by tyler | Sep 5, 2023 | CNN, entertainment
The Rolling Stones are set to release their first studio album since 2005.
The band recently teased the new music in the British newspaper the Hackney Gazette. The ad included a website and a phone number, which revealed a recording saying, “Welcome to Hackney Diamonds, specialists in glass repair. Don’t get angry, get it fixed. Opening early September, Mare Street, E8. Register for a call at hackneydiamonds.com. Come on then.”
The new album is titled “Hackney Diamonds.”
On Wednesday, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood will do an interview with Jimmy Fallon in London. The late Stones drummer Charlie Watts died in August 2021. The new album will include music the band made with Watts before his death and will feature Paul McCartney playing bass on one track.
Fallon’s interview will live-stream on YouTube on Wednesday.
by tyler | Sep 5, 2023 | CNN, entertainment
It would be hard to imagine a bigger or better birthday celebration than Beyoncé’s on Monday.
During the singer’s “Renaissance World Tour” concert in Los Angeles, Diana Ross surprised the crowd when she stepped on stage to serenade Bey with a rendition of “Happy Birthday.”
“I’m here to celebrate Beyoncé’s birthday,” Ross said as Beyoncé hugged her tight.
When Ross was finished, Beyoncé, who turned 42, told her, “Thank you so much, you are so amazing.”
“This is the legendary Diana Ross! There would be no me without you, and thank you so much for all of your sacrifice and your beauty and your grace,” she said. “Thank you for opening doors for me. Thank you so much.”
Kim Kardashian was in attendance and shared a video of the two on stage on her Instagram Story, writing, “A birthday song from @dianaross.”
Beyoncé had previously serenaded Ross in 2019 when Ross turned 75.
by tyler | Sep 5, 2023 | CNN, entertainment
When the late singer Jimmy Buffett was diagnosed with a rare skin cancer about four years ago, his younger sister Laurie Buffett McGuane was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer not long after.
McGuane, who is now cancer-free, told People the siblings supported each other through their individual treatments.
“Jimmy and I became closer because of our cancers. We talked before and after our scans,” she said. “We shared a club that nobody wants to join. I am thunderstruck that Jimmy didn’t make it.”
She remembered her brother, whom she affectionately called Bubba, for inspiring her to stay strong.
“I rode my horse during my treatments and tried to continue with my life the same way Jimmy has done,” McGuane said. “He brought joy to so many. I am very emotional now. When Jimmy was in the world, I felt safe.”
McGuane said she was among the family members by Buffett’s side when he died. She shared a photo of them as children in a tribute on Instagram.
“We talked about our childhood where only siblings can relate. I told him I’ve known him longer than anyone on the planet,” McGuane wrote. “He smiled with those twinkling blue eyes and squeezed my hand.”
by tyler | Aug 26, 2023 | CNN, entertainment
Oliver Anthony is continuing to make his voice heard after becoming an overnight sensation thanks to his viral working-class anthem, “Rich Men North of Richmond.”
In a YouTube video shared on Friday, the singer addressed his song having been played at this week’s 2024 Republican presidential primary debate, saying that he found it “funny” because the song “is written about the people on that stage.”
“The one thing that has bothered me is seeing people wrap politics up into this,” Anthony said. “It’s aggravating seeing people on conservative news try to identify with me, like I’m one of them. It’s aggravating seeing certain musicians and politicians act like we’re buddies and act like we’re fighting the same struggle here, like that we’re trying to present the same message.”
The song, in which Anthony sings about working hard and paying taxes just to “waste (his) life away,” has been embraced by conservatives.
Anthony, though, was critical in the video toward both sides of the political spectrum and said his ballad “has nothing to do” with Democratic President Joe Biden.
“It’s hard to get a message out about your political ideology or your belief about the world in three minutes and some change,” he said,”but I do hate to see that song being weaponized.”
“I see the right trying to characterize me as one of their own, and I see the left trying to discredit me, I guess in retaliation. That sh*t’s gotta stop,” he continued.
Fox News anchor Bret Baier, who served as one of the debate moderators, told Politico in an interview published Friday that the network had approval to air the song during its debate.
“Rich Men North of Richmond” has racked up millions of views on social media in less than a week and debuted No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Of his sudden success and dealing with the “music industry,” Anthony noted in Friday’s video “how dirty everything is. It’s worse than you think.”
He also observed that according to the YouTube reaction videos to “Rich Men North of Richmond,” it’s not just conservative people who have been moved by the song, saying it’s a much more diverse group of people.
The track has received praise from country stars like Travis Tritt and John Rich of Big & Rich – though it has also courted controversy for its lyrics referring to politicians as “obese,” welfare recipients “milking” the system, and “minors on an island.”
As for his personal politics, Anthony previously said a separate video that he sits “pretty dead center down the aisle” and finds fault with leaders on both the left and the right.
by tyler | Aug 26, 2023 | CNN, entertainment
I love anniversaries.
One of mine (wedding) is coming up next month. I enjoy marking the big moments in life as an opportunity to celebrate the past, as well as appreciate the present.
Read on to discover how another big anniversary coming this week means a lot to me, for different reasons.
“Living Single” is turning 30 years old this week.
