Sam Smith's Debut Album Goes Platinum

Sam Smith’s debut album In The Lonely Hour has been certified Platinum by the RIAA, following Multi-Platinum (4X) certification for his debut single, “Stay With Me,” and his current Platinum smash, “I’m Not The Only One.” In addition to In the Lonely Hour selling more than one million copies by the traditional measures of physical and download album sales, it has sold an additional one million when factoring in the newer metrics of track- and stream-equivalent albums (as computed by Nielsen SoundScan).

Smith is the recent recipient of six Grammy Award nominations, including Album Of The Year for In The Lonely Hour, Record Of The Year and Song Of The Year for “Stay With Me,” and Best New Artist.  He also received nominations in the categories of Best Pop Vocal Album (In The Lonely Hour) and Best Pop Solo Performance (“Stay With Me”).  Smith is the first male artist in 34 years, and the first male artist ever – to earn nominations in the “Big Four” General Field Grammy categories following the release of a debut album.

Other recent accolades for Smith include his being named iTunes Best New Artist of 2014, MTV selecting him as its number one artist of the year (Best Artist on its year-end “Best Of 2014” Top 10 lists), and “Stay With Me” earning the #1 slot on Amazon’s Best 50 Songs of 2014.

The 22-year-old artist paid tribute to Frank Sinatra with a stunning performance of the legendary singer’s Capitol Records classic “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” on “A Very GRAMMY Christmas,” a one-hour entertainment special that aired earlier this month on CBS. Smith’s rendition, which was delivered on the rooftop of Capitol Records’ historic Hollywood tower, is available now at all digital partners.

Smith made chart history in the U.S. with In The Lonely Hour, which sold more copies in its first week of release than any other U.K. male artist debut in the 23-year history of SoundScan. It entered the Billboard 200 at No. 2 and has been certified Platinum by the RIAA. The Associated Press hailed it as “a passionate, heart-wrenching album” and The Washington Post observed, "‘In the Lonely Hour’ shows off every facet of Smith's voice to goose pimple-raising effect."

Over the course of 2014, Smith has won the BRIT Critics’ Choice award, the BBC Sound of 2014 prize, Favorite Male Artist – Pop/Rock honors at the American Music Awards, a Q award, four MOBOs and the VH1 2014 You Oughta Know Artist Of The Year award.  He will return to the U.S. in January 2015 for his third North American headline tour in less than a year. The arena and theatre run includes a concert at Madison Square Garden and a two-night stand The Forum in Los Angeles. 

Most importantly, of course, Smith will appear at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta on January 9, 2015, and the following evening, January 10, he will perform at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville! For more information, visit the Opry's website.

WhistlePig + Alfa Romeo F1

SHOREHAM, VT (September 13, 2023) — WhistlePig Whiskey, the leaders in independent craft whiskey, and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake are waving the checkered flag on a legend-worthy release that’s taking whiskey to G-Force levels. The Limited Edition PiggyBack Legends Series: Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is a high Rye Whiskey selected by the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake drivers, with barrels trialed in their wind tunnel to ensure a thrilling taste in every sip.

The third iteration in WhistlePig’s Single Barrel PiggyBack Legends Series, the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is bottled at 96.77 proof, a nod to Valtteri Bottas’ racing number, 77, and the precision of racing. Inspired by Zhou Guanyu, the first Chinese F1 driver, this Rye Whiskey is finished with lychee and oolong tea. Herbal and floral notes of the oolong tea complement the herbaceous notes of WhistlePig’s signature PiggyBack 100% Rye, rounded out with a juicy tropical fruit finish and a touch of spice.

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Nurse Practitioner Ari Kravitz

When I started medical transition at 20 years old, it was very difficult to get the care I needed for hormone replacement therapy because there are very few providers trained in starting hormones for trans people, even though it’s very similar to the hormones that we prescribe to women in menopause or cisgender men with low testosterone.

I hope more providers get trained in LGBTQ+ healthcare, so they can support patients along their individual gender journey, and provide the info needed to make informed decisions about their body. I’ve personally seen my trans patients find hope and experience a better quality of life through hormone replacement therapy.

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Descanso Resort, Palm Springs' premier destination for gay men, just received Tripadvisor's highest honor, a Travelers' Choice "Best of the Best" award for 2023. Based on guests' reviews and ratings, fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor's 8 million listings around the world receive the coveted "Best of the Best" designation. Descanso ranked 12th in the top 25 small inns and hotels category in the United States. Quite an accomplishment!

Open less than two years, Descanso Resort offers gay men a relaxing and luxurious boutique hotel experience just minutes away from Palm Springs' buzziest restaurants, nightclubs, and shopping. Descanso has quickly established itself as a top destination for sophisticated gay travelers, earning hundreds of 5-star guest reviews and consistently ranking in Trapadvisor's top positions alongside brother properties Santiago Resort and Twin Palms Resort.

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