Music

12 Jun 2023

Gayle Is ‘Scared But Trying’ to Tour: See North American Dates

Gayle is giving solo tours another shot. After gaining experience supporting Taylor Swift and P!nk this year, the “abcdefu” singer announced Monday (June 12) that she’s hitting the road in the fall for her very own headlining trek in North America.

Dubbed the “Scared But Trying” tour, the 15-show run will kick off Oct. 17 in Tampa and find Gayle making stops in L.A., Chicago, Toronto, Montreal, New York City and more before closing out with a hometown show in Nashville. It’ll mark her first headlining excursion since she canceled her fall 2022-scheduled Avoiding College tour, saying at the time that she was still “learning how to be an adult and how best to do this new life.”

“Going on tour with taylor swift and p!nk has been some of the most exciting and terrifying moments of my life,” the 19-year-old musician wrote in her Scared But Trying Tour announcement on Instagram. “Before walking on stage i would get nauseas and it would be hard for me to control my breathing but no matter how i felt, i would try and do it anyways.”

Since the Avoiding College tour cancellation, Gayle has provided support in 2023 for Swift’s ongoing Eras Tour and is currently assisting P!nk on her Summer Carnival 2023. She’s also gearing up for a handful of festival shows in Germany and the Netherlands later this month.

“The thought of going on my own tour is very intimidating to me but i’ve been scared for the past two years and over time i’ve learned i can do things even though i’m afraid,” she added in her post. “with this tour, i am scared, but i’m ready to try.”

According to a release, special guests for the Scared But Trying tour will be announced soon. Artist presales begin at 10 a.m. local time on Tuesday (June 13); Spotify and local presales begin 10 a.m. local time on Wednesday (June 14) and a general on-sale begins at the same time on Friday (June 16). More ticket information can be found on Gayle’s site.

See Gayle’s announcement below.

12 Jun 2023

Britney Spears & Kevin Federline Slam ‘Repulsive’ Report She’s Allegedly Using Meth

Britney Spears and ex-husband Kevin Federline have shared strong reactions to a British tabloid report over the weekend claiming that the star is using illegal drugs.

“[The] lies and attempts to exploit minors is click bait and another repulsive example of where, unfortunately, certain journalism has sunk today,” Federline wrote in a statement on his Instagram Story on Monday (June 12).

The singer’s former husband — with whom she shares sons Sean Preston, 17, and Jayden James, 16 — lashed out at The Daily Mail and The Sun, saying it saddened his family that the publications “decided to fabricate lies and publish the heart ache our family has endured, along with the trauma of our minor children” in the papers.

The Mail piece alleged that Federline and Spears’ family is afraid that she is using the highly addictive drug crystal meth. “It’s terrifying. She is the mother of my boys,” the Mail reported Federline saying, while claiming that her sons are “refusing” to meet their mother.

The British tabloid reports were claimed to have been the result of a series of conversations between Federline and the writer, and though K-Fed slammed the results as hurtful and untrue, he did not specifically call out any particular claim the writers made.

Spears was equally upset, posting a stock photo of a boy bullying a girl on the school ground along with a long note decrying the reporting, also without addressing the specific allegations on Instagram. “The fact that people are claiming things that are not true is so sad … This may not even be them saying such things because it doesn’t make any sense to me for them to be saying that,” she wrote in a lengthy caption. The rest of the note appeared to relate to the singer’s reportedly strained relationship with her teenage sons.

The Mail report appeared to suggest that the claims about Spears’ alleged drug use came as part of an in-process documentary that has been in the works since last July. The piece suggested that the star’s estranged father — who was in charge of her day-to-day affairs for 13 years during her restrictive conservatorship that ended in November 2021 — has worried that his daughter will meet the same fate as Amy Winehouse, who died at 27 after a struggle with drugs and alcohol.

“It’s sad because everyone sits back as if that’s ok to make up lies to that extent … Why am I told I have to sit back and rise above ???” Britney Spears asked her in post. “When they all go so low ???”

