The contributions of Black artists to country music have been marginalized, minimized, and, in some cases, wholly erased from the genre’s history. A group of songwriters, singers, activists, and journalists aimed to set the record straight on Wednesday during a live panel discussion in Nashville. Dubbed “Act III: A Conversation Around ‘Three Chords and the Actual Truth,’” the event was presented by the Black Music Action Coalition and the org’s co-founder, president, and CEO, Willie “Prophet” Stiggers.
Scholar and songwriter Alice Randall, who co-wrote Trisha Yearwood’s 1995 Number...
Scholar and songwriter Alice Randall, who co-wrote Trisha Yearwood’s 1995 Number...
- 5/18/2024
- by Joseph Hudak
- Rollingstone.com
Billy Zane was first cast as Marlon Brando all the way back in 2019 – and things have been pretty much silent for the bulk of the five years that followed. But now, with the movie at this year’s Cannes Market, we finally have a look at Zane as Brando…and wow does he nail it!
Billy Zane’s Marlon Brando is from a pivotal era in the legendary actor’s career, with Waltzing with Brando taking place in the late ‘60s into the early ‘70s, when his work shifted dramatically and he reinvented himself. Appropriately, Zane has entirely reinvented his look to portray Brando. Photos made available courtesy of Deadline fresh out of Cannes show Zane on the island of Tetiaroa, which Brando purchased in the 1960s when he had that “private island money.” Brando took to the region while filming 1962’s Mutiny on the Bounty; other key movies that...
Billy Zane’s Marlon Brando is from a pivotal era in the legendary actor’s career, with Waltzing with Brando taking place in the late ‘60s into the early ‘70s, when his work shifted dramatically and he reinvented himself. Appropriately, Zane has entirely reinvented his look to portray Brando. Photos made available courtesy of Deadline fresh out of Cannes show Zane on the island of Tetiaroa, which Brando purchased in the 1960s when he had that “private island money.” Brando took to the region while filming 1962’s Mutiny on the Bounty; other key movies that...
- 5/15/2024
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
From his beginnings as a featured player on In Living Color and creator and star of The Jamie Foxx Show to multiple Academy Award–nominated performances (and one win as Ray Charles in 2004’s Ray), Jamie Foxx has proven over and over again that he has the range.
Need someone to bring the funny? He’s your man. Bad guys need beating up? Yes, hello. Emotional gut punch required? On it. All three at once? Look no further than Day Shift, his latest movie hitting Netflix Aug. 12. Foxx plays Bud Jablonski, an LA vampire hunter with cash flow problems who’s forced to bite off a little more than he can chew to pay off his debts.
When you’re done watching him tear up the screen with Snoop Dogg and Dave Franco, make sure to queue up some of his past projects listed below.
Need someone to bring the funny? He’s your man. Bad guys need beating up? Yes, hello. Emotional gut punch required? On it. All three at once? Look no further than Day Shift, his latest movie hitting Netflix Aug. 12. Foxx plays Bud Jablonski, an LA vampire hunter with cash flow problems who’s forced to bite off a little more than he can chew to pay off his debts.
When you’re done watching him tear up the screen with Snoop Dogg and Dave Franco, make sure to queue up some of his past projects listed below.
- 5/3/2024
- by Anne Cohen
- Tudum - Netflix
While we absolutely love scripted movies and television here at /Film, we also have a deep appreciation for documentaries — series and films alike. With so many streaming services available, it feels like there are more documentaries out there than ever before, which can make finding the right one to watch a bit intimidating. Thankfully, I'm here to help recommend some of the best docs streaming this May, from remastered versions of music classics like "Stop Making Sense" and "Let it Be" to new docs with a fresh perspective, like the shocking "Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV" and "Stormy." There has honestly been a massive influx of showbiz docs lately, with a couple more great ones dropping fresh this month. The entertainment industry has always been rife with controversy and chaos, so there's sure to be no end of these docs anytime soon. Still, this latest crop is a real doozy.
- 5/1/2024
- by Danielle Ryan
- Slash Film
Michael Cuscuna, the three-time Grammy winner, Mosaic Records co-founder, historian and archivist who produced hundreds of jazz reissues and studio sessions during his career, has died. He was 75.
Cuscuna died Saturday of cancer at his home in Stamford, Connecticut, Grammy-winning recording artist Billy Vera, a longtime friend, announced.
Cuscuna produced the 1970 album Buddy & the Juniors, featuring Buddy Guy, Junior Wells and Junior Mance, for Vanguard Records, and 1972’s Give It Up, Bonnie Raitt’s lone gold album during her time at Warner Bros.
He produced reissues and studio sessions for Impulse, Atlantic, Arista, Muse, Elektra, Freedom, Novus and virtually the entire Blue Note catalog.
“Plainly stated, Blue Note Records would not exist as it does today without the passion & dedication of Michael Cuscuna,” execs from the label wrote on Instagram.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Blue Note Records (@bluenoterecords)
Readers of Blues & Rhythm magazine know his work in the blues field,...
Cuscuna died Saturday of cancer at his home in Stamford, Connecticut, Grammy-winning recording artist Billy Vera, a longtime friend, announced.
Cuscuna produced the 1970 album Buddy & the Juniors, featuring Buddy Guy, Junior Wells and Junior Mance, for Vanguard Records, and 1972’s Give It Up, Bonnie Raitt’s lone gold album during her time at Warner Bros.
He produced reissues and studio sessions for Impulse, Atlantic, Arista, Muse, Elektra, Freedom, Novus and virtually the entire Blue Note catalog.
“Plainly stated, Blue Note Records would not exist as it does today without the passion & dedication of Michael Cuscuna,” execs from the label wrote on Instagram.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Blue Note Records (@bluenoterecords)
Readers of Blues & Rhythm magazine know his work in the blues field,...
- 4/22/2024
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
When 1980’s Airplane! proved to be a massive hit, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of the year – up there with The Empire Strikes Back and Best Picture winner Kramer vs. Kramer – it was inevitable that it would get a sequel. But how often are comedy sequels good anyway? When have they ever really recaptured the magic and the laughter of the original? Well, Airplane II: The Sequel gave it a go…by basically being the same movie. Except this time around, Zaz wisely opted out, leaving the production without the strong leaders who reinvented the spoof genre. Instead, they got the guy who wrote Grease 2, one of the most notoriously awful sequels ever! So, strap in – no, not to an airplane but a space shuttle – as we find out: Wtf Happened to This Movie?!…The Sequel!
1980’s Airplane! did incredibly well upon release, making just under $85 million on a $3.5 million budget,...
1980’s Airplane! did incredibly well upon release, making just under $85 million on a $3.5 million budget,...
- 4/17/2024
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
For the majority of John Oates’ professional career, solo work was a means to keep busy and creatively fulfilled between the Daryl Hall & John Oates projects that took up most of his time. But now that the duo has hopelessly fractured after more than 50 years of partnership, Oates has the time to concentrate all his energies on his own music, beginning with his new LP, Reunion, out May 17.
The album is the culmination of years of work and features original compositions he wrote with A.J. Croce, Keith Sykes, Jim Lauderdale,...
The album is the culmination of years of work and features original compositions he wrote with A.J. Croce, Keith Sykes, Jim Lauderdale,...
- 4/10/2024
- by Andy Greene
- Rollingstone.com
Mario Van Peebles has been tapped to direct “That’ll Be the Day,” the story of how Buddy Holly and other musicians of the late 1950s helped give birth to rock ‘n’ roll and influence the wider societal and cultural landscape, including the civil rights movement.
