Bruce Springsteen Honors Joe Ely “We’ve Lost an American Classic”

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Bruce Springsteen has long spoken openly about his admiration for Joe Ely, the forward thinking Texas country figure who blended roots music with rock across records like Honky Tonk Masquerade, helped shape the cult favorite group the Flatlanders, and even spent time touring with the Clash. Ely passed away on Monday at the age of 78 following a lengthy illness.

“Over here, we’re deeply saddened by the loss of Joe Ely, a singular American singer, great musician and great artist,” Springsteen wrote on social media Tuesday as he reflected on Ely’s passing. “I was lucky enough to count Joe as a true friend and I will miss that voice and his companionship. Our hearts go out to his wonderful wife Sharon and the family. We’ve lost an American classic.”

A representative for Ely confirmed that the songwriter died “from complications of Lewy Body Dementia, Parkinson’s and pneumonia. His beloved wife Sharon and daughter Marie were at his side at their home in Taos, New Mexico.”

Earlier this year, Springsteen took time to celebrate Ely’s influence and career during a ceremony at the Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music, where he presented Ely with a special American Music Honors award. “It’s got that slight Southern country twang, it’s got a hint of rockabilly,” Springsteen said at the event. “It’s got the depth and emotion of Johnny Cash and it’s as deeply authentic as his Texas roots.”

The two artists also collaborated directly, teaming up on the song “Odds of the Blues” from Ely’s 2024 album Driven to Drive, and they shared the stage together on multiple occasions. One notable moment came in 2014, when Springsteen and the E Street Band brought Ely out during a Houston show to perform “Great Balls of Fire” and “Lucille.”

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Ice Spice Appears on Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign’s ‘New Body,’ New Report Says

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If you are a hip-hop listener who keeps up with leaks and unreleased records, you have likely come across Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign’s “New Body.” The track has been floating around since 2018 and also includes a feature from Nicki Minaj. Despite ongoing requests over the years, Nicki has continued to decline clearance for its official release.

For a long time, Ye and Ty have held onto the record, hoping the circumstances would eventually align for it to drop. Years have passed since it first surfaced, and many fans have already accepted that it may never see an official release in its original form. In recent developments, Ty Dolla $ign briefly gave listeners some renewed optimism during a livestream. In the clip being shared online, he plays the track before quickly cutting it once an unidentified female verse comes in. The voice stands out immediately, and it is clearly not Nicki Minaj. Instead, many listeners believe it sounds similar to Ice Spice.

While some people might interpret this as a replacement of Nicki Minaj, it is worth remembering that she has repeatedly made it clear she does not want her verse released. Because of that, it would not be surprising if Ye and Ty explored other options to complete the record. Bringing in a newer viral artist would be a natural alternative given the situation.

Did Ice Spice Replace Nicki Minaj?

Even though the situation may look like a subtle shift away from Nicki, it is important to note that her contribution was never cleared for release. That leaves room for the possibility that a new verse could be used instead. The idea of tapping someone like Ice Spice would also fit the current trend of collaborating with rising artists who have strong online momentum.

At this point, it is still unclear when or even if this updated version of the song was recorded. There is also no confirmation on whether it will ever be officially released. If it does eventually drop, it would likely spark major discussion among fans who have been following the track’s long and complicated history.

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