In his Instagram Story, Federline said that he did allow the Daily Mail writer and her team into his home “because we trusted them … but that was lost and we severed ties back in March for many reasons we choose not to go into here.” He said it was “very distressing” that the reporter continues to “harass our family when we have repeatedly asked her to leave us alone.” Federline said he and his family did speak with the reporters a few times in a fashion he described as “respectful” and “with love and compassion for Britney and the Spears family.”

A spokesperson for Spears had no additional comment beyond the singer’s post, and a spokesperson for Federline has not yet returned a request for comment.

In a statement to Billboard, a spokesperson for The Mail on Sunday says the publication stands by its story, saying that the writer and the team spent “months” working with Federline and his family – including Spears’ sons – for a new documentary, during which they spent 12 days filming together. “[The writer] has assured us that the quotes attributed to Kevin and the family are accurate and fairly reflect the interviews conducted, in which Kevin expressed his fears that Britney might be using crystal meth to [the writer]” and members of the film crew. “He did so clearly and repeatedly.”

Spears’ lawyer, Matthew Rosengart, confirmed to Billboard on Monday that he sent a legal note to the Mail on Sunday also vehemently denying the report of her alleged drug use. “Kevin Federline himself has now acknowledged the falsity of the story, asserting that it contains ‘fabrications’ and ‘lies’ about Britney. In addition to exploiting and making false claims about Britney, particularly regarding ‘crystal meth,’ the ‘story’ also exploits her minor children, which is beyond the pale,” read the letter, with Rosengart noting that Federline’s comments about “lies” specifically refer to what he said were the “false allegation regarding ‘crystal meth.’”

12 Jun 2023

5SOS’ Michael Clifford & Crystal Leigh Expecting First Child Together

Congratulations are in order for Michael Clifford and his wife Crystal Leigh, who are expecting their first baby together.

The 5 Seconds of Summer star and the talent manager shared the happy news with People on Monday (June 12) along with sweet photos holding a sonogram. “I’m filled with excitement and also with nerves,” Clifford told the publication. “I’ve been a dog dad for a long time, so I think I’m ready for a small human to take care of and communicate with conversationally after eight years of one-sided dog convos!”

Leigh added, “I’m over the moon! Completely overflowing with joy, I have never been this happy in my entire life. I’d like to think it’s the baby’s good vibes and energy radiating through me, but it’s probably just the hormones.”

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“We have friends who have had incredibly difficult pregnancies, so I was prepared for the worst,” she continued, noting that early in her pregnancy she experienced subchorionic hematoma, but the baby “thankfully” is OK. “But so far, it’s actually been pretty great and I feel very fortunate and high with happiness!!”

According to the couple’s pregnancy announcement on Instagram, the baby is expected to arrive in November.

The duo, who began dating in 2016, got engaged at the Ungasan Clifftop Resort in Bali in 2019. They later revealed that they originally planned to hold the wedding in early 2021 in Bali, but ended up postponing the event to a later date due to COVID-19. However, they still decided to “preserve their original wedding date” by hosting a “secret save the date gathering” and signing the legal documents with their wedding party.

12 Jun 2023

How BTS Took Over the World: A Timeline of the Group’s Biggest Career Moments

Just in time for BTS’ 10th anniversary, here’s a look back at the history-making K-pop group’s decade-long career.

BTS

V, Suga, Jin, Jungkook, RM, Jimin and J-Hope of BTS attends the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 03, 2022 in Las Vegas.

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BTS has come a long way since releasing their first album in 2013, and in the decade that has passed, the K-pop stars have managed to become the biggest group in the world.

While the 2020s have seen the group’s seven members — RM, Jin, Jungkook, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin and V — releasing solo projects, smashing records (both as a group and in personal endeavors), going on tour or fulfilling their civic duties, the past decade has been a ride for the K-pop group, who, after multiple album and single releases, have created a career that only few storied music acts can dream of.

BTS’ illustrious music career formally kicked off when they debuted with 2 Cool 4 Skool. Though a far stretch from the group’s newer, chart-topping hits like “Butter,” “Dynamite” and “Permission to Dance,” the poppy crossover singles that would later cement the group’s international superstar status, the mini album established the septet as a force to be reckoned with, one that would only continue to grow with the aid of the group’s devoted ARMY fanbase.

