People: Heart cancels SeaWorld gig, cites ‘Blackfish’
The rock bands Heart and Barenaked Ladies along with country singer Willie Nelson have canceled their planned performances at SeaWorld in Orlando, Fla., citing the recent documentary “Blackfish,” which raises questions about the effects of captivity on whales.
Joan Jett on Monday also joined the list of recording artists distancing themselves from the marine park when she sent a letter to SeaWorld President Jim Atchison asking that the park stop using her song “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” as the opening music for its “Shamu Rocks” show.
“I’m among the millions who saw ‘Blackfish’ and am sickened that my music was blasted without my permission at sound-sensitive marine mammals,” Jett said in the letter.
“Ms. Jett’s music is not currently part of any show, although it was played as walk-in music for the “Shamu Rocks” nighttime show at SeaWorld Orlando and was fully licensed for us to use,” spokesman Nick Gollattscheck said in an email. “A new nighttime Shamu show is being designed for SeaWorld Orlando and we had no plans to use any of her music in that show.”
Heart was the latest act in the past week to cancel appearances at SeaWorld Orlando’s Bands, Brew & Barbecue music series in February, making their announcement over the weekend. A posting on Heart’s official Twitter page said the decision was influenced by the recently-released documentary “Blackfish.” The documentary raises questions about the effects of captivity on killer whales at marine parks such as SeaWorld.
Palin plans to host outdoor show
Former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is back with yet another television show, this time an outdoor program for the Sportsman Channel.
She will host “Amazing America with Sarah Palin,” a weekly program celebrating the “red, wild and blue” lifestyle set to premiere in April. The show will be “an anthology of stories that explore some of the most original, interesting – and sometimes inspiring – people, places and pastimes connected to America’s outdoors lifestyle,” according to a statement from the network.
“I’m excited to help shine a light on all the great American sportsmen and women in the country who live the outdoors lifestyle,” Palin said.
The birthday bunch
Actor Tommy Kirk is 72. Pop singer Chad Stuart (Chad and Jeremy) is 72. Pop-funk musician Walter “Clyde” Orange (The Commodores) is 67. Country singer Johnny Rodriguez is 62. Actress Susan Dey is 61. Actor-director Kenneth Branagh is 53. Actress Nia Peeples is 52. TV chef Bobby Flay is 49. Actress Raven-Symone is 28.