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Back in Action starring Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx is just what it sounds like, with stunts and sequences only worthy of a spy duo who also happen to be married and parents to two children.

The Netflix film, which also features appearances from Glenn Close, Andrew Scott, Kyle Chandler, Jamie Demetriou and more, watches Diaz and Foxx team up once more as unofficially retired Quick Reaction Non-Official Cover Operatives for the CIA. They decided to call it quits when Diaz’s Emily found herself pregnant with their daughter Alice (McKenna Roberts), but as their enemies come out of the woodwork, they realize that a mission they never actually finished has come back to haunt them.

While they fend off some intimidating heavies with various dangerous methods that kids should not try at home, some classic smooth needle drops play. The scenes get more and more outrageous from a gas...

In “Back in Action,” a domestic spy caper as generic as its title, Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz, as CIA operatives who’ve become a romantic couple, attend a kids’ birthday party thrown by a cyberterrorist from Belarus whose safe they’re planning to break into. But their identities are unmasked in about five minutes. They have to fight their way out of the criminal’s mansion, which they do in an extended sequence of bone-breaking face-offs, all accompanied by Frank Sinatra singing “L.O.V.E.” (“L…is for the way you look… at me…”). The song, as it’s used here, lays on the ironic jauntiness with a trowel. It’s the film’s way of saying: Nothing’s at stake, don’t take it seriously, turn off your brain and sink into the warm bath of this Netflix product-of the-week (because that’s all it’s here for).

Seth Gordon,...

After 10 years away from any kind of film or TV set, Cameron Diaz is officially, well, back in action with her new film “Back in Action.”

Now streaming on Netflix, the film centers on Emily and Matt, two CIA operatives who learn they’re having a baby together. Shortly thereafter, their plane home is compromised and crashes, giving them the opportunity to fake their deaths and go off the grid to raise their family as civilians.

Of course, secret past lives can’t always stay secret forever. When theirs catches up with them, the now-parents are forced onto a new mission, this time bringing their kids along.

If you’re here though, you probably know all that. You probably also know that the film has an 11-minute credit sequence, which you might not have watched, and you’re just looking for the songs in the film. Well, we’ve got you.

If you thought Avicii: I’m Tim was the only documentary on Netflix in 2024, think again. What is the first thing when music fans think about Avicii? Certainly, it will always and forever be “Levels” that elevated to prominence including the upbeat music featuring Etta James.

Avicii: My Last Show showcases his last live performance at the Ushuaia Ibiza Beach Hotel in Ibiza on August 28, 2016. Avicii, whose real name is Tim Bergling, never performed on tour again ever since prior to his death in 2018.

Fans from around Europe and the world attended the concert to see him for one last time.

Avicii's last dance

He starts off the concert by igniting the crowd with his most notable song, “Levels,” where the crowd becomes ecstatic with the tone of the music. Avicii’s other songs included “Heaven” featuring Chris Martin of Cold Play, “Wake Me Up” featuring Aloe Blacc, “Hey Brother,...

Who was Avicii? Who was Tim? He was both.

Avicii was born Tim Bergling, who grew up in Stockholm with a love of music and the arts. The documentary Avicii: I'm Tim takes an up-close look behind the scenes of who the real DJ was with his brilliant music mind.

Avicii: I’m Tim tells the story behind his music career including the surrounding cast that helped him shape his career. From the small venues to the large concerts, Avicii grew in an organic fashion that didn’t let fame define him. His vision for music was about his passion and the pursuit of perfection.

Who was Tim?

Avicii was a mild-mannered kid growing up for the love of music. In school, he grew to love the people around him, and he was described as polite to his peers. In the documentary, he talked about his love for instruments, including his love for the guitar,...

Beyoncé’s fans have long lauded her as one of the hardest-working artists in the music industry, a trait that has been present for most of her life. The singer has received the most Grammy nominations of any artist, acted in films, toured, and released several visual albums. There’s one project that she described as more difficult than the rest. She shared why a 2008 film was such a challenge for her.

Beyoncé said a film shoot was one of the most draining experiences of her life

In 2008, Beyoncé portrayed Etta James in the film Cadillac Records. She relished the role because she could behave in a way she never does in real life.

“My way of dealing with frustration is to shut down and to think and speak logically,” she told Elle. “But playing Etta was a time when I didn’t have to do that. I could be loud and let it rip.

Beyoncé’s alter ego is Sasha Fierce, a persona that only comes out when she is on stage performing. She said that she can feel the alter ego take over as she prepares for a concert, and it helps her deliver a powerful performance. Her mother, Tina Knowles, said that some parts of Sasha Fierce come out offstage. Knowles said that whenever Beyoncé acts “crazy,” she knows that Sasha Fierce has taken over.

