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H-Town will be well represented at the Recording Academy's 65th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday. Several well-known artists with Houston-area ties, including Beyoncé and Lizzo, could take home a coveted gold gramophone. Beyoncé, who recently announced tour dates for her upcoming Renaissance World Tour , is ahead of the pack with a total of nine nominations this year , according to a Grammy press release and nominees list . She now has a total of 88 nominations to date, making her one the most nominated musical acts in Grammy's history — a tied record she shares with her husband and fellow artist Jay-Z. With 28 awards already under her belt, the Houston icon is already one of the biggest Grammy winners of all time. She ties with music producer Quincy Jones, who's also won 28 awards, and falls just short of conductor Georg Solti's 31 award wins, per previous reports from the Grammy Awards . Depending on Sunday night's outcome, Beyoncé could break the tie and smash Solti's … [Read more...] about Beyoncé and other Houston artists could win big at Sunday’s Grammy Awards

WHEN Lyle Lovett went to Trinity Lutheran Church in Klein last Sunday -- it's the church his family has attended forever -- several members congratulated him on headlining the upcoming RodeoHouston. "I could tell from the greetings that, finally, because I'm playing the rodeo, I'm doing OK. This (music career) might work out," he says with a grin. The 43-year-old singer-songwriter, who has won several Grammy Awards and acted in movies (he's a favorite of director Robert Altman 's), is thrilled about performing at the rodeo for the first time, on Feb. 19. But if music is Lovett's passion, motorcycles rank a close second. When Lovett was 7, his family vacationed in Galveston. His father rented a small Honda sport bike, and they took a ride on the beach. "It was exhilarating. I had never felt anything like it," he recalls. "And I felt comfortable and safe, because I had my arms around my dad." Ever since that day on the beach, Lovett has held intense feelings about … [Read more...] about Lyle Lovett found peace on the seat of a Harley

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 11 FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The European Union is taking another big step toward cutting its energy ties with Russia. The 27-nation bloc is banning Russian refined oil products like diesel fuel and joining the U.S. and other allies in imposing a price cap on sales to non-Western countries. Europe's ban takes effect Sunday following its embargo on coal and most oil from Russia. The move is meant to further slash reliance on Russian energy and payments into the Kremlin's war chest as the anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine nears. The newest energy sanctions have risks: Diesel prices have already jumped since the war started on Feb. 24, and there's uncertainty about how the EU embargo and price cap by the Group of Seven major democracies will affect the market for a fuel crucial to the global economy. Most things people buy or eat … [Read more...] about How will EU ban and West’s price cap on Russian diesel work?

Mattel is celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Matchbox brand by introducing a line of limited-edition die-cast vehicles that pay tribute to its heritage of producing highly detailed toy vehicles. The celebratory line will feature special platinum details and be available in seven different assortments, showcasing iconic vehicles from around the world over the past seven decades. The limited-edition toy vehicles will be available throughout the year and are the first of several celebrations that the brand has planned for 2023. "We are so excited to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Matchbox and the trusted legacy this brand has imprinted on kids and collectors all over the world," said Roberto Stanichi, Senior Vice President, Global Head of Vehicles at Mattel. "We look forward to continuing to redefine the die-cast category as we move towards a more sustainable future." In line with this, a portion of the 70th-anniversary collection is made from recycled zinc. It's also … [Read more...] about Matchbox Marks 70th Year With Toy Vehicles Made From Recycled Zinc

The year 2026 will mark the start of a collaboration between Ford and Red Bull Powertrains, giving birth to Red Bull Ford. Starting this year, the companies are working together in designing a power unit that adheres to the new technical regulations set to take effect. The unit will consist of a 350-kilowatt electric motor and be capable of using eco-friendly fuels. Ford will lend its technical know-how in areas such as combustion engines, battery cells, electric motor tech, control software for the power unit, and analytics to aid Red Bull Powertrains in the development process. But the Red Bull Ford partnership doesn’t end there. Ford CEO Jim Farley told MotorTrend in an interview that the Blue Oral is also working on an electric vehicle with the 2022 F1 World Constructors' champion. Gallery: Red Bull Ford Powertrains 16 Photos When asked by MotorTrend … [Read more...] about Ford, Red Bull Working On A New EV That’s “Strategically Important”

