Notizie

If you recall '80s and '90s music videos as vividly as I do, you must remember they were big on promoting movies (and their main characters) if the songs were specifically made or used in them. Who could forget Will Smith's banger for "Men in Black" or Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" that helped turn "The Bodyguard" with Kevin Costner into an unlikely hit? Hell, before the internet came around, I often learned about new films by watching MTV and VH1 for hours after school. But those days are long gone; music TV channels aren't really a thing anymore, sadly -- YouTube replaced them once and for all.

Music videos that featured scattered scenes from films throughout basically have disappeared entirely. What stuck around to some extent, however, is beloved and big-time Hollywood actors appearing in silly, heartfelt, and sometimes beautifully heartbreaking music videos...

Aisha Tyler and Drew Carey brought the laughs on the season premiere of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? But did they win $1 million for their chosen charities? Host Jimmy Kimmel shared that he didn’t know they were pals, and Carey revealed they had the same manager for a while, and they both hosted Whose Line Is It Anyway? Tyler said that they are like “brother and sister from another mother.” The pair seemed to be in good hands as Carey had been on Millionaire before and won $500,000. The comedians flew through the first few questions, but once they got to the $32,000 question, they got tripped up. The question was “With a whopping 11, which of these singers has more number-one hits on the Billboard Hot 100 than the other three combined?” The choices were Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Tina Turner, or Britney Spears. Carey and Tyler both deliberated for several...

The inaugural release of Shout! Factory’s new line of Hong Kong films long blocked from American distribution due to rights issues, The Jet Li Collection presents five of the martial arts star’s earliest and most beloved hits. Though Li had been a star in mainland China since his film debut in 1982’s Shaolin Temple, he found wider success a decade later with his lead role in Tsui Hark’s Once Upon a Time in China series. The films in this set all came out between 1993 and 1994, a super-concentration of hits that made the actor the new king of Hong Kong’s action scene.

Compared to Hong Kong mainstays like Jackie Chan and Yuen Biao, who blended serious technique with comedic timing, Li harked back to the era of stoic warriors like Bruce Lee and Jimmy Wang. That makes him an odd fit at first glance for Cory Yuen...

As a kid, you didn’t need to have smoked marijuana or even know what it was (I plead ignorance on both counts — really, Mom!) to vibe with a flustered Theo Huxtable after his suddenly unsmiling parents found a joint in his textbook on a 1985 episode of The Cosby Show.

Such a tableau would confound today’s generation of young well-meaning miscreants, in part because they smelled pot smoke three times already just walking to the store and also, what’s a textbook?

But Theo meant everything to a whole generation of kids who saw in him the idea, as Questlove eloquently put it after Malcom-Jamal Warner’s death on Monday, of “what does it mean to be an adult without depending on your parents?”

Warner’s passing at 54 in a drowning accident hit hard. And not just his passing. For anyone considered a part of Gen X — roughly,...

The upcoming DC Universe movie Clayface may have found its female lead, and all it took was for DC Studios to journey to a galaxy far, far away.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Naomi Ackie is the top choice for the female lead role in Clayface. Sources state that, following reading sessions last week in England, DC is due to begin formal negotiations with the actor this week. If cast, Ackie would become the second actor to board the Dcu project, after Tom Rhys Harries, who was tapped back in June to play the titular shapeshifting Batman villain. While no character details for Ackie's role were shared, she will likely be playing scientist Dr. Caitlin Bates, an original character created specifically for Clayface, who was first mentioned in a recent report on the movie by Nexus Point News. THR alludes to Dr. Bates in its article, mentioning her only as...

Naomi Ackie is currently in early talks and is being eyed to star opposite Tom Rhys Harries in DC Studios’ “Clayface,” TheWrap has learned.

“Clayface” centers on Matt Hagen (Rhys Harries), a rising actor whose life is upended after a brutal attack leaves him disfigured. Ackie would play Dr. Caitlin Bates, an original character and biotech CEO who serves as Hagen’s love interest.

James Watkins, who directed last year’s remake of the Danish thriller “Speak No Evil” for Universal, is set to direct. Screenwriter Hossein Amini, best known for scripting 2011’s “Drive,” wrote the most recent draft of “Clayface.” Mike Flanagan wrote the previous draft of the script.

The film will be produced by Matt Reeves and Lynn Harris, with production commencing this fall.

Known as one of Batman’s most unique villains in his rogues gallery, Clayface was originally introduced in the vintage DC Comics as Basil Karlo,...

DC Studios is making some serious headway with Clayface, its unexpected and eerie entry into James Gunn and Peter Safran’s rebooted DC Universe. The Hollywood Reporter is reporting today that Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and Mickey 17 star Naomie Ackie, 32, is in early talks to join the cast of the upcoming film, which will be directed by Speak No Evil’sJames Watkins. Ackie would join rising Welsh actor Tom Rhys Harries, who has already been cast in the title role, playing one of the most bizarre and tragic characters from Batman’s rogues gallery. According to insiders, casting sessions recently took place in England, where Ackie emerged as the top choice. Formal negotiations are expected to begin this week.

