Joe Jonas Joins Nick Jonas at Cannes Film Festival Gala for Surprise ‘Cake by the Ocean’ Performance
Now that their world tour is over, the Jonas Brothers have returned to their side quests. Kevin is off preparing for the second season of his nepo baby reality series Claim to Fame, while Nick jetted over to France for a special performance at amfAR’s Cannes Film Festival Gala. His appearance doubled as a side quest within a side quest for Joe, who surprised the audience when he joined his younger brother on stage to perform Dnce’s “Cake by the Ocean.”
Throughout Nick’s performance — during which he...
Throughout Nick’s performance — during which he...
- 5/24/2024
- by Larisha Paul
- Rollingstone.com
Which performance received the best reviews at Cannes? Cher managed to conquer this year’s film festival even without appearing on screen.
At 12:30 a.m. in the South of France, decked out in a dazzling sequined purple pantsuit, Cher took the stage at Cannes amfAR, the charity gala devoted to raising money for research for HIV and AIDS. “I thought you guys would be drunk, but obviously you’re not,” Cher said after performing an acoustic rendition of “Walking in Memphis,” the Marc Cohn ballad she covered on her 1995 album “It’s a Man’s World,” that had hundreds of guests cheering her on.
Three songs later — and one costume change into a black sparkling jacket over couture negligee — Cher had emerged victorious. The crowd at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc would have given her the biggest standing ovation of Cannes, except they never sat during her 15-minute set.
Before belting out her pop hit “Believe,...
At 12:30 a.m. in the South of France, decked out in a dazzling sequined purple pantsuit, Cher took the stage at Cannes amfAR, the charity gala devoted to raising money for research for HIV and AIDS. “I thought you guys would be drunk, but obviously you’re not,” Cher said after performing an acoustic rendition of “Walking in Memphis,” the Marc Cohn ballad she covered on her 1995 album “It’s a Man’s World,” that had hundreds of guests cheering her on.
Three songs later — and one costume change into a black sparkling jacket over couture negligee — Cher had emerged victorious. The crowd at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc would have given her the biggest standing ovation of Cannes, except they never sat during her 15-minute set.
Before belting out her pop hit “Believe,...
- 5/24/2024
- by Ramin Setoodeh
- Variety Film + TV
Legendary singer Frankie Valli received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame last Friday (May 3) and had his family by his side, well, except for his eldest son, Francesco. Valli, 90, was joined for the momentous occasion by his twin sons Emilio and Brando and his wife, Jackie. But Francesco, who earlier this week had a temporary restraining order against him made permanent for the next three years, was noticeably absent. “This is really a highlight of my life, especially having my sons here and my wife sitting right there,” Valli told the crowd during his Walk of Fame ceremony. According to People, Francesco’s brother Emilio filed the restraining order last month. After a hearing in Los Angeles on Monday, April 29, a judge signed off on the order of protection for Frankie and Emilio against Francesco, which will last until April 29, 2027. Brando Valli, Frankie Valli and Emilio Valli attend...
- 5/8/2024
- TV Insider
Singer Frankie Valli‘s son, Emilio, has been granted a temporary restraining order against his brother, Francesco. In recent months, Emilio claims that Francesco has repeatedly threatened to harm him and their famous father.
The request for the restraining order was filed on April 8 by Emilio, 29, in Los Angeles. In the filing, Emilio stated that Francesco, 36, attempted to break into their father’s property on April 5. During the incident, while waiting for law enforcement to arrive, Francesco allegedly made multiple physical threats to harm or even kill both Frankie and Emilio. Emilio asserted that this behavior is part of a pattern that has persisted for several months.
Emilio indicated in the filing that the family believes Francesco is struggling with addiction to opiates. While Frankie has been providing financial support to his son, Emilio claims that the support is now conditional on Francesco agreeing to enter a residential drug treatment program.
The request for the restraining order was filed on April 8 by Emilio, 29, in Los Angeles. In the filing, Emilio stated that Francesco, 36, attempted to break into their father’s property on April 5. During the incident, while waiting for law enforcement to arrive, Francesco allegedly made multiple physical threats to harm or even kill both Frankie and Emilio. Emilio asserted that this behavior is part of a pattern that has persisted for several months.
Emilio indicated in the filing that the family believes Francesco is struggling with addiction to opiates. While Frankie has been providing financial support to his son, Emilio claims that the support is now conditional on Francesco agreeing to enter a residential drug treatment program.
- 4/12/2024
- by Baila Eve Zisman
- Uinterview
The five artists chosen for the 2024 Kennedy Center Honors are likely being informed now in the month of April about their selections. That’s according to recent honoree Billy Crystal, who said he was told last April and had to keep quiet until mid-summer when the 2023 Kch choices were officially announced.
Crystal was honored a few months ago in Washington, D.C. for the annual CBS event, along with Renee Fleming, Barry Gibb, Queen Latifah and Dionne Warwick. Who do we think will be among the honorees announced this summer? Tour our photo gallery above to see who are our choices for the top 50 entertainers who need to be selected soon. You can also visit our forums thread where we have a much lengthier list of hundreds of eligible artists.
SEEKennedy Center Honors: 20 Greatest Performances of All Time
Our gallery features deserving artists from the fields of acting (both film and TV), popular music,...
Crystal was honored a few months ago in Washington, D.C. for the annual CBS event, along with Renee Fleming, Barry Gibb, Queen Latifah and Dionne Warwick. Who do we think will be among the honorees announced this summer? Tour our photo gallery above to see who are our choices for the top 50 entertainers who need to be selected soon. You can also visit our forums thread where we have a much lengthier list of hundreds of eligible artists.
SEEKennedy Center Honors: 20 Greatest Performances of All Time
Our gallery features deserving artists from the fields of acting (both film and TV), popular music,...
- 4/11/2024
- by Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Stevie Wonder closed the multi-hour, all-star Clive Davis pre-Grammy gala with a rousing harmonica performance, a strong vocal delivery and words of positivity.
The icon was joined by Gladys Knight, Dionne Warwick, Andra Day, Keyshia Cole and Frederic Yonnet for performances of “That’s What Friends Are For” and “What the World Needs Now Is Love,” cutting off the latter song to tell the audience — which included Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks and Cher — that “music is love [and] let us use the gift of love that we’ve been given by the Almighty to make a difference in the world.”
“I’ve been blessed to be alive, but I’ve been blessed to see everyone — not seeing you physically — but seeing you spiritually,” Wonder said at the gala that ended early Sunday morning. “And what breaks my heart is to know that we’re still talking about the same thing that...
The icon was joined by Gladys Knight, Dionne Warwick, Andra Day, Keyshia Cole and Frederic Yonnet for performances of “That’s What Friends Are For” and “What the World Needs Now Is Love,” cutting off the latter song to tell the audience — which included Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks and Cher — that “music is love [and] let us use the gift of love that we’ve been given by the Almighty to make a difference in the world.”
“I’ve been blessed to be alive, but I’ve been blessed to see everyone — not seeing you physically — but seeing you spiritually,” Wonder said at the gala that ended early Sunday morning. “And what breaks my heart is to know that we’re still talking about the same thing that...
- 2/4/2024
- by Mesfin Fekadu
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Clive Davis always throws the most star-studded party during Grammys Weekend every year, and 2024 was no exception!
The legendary music mogul hosted the Pre-grammy Gala & Grammy Salute to Industry Icons on Saturday night (February 3) at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Some of the celebs who walked the red carpet included Ice Spice, Dua Lipa, Sabrina Carpenter, Megan Thee Stallion, and Lana Del Rey.
Legendary stars like Meryl Streep, Cher, Tom Hanks, and more were all there. It was a family affair for Meryl, whose son-in-law Mark Ronson is nominated for several awards at the Grammys this year. He was joined by wife Grace Gummer.
Sony Music Publishing Chairman and CEO Jon Platt was honored at the event.
Head inside to see all of the celebs who attended…
Keep scrolling to see all of the celebs who attended…
Meryl Streep and Cher
Clive Davis
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson...