Following the release of the new single “Take Two,” the group will celebrate the milestone anniversary, which will consist of a series of fun activities across several landmarks in Seoul, South Korea (where it all started for the septet). And to gear up for the event, Billboard is taking a look back at the past 10 years of BTS.

Have a look back at some of the band’s biggest career milestones in the timeline below.

12 Jun 2023

Echoes of Passion, Heritage and Legacy: 70 Hours with Eladio Carrión and Tequila Don Julio

Eladio Carrión has defied expectations, following his career from comedic prowess to musical stardom; a testament to the power of chasing dreams and unyielding passion. 

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In 2017, Eladio Carrión transitioned from being a Vine comedian to a celebrated singer. He bursted into the music scene by collaborating with Ele A el Domino and Ñengo Flow on the hit track “Me Enamoré de una Yal.” Since then, Carrión has amassed an impressive catalog of successes and collaborations, including notable artists like Rauw Alejandro and remixes featuring Cazzu and Myke Towers, to name a few.

Carrión’s talent and hard work caught the attention of Rimas Entertainment – the label behind Bad Bunny and Karol G, arguably two of Latin Music’s biggest global superstars. He joined their roster, leading to the release of his debut album, Sauce Boyz, in 2020. The introductory compilation landed the young trap star in the top ten on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart in its first ten weeks, and Carrión his first Latin Grammy nomination for Best Rap/Hip Hop song for “Kemba Walker,” with Bad Bunny. 

However, these accomplishments are just the tip of the iceberg for Eladio Carrión. 

In a recent collaboration, Billboard and Tequila Don Julio embarked on a 70-hour journey with the Puerto Rican singer to celebrate hispanic entrepreneurs, delving into the depths of his passion, heritage, and the legacy he aims to create, offering fans a unique glimpse into Carrión’s artistic world and the inspirations that drive his musical journey.

Eladio Carrión and Don Julio González, the late founder of the iconic tequila brand, share a familiar spirit. Carrión’s dedication to music and González’s commitment to tequila-making reflect their unwavering pursuit of excellence. Just as Carrión’s passion fuels his musical journey, González’s passion for tequila led him to create the world’s first Critstalino, Tequila Don Julio 70 Crystal Añejo, a testament to his dedication to pushing boundaries and leaving a lasting legacy.

Hour 24: Heritage & Foundation

Day one, we meet Eladio in his beloved hometown of Humacao, Puerto Rico. Born into a military family in Kansas City, Missouri, Carrión moved around a lot, briefly living in Alaska, Maryland, and Hawaii before eventually calling Puerto Rico his permanent home after his father’s retirement in 2005.

Humacao, located on the picturesque east coast of Puerto Rico, with its breathtaking Caribbean blue sea crashing against rocky cliffs, became the backdrop that shaped Carrión’s childhood and transition into adulthood. He describes his hometown as his sanctuary, his peaceful haven amidst the chaotic life of a superstar in the making. He says it is his “paz,” where he finds solace and inspiration.

Throughout his transient childhood, one constant remained: music. Carrión recalls how it has always had a profound impact on him from a young age. He fondly remembers his father, whom he endearingly calls “Papi,” introducing him to salsa music at home. Fascinated by the storytelling aspect of salsa songs, he wondered how the singers effortlessly conveyed their narratives. This early exposure planted the seeds of his passion for storytelling through music. “I think that today a lot of my music, you will find that I tell stories, and it started with salsa,” he states.

During this time, Carrión also discovered hip-hop. He absorbed whatever played on the radio and embraced the wordplay of artists like Eminem, thanks to his older sisters’ influence. So, when the young artist landed in Humacao amidst the hype of reggaeton, he had an ear for something his middle school classmates likely didn’t – hip-hop and R&B. 

Hour 48: Rehearsals

For the next part of our journey, we’ve left the sunny isles of the Caribbean and traded it in for the bustling lights of Las Vegas, where a laser-focused Carrión is preparing for his festival run. Here, we spoke to the singer about his artistic process. 

