"Out of the blue...he said I have a
song," said Karen Waldrup, "The Voice" runner up during season 25, about how her new single "Blue Cowboy
Boots" came to be. "My friend Ed Hill (Trish Yearwood)...has written for A-listers. He is so incredible. He's been
writing with me for 10 years."
"He
came with the title and concept. He is an incredible songwriter. Then he said, ‘You have to make yourself some blue
boots," she laughed a little when we were talking about the single.
Karen Waldrup is a very active Country singer, who made it to the Top Five on NBC's "The Voice"
during season 25. She has seven albums to her credit and has garnered 12 Nashville Industry Music Awards.
"He is a character...a representation,"
said Jazz guitarist dee Brown (Demitris Edwards Brown), with a slight laugh, about the meaning to the title
of his new album "Mister Smooth" (Innervision). "I'm not mister smooth. I started working
on it two years ago watching TV or something and I saw...for some reason a guy....and I said he looks like mister smooth.
Whatever this person was doing, it looked so smooth."
Well, dee Brown's version of mister smooth is a project that offers 10 selections of smooth produced by Grammy
nominated Valdez Brantley (Usher, Mary J Blige).
"My
producer (Valdez) is a long-time friend," said the Detroit native. "He is an awesome keyboard player. He played
with Mary J Blige and was Usher's music director for 10 years. We collaborated on a few songs. He made every album except... <Read the full June 10, 2025 column here...>
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The Pulse of Entertainment
Broadcasting Vol1
NEWS
Two-Time Grammy Nominated
Da' Brat Releases New Single 'Have U2 Myself' Featuring Jessica Betts
(Atlanta, GA) - Two-time Grammy nominated Hip-Hop legend Da Brat returns with
a heartfelt new single, "Have U 2 Myself," featuring acclaimed singer/ongwriter Jessica Betts.
This powerful collaboration blends Da Brat's signature lyrical prowess with Betts' soulful vocals, creating an intimate anthem
that celebrates love, connection, and vulnerability.
"Have
U 2 Myself" marks a significant moment in Da Brat's artistic journey, showcasing a softer, more introspective side of
the trailblazing rapper. Jessica Betts, known for her dynamic voice and genre-defying style, favor Da Brat's verses with a
infectious chorus that makes everyone want to dance. Their chemistry is magical, making "Have U 2 Myself" a standout
release that bridges the worlds of Hip-Hop and Soul.
Lifetime Acquires Terry McMillan's Film
'His, Hers and Ours', Starring Taye Diggs, Lesley-Ann Brandt and Aimee Garcia
(New York, NY) -Lifetime aquires
Terry McMillan's film "His, Hers and Ours" from The Ninth House. Starring and
executive produced by Taye Diggs (Forever, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, The Best Man) and Lesley-Ann Brandt (The Walking
Dead: The Ones That Live, Lucifer), the movie is part of the network's continued partnership with Terry McMillan. Aimee Garcia
(Dexter, Lucifer, Christmas with You) also stars in Terry McMillan Presents: His, Hers and Ours, set to debut later this year.
(Washington, DC) - Acclaimed artist, educator,
and cultural leader Dr. Chelsey Green has made history as the first Black woman and youngest person ever
elected to serve as Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Recording Academy. This marks two historic milestones
in the organization's 68-year history.
A
Billboard-charting recording artist and Associate Professor at Berklee College of Music, Dr. Green is celebrated for her powerful
fusion of classical training and contemporary sound. As the bandleader, violinist, violist, and vocalist behind her ensemble
Chelsey Green and The Green Project, she blends Jazz, R&B, Soul, and Funk, releasing five acclaimed studio projects-one
of which landed on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz chart. Her genre-bending artistry recently earned her a No. 1 Billboard single
as a featured artist with pianist and producer Nathan Mitchell, further cementing her place as a visionary architect of contemporary
music and culture.
Dr. Green has performed alongside
music legends such as Stevie Wonder, Lizzo, Samara Joy, Kirk Franklin, The War and Treaty, and Wu-Tang Clan, and has made
orchestral debuts with the National Symphony Orchestra, Alexandria Symphony, and the United States Air Force Band. A passionate
advocate for music education and equity, she frequently leads educational concerts, artist residencies, and community workshops
around the world. In April 2025, Dr. Green became a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, aligning her life's
work with the Sorority's legacy of sisterhood, scholarship, service and social action.
In addition to Dr. Green's historic election, the Recording Academy® has named
its full National Officer slate and 19 new Trustees to the 2025-2027 Board of Trustees, following this year's annual Board
of Trustees meeting. Effective June 1, the following leaders have been elected:
- Dr. Chelsey Green, Chair of the Board of Trustees
- Evan Bogart, Vice Chair
- Jennifer Blakeman, Secretary/Treasurer
-
Tammy Hurt, Chair Emeritus
These appointments reflect
the Academy's commitment to diverse leadership and to advancing a more inclusive future for the music industry. The full list
of the Recording Academy's 2025-2027 Board of Trustees, can be found at RecordingAcademy.com.
The Recording Academy is the world's leading society of music professionals, dedicated
to celebrating, honoring, and sustaining the music community through the Grammy Awards, advocacy, education, and philanthropic
initiatives year-round.
