2015 BET AWARDS TICKETS EXPERIENCE LA LIVE

BET AWARDS TICKETS 2015 EXPERIENCE LA LIVEGOLD, DIAMOND AND PLATINUM VIP PACKAGE TICKETS ON SALE NOW @ BETExperience.com

BET AWARDS TICKETS 2015 EXPERIENCE LA LIVE

Tickets for the BET Experience presented by Coca-Cola at L.A. LIVE are on sale now. Single day STAPLES Center show tickets are priced as low as $59.50 while 3-day STAPLES Center concert ticket packages start at $169.50. For fans looking to roll like a VIP throughout the biggest summer weekend in entertainment – the VIP packages are the only way to purchase “BET AWARDS” tickets, get great seats to the STAPLES Center shows, and exclusive access your friends will envy. Quantities are limited, so order now at http://www.betexperience.com

Follow BET Experience on Twitter @betexperience for the latest and greatest and join the conversation by using #BETExperience. Feel free to also check us out online at http://www.betexperience.com

BET EXPERIENCE AT L.A. LIVE
BET Networks, an entertainment powerhouse, and AEG, one of the leading entertainment companies in the world and developer/ operator of L.A. LIVE have teamed up once again to create the BET EXPERIENCE AT L.A. LIVE (BETX), June 27 – 29, 2014. This three-day festival will be filled with music and comedy concerts taking place at Club Nokia and STAPLES Center; “106 & PARK” tapings in Nokia Plaza L.A. LIVE, BET Fan Fest at the Los Angeles Convention Center, seminars, celebrity basketball games, seminars and various celebrity meet & greets, GRAMMY® Museum exhibits and other special appearances. With the weekend being capped off with the “BET Awards” on Sunday, June 29, 2014 at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live.

ABOUT “BET AWARDS”

The BET AWARDS is one of the most watched award shows on cable television according to the Nielsen Company. The BET AWARDS franchise remains as the #1 program in cable TV history among African-Americans, and it is BET’s #1 telecast every year. It recognizes the triumphs and successes of artists, entertainers, and athletes in a variety of categories.

2015 BET AWARDS TICKETS EXPERIENCE LA LIVE

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UNCF AN EVENING OF STARS 2015 APRIL 26th ON BET

UNCF AN EVENING OF STARS 2015 APRIL 26th ON BETYOLANDA ADAMS, TONI BRAXTON, BABYFACE, ESTELLE, THE TIME, K. MICHELLE, AND JUSSIE SMOLLETT TO PERFORM ON UNCF AN EVENING OF STARS

ANTHONY ANDERSON RETURNS AS THIS YEARS HOST

UNCF An Evening of Stars Airs Sunday, April 26th 10p/9c on BET

Executive Producer and star Anthony Anderson will return to host UNCF An Evening of Stars® for the third consecutive year. Estelle and Smollett will perform the special duet version of her single “Conqueror,” as seen on the hit FOX series Empire.

UNCF An Evening of Stars®, which has been the hallmark of Urban American superstars supporting Urban American education for 36 years, will tape in Atlanta, Georgia at the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center on April 12th, 2015 and air nationally on BET, Sunday, April 26th, 2015 at 10p/9c. Additional performers and presenters To be announced.

Tickets for the show’s taping can be purchased: www.UNCF.org/AEOStickets

“Atlanta is proud to be the home of UNCF An Evening of Stars®,” said Mayor Kasim Reed, City of Atlanta. “Through the work of UNCF and countless supporters, thousands of our young people are receiving educational opportunities and resources to complete their education and continue along the road to achieving their dreams. I applaud this year’s performers and sponsors for their unwavering commitment to invest in future generations by ensuring they have access to a high-quality education.”

This year’s show is made possible by national sponsors McDonald’s and Wells Fargo. Target, is an official sponsor and also serves as a “Rising Stars” scholarship sponsor. Buick is a major sponsor. The City of Atlanta, iHeartMedia and BET Networks serve as the city and media partners, respectively. The Walton Family Foundation is a philanthropic partner. UNCF An Evening of Stars® will also air in syndication on April 25th and 26th.

UNCF AN EVENING OF STARS 2015 APRIL 26th ON BET

Jesse Collins, CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment, returns to produce UNCF An Evening of Stars for the third year. Collins has played an integral role in producing some of television’s most memorable performances in the music entertainment arena.

Formerly executive producer and executive vice president of Cossette Productions, he has produced award-winning television programming including the GRAMMY® Awards, the BET Awards, BET Honors and the BET Hip Hop Awards. He has worked with superstar talent including Beyoncé, Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, Jay Z, Rihanna, Kanye West, Mary J. Blige and Kid Rock. Collins is also executive producer of the BET hit series The Real Husbands of Hollywood starring Kevin Hart, which won an NAACP Image Award® for Outstanding Comedy Series.

About UNCF An Evening of Stars®
UNCF An Evening of Stars®, formerly the Lou Rawls Parade of Stars®, first aired in 1979, and since that time has become one of the longest-running and most successful televised event in U.S. history. Over its 36-year history, UNCF An Evening of Stars® has raised more than $200 million, that has helped hundreds of thousands of students attend college and graduate. In recent years, UNCF An Evening Of Stars® has featured a who’s who of remarkable talent, including Usher, Trey Songz, Stevie Wonder, John Legend, Chaka Khan, Ne-Yo, Beyoncé, Anita Baker, Jill Scott, Kevin Hart, Fantasia, Robin Thicke, Jennifer Hudson, Michael Bolton, Yolanda Adams, Tye Tribbett, Al Jarreau, Anthony Hamilton, Ziggy Marley, Maroon 5, and scores of others. UNCF An Evening of Stars® received NAACP Image Awards for its 2006 tribute to Stevie Wonder, its 2008 tribute to Smokey Robinson and its 2010 tribute to Lionel Richie. Learn more about UNCF An Evening of Stars® at www.UNCF.org/AEOStickets

UNCF AN EVENING OF STARS 2015 APRIL 26th ON BET

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Buford Highway Apartment Fire BROOKHAVEN

Dozens of people lost everything when flames broke out at a Brookhaven Apartment Complex, 47 people were impacted in the 12 apartments. January 16th, 2015 Fire Date, all residence suvived.

