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Matt Donnelly Senior Film Writer “Michael,” the splashy forthcoming biopic about Michael Jackson from director Antoine Fuqua, has added actor Laura Harrier in a key role. Harrier, of “BlacKkKlansman” and “Spider-Man: Homecoming” fame, will portray pioneering female music executive Suzanne de Passe in the Lionsgate project. De Passe was a creative assistant to Motown founder Berry Gordy, and is credited with convincing Gordy to sign The Jackson 5 to his label.

The shortlist of nominees for the Hall Of Fame was shared back in February, when 15 acts were announced as being in the running for this year’s instalment. The list included Foreigner, Ozzy Osbourne, Jane’s Addiction, Dave Matthews Band, Mary J.

The Spice Girls reunited Saturday evening for an impromptu musical reunion, caught on camera by David Beckham.

Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music The music world of the 1960s was filled with fashion icons, from the Beatles to the Ronettes, from Jimi Hendrix to the Supremes, from Motown to Haight-Ashbury. But for some of us, the mid-1960s Rolling Stones were as cool as it gets. The Beatles were in the same lane but, truth be told, the Stones wore it better.

Chrissy Teigen is looking fierce on the red carpet!

Diana Ross famously said, “You can’t just sit there and wait for people to give you that golden dream. You’ve got to get out there and make it happen for yourself.” And that is exactly what the Michigan-born star did. With a career spanning over six decades, Diana has achieved worldwide recognition as the lead singer of Motown group the Supremes, a solo artist, record producer and as an Oscar-nominated actress.

Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, has announced a new collection of cast mates.Among the roles that have been newly cast for Michael, are legendary figures such as Diana Ross, Quincy Jones and the King of Pop’s older sister La Toya Jackson. According to a report from Variety, The Vampire Diaries star Kat Graham will portray the iconic Diana Ross.Graham wrote of her casting on social media: “Grateful to play the legendary Diana Ross… directed by the great Antoine Fuqua.

New roles in the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic have been announced!

Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music If there’s a top jack-of-all-trades in the music industry, there’s a good chance it’s Ryan Tedder. He’s a hugely successful recording artist (as leader of OneRepublic), one of the top songwriter-producers of the past 15 years (Beyoncé’s “Halo,” U2, Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, Ed Sheeran, Maroon 5, Ariana Grande and many more) and is also a more savvy music publisher than many full-time music publishers.

The Temptations and The Four Tops have concerts lined up at venues all over North America as part of their ongoing 2024 tour.That includes a handful of shows in New York and New Jersey.First up, the Motown legends will swing into Schenectady, NY’s Proctors Theatre on Thursday, April 25.After that, they’re slated to drop by Westbury, NY’s NYCB Theatre on April 28, Red Bank, NJ’s Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre on May 5, and Staten Island’s St. George Theatre on May 10.The co-headliners will close their Northeast run with back-to-back gigs at Collingswood, NJ’s Scottish Rite Auditorium on Saturday, May 11, and Sunday, May 12.If you want to catch the groups and their timeless hits live, tickets are available for all 24 upcoming concerts on their 2024 tour itinerary.At the time of publication, the lowest price we could find was $42 before fees on Vivid Seats.Other shows have tickets going anywhere from $49 to $214 before fees.Still, it’s hard to put a price on a night where you’ll sing along to “My Girl,” “Baby I Need Your Loving” and so many more live with the groups that made them famous.Wondering how much tickets cost for the concert closest to you?Keep scrollin’, “Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone” fans.We’ve got everything you need to know and more about The Temptations and The Four Tops 2024 tour below.All prices listed above are subject to fluctuation.A complete calendar including all tour dates, venues, and links to the cheapest tickets available can be found here:(Note: The New York Post confirmed all above prices at the publication time. All prices are in US dollars, subject to fluctuation and include additional fees at checkout.)Vivid Seats is a verified secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or

Smokey Robinson has confirmed that he is in talks for performing at this year’s edition of Glastonbury festival.The Motown icon with a career spanning over 70 years shared some details about his potential touring plans. After being asked when he will next perform in the UK by Bizarre’s Howell Davies at Elton John’s Oscars party in Los Angeles on Sunday (March 10), Robinson hinted at a playing there “soon”.“We’ve been talking about that for the past two weeks — probably soon,” he said (per Metro).

A record producer who used to work with Sean “Diddy” Combs is the latest individual to sue the music mogul.