Beyoncé’s alter ego is Sasha Fierce

Beyoncé said her Sasha Fierce persona allows her to become a performer.

“It’s kind of like doing a movie. When you put on the wig and put on the clothes, you walk different,” she told Oprah Winfrey. “It’s no different from anyone else. I feel like we all kind of have that thing that takes over.”

She slips into the role when she becomes nervous before a concert.

As a public figure, Beyoncé has always been guarded. She gives little insight into her personal life and keeps fans at arm’s length. She said she is generally a reserved people-pleaser who rarely curses or gets angry. Because of this, she loved that a film role gave her the opportunity to show an unfamiliar side of herself.

Beyoncé said she likes to have a reason to get angry

In 2008, Beyoncé played Etta James in the film Cadillac Records. She said she didn’t initially want to take the part, but it became therapeutic for her.

“I’m a people pleaser,” she told Elle. “I hold a lot of things in. I’m always making sure everybody is okay. I usually don’t rage; I usually don’t curse. So for me, it’s a great thing to be able to scream and say whatever I want.”

She said that...

While Beyoncé’s talents primarily lay in music, the singer has dabbled in acting over the years. In a 2008 film, she took on the role of Etta James. Beyoncé said the role was an honor, but James wasn’t quite sure Beyoncé was the right person for the part. Here’s why she thought they might need a different actor in the role.

A singer wasn’t sold on Beyoncé’s ability to play her in a movie

In 2008, Beyoncé played James in Cadillac Records. She had the opportunity to speak to the legendary singer, a meeting that terrified her.

“I was terrified to meet her,” Beyoncé told Elle. “Imagine. Having studied her hands, her facial expressions. Like she wasn’t real. But she was. I just wanted to please her.”

There was a reason to be nervous. James hadn’t exactly given her stamp of approval. “I don’t think she looks like me,...

Last month, the night before the 2025 Grammy nominations were announced, Madison Beer was playing Fortnite with nine of her friends. They were absolutely convinced her seductive stunner “Make You Mine” was going to get nominated, but she didn’t want to get her hopes up — even though she’d already received her first Grammy nomination last year (when her LP Silence Between Songs was tapped for Best Immersive Audio Album). “I was like, ‘A girl can dream, but I’m not going to be up there,’” Beer recalls telling her friends.

One of the rare actors who effortlessly moves between art-house dramas and blockbuster epics, Adrien Brody got it all. From his haunting performance in The Pianist, which earned him an Academy Award, to his portrayal as the rugged hero in King Kong, Brody has quite delivered fabulous performances that have truly stuck with us long after the credits roll. Yet, like any other household name with a career as diverse as his, not all his films have gotten the attention they deserve. Beyond the mainstream hits, there’s a load of lesser-known movies that have surely showcased his talent and prowess in his craft.

Adrien Brody in The Brutalist (Credits- Universal Pictures)

Of course, sometimes brilliant films do slip through the cracks, no big deal. Whether it’s a smaller release that didn’t get enough promotion or a movie that was simply ahead of its time, these overlooked gems...

This story was originally published in the Oct. 10, 1974, issue of Rolling Stone.

Along with many of the stars and hopefuls at Chicago’s 1971 Black Expo, Minnie Riperton waited patiently backstage to approach the blind musician rocking characteristically in his chair. His latest album, Where I’m Coming From, was moving up the charts.

“Everybody was trying to meet Stevie,” she recalled over lunch recently, leaning back to adjust a large, foppish white hat that rested lightly on a natural of moderate length. Occasionally the hat concealed her bright eyes, but...

Raye, wearing a black, formfitting Versace dress, can hardly contain her smile as she thinks about that legendary Christina Aguilera riff in Burlesque. You know, the one at the end of her “Show Me How You Burlesque” number, where her voice does cartwheels up and down a scale? Yeah, Raye knows it perfectly. “When I tell you I studied that run, I studied that run,” says Raye. “YouTube, me. The living room. Door shut. Play, rewind. Play, rewind.”

It just so happens that Raye is sitting in Aguilera’s living room,...

Dave Portnoy‘s dog Miss Peaches is one of the most beloved pets on TikTok and she’s about to get a brother!

The 47-year-old Barstool Sports founder and owner took to social media on Tuesday (October 15) to announce that he’s about to get another dog.

“Me and Miss Peaches tomorrow are flying to Lifeline Animal Shelter again. We’ve been waiting for what we think is the perfect sibling for Miss Peaches. She loves everyone and I want her to have the fullest life, so tomorrow we’re picking up Pete the Beagle. That’s his name and we’re keeping it,” Dave announced.