Brookhaven apartment fire leaves 47 people without shelter

The City Of Brookhaven and Metropolitan Artifacts have set up a Donation Drive: Press Photos

Outpouring of donations for Brookhaven fire victims, City to head up distribution

Julie Cusmano Silber reached out to the Brookhaven community for donations to help displaced families as a result of a large apartment fire that took place on January 16th in the Marquis Terrace apartments on Buford Hwy. Silber’s family owns Metropolitan Artifacts Architectural Antiques in Chamblee and volunteered their store to be a collection point for household goods, clothing and personal items to help the fire victims.

Wednesday morning, the effort was handed over to the City of Brookhaven who will take all of the donated goods to Briarwood Rec. Center where they will be sorted and stored. The city will allow residents who lost everything in the fire to come by Briarwood and collect items they need. Ref: Trey Bento

https://www.facebook.com/BrookhavenPD

Buford Highway Apartment Fire BROOKHAVEN

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2015 GRAMMY SALUTE STEVIE WONDER

ARTIST LAURENCE GARTEL CREATES OFFICIAL ARTWORK FOR THE 57TH ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS 2015“STEVIE WONDER: SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE — AN ALL-STAR GRAMMY SALUTE” TO BE BROADCAST FEB. 16th, 2015, ON CBS

Two-Hour Entertainment Event to Feature Some of the Biggest Names in Music Today Performing Iconic Songs by the 25-Time GRAMMY® Winner

The Recording Academy®, AEG Ehrlich Ventures and CBS will present “Stevie Wonder: Songs In The Key Of Life — An All-Star GRAMMY® Salute,” a primetime entertainment special that will celebrate the iconic songbook and remarkable legacy of the 25-time GRAMMY winner.

The two-hour show will tape at the Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2015, two days after the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards®, and will be broadcast in HDTV and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network on Monday, Feb. 16, 2015, from 9 – 11 p.m. ET/PT. For updates and breaking news, please visit GRAMMY.com, and The Recording Academy’s social networks on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Performers and presenters will be announced shortly.

In the 56-year history of the GRAMMY Awards, Wonder is the only artist to have received Album Of The Year honors in three out of four consecutive years with Innervisions, Fulfillingness’ First Finale, and the seminal Songs In The Key Of Life. With a catalog that is one of the richest treasure troves in American music, his songs are still revered and influential today and his longevity as one of America’s — and the world’s — most respected and beloved artists is well earned. “Stevie Wonder: Songs In The Key Of Life — An All-Star GRAMMY Salute” will feature some of today’s top artists covering songs by the legendary GRAMMY winner, as well as other archival material. In addition, various presenters will help highlight the historical impact of Wonder’s songs on music and our culture.

“Stevie Wonder is a beloved icon whose golden songbook remains one of America’s and music’s greatest treasures,” said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy. “A 25-time GRAMMY winner and Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, it’s only fitting that Music’s Biggest Night® celebrates this legendary musical genius and pays tribute to his enduring music and legacy.”

“Some of my most memorable television experiences have been with my friend Stevie, both on the GRAMMYs and off, and to be able to celebrate him in a way that only the GRAMMY stage allows is a treat that I’ve looked forward to for a long time,” said executive producer Ken Ehrlich of AEG Ehrlich Ventures. “He is truly deserving of the term that is often used about him — an American treasure — and the night of Feb. 10 when we tape this show is going to be an amazing time.”

“Stevie Wonder epitomizes the very spirit of the GRAMMYs,” said Jack Sussman, Executive Vice President, Specials, Music and Live Events, CBS Entertainment. “His music is as poignant as it is appealing and his songs have the ability to illustrate our world in every note. We are thrilled to pay tribute to this legendary man and musician. His influence is present in so much of today’s greatest music. This salute will give everyone he’s inspired a chance to show our esteem.”

“Stevie Wonder: Songs In The Key Of Life — An All-Star GRAMMY Salute” continues the tradition begun this past year with “The Beatles: The Night That Changed America — A GRAMMY Salute,” a two-and-a-half-hour special that celebrated the remarkable legacy of the seven-time GRAMMY-winning group. Hailed by media and fans alike as a unique and memorable event in music television, the Beatles special ultimately garnered 20 million viewers and an Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Direction (for Music Director Don Was).

Tickets to the taping of this very special evening will go on sale Thursday, Dec. 18th, on AXS.com. Call 877.234.8425 or email tickets@aegworldwide.com for more information on ticket availability including VIP ticket packages and group sales.

“Stevie Wonder: Songs In The Key Of Life — An All-Star GRAMMY Salute” is produced by AEG Ehrlich Ventures, LLC. Ken Ehrlich is the executive producer.

2015 GRAMMY SALUTE STEVIE WONDER

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ARTIST LAURENCE GARTEL CREATES OFFICIAL ARTWORK
FOR THE 57TH ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS®

ARTIST LAURENCE GARTEL CREATES OFFICIAL ARTWORK FOR THE 57TH ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDSThe Recording Academy® is pleased to announce the selection of artist Laurence Gartel to create the official artwork for the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards®. The striking work features a life-sized version of the iconic GRAMMY® statuette wrapped in the distinctive psychedelic imagery of the artist using vinyl, glitter and prismatic materials. The piece will be used to create the official artwork for Music’s Biggest Night® and will grace the cover of the GRAMMY Awards program book, telecast tickets, poster, and other promotional materials.

The music industry’s premier event will take place live on Sunday, Feb. 8th, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast in high-definition TV and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network from 8-11:30 p.m. (ET/PT). The show also will be supported on radio worldwide via Westwood One, and covered online at GRAMMY.com and CBS.com, and on YouTube. For GRAMMY coverage, updates and breaking news, please visit The Recording Academy’s social networks on Twitter and Facebook.