Juan Pablo Montoya believes “a different Lewis Hamilton” will be on show in 2023, if Mercedes are onto a winner with the W14. Hamilton went a full season without a win for the first time in his Formula 1 career last year, with Mercedes struggling for pace compared to Ferrari and Red Bull alongside their issues with porpoising on the W13. While he still took nine podium finishes, Hamilton used the first part of the season to take experimental setups on his car as the team searched for solutions, while team-mate George Russell racked up consecutive top-five finishes. Russell would outscore Hamilton over the course of the season, though, as the younger Mercedes driver earned his first pole position and victory in Formula 1 in Hungary and Brazil respectively. Montoya praised Hamilton for his pragmatic approach to driving and not pushing too hard when he didn’t need to last season, but he predicted the seven-time World Champion will be back to his best again in the year ahead. … [Read more...] about Juan Pablo Montoya predicts we will see ‘a different Lewis Hamilton’ in 2023

Jost Capito has praised new Williams team principal James Vowles and said he has given his congratulations, after taking over his role at the team. Capito confirmed that “exhaustion” played a part in his decision to take a sudden step away from Williams and Formula 1 at the end of 2022, with former Mercedes strategy director Vowles being approached to take on the role he vacated. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff did not stand in his way, allowing Vowles to head to Grove and take on his first team principal role in Formula 1 with Williams. But for Capito, he feels Vowles is a fine choice to pick up where he left off with the team, with the challenge ahead of pulling themselves off the bottom of the Constructors’ Championship in 2023. “Yes, I’ve already worked closely with James, also with Mercedes and their drivers,” Capito told Auto Bild in Germany. “He’s incredibly competent, I like him a lot and he’s also a great person. I congratulated him accordingly, of course.” … [Read more...] about Jost Capito delivers his verdict on his Williams replacement James Vowles

Damon Hill feels he was the first driver to “convert” the pure test driver role into a reserve one in Formula 1, after his roundabout entry into the sport. He earned a test drive with Williams in 1991 before being given an unexpected Formula 1 debut with Brabham the following year, with the team struggling financially and Hill taking part in eight race weekends before the team subsequently folded, all while testing with the dominant Williams outfit. With Nigel Mansell and Riccardo Patrese both leaving the team at the end of 1992, Hill found himself in the team alongside Alain Prost for the following season, and he feels the fact he was around in the paddock at the time and showed early potential with Brabham helped his cause. Along with this, the eventual 1996 World Champion believes this marked a shift from teams having specified test drivers and moulding the role into a reserve capacity, which enabled drivers to fill in where needed. He admitted there is an element of being … [Read more...] about Damon Hill on how he helped break test driver’s ‘dead-end job’ mould

With the French GP absent from the 2023 calendar, Jean Alesi has hit out at what he believes is the “politics” behind its removal. The French Grand Prix was one of the seven circuits in the inaugural season of Formula 1 and remained a near permanent fixture on the calendar up until 2009. The race was brought back for the 2018 season but is again absent from the 2023 schedule with no sign of a second comeback any time soon. Getting any race on the F1 calendar can be a political minefield but nowhere does that seem more true than in France with the host of the grand prix frequently being shifted depending on whose voice was loudest. In total, seven different tracks have held the race and in 1991, the venue moved from Paul Ricard to Magny-Cours as the French Federation of Automobile Sport sought to increase attendances. The centrally located Paul Ricard is 600km south of Magny-Cours. But in 2018, the race returned to Paul Ricard after the French government refused to subsidise … [Read more...] about Jean Alesi blames ‘politics’ for end of French GP, not the circuit