Music has been central to much of Van Peebles’ work, from his 1991 gangster movie “New Jack City” to his work on “Wu-Tang: An American Saga,” which he co-executive produced for Hulu. Van Peebles is currently writing a musical stage tribute to his father Melvin Van Peebles, to be performed at New York City’s Lincoln Center later this year.
“America’s tumultuous cultural melting pot has produced transcendent musical talent, including Buddy Holly, who was our first bad ass rock ’n’ roll nerd,” Van Peebles said in a statement.
His 2003 docudrama “Baadasssss!” pays homage to his father’s groundbreaking film “Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song.” His latest film,...
Music has been central to much of Van Peebles’ work, from his 1991 gangster movie “New Jack City” to his work on “Wu-Tang: An American Saga,” which he co-executive produced for Hulu. Van Peebles is currently writing a musical stage tribute to his father Melvin Van Peebles, to be performed at New York City’s Lincoln Center later this year.
“America’s tumultuous cultural melting pot has produced transcendent musical talent, including Buddy Holly, who was our first bad ass rock ’n’ roll nerd,” Van Peebles said in a statement.
His 2003 docudrama “Baadasssss!” pays homage to his father’s groundbreaking film “Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song.” His latest film,...
- 4/3/2024
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: A documentary about the legendary Billy Preston that’s set to debut tonight at SXSW might not see the light of day.
“Instead of creating the film that they falsely described to Plaintiffs, Defendants White Horse Pictures, LLC, Homegrown Pictures, Inc. and Oyster Productions, LLC, by and through their principals and representatives Defendants Nigel Sinclair, Jeanne Elfant Festa, Stephanie Allain Bray, Paris C.K. Barclay and Cheo Hodari Coker, produced a film that is a salacious, posthumous ‘outing’ of Mr. Preston that centers on his sexuality – a deeply personal matter that Mr. Preston kept private until immediately before his untimely death – to the exclusion of many of the late musician’s notable accomplishments,” reads the fraud complaint filed today in Los Angeles Superior Court by Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Sam Moore of Sam & Dave, Preston Music Group, Ken Burke and others.
The Paris Barclay-directed documentary,...
“Instead of creating the film that they falsely described to Plaintiffs, Defendants White Horse Pictures, LLC, Homegrown Pictures, Inc. and Oyster Productions, LLC, by and through their principals and representatives Defendants Nigel Sinclair, Jeanne Elfant Festa, Stephanie Allain Bray, Paris C.K. Barclay and Cheo Hodari Coker, produced a film that is a salacious, posthumous ‘outing’ of Mr. Preston that centers on his sexuality – a deeply personal matter that Mr. Preston kept private until immediately before his untimely death – to the exclusion of many of the late musician’s notable accomplishments,” reads the fraud complaint filed today in Los Angeles Superior Court by Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Sam Moore of Sam & Dave, Preston Music Group, Ken Burke and others.
The Paris Barclay-directed documentary,...
- 3/8/2024
- by Dominic Patten and Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
“(Sam) awoke to find himself trapped in the past, facing mirror images that were not his own and driven by an unknown force to change history for the better.”
With music!
Of all the ways Sam Beckett (Scott Bakula) would leap into others lives to put right what once went wrong on Quantum Leap, the most stories were always ones that involved music. Scott Bakula can do pretty much anything but that man can Sing. The people behind Quantum Leap took great advantage of this and across five seasons they gave him (and other actors) the chance to belt out many incredible songs – some originally written for the show itself and some flawless covers.
Now we’re going through the best of the best of these performances. We’ll be looking at the original series, the 2022 continuation, and an extra gem along the way. To help narrow this list down,...
With music!
Of all the ways Sam Beckett (Scott Bakula) would leap into others lives to put right what once went wrong on Quantum Leap, the most stories were always ones that involved music. Scott Bakula can do pretty much anything but that man can Sing. The people behind Quantum Leap took great advantage of this and across five seasons they gave him (and other actors) the chance to belt out many incredible songs – some originally written for the show itself and some flawless covers.
Now we’re going through the best of the best of these performances. We’ll be looking at the original series, the 2022 continuation, and an extra gem along the way. To help narrow this list down,...
- 3/5/2024
- by Shamus Kelley
- Den of Geek
When Alice Randall first sat down more than 30 years ago to write “The Ballad of Sally Anne” with Mark O’Connor and Harry Stinson, she wanted to use the murder ballad format to discuss a topic — lynching — that was never mentioned in country music.
“The ugliest fact of Southern life went missing from the country canon,” Randall tells Rolling Stone. “This erasure perpetuated a particular fraud…without addressing the ways in which Southern white lives across class lines and ages were involved in the terrorizing of Black families.”
“The Ballad of...
“The ugliest fact of Southern life went missing from the country canon,” Randall tells Rolling Stone. “This erasure perpetuated a particular fraud…without addressing the ways in which Southern white lives across class lines and ages were involved in the terrorizing of Black families.”
“The Ballad of...
- 2/21/2024
- by Jonathan Bernstein
- Rollingstone.com
Beyoncé continues to break barriers.
One year after becoming the artist with the most Grammy wins in history, the Houston-born superstar has notched what once may have seemed an even more unattainable record: becoming the first Black woman to reach No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.
Her song “Texas Hold ‘Em,” released February 11, debuted at the top of the Hot Country Songs list. What’s more, “16 Carriages,” another single from her upcoming album, landed at No. 9. The songs debuted at No. 2 and No. 38, respectively, on the Billboard Hot 100. Over the course of her solo career, the singer has topped the Hot 100 eight times.
Per Billboard, Beyoncé also made history this week as the first woman to have topped both Hot Country Songs and Hot R&b/Hip-Hop Songs lists. Morgan Wallen, Justin Bieber, Billy Ray Cyrus and Ray Charles are the only other acts to have led both charts.
One year after becoming the artist with the most Grammy wins in history, the Houston-born superstar has notched what once may have seemed an even more unattainable record: becoming the first Black woman to reach No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.
Her song “Texas Hold ‘Em,” released February 11, debuted at the top of the Hot Country Songs list. What’s more, “16 Carriages,” another single from her upcoming album, landed at No. 9. The songs debuted at No. 2 and No. 38, respectively, on the Billboard Hot 100. Over the course of her solo career, the singer has topped the Hot 100 eight times.
Per Billboard, Beyoncé also made history this week as the first woman to have topped both Hot Country Songs and Hot R&b/Hip-Hop Songs lists. Morgan Wallen, Justin Bieber, Billy Ray Cyrus and Ray Charles are the only other acts to have led both charts.
- 2/21/2024
- by Tom Tapp
- Deadline Film + TV
Eddie Wilson could tell stories about the Armadillo World Headquarters, the storied Austin music venue he founded in 1970, for hours. He’ll tell you about how “nowhere else in the world” had ever treated Charlie Daniels so good, or the “phonebook thick” contract Zz Top made him sign, or maybe the times that names like Willie Nelson, Ray Charles, and Stevie Ray Vaughan performed there in the Seventies.
“We got one wonderful picture of Frank Zappa bending over a table with a razor blade,” Wilson recounts in his Texas twang.
“We got one wonderful picture of Frank Zappa bending over a table with a razor blade,” Wilson recounts in his Texas twang.