The movie, written initially by Mike Flanagan with a recent polish by Hossein Amini, is described as a “body horror thriller” with structural and emotional echoes of David Cronenberg’s The Fly.

Naomi Ackie, the multi-faceted actress from Mickey 17 and Blink Twice, is joining the Dcu in Clayface.

Ackie is in early talks to join the up-and-coming Welsh actor Tom Rhys Harries, who is playing the titular supervillain in the movie from Speak No Evil director James Watkins. Reading sessions took place in England last week with Ackie emerging as the choice. Formal negotiations are due to begin this week, according to several sources.

Mike Flanagan wrote the script for Clayface, a body horror thriller centered on a Batman villain known for his ability to alter his appearance.

The project is described as having shades and structure of The Fly, David Cronenberg’s 1986 that starred Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis and centered on the tragic relationship between a scientist who becomes fused with the DNA of a fly and the journalist writing about his discovery.

Clayface, which sources have said will have...

Exclusive: We are hearing that Sorry, Baby and Mickey 17 actress Naomi Ackie is the top choice for the female lead in DC Studios’ Clayface, about the Batman antagonist.

While it’s still early in the dealmaking process, if she accepts the part, Ackie will star opposite Welsh actor Tom Rhys Harries in the James Watkins-directed genre movie. We were first to tell you about Harries and Watkins’ attachment to the process.

Clayface will be shooting at Warner Bros Leavesden studio in the UK.

Word is leaking about Ackie and Clayface at an exciting time for DC. Its first movie under studio label bosses Peter Safran and James Gunn, Superman, is coursing to $409 million worldwide, another comeback for superhero movies. DC is heading to San Diego Comic-Con this week strutting its stuff for the second season of HBO’s Peacemaker.

Clayface is a shape-shifting villain in the Batman comics and...

While Julia Garner may be heralding his end when The Fantastic Four: First Steps arrives in cinemas later this week, HBO Max is heralding the streaming arrival of one of Pedro Pascal’s most slept-on films — Freaky Tales. The anthology project by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck landed in cinemas earlier this year, but, despite largely positive reviews from critics, failed to make a wave with audiences, most likely due to a limited theatrical release. Now, it’s gunning for a second shot in the spotlight, as the Lionsgate flick sets an arrival date of August 8.

If you love a movie that introduces a multitude of characters whose paths cross in bonkers ways and has a soundtrack that sounds like it’s straight out of Stranger Things, Freaky Tales is the film you didn’t know you needed. Set in 1987, audiences will follow along with Pascal’s Clint as he...

The Billboard 200 albums chart measures the top releases during the weekly tracking period every Friday through Thursday. While it used to be determined strictly by record sales, the ever-changing landscape of music consumption led Billboard to update its methodology for the 21st century.

In 2014, Billboard started considering multiple metrics of music success, including online streams and individual track sales, in addition to the traditional album sales that previously made up the entirety of the Billboard 200's chart determinations. An album sale currently counts as one album unit. Sales of 10 individual tracks also counts as one unit. But an artist needs 3,750 ad-supported streams or 1,250 paid subscription streams to equal one unit. Then in 2020 Billboard began counting music videos on platforms like YouTube.

The Beatles hold the record for the most No. 1 albums with 19; they also have the most No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 with 20. But Beatles alumnus Paul McCartney has...

It's the movie that made little princesses everywhere want to lose a glass slipper in hopes of it being found by a charming prince. So many Cinderella films have been made, and many actresses have portrayed the princess, from Julie Andrews to Brandy. Both starred in Rodgers & Hammerstein's version based on the fairytale, and now a limited series from Skydance Television and Concord Originals has landed on Disney+.

Singer and actress Jennifer Lopezwill produce the series under her Nuyorican Productions banner. The project, which is currently in development, will be a musical series emphasizing Cinderella's fairy godparents' perspectives. Deadline also reports that a bidding war ensued between Amazon and Disney for the series, with Disney ultimately emerging victorious.

Rachel Shukert, whose credits include The Handmaid's Tale, Glow, Nine Perfect Strangers, The Baby-Sitters Club, and more, has written the upcoming limited series and is attached as executive producer and showrunner. Skydance...

Another “Cinderella” story is in the works at Disney, but this time from the perspective of the princess’ fairy godparents.

Based on the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical, the Disney+ limited series is under development from Skydance Television, Concord Originals and Nuyorican Productions with Jennifer Lopez attached to executive produce.

The fresh take on the 1957 musical version will be written by “The Baby-Sitters Club” creator Rachel Shukert, who is set to executive produce and serve as showrunner. She has also executive produced “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Glow” and “Nine Perfect Strangers.”