Dave added that he’ll only adopt Pete if him and Miss Peaches “get along. Assuming they get along!”

Keep reading to find out more…

Dave plans on going on Instagram Live around 12pm to show everyone the first time when Miss Peaches meets her brother.

The start of country music singer and songwriter Garth Brooks’ 2024-2025 Las Vegas Residency is right around the corner.

Starting on September 26, all shows will take place at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada. The last show will take place on March 9, 2025.

Born in 1962, a native of Oklahoma, Brooks began to perform in bars while he was in school at Oklahoma State University. He moved to Nashville in 1987 and released his first album two years later. He has since sold over 138 million albums and is one of the best-selling solo artists in United States history.

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Brooks is the only artist in music history who has released nine albums that were all certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America, beating The Beatles’ previous record of six.

Since 1989, Brooks has released 27 records,...

On July 23, 2024, the eighth episode of “America’s Got Talent” season 19 aired with a the last group of auditions and the announcement of yet another Golden Buzzer. Host Terry Crews welcomed back judges Heidi Klum, Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, and Sofia Vergara, with performances from this diverse group as well as some memorable acts that failed to move forward.

But who were the best acts from this episode? And did any move forward that shouldn’t have? Below we rank the 11 acts who advanced from worst to best. Do any of Tuesday’s acts have what it takes to win the million dollars this year?

See ‘America’s Got Talent’ season 19: Who was your favorite act from ‘AGT’ Auditions 8? [Poll]

Season 19 Episode 8 Rankings:

11. Hayley Viloria: A major part of the puzzle on any reality TV competition is to be memorable. Personality wise, she is an A+. The performance itself was just ok though.

Jackie Shane was a musical trailblazer. Born in 1940s Nashville, she rose to fame in the Toronto music scene of the 1960s with her distinctive soulful voice and dynamic stage presence. However, just as her star seemed destined to shine even brighter, she vanished from the public eye in 1971. While rumors swirled about what may have become of her, the truth of those missing years remained a mystery.

All of that changed with the 2019 release of the documentary Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story. Directed by Michael Mabbott and Lucah Rosenberg-Lee, the film sets out to rediscover the story of this lost icon and shine new light on both her musical brilliance and pioneering journey. As one of soul and R&b’s first black transgender performers, Jackie broke barriers just by living her authentic self. The film brings her taletback to the forefront through unearthed interviews and pictures...

Katy Perry and Madonna have been compared over the years, a fact that may have disappointed her parents. Perry knew Madonna while she was growing up. She did not like her, though. Perry’s family protested Madonna’s music and she was not allowed to mention her while she was in the home.

Katy Perry couldn’t talk about Madonna in her house

Though Perry listens to music across genres as an adult, she struggled to discover new artists as a child. Her parents did not want her to listen to some musicians.

“I just want to make it very clear that I come from very humble beginnings, and I worked for everything!” Perry said in a conversation with Kristen Wiig for Interview Magazine, adding, “I was not even allowed to mention the name Madonna … I think for my parents and their belief systems, the idea that I would be...

Katy Perry couldn’t listen to much secular music as a child, but she began to discover new albums as she grew up. Perry said Queen helped expand her taste in music. When she discovered two other classic artists, she said she couldn’t listen to anything but their albums.

Katy Perry said she had two albums on repeat

When Perry was a teenager, she began to pursue a music career. She grew up in a strict religious household and had listened to little secular music at this point in her life.

“It wasn’t until I started to make my gospel record when I was around 14 or 15 that I started to be exposed to more outside influences,” she told Kristen Wiig in a conversation for Interview Magazine. “Before that, I was actually really into Christian music. I knew all about the Christian music scene, which was a very small kind of sect.

Palestinian-Chilean artist Elyanna has announced a Woledto world tour in support of her debut album of the same name, Tuesday. Singer-songwriter Elyanna, known for her experimental Arab-pop sound, will kick off the tour on Oct. 7, with stops in Houston, Atlanta, Brooklyn, and Toronto. After wrapping the North American leg in San Diego on Nov. 20, Elyanna will head to Amsterdam, Barcelona, Paris, Brussels, Berlin, Stockholm, and London.

Elyanna — who weaves Arabic, Latin, and Western sounds into her music — draws inspiration from Adele, Etta James, Dalida, Nancy Ajram, and the rhythms of cumbia,...