- 2/16/2024
- by Tomás Mier
- Rollingstone.com
When Quincy Jones posted a sign above the entrance to Am Studios in Los Angeles that read “Check Your Ego at the Door,” the night the producer and a group of 40 or so of the biggest singers of the ‘80s recorded the charity anthem “We are the World.”
It wasn’t exactly foolproof.
“The egos were still there; let’s not pretend they weren’t there,” says Kenny Loggins in the documentary The Greatest Night in Pop, now streaming on Netflix.
The Bao Nguyen film, which made its world premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, tells the story of how the single that raised more than $80 million ($214 million today) for humanitarian aid in Africa and the United States came to be, with commentary from entertainers such as Loggins, Bruce Springsteen, Cyndi Lauper, Sheila E., Huey Lewis, and the key orchestrator who co-wrote the song with Michael Jackson and kept the...
It wasn’t exactly foolproof.
“The egos were still there; let’s not pretend they weren’t there,” says Kenny Loggins in the documentary The Greatest Night in Pop, now streaming on Netflix.
The Bao Nguyen film, which made its world premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, tells the story of how the single that raised more than $80 million ($214 million today) for humanitarian aid in Africa and the United States came to be, with commentary from entertainers such as Loggins, Bruce Springsteen, Cyndi Lauper, Sheila E., Huey Lewis, and the key orchestrator who co-wrote the song with Michael Jackson and kept the...
- 2/10/2024
- by Brande Victorian
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sony Music has agreed to purchase half of Michael Jackson’s publishing and recorded masters catalog in a blockbuster deal valuing his music assets at over $1.2 billion, according to Billboard.
No exact figure is known at this time, but this means Sony will likely pay at least $600 million for its stake — though Billboard reports the valuation could be as high as $1.5 billion.
Regardless of the number, the Jackson deal is expected to be the largest-ever valuation of a musician’s music assets. Queen are currently seeking a $1.2 billion valuation for their recorded music, publishing, and other income streams like royalties from the Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody.
Sony’s deal with Jackson’s estate does not include royalties from Broadway’s Mj the Musical or other theatrical productions featuring the King of Pop’s music. However, the deal reportedly includes songs by other artists from his Mijac publishing catalog, including...
No exact figure is known at this time, but this means Sony will likely pay at least $600 million for its stake — though Billboard reports the valuation could be as high as $1.5 billion.
Regardless of the number, the Jackson deal is expected to be the largest-ever valuation of a musician’s music assets. Queen are currently seeking a $1.2 billion valuation for their recorded music, publishing, and other income streams like royalties from the Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody.
Sony’s deal with Jackson’s estate does not include royalties from Broadway’s Mj the Musical or other theatrical productions featuring the King of Pop’s music. However, the deal reportedly includes songs by other artists from his Mijac publishing catalog, including...
- 2/9/2024
- by Eddie Fu
- Consequence - Music
Frank Sinatra was the odds-on favorite to be the big winner at the inaugural Grammy Awards in 1959, but — perhaps as an early indicator that things wouldn’t always go to plan at the Grammys — ‘Ol Blue Eyes lost out on both Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
The music industry’s most recognized awards were established in 1958 by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences in the United States.
The first Grammy ceremony was held on May 4, 1959, with only 28 categories, a number that since has swelled past 100 and now settled at 91. It was attended by many of music’s elite. Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin, Gene Autry, Johnny Mercer, Henry Mancini and André Previn gathered for a black-tie dinner and awards presentation inside the Grand Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton.
While Sinatra led all nominees with a grand total of six, he would not turn...
The music industry’s most recognized awards were established in 1958 by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences in the United States.
The first Grammy ceremony was held on May 4, 1959, with only 28 categories, a number that since has swelled past 100 and now settled at 91. It was attended by many of music’s elite. Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin, Gene Autry, Johnny Mercer, Henry Mancini and André Previn gathered for a black-tie dinner and awards presentation inside the Grand Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton.
While Sinatra led all nominees with a grand total of six, he would not turn...
- 2/5/2024
- by Robert Lang
- Deadline Film + TV
Rolling Stone has brought together its most memorable magazine covers, feature articles, quotes, photos, and videos from the Eighties to today ahead of this year’s Grammy Awards.
“We are delighted to showcase our deep archives to a new audience,” said Gus Wenner, CEO of Rolling Stone. “It’s incredible to revisit the icons that have graced our pages over the decades in one place.”
The showcase offers a retrospective look of “Album of the Year” winners and current nominees through the publication’s lens, bringing the stories behind the...
“We are delighted to showcase our deep archives to a new audience,” said Gus Wenner, CEO of Rolling Stone. “It’s incredible to revisit the icons that have graced our pages over the decades in one place.”
The showcase offers a retrospective look of “Album of the Year” winners and current nominees through the publication’s lens, bringing the stories behind the...
- 1/30/2024
- by Charisma Madarang
- Rollingstone.com
The sessions started at Hollywood, California’s A&m Studios the night of Jan. 28, 1985, and didn’t end until well after sunrise the morning of Jan. 29. By that point, it was clear that nothing quite like “We Are the World” could ever happen again. The Greatest Night in Pop, a new documentary on Netflix, brings it all back to vivid life: co-writers Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie joined by Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and an improbably long list of other superstars, all crammed in...
- 1/29/2024
- by Brian Hiatt
- Rollingstone.com
Plot: In late 1984, inspired by the success of Band-Aid in the UK, legendary producer Quincy Jones decides to make a charity single including all of the biggest pop stars in the country. Due to the complicated schedules of all involved, they only have one evening to complete what will become one of the best-selling singles of all time, “We Are the World.”
Review: If you’ve seen the music video for “We Are the World,” you’ll know that pretty much every pop-rock icon of the first half of the eighties was there for its recording. In addition to co-writers Michael Jackson and Lionel Ritchie, there was Huey Lewis, Hall & Oates, Diana Ross, Kenny Loggins, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Willie Nelson, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Kenny Rogers, Paul Simon, Steve Perry and so many more. Even Dan Aykroyd showed up singing in the chorus.
The song was a charity single...
Review: If you’ve seen the music video for “We Are the World,” you’ll know that pretty much every pop-rock icon of the first half of the eighties was there for its recording. In addition to co-writers Michael Jackson and Lionel Ritchie, there was Huey Lewis, Hall & Oates, Diana Ross, Kenny Loggins, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Willie Nelson, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Kenny Rogers, Paul Simon, Steve Perry and so many more. Even Dan Aykroyd showed up singing in the chorus.
The song was a charity single...
- 1/28/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Only a few names, like Ray Charles, have echoed through time in soul music. A musical icon and genius, Charles was often referred to as “The Genius” by contemporaries. With his professional career starting in 1947, Charles had a successful 57-year musical career. Until his death, Ray Charles continued to perform. Throughout his career, Charles enjoyed fame and wealth, receiving several accolades for his talents as well as national honors. Charles was one of his generation’s revered musicians who left behind a substantial estate along with a legacy. Here’s more about Ray Charles’ life, career, and net worth. Ray Charles’...
- 1/28/2024
- by Onyinye Izundu
- TVovermind.com
Melanie, the witty, gentle-voiced singer-songwriter who rose to fame with her crowd-pleasing performance at Woodstock in 1969 and had two major hit singles – “Brand New Key” and “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)” – in its aftermath, died January 23. She was 76.
Her death was announced by her children Leilah, Jeordie and Beau Jarred. A cause of death was not disclosed.
“Dear Ones,” they wrote on Facebook, using the greeting favored by their mother, “This is the hardest post for us to write, and there are so many things we want to say, first, and there’s no easy way except to say it… Mom passed, peacefully, out of this world and into the next on January 23rd, 2024.”