Rather than rehash the fact that “Living Single” was “Friends” before “Friends” ever existed, lets applaud it for the glow-up and grow-up it showcased in Kim Fields.
Prior to “Living Single,” Fields had been best known as a child star who appeared in a famous Mrs. Butterworth commercial and as the chatacter Tootie on the “Different Strokes” spin-off “The Facts of Life.”
In addition to Fields, “Living Single” also starred Queen Latifah, Kim Coles, John Henton, Terrence C. Carson and Erika Alexander. Created by Yvette Lee Bowser, the show about a group of Black friends living and loving in New York City will forever be one of my favorites. For five seasons from 1993 to 1998, “Living Single” explored the lives of young men and women of color with authenticity, dimension, humor and heart, laying the groundwork for series like “Insecure” and “Atlanta” that would follow decades later.
I was blessed to attend a taping many years ago, thanks to my friend, the late Eunetta Boone, who was a writer and producer on the show. The series felt as fun live as it does now in syndication.
Coles paid tribute to “Living Single” in honor of the anniversary, writing on Instagram on Tuesday, “30 years ago, we showed the world what true sisterhood, loving brotherhood and excellence looked like!”
“The intention of LOVE and JOY was there then and that is why it endures to.this.day!,” she wrote. “I can speak with confidence for my #LivingSingle family that we love that you still love, respect, resonate and ROCK with us to this day!”
Put me down as one who will continue to rock with it.
I don’t let not having kids keep me from enjoying some family programming.
That’s why I have no problems jamming along to the new series “Dance with Qai Qai,” now running on YouTube.
Inspired by Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian’s daughter Olympia’s favorite doll, the show uses the now-viral toy to encourage families to move together.
“It has been amazing to see how Qai Qai has captured the hearts of so many young fans so we’re thrilled to introduce them to ‘Dance with Qai Qai!,’” Williams said in a statement. “What better way to keep your kids active than by learning dance moves from Qai Qai herself? As a family who loves to dance, I know I’ll be right next to my daughter practicing our new moves. We can’t wait for other families to get to watch—and dance—together!”
It’s been wild watching Qai Qai go from one child’s beloved doll to a full-fledged star.
The Ohanian-Williams family recently welcomed a new addition, with Williams giving birth to second daughter Adira River Ohanian, so the dance party is even bigger now in their home.
Sweet 16.
That’s the number of studio albums Tim McGraw has recorded. His latest solo album, “Standing Room Only,” is out Friday.
The country singer seems to do well at everything he attempts, from music to acting to physical fitness. If he is to be believed, he slays on his latest album.
“After everything that happened in the world over the past few years…. it made me want to find and record more meaningful, life affirming songs,” he wrote on social media recently. “This album came out of it, and I truly think it’s the best project we’ve ever made (I feel like I say that every time, but as an artist, I want to work to get better with every record and I’m really proud of this one).”
I’m sure Taylor Swift is happy about this, given that her debut single years ago was titled “Tim McGraw.”
Remember when “nepo babies” were a thing?
They are, of course, rich and famous folks who are the children of rich and famous folks.
While Adam Sandler’s daughters may not be all the way there yet, just you wait.
His daughters Sunny and Sadie Sandler star in the new Netflix film “You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah,” along with their mother Jackie Sandler and (obviously) their famous dad.
Based on Fiona Rosenbloom’s 2005 young adult novel, the movie is built around that Jewish ceremony in which a girl becomes recognized as an adult by the faith community. I suspect this will not the last time we see the Sandler sisters front and center.
“You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah” starts streaming Friday.
(Heads up that I will be on vacation next week so there will be no newsletter. I know, I know, my near back-to-back vacations are to be envied, and I wish the same rest for you.)
by tyler | Aug 4, 2023 | CNN, entertainment
Comedian and activist Eddie Izzard has announced on social media that she is hoping to stand as a member of parliament at the UK’s next general election.
Izzard, who is also known as Suzy Eddie Izzard, said on her website that she is standing to be selected as the opposition Labour Party’s candidate for the Brighton Pavilion seat in southeast England, “to support this brilliant city and its diverse and vibrant community.”
The Green Party’s Caroline Lucas has held the seat for 13 years but said in June that she would step down at the next general election. An election is widely expected to be held next year.
Izzard has long been a public supporter and member of the Labour Party, alongside her decades-long career in film and television. She is best known for her appearances in the “Ocean’s 11” films and NBC’s “Hannibal” series, in addition to her stand-up comedy work.
She is also known for completing a series of extreme marathon challenges to raise money for charity, including running 29 marathons in 29 days in 28 different countries.
This isn’t Izzard’s first foray into parliamentary politics. Last year, she reached the shortlist to be nominated as the Labour candidate for the northern English constituency of Sheffield Central but ultimately lost out to Abtisam Mohamed.
On her website, Izzard said that, if elected, she would increase funding and resources for schools, promote eco-friendly transportation, work to secure more funding in housing infrastructure, champion mental health services and build stronger ties between law enforcement and local communities.
She added: “It will take practical action – not protest – to fix what’s broken, and to win this seat, Labour needs a candidate that can inspire many thousands to become our friends and allies in the fight for a fairer-greener-cleaner planet.”
The Green Party announced in July that Sian Berry, a former co-leader of the party, had been selected as its candidate to replace Lucas as an MP.
