BARRY LEVINE: Country’s Bryan making a switch to hip-hop

BULLETIN – Donald Trump will announce later this month that he plans to resign the presidency. “I’ve had enough of my critics challenging every move I make. Remember what I said during the campaign: I LOVE this country, but I don’t think my critics love me,” Trump said. Although he did not reveal any future plans, Trump is expected to immediately start a rap label called “The Donald.” The president is starting this company to show how much he loves rap music, especially the talented Rick Ross. Trump had no comment on that rumor. APRIL FOOL’S

BULLETIN — Luke Bryan, the country music superstar who has had 17 No. 1 hits, has decided to join Donald Trump’s new label “The Donald” and become a rapper. Bryan is expected to make a formal announcement at the April 15 Country Music Awards. Said Bryan: “I already have had success as a country singer and now, with Donald Trump’s guidance, I want to show my versatility as a singer and became a rapper.” APRIL FOOL’S

BULLETIN – Congratulations to Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal for pushing through legislation that will place a ban on telemarketers making unsolicited telephone calls to Georgians. “They’re a real pain,” Deal stated. “They will call at dinner time with no consideration for the folks they are disturbing who have worked hard all day and who are entitled to have peace in their homes without being disrupted by unwanted calls. … These callers must be stopped.” APRIL FOOL’S

BULLETIN – Vince McMahon, CEO of the WWE, will announce during Monday Night Raw that WrestleMania 35 will be held at the Albany Civic Center in 2019. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony also will be held at the Civic Center. “We just wanted to give a small town the opportunity to experience WrestleMania,” McMahon said in explaining the surprising decision of going from an 80,000-seat venue in New Orleans to the 10,000-capacity Albany Civic Center. APRIL FOOL’S

BULLETIN – Paul Simon, of Simon and Garfunkel fame, who announced he is retiring from touring, revealed that he is planning to buy a house in Albany so he can spend the winter here and take advantage of the moderate temps and snowless climate. “I like the city. … It’s quiet and a good place for me to write new songs. I hope that Bo Henry can find time from his busy schedule with his band and restaurant to assist me in this endeavor,” Simon said. APRIL FOOL’S

BULLETIN – Terry Lewis, longtime Albany Herald writer and die-hard University of Alabama football fan, revealed that he is leaving the newspaper to take a job as Crimson Tide Coach Nick Saban’s personal publicist. “He’s a great coach, but he needs somebody like me to show the whole world what a great man he is. All I’ve got to do is get him to smile a little more and display his outgoing personality,” Lewis said in explaining the move. APRIL FOOL’S

BULLETIN – The omnipresent B.J. Fletcher, an Albany City Commissioner and renowned restaurateur, is quietly reviewing sites in the city to open another restaurant. Fletcher is trying to petition the City Commission to make the day 30 hours instead of 24 so she will have enough time to accomplish everything. APRIL FOOL’S

BULLETIN – Buster Posey, the San Francisco Giants’ All-Star catcher and a future Hall of Famer, is quietly perusing areas in Lee County suitable to build a 45,000-seat stadium so the Giants can leave California and move to Lee County. A Braves’ exec, who requested anonymity, said the club was thrilled with the idea. “At least we’ll finally have a rival that is in our geographic region,” he said. Hey, Buster, how does the Lee County Giants sound? APRIL FOOL’S

BULLETIN – Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-Albany, announced that he will continue to push for Georgia to secede from the United States. “Georgia does not need the federal government, and the time has come for Georgians to stop paying their hard-earned money to Washington that is used for frivolous purposes. We can do better going independent,” the soft-spoken Bishop said. APRIL FOOL’S

BULLETIN – Jim Hendricks, who spent the past 34 years working in The Albany Herald newsroom before recently taking a job with the Albany Museum of Art, is considering returning to the paper. Said Hendricks: “It’s just too quiet at the museum, and I really miss working weekends at The Herald.” APRIL FOOL’S

This week in rock history: The Everly Brothers released “Bye Bye Love” on April 1,1957, a song that was rejected by 30 labels before Cadence Records picked it up. The song went to No. 2 on the Pop chart and No. 1 on the Country & Western chart. The song was written by the husband-and-wife team of Boudleaux and Felice Bryant, of Shellman. … Freddie & The Dreamers recorded “Do The Freddie”on April 2, 1965, a song that was put together quickly after American audiences wanted to know more about the swaying motion that lead singer Fred Garrity seemed to do on stage. It reached No. 18. … Elvis Presley made the first of two appearances on “The Milton Berle Show,” from the flight deck of the USS Hancock on April 3, 1956. He earned $5,000 for performing “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Money, Honey” and “Blue Suede Shoes.” It’s estimated that 25 percent of Americans saw the show. … The Beatles set a recording industry record that may never be equaled on April 4, 1964. They held the top 5 positions on the Hot 100 chart with “Can’t Buy Me Love” at No. 1, “Twist and Shout” at No. 2, “She Loves You” at No. 3, “I Want to Hold Your Hand” at No. 4 and “Please Please Me” at No. 5. … Sonny Bono, 30, and his wife, Cher, 18, were signed to Atco Records by Ahmet Ertegun on April 5, 1965. The duo had earlier made a handful of unsuccessful singles as Caesar & Cleo, but during the next seven years they would enjoy 11 Top 40 hits. … Perry Como had his ninth No. 1 single since 1945 and his only chart-topper in the rock ‘n’ roll era with “Round and Round” on April 5, 1957. … Shelly Fabares, 18, who was appearing as Mary Stone on TV’s “The Donna Reed Show,” had the nation’s No.1 song with “Johnny Angel” on April 6, 1962. She was accompanied by Glen Campbell on guitar, Hal Blaine on drums and Darlene Love & The Blossoms on backup vocals.

Barry Levine is an entertainment writer for The Albany Herald. He can be reached at [email protected].