Born Melanie Safka on Feb. 3, 1947, in Queens, New York, Melanie began performing in Greenwich Village folks clubs such as the Bitter End during the mid-1960s, winning over audiences with a clear, if sometimes tremulous,...
Her death was announced by her children Leilah, Jeordie and Beau Jarred. A cause of death was not disclosed.
“Dear Ones,” they wrote on Facebook, using the greeting favored by their mother, “This is the hardest post for us to write, and there are so many things we want to say, first, and there’s no easy way except to say it… Mom passed, peacefully, out of this world and into the next on January 23rd, 2024.”
Born Melanie Safka on Feb. 3, 1947, in Queens, New York, Melanie began performing in Greenwich Village folks clubs such as the Bitter End during the mid-1960s, winning over audiences with a clear, if sometimes tremulous,...
- 1/24/2024
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
“I didn’t really know much about the making of the song,” admits The Greatest Night in Pop director Bao Nguyen of 1985’s star-studded Ethiopian famine relief hit “We Are the World.” “You just make these assumptions about how things are made because it just happens. But when you think now of 46 great artists getting together to make that, it would be really impossible for that to happen now.”
Whether or not the superstars of 2024 could or would come together like the hit makers of the Reagan Era did in America and the UK almost 40 years ago is debatable. What is a fact is that Nguyen’s latest documentary is debuting today at the Sundance Film Festival just a few days short of when U.S.A. for Africa recorded the Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson penned tune in a studio in Los Angeles. It is also a fact that, after a total of four Sundance screenings,...
Whether or not the superstars of 2024 could or would come together like the hit makers of the Reagan Era did in America and the UK almost 40 years ago is debatable. What is a fact is that Nguyen’s latest documentary is debuting today at the Sundance Film Festival just a few days short of when U.S.A. for Africa recorded the Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson penned tune in a studio in Los Angeles. It is also a fact that, after a total of four Sundance screenings,...
- 1/19/2024
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
One of the ghostwriter’s most valuable skills is getting their subjects to talk. So, when I gathered L.A.’s most successful ghostwriters at the Formosa Cafe to gossip, they knew all my tricks. In desperation, I went with the most transparent of all reporting techniques — buying them all fruity cocktails.
A reputation for discretion is not only how they get work, but how they avoid getting sued; they sign nondisclosure agreements for every memoir they write. But even if they revealed nothing scandalous about their famous clients — or at least nothing that couldn’t be discovered with a Google search — I learned a lot about the curious craft of ghostwriting and the types of personalities drawn to help famous people tell their life stories. Also, I learned why I am far too egotistical to do their job.
Sitting around the table were Neil Strauss (who has written memoirs for Rick Rubin,...
A reputation for discretion is not only how they get work, but how they avoid getting sued; they sign nondisclosure agreements for every memoir they write. But even if they revealed nothing scandalous about their famous clients — or at least nothing that couldn’t be discovered with a Google search — I learned a lot about the curious craft of ghostwriting and the types of personalities drawn to help famous people tell their life stories. Also, I learned why I am far too egotistical to do their job.
Sitting around the table were Neil Strauss (who has written memoirs for Rick Rubin,...
- 1/19/2024
- by Joel Stein
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Priscilla, Maestro and the upcoming One Love revolve around pitch-perfect impersonations of A-list icons. But what about the bangers yet to be greenlit about less mainstream musicians?
Unlike the wave of milquetoast biopics released over the years on Elvis, Ray Charles, Johnny Cash and others, Maestro is a welcome passion project by an actor/director willing to experiment with form and structure. Showing composer Leonard Bernstein as a magnetic but self-absorbed asshole with a sheepish grin and extroverted bisexuality, Maestro’s complex approach brings out a genius’s relatability and messy everydayness in what could otherwise have been stuffy subject matter.
In addition, it leaves us hungry for more character studies of musicians paired with actors who give their all. In Maestro, Cooper not only gives us his best-yet performance but reaches another level as an actor, writer and director. Inspired, here we suggest five other musicians who deserve to have their stories told.
Unlike the wave of milquetoast biopics released over the years on Elvis, Ray Charles, Johnny Cash and others, Maestro is a welcome passion project by an actor/director willing to experiment with form and structure. Showing composer Leonard Bernstein as a magnetic but self-absorbed asshole with a sheepish grin and extroverted bisexuality, Maestro’s complex approach brings out a genius’s relatability and messy everydayness in what could otherwise have been stuffy subject matter.
In addition, it leaves us hungry for more character studies of musicians paired with actors who give their all. In Maestro, Cooper not only gives us his best-yet performance but reaches another level as an actor, writer and director. Inspired, here we suggest five other musicians who deserve to have their stories told.
- 1/18/2024
- by Lee Escobedo
- The Guardian - Film News
Demi Lovato named her favorite Beatles song and her choice was flawless. In the same vein, she revealed that she wanted to be a rock singer from the early days of her career. Paul McCartney was asked to pick the best songs in his catalog and he mentioned the same tune Lovato did.
Demi Lovato loves 1 of The Beatles’ most popular songs
During a 2009 interview with Cleveland.com, Lovato was asked to name her favorite Beatles song. She chose “Yesterday,” the most beloved rock ballad of all time. “It’s such a beautiful song,” she opined. “Out of all their songs, I just really connect to that one.”
In a 2022 interview with Vogue, Lovato discussed her relationship with rock music in general. “I started getting into rock music when I was about 12,” she remembered. “What transitioned me into that was the emo and scene days. I was raised in Texas,...
Demi Lovato loves 1 of The Beatles’ most popular songs
During a 2009 interview with Cleveland.com, Lovato was asked to name her favorite Beatles song. She chose “Yesterday,” the most beloved rock ballad of all time. “It’s such a beautiful song,” she opined. “Out of all their songs, I just really connect to that one.”
In a 2022 interview with Vogue, Lovato discussed her relationship with rock music in general. “I started getting into rock music when I was about 12,” she remembered. “What transitioned me into that was the emo and scene days. I was raised in Texas,...
- 1/17/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Los Angeles, Jan 6 (Ians) Grammy winner Michael Bolton has revealed that he has been diagnosed with brain tumour and will be taking a temporary break from performing.
The 70-year-old singer took to Facebook to make the announcement about his health, reports deadline.com.
“Just before the holidays, it was discovered that I had a brain tumor, which required immediate surgery. Thanks to my incredible medical team, the surgery was a success,” Bolton wrote.
“I am now recuperating at home and surrounded by the tremendous love and support of my family.”
He told fans he will be taking the “next couple of months” to his recovery and taking a “temporary break” from touring.
“It is always the hardest thing for me to ever disappoint my fans or postpone a show, but have no doubt I am working hard to accelerate my recovery and get back to performing soon,” wrote Bolton.
“Know...
The 70-year-old singer took to Facebook to make the announcement about his health, reports deadline.com.
“Just before the holidays, it was discovered that I had a brain tumor, which required immediate surgery. Thanks to my incredible medical team, the surgery was a success,” Bolton wrote.
“I am now recuperating at home and surrounded by the tremendous love and support of my family.”
He told fans he will be taking the “next couple of months” to his recovery and taking a “temporary break” from touring.
“It is always the hardest thing for me to ever disappoint my fans or postpone a show, but have no doubt I am working hard to accelerate my recovery and get back to performing soon,” wrote Bolton.