In addition to Lopez, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas and Benny Medina will executive produce for Nuyorican Productions along with Sophia Dilley and Scott Pascucci for Concord Originals and Bill Bost.

The original musical version of the classic fairytale debuted in 1957 with Julie Andrews as the princess in the glass slippers. Later, a 1997 television remake starred Brandy as Cinderella and Whitney Houston as the Fairy Godmother.

Jennifer Lopez's Cinderella has found a home at Disney+. According to Deadline, the new series adaptation of the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical, produced by Lopez's Nuyorican Productions, Concord Theatricals, and Skydance TV, will be released on Disney's streaming platform. The project is currently in development, with no release date at this time. As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Rachel Shukert, who previously created The Baby-Sitter's Club on Netflix, will adapt the musical for television. The new adaptation will be from the point of view of the fairy godparents. Edie Adams, Celeste Holm, Whitney Houston, Victoria Clark are among the many performers who have played the Fairy Godmother in various stage and screen productions. The project is the first in a deal with Lopez, Skydance Entertainment,...

Over the years, Cinderella has had many adaptations. The folk story of a young girl living in unfortunate circumstances and blessed with a life-changing decision after marrying has been around for centuries, although it's mostly famous thanks to the Disney adaptation.

Cinderella was adapted into opera, theater, musicals, films, and TV. Walt Disney entered the conversation in 1950, giving the character, who is now considered one of the Disney Princesses, her first adaptation. Jennifer Lopez has been interested in a new version of the story for years, and she is now partnering with Disney+ for a new version, Deadline reports.

Lopez has been attached to the limited series based on Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella since May 2022. The singer and actress' production company, Nuyorican Productions, was working with Skydance Television and Concord Originals. The same production companies are still attached to the project, which has now officially landed at Disney+.

Considering Disney...

Exclusive: That limited series we first told you about based on Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella from Skydance Television, Concord Originals and Jennifer Lopez’s Nuyorican has landed at Disney+, we hear. The project remains in development.

We understand there was a bidding war between Disney and Amazon for the project, which is from the perspective of the fairy godparents. It is written by Rachel Shukert, who is still attached as EP and showrunner.

The UTA-repped Shukert is an EP on Hulu’s Nine Perfect Strangers, as well as an EP on the streamer’s The Handmaid’s Tale, and the showrunner of Netflix’s The Baby-Sitters Club.

In addition to Shukert, executive producers include Lopez, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas and Benny Medina for Nuyorican Productions; Sophia Dilley, EVP of Concord Originals and co-president of Rko; former Concord CEO Scott Pascucci; and Bill Bost.

Skydance Television has a pact with Concord to develop a...

Beyoncé is pulling out all stops — and raising some eyebrows — as she once again attempts to win her first Emmy.

Fresh off her historic first Grammy win for Album of the Year, the Cowboy Carter star's NFL Christmas Day halftime show for Netflix, titled Beyoncé Bowl, has earned four nominations — including two categories where she could take home the award: Best Variety Special (Live) and Best Directing for a Variety Special.

The Emmy has eluded Queen Bey — she has lost eight previous bids (nine if you count Daytime Emmys) — but her campaign for gold is in full swing. You can't get caught in an L.A. traffic jam without seeing billboards for the seven-month-old performance — she has even got posters at the bus stop. But if Emmy voters were expecting to rub elbows with the global superstar in some cozy 300-seat screening room, well, Beyoncé had a different strategy in...

When you think of classic rock music, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, and Fleetwood Mac immediately come to mind. But now it’s time to add another name to that list: Dolly Parton.

Yes, the queen of country who brought us hits like “Jolene” and “9 to 5.” At 79 years old, Dolly has reinvented herself again, but this time as a bona fide classic rock queen.

Dolly Parton Can’t Write Songs Anymore

Dolly Parton is more than just a singer or an actress. Her first love has always been writing songs. In fact, most of her biggest hits were written by Dolly Parton herself. She’s also written other songs for other people, including “I Will Always Love You,” which Whitney Houston turned into a massive hit.

After decades of writing songs, Dolly Parton revealed that she’s taking a break. She was a guest on Khloe Kardashian’s...

Greta Lee, who broke out with her performance in the acclaimed romantic drama Past Lives, is stepping behind the camera.

The actress will make her directorial debut with Searchlight Pictures’ adaptation of The Eyes Are the Best Part, a psychological horror novel by Monika Kim. Lee also will write the script.

Matt Jackson and Joanne Lee of Jackson Pictures are producing. Also producing are Lulu Wang via her banner Local Time and Dani Melia. Wang and Melia are known for their work on the 2019 dramedy The Farewell and the Prime Video miniseries Expats. Kim will exec produce.

