United News of Bangladesh

Carrie Underwood and Jason Aldean were the big winners, the Judds reunited, and Kelsea Ballerini turned a tough break into a one-woman house party at Monday night’s CMT music awards. Underwood and Aldean won video of the year and collaborative video of the year for their duet “If I Didn’t Love You” on the show that uses fan votes to honor the best in country music videos.  “This one’s all about the fans man,” Underwood said as she accepted the belt-buckle CMT trophy for video of the year, a record 25th win for her.  “I’m pretty sure I picked the perfect partner for this song,” Aldean said. The Judds made their first major awards show performance in over two decades, with 76-year-old Naomi and her 57-year-old daughter Wynonna singing their signature 1990 classic “Love Can Build a Bridge.” They were joined by a gospel choir in the performance that was pre-recorded outside the Country Music Hall of Fame. The show from the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee made the best of the last-minute absence of co-host Kelsea Ballerini, who tested positive for COVID-19 a few days earlier. Her co-host, “Avengers” actor Anthony Mackie, took the stage alone at the start of the live CBS telecast and introduced a “backup KB,” Kane Brown, to help with hosting duties. Brown was also the night’s most nominated artist but came up empty. But Ballerini wouldn’t be left out. She appeared on a big screen from home, decked out in a full awards-show dress in her living room. Read: Pink Floyd members reunite to record song for Ukraine “This is my normal Monday night, in full glam, with lighting I set up myself, and a remote truck outside,” Ballerini said. “I would so much rather be there with you, but I will be popping in all night long.” Later in the show, Ballerini performed from her backyard, singing her new single “Heartfirst” alone with a white guitar while standing on the grass with images of her band projected on to a curtain hung behind her. She made constant costume changes, appearing in a new dress for each appearance and ending the night in her pajamas. Miranda Lambert won her eighth CMT award, for female video of the year, for “If I Was a Cowboy,” which she also performed. “I am so happy to be a part of the women of country music today,” Lambert said. Cody Johnson won male video of the year for ”′Til You Can’t.” Maddie & Tae won best group or duo video for “Woman You Got.” Tae Kerr, who recently went through a difficult pregnancy and premature birth, appeared on a screen from home during their acceptance, holding her new baby. Read: Rapper Tory Lanez jailed again in Megan Thee Stallion case “I’ve missed you, I’ve missed you so much, and I’ve been drinking because I’m so nervous,” Maddie Font said to her musical partner during an acceptance speech where she went from laughs to tears and back again. “Tell that baby girl I love her.” At age 69, George Strait won his first ever CMT award, taking CMT performance of the year for “Is Anybody Goin’ to San Antone?” from “CMT Giants: Charley Pride’.” Performances came fast and furious during the three hour show. Keith Urban opened the telecast with his single “Wild Hearts,” followed immediately by the duet “Never Say Never” from Cole Swindell and Lainey Wilson, who stepped out to the front of an outdoor stage to let the Nashville rain hit them as they sang. Underwood sang her song “Ghost Story” in a pre-taped performance from her Las Vegas residency, taking flight mid-song Cirque du Soleil-style on a cloth swing hung from the ceiling. Jimmie Allen, Monica and Little Big Town gave the first live performance of their collaboration “Pray.” All wore all white and stood on a smoke covered stage as inspirational images from the pandemic and the war in Ukraine were shown behind them. The hosting change-up wasn’t the only hiccup the show faced: lightning forced the closure of the CMT’s pink carpet before most stars arrived to have their photos taken and be interviewed.

Lutfor Hasan, a singer, lyricist and popular author, resumed his playback career after a long gap of a decade.  The singer has announced the development on his social media profile.  Also read:‘Payer Tolay Mati Nai’ bags top award at Nepal Intl Film Fest Lutfor’s last playback was for the movie Television directed by celebrated Bangladeshi director Mostofa Sarwar Farooki. The title of that song was Bhabnar Rail Gari which was composed by the late musician Ayub Bachchu.  “No one called me in the last 10 years,” Lutfor told the media. “But now I’ve got a great lyric to sing. Hope the music lovers will love this song.” Lutfor came to the fore with his debut album Ghuri Tumi Kar Akashe Uro.  The movie which Lutfor sang for is Nakful— which is Nosepin in English.  Also read:Palak set for acting debut in 'Freelancer Nadia' The song is written by Ferari Farhad, and Jabed Ahmed Kislu composed the song.  Farhad also wrote the story of the movie which is being directed by Alok Hasan. It’s not clear when the movie will be released.