“Know...
- 1/6/2024
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
Tom Smothers, one-half of The Smothers Brothers, has died at the age of 86 following a battle with cancer.
The National Comedy Center announced his death on behalf of the family, with his younger brother Dick Smothers releasing a statement. “Tom was not only the loving older brother that everyone would want in their life, he was a one-of-a-kind creative partner,” Dick said. “I am forever grateful to have spent a lifetime together with him, on and off stage, for over 60 years. Our relationship was like a good marriage – the longer we were together, the more we loved and respected one another. We were truly blessed.“
The brothers initially wanted to be folk musicians but quickly realized that they weren’t quite good enough. However, once they began adding a little comedy to their act, it took off. “It was a series of performances when we started out as a duet in Aspen.
The National Comedy Center announced his death on behalf of the family, with his younger brother Dick Smothers releasing a statement. “Tom was not only the loving older brother that everyone would want in their life, he was a one-of-a-kind creative partner,” Dick said. “I am forever grateful to have spent a lifetime together with him, on and off stage, for over 60 years. Our relationship was like a good marriage – the longer we were together, the more we loved and respected one another. We were truly blessed.“
The brothers initially wanted to be folk musicians but quickly realized that they weren’t quite good enough. However, once they began adding a little comedy to their act, it took off. “It was a series of performances when we started out as a duet in Aspen.
- 12/27/2023
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
Tom Smothers, who with his younger brother Dick changed the face of comedy with their musical humor and The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, died Tuesday in Santa Rosa, California, following a cancer battle. The news was announced by the National Comedy Center, on behalf of Smothers’ family. He was 86.
Tom and Dick Smothers started out as folk musicians in the early ’60s, and soon discovered that, while they were not good enough to be professional musicians, the act worked if they mixed in comedy.
Dick Smothers said in a statement, “Tom was not only the loving older brother that everyone would want in their life, he was a one-of-a-kind creative partner. I am forever grateful to have spent a lifetime together with him, on and off stage, for over 60 years. Our relationship was like a good marriage – the longer we were together, the more we loved and respected one another.
Tom and Dick Smothers started out as folk musicians in the early ’60s, and soon discovered that, while they were not good enough to be professional musicians, the act worked if they mixed in comedy.
Dick Smothers said in a statement, “Tom was not only the loving older brother that everyone would want in their life, he was a one-of-a-kind creative partner. I am forever grateful to have spent a lifetime together with him, on and off stage, for over 60 years. Our relationship was like a good marriage – the longer we were together, the more we loved and respected one another.
- 12/27/2023
- by Tom Tapp
- Deadline Film + TV
Ringo Starr recorded a song from one of the most important songwriters of the 1980s and 1990s. He said it would be a great New Year’s anthem. Despite this, the tune never mentions the holiday. His track begs to be compared to a George Harrison song with a similar theme.
Ringo Starr’s New Year’s song was written by someone who wrote hits for Cher and others
Diane Warren is a songwriter who has worked on hits such as Cher’s “If I Could Turn Back Time,” Ace of Base’s “Don’t Turn Around,” and Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.” During a 2021 interview with Variety, Ringo discussed working with Warren. “I asked Diane Warren for a song, and she sent over ‘Here’s to the Nights,'” he said. “Of course, she sent it over in the key of F-demented, and I was like,...
Ringo Starr’s New Year’s song was written by someone who wrote hits for Cher and others
Diane Warren is a songwriter who has worked on hits such as Cher’s “If I Could Turn Back Time,” Ace of Base’s “Don’t Turn Around,” and Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.” During a 2021 interview with Variety, Ringo discussed working with Warren. “I asked Diane Warren for a song, and she sent over ‘Here’s to the Nights,'” he said. “Of course, she sent it over in the key of F-demented, and I was like,...
- 12/27/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
And then there were four. Season 10 of Fox’s “The Masked Singer” airs this Wednesday with finalists Donut (Group C champion), Sea Queen (Group B winner), Cow (Group A victor) and Group A “Ding Dong Keep It On” recipient Gazelle. Variety has a first look at Donut’s emotional finale performance, dedicated to his late wife. Scroll down for a preview.
Here’s who has been unmasked so far in Season 10: John Oates as Anteater, Keyshia Cole as Candelabra, Sebastian Bach as Tiki, Ginuwine as Husky, Ashley Parker Angel as S’more, Metta World Peace as Cuddle Monster, Luann de Lesseps as Hibiscus, Tyler Posey as Hawk, Billie Jean King as Royal Hen, Michael Rapaport as Pickle, Tom Sandoval as Diver, Anthony Anderson as Rubber Ducky and one-time special guest Demi Lovato as Anonymouse.
According to the show, Season 10 contestants “boast a combined 40 medals, 33 Grammy nominations, seven hall of fame awards,...
Here’s who has been unmasked so far in Season 10: John Oates as Anteater, Keyshia Cole as Candelabra, Sebastian Bach as Tiki, Ginuwine as Husky, Ashley Parker Angel as S’more, Metta World Peace as Cuddle Monster, Luann de Lesseps as Hibiscus, Tyler Posey as Hawk, Billie Jean King as Royal Hen, Michael Rapaport as Pickle, Tom Sandoval as Diver, Anthony Anderson as Rubber Ducky and one-time special guest Demi Lovato as Anonymouse.
According to the show, Season 10 contestants “boast a combined 40 medals, 33 Grammy nominations, seven hall of fame awards,...
- 12/19/2023
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
After a 10th anniversary season that featured some of the most famous celebrity crooners of all time, the Season 10 finale of “The Masked Singer” is about to crown its ultimate champion. The two-hour finale is scheduled to air on December 20, 2023 on Fox, and the final four contestants still in running to claim the Golden Mask are Cow, Donut, Gazelle and Sea Queen.
It’s time to fess up: Who are You rooting for to win Season 10? Vote in Gold Derby’s “The Masked Singer” finale poll below:
Host Nick Cannon and panelists Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, Ken Jeong and Nicole Scherzinger have been at the helm for all 10 installments of “Tms,” and all but Scherzinger are scheduled to return for Season 11 in the spring. Rita Ora, who appears on the British “Masked Singer,” will temporarily step in while Scherzinger is away starring in the West End revival of “Sunset Boulevard.
It’s time to fess up: Who are You rooting for to win Season 10? Vote in Gold Derby’s “The Masked Singer” finale poll below:
Host Nick Cannon and panelists Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, Ken Jeong and Nicole Scherzinger have been at the helm for all 10 installments of “Tms,” and all but Scherzinger are scheduled to return for Season 11 in the spring. Rita Ora, who appears on the British “Masked Singer,” will temporarily step in while Scherzinger is away starring in the West End revival of “Sunset Boulevard.
- 12/19/2023
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
Fox’s The Masked Singer Season 10 continues with Soundtrack To My Life Night on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. The remaining three masks in Group C will compete for the final spot in the finale, and we can’t wait to see them perform. So, who’s unmasked? Here are The Masked Singer Season 10 spoilers regarding who fans think won’t make it past this episode.
[Spoiler alert: The Masked Singer Season 10 spoilers ahead regarding Soundtrack To My Life Night.]
‘The Masked Singer’ Season 10 spoilers: Who’s unmasked on Soundtrack To My Life Night?
The Masked Singer Season 10 Group C singers take the stage for Soundtrack To My Life Night, which will air on Dec. 13, 2023. Anteater, Candelabra, and Donut are the three remaining singers. According to The Masked Singer spoilers, fans on Reddit suspect Donut will make it through to the finals, leaving Anteater and Candelabra unmasked.
