Born in Greenville, South Carolina in 1951, Bryson’s career as a solo artist included multiple Top 10 singles and albums on the US’s Billboard R&B Chart between the 1970s and 2010s, with 1991 album ‘Can You Stop The Rain’ and its title track both topping it. His biggest success in the UK was with his 1983 collaborative album ‘Born To Love’ with singer Roberta Flack, which landed at 15 in the UK Album Chart while the lead single ‘Tonight, I Celebrate My Love’ managed to reach Number 2. As an individual, he was nominated 5 times at the Grammy Awards and once for a Daytime Emmy Award.

Bryson’s most famous output came from his work with Disney – ‘Beauty And The Beast’ from the 1991 animation of the same name, which he sung with Celine Dion, and ‘A Whole New World’, performed with Regina Belle for 1993 movie Aladdin. Both songs won the Grammy awards for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 1992 and 1993 respectively, and have become cornerstones of nostalgic Disney scores for the last 30 years.

BBC News reported his passing this morning – according to a family source, he died aged 75 on Tuesday the 2nd of June, surrounded by friends and loved ones. No cause has been publicly confirmed, but it is reported he suffered a stroke over the weekend which he was receiving medical attention for.

One of the first to pay tribute was Celine Dion, who landed her first Canadian Top 5 Single with ‘Beauty And The Beast’. Posting a photo of her with Bryson, her emotional homage on social media site X reads “I’m heartbroken to hear that we lost Peabo Bryson today. His incredible voice and his kind spirit embodied the beauty of song and performance. He was so wonderful and generous to me all those years ago, when we recorded Beauty and the Beast. He made me so comfortable, as I was just learning to sing in English. He will remain for me always as a real symbol of the joy that music has brought to my life. His voice and his talent will be missed… My heart is with your family, and may you rest in peace, Peabo.”

I’m heartbroken to hear that we lost Peabo Bryson today. His incredible voice and his kind spirit embodied the beauty of song and performance. He was so wonderful and generous to me all those years ago, when we recorded Beauty and the Beast. He made me so comfortable, as I was… pic.twitter.com/ti8Tba33Or

— Celine Dion (@celinedion) June 3, 2026

Other kind words come from Andre Dickens, Mayor of Atlanta, where Peabo Bryson spent most of his prominent years in his early career. A statement from Dickens’ office says “Atlanta mourns the loss of one of music’s most beloved voices, Peabo Bryson. For decades, Peabo’s extraordinary talent, timeless artistry, and unmistakable voice provided the soundtrack to some of life’s most cherished moments. From Grammy-winning classics to unforgettable duets that transcended generations, his music brought joy, comfort and inspiration to millions around the world. Atlanta was proud to call Peabo Bryson one of our own. His career was deeply connected to the city, where his artistry flourished and where he helped shape Atlanta’s rich musical legacy, creativity and culture. On behalf of the City of Atlanta, I extend my deepest condolences to is wife, children, loved ones, friends, and fans around the world during this difficult time.”

Bryson is survived by wife Tanya Bonaface Bryson, children Robert and Linda, and three grandchildren. The BBC shared a statement from his family which reads “For more than five decades, Peabo’s extraordinary voice served as the soundtrack to some of life’s most cherished moments. His music carried generations through joyful celebrations, great love stories and enduring moments of comfort and inspiration, creating a legacy that will forever live in the hearts of those who loved him and the countless lives he touched through song. While our hearts are broken, we find comfort in knowing how deeply Peabo was loved and how many lives were touched by his voice and his generous spirit,” his family shared. “His legacy and music will live on for generations to come.”

The festivals, hosted by Live Nation, have been live streamed by Hulu for the past six years. But 2026 marks the first time that UK Disney+ subscribers will be able to watch the iconic festivals simultaneously, with Disney+’s global reach.  “Music festivals are among the most electric, can’t-miss moments in culture, and now Disney+ and Hulu subscribers around the world can experience the excitement,” said Lauren Tempest, Head of Content Planning & Partnerships, DTC at The Walt Disney Company. “As we continue to extend our live offerings, we remain committed to bringing fans the biggest, most iconic moments right as they happen, and are thrilled to bring that vision to life with Live Nation.”

Disney+ aims to pull international streaming fans into the thick of the action. They are set to release an array of artist interviews, behind-the-scenes content and festival highlights along with the live-streamed performances. 

Kevin Chernett, EVP, Head of Global Media Partnerships at Live Nation said, “Music festivals used to be experiences reserved for the people who could physically be there. Now they’re becoming global live moments that fans want to experience together in real time, no matter where they are in the world. Expanding this partnership with Disney+ and Hulu allows these festivals to reach music fans at an entirely different scale.”