Published in June 2024 by Erewhon Books, the novel is a described as a story about a family falling apart as well as the making of a female serial killer from a Korean-American perspective. Set in Los Angeles, the book tells the story of a woman named Ji-won, whose life unravels after her father...

Exclusive: Nicole Scherzinger, recently anointed Best Actress In A Musical at the Tony Awards for her powerhouse performance in director Jamie Lloyd’s production of Sunset Blvd., tells Deadline she’ll “put on the show of a lifetime” with a solo concert at London’s hallowed Royal Albert Hall in October.

The award-winner promises that the concert in one of London’s architectural crown jewels on October 6 “will be a show that audiences won’t be disappointed in, hopefully.” The general on-sale ticket date is July 11.

Already announced are two dates that will follow her Royal Albert Hall debut. She plays Carnegie Hall, on October 8, followed by a performance at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles on October 30.

Scherzinger, on Zoom from her Sunset Blvd. dressing room at the St. James Theatre on W.44th St, adds that performing at the Royal Albert Hall “is a dream come...

Denzel Washington is one of those actors who captures an audience as soon as he appears on the screen. His dramatic roles should be studied because the way he brings a character to life is like no other. From Training Day to Malcolm X, The Preacher's Wife with Whitney Houston, and more, the Academy Award winner embodies all the traits of a legendary actor in Hollywood. Many of his films are critically acclaimed, including the 1995 action thriller Crimson Tide, which is getting an unexpected sequel. With its 89% Rotten Tomatoes score, the Academy Award-nominated production's producer, Jerry Bruckheimer, revealed that the sequel is in development, and the studio is hoping to persuade Washington to return.

According to Variety, during an interview on The Rich Eisen Show, Bruckheimer talked about his decision to develop a sequel to the highly praised '90s production. "We have a really good director and writer talking...

Cynthia Erivo highlights Sisqó’s surprising ‘Thong Song’ for its impressive vocal technique and unique energy.

Cynthia Erivo has surprised many by choosing the iconic ‘Thong Song’ by Sisqó as one of her favourites due to its remarkable vocal performance. The acclaimed singer and actress – winner of Emmy, Grammy, and Tony awards – has praised the track as an example of unexpected vocal talent in a song with simple lyrics and an unusual theme.

In a recent interview, Erivo explained that while Sisqó’s song may seem light-hearted or even irreverent, the vocal technique on display is extraordinary. She especially praised the energy and vocal control in the final section of the track, where Sisqó demonstrates a level of vocal mastery that many might overlook. According to Erivo, the passion and joy the singer conveys make it a brilliant vocal performance.

Alongside ‘Thong Song’, Cynthia Erivo also mentioned other vocal performances she deeply admires,...

Tony Award-winner Cynthia Erivo recently sat down with Entertainment Weekly to discuss her top 7 vocal performances from other artists, which include a range of performances from Whitney Houston to Luther Vandross to Beyoncé. Two of her favorites are from Broadway musicals, specifically Jazmine Sullivan's performance of "Home" from The Wiz and Jennifer Holiday singing "And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going" from Dreamgirls. "This little girl is just singing her heart out and it's unbelievable," she said, commenting on 11-year-old Sullivan's performance. As for Holliday, she says, "If there was ever a person who could teach you about how to use the muscles in your face to make sound, this is the lady you need to be watching." Another notable performance is a Whitney Houston...

Joe Epperson, the three-time Emmy-nominated camera operator who had long stints on All in the Family, The Jeffersons, Full House and The Tonight Show, has died. He was 80.

Epperson died Saturday of cardiac arrest at Southwest General Health Center in Middleburg Heights, Ohio, his wife of 58 years, Patty Epperson, told The Hollywood Reporter. He had been in and out of the hospital and rehab since April 29 when his appendix burst.

Known for his skill with hand-held cameras, Epperson in 1981 shot from the Roxy in West Hollywood The Pee-wee Herman Show, which ran on HBO and put Paul Reubens and his hilarious alter ego on the map.

He also trained his lens on Frank Sinatra, Liza Minnelli and Sammy Davis Jr. over three nights at the Fox Theatre in Detroit for a 1989 Showtime special and worked on the James Keach-directed Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me, the 2014 documentary that followed...

Exclusive: Martin Freeman (The Hobbit) and Iain Armitage (Young Sheldon) have signed on to star in The Adam Trials, a psychological thriller with a sci-fi twist from writer-director Ben Ketai (2023’s River Wild).

The film tells the story of two parents who will do anything to save the life of their terminally ill son, employing experimental nanotechnology that starts to show signs of success but at a dark cost.

Compelling Pictures, the production company of Denis O’Sullivan (Bohemian Rhapsody) and Jeff Kalligheri (I Wanna Dance with Somebody), will produce the picture and co-finance. Freeman will exec produce alongside Noah Rosen, Dennis Casali, Matthew Gallagher, and Steven Garcia. Casting for the female lead is underway, the aim being to shoot later this year.

