Yes. In fact, ads found in newspapers for fried chicken sandwiches pre-date the time period that Chick-fil-A claims to have invented it.

It’s great marketing on Chick-fil-A’s part, but faulty history. The inventor of the fried chicken sandwich is (probably) just as shrouded and forgotten in history’s greasy pages as the inventor of fried chicken itself — or dumplings, or empanadas for that matter. It’s become such a staple in our cuisine it’s hard to pinpoint its advent to one person.

And, while the fried chicken sandwich has thrusted its way into cultural ubiquity, its roots are marred in Jim Crow-era racism. Post Civil War, African American individuals weren’t allowed to raise expensive meats (such as steak and pork) so were relegated to rearing chickens, which is how the stereotype of associating African Americans with the dish came about. It was often all they could make, so they made the best of it.

But over time the delicious appeal of fried chicken spread its proverbial wings and took flight into the hearts of Americans everywhere. It’s hard to deny the combination of fatty cuts of chicken, marinated in buttermilk, dredged in spices and batter, and then deep fried in oil as anything other than delicious.

Happy National Fried Chicken Day From 98.1 The Beat!

Paris Jackson & Gabriel Glenn Drop Debut EP, To Launch Facebook Watch Series

Michael Jackson‘s daughter Paris Jackson and her boyfriend Gabriel Glenn released their band The Soundflowers‘ self-titled debut album on June 23 and announced that they would launch a docuseries on Facebook Watch on June 30.

The six-part series titled, “Unfiltered: Paris Jackson & Gabriel Glenn,” will run every Tuesday through August 4. The trailer shows Jackson speaking about her struggles to emerge from the media glare around her late father.

“You see a kid grow up in the public eye and forget that I am a human,” she says in the trailer, with footage showing her running from the paparazzi. “Glenn understands the pain I’ve gone through all my life. He helps me realize this is what I was born to do,” she adds.

“A lot of our music, some of the songs on the EP and some of the songs that have yet to come are about pain,” Jackson said about the album. “I’m sure to many it will come off as emo and sad, and that’s okay. But my hope is that it brings comfort to those who feel the way I did when I wrote the songs, especially ‘Geronimo.’ I’d like for the listeners who resonate with the lyrics to know that they are not alone. And that it gets better.

She added, “It feels good to know that people will hear our music and see me as I am. This is the first opportunity I’ve been able to share my journey in my own way.”

Click here to watch!

https://youtu.be/u3OfyBmQ1h4

Whitney Houston’s ‘Greatest Love Of All’ Gets New Lyric Video

The Whitney Houston Estate has released an official lyric video for the late singer’s 1986 smash hit “Greatest Love of All.”

The new video also serves as a powerful and touching documentation of the experiences of black Americans since the year 1940, including pictures and videos.

The video was produced by the curator of “Black Archives,” a “collaborative, multimedia platform featuring archival histories, and modern day stories from across the Diaspora.”

“The lyric video artfully unites these images in harmony with the moving lyrics of the song to embody the beauty, joy, expression and pride within the black community, specifically through our black youth,” a statement revealed.

Meanwhile, the Estate is gearing up to release the reissue of Houston’s 1985 self-titled debut album in honor of its 35th anniversary. The album is scheduled to drop on June 30.

Check out the video here!

https://youtu.be/WUSaSfsHM-k

Nickelodeon’s ‘Nick News’ Returns With A Special On Race Hosted By Alicia Keys

Nickelodeon‘s “Nick News” is set to stage a comeback on June 29 with a special episode “Kids, Race and Unity: A Nick News Special,” hosted by Alicia Keys.

The one-hour special, executive produced by Fernita Wynn and Magalie Laguerre-Wilkinson, will showcase the voices and experiences of Black kids in the country, which is in the midst of large-scale protests in recent weeks demanding racial justice. The program will air at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

During the special, Keys will engage in conversations with special guests, including the co-founders of Black Lives Matter, Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi, responding to questions from kids.

12-year-old singer Keedron Bryant; Ibram X. Kendi, author of Antiracist Baby; the founders of Teens4Equality, social media star Tabitha Brown and her family; and family therapist, Dr. George James will all appear during the special.

“I’ve had a vision of a forum that can engage kids during this time and help to focus our attention on how they might be feeling, and this Nick News special is it! Talking about race can be sensitive and uncomfortable; and sometimes we try to protect our children from racism they are already experiencing. This is such an important, vulnerable, honest and beautiful conversation, and I know many families may be searching for the right way to enter it. Let’s really deep dive together,” said Keys.