Gartel has been known around the world as a pioneer of digital art. His innovative and colorful imagery has championed many notable advertising campaigns over the past 35 years. He grew up in New York City, where he was greatly influenced by the punk rock scene, working alongside musicians Stiv Bators, Sid Vicious, Wendy O. Williams and the Ramones.

His groundbreaking work has been exhibited in the United States at the Museum of Modern Art, Princeton University Art Museum, and Long Beach Museum of Art, as well as internationally in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History, Bibliothèque nationale de France, and Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Gartel has spent the last several years creating art cars and was the feature of the 113th Annual New York International Auto Show with his own Pavilion. To see more of the artist’s work, visit www.gartelart.com.

Gartel joins a growing list of talented artists, including Shepard Fairey, Charles Fazzino, Frank Gehry, Marcus Glenn, Phil Hansen and David LaChapelle, who have all created the annual official GRAMMY artwork.

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2015 Grammy Awards Special Merit Awards

Grammy Awards 2015 Special Merit AwardsTHE BEE GEES, PIERRE BOULEZ,
BUDDY GUY, GEORGE HARRISON, FLACO JIMENEZ, LOUVIN BROTHERS AND WAYNE SHORTER

HONORED WITH THE RECORDING ACADEMY®
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
RICHARD PERRY, BARRY MANN
& CYNTHIA WEIL AND GEORGE WEIN
HONORED WITH TRUSTEES AWARD
RAY KURZWEIL
TO RECEIVE TECHNICAL GRAMMY® AWARD

The Recording Academy® announced its Special Merit Awards recipients today, and this year’s honorees are: the Bee Gees, Pierre Boulez, Buddy Guy, George Harrison, Flaco Jiménez, Louvin Brothers, and Wayne Shorter as Lifetime Achievement Award recipients; Richard Perry, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil, and George Wein as Trustees Award honorees; and Ray Kurzweil as the Technical GRAMMY® Award recipient.

A special invitation-only ceremony will be held during GRAMMY Week on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, and a formal acknowledgment will be made during the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards® telecast, which will be held at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 8th, 2015 and broadcast live at 8 p.m. ET/PT on the CBS Television Network. For GRAMMY® coverage, updates and breaking news, please visit The Recording Academy’s social networks on Twitter and Facebook.”This year we pay tribute to exceptional creators who have made prolific contributions to our culture and history,” said Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow.

“It is an honor and a privilege to recognize such a diverse group of talented trailblazers, whose incomparable bodies of work and timeless legacies will continue to be celebrated for generations to come.

“The Lifetime Achievement Award honors performers who have made contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording, while the Trustees Award recognizes such contributions in areas other than performance. Both awards are determined by vote of The Recording Academy’s National Board of Trustees.Technical GRAMMY Award recipients are determined by vote of The Academy’s Producers & Engineers Wing® Advisory Council and Chapter Committees, as well as The Academy’s Trustees. The award is presented to individuals and companies who have made contributions of outstanding technical significance to the recording field.

About the Lifetime Achievement Award Honorees:
The Bee Gees, comprising of brothers Barry, Maurice* and Robin Gibb*, were one of the most successful groups in pop history with hits such as “Stayin’ Alive,” “How Can You Heal A Broken Heart” and “How Deep Is Your Love.” The trio’s contributions to the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack made it one of the best-selling soundtracks of all time, selling more than 15 million copies in the United States and garnering the group four GRAMMYs, including Album Of The Year and Producer Of The Year.

French composer Pierre Boulez is internationally renowned having conducted the Südwestfunk Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra and BBC Symphony Orchestra. He served as musical director of the New York Philharmonic from 1971-1977. The 26-time GRAMMY winner continues to be one of the most influential music creators within the classical genre.

Six-time GRAMMY winner Buddy Guy is one of the most celebrated blues guitarists of all time. Throughout his more than 50-year career, Guy has influenced generations of guitar players with his unique sound and style. Guy released his most recent album, Rhythm & Blues in 2013, and continues to tour.

Multi-instrumentalist and singer/songwriter George Harrison* achieved international fame as a member of the Beatles, one of the most influential groups of all time. The 12-time GRAMMY winner’s embrace of Indian music is often credited with helping introduce world music to the West. As a solo artist, Harrison achieved success with projects such as his GRAMMY Hall Of Fame® inducted album All Things Must Pass and The Concert For Bangladesh, the latter of which garnered an Album Of The Year GRAMMY.

Five-time GRAMMY winner Flaco Jiménez has enjoyed a career that has spanned more than six decades, throughout which, he has collaborated with artists such as Bob Dylan, Ry Cooder, Doug Sahm, and Carlos Santana among others. Jiménez has maintained a huge influence on the Tex-Mex genre by continuing to record and tour, as he upholds his status as the definitive Tex-Mex accordionist.

Ira and Charlie Loudermilk, better known as the Louvin Brothers*, rank among the top duos in country music history. Originally beginning their careers in gospel music, and eventually incorporating secular pop songs, they landed a record deal with Capitol Records and quickly became household names in the 1950’s. Eventually the brothers launched solo careers, continuing to set a blueprint for future generations of country and rock musicians.

Saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter began his jazz career at the tender age of 16. With a successful solo career, his tenure with Weather Report and his milestone collaborations with Miles Davis and John Coltrane, Shorter has distinguished himself as a leading figure in jazz. As a composer, the 10-time GRAMMY winner is best known for jazz standards such as “Footprints” and “JuJu,” among others.

About the Trustees Award Honorees:
Richard Perry is one of the most successful producers in pop music history with a career spanning more than four decades. He has produced classic recordings for such legendary artists as Ray Charles, Neil Diamond, Carly Simon, Ringo Starr, and Barbra Streisand among others. In 1978 Perry launched Planet Records, an independent label that produced many successful hits for artists including the multi-GRAMMY-winning group the Pointer Sisters. Perry continues to work as an independent producer.