“This movie has been a dream of mine for quite some time now, as has the opportunity to work with Martin again,” says Ketai, who worked with the...

Dolly Parton was born January 19, 1946 as the fourth of 12 children in Tennessee. What her family lacked in money was more than made up in love and support, and a young Parton was inspired by her upbringing and surroundings, sparking her love of music. By the age of 13, she was learning guitar, writing music and performing; upon high school graduation, she moved to Nashville and embarked on one of the most successful careers in musical history. Well beyond her country and pop career, she was a 2022 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

She pleaded with Jolene to stay away from her man. She shared her stories of growing up simple and poor, but loved, in her Tennessee mountain home, where her mother made her a coat of many colors. She's a feminist who demands that standards shouldn't be different for her just because she's a woman - and...

Mike Love gave thanks to his late cousin and Beach Boys bandmate and co-writer Brian Wilson during his Songwriters Hall of Fame induction in New York on Thursday night, telling the crowd of fellow writers and industry insiders that “I do feel his presence” in the room as he accepted his honor.

Love’s induction to the Songwriters Hall of Fame came just a day after Wilson died Wednesday at age 82, and 25 years after Wilson himself was inducted into the Hall back in 2000.

“I especially must thank my cousin Brian Wilson,” Love said Thursday. “My first cousin by blood but brother in music, together we set the stage for some of the most successful music collaborations of all time.”

Love was inducted by John Stamos, a famously huge Beach Boys fan who’s collaborated with the band frequently. In his induction speech, Stamos said that Love chronicled “the American dream” with the songs he wrote.

You have probably heard Sam Austins already. Since releasing the song “Seasons” last year, the dreamy nü-new wave track has been used in over one million TikTok videos (most of which are just talking about how great the song is) and has accrued nearly 60 million streams on Spotify so far.

Austins may seem like a sudden breakout act but his story isn’t too dissimilar from other megastars on the rise the last couple years: The 29-year-old has been hustling since his teens, eventually getting signed to a major label during the pandemic.

In celebration of Black Music Month, the Ne-yo Radio channel launches today for a limited time on SiriusXM, hosted and curated by the Grammy® Award-winning, multiplatinum hitmaker.

Ne-yo RadioAvailable now through July 3Listen on the App

Listen on the App

Ne-yo Radio How to Listen

SiriusXM listeners can find Ne-Yo Radio on the SiriusXM app from June 4–July 3 and on satellite channel 79 from June 18–24.

What You’ll Hear

Responsible for some of the biggest songs of the 21st century, Ne-yo’s illustrious catalog can be heard on Ne-yo Radio.

The channel also features tracks from iconic artists across multiple genres who’ve inspired “The Gentleman” to do what he does, including Alicia Keys, Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Sza, Whitney Houston, and many more.

Plus, get an exclusive inside look into Ne-yo’s famed career with stories and insights from his musical journey over the years.

Arista Records has announced its new leadership, as Clio Massey and Matt D’Arduinihave been appointed co-presidents of the label, Sony Music Entertainment said on Tuesday.

The news comes two months after veteran music executive David Massey, who re-launched the famed record label back in 2018, had announced his retirement from the company. Clio Massey, David’s daughter, was previously the general manager of Arista’s Work of Art Publishing and a VP of A&r at the label. She’ll continue to oversee Work of Art Publishing in her new role. D’Arduini, who’d been at Arista since its relaunch, previously served as the executive vice president of A&r at Arista. The duo will report to Sony Music Group chairman Rob Stringer.

“We are pleased to announce a seamless transition for Arista that was creatively reborn in 2018,” Stringer said in a statement. “Clio and Matt are dynamic and...

Paramount’s free streaming service, Pluto TV, has revealed its June highlights. The Pluto TV June 2025 lineup turns up the heat with new movies, music, and marquee moments.

Summer of Cinema kicks off with hundreds of fan-favorite films now streaming — from Interstellar and Heat to Clueless, Mission: Impossible, 28 Days Later, and more.

Pluto TV is also celebrating cultural milestones and bold voices with special programming for Pride Month and Black Music Month, as well as the return of their award-winning Free Movie Weekend initiative, which supports local theaters across the country.

And don’t miss Broadway’s biggest night as The Tony Awards: Act One streams live and free on Pluto TV’s Live Music channel on Sunday, June 8 at 6:40 p.m. Et. Hosted by Darren Criss and Renée Elise Goldsberry, it’s your front-row seat to the kickoff of Tony Awards night.

Pluto TV June 2025 Highlights

Summer...

HarbourView Equity Partners has acquired the rights to the producer royalty income streams of Grammy-winning producer-songwriter Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, the company confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter on Wednesday.

