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ELVIS PRESLEY

Graceland plans in-person events during Elvis Week

FILE - In an Aug. 15, 2017 file photo, fans wait in line outside Graceland, Elvis Presley's Memphis home, in Memphis, Tenn. Elvis Presleys Graceland says it will reopen Thursday, May 21, 2020 after it shut down tours and exhibits due to the new coronavirus outbreak. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill, File)MEMPHIS, Tenn. – On the 44th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death, fans will get to celebrate the musician once again at the annual Elvis Week event in Memphis, Tennessee. Presley's Graceland is preparing to host visitors and offer in-person events for Elvis Week from Aug. 11 through Aug. 17. The event will feature appearances by celebrities and musicians, live concerts, panel discussions, parties, bus excursions and the Elvis Presley tribute artist contest, officials with Elvis Presley Enterprises said. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Elvis Week events were mostly held online last year.

No sign of Grand Slam drought ending soon for American men

The last American man to win a Grand Slam tournament was Andy Roddick at the U.S. Open in 2003, and there's no sign the drought will end anytime soon. “But I don’t see it being what it once was ever again.”AdOpelka, for one, isn’t surprised the United States has the same number of seeded men in Melbourne as, say, Bulgaria or Norway. The United States has four seeded women in Melbourne, including Kenin and Serena Williams. That’s a challenge, because those kids want to play basketball and football.”The United States Tennis Association has inner-city programs in more than 250 locations. Opelka (ranked 38th), Fritz (ranked 31st), Tommy Paul (53rd) and Frances Tiafoe (64th) are all 23 and good friends who root for each other.

Elvis Presley's Graceland starting live virtual tours

FILE - In an Aug. 15, 2017 file photo, fans wait in line outside Graceland, Elvis Presley's Memphis home, in Memphis, Tenn. Elvis Presleys Graceland says it will reopen Thursday, May 21, 2020 after it shut down tours and exhibits due to the new coronavirus outbreak. The tourist attraction in Memphis, Tennessee, said Sunday that it has adjusted its tours, and restaurant and retail operations, since it closed in March. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill, File)MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Elvis Presley's Graceland is now offering live online tours for fans around the world, including those who can't travel to the Tennessee tourist attraction during the coronavirus pandemic. Graceland said the two-hour guided tours will take virtual visitors into Presley's former Memphis home, which has been turned into a museum, and through the Meditation Garden, where he is buried. Graceland was closed for several weeks last year and is now open for limited-capacity, in-person tours.

A record 39 holiday songs dominate Billboard Hot 100 chart

(Apple TV+ via AP)NEW YORK – Tis the season to be jolly: A record 39 holiday songs have dominated this week's Billboard Hot 100 chart, including nine holiday tunes in the Top 10. Other holiday songs in the Top 10 include Dean Martin's “Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow” at No. Some acts have multiple holiday songs on the chart, including Bing Crosby, Kelly Clarkson, Michael Bublé, Perry Como and Carrie Underwood. Here's a full list of the 39 holiday songs on this week's Billboard Hot 100 chart:— No. 8, Dean Martin, “Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow”— No.

New this week: Jingle Ball 2020 & 2 doses of Meryl Streep

MOVIES— Travel may seem closed off right now but how about a cruise with Meryl Streep, Dianne Wiest and Candice Bergen? — If one Streep film wasn’t enough for you, she’s again in typically fine form in “The Prom,” parodying a diva actor in Ryan Murphy’s adaptation of the 2018 Broadway musical. — AP Film Writer Jake CoyleMUSIC— Jon Bon Jovi has already produced an album this year with “2020” and the concert film "On a Night Like This — Bon Jovi 2020." — AP Entertainment Writer Mark KennedyTELEVISION— This season’s winner for lengthy title: “High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special,” debuting Friday on Disney +. — The CW’s “iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2020,” a 90-minute special based on the annual concert, will air at 8 p.m. EST Monday, Dec. 14.

