New this week: Will Smith, 'Tick, Tick... Boom!' and Adele
This week’s new entertainment releases include a much-anticipated album from Adele, a documentary about Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction during the 2004 Super Bowl half-time show and Will Smith playing father and tennis guru to Venus and Serena Williams.
Recording Registry adds albums by Janet Jackson, Nas
Jacksons socially conscious album Rhythm Nation 1814, Armstrongs jazzy When the Saints Go Marching In and Nas debut release Illmatic are among 25 recordings being inducted to the National Recording Registry. (AP Photo)LOS ANGELES – Janet Jackson’s socially conscious album “Rhythm Nation 1814,” Louis Armstrong’s jazzy “When the Saints Go Marching In” and Nas’ debut release “Illmatic” are among 25 recordings being inducted to the National Recording Registry. The Library of Congress announced Wednesday that Labelle’s song “Lady Marmalade” and Kool & the Gang’s “Celebration” are some of the titles tapped for preservation this year. “The National Recording Registry will preserve our history through these vibrant recordings of music and voices that have reflected our humanity and shaped our culture from the past 143 years,” Hayden said in a statement. The library selects titles for preservation because of their cultural and historic importance to the American soundscape.
After top Grammy win, singer H.E.R. is heading to the Oscars
(Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)NEW YORK – A night after winning the top Grammy Award for songwriting, R&B singer H.E.R. Leslie Odom Jr. will also compete for best original song with “Speak Now” from “One Night in Miami...," which he wrote with Sam Ashworth. AdSongs by John Legend, Mary J. Blige, Janelle Monae and Robert Glasper were shortlisted for best original song but didn't make the final cut. The duo of Reznor and Ross have won a number of awards for their scoring work, including an Oscar, Grammy, Emmy and Golden Globe. Terence Blanchard (“Da 5 Bloods"), Emile Mosseri (“Minari") and James Newton Howard (“News of the World") round out the best original score nominees.
Yellen's encore: Lending economic heft to Biden's virus plan
“Yellen is uniquely poised," said Brian Deese, director of Biden’s National Economic Council. "She has as much experience and expertise of addressing the challenges of our time as any living economic policymaker today. AdYellen juggled parenting with her work as a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, in the 1980s, helping to build her son’s pinewood derby car as a colleague fed economic data into a computer. It’s an argument cultivated from years of research that fully blossomed during Yellen’s time as Fed chair. She said Yellen values differences of opinion and diversity because that helps her get a fuller sense of the economy.
For Kelly Rowland, good things come in threes
FILE - In this Jan. 28, 2019 file photo, Kelly Rowland attends the premiere of "What Men Want" in Los Angeles. Rowland released an EP titled K, featuring six tracks heavily influenced by Afrobeat rhythms. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)NEW YORK – If good things come in threes, then Kelly Rowland is basking in her current moment of bliss. But Rowland didn’t always possess that “Black Magic” confidence. “And I don’t know a lot of people who get that in this industry.”_____Follow Associated Press entertainment journalist Gary Gerard Hamilton at twitter.com/garyghamilton
Viral and vital, college gymnasts finding their voice
The social justice movement in college athletics has popped up in most unusual place: gymnastics. From UCLA to Pittsburgh, Black gymnasts and the programs they represent are using their platform to empower and uplift. Her experience at Arkansas was simply reflective of the culture at large in the sport at the time. From Pittsburgh to California, female gymnasts are using their platform to empower, educate and bring light to causes they believe in. “Personally I would say (gymnastics) is a predominantly white sport,” Ward said.
Timberlake apologizes to Britney Spears and Janet Jackson
This combination photo shows, from left, Janet Jackson performing at the Essence Festival in New Orleans on July 8, 2018, from left, Justin Timberlake performing during halftime of the NFL Super Bowl 52 football game in Minneapolis on Feb. 4, 2018 and Britney Spears performing during her concert in Taipei, Taiwan on June 13, 2017. (AP Photo)NEW YORK – In a lengthy social media post, Justin Timberlake says that he wants to apologize to Britney Spears and Janet Jackson “because I care for and respect these women and I know I failed.”“I’ve seen the messages, tags, comments, and concerns and I want to respond. AdFans called out Timberlake for contributing to Spears' very public breakdown and controlling the narrative about the end of their relationship. More backlash hit Timberlake as social media began to recall the wardrobe malfunction with Jackson that caused a national controversy at the 2004 Super Bowl. I want to take accountability for my own missteps in all of this as well as be part of a world that uplifts and supports,” Timberlake wrote.
Despite bleak 2020, celebrities make effort to brighten year
(AP Photo)LOS ANGELES – Yes, 2020 may seem like a complete fail with all the constant bad news and tragic moments. It’s been filled with gloom and doom(scrolling), but some celebrities and those inspired by them have tried to brighten a bleak year. He reassigned his 10 seamstresses in New York to produce thousands daily for health care workers on the frontlines. The singer and husband Emilio Estefan's restaurant Estefan Kitchen served up homemade meals for health care workers in Miami. The challenge coordinated offers by celebrities and athletes to raise funds to feed those in need during the pandemic.
South Africa lifts spirits with Jerusalema dance amid virus
People celebrate South Africa's Heritage Day by dancing at Zoo Lake park in Johannesburg Thursday Sept. 24, 2020. As the number of worldwide Covid-19 death is nearing the million mark, coronavirus related case numbers and deaths in South Africa hit the lowest in months. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)JOHANNESBURG – South Africans of all walks of life are dancing to “Jerusalema,” a rousing anthem to lift their spirits amid the battle against COVID-19. Soon it became a dance craze across southern Africa and beyond with Youtube featuring scores of videos of various groups doing the line dance. In its battle against COVID-19, South Africa has weathered its first peak, registering more than 665,000 cases, including 16,206 deaths, nearly half of the total of all Africa's 54 countries.
Janet Jackson to open summer tour in Miami
MIAMI – Janet Jackson is headed to Miami this summer. The 53-year-old singer announced Monday that her "Black Diamond World Tour" will begin June 24 at the American Airlines Arena. Jackson will perform new music from her upcoming studio album, "Black Diamond," as well as a special performance for the 30th anniversary of "Rhythm Nation 1814." I’ve heard all your wishes and I’m working on my new album and going on a new World Tour this summer titled “Black Diamond.” I’m so excited to share this new era with you. Sign-up for my mailing list on https://t.co/T2vZWyvQma 😘 pic.twitter.com/YZHIhAOVEK — Janet Jackson (@JanetJackson) February 10, 2020Jackson will perform in 34 North American cities during the tour, which concludes Aug. 23 in Tacoma, Washington.
Janet Jackson superfan gets surprise of his life
Bryan Bedder/Getty ImagesLAS VEGAS, Nev. - A fan who went viral for his reaction to receiving tickets to see Janet Jackson received another surprise, courtesy of the superstar herself. KB Strawder Jr. tweeted his father's reaction when he got tickets to Jackson's performance in Las Vegas as a Father's Day gift. Strawder's father yelled after opening the tickets, jumping out of his seat and running across the room. On Sunday, Jackson posted a video of herself surprising him backstage at her Metamorphosis show. "My dads father's day surprise concert trip to see @janetjackson had one more surprise," the younger Strawder wrote on a post that included the video and a series of pics from the night.