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<p><img src="https://www.pophatesflops.com/uploads/monthly_2021_09/Janet-Jackson-1.jpeg.37c119a8f669f552625d4fb7eb2f21e7.jpeg" /></p>
<p>
	Janet Jackson announced that she will release a new album in 2022, and that a new single will arrive by the end of this year via her label, Rhythm Nation Records.
</p>

<p>
	Jackson offered no additional details about the forthcoming single, although she did reveal production credits for the album, which will be her first since 2015’s <em>Unbreakable</em>. The album will find her reuniting with production/songwriting duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, as well as collaborating with Darrel Randle, Ralph Johnson (a founding member of Earth, Wind &amp; Fire), Siedah Garret, and Marcel East.
</p>

<p>
	The news comes in advance of the release of <em>Janet</em>, a four-hour documentary that chronicles her personal life and career that arrives in January via Lifetime and A&amp;E. She executive-produced the documentary alongside Randy Jackson.
</p>

<p>
	The Ben Hirsch-directed two-part film will include archival footage, never-before-seen home videos, and celebrity interviews, including chats with Missy Elliott, Paula Abdul and Mariah Carey. It follows Jackson and her family following the death of her father Joseph, the patriarch of the Jackson dynasty who died in 2018. Jackson also discusses her 2004 Super Bowl performance with Justin Timberlake, the death of her brother Michael Jackson, and becoming a mother.
</p>

<p>
	Jackson was originally slated to release her 12th studio album <em>Black Diamond</em> along with an accompanying tour in 2020, but both were postponed due to the pandemic.
</p>

<p style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/janet-jackson-announces-first-new-album-since-2015-1225698/" rel="external nofollow">x</a>
</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">473</guid><pubDate>Tue, 14 Sep 2021 12:48:00 +0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Britney Spears Announces Engagement to Longtime Boyfriend, Sam Asghari</title><link>https://www.pophatesflops.com/news/entertainmentnews/britney-spears-announces-engagement-to-longtime-boyfriend-sam-asghari-r472/</link><description><![CDATA[
<p><img src="https://www.pophatesflops.com/uploads/monthly_2021_09/12xp-britney-01-superJumbo.jpeg.86448c6bb918457107ee387cedb89198.jpeg" /></p>
<p>
	Britney Spears announced on Sunday that she was engaged to her longtime boyfriend, Sam Asghari, three months after she told a Los Angeles judge that the conservatorship that has governed her life since 2008 was robbing her of the ability to make personal decisions.
</p>

<p>
	Brandon Cohen, a talent manager for Mr. Asghari, confirmed the engagement on Sunday night.
</p>

<p>
	“The couple made their longstanding relationship official today and are deeply touched by the support, dedication and love expressed to them,” Mr. Cohen said.
</p>

<p>
	Ms. Spears and Mr. Asghari each shared posts on Instagram to announce the engagement and to show off Ms. Spears’s ring.
</p>

<p>
	Mr. Cohen said a New York City jeweler, Roman Malayev, designed the ring.
</p>

<p>
	The engagement came just days after lawyers for Ms. Spears’s father, James P. Spears, wrote in a filing, “If Ms. Spears wants to terminate the conservatorship and believes that she can handle her own life, Mr. Spears believes that she should get that chance.”
</p>

<p>
	Ms. Spears gave a statement in her case in June, sharing that she had been drugged, forced to work and prevented from removing her birth control device.
</p>

<p>
	“I just want my life back,” Ms. Spears said. “I truly believe this conservatorship is abusive. I don’t feel like I can live a full life.”
</p>

<p>
	In her statement, Ms. Spears said that under the conservatorship she was not able to marry or have a child.
</p>

<p>
	“I want to be able to get married and have a baby,” the singer said. “I was told right now in the conservatorship I am not able to get married or have a baby.”
</p>

<p>
	In a highly contested legal battle, Ms. Spears in July filed to have her father removed from his role as conservator of her estate. Mr. Spears initially pushed back on the request, but announced last month that he would step aside and work with the court to assure “an orderly transition to a new conservator.”
</p>