Rafer Johnson, 1960 Olympic decathlon champion, dies at 86

Rafer Johnson, who won the decathlon at the 1960 Rome Olympics and helped subdue Robert F. Kennedy's assassin in 1968, died Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020. (AP Photo)LOS ANGELES – Rafer Johnson, who won the decathlon at the 1960 Rome Olympics and helped subdue Robert F. Kennedy’s assassin in 1968, died Wednesday. Johnson won a gold medal at the Pan American Games in 1955 while competing in just his fourth decathlon. Johnson, Yang, and Kuznetzov had their way with the record books between the 1956 and 1960 Olympics. Johnson won over the Soviet audience with his gutsy performance in front of what had been a hostile crowd.

Outlaw country artist Billy Joe Shaver dead at 81

FILE - Artist Billy Joe Shaver poses backstage following his concert "Billy Joe Shaver presented by WMOT/Roots Radio" at City Winery Nashville in Nashville, Tenn. on April 1, 2017. Shaver, who penned songs for Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Bobby Bare, has died. (Photo by Laura Roberts/Invision/AP, File)NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Outlaw country singer songwriter Billy Joe Shaver, who wrote songs like “Honky Tonk Heroes,” “I Been to Georgia on a Fast Train” and “Old Five and Dimers Like Me,” has died He was 81. His big break came when Jennings recorded several of Shaver's songs for his 1973 album “Honky Tonk Heroes," which helped popularize the outlaw country genre. Shaver wrote songs that were covered by Elvis Presley, Patty Loveless, George Jones, Tex Ritter, Tennessee Ernie Ford and John Anderson.

Elvis Presley's late grandson laid to rest at Graceland

FILE - In this Friday, Jan. 8, 2010, file photo, Riley Keough, 21, left, cuts the birthday cake as her brother, Benjamin, 18, right, warms his hands as they take part in a ceremony commemorating Elvis Presley's 75th birthday in Memphis, Tenn. Both are the children of Lisa Marie Presley and the grandchildren of Elvis Presley. Officials said Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020, that Benjamin Storm Presley Keough has been buried alongside his relatives at Graceland in Memphis. Keough died in California in July at age 27. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

Elvis Presley's late grandson laid to rest at Graceland

Both are the children of Lisa Marie Presley and the grandchildren of Elvis Presley. Officials said Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020, that Benjamin Storm Presley Keough has been buried alongside his relatives at Graceland in Memphis. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The grandson of late rock n' roll singer and actor Elvis Presley has been buried alongside his relatives at Graceland. Keough, 27, was the son of Lisa Marie Presley, who is the daughter of Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley. Also buried at Graceland are Elvis Presley, his mother Gladys Presley, his father Vernon Presley and his grandmother Minnie Mae Presley.

Toots Hibbert, beloved reggae star, dead at 77

Hibbert, frontman of Toots & the Maytals, had been in a medically-induced coma at a hospital in Kingston since earlier this month. Hibbert even recorded an album of American hits, “Toots In Memphis,” which came out in 1988. Grammy nominations for Hibbert included best reggae album of 2012 for “Reggae Got Soul” and best reggae album of 2007 for “Light Your Light.” Hibbert was ranked No. Married to his wife, Doreen, for nearly 40 years, Hibbert had eight children, including the reggae performers Junior Hibbert and Leba Hibbert. Frederick Nathaniel Hibbert ("Toots" was a childhood nickname) was born in May Pen, Parish of Clarendon.

‘BLM’ and ‘Defund the Police’ spray painted at Graceland

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Authorities say messages of Black Lives Matter and “Defund the Police” were spray-painted on several tourist attractions in Tennessee on Monday night, including Graceland, the Elvis Presley estate. The graffiti phrases were found Tuesday morning outside Graceland, the Levitt Shell Amphitheater in Overton Park and the “I Heart Memphis” mural in midtown Memphis. Stop placing value of white icons andproperty over Black lives. -Black Lives Matter Mississippi #BlackLivesMatter #BlackLivesMatterMississippi #BLM #EmmettTill #Mississippi #ElvisPresley #Graceland pic.twitter.com/W0tzV3i01R — Black Lives Matter Mississippi (@BLivesMatterMS) September 2, 2020Besides “Defund the Police,” expletive-laced messages about President Donald Trump and Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland and demands to arrest the Louisville police officers who killed Breonna Taylor were also scrawled on the walls. Graffiti from Black Lives Matter protesters right outside Graceland in Memphis, Tenn. (NBC News Channel)Memphis police say they’re investigating the incident.