The legendary music mogul hosted the Pre-grammy Gala & Grammy Salute to Industry Icons on Saturday night (February 3) at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Some of the celebs who walked the red carpet included Ice Spice, Dua Lipa, Sabrina Carpenter, Megan Thee Stallion, and Lana Del Rey.
Legendary stars like Meryl Streep, Cher, Tom Hanks, and more were all there. It was a family affair for Meryl, whose son-in-law Mark Ronson is nominated for several awards at the Grammys this year. He was joined by wife Grace Gummer.
Sony Music Publishing Chairman and CEO Jon Platt was honored at the event.
Head inside to see all of the celebs who attended…
Keep scrolling to see all of the celebs who attended…
Meryl Streep and Cher
Clive Davis
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson...
- 2/4/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
The Golden Bachelor ended with a wedding. While Gerry Turner found love in Theresa Nist, plenty of other relationships were established inside the mansion. Many contestants from the first The Golden Bachelor season have remained friends and seem to travel together regularly. That doesn’t mean everything is drama-free, though.
In fact, there might be some drama brewing within Askn, the most prominent friend group from the dating competition. Recently, April Kirkwood lashed out on Instagram as her show besties, Nancy Hulkower, Kathy Swarts, and Susan Noles, vacationed together.
Susan, Nancy, and Kathy appear to be a three-person friend group now
The Golden Bachelor fans have enjoyed following the ladies of the competition as they navigate life after the show. The friend group, Askn, has been particularly active on Instagram, and they sure are living it up after the series. Right now, Susan, Kathy, and Nancy are enjoying a vacation in the French West Indies.
In fact, there might be some drama brewing within Askn, the most prominent friend group from the dating competition. Recently, April Kirkwood lashed out on Instagram as her show besties, Nancy Hulkower, Kathy Swarts, and Susan Noles, vacationed together.
Susan, Nancy, and Kathy appear to be a three-person friend group now
The Golden Bachelor fans have enjoyed following the ladies of the competition as they navigate life after the show. The friend group, Askn, has been particularly active on Instagram, and they sure are living it up after the series. Right now, Susan, Kathy, and Nancy are enjoying a vacation in the French West Indies.
- 1/19/2024
- by Andrea Francese
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Norby Walters, a music agent who worked with Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Marvin Gaye, Kool & the Gang and Public Enemy before gaining renown in Hollywood for his annual “Night of 100 Stars” Oscar party and weekly poker game, has died. He was 91.
Walters died Dec. 10 of natural causes at an assisted living facility in Burbank, his son, producer Gary Michael Walters (Whiplash), told The Hollywood Reporter.
Walters hosted his first Oscar night gala in 1990 and the last in 2017, most often inside the Beverly Hilton’s Crystal Ballroom. Among those who attended were Shirley Jones, Robert Forster, Charles Bronson, Patricia Neal, Richard Dreyfuss, Eva Marie Saint, Martin Landau, Louis Gossett Jr., J.K. Simmons, Cliff Robertson, Red Buttons, Jon Voight and Allison Janney.
Walters for years also presided over a weekly poker game at his West Hollywood high-rise condo. The low-stakes $2 game was, his son said, “designed to be a place where actors could kibbutz,...
Walters died Dec. 10 of natural causes at an assisted living facility in Burbank, his son, producer Gary Michael Walters (Whiplash), told The Hollywood Reporter.
Walters hosted his first Oscar night gala in 1990 and the last in 2017, most often inside the Beverly Hilton’s Crystal Ballroom. Among those who attended were Shirley Jones, Robert Forster, Charles Bronson, Patricia Neal, Richard Dreyfuss, Eva Marie Saint, Martin Landau, Louis Gossett Jr., J.K. Simmons, Cliff Robertson, Red Buttons, Jon Voight and Allison Janney.
Walters for years also presided over a weekly poker game at his West Hollywood high-rise condo. The low-stakes $2 game was, his son said, “designed to be a place where actors could kibbutz,...
- 12/21/2023
- by Mike Barnes and Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
April Kirkwood became somewhat of a household name a few months ago when she appeared on The Golden Bachelor. The therapist from Florida had a brush with fame before the reality show, albeit in a much more indirect way.
In 2015, April Kirkwood penned a book about her decades-long affair with Frankie Valli, the famed singer who inspired Jersey Boys. The sordid love affair began when Kirkwood was a teen, and Valli was already closing in on 40.
April Kirkwood carried on a decades-long affair with Frankie Valli
April Kirkwood had an interesting and intense love life before she appeared on The Golden Bachelor. Married twice and in a long-term partnership for 20 years before The Golden Bachelor, Kirkwood has a lot of experience in the dating world. That wasn’t uncommon for the ladies who vied for Gerry Turner’s heart on The Golden Bachelor, though. Still, she was unique. Her decades-long...
In 2015, April Kirkwood penned a book about her decades-long affair with Frankie Valli, the famed singer who inspired Jersey Boys. The sordid love affair began when Kirkwood was a teen, and Valli was already closing in on 40.
April Kirkwood carried on a decades-long affair with Frankie Valli
April Kirkwood had an interesting and intense love life before she appeared on The Golden Bachelor. Married twice and in a long-term partnership for 20 years before The Golden Bachelor, Kirkwood has a lot of experience in the dating world. That wasn’t uncommon for the ladies who vied for Gerry Turner’s heart on The Golden Bachelor, though. Still, she was unique. Her decades-long...
- 12/17/2023
- by Andrea Francese
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In his home office in Nashville, Cidny Bullens glances at a photo perched behind him: a young, pouty-faced 28-year-old in a Superman T-shirt, cradling an electric guitar. “I look at me as a different person,” says Bullens, who now sports short hair and a wisp of a mustache. “I don’t say, ‘Oh, that’s a great picture.’ It’s like an entity, you know.”
That photo adorned the cover of Desire Wire, the 1978 debut album by the artist then-known as Cindy Bullens. By the time of its release, Bullens had a formidable résumé,...
That photo adorned the cover of Desire Wire, the 1978 debut album by the artist then-known as Cindy Bullens. By the time of its release, Bullens had a formidable résumé,...
- 11/2/2023
- by David Browne
- Rollingstone.com
Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons are prepping their last hurrah: The rock ‘n’ roll legends have announced “The Last Encores Tour,” a farewell round of North American concerts through 2023 and most of 2024.
Luckily for fans, Valli — wbo’ll be celebrating his 90th birthday next May — is making the most of his last outing, which begins next week on October 13th and extends all the way through October of next year. Along the way, he’ll make stops playing iconic venues such as Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry, Orlando’s Walt Disney Theater, and New York’s Radio City Music Hall. The tour also includes multiple stints in Las Vegas.
“I am eternally grateful for the love and support of our fans throughout the decades,” Valli said in a statement. “I always loved touring and can’t wait to see the fans.”
General ticket on-sale begins this Friday, October 6th at 10:00 a.
Luckily for fans, Valli — wbo’ll be celebrating his 90th birthday next May — is making the most of his last outing, which begins next week on October 13th and extends all the way through October of next year. Along the way, he’ll make stops playing iconic venues such as Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry, Orlando’s Walt Disney Theater, and New York’s Radio City Music Hall. The tour also includes multiple stints in Las Vegas.
“I am eternally grateful for the love and support of our fans throughout the decades,” Valli said in a statement. “I always loved touring and can’t wait to see the fans.”
General ticket on-sale begins this Friday, October 6th at 10:00 a.
- 10/4/2023
- by Abby Jones
- Consequence - Music
Katharine McPhee is back on tour.
This week, the singer joined husband David Foster onstage as he played piano accompaniment for her duet with Erich Bergen.
Read More: Katharine McPhee Leaves Tour Early As She And David Foster Suffer ‘Horrible’ Family Tragedy After Son’s Nanny Dies
It was the first time McPhee has performed with her husband since leaving the David Foster & Friends Asia Tour early due to the death of their nanny earlier in August.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Erich Bergen (@erichbergen)
Bergen posted photos and video of the performance on his Instagram feed, showing the trio performing the Frankie Valli classic “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”.