Fans believe that judge Jenny McCarthy may have...
[Spoiler alert: The Masked Singer Season 10 spoilers ahead regarding Soundtrack To My Life Night.]
‘The Masked Singer’ Season 10 spoilers: Who’s unmasked on Soundtrack To My Life Night?
The Masked Singer Season 10 Group C singers take the stage for Soundtrack To My Life Night, which will air on Dec. 13, 2023. Anteater, Candelabra, and Donut are the three remaining singers. According to The Masked Singer spoilers, fans on Reddit suspect Donut will make it through to the finals, leaving Anteater and Candelabra unmasked.
Fans believe that judge Jenny McCarthy may have...
- 12/13/2023
- by Lauren Weiler
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Michael McDonald has announced a new memoir co-written by actor Paul Reiser. Titled What a Fool Believes: A Memoir, it’s slated for release on May 21st, 2024 via Dey Street Books.
According to a press release, What a Fool Believes is “interwoven with unforgettable tales from his storied career and a cast of music greats” including James Taylor, Ray Charles, Carly Simon, and Quincy Jones. The memoir also finds the Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan member “reckoning with the unshakeable insecurities that drove him and the highs and lows of fame and popularity.” Pre-orders are ongoing.
McDonald and Reiser met at a party several years ago, where McDonald learned of Reiser’s love of music — particularly the piano. They began working on the memoir in the spring of 2020 after Reiser “sort of made a joke,” as he explained to People magazine.
“I would periodically ask Mike questions I didn’t understand about the Doobies,...
According to a press release, What a Fool Believes is “interwoven with unforgettable tales from his storied career and a cast of music greats” including James Taylor, Ray Charles, Carly Simon, and Quincy Jones. The memoir also finds the Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan member “reckoning with the unshakeable insecurities that drove him and the highs and lows of fame and popularity.” Pre-orders are ongoing.
McDonald and Reiser met at a party several years ago, where McDonald learned of Reiser’s love of music — particularly the piano. They began working on the memoir in the spring of 2020 after Reiser “sort of made a joke,” as he explained to People magazine.
“I would periodically ask Mike questions I didn’t understand about the Doobies,...
- 12/13/2023
- by Eddie Fu
- Consequence - Music
The National Film Registry just granted immortality to 25 classic films. Every year, the Library of Congress chooses another class to be preserved for posterity, and this year’s group includes some major blockbusters like “Terminator 2,” “Home Alone,” and “Apollo 13.”
To be eligible, a film must be at least 10 years old and carry what the library considers to be “cultural, historic or aesthetic importance,” in consultation with National Film Preservation Board members and other experts.
The list now stands at 875 remarkable films. If you’d like to nominate your favorite film for preservation, just fill out this form.
2023 Inductees into the National Film Registry 20 Feet from Stardom June 14, 2013
Directed by Morgan Neville and produced by Gil Friesen, “20 Feet from Stardom” uses archival footage and interviews sharing behind-the-scenes experiences, and shining the spotlight on backup singers, including Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer, Judith Hill, Jo Lawry, Claudia Lennear,...
To be eligible, a film must be at least 10 years old and carry what the library considers to be “cultural, historic or aesthetic importance,” in consultation with National Film Preservation Board members and other experts.
The list now stands at 875 remarkable films. If you’d like to nominate your favorite film for preservation, just fill out this form.
2023 Inductees into the National Film Registry 20 Feet from Stardom June 14, 2013
Directed by Morgan Neville and produced by Gil Friesen, “20 Feet from Stardom” uses archival footage and interviews sharing behind-the-scenes experiences, and shining the spotlight on backup singers, including Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer, Judith Hill, Jo Lawry, Claudia Lennear,...
- 12/13/2023
- by Ben Bowman
- The Streamable
The Beatles were primarily a rock and pop band, but they still showed appreciation for soul music. Ringo Starr revealed he was a big fan of an Al Green song because of its incredible drumming. That tune appeared on an album that had an unusual impact on the American pop chart. On the other hand, the album was completely ignored by the public in the United Kingdom.
Ringo Starr loved the hi-hat in an Al Green song
During a 2020 interview with Rolling Stone, a reporter asked Ringo if “What’d I Say” by Ray Charles was an influence on his drumming style. “No, I know the song really well,” he said. “I listened to the records, but I wasn’t, like, big on listening to the drums.” Ringo’s comments are surprising since Paul McCartney praised him for being able to recreate the feel of “What’d I Say.”
Ringo...
Ringo Starr loved the hi-hat in an Al Green song
During a 2020 interview with Rolling Stone, a reporter asked Ringo if “What’d I Say” by Ray Charles was an influence on his drumming style. “No, I know the song really well,” he said. “I listened to the records, but I wasn’t, like, big on listening to the drums.” Ringo’s comments are surprising since Paul McCartney praised him for being able to recreate the feel of “What’d I Say.”
Ringo...
- 12/6/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Ringo Starr‘s wife, Barbara Bach, was not a huge music fan. She revealed she preferred two iconic soul singers to The Beatles. One of those soul singers put out a fantastic cover of a Fab Four ballad. Her rendition of the song became a pop hit in the United States.
Ringo Starr’s wife admitted she ‘knew very little about The Beatles’
Bach is an actor most known for appearing in the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me. During a 1981 interview with Rolling Stone, Bach discussed her feelings about Ringo. “To me, Ringo is definitely Richie,” she said. “Ringo is the public figure, and Richie is the man I live with. You see, I really knew very little about The Beatles.”
She was no Beatlemaniac. “I didn’t follow them,” she revealed. “My favorite musicians were Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin, but music just wasn’t my thing.
Ringo Starr’s wife admitted she ‘knew very little about The Beatles’
Bach is an actor most known for appearing in the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me. During a 1981 interview with Rolling Stone, Bach discussed her feelings about Ringo. “To me, Ringo is definitely Richie,” she said. “Ringo is the public figure, and Richie is the man I live with. You see, I really knew very little about The Beatles.”
She was no Beatlemaniac. “I didn’t follow them,” she revealed. “My favorite musicians were Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin, but music just wasn’t my thing.
- 12/3/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Ringo Starr‘s wife, Barbara Bach, is one of the most famous Bond girls of all time. She was not a big fan of The Beatles. She said her two favorite musicians were a pair of American soul singers. Ringo once discussed how he fell in love with Bach.
Ringo Starr’s wife Barbara Bach preferred Aretha Franklin to the Fab Four
Bach is an actor most known for her role as agent Anya Amasova in the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me, starring Roger Moore. The character is one of the most interesting leading ladies in the 007 franchise, partly because she starts the film as Bond’s enemy. She also appeared in Caveman, a notorious comedy starring Ringo that features a lot of slapstick and little intelligible dialogue.
Ringo was born with the name Richard Starkey. During a 1981 interview with Rolling Stone, Bach seemed to prefer his original name.
Ringo Starr’s wife Barbara Bach preferred Aretha Franklin to the Fab Four
Bach is an actor most known for her role as agent Anya Amasova in the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me, starring Roger Moore. The character is one of the most interesting leading ladies in the 007 franchise, partly because she starts the film as Bond’s enemy. She also appeared in Caveman, a notorious comedy starring Ringo that features a lot of slapstick and little intelligible dialogue.
Ringo was born with the name Richard Starkey. During a 1981 interview with Rolling Stone, Bach seemed to prefer his original name.
