Music News for Wednesday

CELINE DION SHAKES STATUE OF LATE HUSBAND’S HAND BEFORE CONCERTS: Celine Dion shakes a statue of her late husband’s hand before taking the stage at each of her concerts. The 49-year-old singer detailed the ritual in an interview with Stellar magazine, saying she keeps a bronze replica of Rene Angelil’s hand backstage at her shows. “I shake my husband’s hand and knock on wood with him every night before every show,” she shared. “Even after he’s gone, I still talk to him.” Angelil died at age 73 in January 2016 after a long battle with cancer. Dion performed during Angelil’s illness, and resumed her Las Vegas residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace a month after his death. “My husband wanted me to go back on stage before he passed, that’s what he wanted the most. So I went back on stage while he was still alive; he wanted to make sure I could keep going,” the singer said of performing during Angelil’s illness.

SELENA GOMEZ JOINS ROBERT DOWNEY JR.’S ‘DOCTOR DOLITTLE’ MOVIE: Selena Gomez has joined the star-studded cast of the upcoming movie The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle. Robert Downey Jr. is starring in the movie as the title character, a doctor who has the ability to speak with animals. Selena will voice one of the animals. Other voice actors include Tom Holland, Emma Thompson, and Ralph Fiennes. Michael Sheen and Antonio Banderas both have live-action roles in the movie, which will be based on the 1920s children’s books. Eddie Murphy also played the role in two films released nearly two decades ago.

‘DESPACITO’ FIRST SPANISH-LANGUAGE SONG TO REACH A BILLION STREAMS ON SPOTIFY: Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s “Despacito,” featuring Justin Bieber, continues to make history. This time, the global hit has reached 1 billion streams on Spotify – the first Spanish-language song to reach the milestone. The superstars now join Spotify’s special 1 billion list, which includes Drake’s “One Dance,” “Closer” by The Chainsmokers, “Shape of You” and “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran, and Major Lazer, DJ Snake and M’s “Lean On.” In Bieber’s case, “Despacito” marks his third song on the list: “Sorry” and “Love Yourself” have also reached a billion streams. On the Billboard charts, “Despacito” is the first Spanish song to spend 16 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100. Also, the global hit remains at No. 1 on Hot Latin Songs for its 41st non-consecutive week.

ALESSIA CARA, MICHAEL BUBL AMONG 2018 JUNO NOMINEES: Fresh off her first Grammy win for Best New Artist, Alessia Cara has been nominated for the Canadian version of the Grammys – the Juno Awards. She, along with fellow Canadians Shawn Mendes, Justin Bieber and The Weeknd, all scored nods this year. Alessia, Shawn and The Weeknd are going up against each other in the Single of the Year category. They were also nominated in the Fan Choice category, along with Justin. Artist of the Year nods went to Ruth B, Shania Twain, Gord Downie, Daniel Caesar and Lights. Non-Canadian acts, including Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Kendrick Lamar and Post Malone, were nominated in the International Album of the Year category. Arcade Fire leads the pack with five nominations, and Jessie Reyez is right behind with four nods. The late Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie also nabbed three posthumous nominations. The Juno Awards will take place at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, on March 25th.