Carrión’s music is a captivating blend of trap, reggaeton, and hip-hop that keeps evolving as he hones his lyrical style. Reflecting on his creative approach, he finds himself in the zone when the right mood, people, and rhythm come together. He describes spending hours on end, fully committed to perfecting his songs and only re-emerging from the booth when he’s achieved his goal. He passionately admits that his worst nightmare would be releasing an album without giving it his all, a feeling he’s grateful to have never experienced. 

“I make a record, and I come out so mentally drained because usually, I give my 200%. And it’s not because I have to, because I want to,” he explains. “I say it in the song, ‘Mbappe,’ ‘Every record I come out is better than the last one,’ and it’s always going to be like that!”

Beyond his music, Carrión takes pride in being heavily involved in the production of his shows, working closely with his production team to shape the future experience for his fans. Proudly, the trap artist boasts that his success is shared, thanks to his team’s commitment, who tirelessly work alongside him towards the same goal. 

With an unwavering devotion, he crafts songs brimming with emotion, storytelling, and authenticity, capturing the attention and respect of both his audience and peers in the Latin music scene. He explains that with every record, he aims to leave behind a legacy track that fans can revisit for years. 

Hour 70: Showtime

After days of meticulous preparation, we caught up with Carrión 1,300 miles away from our last encounter, in  Austin, Texas, hours leading up to his highly anticipated performance on the Billboard Stage at SXSW.

“The Sauce Gang keeps growing,” he exclaims proudly. “A few years ago, I didn’t fill a place with 500 people, and now we are doing shows with 40,000, 35,000 people. It’s nice to connect with people through music or a record.”

Connecting with his fans is where the Puerto Rican singer sees all his efforts coming to fruition. Ahead of a sold-out show, Carrión takes a moment after soundcheck to say hello to a few fans eagerly waiting in hopes of an encounter with the star. The “Sauce Gang,” as he endearingly calls his fans, is an embodiment of living your truth and exploiting the unique parts of yourself that make you.

He reflects that being on stage is the most fulfilling part of his musical career. Albeit traveling and living out of suitcases, connecting and singing alongside his sauce gang makes it all worth it. Known for his electric shows, he delivers his enigmatic performance full of high energy, leaving a lasting impression and inspiring people of all ages to approach life with determination and a strong work ethic. 

In Carrión’s words, “I think I have a story that people might see and say, “Wow, if he could do it, I can do it. Nothing is impossible. I want to inspire youth and people who are older than me, everybody, to have that mentality of: ‘If you’re going to do something, do it right,’ ‘If you’re going to dream, dream big,” “If you’re going to attack, attack with all your might.’”

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12 Jun 2023

Songwriter Cynthia Weil Honored at California Memorial By Bill Medley, Dolly Parton, Tony Orlando & More

As guests filed into Sunday’s (June 11) music-filled memorial for Cynthia Weil, they smiled in recognition and sang along to a string of hit songs she co-wrote that were played on speakers in a lush courtyard of the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Weil, the Grammy-winning lyricist who enjoyed a decades-long partnership with husband Barry Mann and helped compose “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling,” “On Broadway,” “Walking in the Rain” and dozens of other timeless tunes, died last week at age 82.

Singer Tony Orlando, who hosted the private event from a small stage with a grand piano, admonished attendees that despite the cloudy skies the day was not to be mournful, but a sunny celebration.

“I want the applause to be loud!” he said. Orlando performed “Bless You,” the 1961 ballad that gave Weil and Mann their first top 20 hit. They were married within months of the song’s release.

White-coated waiters distributed trays of bright green apple martinis, Weil’s favorite cocktail, to her friends, family members and show business contemporaries. Among those raising their glasses were Mann, record producer Lou Adler, singer Carol Bayer Sager and songwriters Carole King, Jeff Barry, Mike Stoller and Diane Warren.

Weil and Mann were one of popular music’s most successful teams, part of a crew of young songwriters based in Manhattan’s Brill Building neighborhood, near Times Square. With such hit-making duos as King and Gerry Goffin and Barry and Ellie Greenwich, the Brill Building hit factory turned out many of the biggest singles of the ’60s and beyond.

The couple was collaborators with producer Phil Spector on songs for the Ronettes (“Walking in the Rain”), the Crystals (“He’s Sure the Boy I Love”) and other singers, and also provided hits for everyone from Lionel Richie to Leo Sayer.