Fly Me to the Moon boasts a stellar soundtrack with R&b/Soul songs to transport viewers to the late 1960s space race era. The movie expertly utilizes iconic tunes from artists like Sam Cooke and Aretha Franklin to recreate the feeling of 1969. In addition to the popular music choices, Fly Me to the Moon also features original songs composed for the film's soundtrack.

Fly Me to the Moon includes a stellar soundtrack loaded with R&b and Soul songs from popular music artists as the backdrop to the space race. The 2024 movie starring Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum chronicles NASA in 1968 and 1969 as the space program prepares for the Apollo 11 launch. The late 1960s setting is perfectly created with real-life archival footage, period-appropriate costumes, and more great details to highlight Fly Me to the Moon's true story.

One of the other ways that the NASA movie helps...

Kelly Clarkson returned to the past in a classic American Idol song performance. NBC wants people to remember that moment as the network’s website posted a video of the amazing performance. What makes it so amazing is that Clarkson performed the exact same song for her Idol audition a decade earlier.

Here is a look at that amazing Kelly Clarkson moment and how it compares to the first time she sang the Etta James classic.

Kelly Clarkson Hits Highs With Etta James Classic

Kelly Clarkson auditioned for American Idol in 2002, the show’s first season. While the singers in that first season weren’t all that good, and the production values were low, Kelly was a highlight and went on to become one of the most successful Idol alumni in history.

Kelly Clarkson/Credit: YouTube

In the audition for American Idol, Kelly sang a Madonna song and a Glenn Miller song.

Sabrina Carpenter’s songs don’t sound much like Taylor Swift‘s. Despite this, the “Please Please Please” singer began her career with a cover of one of Swift’s early hits. Notably, the song in question has become more controversial in recent years. These days, it’s a bit difficult to find the original version of the track.

Taylor Swift and Sinead O’Connor songs were part of Sabrina Carpenter’s early career

During a 2021 interview with Interview Magazine, the “Espresso” singer was asked how she found her way into the entertainment industry. “I was nine and I started posting covers on YouTube, which is where I started to build a fan base,” she recalled. “I signed with my first label when I was 12.”

The “Nonsense” singer was asked if she could remember the first song she covered for her YouTube channel. “I think it was ‘Picture To Burn’ by Taylor Swift,...

Oliver Murray, director of They All Came Out To Montreux (on Claude Nobs’ s Montreux Jazz Festival), Ronnie’s (on Ronnie Scott’s), and The Quiet One (on Bill Wyman) with music producer and 99 Records founder Ed Bahlman and Anne-Katrin Titze: “It’s fantastic to hear you make the connections because sometimes I do that almost just for myself.”

They All Came Out To Montreux (a highlight of the 23rd edition of the Tribeca Film Festival), Oliver Murray’s fantastic tribute to Montreux Jazz Festival founder Claude Nobs is hailed by music producer and 99 Records founder Ed Bahlman for the documentary’s composition of musical greatness with the backstory on this one-of-a-kind creation in Montreux.

Kim Gordon in Sonic Youth at the Montreux Jazz Festival

Kim Gordon (on her Collective tour), this past Thursday, June 13, 2024 had a Capital One City...

Sabrina Carpenter is a big fan of Rihanna, but her love for the “Only Girl (In the World)” singer only goes so far. Carpenter said she’s not interested in a certain part of Rihanna’s life and that she feels the same about Beyoncé. Interestingly, Carpenter said an obscure Rihanna song had a big influence on her.

Sabrina Carpenter doesn’t want to hear about Rhianna’s personal life

During a 2023 interview with Glamour, the “Please Please Please” singer was asked how she deals with false rumors. “Humor,” she replied. “Sarcasm. Yeah. I think that’s my favorite way also because it’s very silly when you think about it. When I was younger, I definitely didn’t think that my life would be picked apart in any sense, especially not my personal life.

“Like, I love Rihanna so much,” the “Espresso” singer said. “I’m obsessed with Rihanna,...

Tribeca Festival Artistic Director Frédéric Boyer with Anne-Katrin Titze on Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Trish Dalton’s .Diane von Furstenberg: Woman In Charge: “It’s great! It’s about fashion but not only. It’s super New York based.”

They All Came Out To Montreux, Oliver Murray’s fantastic tribute to Montreux Jazz Festival founder Claude Nobs; Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala’s The Devil's Bath (Des Teufels Bad) starring Anja Plaschg (who is also the composer as Soap&Skin), shot by Martin Gschlacht (Silver Bear winner in the 2024 Berlin Film Festival); Dana Flor’s Ani Difranco film, 1-800-on-her-own; David Hinton’s Made In England: The Films Of Powell & Pressburger with Martin Scorsese as our guide; Vinko Tomicic’s The...