Sean Combs is already facing several sexual assault lawsuits, and now the producer of his latest release The Love Album: Off The Grid is going after the performer for $30 million in a biting legal action.

Steven J. Horowitz Senior Music Writer After a string of lawsuits from former associates and employees, Sean “Diddy” Combs is facing yet another legal battle as a former male employee has filed a fifth sexual assault suit against the mogul. Producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones filed the suit against Combs in the Southern District of New York on Monday, alleging that Combs made unwanted sexual advances and forced him to hire sex workers and engage in relations with them.

Todd Rundgren just announced his 38-concert ‘Me/We Tour’ that will send him to theaters, performing arts centers, casinos, auditoriums and bowls all over North America from April through July.Over the course of the four-month run, the 2021 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee will spend quite a bit of time in New York and New Jersey.As of now, the 75-year-old former Nazz frontman has lined up shows in North Tonawanda, NY (April 30), Englewood, NJ (May 2), Atlantic City (May 3), Port Chester, NY (May 5), Hackensack, NJ (May 9) and Patchogue, NY (May 11).And while fans can likely expect to hear the hits — “I Saw The Light,” and “Hello, It’s Me” to name just a few — Rundgren also likes to mix in classic Motown and R&B covers as well.For those that can’t wait to get their hands on tickets, you’re in luck.Although inventory isn’t available on Ticketmaster until Friday, Jan. 19, fans who want to ensure they have tickets ahead of time can purchase on sites like Vivid Seats before tickets are officially on sale.Vivid Seats is a secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand.They have a 100% buyer guarantee that states your transaction will be safe and secure and will be delivered before the event.A complete calendar including all tour dates, venues and links to buy tickets can be found below.Shockingly, Rundgren doesn’t just stick to the songs fans know and love at live shows.According to Set List FM, here’s what he brought to the stage at his final U.S.

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Ariana DeBose is reacting to the joke at the Critics Choice Awards that lumped her in with a group of “actors who also think that they are singers.”

Smokey Robinson has responded to a viral TikTok highlighting his curiously-titled 2023 album, ‘Gasms’.On Saturday (January 13), the Motown veteran posted a response message to TikTok, clarifying the meaning behind the album’s title. “Okay guys, I figured it’s time for me to comment on the comments that I’ve been getting about calling my album ‘Gasms’,” began Robinson.

Ariana DeBose did not look too pleased with a joke at the Critics Choice Awards that lumped her into a category with “actors who think they are singers.”

There are few producers in live television with the kind of career Don Mischer has had in television, a career spanning six decades and just about every major event from the Oscars to the Olympics to Obama and all in between. Just a sampling of his credits include the Opening Ceremonies of both the 1996 Summer Olympics and 2002 Winter Olympics; the Super Bowl Halftime Shows with Michael Jackson, Prince, Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen; the Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial; Motown 25; the Democratic National Convention; the 100th anniversary of Carnegie Hall; the Academy Awards and Emmy Awards; and so many many other events in our lives.

Jermaine Jackson is being sued for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman in 1988.The lawsuit for sexual battery, battery, sexual assault and negligence was filed by Rita Butler Barrett on Wednesday (December 27) at Los Angeles County Superior Court. Jackson’s company Jermaine L.

Jermaine Jackson is accused of sexually assaulting a woman in or around the spring of 1988, according to a new lawsuit. Filed by Rita Butler Barrett on Wednesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court and obtained by The Post, the suit accuses the famed member of The Jackson 5 of sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual battery, negligence and rape.

Todd Gilchrist editor Great Christmas songs, and great versions of great Christmas songs, are as plentiful as letters to Santa Claus. It’s the holiday for which various-artists compilations were seemingly created (and why the two-disc set “Now That’s What I Call Christmas” was certified 6x platinum just three years after its 2001 release).

“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” — Brenda Lee’s 1958 evergreen — finally made it to No. 1 after 65 years this week. Another little yuletide ditty that you might have heard of — Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” — is right behind her at No.

Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music Billie Eilish and her brother and collaborator Finneas O’Connell have received Grammys, an Oscar and just about every award and honor and tribute and kudo young recording artists can imagine in the six years since her debut EP in 2017, but even they can still be awed by a tribute from a respected influence. That happened at Variety’s Hitmakers celebration in Los Angeles on Saturday, when Elton John’s lyricist of 56 years, Bernie Taupin — who has written the lyrics for everything from “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” and “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word” to “Bennie and the Jets” and “Candle in the Wind” — paid tribute to their songwriting partnership when rewarding them with the Film Song of the Year honor for “What Was I Made For?,” their song from the summer blockbuster film “Barbie.” Before an audience that included Boygenius, Joan Baez, Olivia Rodrigo, Victoria Monet and many others (SZA hadn’t arrived yet), the following exchange took place: Taupin’s tribute and Eilish’s response (Finneas just said “Thanks guys!”) follows in full.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Think about some of the most iconic moments in modern TV history, and there’s a good chance Don Mischer was in the control room. Michael Jackson performing the Moonwalk for the first time on “Motown 25.” Muhammad Ali making a surprise appearance to light the Atlanta Olympics opening ceremony torch. Prince pulling off arguably the most lauded Super Bowl halftime show ever, in the pouring rain.

Valerie Wu Intern Conny Van Dyke, a singer-songwriter signed to Motown Records who starred in such films as “W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings” and “Framed,” has died. She was 78.

Fabiana Palladino and Jai Paul have shared a new song titled "I Care" via Paul Institute / XL Recordings The two artists wrote and co-produced the song, which will feature on Palladino’s forthcoming debut album. It is the first new music either artist has shared in three years. Scroll down to listen now.

Halloween is just days away, but we are already looking ahead to the next holiday: Bonfire Night.

TV mom, Florence Henderson.Williams, 69, revealed that Henderson encouraged him to join the ABC competition in the past. He’s now partnered with pro Peta Murgatroyd.The actor earned his first-ever 7 score by guest judge Michael Strahan during Tuesday’s Motown Night episode.

The iconic 79-year-old songstress delighted the 60,000-strong audience by performing her timeless hit, “Love Hangover,” which clearly influenced Beyoncé as she made her disco-leaning album Renaissance.The Grammy-nominated singer then delivered a heartwarming rendition of “Happy Birthday,” leading the entire crowd in the tune.“I’m here to celebrate Beyoncé’s birthday,” Diana Ross proclaimed, to which Beyoncé mouthed, “I love you.”Beyoncé was visibly moved throughout the performances. But who wouldn’t be? The superstar then shared a heartfelt embrace with Ross, with tears of gratitude filling her eyes. “Thank you so much,” Beyoncé said to Ross, expressing her gratitude for her time.

Todd Gilchrist editor From the wah-wah guitar that opens the title track to the operatic closer “Just to Keep You Satisfied,” Marvin Gaye’s 1973 album “Let’s Get It On” expressed the joy — and complexity — of human sexuality like virtually none in popular music before it. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of its release, Motown/ UMe is holding an event Wednesday featuring fellow R&B luminaries Smokey Robinson and Jimmy Jam, Gaye biographer David Ritz and moderated by UMe A&R vice president Harry Weinger, in advance of a new deluxe edition of the album.

Fat bottomed girls, you make the rockin’ world go round‘ – featured on the band’s original 1981 greatest hits album alongside tracks such as ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and ‘We Will Rock You’.But it has been left off a new version of the collection, which was released earlier this month, on Yoto – an audio platform aimed at children.“It’s the ideal introduction to the music of Queen for young music lovers and the perfect soundtrack to kitchen dance parties, road trip singalongs, bedtime air guitar sessions….and much much more,” a description of the record reads on the platform’s official website.We’re delighted to bring UMG’s unparalleled roster of artists and labels to @yotoplay's growing global audience of kids and family listeners for the first time. https://t.co/AD5fAD4Rnf— Universal Music Group (@UMG) August 11, 2023Despite that, it does issue a warning about the remaining songs, stating: “Please note that the lyrics in some of these songs contain adult themes, including occasional references to violence and drugs.

the news of his death has celebrities and prominent figures from all industries paying tribute to his longstanding legacy. Avant, the beloved former Motown chairman whose work as an industry executive and mentor earned him the nickname the «Black Godfather» of music, sports, politics and entertainment, died Sunday at his Los Angeles home.

Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music The wide reach of Clarence Avant, who was widely known as “the Godfather of Black Entertainment” and died Sunday at the age of 92, was evident from the range of people paying tribute to him on social media after his death was announced Monday morning. His influence spanned music, entertainment, sports, politics and beyond. Within just a couple of hours, former President Bill Clinton, the Rev.

Black American culture as one of the most influential businessmen in entertainment. The Greensboro, North Carolina, native became a pillar in entertainment after moving to Los Angeles in the late 1960s.