Pink Floyd is releasing its first new music in almost three decades to raise money for the people of Ukraine, the band announced Thursday. “Hey Hey Rise Up” features Pink Floyd members David Gilmour and Nick Mason, with vocals from Ukrainian singer Andriy Khlyvnyuk of the band BoomBox. Roger Waters, who left the band in the 1980s, is not involved. The track features Khlyvnyuk singing a patriotic Ukrainian song from a clip he recorded in front of Kyiv’s St. Sophia Cathedral and posted on social media. Also read:Rapper Tory Lanez jailed again in Megan Thee Stallion case Gilmour, who performed with BoomBox in London in 2015, said the video was “a powerful moment that made me want to put it to music.” After Russia’s invasion, Khlyvnyuk cut short a tour of the U.S. to return to Ukraine and join a territorial defense unit. Gilmour said he spoke to Khlyvnyuk, who was recovering in a hospital from a mortar shrapnel injury, while he was writing the song. He said: “I played him a little bit of the song down the phone line and he gave me his blessing. We both hope to do something together in person in the future.” The song is being released Friday and the band says proceeds will go to the Ukraine Humanitarian Relief Fund. “We want to express our support for Ukraine, and in that way show that most of the world thinks that it is totally wrong for a superpower to invade the independent democratic country that Ukraine has become,” Gilmour said. Pink Floyd was founded in London in the mid-1960s and helped forge the U.K. psychedelic scene before releasing influential 1970s albums including “The Dark Side of the Moon,” “Wish You Were Here” and “The Wall.” Also read: List of Grammy winners in top categories Original member Waters quit in 1985, and the remaining members of Pink Floyd last recorded together for the 1994 album “The Division Bell.” After keyboard player Richard Wright died in 2008, Gilmour said he doubted Pink Floyd would perform together again. “Hey Hey Rise Up” also features Guy Pratt on bass and Nitin Sawhney on keyboards.

Rapper Tory Lanez was briefly jailed Tuesday after a judge said he had violated a protective order in a felony assault case in which he is charged with shooting rapper Megan Thee Stallion in the feet. Lanez, 29, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson, was handcuffed in a Los Angeles courtroom and taken to jail. He posted bail and was released several hours later. At the hearing, Superior Court Judge David Herriford found that Peterson had violated orders that he not contact or harass Megan and that he not discuss evidence with outside parties. While Peterson didn't directly contact Megan, Herriford said some of his tweets appeared to be clear messages to her, and he ordered Peterson not to mention her in any social media. Peterson's lawyer, Shawn Holley, said in court that he did not supply information to a Twitter user who posted in February that Peterson's DNA was not found on the weapon in the case. In her argument, Holley said the tweet, now deleted, was not entirely accurate. She said that an investigation showed there were four DNA contributors on the handgun, making it inconclusive whether Peterson's DNA was found. She said his DNA was definitely not found to be on the gun's magazine. Also Read: ‘Payer Tolay Mati Nai’ bags top award at Nepal Intl Film Fest The prosecution had asked that Peterson's bail be revoked entirely or increased to $5 million. “We are pleased that the Court rejected those outrageous requests," Holly said in an email after the hearing. The judge instead increased bail from the $250,000 Peterson posted after his 2020 arrest to $350,000. A September trial date was selected, and Peterson was told to return for a June hearing. He has pleaded not guilty. Peterson, Megan and others were in an SUV in the Hollywood Hills after a party on July 12, 2020. Authorities allege he fired at her feet during an argument after she had gotten out. After months of speculation and publicity surrounding the incident, Peterson was charged with felony assault in October 2020, and in December of last year a judge determined there was enough evidence for him to go to trial. After his initial arrest, Peterson tweeted that “the truth will come to light.” Also Read: List of Grammy winners in top categories The Canadian rapper Tory Lanez has had a successful run of mixtapes and major-label records since his career began in 2009, with his last two albums reaching the top 10 on Billboard's charts. Megan Thee Stallion was already a major up-and-coming star at the time of the incident, and has thrived since. She won a Grammy for best new artist in 2021, and had No. 1 singles in the Billboard Hot 100 with her own song “Savage” featuring Beyoncé and as a guest on Cardi B's “WAP.”    