“Masters of the Air” costume designer Colleen Atwood brought along Austin Butler’s jacket to Variety’s TV FYC Fest. “It’s Austin Butler’s jacket that he wore, Maj. Cleven’s jacket and hat, and I thought, ‘Well, I should bring it.’ It’s D-Day. People like seeing real stuff,'” Atwood told the audience.

Atwood was joined by her fellow artisans from the Apple TV+ series: supervising sound editor and re-recording mixer Michael Minkler, composer Blake Neely, director of photography Richard Rutkowski and music supervisor Deva Anderson. The panelists acknowledged the 80th anniversary of D-Day with Neely sharing news. “I just found out that a piece from ‘Masters of the Air’ is what opened the D-Day Normandy event,” he told his fellow department heads.

Adapted from Donald L. Miller’s book of the same name, the miniseries is the third installment of the “Band of Brothers” trilogy. “Masters of the Air...

Celebrities sometimes react to music in the most unexpected ways. Sabrina Carpenter said Abba’s “Dancing Queen” had a special meaning for her at a certain time in her life. In addition, she said the tune reminds her of a famous movie.

Sabrina Carpenter heard Abba’s ‘Dancing Queen’ for the 1st time ‘later’ in life

During a 2018 interview with Teen Vogue, Carpenter named the songs that defined her life. She showed a preference for oldies music, naming personal favorites by The Carpenters, The Beatles, Etta James, Skeeter Davis, and Santana. Perhaps the most famous tune she picked was Abba’s “Dancing Queen,” which might be the most famous tune Abba ever released.

“I actually wasn’t introduced to this song until much later in my life when I realized I was young and sweet and only 17,” the “Nonsense” star explained. “So I remember the moment I was turning 18 and...

Sabrina Carpenter has written dozens of songs. However, she said one piece of music told her life story. The track has a bit of a dark undercurrent. Interestingly, the tune is part of a genre that many casual fans associate with Justin Bieber.

Sabrina Carpenter’s life story is very different from a Disney movie

During a 2018 interview with Teen Vogue, Carpenter created a playlist of the tunes that defined her life. The playlist included classic tracks by The Carpenters, The Beatles, Christina Aguilera, Abba, Etta James, Skeeter Davis, and Santana, as well as one of Carpenter’s own songs: “Almost Love.” Many artists have created playlists for Teen Vogue, but Carpenter broke the rules by including one of her own songs. That’s fine because the best artists break the rules and Carpenter gave fans a lot of insight into her life when she spoke about “Almost Love.”

“‘Almost Love...

Ten years after the release of his Def Jam debut, the Hell Can Wait EP, Vince Staples occupies an ambiguous middle-ground, stuck between platinum-certified arena status and the ephemeral virality that defines too much of the mainstream rap industry. It’s a space that he shares with a handful of others – Maxo, Rapsody, Navy Blue, his onetime Odd Future colleague Earl Sweatshirt – and which allows him to craft densely thematic musical suites on a major-label platform without the pressure of landing a radio hit. He’s made good use of...

With a career spanning 25 years, music supervisor Matt Biffa is a specialist in source music research and copyright clearance. His projects include Sex Education, I May Destroy You, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, Paddington, Carol, The End of the F**king World and, most recently, the HBO Max comedy series Hacks.

Biffa joined renowned music services company Air-Edel as a receptionist in 1996, where his impressive knowledge of music was quickly recognized. He cut his creative teeth sourcing music for commercials, such as Jonathan Glazer’s “Swimblack” campaign for Guinness. As Biffa began cultivating relationships with key members of the music industry, he moved into feature films, where he has garnered a reputation for being a canny negotiator and a veritable walking encyclopedia of the history of popular music.

In 2021, together with Ciara Elwis, Matt won the award for Outstanding Music...

“I have a very triumphant testimony now,” says actress Jenifer Lewis, who was unmasked as Miss Cleocatra on “The Masked Singer” Thursday night. “I was nearly killed in Africa. I fell. So, the bitch is back! With that out of the way, ‘Masked Singer’ called me and I couldn’t walk at the time. So my friends encouraged me, ‘Get up and go do what you love to do.’ And ‘The Masked Singer’ took care of me.” Watch her exclusive video interview with Gold Derby senior editor Denton Davidson above.

Lewis reveals that if viewers look closely, she’s bolted down as she performs. “I’m not using the lower half of my body,” she explains. “They had bolted me to the floor in a harness. In the second song, you’ll notice I don’t let go of the microphone, which is bolted down. So they really disguised the...