- 12/2/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Updated 11/23 with Foxx’s statement and 11/25 with plaintiff’s attorney’s response: Jamie Foxx has hit back at a lawsuit filed Wednesday in New York, in which he is accused of a sexual assault that allegedly happened in 2015.
“The alleged incident never happened. In 2020, this individual filed a nearly identical lawsuit in Brooklyn. That case was dismissed shortly thereafter,” a spokesperson for Foxx said Thursday. “The claims are no more viable today than they were then. We are confident they will be dismissed again. And once they are, Mr. Foxx intends to pursue a claim for malicious prosecution against this person and her attorneys for re-filing this frivolous action.”
In the lawsuit, the 55-year-old Oscar winner (real name Eric Marlon Bishop) has been accused of placing his hands on an unidentified woman’s waist, then moving them under her top. He then allegedly began rubbing the plaintiff’s breasts, dragging...
“The alleged incident never happened. In 2020, this individual filed a nearly identical lawsuit in Brooklyn. That case was dismissed shortly thereafter,” a spokesperson for Foxx said Thursday. “The claims are no more viable today than they were then. We are confident they will be dismissed again. And once they are, Mr. Foxx intends to pursue a claim for malicious prosecution against this person and her attorneys for re-filing this frivolous action.”
In the lawsuit, the 55-year-old Oscar winner (real name Eric Marlon Bishop) has been accused of placing his hands on an unidentified woman’s waist, then moving them under her top. He then allegedly began rubbing the plaintiff’s breasts, dragging...
- 11/25/2023
- by Bruce Haring and Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Born on April 13, 1973, in Harlem, New York, Bokeem Woodbine is an American actor. Woodbine is married to Mahiely Woodbine and has two children together. He is well known for his portrayal of saxophonist David “Fathead” Newman in the 2004 American biographical musical drama film Ray, which follows the life of Oscar-winning rhythm and blues musician, Ray Charles. Woodbine made his acting debut at the age of 19 in the 1992 movie, Juice, where he appeared in an uncredited role as a stand-in extra. His credited TV debut was in the American anthology series for teenagers, CBS Schoolbreak Special.
- 11/14/2023
- by Nkem
- TVovermind.com
Kate Bush, Missy Elliott, Sheryl Crow, Willie Nelson, Rage Against the Machine, The Spinners and the late George Michael were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Friday.
The 38th annual ceremony took place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn with performances that spanned genres and paired different generations of stars, including an opening act with Crow and Olivia Rodrigo singing “If It Makes You Happy,” a pairing of honoree Chaka Khan and Common, as well as with H.E.R. and Sia, and a medley of Nelson’s songs featuring the 90-year-old performer alongside Dave Matthews, Chris Stapleton and Crow. Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page made a surprise appearance to perform “Rumble” in honor of inductee Link Wray.
The evening concluded with an all-out performance from Elliott, decked out in a sequined gold jumpsuit, surrounded by backup dancers and running through hits such as “Lose Control” and “Get Ur Freak On.
The 38th annual ceremony took place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn with performances that spanned genres and paired different generations of stars, including an opening act with Crow and Olivia Rodrigo singing “If It Makes You Happy,” a pairing of honoree Chaka Khan and Common, as well as with H.E.R. and Sia, and a medley of Nelson’s songs featuring the 90-year-old performer alongside Dave Matthews, Chris Stapleton and Crow. Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page made a surprise appearance to perform “Rumble” in honor of inductee Link Wray.
The evening concluded with an all-out performance from Elliott, decked out in a sequined gold jumpsuit, surrounded by backup dancers and running through hits such as “Lose Control” and “Get Ur Freak On.
- 11/4/2023
- by Caitlin Huston
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Willie Nelson is now officially a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Just don’t ask him what he has to do with rock & roll. “It’s been a long ride from my first DJ job to being here with y’all,” he said during his acceptance speech. “And as a DJ, I was playing those first songs by Elvis. I remember writers calling that ‘rockabilly’ rather than rock & roll, and I never did pay much attention to categories, and I’m not sure the fans did either.
- 11/4/2023
- by Joseph Hudak and Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
Willie Nelson is set to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Friday night, but according to his latest interview, when he got the call that he had been voted in, he “thought they had the wrong number.”
That’s what Nelson said on Thursday night’s episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (his second appearance on the program this week). Pulling his famous tour bus up to the show’s studio on 53rd Street in Manhattan, Nelson was joined by Colbert for a chat around the bus’s table, speaking about the significance of his induction into the Rock Hall, his early days of songwriting, his new book, the upcoming screening of his 90th birthday concert film, and more. Watch the interview below.
With the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Colbert hinted that Nelson would have reason to feel like “it’s...
That’s what Nelson said on Thursday night’s episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (his second appearance on the program this week). Pulling his famous tour bus up to the show’s studio on 53rd Street in Manhattan, Nelson was joined by Colbert for a chat around the bus’s table, speaking about the significance of his induction into the Rock Hall, his early days of songwriting, his new book, the upcoming screening of his 90th birthday concert film, and more. Watch the interview below.
With the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Colbert hinted that Nelson would have reason to feel like “it’s...
- 11/3/2023
- by Jo Vito
- Consequence - Music
“Killers of the Flower Moon,” the latest acclaimed epic drama from Martin Scorsese, is now in theaters, and the film’s star Leonardo DiCaprio is already an early favorite to receive a Best Actor Oscar nomination for his performance. In honor of the new movie from Apple Original Films, let’s look back at his seven Oscar nominations and talk about why DiCaprio finally won his first gold trophy at the 2016 Academy Awards for “The Revenant” (2015).
His first Oscar nomination came in the Best Supporting Actor category for “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” (1993). DiCaprio’s only Academy Award nom of the 1990s put him up against older acting titans — Ralph Fiennes for “Schindler’s List,” John Malkovich for “In the Line of Fire,” Pete Postlethwaite for “In the Name of the Father” and Tommy Lee Jones, who won for his performance in “The Fugitive.” DiCaprio’s biggest hurtle that first time around...
His first Oscar nomination came in the Best Supporting Actor category for “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” (1993). DiCaprio’s only Academy Award nom of the 1990s put him up against older acting titans — Ralph Fiennes for “Schindler’s List,” John Malkovich for “In the Line of Fire,” Pete Postlethwaite for “In the Name of the Father” and Tommy Lee Jones, who won for his performance in “The Fugitive.” DiCaprio’s biggest hurtle that first time around...
- 11/2/2023
- by Brian Rowe
- Gold Derby
Voting for Grammy nominations started on October 11 and continues through October 20. But Gold Derby users have already been predicting this year’s contenders for months. There will be eight nominees in each of the big four categories: Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best New Artist. Here’s who we’re betting on for Album of the Year as of this writing, based on the combined predictions of thousands of Gold Derby users. You can make or update your own predictions here in our predictions center until the day of nominations.
SEEBillboard Hot 100: Every #1 song of 2023
1. “Midnights” by Taylor Swift — 9/2 odds
A hit with critics and with audiences, and coinciding with one of the most successful concert tours in music history, “Midnights” has become one of the biggest hits of Swift’s career, and that’s really saying something. She previously won...
SEEBillboard Hot 100: Every #1 song of 2023
1. “Midnights” by Taylor Swift — 9/2 odds
A hit with critics and with audiences, and coinciding with one of the most successful concert tours in music history, “Midnights” has become one of the biggest hits of Swift’s career, and that’s really saying something. She previously won...