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First up of the three festivals is Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival from 11-14 June. It takes place annually on a 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee, and saw 70,000 attendees in 2024. Some of the headlining names this year include The Strokes, Skrillex, Noah Kahan and Rufus De Sol. British acts on the bill include indie rockers, Wet Leg, electronic musician Four Tet and singer-songwriter Rachel Chinouriri, as well as singer and composer, Blood Orange.    Next is Chicago based Lollapalooza from 30 July to 2 August. Hosting most alternative and rock acts, the festival boasts around 40,000 attendees annually. Olivia Dean and Charli XCX are among the headliners for 2026. They are joined by Lorde, The Smashing Pumpkins, John Summit, Jennie, Tate McRae and The XX. Many UK artists are on the bill for this year including Wet Leg, Blood Orange, Wolf Alice, Jim Legxacy, CMAT, kwn, Beabadoobee and Cruz Beckham and the Breakers. 

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Finally, rounding out the trio is autumn-set Austin City Limits. The Texas-based festival will be celebrating its 25^th year across two weekends: 2-4 October and 9-11 October. Charli XCX is also among the headliners, she is joined by Lola Young, Skrillex, Kings of Leon, Rufus De Sol, Lorde and Twenty One Pilots as well as many more. Other acts from the UK set to perform there include Paris Paloma, CMAT, Suki Waterhouse and Blood Orange. 

Disney+ has stated additional details about the livestreams will be made available ahead of each festival. 

Following a five year hiatus, in a statement which Duffy posted to her website in February 2020, she opened the curtain for fans who had long since awaited her return. She detailed a harrowing experience in which she was “raped and drugged and held captive over some days”. Further explaining her absence, she told fans “The recovery took time” but “trust me I am OK and safe now”.

This is not the first time that Disney+ has forayed into documentaries. Featured on the subscription service, fans of all types of artists are able to see well made and produced retellings/behind the scenes introspectives of some of the world’s biggest stars. Musical documentaries on Disney+ include ‘The Beatles: Get Back’, ‘Music by John Williams’ and arguably most popularly the concert film of ‘Taylor Swift, The Era’s Tour (Taylor’s Version’). Fans of Duffy will hope that her documentary will handle the subject material respectfully and delicately while allowing for an honest and raw retelling of events in connection with Sean Doyle, Disney+ Vice President assurance that “This film will give Duffy the chance to tell her story in her own words.”

Born Aimée Anne Duffy, the Welsh singer signed with A&M records in November 2007. Duffy’s debut album ’Rockferry’ was released in March 2008 and subsequently became the UK’s best selling album of the year. It’s most popular single ‘Mercy’ paired with Duffy’s raw and soulful vocal propelled the album to a Grammy Award in 2009, three Brit awards as well as three MOJO award nominations. Her second album ‘Endlessly’ was released in November 2010. Over the years which followed, Duffy cancelled festival and tour performances before featuring in the 2015 crime thriller ‘Legend’ to which she provided three songs for the soundtrack. In the years that followed, Duffy vanished from the public eye for the aforementioned reasons.

Disney+ have not yet released a date for Duffy’s documentary but fans can expect a “really powerful project” according to Disney+’s head of content Angela Jain.

Although John didn’t provide a timeline or hint at potential collaborators, his comment has sparked excitement, especially in light of recent health challenges. Earlier in the interview, Colbert opened by asking, “How are you feeling?” to which John replied, “I’m feeling very, very well. My health is great… never been healthier. I had a little problem with my eyes, but compared to most people, I’m the luckiest man in the world.”

Elton John’s eye health has been a significant topic in recent months. In July, while in the south of France, he suffered a severe eye infection that left him blind in his right eye and struggling with vision in his left. In a November interview with Good Morning America, John elaborated, saying, “It’s been four months now since I haven’t been able to see… going into the studio and recording, I don’t know, because I can’t see a lyric for a start.”

Elton John revealed that he’s blind out of his right eye after developing an infection over the summer, which has affected his ability to make new music. https://t.co/NUMi60KkCe pic.twitter.com/ateZa8ujAO

— New York Post (@nypost) November 25, 2024

Despite this, John has remained optimistic. On Instagram in September, he shared that recovery would be a “slow process” but expressed gratitude for his medical team and family. At the premiere of his documentary Elton John: Never Too Late, he even joked about his health, adding, “In fact, the only thing left to me is my left hip.”