The Masked Singer season 11 featured Miss Cleocatra as one of its competitors, and she was revealed to be actress Jenifer Lewis. Before Miss Cleocatra's unmasking, the panelists gave their final guesses for her identity, including Roberta Flack (Rita), Loretta Devine (Robin and Jenny), and Jenifer Lewis (Ken). Only guessed Ken Cleocatra's true identity as Jenifer Lewis correctly.

The Masked Singer season 11 featured Miss Cleocatra as one of its 16 competitors, and she was revealed to be actress Jenifer Lewis. For The Masked Singer season 11, host Nick Cannon returned to the show, along with original panelists Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg, and Ken Jeong. Because Nicole Scherzinger was appearing in London's West End production of Sunset Boulevard, Rita Ora took her place on the panel for season 11.

The Masked Singer season 11's Group B debuted on The Wizard of Oz Night, which celebrated the 85th anniversary of the beloved film. Miss Cleocatra was one of the contestants,...

Spoiler Alert: Do not read ahead if you have not watched Season 11, Episode 8 of “The Masked Singer,” “Girl Group Night,” which aired April 24 on Fox.

Jenifer Lewis spent a year recovering from a devastating 10-foot fall while on safari in Tanzania. It was while she was still in bed, convalescing, that she got a call from “The Masked Singer.” “I still couldn’t walk,” she told Variety. “And my friends encouraged me to get out of bed and go do what I love to do. ‘You’ll be in front of a live audience, you’ll be singing, you’ll be in a mask, but you’ll still be doing what you really love to do, which is to entertain.'”

“The Masked Singer” revealed on Wednesday night’s edition that “Black-ish” star Lewis was Group B’s “Miss Cleocatra.” Lewis was unmasked after performing “Free Your Mind,” by En Vogue,...

The Masked Singer was back this week with a new episode and four new contestants. There was one unmasking this week, as Afghan Hound lost in the Smackdown and revealed herself to be Savannah Chrisley from Chrisley Knows Best. However, one person who didn’t need to worry about the Smackdown is Miss Cloecatra.

Here is what we know about Miss Cleocatra and our guesses about who might be under the mask.

Miss Cleocatra On The Masked Singer

It was Wizard of Oz night on The Masked Singer and four new singers took the stage, with one going home at the end of the night. One of the new singers is Miss Clecatra. As her name indicates, the costume is a cat dressed like the iconic Cleopatra. Here is what happened on her first night on the reality TV show.

Miss Cleocatra came out and started Wizard of Oz night...

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,...

While they represent different generations of music, Aretha Franklin and Beyoncé warrant comparison because of their incredible vocal talents and charisma. Franklin revealed what she thought of the “Irreplaceable” singer. She also put her own spin on a Destiny’s Child song.

Why Aretha Franklin compared Beyoncé to Michael Jackson

During a 2014 interview with Rolling Stone, the Queen of Soul revealed her thoughts on Queen B. “We have a lot of respect for each other,” Franklin said. “I love the beat of ‘Bootylicious.’ And ‘I’m a Survivor.'”

Franklin compared Beyoncé to another pop idol. “Beyoncé is a very hard-working woman,” she said. “Astrologically, for whatever it’s worth, she’s a Virgo — like Michael Jackson, a hard worker. She’s very pleasant. She’s complimentary to other artists.”

Franklin also praised Beyoncé for her commitment to political issues. “I think she just has a very positive message,” she said.

Garth Brooks has taken his country music to Las Vegas and isn’t going anywhere else any time soon.

Back in May, the “Friends in Low Places” singer began his concert residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and will be there until December 16. He’ll be taking a break for a few months after but is scheduled to return to the Colosseum on April 18 next year.

Last week, Brooks performed at the opening of his new bar in Nashville, Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky Tonk.

“This town has been amazing to me,” Brooks said during his performance in Nashville. “When this [opportunity] popped up, the thought was, does Garth Brooks owe Nashville? You bet Garth Brooks owes Nashville.”

He then went on to explain the reason he named his bar after his hit song.

“You can like Garth Brooks. You can not like Garth Brooks. Either way,...

Beyoncé‘s mother, Tina Knowles, is coming to her daughter’s defense.

The 69-year-old mother of the 42-year-old “Break My Soul” singer spoke out on Instagram amid criticism online regarding Bey‘s appearance, with some accusing her of bleaching her skin or trying to appear white at her Renaissance film premiere.

“Came across this today and decided to post it after seeing all of the stupid ignorant self, hating racist statements about her, lightening her skin, and wearing platinum hair wanting to be white,” she began, posting a video to her Instagram set to her song “Brown Skin Girl.”