On August 11, McPhee and Foster shared a statement on Instagram announcing the “horrible tragedy” in their family, adding that McPhee would be departing the tour for the time being.
View this post on Instagram...
This week, the singer joined husband David Foster onstage as he played piano accompaniment for her duet with Erich Bergen.
Read More: Katharine McPhee Leaves Tour Early As She And David Foster Suffer ‘Horrible’ Family Tragedy After Son’s Nanny Dies
It was the first time McPhee has performed with her husband since leaving the David Foster & Friends Asia Tour early due to the death of their nanny earlier in August.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Erich Bergen (@erichbergen)
Bergen posted photos and video of the performance on his Instagram feed, showing the trio performing the Frankie Valli classic “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”.
On August 11, McPhee and Foster shared a statement on Instagram announcing the “horrible tragedy” in their family, adding that McPhee would be departing the tour for the time being.
View this post on Instagram...
- 8/24/2023
- by Corey Atad
- ET Canada
Tl;Dr:
One of Elvis Presley’s songs from the 1960s reached No. 2 because of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons’ song has the same name as a famous tune from the 2000s. Elvis’ hit was co-written by a famous songwriter.
Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons had a bunch of big hits during the early 1960s. They even stopped one of Elvis Presley‘s songs from hitting No. 1. Notably, the song in question was from one of the King of Rock’ n’ Roll‘s classic movies.
1 Elvis Presley song from ‘Girls! Girls! Girls!’ battled Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
Elvis Presley’s “Return to Sender” became a big hit. It reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, staying on the chart for 16 weeks. The track appeared on the soundtrack of the musical Girls! Girls! Girls! before appearing on the compilation album Elvis: 30 #1 Hits.
One of Elvis Presley’s songs from the 1960s reached No. 2 because of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons’ song has the same name as a famous tune from the 2000s. Elvis’ hit was co-written by a famous songwriter.
Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons had a bunch of big hits during the early 1960s. They even stopped one of Elvis Presley‘s songs from hitting No. 1. Notably, the song in question was from one of the King of Rock’ n’ Roll‘s classic movies.
1 Elvis Presley song from ‘Girls! Girls! Girls!’ battled Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
Elvis Presley’s “Return to Sender” became a big hit. It reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, staying on the chart for 16 weeks. The track appeared on the soundtrack of the musical Girls! Girls! Girls! before appearing on the compilation album Elvis: 30 #1 Hits.
- 8/19/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Mark Ballas, a Dancing With The Stars alum, and his wife, BC Jean, announced on social media that they are expecting their first child together.
They both posted a video on their Instagram accounts updating their fans on what they’ve been up to recently. In the reel, they wrote, “Lately we’ve been making new music, making birthday wishes, went to Disneyland, made more music stuff, turned off our phones and went to the beach.”
They ended the video by announcing their surprise to fans saying, “Also we’ve been making a tiny human. Coming soon.” Jean showed off her new baby bump while Ballas embraced her and gave her a kiss.
They received an overflowing amount of support from fans and friends in the comments.
Lindsay Arnold, who is also a DWTS alum, wrote, “Oh my goodness I am crying this is the best news ”
DWTS co-host Julianne Hough...
They both posted a video on their Instagram accounts updating their fans on what they’ve been up to recently. In the reel, they wrote, “Lately we’ve been making new music, making birthday wishes, went to Disneyland, made more music stuff, turned off our phones and went to the beach.”
They ended the video by announcing their surprise to fans saying, “Also we’ve been making a tiny human. Coming soon.” Jean showed off her new baby bump while Ballas embraced her and gave her a kiss.
They received an overflowing amount of support from fans and friends in the comments.
Lindsay Arnold, who is also a DWTS alum, wrote, “Oh my goodness I am crying this is the best news ”
DWTS co-host Julianne Hough...
- 7/9/2023
- by Nina Hauswirth
- Uinterview
Long before Live Nation, Clear Channel, Ticketmaster, Stubhub, service fees, gold-circle seats, and anything that even resembles the live music industry as we know it today, there was Ron Delsener. The 87-year-old concert promoter has been booking shows in New York City going all the way back to the summer of 1964, when he brought the Beatles to Forest Hills Tennis Stadium for two nights. (Tickets were $5.50 plus a 45-cent federal tax.)
In the decades that followed, Delsener grew into the undisputed live music kingpin of New York, booking thousands upon...
In the decades that followed, Delsener grew into the undisputed live music kingpin of New York, booking thousands upon...
- 6/28/2023
- by Andy Greene
- Rollingstone.com
We can’t take our eyes off this couple!
Frankie Valli, the falsetto-voiced frontman of the Four Seasons, best known for his hits “Sherry,” “December, 1963” and “Grease”, married longtime love Jackie Jacobs in Las Vegas Monday at the Westgate Hotel, Et confirmed.
Speaking to the People following the loved-up affair Valli said, “It’s terrific to have found love once again at this stage of my life.”
Valli, 89, and Jacobs, 60, exchanged vows in a private ceremony with just the two of them, while Valli’s 1967 hit, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You,” played in the background.
As for the venue, it’s a special one for Valli, who is set to kick off a year-long residency at the Westgate with the Four Seasons later this year.
In photos shared by the outlet, Jacobs, a former CBS marketing executive, wore a white bridal gown and was all smiles as she celebrated the special occasion.
Frankie Valli, the falsetto-voiced frontman of the Four Seasons, best known for his hits “Sherry,” “December, 1963” and “Grease”, married longtime love Jackie Jacobs in Las Vegas Monday at the Westgate Hotel, Et confirmed.
Speaking to the People following the loved-up affair Valli said, “It’s terrific to have found love once again at this stage of my life.”
Valli, 89, and Jacobs, 60, exchanged vows in a private ceremony with just the two of them, while Valli’s 1967 hit, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You,” played in the background.
As for the venue, it’s a special one for Valli, who is set to kick off a year-long residency at the Westgate with the Four Seasons later this year.
In photos shared by the outlet, Jacobs, a former CBS marketing executive, wore a white bridal gown and was all smiles as she celebrated the special occasion.
- 6/28/2023
- by Brent Furdyk
- ET Canada
John Lennon and Harry Nilsson were good friends who often got drunk with one another, especially during Lennon’s “Lost Weekend” period. One person who the pair also spent time with was Alice Cooper. Cooper recalled hanging out with the two musicians and having to play referee between the two, as they loved getting into fights with each other.
Alice Cooper would break up fights between John Lennon and Harry Nilsson
During Lennon’s “Lost Weekend” in the early 1970s, the former Beatle had a few public outbursts with Nilsson. The pair would get drunk and cause a scene. One example of this occurred at a nightclub in Las Vegas where Lennon got ejected for asking singer Frankie Valli to perform a lewd act on stage.
Lennon and Nilsson often hung out with the Hollywood Vampires, a drinking club with several stars who stayed out in Hollywood after hours. One...
Alice Cooper would break up fights between John Lennon and Harry Nilsson
During Lennon’s “Lost Weekend” in the early 1970s, the former Beatle had a few public outbursts with Nilsson. The pair would get drunk and cause a scene. One example of this occurred at a nightclub in Las Vegas where Lennon got ejected for asking singer Frankie Valli to perform a lewd act on stage.
Lennon and Nilsson often hung out with the Hollywood Vampires, a drinking club with several stars who stayed out in Hollywood after hours. One...
- 6/26/2023
- by Ross Tanenbaum
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Ms. Lauryn Hill staged a surprise Fugees reunion during her solo headlining set at Philadelphia’s 2023 Roots Picnic on Saturday, bringing together the hip-hop trio for the first time since their 2021 comeback tour was delayed, and eventually canceled.
The group reconvened at the end of the New Jersey singer-rapper’s stacked set, which comprised most of her 1998 Album of the Year winner, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Following her fan-favorite cover of Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” Hill introduced her long-time bandmates, Wyclef Jean and Pras Michel, by exclaiming, “These are my brothers!”