Winners Sunday in the top categories at the 64th annual Grammy Awards: — Album of the year: “We Are,” Jon Batiste — Record of the year: “Leave the Door Open,” Silk Sonic — Best new artist: Olivia Rodrigo — Song of the year (songwriter’s award): “Leave the Door Open,” Silk Sonic (Brandon Anderson, Christopher Brody Brown, Dernst Emile II and Bruno Mars) — Best rap performance: “Family Ties,” Baby Keem featuring Kendrick Lamar — Best pop duo/group performance: “Kiss Me More,” Doja Cat featuring SZA — Best country album: “Starting Over,” Chris Stapleton — Best R&B album: “Heaux Tales,” Jazmine Sullivan — Best pop vocal album: “Sour,” Olivia Rodrigo — Best pop solo performance: “Drivers License,” Olivia Rodrigo — Best rock album: “Medicine at Midnight,” Foo Fighters — Best rock song: “Waiting On a War,” Foo Fighters Also read: Jazmine Sullivan wins second Grammy — Best rock performance: “Making a Fire,” Foo Fighters — Best rap song: “Jail,” Kanye West featuring Jay-Z — Best rap album: “Call Me If You Get Lost,” Tyler, the Creator — Best alternative music album: “Daddy’s Home,” St. Vincent — Best traditional pop vocal album: “Love for Sale,” Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga — Best music video: “Freedom,” Jon Batiste — Producer of the year, non-classical: Jack Antonoff — Best R&B song: “Leave the Door Open,” Silk Sonic — Best R&B performance: (tie) “Leave the Door Open,” Silk Sonic, and “Pick Up Your Feelings,” Jazmine Sullivan — Best music film: “Summer of Soul” — Best country song: “Cold,” Chris Stapleton Also read: John Legend honored at Grammys' Black Music Collective event — Best country solo performance: “You Should Probably Leave,” Chris Stapleton — Best country do/group performance: “Younger Me,” Brothers Osborne — Best comedy album: “Sincerely Louis CK,” Louis C.K. — Best roots gospel album: “My Savior,” Carrie Underwood — Best gospel album: “Believe For It,” CeCe Winans — Best American roots performance: “Cry,” Jon Batiste — Best American roots song: “Cry,” Jon Batiste — Best música urbana album: “El Último Tour Del Mundo,” Bad Bunny — Best Latin rock or alternative album: “Origen,” Juanes — Best improvised jazz solo: “Humpty Dumpty (Set 2),” Chick Corea — Best Latin jazz album: “Mirror Mirror,” Eliane Elias with Chick Corea and Chucho Valdés — Best musical theater album: “The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical” — Best compilation soundtrack for visual media: “The United States vs. Billie Holliday” — Best score soundtrack for visual media: (tie) “Soul,” Jon Batiste, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, and “The Queen’s Gambit,” Carlos Rafael Rivera — Best dance/electronic album: “Subconsciously,” Black Coffee — Best global music: “Mohabbat,” Arooj Aftab — Best global music album: “Mother Nature,” Angélique Kidjo — Best traditional blues album: “I Be Trying,” Cedric Burnside — Best contemporary blues album: “662,” Christone “Kingfish” Ingram — Best folk album: “They’re Calling Me Home,” Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi — Best historical album: “Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 1: The Early Years (1963-1967)”

Jazmine Sullivan has won her second Grammy, and she gets this one all to herself. Sullivan won best R&B album at the Grammy Awards on Sunday for “Heaux Tales.” “I think I wrote this album to deal with my own shame around some of the decisions I made in my 20s,” the 34-year-old Sullivan said as she accepted the award. “What it ended up being was a safe space for black women to tell their stories.” Read More: John Legend honored at Grammys' Black Music Collective event Earlier Sunday, Sullivan won her first Grammy, for best R&B performance, for “Pick Up Your Feelings.” The win was a tie with Silk Sonic. Earlier, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy appeared in a video message at the Grammy Awards to ask for support in telling the story of Ukraine’s invasion by Russia. During the message that aired on the show Sunday, he likened the invasion to a deadly silence threatening to extinguish the dreams and lives of the Ukrainian people, including children. “Our musicians wear body armor instead of tuxedos. They sing to the wounded in hospitals, even to those who can’t hear them,” he said. “But the music will break through anyway.” Read More: Will Smith resigns from film academy over Chris Rock slap  