John’s health news coincides with the release of Never Too Late, now streaming on Disney+. The documentary interweaves footage of John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour, which concluded in Sweden in 2023, with reflections on his meteoric rise in the 1970s. The film highlights his partnership with lyricist Bernie Taupin, his iconic stage collaboration with John Lennon, and personal struggles, including his battles with addiction and his journey towards self-acceptance. This isn’t his first collaboration with Disney+, with the streaming giant releasing Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodgers Stadium back in 2022.

 

 

 

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While the documentary captures John’s transformation into one of music’s greatest showmen, it also showcases his quieter, more personal side, featuring moments with his husband, David Furnish, and their family. During the Colbert interview, John reflected on his early career, advising his younger self to avoid “wasting his life on the most stupid things,” a nod to his sobriety and eventual reinvention.

Although John has stepped away from touring, his announcement of new music offers fans a glimpse of what’s to come. With a legacy spanning over five decades, his ability to remain current and creative is admirable. As John said himself, “I always want to create things,” and his fans are ready to listen.

Gallagher lived in Camden for multiple years and Creation Records who first founded Oasis in 1993, were based in the London Town for many years before they disbanded. He will feature alongside acts such as Dua Lipa, who is named as an executive producer on the show, Coldplay’s own Chris Martin, the Black Eyed Peas and members of The Libertines.

One of the most exciting music and expected to feature in the show is the UK’s iconic Boy George, lead singer of the 80s English new-wave band culture club. The press release for the show notes that “Camden reveals the untold stories of how the lives and careers of some of the world’s most iconic artists were influenced by this corner of London”

CAMDEN will tell the never before heard stories of the district as a hub of discovery and talent. It is a hybrid of archive footage, intimate filming and interviews from today where stars will reveal and relive their experiences in the area which gifted them the most memorable and transformative moments of their formative careers. Artists will speak of how Camden brought about their success and in turn shaped the music industry as well as how the industry shaped Camden into a town bursting with artistic value and a rich history. The show will follow the musicians as they recount the days they spent in the London town from their first gigs to the hectic nights out in the towns infamous nightlife scene.

The series is being produced by Lightbox in collaboration with One Day Pictures; the production company originally founded by the first manager of Camden’s own Amy Winehouse; Nick Shymansky. Winehouse loved Camden and fans from all over the world associate her with the town. You can even find a bronze statue of the singer at Stables Market in Camden Town.

Executive producer Dua Lipa, who celebrated the release of her new album radical optimism last month, grew up in the town and attended the same talent school as soul singer Amy Winehouse in Camden. Though she moved to Kosovo between the ages of 11 and 15, she returned to London in aid of her music career which was evidently a successful move for the singer as her new album sits at the top of the UK charts this week, and has secured the number one spot.

Disney+ is available from £4.99 per month and the series Camden will hit the (small) screens (positioned on top of our duvets) on May 29th on the streaming site. This week the company also announced that the show will debut on Hulu in the US on the same day.

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The documentary will centre around the early stages of Sir John’s career and his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour. The singer is currently on the European leg of the tour and will next perform in Frankfurt on 27th May 2022. The new film will contain never before seen archived videos including recent footage of the iconic pianist and his family, unrevealed footage of concerts spanning over fifty years, new and exclusive interviews and entries from the artist’s handwritten diaries.

Set to be helmed by a stellar team, the hotly anticipated documentary will be produced and co-directed by Sir John’s husband David Furnish and the talented director and filmmaker R.J. Cutler. The American director has become known for his work for the popular tv series Nashville and the insightful documentary The September Issue, Cutler is also responsible for the Billie Eilish music documentary, Billie Eilish: The Word’s a Little Blurry.

Speaking on the “Tiny Dancer” singer’s upcoming feature, Cutler has given the following statement, “What a thrill and an honour it is that David Furnish and I get to create this intimate and unique look at one of the world’s most celebrated artists. As it has for so many others, Elton John’s music has had deep meaning for me for decades, and this opportunity is nothing short of a career highlight and privilege.”

Furnish has also provided a statement concerning the soon to be released film, “Elton and I could not think of a better collaborator than R.J. Cutler for a film that represents more than just Elton’s career — it’s his life. From the Troubadour to Dodger Stadium, we knew that R.J. would help guide Elton’s story and its many layers in a way that feels authentic and evocative. We’re ecstatic to be working together.”

CEO of The Walt Disney Company Bob Chapek has commented on the forthcoming documentary and expresses the platform’s excitement to be involved within the project,  “There are no superlatives left to describe Elton John and his impact on music and culture — he’s simply unrivaled. Like a good Disney story, Elton’s music has both universal appeal and the ability to connect with audiences on a deeply personal level. He has been part of the Disney family since 1994 when he helped make ‘The Lion King’ an instant classic, and we could not be more excited to collaborate with him on this new documentary.”