The six-song mini-set closed out her performance and included the title track from their 1996 album The Score as well as certified classics like “How Many Mics,” “Zealots,” “Ready or Not,” and “Killing Me Softly.” They wrapped with the self-referential anthem, “Fu-Gee-La.” Watch fan-captured footage of Lauryn Hill’s set, plus the Fugees reunion,...
The group reconvened at the end of the New Jersey singer-rapper’s stacked set, which comprised most of her 1998 Album of the Year winner, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Following her fan-favorite cover of Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” Hill introduced her long-time bandmates, Wyclef Jean and Pras Michel, by exclaiming, “These are my brothers!”
The six-song mini-set closed out her performance and included the title track from their 1996 album The Score as well as certified classics like “How Many Mics,” “Zealots,” “Ready or Not,” and “Killing Me Softly.” They wrapped with the self-referential anthem, “Fu-Gee-La.” Watch fan-captured footage of Lauryn Hill’s set, plus the Fugees reunion,...
- 6/4/2023
- by Bryan Kress
- Consequence - Music
Rolling Stone‘s interview series King for a Day features long-form conversations between senior writer Andy Greene and singers who had the difficult job of fronting major rock bands after the departure of an iconic vocalist. Some of them stayed in their bands for years, while others lasted just a few months. In the end, however, they all found out that replacement singers can themselves be replaced. This edition features former Four Seasons singer Gerry Polci.
By the mid-Seventies, the once-unstoppable Four Seasons seemed like they were heading into oblivion.
By the mid-Seventies, the once-unstoppable Four Seasons seemed like they were heading into oblivion.
- 4/12/2023
- by Andy Greene
- Rollingstone.com
The Battle Rounds are complete on The Voice Season 23, and it’s time to move on to the Knockouts. However, The Voice contestants will first take a week off from competing for a special episode tonight, April 10. After that, fans can expect to see a change in the weekly schedule. Here’s what’s happening and when to tune into NBC’s singing competition moving forward.
Niall Horan and Blake Shelton during the coach performance on the April 10 episode of ‘The Voice’ Season 23 | Trae Patton/NBC A special episode of ‘The Voice’ Season 23 is on tonight, April 10
On April 4, coaches Blake Shelton, Kelly Clarkson, Chance the Rapper, and Niall Horan completed the Battle Rounds, where contestants on their teams duetted for the chance to move to the Knockouts. However, that round won’t start until next Monday, April 17.
Don’t worry, though; The Voice won’t be taking a week off.
Niall Horan and Blake Shelton during the coach performance on the April 10 episode of ‘The Voice’ Season 23 | Trae Patton/NBC A special episode of ‘The Voice’ Season 23 is on tonight, April 10
On April 4, coaches Blake Shelton, Kelly Clarkson, Chance the Rapper, and Niall Horan completed the Battle Rounds, where contestants on their teams duetted for the chance to move to the Knockouts. However, that round won’t start until next Monday, April 17.
Don’t worry, though; The Voice won’t be taking a week off.
- 4/10/2023
- by Elise Nelson
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Bee Gees’ songs are some of the defining tunes of the disco era. In addition, they made classic rock songs. Here’s a look at all of the Bee Gees’ songs that reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The Bee Gees | Michael Ochs Archives / Stringer 9. ‘Jive Talkin’’
“Jive Talkin’” is based around some appropriated lingo the Bee Gees shouldn’t have been using. There’s a reason you don’t hear it today. The fact that this song topped the Billboard Hot 100 in the 1970s with no controversy shows how much the world has changed since the 1970s.
8. ‘Too Much Heaven’
One of the Bee Gees’ trademarks was their beautiful vocal harmonies. On “Too Much Heaven,” the band performs great harmonies without building a great melody to hang them on. It’s a passable song but it doesn’t live up to their best ballads, such as the Beatlesque tune “Lonely Days.
The Bee Gees | Michael Ochs Archives / Stringer 9. ‘Jive Talkin’’
“Jive Talkin’” is based around some appropriated lingo the Bee Gees shouldn’t have been using. There’s a reason you don’t hear it today. The fact that this song topped the Billboard Hot 100 in the 1970s with no controversy shows how much the world has changed since the 1970s.
8. ‘Too Much Heaven’
One of the Bee Gees’ trademarks was their beautiful vocal harmonies. On “Too Much Heaven,” the band performs great harmonies without building a great melody to hang them on. It’s a passable song but it doesn’t live up to their best ballads, such as the Beatlesque tune “Lonely Days.
- 3/27/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The original "Grease" stage musical first debuted at the Kingston Mines night club in Chicago in 1971. The book was by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, who also wrote the music and lyrics with John Farrar. Set in the 1950s, "Grease" was a winking, somewhat bawdy anti-nostalgia piece about high school greasers and car nuts falling in love after a significant summer vacation. It banked on the images of squeaky-clean 1950s teeny-bopper movies, but inserted sexuality, a teen pregnancy, gang violence, and themes of class. The main characters were Danny the greaser and Sandy the square. They had a romantic fling in the summer, but may be too embarrassed to date one another during the school year. Their relationship is reconciled when Sandy adopts the clothes and mannerisms of the greasers. "Grease" moved to Broadway in 1972 and played all the way through 1980, making it the longest-running Broadway show at the time.
- 3/12/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
It makes sense that the lead-up to the season premiere of a singing competition like The Voice would include all four coaches gathering around to perform together. With two new coaches – Niall Horan and Chance the Rapper – on board, alongside Blake Shelton and Kelly Clarkson, it’s almost like a rite of passage. To be on The Voice, you have to have a voice, so the quartet put their skills on display in a warm cover of Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.”
Backed by a full band,...
Backed by a full band,...
- 3/2/2023
- by Larisha Paul
- Rollingstone.com
At Clive Davis’ Pre-Grammy Gala on Feb. 4, Lil Wayne brought the heat singing hits like “Lollipop,” Kevin Costner remembered Whitney Houston, and a slew of A-list guests, including Sheryl Crow, Latto and Jennifer Hudson, gathered for the event’s annual group portrait with the legendary record executive.
The event — held at the Beverly Hilton and making its in-person return after three years — included a host of performances, beginning with Maneskin working the crowd and getting Chance the Rapper to jump out of his seat to dance. Others who took to the stage included 88-year-old Frankie Valli, Lizzo, Elvis Costello with Juanes, Mj musical star Myles Frost, Lil Baby and Latto. Hudson honored Houston by singing a top-notch rendition of “The Greatest Love of All,” while Sheryl Crow paid tribute to the late Christine McVie with a performance of “Songbird.”
Guests of the Pre-Grammy Gala included Joni Mitchell, Tim Cook, Janelle Monáe,...
The event — held at the Beverly Hilton and making its in-person return after three years — included a host of performances, beginning with Maneskin working the crowd and getting Chance the Rapper to jump out of his seat to dance. Others who took to the stage included 88-year-old Frankie Valli, Lizzo, Elvis Costello with Juanes, Mj musical star Myles Frost, Lil Baby and Latto. Hudson honored Houston by singing a top-notch rendition of “The Greatest Love of All,” while Sheryl Crow paid tribute to the late Christine McVie with a performance of “Songbird.”
Guests of the Pre-Grammy Gala included Joni Mitchell, Tim Cook, Janelle Monáe,...
- 2/8/2023
- by Mesfin Fekadu
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Los Angeles, Feb 6 (Ians) On the eve of the 65th Grammy Awards, the music industry’s glitterati were jazzed for the chance to resume the tradition of coming together for a night of tributes, shout-outs and impressive displays of talent, reports ‘Variety’.
Here are a few things ‘Variety’ learned from Clive Davis’s pre-Grammy Gala at the Beverly Hilton on Saturday evening (U.S. Pacific Time).
* Swiss Beatz does a spot-on Davis impression.
* Atlantic Records’ Julie Greenwald is a “bad-ass bitch” in Cardi B’s estimation.