<p>
	Mr. Asghari is an actor who has worked on a number of movies and TV shows, including the Showtime series “Black Monday.” He also works as a fitness trainer.
</p>

<p>
	Mr. Asghari told Men’s Health in 2018 that he met Ms. Spears in 2016 while working on a music video for her song “Slumber Party.”
</p>

<p>
	Ms. Spears has been married twice before. In 2004 she married Jason Alexander, a childhood friend, for 55 hours.
</p>

<p>
	Later that year, Ms. Spears married Kevin Federline, a backup dancer, actor and rapper; they have two sons. Ms. Spears filed for divorce from Mr. Federline in 2006.
</p>

<p style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/12/arts/music/britney-spears-engaged-sam-asghari.html" rel="external nofollow">x</a>
</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">472</guid><pubDate>Mon, 13 Sep 2021 13:38:00 +0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Nicole Scherzinger Sued By Pussycat Dolls Founder Over Reunion</title><link>https://www.pophatesflops.com/news/entertainmentnews/nicole-scherzinger-sued-by-pussycat-dolls-founder-over-reunion-r471/</link><description><![CDATA[
<p><img src="https://www.pophatesflops.com/uploads/monthly_2021_09/image.jpeg.004bdc659a78da5139c7b85970f34ce4.jpeg" /></p>
<p>
	When The Pussycat Dolls announced their reunion back in 2019, fans were hopeful that the group had turned over a new leaf. The girls seemed more bonded than ever in interviews, there were promises that all five of them would get a chance to sing (and not just frontwoman and "featured artist" Nicole Scherzinger), and their first new release in over a decade teased the impressive choreography the group was known for in their heyday.
</p>

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<p>
	Sadly, things have never been smooth sailing in the Pussycat Dolls camp, and their reunion is no exception. Following several COVID-related delays and a <a href="https://www.pophatesflops.com/topic/22252-the-pussycat-dolls-santa-baby/?do=findComment&amp;comment=242448" rel="">seriously weird music video</a> for 'Santa Baby', reports have now emerged stating that Scherzinger is being sued by Robin Antin, the group's mastermind and manager.
</p>

<p>
	The lawsuit relates to the deal that was made in preparation for the group's reunion tour, in which Scherzinger agreed to accept 49% of Pussycat Dolls Worldwide's shares and profits for the tour in exchange for her participation. Antin, the CEO of Pussycat Dolls Worldwide and the creator of the group, apparently "only agreed to transfer the shares to Scherzinger based upon Scherzinger's promise to perform as part of the reunion tour".
</p>

<p>
	While she initially agreed to the terms of this deal, Scherzinger has since reneged on her commitment to the tour, and is now demanding full creative control over the show and a larger share in the group's business. Scherzinger is now demanding 75% of Pussycat Dolls Worldwide and "final decision-making authority" over the group's output, and is threatening not to participate in the tour until her demands are met. "Tour dates were planned but are unable to be confirmed because of Scherzinger's extortion," Antin's lawyers stated.
</p>

<p>
	The court case has grown to include more than just PCD, with tour promoter Live Nation now asking for a refund on their $600 000 investment into the shows.
</p>

<p>
	The lawsuit will surely throw a wrench in the group's plans to reunite, which were already delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Reuniting for the first time in late 2019, the group <a href="https://www.pophatesflops.com/topic/21378-the-pussycat-dolls-react/?do=findComment&amp;comment=228348" rel="">released comeback single 'React'</a> as promotion for their concert tour, dubbed the <em>Unfinished Business Tour</em>, and teased more music to come, with many fans expecting a Greatest Hits album to match their tour. Naturally, the tour dates were pushed into late 2020 before being rescheduled for 2021, and fans have heard no news regarding rescheduled dates since March of this year, all of which are currently listed as "To Be Confirmed".
</p>