Their most famous collaboration, a song that would become historic, was “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling,” a soulful anthem produced by Spector with epic strings and sung with desperate intensity by the Righteous Brothers, Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield. “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” topped the charts in 1965 and was covered by numerous other artists.

Appearing at the memorial via a recorded video, Bill Medley said Weil and Mann didn’t just write the Righteous Brothers a hit, “They wrote us a career!” According to Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI), no other song was played more on radio and television in the 20th century.

Dolly Parton, who also appeared on video, recalled her career being sent “out into space” when the country star scored a crossover pop hit in 1977 with “Here You Come Again,” written by Weil and Mann.

“She left a great body of work,” Parton said.

Weil and Mann were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1987 and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. They were supporting characters in the hit Broadway musical about King, “Beautiful,” which opened in 2013 and documented the intense friendship and rivalry between the two married couples. Mann and Weil’s musical “They Wrote That?” had a brief run in 2004.

On Sunday, with Paul Shaffer on piano, King performed “Somewhere Out There,” a song Weil wrote with James Horner for the soundtrack of “An American Tail.” It won Grammys in 1987 for best song and best song for a movie or television, and was nominated for an Academy Award and Golden Globe.

Weil’s daughter, Dr. Jenn Mann, said the songwriter died last Thursday at her home in Beverly Hills, California. She remembered her mother Sunday as a loving wife to Mann, a devoted grandmother to her two girls, a lover of animals, and a soft-hearted romantic who could surprise people with her no-nonsense business sense.

While many of Weil’s peers struggled once the Beatles caught on in the mid-1960s, she continued to make hits, sometimes with Mann, or with other partners. Weil helped write the Peabo Bryson ballad “If Ever You’re In My Arms Again”; James Ingram’s “Just Once”; and the Pointer Sisters’ “He’s So Shy.” In 1997, she was in the top 10 again with Hanson’s “I Will Come to You.”

And her talents extended beyond love ballads. She and Mann wrote one of rock’s first anti-drug songs, “Kicks,” a hit for Paul Revere and the Raiders in 1966. The Animals had a hit with her tale of working class frustration, “We’ve Got to Get Out of This Place.” The Crystals’ “Uptown” was a 1961 hit that touched upon race and class in ways not often heard in rock’s early years.

Appearing on video, rocker Paul Stanley of KISS recalled being a fledgling songwriter as a teenager in New York and scouring the credits on his favorite records.

“Invariably, songs that I loved, I would see her name on it,” Stanley said.

12 Jun 2023

Horas 70: Tiempo De La Funcíon | 70 Horas Con Eladio Carríon y Tequila Don Julio

En la última serie de tres partes, “70 Horas con Eladio Carrión x Tequila Don Julio”, Billboard y Don Julio se embarcaron en un viaje de 70 horas con el cantante puertorriqueño Eladio Carrión, adentrándose en las profundidades de su pasión, herencia y el legado que busca crear. Echa un vistazo a la Hora 70.

12 Jun 2023

BTS 10th Anniversary: Seoul Landmarks to be Lit Up to Celebrate K-Pop Band’s Birthday

Skyscrapers, bridges and other landmarks in South Korea’s capital will be lit up in purple on Monday (June 12) as the country begins celebrating the 10th anniversary of K-pop band BTS, whose global popularity is a source of national pride.

The lights will provide the backdrop for various social media-driven events marking the 2013 debut of the seven-member group, which is now taking a hiatus as its singers begin to serve their mandatory military duties.

From Monday evening, numerous Seoul structures, including City Hall, the 123-story Lotte World Tower, several Han River bridges, and the futuristic DDP – a Zaha Hadid-designed aluminum and concrete dome that’s often used for visual art – will be bathed in purple, a color associated with BTS, according to city officials and the group’s management company, Hybe.

Messages congratulating BTS were displayed on digital screens in buildings across Seoul, while postal authorities issued stamps marking the group’s anniversary, which will be available at post offices starting Tuesday.

Seoul officials hope that the celebrations, which will continue for around two weeks, will boost tourism. The city has designated more than a dozen sites associated with BTS, including places where the group held major performances or shot some of their famous videos.