* Elvis Costello considers Nick Lowe “his hero”.
* Joni Mitchell digs the sound of Latto’s ‘Big Energy’.
* It’s still a ton of fun to sing along with Frankie Valli, especially when he’s backed by four Italian rockers with swagger to spare.
* Atlantic Records’ Craig Kallman spent his childhood studying the fine print of album credits, searching for ‘mythic’ names such as Ahmet Ertegun,...
Here are a few things ‘Variety’ learned from Clive Davis’s pre-Grammy Gala at the Beverly Hilton on Saturday evening (U.S. Pacific Time).
* Swiss Beatz does a spot-on Davis impression.
* Atlantic Records’ Julie Greenwald is a “bad-ass bitch” in Cardi B’s estimation.
* Elvis Costello considers Nick Lowe “his hero”.
* Joni Mitchell digs the sound of Latto’s ‘Big Energy’.
* It’s still a ton of fun to sing along with Frankie Valli, especially when he’s backed by four Italian rockers with swagger to spare.
* Atlantic Records’ Craig Kallman spent his childhood studying the fine print of album credits, searching for ‘mythic’ names such as Ahmet Ertegun,...
- 2/6/2023
- by News Bureau
- GlamSham
Lil Wayne brought the heat, Cardi B was both hilarious and heartwarming and Kevin Costner remembered Whitney Houston at Clive Davis’ annual white-hot pre-Grammy gala, which made its return after three years.
Lil Wayne was energetic onstage, getting audience members out of their seats — from Machine Gun Kelly to Swizz Beatz — with a fiery performance of his hits, including “Lollipop,” “A Milli,” “Uproar,” “John” and more.
“I am here on behalf of Young Money Records. I’d like to thank Mr. Davis for having,” Lil Wayne, holding a microphone in one hand and a joint in the other, said Saturday night at the Beverly Hilton. “If you know anything about me, I love to have fun onstage.”
Lil Wayne performs onstage during the Pre-Grammy Gala & Grammy Salute to Industry Icons
Davis’ event, held a day before the 2023 Grammys, began with Italian rockers Måneskin working the stage with the anthems “I...
Lil Wayne was energetic onstage, getting audience members out of their seats — from Machine Gun Kelly to Swizz Beatz — with a fiery performance of his hits, including “Lollipop,” “A Milli,” “Uproar,” “John” and more.
“I am here on behalf of Young Money Records. I’d like to thank Mr. Davis for having,” Lil Wayne, holding a microphone in one hand and a joint in the other, said Saturday night at the Beverly Hilton. “If you know anything about me, I love to have fun onstage.”
Lil Wayne performs onstage during the Pre-Grammy Gala & Grammy Salute to Industry Icons
Davis’ event, held a day before the 2023 Grammys, began with Italian rockers Måneskin working the stage with the anthems “I...
- 2/5/2023
- by Mesfin Fekadu
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A lot’s happened in the three years since Clive Davis last hosted his storied Pre-Grammy Gala at the Beverly Hilton. There’s been a global pandemic, which itself led to the event’s in-person cancellation for the past two Grammy seasons prior to Saturday night. We’ve seen changes in presidents and deaths of queens. The years haven’t seemed to have caught up with Davis, however, who at 90 years old still somehow has more stamina at his glitzy party than anyone else in the room.
For four hours...
For four hours...
- 2/5/2023
- by Ethan Millman
- Rollingstone.com
Joe Pesci has been enjoying semi-retirement for most of this century, but he triumphantly reunited with Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro for “The Irishman,” which brought him an Oscar bid as Best Supporting Actor.
Pesci started his career at a very young age, appearing on the New York Stage before he even turned five. By the time he was ten years old, he was a regular on a television show called “Startime Kids.” In his teen years he lost interest in acting and instead started trying to launch a career as a musician. Despite releasing a record of his own his musical career didn’t really take off but he did play an instrumental part in the creation of the highly successful musical act Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. Pesci was friends with Valli and other members of the group and he introduced them to the person that would launch their success.
Pesci started his career at a very young age, appearing on the New York Stage before he even turned five. By the time he was ten years old, he was a regular on a television show called “Startime Kids.” In his teen years he lost interest in acting and instead started trying to launch a career as a musician. Despite releasing a record of his own his musical career didn’t really take off but he did play an instrumental part in the creation of the highly successful musical act Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. Pesci was friends with Valli and other members of the group and he introduced them to the person that would launch their success.
- 2/3/2023
- by Robert Pius, Zach Laws and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
My roundup of the year in cinematic soundtracks is a sonic collage of emotion and sensations, mixed together with both pop and orchestral flourishes.We start off with music from Tár, Todd Field’s return to filmmaking and the story of the renowned conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic (Cate Blanchett). Hildur Guðnadóttir’s concept album features music from within the film and inspired by it, with original pieces alongside beloved works by Elgar and Mahler.Experiencing Memoria at the cinema turned my senses upside down. Here Apichatpong Weerasethakul is in full force, offering a cinematic experience of the sensory. If one were to critique a film based solely on its sonic sensibilities, Memoria achieves the highest embodiment of altered states possible through the marriage of sound and visuals. The realms of human consciousness are Apichatpong's focus and it is through sound design and music that we fall into his world.
- 12/20/2022
- MUBI
The second day of LA3C started with morning rain that thankfully gave way to clear skies, as thousands poured into Los Angeles State Historic Park to check out the Latin-centered lineup set to close out the festival’s inaugural weekend. Between watching heavy hitters perform, attendees also explored food vendors — including Lil Bobacita and Cena Vegan — and installations from celebrated L.A. artists like Patrick Martinez and Tiffany Alfonseca. (LA3C, which celebrates the city’s cultural diversity, is owned and promoted by Rolling Stone’s parent company, Penske Media Corp.
- 12/12/2022
- by Charisma Madarang and Jeanette Diaz
- Rollingstone.com
Five years after the release of David Bowie’s first masterpiece, Hunky Dory — which replaced the perception of Bowie as a one-hit space oddity with the idea Bowie as an ever-ch-ch-changing moon-age messiah — he offered up some characteristic mythmaking. In a 1976 Melody Maker interview, Bowie claimed Hunky Dory‘s “Song for Bob Dylan,” a piss-take extraordinaire that Bowie had shrugged off by saying it was how “some” people saw Dylan, in fact, “laid out what I wanted to do in rock.” “It was at that period that I said, ‘Ok,...
- 11/22/2022
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
Certain individuals feel the infamous scenes of Tobey Maguire dancing in Sam Raimi's 2007 film "Spider-Man 3" represent a low point in the web-slinger's run on the big screen. The scenes in question find our boy Peter Parker (Maguire) under the influence of the Venom symbiote, causing him to go on a power trip. He shows off his sick moves to random pedestrians on the streets of New York City and even dares to use them to try and woo a new would-be love interest right in front of his ex-girlfriend Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst).
This would all be much more dramatic if Peter didn't come across as an absolute dork while strutting his (evil) stuff. That he looks as silly as he does is perfectly in character for our hero, who goes from being a kind-hearted dweeb to a jerky dweeb after Venom latches itself onto him. His...
This would all be much more dramatic if Peter didn't come across as an absolute dork while strutting his (evil) stuff. That he looks as silly as he does is perfectly in character for our hero, who goes from being a kind-hearted dweeb to a jerky dweeb after Venom latches itself onto him. His...
- 11/6/2022
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
It’s been a decade of reminiscence and reflection for Bruce Springsteen. He’s revisited classic albums on tour, retold his life story on the page and Broadway stage, and written songs about late childhood friends. Even when he released 2020’s Letter to You, his first proper E Street Band record in years, he used some of his earliest Seventies songs as source material.
Only the Strong Survive, his new album of reverent soul and R&b covers, arrives in this same spirit of nostalgic recollection for the 73-year-old. The...
Only the Strong Survive, his new album of reverent soul and R&b covers, arrives in this same spirit of nostalgic recollection for the 73-year-old. The...