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The singer recently made headlines for his triumphant performance at the star-studded Platinum Jubilee concert. Fans who missed the singer’s set will soon be able to see him live again in the UK. Sir John will bring his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour to Norwich on 15th June 2022 and will perform four more Uk dates before embarking on the North American leg of his tour. Despite starting in 2018 the tour suffered scheduling issues due to Covid-19, the singer’s concluding shows of 2022 will be held at Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium show from 17th-20th November 2022.

Farewell Yellow Brick Road: The Final Tour UK Dates

15/06/2022 – Carrow Road – Norwich
17/06 – Anfield Stadium – Liverpool
19/06 – Stadium Of Light – Sunderland
22/06 – Ashton Gate Stadium – Bristol
29/06 – Liberty Stadium – Swansea

Click here to purchase tickets.

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During its original release, the song attracted a lot of bad publicity due to its message of anti-establishment. Much to the dismay of the country’s conservative population, many sub-cultures within Britain’s youth instantly took to the record and sported “God Save The Queen” t-shirts. The backlash of the single grew whilst propelling the Sex Pistols to the centre of the punk movement. Tensions rose to a boiling point when some members of the band were arrested whilst performing the song on a boat during the Jubilee celebrations.

Despite being banned from the BBC and various commercial radio stations, the single reached number two on the UK singles charts. The song was the second single to be released from the band’s only studio album Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols and boasted lyrics calling the UK “a fascist regime”. The song was written and released not to offend but to relate to those in the country who had felt disenfranchised and let down. Singer John Lydon gave a statement concerning the track’s themes, “You don’t write God Save The Queen because you hate the English race. You write a song like that because you love them, and you’re fed up with them being mistreated.”

At the time of its original release on 27th May 1977, the track was considered one of the most controversial events in history. During the initial stages of the release, the band were signed to record label A&M but following disputes over the band’s behaviour the label terminated their contract. These issues led to the label destroying over 25,000 copies of the track, some copies of the track survived and can be sold for up to £16,000. In late May of 1977, the group signed with Virgin Records, marking their third label change in just under a year.

The 2022 re-release of the single will be split into two available options, fans will be able to purchase the A&M version as well as the release via Virgin Records, 1,977 A&M copies will be re-released, and 4,000 copies of Virgin’s version will be re-released. Both records will include the iconic track but will also adhere to the original release and contain different B-sides. The A&M release will feature the B-side “No Feeling” and “Did You No Wrong” will be the B-side within the re-release from Virgin. Both re-releases will also feature the original artwork, the A&M re-release will include the company sleeve and will be pressed on silver/platinum vinyl and Virgin’s re-release will feature the eye-catching artwork designed by Jamie Reid.

This month also marks the release of the band’s upcoming docu-series, Danny Boyle’s adaption of Steve Jones’ memoir is set to be released on 31st May 2022. Entitled Pistol, the series will be available to watch on Disney Plus.

Click here to pre-order “God Save The Queen“

Speculation swarmed that William Bowery was a pseudonym because on Swift’s Instagram he was the only name left untagged, Swift is also known for using fake names for song-writing credits. Fans suspected it might be another musician such as Harry Styles, however, today it was revealed on the Disney + Documentary Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions that William Bowery is actually actor and Swift’s long time boyfriend, Joe Alwyn.

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The announcement did not come as a shock to die-hard fans considering there were hints that it could be Alwyn. William is the name of his grandfather who was a successful composer and Bowery Hotel was the place the couple first met, i.e. William Bowery. However, Alwyn’s musicianship was widely unknown.

Alwyn is a pianist and has been credited as writing the piano piece for the track Exile. The song is a duet that features Bon Iver, however it was revealed in the documentary that Alwyn was the original singer.

Alwyn is credited as co-writer on two Folklore tracks, Exile and Betty. Exile has been nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 2021 Grammy Awards. Folklore has been nominated for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album as well. Exile will be Alwyn’s first co-written song to earn him a Grammy nomination.

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On the topic of Alwyn’s musicianship, Swift noted in the documentary that ‘Joe plays piano beautifully and he’s always just playing and making things up and kind of creating things.’ Swift said she had the idea to collaborate with her boyfriend when she heard him singing her song Betty, saying that if it weren’t for quarantine she would never have had the idea.

Swift’s Alwyn reveal and new documentary Folklore: The Long Pond Sessions is available today on Disney + for streaming. Swift’s album Folklore is available on all streaming platforms today.

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