<p>
	Is Nicole within her rights to demand more money as the frontwoman of PCD? Or is this more of the diva behaviour that we've long suspected of her? Let us know in the comments below!
</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">471</guid><pubDate>Sun, 05 Sep 2021 11:55:46 +0000</pubDate></item><item><title>ABBA Reunite for First Time in 40 Years, Announce New Album and Digital Concert</title><link>https://www.pophatesflops.com/news/entertainmentnews/abba-reunite-for-first-time-in-40-years-announce-new-album-and-digital-concert-r470/</link><description><![CDATA[
<p><img src="https://www.pophatesflops.com/uploads/monthly_2021_09/_120372508_image-abbadigital-horizontal-credit-industriallight-magic.jpeg.9b400608e25e25449226c7472a36c011.jpeg" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
	After years of delay and teasing on social media, ABBA have officially reunited, announcing the new album <em>Voyage</em> out November 6th.
</p>

<p>
	Although the Swedish pop group sang “Me and I” at a private gala in 2016 — their first time performing since 1986 — this marks their first time officially reuniting in 40 years. Ahead of the release, they dropped the reflective ballad “I Still Have Faith In You,” with a video montage of the group throughout the years.
</p>

<p>
	In addition, ABBA will also perform a digital concert on May 27th, 2022 — which they first announced in 2016. Made through George Lucas’ Industry Light &amp; Magic, <em>Abba Voyage</em> will take place at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park’s arena in London. General tickets are available on September 7th.
</p>

<p>
	“It’s been a while since we made music together,” the band said in a statement. “Almost 40 years, actually. We took a break in the spring of 1982 and now we’ve decided it’s time to end it. They say it’s foolhardy to wait more than 40 years between albums, so we’ve recorded a follow-up to The Visitors. We simply call it Voyage and we’re truly sailing in uncharted waters.”
</p>

<p>
	“It’s hard to say what’s been the most joyful thing for me with this project,” Andersson said. “If it’s the involvement in creating the concert together with everyone or being back in the studio together again after 40 years. I think hearing Frida and Agnetha singing again is hard to beat.” Added Anni-Frid Lyngstad: “Those first sessions back in 2018 were such fun, and when Benny called and asked if I’d consider singing some more I jumped  at  it!”
</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">470</guid><pubDate>Thu, 02 Sep 2021 17:27:00 +0000</pubDate></item><item><title>ABBA Set To Announce Reunion After 39 Years</title><link>https://www.pophatesflops.com/news/entertainmentnews/abba-set-to-announce-reunion-after-39-years-r469/</link><description><![CDATA[
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<p>
	39 years after the release of their last album, ABBA are set to reunite this week to announce a new hologram-led tour and the release of their first new music in decades.
</p>

<p>
	The supergroup has launched social media profiles for their new project entitled ABBA Voyage, which fans presume will be the name of their new tour. First announced five years ago, the tour won't feature the group members themselves who are all in their 70s, but life-like holograms known as "abbatars" who will replicate the band's appearance from their heyday. Set to launch by spring of 2019, the tour has been delayed multiple times due to the COVID-19 pandemic but is currently scheduled to take off in 2022.
</p>

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<p>
	Along with a tour, the group have also reunited in the studio to record new music. In 2018, the foursome announced that they had recorded two new songs together entitled 'I Still Have Faith In You' and 'Don't Shut Me Down'. Since then, however, the band has continued to create new music together, with Benny Andersson confirming the existence of a third song in 2019 and Björn Ulvaeus stating in 2020 that the group had written eight new songs together with five of them being recorded so far. 
</p>

<p>
	At least one of the songs will be released as a single, with Ulvaeus stating in 2020 that a music video costing £15 million has been produced for the track staring the abbatars. Some of the tracks will also feature in a TV special entitled ABBA: Thank You for the Music, An All-Star Tribute, which fans anticipate to be released alongside the new music.
</p>

<p>
	With the ABBA Voyage social media accounts teasing an announcement for 2 September, fans won't have long to wait until all becomes apparent.
</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">469</guid><pubDate>Tue, 31 Aug 2021 15:07:19 +0000</pubDate></item></channel></rss>