The acquisition marks another notable deal around Jerkins’ catalog, following the producer selling his publishing catalog to Recognition Music Group (formerly Hipgnosis Songs Fund) back in 2020. HarbourView declined to share financial details of the acquisition. Chapter Two, a Swedish music company specializing in music rights transactions, helped facilitate the deal, HarbourView said.

With the purchase, HarbourView is getting Jerkins’ recorded royalties on iconic hits like Brandy and Monica’s “The Boy Is Mine,” Whitney Houston’s “It’s Not Right but It’s Okay,” Destiny Child’s “Say My Name,” Lady Gaga’s “Telephone” featuring Beyoncé, Justin Bieber’s “As Long As You Love Me,” and Sam Smith’s “Stay With Me.” Jerkins is set to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame next month.

Brian Avnet, the respected personal manager and music executive who discovered Josh Groban, collaborated with David Foster and helped The Manhattan Transfer to great success, has died. He was 82.

Avnet died May 14 at his home in Los Angeles after a years-long battle with Parkinson’s disease, a publicist announced.

The Baltimore native also worked closely with the likes of Johnny Mandel, Herb Alpert and Lani Hall, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Cyndi Lauper, Take 6, Jean-Luc Ponty, Eric Benét and Joshua Ledet.

Avnet began working with The Manhattan Transfer in 1979, and two years later the vocal group became the first to win Grammys in the pop and jazz categories in the same year, earning trophies for “The Boy From New York City” and “Until I Met You (Corner Pocket).”

“Brian was an excellent manager and like a brother to me,” Manhattan Transfer founding member Alan Paul said in a statement.

Starz has announced the movie and TV titles that will be available on the service in June. The Starz June 2025 schedule includes World Outlander Day, the premiere of Bmf season four, and a slate of movies to celebrate Pride and Black Music Appreciation Month.

New movies added in the month of June include the action-thriller Dirty Angels, The Exorcist: Believer, and The Holdovers, featuring an Oscar-winning performance by Da’Vine Joy Randolph. Starz will also exclusively unveil the captivating, untold story of photographer Bette Marshall and 18-year-old Whitney Houston in Whitney Houston in Focus, narrated by six-time Tony Award-winning actress and singer Audra McDonald.

Bmf Season 4

To celebrate World Outlander Day on June 1, Starz will release Outlander and Blood of my Blood: The Gathering on its YouTube channel and the Starz app. The Gathering unites cast members from both series for the first time to celebrate the Outlander journey, welcome in the new generation of Frasers,...

She the People is a 16-episode Netflix sitcom released in two eight-episode batches on May 22 and August 14, 2025. Created by Tyler Perry and Niya Palmer, with executive producers Keisha Lance Bottoms and Terri J. Vaughn, the series follows Antoinette Dunkerson (Vaughn) as she makes history as Mississippi’s first Black lieutenant governor. Designed as half-hour episodes, it blends family comedy with political stakes, positioning Antoinette against Governor Harper’s anachronistic worldview.

Viewers meet her loud, loving clan—mother Cleo, cousin Shamika, driver Basil, and two teenage children—each demanding attention even as Antoinette strives to enact her agenda. The tone shifts from lighthearted chaos to pointed jabs at systemic obstacles, framing a public-service narrative through humor and heartfelt moments.

Political Premise and Satirical Elements

Mississippi’s practice of electing governor and lieutenant governor separately sets up a built-in power struggle: Antoinette, a Democrat backed by Jackson’s Black community, must collaborate...

Jeff Margolis, a prolific TV producer and director whose roster of credits stretching back to the 1970s includes nearly every major awards show and dozens of live events, specials and variety shows, died today in Nashville, Tennessee. He was 78.

His death was confirmed by the Screen Actors Guild Awards Committee and the Directors Guild of America. No cause of death was given.

“Jeff Margolis created some of the most unforgettable moments in awards show history, and we are grateful that the Screen Actors Guild Awards was among them. For over 16 years, Jeff helped shape the telecast into a celebration worthy of the actors it honors. We are profoundly grateful for his contributions and will miss him dearly,” the SAG Awards Committee said in a statement.

“The entire DGA community mourns the loss of Jeff Margolis, member since 1972,” the Directors Guild of America said in a statement. “Jeff received seven DGA Awards nominations,...

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Is Carrie Underwood about to quit American Idol?

It’s a question that fans have been asking all season.

And the issue has attracted more attention than ever amid surprising controversies surrounding Carrie’s first (and possibly last) season on the judges’ panel.

Carrie Underwood attends the 2024 Songwriters Hall Of Fame Induction and Awards Gala at New York Marriott Marquis Hotel on June 13, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Joy Malone/Getty Images) Carrie Underwood attracts unexpected criticism

On Sunday night, Jamal Roberts was crowned the winner of the show’s 23rd season. And some viewers felt that Carrie seemed less than thrilled about the way the vote turned out.