The two-time GRAMMY-winning songwriting duo of Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil has created such an impressive body of work within the past four decades that their compositions have been described as “a soundtrack of our lives.” This husband-and-wife team has written hit songs such as “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin'” (with Phil Spector), “On Broadway” (with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller), “Here You Come Again,” “Never Gonna Let You Go,” “Just Once,” and “We Gotta Get Out Of This Place” among others. Mann and Weil have also composed scores for several film and theatre projects and they continue to explore new creative avenues.

American jazz promoter and producer George Wein is recognized as the founder of the Newport Jazz Festival, which celebrated its 60th anniversary in August 2014.

Wein’s pioneering spirit includes incorporating sponsor association along with partnering the original concept of an outdoor music event that would later serve as the impetus for festivals: Monterey Jazz Festival, Woodstock, Lollapalooza, Coachella, and Bonnaroo.

Through his production company Festival Productions, he would go on to produce the Newport Folk Festival, which he created with folk icon Pete Seeger in 1959, and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, which he founded in 1970. Wein celebrated his 90th birthday in October 2014 and continues to creatively influence and advance the concept of live music.

About the Technical GRAMMY Award Recipients:
Ray Kurzweil is an American author, computer scientist, inventor, and is the current director of engineering at Google. He is credited as the principal innovator of omni-front optical character recognition, text-to-speech synthesis, and speech recognition technology.

Kurzweil founded Kurzweil Music Systems and in 1984 introduced the Kurzweil K250, the first computer-based instrument that could realistically recreate the musical response of a grand piano and other orchestra instruments. PBS selected Kurzweil as one of its “They Made America” series.

 2015 Grammy Awards Special Merit Awards

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2015 BET HONORS

BET HONORS 2015DR. JOHNNETTA BETSCH COLE, PHYLICIA RASHAD, USHER RAYMOND, JOHN W. THOMPSON AND KANYE WEST ANNOUNCED AS THE “BET HONORS 2015” EXTRAORDINARY HONOREES

WAYNE BRADY RETURNS AS HOST FOR THE EIGHTH ANNUAL TELECAST

TAPING ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2015 AT THE WARNER THEATRE IN WASHINGTON DC, PREMIERING ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23th, 2015

BET HONORS 2015 special hosted by television personality, actor and comedian, Wayne Brady.

The star-studded night will honor five distinguished Urban Americans performing at exceptional levels in the areas of art, music, theater, technology and business.

This year’s remarkable honorees are Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole, Phylicia Rashad, Usher Raymond, John W. Thompson and Kanye West. Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole, Director of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African Art, and former president of Spelman College, will receive the Education Award.

Tony Award-winning actress, singer and stage director Phylicia Rashad will be honored with the Theatrical Arts Award for her revolutionary impact on Broadway and regional theater. Usher Raymond, recording artist, songwriter, actor and philanthropist, will receive the Musical Arts Award for his years of on-going success in music.

John W. Thompson, Chairman of Microsoft and CEO of Virtual Instruments, will receive the Technology and Business Award for his ongoing leadership in business and his influence in the world of technology.

Famed musician, producer, artist, author and designer Kanye West, will receive the Visionary Award for setting trends and redefining ways of self-expression through different mediums of art.

“The BET Honors” 2015 will be taped at the historic Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, January 24, 2015 and will premiere on Monday, February 23, 2015 at 9:00 pm* during Black History Month on BET Networks in the USA, and around the world on BET’s international network on Saturday, February 28, 2015 (check local listings).

Proceeds from the private sale of “The BET Honors” 2015 will benefit the National Cares Mentoring Program.

“The BET Honors” 2015 sponsors include AT&T, Lexus, Macy’s and the U.S. Army. Stephen Hill, President of Music Programming and Specials, BET Networks, and Lynne Harris Taylor, Vice President of Specials & Music Production, BET Networks are executive producers, along with Jesse Collins of Jesse Collins Productions.

For more information on “BET Honors,” visit http://www.bet.com/bethonors . Join the conversation about the special on Twitter by using hashtags: #BETHonors; follow the show for all updates & special surprises @BET. *All times EST

2015 BET HONORS

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2015 Grammy Awards

Grammy Awards 2015BEYONCE, SAM SMITH, PHARRELL LEAD GRAMMY NOMINATIONS

Nominations for the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards® were announced tonight by The Recording Academy® and reflected an eclectic mix of the best and brightest in music over the past year, as determined by The Academy’s voting members. The 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards will be held on “GRAMMY Sunday,” Feb. 8, 2015, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and broadcast live in high-definition TV and 5.1 surround sound on CBS from 8-11:30 p.m. ET/PT

This year, Beyoncé, Sam Smith, and Pharrell Williams top nominations, garnering six each. Iggy Azalea, Beck, Eric Church, Tom Coyne, Drake, Gordon Goodwin, Jay Z, Miranda Lambert, Sia, Usher, and Jack White earn four nominations each. Additionally, Azalea, Bastille, Brandy Clark, Haim, and Sam Smith vie for the Best New Artist award.

“This year’s nominees are a reflection of the music community’s diversity and range of talent, and a testament to The Academy’s voting process,” said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy. “The Recording Academy is pleased to celebrate this talented crop of artists, nominated to receive music’s greatest honor for their contributions to their respective genres. The tone for Music’s Biggest Night® has undoubtedly been set, and we look forward to producing one of the most exciting telecasts in GRAMMY® history.”

Nominations were revealed on a rolling basis throughout the day, starting with four categories on “CBS This Morning,” followed by a series of video announcements posted by a variety of artists and celebrities on Twitter. The day culminated with the unveiling of Album Of The Year nominations on the one-hour entertainment special, “A Very GRAMMY Christmas, which featured performances of holiday classics and current pop songs.