The special will simulcast across Nickelodeon, TeenNick, and Nicktoons, and be available on Nickelodeon YouTube, Nick On Demand, the Nick App and the Nick Pluto TV channel following the premiere.

A discussion guide as well as anti-racism resources, made in partnership with The Conscious Kid and Dr. George James, will be available on nickhelps.com and Nickelodeon’s social channels following the premiere of the special.

The upcoming episode will be the first of a series of Nick News specials that will air on Nickelodeon in the coming months. After airing on Nickelodeon for 25 years, Nick News ended in 2016 following the retirement of Ellerbee.

Beyoncé Shares A Cappella Version Of ‘Black Parade’

Beyoncé performed an a cappella version of her celebratory anthem, “Black Parade,” on Tuesday (June 23).

The lyrics of the anthem brings out the historical and cultural aspects of her ancestry. “I’m goin’ back to the South,” sings the Texas-born singer.

Last week (on June 19), Beyoncé released the original “Black Parade” track, in honor of Juneteenth that celebrates the end of slavery in the United States.

“Happy Juneteenth Weekend!” she wrote on Instagram when sharing the song. “I hope we continue to share joy and celebrate each other, even in the midst of struggle. Please continue to remember our beauty, strength and power.”

The singer also shared a link to a page on her website functions as a directory. Proceeds from the track will go to her charity, Black Business Impact Fund.

“‘Black Parade’ celebrates you, your voice and your joy and will benefit Black-owned small businesses,” reads a message on the page.

The a cappella rendition is available exclusively on TIDAL.

Check out the video here!

https://youtu.be/EJT1m1ele00

Alicia Keys Condemns Police Violence In ‘Perfect Way To Die’

Alicia Keys condemns police violence in her new song, “Perfect Way to Die.”

Co-written and produced by Keys and Sebastian Kole, the song tells the story of a mother whose grieves for her child who was murdered as a result of police brutality and systemic racism.

“Simple walk to the corner store/Mama never thought she would be/Getting a call from the coroner,” she sings. “Said her sons been gunned down/Been gunned down.”

“Of course there is no perfect way to die. This phrase doesn’t even make sense but that’s what makes the title so powerful and heartbreaking because so many have died unjustly,” Keys said in a statement.

“It’s written from the point of view of the mother whose child has been murdered because of the system of racism that looks at Black life as unworthy,” she added. “We all know none of these innocent lives should have been taken due to the culture of police violence.”

“Perfect Way to Die” will appear on her upcoming seventh studio album, Alicia, which will arrive this fall.

https://youtu.be/vOzJpgVWwrs

Iconic Prince Guitar Sells For $563,500 At Auction

Prince‘s iconic “Blue Angel” Cloud 2 electric guitar fetched a whopping $563,500 at the Music Icons sale run by Julien’s Auctions on Friday, far exceeding the expected sale price.

Prince used the guitar in the 1980s and 1990s, the period during which he was at the height of stardom.

He reportedly began using the guitar, which features the “love” symbol on its neck, during the 1984 Purple Rain Tour. He alsoplayed the guitar during the Parade, Sing O’ the Times and Lovesexy tours.

Prince used it during the Diamonds and Pearls Tour and at Saturday Night Live’s “15th Anniversary Special” as well, according to a news release from Julien’s Auctions.

“The guitar is considered one of the most historically important guitars played by Prince that has ever come up for auction,” Julien’s Auctions said.

Earlier, in November 2017, Prince’s teal Cloud guitar sold for $700,000 and a custom made yellow Cloud guitar sold for $225,000 in May 2018.

Stevie Wonder Declares ‘Systemic Racism Can Have An Ending,’ Urges People To Vote

Stevie Wonder has called on people to vote for a change that brings an end to systemic racism in the United States.

“If life can have an ending, all things can have an ending. Systemic racism can have an ending. Police brutality can have an ending. Economic repression of black and brown people can have an ending. People can have an ending. A movement without action is a movement standing still,” Wonder said in a video he posted on YouTube, titled “The Universe Is Watching Us.”

In the five-minute video, he questioned why three states – North Dakota, South Dakota and Hawaii – still do not celebrate Juneteenth.

The blind singer suggested President Donald Trump will one day be sorry for calling protesters “thugs,” immigrants “rapists” and African counties “sh*tholes.”

“Move your feet to the polls and use your hands to vote. The future is in your hands. We have the power to vote, and we can make a change,” Wonder said.