As John Legend was honored for his musical achievements Saturday — the night before the Grammy Awards — the singer used the Recording Academy stage to pay homage to a Black music culture that has shaped him and the wider world of music. Legend explained how Black music has set trends for listeners across the globe, speaking at the academy’s Black Music Collective event in Las Vegas, where he was given the Global Impact Award for his personal and professional achievements in the music industry. “I’m proud to celebrate and honor and cultivate our music,” Legend said at the event held the night before the Grammy Awards. “Black music is and has been the rhythm, the root, the inspiration, the innovation behind so much of the world’s popular music. It doesn’t exist without us," he said. Also read: Will Smith resigns from film academy over Chris Rock slap The multi-Grammy winner applauded the efforts of the Black Music Collective, a group created in 2020 of prominent music industry leaders — including honorary chairs from Legend and producers Jimmy Jam and Quincy Jones — who are looking to find ways to drive Black representation and inclusion. The academy has been focused on amplifying Black voices after years of backlash regarding racial inequality. Like Legend, the event was filled with empowering messages that touched on the importance of recognizing Black music creators. It also featured a slew of popular performances including Chloe Bailey, Muni Long, Jimmie Allen, Cordae and Summer Walker. Legend said Black music has the potential to fuel justice and inspire communities. “Our art and music can help movements find their footing and voice,” he said. “Our art and music can help activists, the people closest to injustice and lead the way forward to equality and opportunity.” Saweetie, who presented MC Lyte with an award, spoke about how Black women’s accomplishments have been downplayed but their impact on the culture has been undeniable. She has women have been in the forefront of hip-hop as rappers, producers and others behind the scenes. “There’s no conversation about the past, present and future of hip-hop without women,” she said. “The playing ground has not been level, but I’m proud of the progress we made. Despite the continued injustice and inequality in our industry and society at large, there’s no better time to be a Black creator than now.” The event highlighted the productive efforts by LVRN, a Black-founded record label that has built a strong roster including 6lack, D.R.A.M., Boogie and Summer Walker. Also read: Oscars producer says police offered to arrest Will Smith MC Lyte was honored for being the “beacon of hope” for Black women, while D-Nice was recognized for his success through Club Quarantine. He says Legend helped ignite the flood of new followers in the early stages. “Club Quarantine is not really about D-Nice, the deejay,” he said. “It’s about a community. People come together and they share conversations in the chats. I’m just in the background trying to create a space to feel comfortable to get together. I say this like I said before ‘Black music saved the world.”

Will Smith resigned Friday from the motion picture academy following his Oscars night slap of Chris Rock and said he would accept any further punishment the organization imposed. Smith in a statement released Friday afternoon said he will “fully accept any and all consequences for my conduct. My actions at the 94th Academy Awards presentation were shocking, painful, and inexcusable.” Film academy president David Rubin said Smith’s resignation was accepted. “We will continue to move forward with our disciplinary proceedings against Mr. Smith for violations of the Academy’s Standards of Conduct, in advance of our next scheduled board meeting on April 18.” Smith loses voting privileges with his resignation. But there are other, less tangible benefits to being part of the academy, Hollywood’s most prestigious organization: It bestows industry credibility on its members. It’s invitation only, and with a once-a-year membership review. “I betrayed the trust of the Academy. I deprived other nominees and winners of their opportunity to celebrate and be celebrated for their extraordinary work,” Smith’s statement said. “I am heartbroken. I want to put the focus back on those who deserve attention for their achievements and allow the Academy to get back to the incredible work it does to support creativity and artistry in film. Read: Oscars producer says police offered to arrest Will Smith “Change takes time and I am committed to doing the work to ensure that I never again allow violence to overtake reason,” Smith concluded in the statement. The resignation came two days after the academy’s leadership board met to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Smith for violations against the group’s standards of conduct. Those proceedings could have resulted in suspension or expulsion, and it was not immediately clear what additional punishment he could face. Had he been expelled, Smith would have joined a small group of men removed from the academy: Harvey Weinstein, Roman Polanski, Bill Cosby and the actor Carmine Caridi, who was kicked out for sharing awards screeners. On Sunday, Smith strode from his front-row Dolby Theatre seat on to the stage and smacked Rock, who had made a joke at the expense of Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Moments later, he went on to win the best actor award for his role in “King Richard.” Rock, who was about to present Oscar for best documentary, declined to file charges when asked by police. He has only briefly addressed the attack publicly, saying at one comedy concert in Boston this week that he was still “kind of processing what happened.” Smith stunned Rock, the theater crowd and viewers at home when he took the stage after Rock joked: “Jada, I love you. ‘G.I. Jane 2,’ can’t wait to see it.” Read: Chris Rock takes to comedy mic, still processing Oscars slap Pinkett Smith, who has spoken publicly about her hair loss condition, alopecia, had a closely shaved head similar to that of Demi Moore in the original movie. After Smith’s attack, he returned to his seat and angrily twice shouted at Rock to “get my wife’s name out your (expletive) mouth.” When Smith took the stage again less than hour later to accept his Oscar, he tearfully apologized to the academy but notably omitted any mention of Rock. The fallout was immediate and intense. Smith had supporters for coming to his wife’s defense, but he was widely condemned for responding with violence and for marring both his long-sought Oscar victory and overshadowing the night’s other winners. That included Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, director of the winning documentary, “Summer of Soul,” and the film’s producers. They claimed their awards in the unsettled moments following Smith’s attack and outburst, when the room’s attention was shattered. Before the disruption, the ceremony had represented a reset from the pandemic-constrained versions of the past two years. It was back in its home theater, boasted a trio of well-received female hosts — Regina Hall, Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes — and had tallied several breakthrough winners. Among them were “West Side Story” star Ariana DeBose, the first Afro-Latina and openly LGBTQ actor to win in the category of best supporting actress, and Troy Kotsur of “CODA,” the first deaf male actor to win the supporting actor prize. The night ended with “CODA” being crowned best picture, a landmark achievement for a streaming service and for a film with a largely deaf cast.