“Damn I ain’t know Carrie Underwood was this racist,” one X user wrote this week.

“Lol dang, yall gone beat me up. she was racist to the winner of American Idol,” the user later elaborated, adding:...

Forever, based on the book by Judy Blume, has arrived on Netflix. The series stars Lovie Simone as Keisha Clark, Michael Cooper Jr. as Justin Edwards, Xosha Roquemore as Keisha’s mother Shelly, Karen Pittman as Justin’s mother Dawn and more.

Created and produced by Mara Brock Akil, who also serves as executive producer and showrunner, the story captures so strongly the feelings of first love between Keisha and Justin. Fifty years after the publishing of Blume’s hit young adult novel in 1975, Brock Akil has reimagined the story, which traces how first love creates a ripple effect into their futures after they reconnect after grade school in 2018’s Los Angeles.

Find the full soundtrack of Forever below:

Episode 1 – “Reunion”

“Prone” by Masego “Painted on Canvas” by Gregory Porter “Bad and Boujee” by Migos “Within” by Daft Punk “Might Be” by Anderson .Paak “Time Moves Slow” by Badbadnotgood feat.

As Sean “Diddy” Combs faces federal charges of s*x trafficking and racketeering, testimony from his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura has become central to the prosecution’s case. Ventura, who dated Combs for over a decade, has detailed years of alleged abuse, control, and coercion, which began when she was just 21.

Her testimony has drawn multiple high-profile names into the spotlight, names that were caught in the orbit of Combs’ alleged misconduct. One unexpected name that stood out this week was Britney Spears. Ventura told the court that Spears was present the night Combs first made a move on her, which marks the start of something far more sinister.

Britney Spears named in explosive testimony by Cassie Ventura at Diddy’s trial Britney Spears in the music video ‘Toxic’ | Credit: YouTube @britneyspears

Britney Spears was present the night Cassie Ventura says Diddy made his first romantic move with a kiss. The...

Sean “Diddy” Combs suffered an overdose back in 2012 and the revelation was discussed in court.

The disgraced entertainer allegedly overdosed on painkillers the night he attended a Playboy Mansion party in 2012. His lawyers brought it up in a line of questioning while his former partner Cassie was on the witness stand.

When asked about the overdose, Cassie responded, “Was that around the time Whitney Houston died? I believe so.”

She then elaborated on what happened.

Keep reading to find out more…

“That evening we had a ‘freak-off.’ We went to a sex club in San Bernardino. And then he had a party at the Playboy Mansion that night, and I went home…From what [Combs] told me, he took a really strong opioid that night, but we didn’t know what happened. So, we took him to the hospital,” she said in court (via THR).

Cassie was asked if Diddy ever...

Sean “Diddy” Combs suffered an overdose back in 2012 and the revelation was discussed in court.

The disgraced entertainer allegedly overdosed on painkillers the night he attended a Playboy Mansion party in 2012. His lawyers brought it up in a line of questioning while his former partner Cassie was on the witness stand.

When asked about the overdose, Cassie responded, “Was that around the time Whitney Houston died? I believe so.”

She then elaborated on what happened.

Keep reading to find out more…

“That evening we had a ‘freak-off.’ We went to a sex club in San Bernardino. And then he had a party at the Playboy Mansion that night, and I went home…From what [Combs] told me, he took a really strong opioid that night, but we didn’t know what happened. So, we took him to the hospital,” she said in court (via THR).

Cassie was asked if Diddy ever...

Sean “Diddy” Combs overdosed on painkillers the night he attended a Playboy Mansion party in 2012 as he battled addiction issues, which the beleaguered rap mogul and his former long-term girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, struggled with throughout their decade-long on-and-off relationship, she testified Thursday at his federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial.

The incident occurred around four years into their tumultuous relationship, which Ventura detailed as part of testimony she gave in a lower Manhattan federal court as the defense cross-examined her. Ventura has spent every day this week recounting for the court the lurid details of her time with Combs, which involved alleged physical abuse, manipulation, violence and her being coerced into participating in “freak-offs,” drug-fueled sexual encounters with male sex workers as Combs allegedly looked on and masturbated.

“Was that around the time Whitney Houston died? I believe so,” Ventura asked the defense lawyer when questioned about Combs’ overdose. “That evening we had a ‘freak-off.

When Coco Jones decided to sample and interpolate Britney Spears’ classic “Toxic” for her recent single “Taste,” she knew she was taking a risk — and some pop fans were, in fact, offended. But for the golden-voiced R&b/pop star, those kinds of choices were the whole point of her debut album, Why Not More?, which aims to both embrace and move beyond the classic R&b of her breakthrough hit, 2022’s fantastic “ICU.”

“I figured it was gonna ruffle feathers, because of course it’s something so sacred,” Jones...