Keep reading to find out more…

“She does a film, called the Renaissance, where the whole theme is silver with silver hair, a silver carpet, and suggested silver attire and you bozos decide that she’s trying to be a white woman and is bleaching her skin? .. How sad is it...

London – A psychedelic eye mosaic commissioned by John Lennon for the swimming pool at his Kenwood home in Surrey in 1965 leads Bonhams’ Rock, Pop & Film sale on Wednesday 29 November at Knightsbridge, London.

Claire Tole-Moir, Bonhams Head of Popular Culture in London, commented: “This monumental mosaic, commissioned by John Lennon is a striking example of the Beatle’s artistic vision and influences. Lennon’s Kenwood home in the English countryside was a place of respite from all the public attention he experienced during the height of The Beatles’ popularity. It’s said Lennon would spend idle hours near the swimming pool and that the mosaic could even be seen from his favoured ‘sunroom’ at the top of the house. With Kenwood still under private ownership, it is very rare to see anything from when John Lennon lived there, making the ‘Psychedelic Eye’ mosaic an incredibly important artefact of Beatles history.”

Consisting of approximately 17,000 tiles,...

Image Source: Getty / Rich Fury

Madison Beer is more than ready to open up. From the moment I ask a question from inside a karaoke room at a club event for Las Vegas's Jbl Fest, she's prepared to tell the truth. "[I'm someone who was subject to] massive amounts of online hatred and bullying, and to people constantly perceiving and having opinions about me," she tells Popsugar. "That's been very hard at times."

When it comes to the internet, which she calls "f*cking terrifying," she wishes there was more accountability for the kind of cyberbullies that came after her so intensely during the early years of her career. "There should be actual consequences for that. I would love to see something implemented where, actually, no, you can't just hide behind an account and be horrifically mean to people and cost people their lives sometimes. Maybe a system that finds these people and holds them accountable,...

Lithofayne (Faye) Pridgon was Jimi Hendrix’s original “Foxy Lady.” When they met, Pridgon was bold and flirtatious—characteristics that caused Hendrix to feel self-conscious once they were together. The famed guitarist even had rules for her to follow at night clubs.

Jimi Hendrix was devoted to and possessive of Faye Pridgon

Hendrix was certainly more devoted to Pridgon than many of his contemporaries were to their girlfriends. The guitarist had a habit of writing Pridgon “passionate, poetic love letters,” which she kept her entire life.

“He was also fiercely possessive and her naturally bold, flirtatious manner, which had first drawn them together, became unacceptable once they were a couple,” reads Wild Thing: The Short, Spellbinding Life of Jimi Hendrix by Philip Norman.

When Pridgon would join Hendrix at the clubs he’d play at, she was forbidden to dance with other men unless the song was uptempo and there was no body contact.

Jimi Hendrix met Lithofayne (Faye) Pridgon outside the Apollo theater. He was trying to get backstage to talk with Sam Cooke, who he thought could help his career. Hendrix and Pridgon took a quick liking to each other. Here’s how their whirlwind romance began.

Who was Faye Pridgon?

Pridgon was born in Dirty Spoon, Georgia. She was the daughter of a professional dancer and reportedly the illegitimate great granddaughter of Henry Ford, according to Wild Thing by Philip Norman. At 15 years old she had an affair with Little Willie John, who’s known for the song “Fever.” At 16, she was romantically connected to Same Cooke, which is how she got Hendrix backstage that night at the Apollo. It also didn’t hurt that she was best friends with Etta James.

When Hendrix met Pridgon, she was two years older than him. She wore a tight pegged skirt and higher-than-high heels.

American Idol Top 5 finalist Wé Ani was eliminated from the competition one week before the finale, but she has announced that she has a new song coming out soon. Wé surprised and impressed judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan at her audition when she sang "Anyone" because her soulful singing voice didn't match her high-pitched speaking voice. Wé continued to dominate the competition with her Hollywood Week performances of her original song "Good For," which got the whole audience singing along, and her jazzy duet with Pjae on "Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops)!," which even featured scatting.

In an Instagram post after her American Idol elimination, Wé announced that "this is only the beginning" because she and record producer Oak Felder have a new song coming out on Friday, May 19.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Wé Ani (@we_ani)

Wé wrote, "Surprise!!! And you...

NBC’s The Voice Season 23 spoilers are here regarding the upcoming Playoffs. The Playoffs begin on Monday, May 1, 2023, and fans get to see 10 competitors from Team Blake Shelton and Team Chance the Rapper take the stage in the hopes of moving forward. Unfortunately, only four competitors on the first episode of the Playoffs will move on. Here are the competitors who wow Shelton and Chance.