- 11/4/2022
- by Jonathan Bernstein
- Rollingstone.com
For those who were not cognizant throughout the 1980s, it's probably difficult to believe there was a time when Robin Williams was considered a risky box office bet. Though his first time out as a leading man, in Robert Altman's "Popeye," was a hit, that film's success was largely ascribed to the popularity of the cartoon character. He enjoyed two moderate successes after the cancellation of "Mork & Mindy" ("The World According to Garp" and "Moscow on the Hudson"), but neither film fully showcased his head-spinning comedic stream-of-consciousness. In 1986, he was strangely miscast in the Ron Shelton-scripted underdog yarn "The Best of Times," and undermined by a relentlessly unfunny screenplay in Harold Ramis' "Club Paradise."
The back-to-back failure of those two films left studios weary of Williams' big-screen appeal. The industry's conventional wisdom held that his genius was limited to the stand-up stage and guest appearances on late-night talk shows.
The back-to-back failure of those two films left studios weary of Williams' big-screen appeal. The industry's conventional wisdom held that his genius was limited to the stand-up stage and guest appearances on late-night talk shows.
- 8/23/2022
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Yeah Yeah Yeahs hold onto a bit of hope for a world on fire on their new song “Burning,” the latest offering from the group’s upcoming album, Cool It Down, out Sept. 30 via Secretly Canadian.
“Burning,” as Karen O notes in a statement, contains a little lyrical nod to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons’ “Beggin’” — “Oooh lay your red hand on me baby,” she sings on the track — while the instrumentals also boast some of that soulful Sixties energy. On Friday, Yeah Yeah Yeahs also shared the West Side Story...
“Burning,” as Karen O notes in a statement, contains a little lyrical nod to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons’ “Beggin’” — “Oooh lay your red hand on me baby,” she sings on the track — while the instrumentals also boast some of that soulful Sixties energy. On Friday, Yeah Yeah Yeahs also shared the West Side Story...
- 8/12/2022
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
Olivia Newton-John, the multiple-Grammy-winning “Physical” and “I Honestly Love You” singer who went on to star in the beloved film musical Grease and later Xanadu, died today at her Southern California ranch, according to her official Facebook page. She was 73.
No cause of death was given, but Newton-John had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992. She later recovered, but the cancer recurred in 2013 and had metastasized to her lower back within four years. She long had been an activist against the disease.
Related: Entertainment & Media Deaths In 2022: Photo Gallery & Obituaries
A UK native who was raised in Australia, Newton-John began her career as a country singer but quickly crossed over to pop with the late-1973 hit “Let Me Be There.” It was the first of 15 Top 10 U.S. singles, including five No. 1s: “I Honestly Love You,” “Have You Never Been Mellow,” “You’re the One That I Want”, “Magic” (from the 1980 film Xanadu) and her biggest smash, “Physical.” The latter topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 10 weeks and was the No. 1 single of 1981. It also spurred a physical-fitness craze, with its music video featuring Newton-John — in a period-defining outfit that included a leotard and headband — cavorting among hardbody models and chunky schlubs just trying to work off a few dozen extra pounds. Watch it below.
Newton-John won four Grammy Awards among a dozen nominations during her career: “Let Me Be There” took Best Country Performance, Female, in 1974; “I Honestly Love You” won Record of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female, the following year; and “Heart Attack” took Video of the Year in 1983. She also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
.
She is best known to movie fans as the “Sandra Dee”-esque Sandy in Grease, the 1978 smash that remains among the top-grossing movie musicals of all time. Starring opposite Travolta in the Broadway adaptation, Newton-John sang the film’s country-flecked ballad “Hopelessly Devoted to You” and also duetted with Travolta and the company on “Summer Nights.” Both of those singles also made the U.S. Top 10. The film’s soundtrack spent 12 nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and has sold more than 8 million copies in the U.S. alone. It also spawned a No. 1 hit with Frankie Valli’s title track.
Related: John Travolta Remembers ‘Grease’ Costar Olivia Newton-John: “Your Impact Was Incredible”
Olivia Newton-John, and John Travolta in ‘Grease,’ 1978
Grease was a sensation with it premiered in June 1978. With school scenes shot at Venice High and Marshall High in Los Angeles, it combined the era’s 1950s nostalgia with the burgeoning disco movement and made film stars of Newton-John and Travolta. They played star-crossed polar-opposite lovers who become the king and queen of Rydell High School, with Newton-John’s Sandy Dumbrowski getting an extreme makeover from the prim, ponytailed new girl at school into a leather-clad stunner near the end.
Grease was added to the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry in 2020.
The film also helped fuel Newton-John’s stellar music career. Along with “Physical” and “Magic,” she also had post-Grease Top 10 hits with the disco-flecked “A Little More Love,” “Make a Move on Me,” “Heart Attack,” “Twist of Fate” and the title track from follow-up film, “Xanadu.” She had five Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart as well.
Related: Olivia Newton-John’s Daughter And Peers Remember The Actress, Singer And Humanitarian: “Heartbroken Doesn’t Even Begin To Cover It”
Released by Universal in August 1980, Xanadu coat-tailed the late-’70s roller disco craze, with Newton-John starring as Kira, a mysterious woman who falls in love with a struggling freelance artist (Michael Beck) living in Los Angeles. Despite co-starring Gene Kelly, the film was not a commercial hit — the skating fad had ebbed by the time it came out — but its soundtrack reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and went on to go double platinum. It also features Electric Light Orchestra and the Tubes.
Flowers for Olivia Newton-John are placed on her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Many of Newton-John’s solo albums also were hot sellers in the 1970s and early ’80s, with If You Love Me, Let Me Know topping the Billboard 200 in October 1974 and follow-up Have You Never Been Mellow doing the same just five months later. Two others made the U.S. Top 10: Totally Hot (1978) and Physical (1981).
Born on September 26, 1948, in Cambridge, England, Newton-John moved with her family to Melbourne, Australia, when she was a child. She began in music with a teenage pop group before winning an Australian TV talent show. She made her first single, “Till You Say You’ll Be Mine” in 1966 and toured English clubs as part of the duo Pat & Olivia with Pat Carroll. She later returned Down Under to continue her music career.
Newton-John is survived by her husband, John Easterling; daughter Chloe Lattanzi; her sister, Sarah Newton-John; her brother, Toby Newton-John; and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made in her memory at ONJfoundation.org.
No cause of death was given, but Newton-John had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992. She later recovered, but the cancer recurred in 2013 and had metastasized to her lower back within four years. She long had been an activist against the disease.
Related: Entertainment & Media Deaths In 2022: Photo Gallery & Obituaries
A UK native who was raised in Australia, Newton-John began her career as a country singer but quickly crossed over to pop with the late-1973 hit “Let Me Be There.” It was the first of 15 Top 10 U.S. singles, including five No. 1s: “I Honestly Love You,” “Have You Never Been Mellow,” “You’re the One That I Want”, “Magic” (from the 1980 film Xanadu) and her biggest smash, “Physical.” The latter topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 10 weeks and was the No. 1 single of 1981. It also spurred a physical-fitness craze, with its music video featuring Newton-John — in a period-defining outfit that included a leotard and headband — cavorting among hardbody models and chunky schlubs just trying to work off a few dozen extra pounds. Watch it below.
Newton-John won four Grammy Awards among a dozen nominations during her career: “Let Me Be There” took Best Country Performance, Female, in 1974; “I Honestly Love You” won Record of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female, the following year; and “Heart Attack” took Video of the Year in 1983. She also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
.
She is best known to movie fans as the “Sandra Dee”-esque Sandy in Grease, the 1978 smash that remains among the top-grossing movie musicals of all time. Starring opposite Travolta in the Broadway adaptation, Newton-John sang the film’s country-flecked ballad “Hopelessly Devoted to You” and also duetted with Travolta and the company on “Summer Nights.” Both of those singles also made the U.S. Top 10. The film’s soundtrack spent 12 nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and has sold more than 8 million copies in the U.S. alone. It also spawned a No. 1 hit with Frankie Valli’s title track.