Amid pandemic, scores of US Catholic schools face closure

Guidance secretary Marge Berckmiller, left, and Sister Bridget Reilly, director of guidance, prepare student transcripts to send to other schools after the closure of Quigley Catholic High School in Baden, Pa., Monday, June 8, 2020. This year’s closures will reduce the number of Catholic K-12 schools in the United States to about 6,000, down from more than 11,000 in 1970, according to the Catholic education association. “The loss of Catholic schools is a loss to America,” said Mary Pat Donoghue, executive director of the Catholic Education office of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Donoghue said many families have recently lost jobs and feel they can no longer pay tuitions averaging nearly $5,000 for elementary schools and more than $11,000 for high schools. They offered to buy the elementary school building and the high school sports fields and operate a private school independently of the diocese, but that was rejected.

Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson test positive for coronavirus

(L-R) Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks attend the 77th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 05, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California. Academy Award-winning actor Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson have tested positive for the coronavirus, Hanks revealed Wednesday. Hanks and Wilson are in Australia for the pre-production of Baz Luhrmann's currently untitled Elvis Presley film from Warner Bros. Hanks is set to play Presley's longtime manager Colonel Tom Parker. To play things right, as is needed in the world right now, we were tested for the Coronavirus, and were found to be positive." While the untitled Elvis film isn't due into theaters until October 2021, Hanks has three movies slated for release in 2020.

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Items belonging to Elvis, Johnny Cash and Garth Brooks at auction

Personal and career items from Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Steve McQueen, Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Jerry Lee Lewis, Judy Garland and Garth Brooks are up for auction. NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Memorabilia from some of the most iconic stars and artists of all time are hitting the auction block later this month and we got a sneak peek. Kruse GWS Auctions previewed personal and career items from Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Steve McQueen, Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Jerry Lee Lewis, Judy Garland and Garth Brooks. We also got a look at some of the items aboard Garth Brooks' tour bus, which is also being auction off later this month. "It makes perfect sense to bring some of this incredible memorabilia to Music City USA aboard the Garth Brooks tour bus we will be auctioning," said Brigitte Kruse, Founder of Kruse GWS Auctions.

Barry Coe, 'Peyton Place' and 'Bonanza' actor, dead at 84

Barry Coe with Jayne Mansfield in the TV series "Follow the Sun" in 1962. (CNN) - Golden Globe-winning actor Barry Coe, who had roles in "Bonanza" and films like 1957's "Petyon Place" and "Jaws 2," died last month after a battle with myelodysplastic syndrome, according to an obituary. Actor Ryan O'Neal would go on to play Coe's role from the film, a character named Rodney Harrigton, in the TV series. Three years later, Coe picked up a Golden Globe award for most promising male newcomer for his role in "A Private Affair." His other credits include roles in films like Elvis Presley's "Love Me Tender" and "One Foot in Hell" and a TV series called "Follow the Sun," which aired for one season.

Austin Butler will play Elvis in biopic from Baz Luhrmann

Austin Butler, left, has been cast as Elvis, right, in the upcoming biopic from Baz Luhrmann. HOLLYWOOD, Calif. - After a long search, Baz Luhrmann's Elvis Presley movie has crowned Austin Butler as its King. Luhrmann, who is directing and co-writing the biopic, shared the news on social media by tweeting Presley's infamous mugshot next to a red carpet photo of Butler. : Presley's infamous pompadour hair). The-CNN-Wire & 2019 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company.

Southwest Virginia native wins prestigious Elvis tribute competition

ROANOKE, Va. -Perhaps the closest performance to Elvis youll see today is a 21-year-old Southwest Virginia Native. The youngest in the competition, Taylor Rodriguez, from Goode, Virginia, won the 21st Tupelo Elvis Festival in the town where Elvis Presley was born. Rodriguezs passion for Elvis began when he was 9-years-old, after dressing up as the King for Halloween. Rodriguez will represent the 2019 Tupelo Elvis Festival at the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest to be held in Memphis Tennessee, in August. Contestants from around the world arrive in Memphis during Elvis Week hoping to win the grand prize of $20,000 and the title, Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist title.