[Spoiler alert: The Voice Season 23 spoilers ahead regarding the Playoffs.]

Chance the Rapper on ‘The Voice’ Season 23 | Trae Patton/NBC ‘The Voice’ Season 23 spoilers: The 4 singers to move on after the Playoffs on Monday, May 1, 2023

The Voice Season 23 spoilers for the Playoffs are here, and fans might be surprised by who moves on after the performances on Monday, May 1, 2023. The first night of the Playoffs features Team Chance the Rapper and Team Blake Shelton.

For Team Chance, Jamar Langley takes the stage with “The Thrill is Gone” by B.B. King,...

NBC’s The Voice Season 23 Playoffs are officially here, and fans can’t wait to see how the top 20 contestants do. The singers worked hard in the Knockouts and Battles to make it all the way here, and they have plenty of stellar songs lined up during the Knockout rounds. Here are the songs fans can expect to hear in the Knockouts, according to The Voice Season 23 spoilers.

[Spoiler alert: The Voice Season 23 spoilers ahead regarding the songs in the Playoffs.]

Blake Shelton’s team on ‘The Voice’ Season 23 | Trae Patton/NBC ‘The Voice’ Season 23 spoilers: Every song in the Playoffs

The Voice Season 23 spoilers are here regarding what songs fans will hear during the Playoffs. Heading into the Playoffs, here are the teams:

Team Chance the Rapper:

Jamar Langley

Manasseh Samone

Kala Banham

Ray Uriel

Sorelle

Team Kelly Clarkson:

Cait Martin

D. Smooth

Neil Salsich

Ali

Holly Brand

Team Niall Horan:

Ross Clayton

Gina Miles

Tasha Jessen

Michael B....

The “American Idol” Top 12 performed for “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Night” on Sunday, April 30. Immediately following the episode we polled fans and asked who gave the best performance. Wé Ani emerged as a new fan favorite, topping the list for her rockin’ rendition of the Etta James classic “Something’s Got a Hold On Me.” View our full poll results below.

See ‘American Idol’ sets Disney Night 2023 for May 14, but what will Katy Perry wear?

‘American Idol’ Top 12: Who gave the best performance?

Wé Ani (“Something’s Got a Hold On Me”) – 27%

Iam Tongi (“Bring It On Home”) – 26%

Megan Danielle (“Angel From Montgomery”) – 16%

Tyson Venegas (“For Once In My Life”) – 7%

Zachariah Smith (“Don’t Bring Me Down”) – 7%

Colin Stough (“Midnight Rider”) – 6%

Haven Madison (“Livin’ On a Prayer”) – 5%

Warren Peay (“House of the Rising Sun”) – 2%

Nutsa (“The Show Must Go On”) – 2%

Marybeth Byrd (“Dancing Queen”) – 1%

Oliver Steele (“Georgia...

Kourtney Kardashian Barker has become accustomed to the majority of her life being captured by the cameras, but when she and Travis Barker originally began considering their 2022 nuptials, they had no plans to record any part of it. The couple embarked on three weddings: a drunken post-Grammys romp in Las Vegas as well as small, family-focused parties in Santa Barbara and Portofino, Italy. To their surprise, their friends and families captured a lot of it on their phones, creating intimate footage of the pair’s love and joy that they...

Classic rock fans are always interested to learn where their favorite musicians found the inspiration to make their own music. After all, art of all kinds is cyclical, with each subsequent generation absorbing and learning from what came before. So it’s fascinating to consider the legacy of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, who inspired Jimi Hendrix — considered one of the best guitarists of all time — to pursue music.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe inspired many early rock and roll stars, including Jimi Hendrix

Among his influences, Hendrix counted Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Widely considered the “Godmother of Rock and Roll,” Tharpe gained mainstream attention in the 1930s and 1940s with her gospel music. In particular, her music attracted attention for incorporating electric guitar. Her signature blend of spiritual and secular techniques set Tharpe apart from her peers.

From childhood and into her adult life, Tharpe devoted her life to music. She released her first album,...

Back in 2009, Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton teamed up for another duet, hoping to re-create the magic of their 1983 classic “Islands in the Stream.” Alas, “Tell Me That You Love Me” didn’t quite make waves like “Island” did, and after being released on a Time-Life compilation dedicated to Rogers, it vanished from print. Now, the lost duet is finally getting a streaming release on a posthumous album from Rogers.

Life Is Like a Song, due June 2 (via UMe), features 10 tracks, eight of which have never before been released. Along with the Parton duet,...