#WhatsHappening for July 16, 2018

Hey, hi, howdy- and happy Monday (yeah, right). Yeah, I know, the weekend was too damned short (also, the Weeknd is only 5'8").

Thanks to everyone who joined us for Saturday Night Karaoke last weekend- Mark is ready to rock the mic this week. Hope you are, too!

Speaking of SNK- I've been considering doing some sort of theme night. Anyone have any suggestions?

Mandy Moore says she's "getting back to it" and working on new music. In an Instagram post last Friday, Moor said "It’s time. I miss it. I’m not scared anymore. No more excuses. No more allowing someone’s else insecurities to dictate my relationship to music and singing. Boom."

Getting back to it. It’s time. I miss it. I’m not scared anymore. No more excuses. No more allowing someone’s else insecurities to dictate my relationship to music and singing. Boom. Also- this is just a little demo of something @themikeviola and I worked on yesterday... but still, it’s a start! 🎶

A post shared by Mandy Moore (@mandymooremm) on Jul 13, 2018 at 11:03am PDT

Moore's last album was released in 2009- she's been concentrating on her acting since then.

Kelly Clarkson has been tabbed as the headliner for the opening ceremony of this year's U.S. Open. The August 27 show will kick off the 50th anniversary of the two-week event, held at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York. 

USTA Chair Katrina Adams said the group was "honored to have such a talented performer join us in this very special year. Kelly Clarkson’s musical versatility, her unparalleled presence and of course her voice, will make this a night to remember."

I told you, any excuse to post this is okay by me.

Forbes has named Ed Sheeran the world’s highest-earning solo artist, with a haul of $110 million.

The 27  year old,  who's said in interviews that he "slept rough" before his music career took off, has also made headlines recently after winning permission from city planners to install "anti-homeless" railings outside his London home, which undoubtedly makes him immediately more popular in some political circles- and a raging douche-canoe in others.

Bruno Mars was #2 in the solo artists' category, while Katy Perry was #3.

U2, Coldplay, and Guns n' Roses were the top three group earners.

You know, I really like ABBA, but I want to see the Mama Mia sequel about as much as I want to appear in an episode of Ow, My Balls.

Birthdays today include: Ryan McCombs of Drowning Pool (44); Ed Kowalczyk of Live (47); Stewart Copeland of The Police (66); Rubén Blades (70); William Bell (78); and Buddy Merrill (82). #MusicalBirthdays