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KANYE WEST SAYS HE’S “WALKING” FOR PRESIDENT
WASHINGTON (AP) - When Forbes magazine asked Kanye West if his presidential campaign is designed to be a spoiler for Vice President Joe Biden’s chances, West replied, “I’m not denying it.” In an interview by text, West told Forbes he was “walking” for president rather than running. When Forbes pointed out West is not on enough state ballots to win, West replied, “I’m not going to argue with you. Jesus is King.” Meanwhile, it appears unlikely that West will appear on the ballot in his home state of Illinois. The Chicago Tribune reports a state elections board review finds his paperwork falls short of the required number of valid signatures. In Wisconsin, West’s petition to get on that state’s ballot is facing two challenges.
WAYNE FONTANA DIES
LONDON (AP) - Singer Wayne Fontana of The Mindbenders has died. A press representative tells The Guardian that Fontana died at a hospital outside Manchester, United Kingdom, at the age of 74. Details of his death were not given, except that his longtime partner was by his side. Fontana’s real name was Glyn Geoffrey Ellis, and he took the name “Fontana” after Elvis Presley’s drummer, DJ Fontana. The Mindbenders had a number-one hit in 1965 with “The Game of Love.” Fontana quit the group later that year, and The Mindbenders had a number-two hit without him with “A Groovy Kind of Love.” Fontana suffered from mental illness later in life. He served prison time for a 2005 incident in which he set fire to a car with a bailiff inside who had come to Fontana’s house for an unpaid fine.
OLD DOMINION RELEASE “MEOW MIX” ALBUM
UNDATED (AP) - Old Dominion might be going stir-crazy from not being able to tour, because they’ve just re-released their self-titled album with meows instead of vocals. It’s still Matthew Ramsey singing, only he is singing “meow” instead of the lyrics. Old Dominion say on social media, “Sometimes you gotta be silly.” The “Meow Mix” version of the album is available now on streaming platforms.
MTV VMAS DITCH INDOOR PERFORMANCES PLAN
NEW YORK (AP) - MTV has changed its format for the Video Music Awards in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Originally, the VMAs were going to be inside New York’s Barclays Center, with some performances outside. Now MTV says all the performances will be outside, around New York City with limited or no audience. Keke Palmer will host the VMAs, set for Aug. 30. Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande (GRAHN’-day) lead the nominations with nine each.
TAYLOR SWIFT’S “FOLKLORE” KEEPS NUMBER-ONE SPOT
LOS ANGELES (AP) - “Folklore” by Taylor Swift is still the top album in the country. Billboard reports it moved 135,000 units in its second week, keeping its number-one spot on the albums chart. Pop Smoke is second with “Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon,” followed by Juice WRLD (WORLD) and “Legends Never Die.” The Broadway cast recording of “Hamilton: An American Musical” is number four. “My Turn” by Lil Baby is fifth.
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