Popular Bangladeshi actress Rozina has got a modern mosque constructed in Rajbari district's Goalanda upazila, her birthplace. The masjid is named ‘Ten Domes Ma Khadija Jame Mosque’ after her mother. Former state minister for education and lawmaker of Rajbari-1 constituency, Kazi Keramat Ali, and Rozina jointly inaugurated the newly built mosque on Friday. Also read: More than 50 years later, MSG to host another concert for Bangladesh Bangladesh Film Artistes' Association president and Nirapad Sarak Chai chairman Ilias Kanchan, Goalanda upazila parishad chairman Mostafa Munshi, upazila nirbahi officer Md Azizul Haque Khan, Goalanda municipality mayor Nazrul Islam Mandal, Goalanda Awami League general secretary Biblab Ghose, among others, were present at the inaugural ceremony.

Oscars producer Will Packer said Los Angeles police were ready to arrest Will Smith after Smith slapped Chris Rock on the Academy Awards stage. “They were saying, you know, this is battery, was a word they used in that moment," Packer said in a clip released by ABC News Thursday night of an interview he gave to “Good Morning America.” “They said we will go get him. We are prepared. We’re prepared to get him right now. You can press charges, we can arrest him. They were laying out the options.” But Packer said Rock was “very dismissive” of the idea. “He was like, ‘No, no, no, I’m fine,” Packer said. "And even to the point where I said, ‘Rock, let them finish.’ The LAPD officers finished laying out what his options were and they said, ‘Would you like us to take any action?’ And he said no.” Also read: Will Smith would face little more than a slap if charged The LAPD said in a statement after Sunday night's ceremony that they were aware of the incident, and that Rock had declined to file a police report. The department declined comment Thursday on Packer's interview, a longer version of which will air on Friday morning. The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences met Wednesday to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Smith for violations against the group’s standards of conduct. Smith could be suspended, expelled or otherwise sanctioned. The academy said in a statement that “Mr. Smith’s actions at the 94th Oscars were a deeply shocking, traumatic event to witness in-person and on television." Without giving specifics, the academy said Smith was asked to leave the ceremony at the Dolby Theatre, but refused to do so. Smith strode from his front row seat on to the stage and slapped Rock after a joke Rock made about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, when he was on stage to present the Oscar for best documentary. On Monday, Smith issued an apology to Rock, the academy and to viewers, saying “I was out of line and I was wrong.” Also read: Chris Rock takes to comedy mic, still processing Oscars slap The academy said Smith has the opportunity to defend himself in a written response before the board meets again on April 18. Rock publicly addressed the incident for the first time, but only briefly, at the beginning of a standup show Wednesday night in Boston, where he was greeted by a thunderous standing ovation. He said “I’m still kind of processing what happened.”