Following is a sampling of nominations across 83 categories from the GRAMMY Awards’ 30 Fields. For a complete nominations list, please visit www.grammy.com. For updates and breaking news, please visit The Recording Academy’s social networks on Twitter and Facebook.

GENERAL FIELD
Album Of The Year:
Morning Phase — Beck
Beyoncé — Beyoncé
X — Ed Sheeran
In The Lonely Hour — Sam Smith
Girl — Pharrell Williams

Record Of The Year:
“Fancy” — Iggy Azalea Featuring Charli XCX
“Chandelier” — Sia
“Stay With Me” (Darkchild Version) — Sam Smith
“Shake It Off” — Taylor Swift
“All About That Bass” — Meghan Trainor

Song Of The Year:
“All About That Bass” — Kevin Kadish & Meghan Trainor, songwriters (Meghan Trainor)
“Chandelier” — Sia Furler & Jesse Shatkin, songwriters (Sia)
“Shake It Off” — Max Martin, Shellback & Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift)
“Stay With Me” (Darkchild Version) — James Napier, William Phillips & Sam Smith, songwriters (Sam Smith)
“Take Me To Church” — Andrew Hozier-Byrne, songwriter (Hozier)

Best New Artist:
Iggy Azalea
Bastille
Brandy Clark
Haim
Sam Smith

POP FIELD
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance:
“Fancy” — Iggy Azalea Featuring Charli XCX
“A Sky Full Of Stars” — Coldplay
“Say Something” — A Great Big World With Christina Aguilera
“Bang Bang” — Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj
“Dark Horse” — Katy Perry Featuring Juicy J

DANCE/ELECTRONIC MUSIC FIELD
Best Dance Recording:
“Never Say Never” — Basement Jaxx
“Rather Be” — Clean Bandit Featuring Jess Glynne
“F For You” — Disclosure Featuring Mary J. Blige
“I Got U” — Duke Dumont Featuring Jax Jones
“Faded” — Zhu

ROCK FIELD
Best Rock Performance:
“Gimme Something Good” — Ryan Adams
“Do I Wanna Know?” — Arctic Monkeys
“Blue Moon” — Beck
“Fever”— The Black Keys
“Lazaretto”— Jack White

ALTERNATIVE FIELD
Best Alternative Music Album:
This Is All Yours — Alt-J
Reflektor — Arcade Fire
Melophobia — Cage The Elephant
St. Vincent — St. Vincent
Lazaretto — Jack White

R&B FIELD
Best Urban Contemporary Album:
Sail Out — Jhené Aiko
Beyoncé — Beyoncé
X — Chris Brown
Mali Is… — Mali Music
Girl — Pharrell Williams

RAP FIELD
Best Rap Performance:
“3005” — Childish Gambino
“0 To 100/The Catch Up” — Drake
“Rap God” — Eminem
“I” — Kendrick Lamar
“All I Need Is You” — Lecrae

Best Rap Album:
The New Classic — Iggy Azalea
Because The Internet — Childish Gambino
Nobody’s Smiling — Common
The Marshall Mathers LP2 — Eminem
Oxymoron — Schoolboy Q
Blacc Hollywood — Wiz Khalifa

COUNTRY FIELD
Best Country Duo/Group Performance:
“Gentle On My Mind” — The Band Perry
“Somethin’ Bad” — Miranda Lambert With Carrie Underwood
“Day Drinking” — Little Big Town
“Meanwhile Back At Mama’s” — Tim McGraw Featuring Faith Hill
“Raise ‘Em Up” — Keith Urban Featuring Eric Church

Best Country Album:
Riser — Dierks Bentley
The Outsiders — Eric Church
12 Stories — Brandy Clark
Platinum — Miranda Lambert
The Way I’m Livin’ — Lee Ann Womack

JAZZ FIELD
Best Improvised Jazz Solo:
“The Eye Of The Hurricane” — Kenny Barron, soloist
“Fingerprints” — Chick Corea, soloist
“You & The Night & The Music” — Fred Hersch, soloist
“Recorda Me” — Joe Lovano, soloist
“Sleeping Giant” — Brad Mehldau, soloist

GOSPEL/CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC FIELD
Best Gospel Album:
Help — Erica Campbell
Amazing (Live) — Ricky Dillard & New G
Withholding Nothing (Live) — William McDowell
Forever Yours — Smokie Norful
Vintage Worship — Anita Wilson

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album:
If We’re Honest — Francesca Battistelli
Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong. — For King & Country
Hurricane — Natalie Grant
Welcome To The New — MercyMe
Royal Tailor — Royal Tailor

LATIN FIELD
Best Latin Pop Album:
Tangos — Rubén Blades
Elypse — Camila
Raíz — Lila Downs, Niña Pastori And Soledad
Loco De Amor — Juanes
Gracias Por Estar Aquí — Marco Antonio Solís

AMERICAN ROOTS FIELD
Best American Roots Performance:
“Statesboro Blues” — Gregg Allman & Taj Mahal
“A Feather’s Not A Bird” — Rosanne Cash
“And When I Die” — Billy Childs Featuring Alison Krauss & Jerry Douglas
“The Old Me Better” — Keb’ Mo’ Featuring The California Feet Warmers
“Destination” — Nickel Creek

SPOKEN WORD FIELD
Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Storytelling):
Actors Anonymous — James Franco
A Call To Action — Jimmy Carter
Carsick: John Waters Hitchhikes Across America — John Waters
Diary Of A Mad Diva — Joan Rivers
A Fighting Chance — Elizabeth Warren
We Will Survive: True Stories Of Encouragement, Inspiration, And The Power Of Song — Gloria Gaynor

COMEDY FIELD
Best Comedy Album:
Mandatory Fun — “Weird Al” Yankovic
Obsessed — Jim Gaffigan
Oh My God — Louis C.K.
Tragedy Plus Comedy Equals Time — Patton Oswalt
We Are Miracles — Sarah Silverman

This year’s Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical nominations go to Paul Epworth, John Hill, Jay Joyce, Greg Kurstin, and Max Martin.