Related: John Travolta Remembers ‘Grease’ Costar Olivia Newton-John: “Your Impact Was Incredible”
Olivia Newton-John, and John Travolta in ‘Grease,’ 1978
Grease was a sensation with it premiered in June 1978. With school scenes shot at Venice High and Marshall High in Los Angeles, it combined the era’s 1950s nostalgia with the burgeoning disco movement and made film stars of Newton-John and Travolta. They played star-crossed polar-opposite lovers who become the king and queen of Rydell High School, with Newton-John’s Sandy Dumbrowski getting an extreme makeover from the prim, ponytailed new girl at school into a leather-clad stunner near the end.
Grease was added to the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry in 2020.
The film also helped fuel Newton-John’s stellar music career. Along with “Physical” and “Magic,” she also had post-Grease Top 10 hits with the disco-flecked “A Little More Love,” “Make a Move on Me,” “Heart Attack,” “Twist of Fate” and the title track from follow-up film, “Xanadu.” She had five Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart as well.
Related: Olivia Newton-John’s Daughter And Peers Remember The Actress, Singer And Humanitarian: “Heartbroken Doesn’t Even Begin To Cover It”
Released by Universal in August 1980, Xanadu coat-tailed the late-’70s roller disco craze, with Newton-John starring as Kira, a mysterious woman who falls in love with a struggling freelance artist (Michael Beck) living in Los Angeles. Despite co-starring Gene Kelly, the film was not a commercial hit — the skating fad had ebbed by the time it came out — but its soundtrack reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and went on to go double platinum. It also features Electric Light Orchestra and the Tubes.
Flowers for Olivia Newton-John are placed on her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Many of Newton-John’s solo albums also were hot sellers in the 1970s and early ’80s, with If You Love Me, Let Me Know topping the Billboard 200 in October 1974 and follow-up Have You Never Been Mellow doing the same just five months later. Two others made the U.S. Top 10: Totally Hot (1978) and Physical (1981).
Born on September 26, 1948, in Cambridge, England, Newton-John moved with her family to Melbourne, Australia, when she was a child. She began in music with a teenage pop group before winning an Australian TV talent show. She made her first single, “Till You Say You’ll Be Mine” in 1966 and toured English clubs as part of the duo Pat & Olivia with Pat Carroll. She later returned Down Under to continue her music career.
Newton-John is survived by her husband, John Easterling; daughter Chloe Lattanzi; her sister, Sarah Newton-John; her brother, Toby Newton-John; and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made in her memory at ONJfoundation.org.
- 8/8/2022
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
The Best Original Score prize is always one of the most coveted prizes at the Tony Awards. This year, the race is also one of the most competitive, pitting Michael R. Jackson’s music and lyrics for “A Strange Loop” against Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss’ work for “Six: The Musical.” In recent weeks, “A Strange Loop” has pulled ahead of “Six” in our combined odds as the clear frontrunner for Best Musical, so does that mean it has an edge in the contest for score as well? How often do the two awards go hand in hand?
Watch our exclusive video interview with Tony nominee L Morgan Lee (‘A Strange Loop’)
Although it might seem intuitive that the show crowned Best Musical would also take the prize for Best Score, recent history shows how the awards often diverge. Since 2000, only 13 prize-winning shows have also won for their score, which...
Watch our exclusive video interview with Tony nominee L Morgan Lee (‘A Strange Loop’)
Although it might seem intuitive that the show crowned Best Musical would also take the prize for Best Score, recent history shows how the awards often diverge. Since 2000, only 13 prize-winning shows have also won for their score, which...
- 6/10/2022
- by David Buchanan
- Gold Derby
The Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award winning musical Jersey Boys, is now back atNew York City's New World Stages 340 West 50th Street Stage 1, starring Jonathan Cable as Nick Massi, Aaron De Jesus as Frankie Valli, Cj Pawlikowski as Bob Gaudio and John Rochette as Tommy DeVito. BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge just caught up with all four of the stars and you can catch the full interview below...
- 12/12/2021
- by BroadwayWorld TV
- BroadwayWorld.com
Julien’s Auctions announced the launch of the exclusive, online charity auction Music Health Alliance Second Annual Handwritten Lyrics Auction at juliensauctions.com for advance bidding beginning Friday, October 15th, 2021 to coincide with Heal The Music Day.
The auction will start closing in real time and in lot order for live bidding at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on Monday, November 1st, 2021. Proceeds will benefit Music Health Alliance whose mission is to Heal the Music by providing access to healthcare through services that protect, direct and connect music professionals with medical and financial situations.
For the second consecutive year, the world-record breaking auction house to the stars partnered with a marquee list of the most decorated and influential singers and songwriters of all time, across the genres of pop, rock, country, folk, americana, and gospel music, who personally donated handwritten lyrics of some of their most classic and ground-breaking hits to...
The auction will start closing in real time and in lot order for live bidding at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on Monday, November 1st, 2021. Proceeds will benefit Music Health Alliance whose mission is to Heal the Music by providing access to healthcare through services that protect, direct and connect music professionals with medical and financial situations.
For the second consecutive year, the world-record breaking auction house to the stars partnered with a marquee list of the most decorated and influential singers and songwriters of all time, across the genres of pop, rock, country, folk, americana, and gospel music, who personally donated handwritten lyrics of some of their most classic and ground-breaking hits to...
- 10/19/2021
- Look to the Stars
There’s just so much summer in “The Tsugua Diaries” — great lashings of sunlight warming and slightly melting every 16mm frame, tangles of hyper-green foliage that seem to sweat in the heat, a generally horny, indolent air of human mischief — that you’d be forgiven for assuming “Tsugua” is some idyllic holiday spot you’ve never heard of, the best-kept secret on the Algarve. As with many elements of Miguel Gomes and Maureen Fazendeiro’s woozy, insouciant experiment, however, a longer look reveals something both surprising and simple. “Tsugua” is simply “August” spelled backwards, which certainly ties into the film’s humid seasonality, and also clues us into its modus operandi.
Everything unfolds backwards in this film about filmmaking under curious circumstances, only gradually revealing the motivations and points of view driving the enterprise, and playfully withholding any sense of what it might all be about. “The Tsugua Diaries” is...
Everything unfolds backwards in this film about filmmaking under curious circumstances, only gradually revealing the motivations and points of view driving the enterprise, and playfully withholding any sense of what it might all be about. “The Tsugua Diaries” is...
- 10/15/2021
- by Guy Lodge
- Variety Film + TV
This article contains light spoilers for The Many Saints of Newark.
Joe Pesci and Ray Liotta have a Goodfellas reunion, of sorts, in The Sopranos prequel, The Many Saints of Newark. No, the former Tommy DeVito isn’t in the credits, and he doesn’t bring his shine box. He is slipped in like contraband at a federal penitentiary.
Both David Chase, the creator of The Sopranos and co-writer of The Many Saints of Newark, and Alan Taylor, the film’s director, revel in film references. The esteemed filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock is renowned for making small appearances in his own films. For the film Lifeboat, which had a very limited cast and set, he makes his cameo on the page of a newspaper. Pesci shows up on classic vinyl.
The Many Saints of Newark focuses on Dickie Moltisanti (Alessandro Nivola), father of Christopher (Michael Imperioli) in the series. Liotta plays his uncle,...
Joe Pesci and Ray Liotta have a Goodfellas reunion, of sorts, in The Sopranos prequel, The Many Saints of Newark. No, the former Tommy DeVito isn’t in the credits, and he doesn’t bring his shine box. He is slipped in like contraband at a federal penitentiary.
Both David Chase, the creator of The Sopranos and co-writer of The Many Saints of Newark, and Alan Taylor, the film’s director, revel in film references. The esteemed filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock is renowned for making small appearances in his own films. For the film Lifeboat, which had a very limited cast and set, he makes his cameo on the page of a newspaper. Pesci shows up on classic vinyl.
The Many Saints of Newark focuses on Dickie Moltisanti (Alessandro Nivola), father of Christopher (Michael Imperioli) in the series. Liotta plays his uncle,...