If you look at the biographies of the most famous singers of all-time, you’ll sometimes see that the world immediately recognized their talent. Take Mariah Carey. The very first demo tape she recorded led to a bidding war between rival studios. Columbia Records went all-out when promoting her, and her debut album went platinum nine times over. Her first single, “Vision of Love,” was one of the biggest songs of 1990 and indeed was one of the biggest of the entire 1990s.

With other artists? Their first song is one that you’ve never heard before and which, perhaps, they’d rather you’d never hear at all.

5 ‘Ringo I Love You’ by Cher

Cher really was born with the name “Cher” — or “Cheryl Sarkisian,” which is close enough. For her very first single, however, she went by the name of Bonnie Jo Mason, which was the sort of wholesome...

TikTok has been banned in several countries for a variety of reasons, but it continues to be the hub for short-form storytelling all over the world, especially when it comes to the romance genre. Everyone from vampires to criminals keeps finding love with the dumbest humans imaginable in a matter of seconds or over the course of multiple videos; yes, there are serialized TikToks as well. But since there’s no room for nuance in such a short period of time, obtuse power dynamics and the romanticization of problematic tropes are the order of the day. And with its ever-rising popularity, that kind of content has been emulated via Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, thereby leading to a barrage of material that holds the power to absolutely rot the common man’s brain. It would’ve been fine if that brand of slop was limited to social media. However, after watching films like The Tearsmith,...

Lucky Season 13 of The Masked Singer came to a thrilling finale Wednesday night, with Pearl claiming the coveted Golden Mask trophy over Boogie Woogie, Coral, and Mad Scientist Monster. After the confetti dropped and panelists Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, Ken Jeong, and Rita Ora made their final guesses, Pearl removed her bejeweled mask to reveal Grammy-winning country star Gretchen Wilson.

"I was absolutely expecting Boogie to win all the way up to the last minute," Wilson tells Gold Derby (watch the video interview above). "We became friends and we were sort of rooting for each other. And the mom in me, not having any idea who was behind that mask, kind of wanted to share it with him. We were in the same group. We had performed side by side pretty much throughout this whole thing. So Pearl and Boogie Woogie really got to know each other as the characters.

In 1992, Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston starred in The Bodyguard, a romantic thriller that became a cultural hit. Costner played a former Secret Service agent hired to protect Houston’s character, a global music star facing threats from a stalker.

There was romance, there was drama, there was action, there was everything! The film was a box office success, with Houston’s powerful performance of “I Will Always Love You” becoming iconic.

Costner, naturally, had plans for a sequel, but this time he wanted Princess Diana in the lead! Here’s what happened in detail!

Kevin Costner wanted Princess Diana to star in The Bodyguard 2!

For years, rumors have swirled that Kevin Costner was planning a Bodyguard sequel with none other than Princess Diana in the lead. As wild as it sounds, not all Hollywood gossip is just hot air, and this one was actually confirmed by Costner himself!

Brandy and Rita Ora will reprise their roles of Cinderella and the Queen of Hearts, respectively, in the fifth installment of the smash hit Disney Channel Original Movie “Descendants” franchise, officially titled “Descendants: Wicked Wonderland.” Before joining the "Descendants" franchise, Brandy previously appeared in Disney's Cinderella film alongside Paolo Montalban, Whitney Houston, Whoopi Goldberg, Bernadette Peters, Victor Garber, and more. Also returning for the new movie is Montalban as King Charming and Melanie Paxson as Fairy Godmother, making her the only actor to appear in all five “Descendants” films. “Descendants: Wicked Wonderland” is currently in production and set to release in 2026 on Disney Channel and Disney+. The full cast also features Kylie Cantrall...

Kim Kardashian’s and Taylor Swift’s feud has become infamous in Hollywood. Tracing back to 2016, the two have had very public bad blood because of Kanye West and his obsession with the singer. After the couple tried to manipulate the world into thinking that Swift was a snake, the singer naturally wasn’t going to go down without a fight and receipts.

While most of Swift’s anger towards the situation was targeted towards West, The Tortured Poets Department featured a song that not-so-subtly called out Kardashian for the role she played in the entire situation. Although it seemed like Swift wasn’t getting her revenge, it would seem that their feud could get reignited because of recent events.

Is Taylor Swift acting again?

Although Taylor Swift is best known for her singing and songwriting capabilities, she has dabbled in acting over the years. While fans collectively agree that...

Andy Bell, of the Eighties synth-pop duo Erasure, will release his new solo album, Ten Crowns, on Friday. Ahead of its release, he’s shared a song with Blondie’s Debbie Harry, “Heart’s a Liar,” and on Wednesday follows it up with another diva salute. “Lies So Deep” features Nashville powerhouse vocalist Sarah Potenza and doubles as what Bell calls an ode to Whitney Houston. Bell also describes the track as a “futuristic love song about a time where everybody is allowed the freedom to love whoever they want without interference.