This year’s GRAMMY Awards process registered more than 20,000 submissions over a 12-month eligibility period (Oct. 1, 2013 – Sept. 30, 2014). GRAMMY ballots for the final round of voting will be mailed on Dec. 17 to The Recording Academy’s voting members. Ballots are due back to the accounting firm of Deloitte by Jan. 16, 2015, when they will be tabulated and the results kept secret until the 57th GRAMMY Awards telecast.

The 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards are produced by AEG Ehrlich Ventures for The Recording Academy. Ken Ehrlich is executive producer, and Louis J. Horvitz is director.

“A Very GRAMMY Christmas,” hosted by two-time GRAMMY winner LL COOL J featured the announcement of Album Of The Year nominees as well as performances by Ariana Grande with Big Sean, Maroon 5, Tim McGraw, Sam Smith, and Pharrell Williams.

For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @TheGRAMMYs on Twitter, like “The GRAMMYs” on Facebook, and join The GRAMMYs’ social communities on Google+, Instagram, Tumblr and YouTube.

BEYONCE, SAM SMITH, PHARRELL LEAD GRAMMY NOMINATIONS

The Recording Academy® kicked off the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards® nominations on “CBS This Morning,” with Pharrell Williams and Ed Sheeran announcing nominees for Record Of The Year, Best Country Album, Best Pop Vocal Album, and Best Urban Contemporary Album. Following was a series of additional nominations announced via Twitter video made by artists and celebrities, including:

  1. Alanis Morissette https://twitter.com/alanis
  2. Angie Martinez https://twitter.com/angiemartinez
  3. Billy Bush, Access Hollywood https://twitter.com/billybush
  4. “CBS This Morning” https://twitter.com/cbsthismorning
  5. Giuliana Rancic, E! https://twitter.com/giulianarancic
  6. Jake Owen https://twitter.com/jakeowen
  7. Jared Leto https://twitter.com/jaredleto
  8. Joy Williams https://twitter.com/joywilliams
  9. Kylie Minogue https://twitter.com/kylieminogue
  10. LL Cool J https://twitter.com/llcoolj
  11. Mario Lopez, EXTRA https://twitter.com/mariolopezextra
  12. Mark Ronson https://twitter.com/markronson
  13. MC Lyte https://twitter.com/mclyte
  14. Michael Yo, INSIDER https://twitter.com/michaelyo
  15. Nancy O’Dell, Entertainment Tonight https://twitter.com/nancyodell
  16. Ryan Seacrest https://twitter.com/ryanseacrest
  17. Troye Sivan, YOUTUBE https://twitter.com/troyesivan
  18. Toni Braxton https://twitter/com/tonibraxton
  19. Vampire Weekend https://twitter.com/vampireweekend
  20. Weezer https://twitter.com/weezer
  21. Zedd https://twitter.com/zedd

2015 Grammy Awards

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57th Annual Grammy Awards

The 57th Annual Grammy Awards will be held on February 8, 2015 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The show will be broadcast live by CBS. It is not yet known who will host the ceremony. In all, 83 Grammy Awards will be presented, up one compared to 2014.

 

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BEYONCE, PHARRELL, SAM SMITH LEAD GRAMMY NOMINATIONS

2015 Grammy Awards BECK, BEYONCE, ED SHEERAN, SAM SMITH, AND
PHARRELL WILLIAMS VIE FOR ALBUM OF THE YEAR AT THE
57TH ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS® FEB. 8th, 2015, LIVE ON CBS

Nominations for the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards® were announced tonight by The Recording Academy® and reflected an eclectic mix of the best and brightest in music over the past year, as determined by The Academy’s voting members. The 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards will be held on “GRAMMY Sunday,” Feb. 8, 2015, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and broadcast live in high-definition TV and 5.1 surround sound on CBS from 8-11:30 p.m. ET/PT

This year, Beyoncé, Sam Smith, and Pharrell Williams top nominations, garnering six each. Iggy Azalea, Beck, Eric Church, Tom Coyne, Drake, Gordon Goodwin, Jay Z, Miranda Lambert, Sia, Usher, and Jack White earn four nominations each. Additionally, Azalea, Bastille, Brandy Clark, Haim, and Sam Smith vie for the Best New Artist award.

“This year’s nominees are a reflection of the music community’s diversity and range of talent, and a testament to The Academy’s voting process,” said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy. “The Recording Academy is pleased to celebrate this talented crop of artists, nominated to receive music’s greatest honor for their contributions to their respective genres. The tone for Music’s Biggest Night® has undoubtedly been set, and we look forward to producing one of the most exciting telecasts in GRAMMY® history.”

Nominations were revealed on a rolling basis throughout the day, starting with four categories on “CBS This Morning,” followed by a series of video announcements posted by a variety of artists and celebrities on Twitter. The day culminated with the unveiling of Album Of The Year nominations on the one-hour entertainment special, “A Very GRAMMY Christmas, which featured performances of holiday classics and current pop songs.

Following is a sampling of nominations across 83 categories from the GRAMMY Awards’ 30 Fields. For a complete nominations list, please visit www.grammy.com. For updates and breaking news, please visit The Recording Academy’s social networks on Twitter and Facebook.