- 10/1/2021
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Nick Jonas shared a picture of him rehearsing his “dream role” in the new “Jersey Boys” TV musical event. The picture shows Nick in his role as Frankie Valli, along with Cj Pawlikowski (The Book of Mormon), who is playing Bob Gaudio, Matt Bogart who plays Nick Massi, Andy Karl who is Tommy DeVito, and director Des McAnuff. Nick wrote, “The past couple months I’ve been in Cleveland playing my dream role as Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys! With our incredible cast and crew, we worked tirelessly to create an amazing musical movie event for you all. Stay tuned for
Nick Jonas Shared A Sneak Peek Of “Jersey Boys” Rehearsal...
Nick Jonas Shared A Sneak Peek Of “Jersey Boys” Rehearsal...
- 8/10/2021
- by Laura Falin
- TVovermind.com
He wrote gags for The Tonight Show, won an Oscar for Annie Hall – and had a near-miss with the Manson family. As his musical Jersey Boys returns, the writer looks back on 82 years of sex, drugs and jokes
“When you describe it like that,” says Marshall Brickman, “it sounds like I’ve never been able to stick with anything I like!” I had given Brickman a quick run-through of his career highs, from scoring hits with folk band the Tarriers in the 60s, moving into comedy to become head writer on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, then winning an Oscar as co-writer of Annie Hall in the 70s, followed by a Tony in 2006 for co-writing the musical Jersey Boys. “My life,” he says, “is no example of how to plan a creative life whatsoever. My only philosophy is that I pick projects where I don’t mind having lunch with the people.
“When you describe it like that,” says Marshall Brickman, “it sounds like I’ve never been able to stick with anything I like!” I had given Brickman a quick run-through of his career highs, from scoring hits with folk band the Tarriers in the 60s, moving into comedy to become head writer on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, then winning an Oscar as co-writer of Annie Hall in the 70s, followed by a Tony in 2006 for co-writing the musical Jersey Boys. “My life,” he says, “is no example of how to plan a creative life whatsoever. My only philosophy is that I pick projects where I don’t mind having lunch with the people.
- 7/28/2021
- by Sarfraz Manzoor
- The Guardian - Film News
The new documentary Julia Scotti: Funny That Way, begins with senior trans standup comedienne Julia Scotti reflecting on her 69 years and an arduous but ultimately fulfilling journey to embrace her female gender identity.
“Just a baby born male who never felt quite right,” Scotti observes, adding modestly, “It isn’t much to speak of, but it is my life.”
The film, by first-time director Susan Sandler, documents the path Scott took to a later-in-life resurgence of her comedy career, a flourishing that could only come through self-acceptance. The documentary, released by 1091 Pictures as Pride Month kicked off, is available on streaming platforms, including iTunes, Apple TV, Google Play, Amazon Prime Video, Vimeo, and Vudu.
“Originally from Fairview, New Jersey, for the first 48 years she was better known as comedian Rick Scotti,” Julia writes on her website. “She toured the country, appearing at venues all over the United States and Canada,...
“Just a baby born male who never felt quite right,” Scotti observes, adding modestly, “It isn’t much to speak of, but it is my life.”
The film, by first-time director Susan Sandler, documents the path Scott took to a later-in-life resurgence of her comedy career, a flourishing that could only come through self-acceptance. The documentary, released by 1091 Pictures as Pride Month kicked off, is available on streaming platforms, including iTunes, Apple TV, Google Play, Amazon Prime Video, Vimeo, and Vudu.
“Originally from Fairview, New Jersey, for the first 48 years she was better known as comedian Rick Scotti,” Julia writes on her website. “She toured the country, appearing at venues all over the United States and Canada,...
- 6/28/2021
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
In 2014, the year that he turned 84, Clint Eastwood had two movies in theaters — his 35th and 36th as a director. The first of the two was Jersey Boys, an adaptation of the jukebox musical that told the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. The Jersey Boys film came out in June, earned about $47 million at the…...
- 6/25/2021
- by Tom Breihan
- avclub.com
“With season 4, where we’re going into the eighties, it was the introduction of the next generation of the Royal Family,” declares music supervisor Sarah Bridge about the new challenges she took on with all of the musical elements the brought the acclaimed fourth season of Netflix’s flagship drama to life.
“Fundamentally, our goal and role is to support the director and the show’s creator in any vision that they have and really heightening the narrative and bringing characters alive, she explains. “We’re providing additional emotional input and really helping that narrative play out through the music as well and connecting the audience with what’s happening on screen.” Watch our exclusive video interview above.
See ‘The Crown’ might accomplish an Emmy feat that hasn’t been done since ‘Homeland’
Netflix’s flagship drama “The Crown” was created by Oscar, Emmy and Tony-nominated writer Peter Morgan. The...
“Fundamentally, our goal and role is to support the director and the show’s creator in any vision that they have and really heightening the narrative and bringing characters alive, she explains. “We’re providing additional emotional input and really helping that narrative play out through the music as well and connecting the audience with what’s happening on screen.” Watch our exclusive video interview above.
See ‘The Crown’ might accomplish an Emmy feat that hasn’t been done since ‘Homeland’
Netflix’s flagship drama “The Crown” was created by Oscar, Emmy and Tony-nominated writer Peter Morgan. The...
- 6/9/2021
- by Rob Licuria
- Gold Derby
Rolling Stone interview series Unknown Legends features long-form conversations between senior writer Andy Greene and veteran musicians who have toured and recorded alongside icons for years, if not decades. All are renowned in the business, but some are less well known to the general public. Here, these artists tell their complete stories, giving an up-close look at life on music’s A list. This edition features multi-instrumentalist Warren Ham.
When Ringo Starr needed a utility player in his All Starr Band who was capable of doing everything from hitting the...
When Ringo Starr needed a utility player in his All Starr Band who was capable of doing everything from hitting the...
- 5/20/2021
- by Andy Greene
- Rollingstone.com
Jersey Boys, the Four Seasons jukebox musical that moved to Off Broadway shortly after the show’s popular Broadway run came to a close, will reopen at New York City’s New World Stages on November 15, producers announced today.
Written by Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice, with music by Bob Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crewe, directed by Des McAnuff and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo, Jersey Boys opened on Broadway in 2005 and closed in 2017, reopening at Off Broadway’s New World Stages later that year.
The production was suspended, along with the rest of the city’s theater venues, on March 12, 2020, due to the Covid pandemic.
Jersey Boys, produced at New World Stages by Dodger Theatricals, Joseph J. Grano, Kevin Kinsella, Pelican Group, Latitude Link and Tommy Mottola, tells the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, the hit-making vocal group that charted such ’60s and ’70s classics as “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,...
Written by Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice, with music by Bob Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crewe, directed by Des McAnuff and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo, Jersey Boys opened on Broadway in 2005 and closed in 2017, reopening at Off Broadway’s New World Stages later that year.
The production was suspended, along with the rest of the city’s theater venues, on March 12, 2020, due to the Covid pandemic.
Jersey Boys, produced at New World Stages by Dodger Theatricals, Joseph J. Grano, Kevin Kinsella, Pelican Group, Latitude Link and Tommy Mottola, tells the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, the hit-making vocal group that charted such ’60s and ’70s classics as “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,...
- 5/11/2021
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Rolling Stone interview series Unknown Legends features long-form conversations between senior writer Andy Greene and veteran musicians who have toured and recorded alongside icons for years, if not decades. All are renowned in the business, but some are less well known to the general public. Here, these artists tell their complete stories, giving an up-close look at life on music’s A list. This edition features backup vocalist Paulette McWilliams.
Forty-nine years ago, vocalist Paulette McWilliams decided to leave the Chicago-based funk band Rufus after a two-year stint. They had...
Forty-nine years ago, vocalist Paulette McWilliams decided to leave the Chicago-based funk band Rufus after a two-year stint. They had...
- 4/28/2021
- by Andy Greene
- Rollingstone.com
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