Fireworks are planned at a park near the Han River on Saturday night, hours after one of the BTS singers, RM, holds a live talk with fans that will be broadcast online.

Quickly garnering huge followings in Asia following their debut, BTS’ popularity expanded across the globe with their 2020 megahit “Dynamite,” the band’s first all-English song that made it the first K-pop act to top Billboard’s Hot 100. BTS has since performed in sold-out arenas around the world and was invited to speak at United Nations meetings, supported by a legion of global followers who call themselves the “Army.”

BTS’ activities as a full group are currently on hold as the artists begin to serve in the military. Two BTS singers – Jin and J-Hope – have already started their compulsory 18-month service and other members are to follow in coming months, which likely means the group will reconvene around 2025.

In South Korea, all able-bodied men are required to serve in uniform 18-21 months under a system meant to deter aggression from rival North Korea.

12 Jun 2023

CMA Fest 2023: Tim McGraw, Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, Alabama Wrap Sunday Night Finale

CMA Fest 2023 came to a close Sunday night (June 11) at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, celebrating its milestone 50th anniversary with a stacked lineup of some of country music’s brightest stars across multiple decades, demonstrating the enduring impact of the genre on generations of fans.

The lineup featured one of the best-selling groups in country music history, Alabama; since earning their first No. 1 with “Tennessee River” in 1980, the group continued lobbing hits at Billboard’s Hot Country Songs (then-called Hot Country Singles) chart, earning 17 No. 1s over the next five years, and earning 21 No. 1 hits on the chart by 1987.

After issuing his debut single, “Welcome to the Club” in 1992, McGraw earned nearly a dozen No. 1 hits on the chart by 2000, becoming one of country music’s most consistent hitmakers in the ’90s. He’s added to that genre-defining legacy each decade since, earning 11 CMA Awards wins, including an entertainer of the year trophy. Meanwhile, Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley each issued their debut singles in the early- to mid-2000s, with each steadily adding to their arsenal of hits. Bryan has two CMA entertainer of the year wins to his credit and has served as a host on American Idol, while Bentley is a 14-time Grammy Awards nominee and a three-time CMA Awards winner.

Bentley also co-hosted the upcoming CMA Fest television special alongside Lainey Wilson and Elle King; the special will air July 19 on ABC.

The full Sunday night lineup also included sets from Josh Turner, Ashley McBryde and newcomers Megan Moroney and Nate Smith.

Here we look at some of the top moments dotting the Sunday evening show:

12 Jun 2023

Barry Humphries Posthumously Awarded In King’s Birthday Honours List

Australian comedian Barry Humphries, internationally renowned for his over-the-top stage persona Dame Edna Everage, is posthumously awarded a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) as part of the King’s Birthday Honours celebrations.

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Humphries, who died last month, aged 89, was saluted with the highest honor for “eminent service to the arts” as a comedian, actor, author, satirist and entertainer, and for “the promotion of Australian culture, and as a patron of organisations”. Just six ACs were awarded, from a total list of 1,191 Australians recognized for their achievements.

A law school dropout, Humphries found major success as an actor, writer and entertainer in Britain in the 1970s, both with his Dame Edna creation, the grotesque cultural attache Sir Les Patterson, and others characters. He remained an active entertainer, touring Britain last year with his one-man show The Man Behind the Mask.

The late funnyman leads recipients from the fields of entertainment and music, which includes soprano Marina Prior, who was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her “significant service to musical theatre as a singer and performer.”

Also, Dead Can Dance co-founder Lisa Gerrard was appointed Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for “service to the performing arts through music.”

The honors roll marks the first time birthday salutes were awarded on behalf of King Charles, following his coronation in May.

The awards were established in 1975 by Queen Elizabeth II of England and the commonwealth states, which include Australia, in recognition of special achievements by the country’s citizens. Until now, they’ve been known as Queen’s Birthday Honours.

“Recipients have made substantial contributions and had a significant impact at the local, national or international level,” reads a statement from the Governor-General. “Some are volunteers, others have had a remarkable impact in professional roles – many have done both. They are all inspiring and their service is valued by us all.”