GENERAL FIELD
Album Of The Year:
Morning Phase — Beck
Beyoncé — Beyoncé
X — Ed Sheeran
In The Lonely Hour — Sam Smith
Girl — Pharrell Williams

Record Of The Year:
“Fancy” — Iggy Azalea Featuring Charli XCX
“Chandelier” — Sia
“Stay With Me” (Darkchild Version) — Sam Smith
“Shake It Off” — Taylor Swift
“All About That Bass” — Meghan Trainor

Song Of The Year:
“All About That Bass” — Kevin Kadish & Meghan Trainor, songwriters (Meghan Trainor)
“Chandelier” — Sia Furler & Jesse Shatkin, songwriters (Sia)
“Shake It Off” — Max Martin, Shellback & Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift)
“Stay With Me” (Darkchild Version) — James Napier, William Phillips & Sam Smith, songwriters (Sam Smith)
“Take Me To Church” — Andrew Hozier-Byrne, songwriter (Hozier)

Best New Artist:
Iggy Azalea
Bastille
Brandy Clark
Haim
Sam Smith

POP FIELD
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance:
“Fancy” — Iggy Azalea Featuring Charli XCX
“A Sky Full Of Stars” — Coldplay
“Say Something” — A Great Big World With Christina Aguilera
“Bang Bang” — Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj
“Dark Horse” — Katy Perry Featuring Juicy J

DANCE/ELECTRONIC MUSIC FIELD
Best Dance Recording:
“Never Say Never” — Basement Jaxx
“Rather Be” — Clean Bandit Featuring Jess Glynne
“F For You” — Disclosure Featuring Mary J. Blige
“I Got U” — Duke Dumont Featuring Jax Jones
“Faded” — Zhu

ROCK FIELD
Best Rock Performance:
“Gimme Something Good” — Ryan Adams
“Do I Wanna Know?” — Arctic Monkeys
“Blue Moon” — Beck
“Fever”— The Black Keys
“Lazaretto”— Jack White

ALTERNATIVE FIELD
Best Alternative Music Album:
This Is All Yours — Alt-J
Reflektor — Arcade Fire
Melophobia — Cage The Elephant
St. Vincent — St. Vincent
Lazaretto — Jack White

R&B FIELD
Best Urban Contemporary Album:
Sail Out — Jhené Aiko
Beyoncé — Beyoncé
X — Chris Brown
Mali Is… — Mali Music
Girl — Pharrell Williams

RAP FIELD
Best Rap Performance:
“3005” — Childish Gambino
“0 To 100/The Catch Up” — Drake
“Rap God” — Eminem
“I” — Kendrick Lamar
“All I Need Is You” — Lecrae

Best Rap Album:
The New Classic — Iggy Azalea
Because The Internet — Childish Gambino
Nobody’s Smiling — Common
The Marshall Mathers LP2 — Eminem
Oxymoron — Schoolboy Q
Blacc Hollywood — Wiz Khalifa

COUNTRY FIELD
Best Country Duo/Group Performance:
“Gentle On My Mind” — The Band Perry
“Somethin’ Bad” — Miranda Lambert With Carrie Underwood
“Day Drinking” — Little Big Town
“Meanwhile Back At Mama’s” — Tim McGraw Featuring Faith Hill
“Raise ‘Em Up” — Keith Urban Featuring Eric Church

Best Country Album:
Riser — Dierks Bentley
The Outsiders — Eric Church
12 Stories — Brandy Clark
Platinum — Miranda Lambert
The Way I’m Livin’ — Lee Ann Womack

JAZZ FIELD
Best Improvised Jazz Solo:
“The Eye Of The Hurricane” — Kenny Barron, soloist
“Fingerprints” — Chick Corea, soloist
“You & The Night & The Music” — Fred Hersch, soloist
“Recorda Me” — Joe Lovano, soloist
“Sleeping Giant” — Brad Mehldau, soloist

GOSPEL/CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC FIELD
Best Gospel Album:
Help — Erica Campbell
Amazing (Live) — Ricky Dillard & New G
Withholding Nothing (Live) — William McDowell
Forever Yours — Smokie Norful
Vintage Worship — Anita Wilson

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album:
If We’re Honest — Francesca Battistelli
Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong. — For King & Country
Hurricane — Natalie Grant
Welcome To The New — MercyMe
Royal Tailor — Royal Tailor

LATIN FIELD
Best Latin Pop Album:
Tangos — Rubén Blades
Elypse — Camila
Raíz — Lila Downs, Niña Pastori And Soledad
Loco De Amor — Juanes
Gracias Por Estar Aquí — Marco Antonio Solís

AMERICAN ROOTS FIELD
Best American Roots Performance:
“Statesboro Blues” — Gregg Allman & Taj Mahal
“A Feather’s Not A Bird” — Rosanne Cash
“And When I Die” — Billy Childs Featuring Alison Krauss & Jerry Douglas
“The Old Me Better” — Keb’ Mo’ Featuring The California Feet Warmers
“Destination” — Nickel Creek

SPOKEN WORD FIELD
Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Storytelling):
Actors Anonymous — James Franco
A Call To Action — Jimmy Carter
Carsick: John Waters Hitchhikes Across America — John Waters
Diary Of A Mad Diva — Joan Rivers
A Fighting Chance — Elizabeth Warren
We Will Survive: True Stories Of Encouragement, Inspiration, And The Power Of Song — Gloria Gaynor

COMEDY FIELD
Best Comedy Album:
Mandatory Fun — “Weird Al” Yankovic
Obsessed — Jim Gaffigan
Oh My God — Louis C.K.
Tragedy Plus Comedy Equals Time — Patton Oswalt
We Are Miracles — Sarah Silverman

This year’s Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical nominations go to Paul Epworth, John Hill, Jay Joyce, Greg Kurstin, and Max Martin.

This year’s GRAMMY Awards process registered more than 20,000 submissions over a 12-month eligibility period (Oct. 1, 2013 – Sept. 30, 2014). GRAMMY ballots for the final round of voting will be mailed on Dec. 17 to The Recording Academy’s voting members. Ballots are due back to the accounting firm of Deloitte by Jan. 16, 2015, when they will be tabulated and the results kept secret until the 57th GRAMMY Awards telecast.

The 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards are produced by AEG Ehrlich Ventures for The Recording Academy. Ken Ehrlich is executive producer, and Louis J. Horvitz is director.

“A Very GRAMMY Christmas,” hosted by two-time GRAMMY winner LL COOL J featured the announcement of Album Of The Year nominees as well as performances by Ariana Grande with Big Sean, Maroon 5, Tim McGraw, Sam Smith, and Pharrell Williams.