- 10/15/2023
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
The list of Oscar-winning directors for short films who have gone on to major careers in the feature-length realm is shorter than you might imagine. Andrea Arnold, Martin McDonagh and Claude Berri achieved arthouse success; David Frankel made multiplex hits like “The Devil Wears Prada” and “Marley & Me.” But perhaps only Taylor Hackford, a winner in 1979 for an affecting little mockumentary titled “Teenage Father,” became a full-scale Hollywood brand — a name associated with a certain temperature of sleek studio gloss and versatile genre smarts.
In an industry increasingly given over to auteur reverence, Hackford has instead consistently proven the essential value of the distinguished craftsman — the kind that keeps the industry running, even if the status doesn’t earn you as many glittering prizes or prestigious festival berths. Consider the Festival Lumière’s tribute to Hackford a welcome exception. The four films selected by the festival to represent the...
In an industry increasingly given over to auteur reverence, Hackford has instead consistently proven the essential value of the distinguished craftsman — the kind that keeps the industry running, even if the status doesn’t earn you as many glittering prizes or prestigious festival berths. Consider the Festival Lumière’s tribute to Hackford a welcome exception. The four films selected by the festival to represent the...
- 10/15/2023
- by Guy Lodge
- Variety Film + TV
He’s played superheroic gunfighters, supervillains, cab drivers, NFL quarterbacks, homeless violinists, vice cops, death-row inmates, the President of the United States and, of course, Ray Charles — all of which attests to the range and versatility of Jamie Foxx. But there may not be a role more suited to the Oscar-winner’s talent for playing larger-than-life, louder-than-God characters than Willie Gary. The son of a sharecropper, Gary was a Florida-based lawyer who specialized in two things: winning cases, in no small part due to his theatricality and his ability to...
- 10/13/2023
- by David Fear
- Rollingstone.com
“Moonlighting” lovers are a dedicated crew — it was the kind of wildly imaginative, smart, sophisticated series that inspired passionate loyalty over the course of its 66 episodes (the two-part pilot is shown as a single episode) and five seasons on the air. What’s even more remarkable about fans’ dedication is the relative rarity of the series; the Glenn Gordon Caron-created genre hybrid has rarely been in regular syndication and its DVD releases have been out of print since 2013.
Not that the DVD releases really satisfied the die-hard fans. Sure, they got to relive just what all the fuss was about when the show took the country by storm back in 1985, as former model Maddie Hayes (Cybill Shepherd) and wise guy detective David Addison (a pre-“Die Hard” Bruce Willis) investigated crimes, bickered, broke the fourth wall, and generally served as television trailblazers up to and including the “Moonlighting” curse...
Not that the DVD releases really satisfied the die-hard fans. Sure, they got to relive just what all the fuss was about when the show took the country by storm back in 1985, as former model Maddie Hayes (Cybill Shepherd) and wise guy detective David Addison (a pre-“Die Hard” Bruce Willis) investigated crimes, bickered, broke the fourth wall, and generally served as television trailblazers up to and including the “Moonlighting” curse...
- 10/10/2023
- by Mark Peikert
- Indiewire
Nancy Sinatra covering The Beatles‘ “Something” is probably the single most 1960s thing imaginable. However, Sinatra didn’t finish and release her cover until 2013. Sadly, the “Sugar Town” singer did not have much to say about George Harrison, the sole composer of “Something.”
Nancy Sinatra felt 2013 was about time she put out a cover of The Beatles’ ‘Something’
Sinatra’s 2013 album Shifting Gears features covers of The Beatles’ “Something,” Jimmy Webb’s “MacArthur Park,” and other classic songs from her vaults. During a 2013 interview with Vice, Sinatra discussed why she didn’t finish recording those songs for years. “Well, they didn’t really fit what I was doing for most of my career, you know?” she said. “The truth is I didn’t want them to just die in the vault, I wanted them to get out and get some fresh air and be heard by my fans.
“The vocals...
Nancy Sinatra felt 2013 was about time she put out a cover of The Beatles’ ‘Something’
Sinatra’s 2013 album Shifting Gears features covers of The Beatles’ “Something,” Jimmy Webb’s “MacArthur Park,” and other classic songs from her vaults. During a 2013 interview with Vice, Sinatra discussed why she didn’t finish recording those songs for years. “Well, they didn’t really fit what I was doing for most of my career, you know?” she said. “The truth is I didn’t want them to just die in the vault, I wanted them to get out and get some fresh air and be heard by my fans.
“The vocals...
- 9/22/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Watch any classic movies, and there’s a good chance you’ll see someone who got famous down the line. A future pop star appeared as a dancer in Elvis Presley’s Viva Las Vegas. That was far from the end of her career on the big screen.
‘Mickey’ singer Toni Basil danced to a Ray Charles song in Elvis Presley’s ‘Viva Las Vegas’
Toni Basil is a dancer and choreographer who’s most known for her No. 1 single “Mickey.” In a 2014 Facebook post, she discussed her experiences on the set of Viva Las Vegas. “Over the months of rehearsing with Anne-Margret and Elvis Presley, [choreographer] David Winters and I became close friends with them,” she recalled.
“David the choreographer and I worked on many musical numbers for this film,” Basil added. “Here’s ‘What’d I Say’ where I got to be the girl with the red dress on.
‘Mickey’ singer Toni Basil danced to a Ray Charles song in Elvis Presley’s ‘Viva Las Vegas’
Toni Basil is a dancer and choreographer who’s most known for her No. 1 single “Mickey.” In a 2014 Facebook post, she discussed her experiences on the set of Viva Las Vegas. “Over the months of rehearsing with Anne-Margret and Elvis Presley, [choreographer] David Winters and I became close friends with them,” she recalled.
“David the choreographer and I worked on many musical numbers for this film,” Basil added. “Here’s ‘What’d I Say’ where I got to be the girl with the red dress on.
- 9/17/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Quentin Tarantino collaborated with Jamie Foxx for the first time on Django Unchained. While working with the filmmaker, Tarantino’s style of directing reminded the comedian of listening to hip hop artists.
Jamie Foxx told Quentin Tarantino he’s hip hop Jamie Foxx | Wiktor Szymanowicz/Getty Images
Foxx learned a lot about Tarantino after they worked together for Unchained. His experience with the filmmaker might have been different than with other directors, as he witnessed firsthand Tarantino’s ability to improvise while on set. To Foxx, this gave Tarantino’s filmmaking a musical quality.
“Quentin Tarantino is a hip-hop artist. I told him, ‘You’re hip-hop!’ You keep seeing surprises, and a clip here and there, because Quentin is hip-hop. A hip-hop artist will drop a single, leak something over here, and drop something over there ‘cause he knows it’s hot. He’s on the spot with the way he does things.
Jamie Foxx told Quentin Tarantino he’s hip hop Jamie Foxx | Wiktor Szymanowicz/Getty Images
Foxx learned a lot about Tarantino after they worked together for Unchained. His experience with the filmmaker might have been different than with other directors, as he witnessed firsthand Tarantino’s ability to improvise while on set. To Foxx, this gave Tarantino’s filmmaking a musical quality.
“Quentin Tarantino is a hip-hop artist. I told him, ‘You’re hip-hop!’ You keep seeing surprises, and a clip here and there, because Quentin is hip-hop. A hip-hop artist will drop a single, leak something over here, and drop something over there ‘cause he knows it’s hot. He’s on the spot with the way he does things.
- 9/17/2023
- by Antonio Stallings
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
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