For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @TheGRAMMYs on Twitter, like “The GRAMMYs” on Facebook, and join The GRAMMYs’ social communities on Google+, Instagram, Tumblr and YouTube.

BEYONCE, PHARRELL, SAM SMITH LEAD GRAMMY NOMINATIONS

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GRAMMY FOUNDATION VIP ONLINE AUCTION

THE GRAMMY FOUNDATION® AND MUSICARES® ANNOUNCE
SECOND ANNUAL EXCLUSIVE VIP EXPERIENCE-ONLY ONLINE AUCTION

www.charitybuzz.com/support/grammymusicares

Auction Offers Incredible Range Of Celebrity, Entertainment And Business VIP Experiences
To Benefit The GRAMMY Foundation And MusiCares

GRAMMY FOUNDATION VIP AUCTION ONLINEThe GRAMMY® Charity Online Auctions’ second annual celebrity, entertainment and business VIP Experiences online auction featuring more than 30 one-of-a-kind lots. All proceeds raised through this special auction will benefit programs and services of the GRAMMY Foundation and MusiCares.

Featured VIP celebrity, entertainment and business experiences include:

  • Carrie Underwood VIP concert experience at the Grand Ole Opry with private Meet & Greet and backstage tour
  • Concert and Meet & Greet Experiences with: Mindi Abair, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Kendrick Lamar, Miranda Lambert, Ziggy Marley, Sam Smith, The Band Perry, the Walking Papers, and more
  • Personal Skype session with country star Hunter Hayes
  • Have your demo produced by John Beasley and Rickey Minor at a Hollywood recording studio
  • Taylor Swift VIP concert experience including exclusive pre-show party access
  • Private tour of Treyarch — makers of the video game “Call Of Duty®: Black Ops II” — and the chance to play a round with M. Shadows from Avenged Sevenfold
  • Thirty Second To Mars VIP Concert Experience, including stage access (watch the band perform from side stage), Meet & Greet, individual photo and swag pack
  • Dinner with iconic global rock star Yoshiki in Los Angeles or Tokyo
  • Ultimate GRAMMY VIP Experiences, including GRAMMY Awards VIP Seat Filler, and a VIP Package to the MusiCares Person of the Year tribute concert honoring Bob Dylan

Proceeds from GRAMMY Charity Online Auctions provide essential support for the GRAMMY Foundation and MusiCares.

Under the banner of GRAMMY in the Schools®, the GRAMMY Foundation produces a range of distinct education programs — across the country throughout the year — that serve high school students and their schools, including GRAMMY Camp®, GRAMMY Camp Basic Training, GRAMMY Camp — Jazz Session, and GRAMMY Signature Schools. The GRAMMY Foundation also offers preservation and advancement initiatives, fosters dialogue about compelling issues facing the music industry, supports projects that increase the understanding of music and its role in society, and raises public awareness about the urgent need to preserve our nation’s recorded sound legacy.

These programs include the Entertainment Law Initiative®, the Grant Program with funding generously provided by The Recording Academy®, the GRAMMY Living Histories program, and the GRAMMY Foundation Legacy Concert (formerly the Music Preservation Project).

MusiCares ensures that music people have a place to turn in times of financial, medical and personal need by providing programs and services, including emergency financial assistance, educational workshops, and flu shots, hearing tests, and medical/dental screenings.

The MusiCares MAP Fund® allows access to addiction recovery treatment and sober living resources for members of the music community. Safe Harbor Rooms, weekly addiction support groups and the MusiCares Sober Touring Network provide ongoing recovery support.

The GRAMMY Foundation was established in 1988 to cultivate the understanding, appreciation and advancement of the contribution of recorded music to American culture.

The Foundation accomplishes this mission through programs and activities that engage the music industry and cultural community as well as the general public. The Foundation works in partnership year-round with its founder, The Recording Academy, to bring national attention to important issues such as the value and impact of music and arts education and the urgency of preserving our rich cultural heritage.

In recognition of the significant role of teachers in shaping their students’ musical experiences, The Recording Academy and the GRAMMY Foundation partnered to present their first Music Educator Award in 2014. Open to current U.S. music teachers in kindergarten through college, the Music Educator Award will be presented at the Special Merit Awards ceremony during GRAMMY Week 2015. For more information about the Music Educator Award, please visit GRAMMYMusicTeacher.com. For more information about the Foundation, please visit: www.grammyfoundation.org.

For breaking news and exclusive content, please like “GRAMMY in the Schools®” on Facebook, follow the GRAMMY Foundation on Twitter (@GRAMMYFdn) and join us on Instagram (@GRAMMYFdn),

GRAMMY FOUNDATION VIP ONLINE AUCTION

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Taylor Swift Going Pop Country Stars comment

Taylor Swift Going PopCountry Stars comment on Taylor Going Pop: ‘Taylor Swift Can Do What Taylor Swift Wants to Do’


In the video for “Shake It Off,” the lead single from her new album, “1989,” Taylor Swift crawls under the legs of a row of women twerking in denim cutoffs.

“Shake It Off” speaks directly to women and girls of all ages by saying just be who you are and forget about what anyone else thinks. This message of self-acceptance is all over pop radio this summer, with Meghan Trainor’s “All About That Bass,” which preaches that you don’t have to be a size 2 and Colbie Caillat‘s newest single “Try,” which urges women to stop being something they aren’t.

Like Paisley and Underwood, the interviewees were supportive of Taylor’s choices and her music. Hillary Scott of Lady Antebellum noted, “the songwriting is still — you can tell she takes so much pride in that and that’s what I respect.” ref: billboard

Taylor doesn’t want to be an industry-driven pop star dependent on showing some skin, featuring cameos by rappers, and borrowing beats from hip-hop and indie rock.

Her pop intentions are more old-fashioned; she doesn’t need to be edgy or provocative in her pursuit of a good time.

Taylor Swift Going Pop Country Stars comment

Despite the hoopla Taylor caused by starting her new phase, it’s not as if she has shut the door on her country forever.

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