County Davis Showbiz Latest News and Updates

Barry Manilow opened up about keeping his sexuality a secret due to his fears coming out would jeopardize his career.During a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the 80-year-old singer, who revealed he was gay in 2017, shared that he struggled with hiding his sexual orientation for years.“I didn’t want my career to go away. I love it. I’m grateful for it.

Barry Manilow is revealing what it was like keeping his sexuality a secret for decades.

EXCLUSIVE: After breaking out with her lead role in the second season of Netflix’s smash hit series Bridgerton, Simone Ashley has moved on to star in This Tempting Madness, a new indie directed by Jennifer E. Montgomery, from her script written with husband Andrew M. Davis, which just wrapped production in Los Angeles.

news in a statement, saying that he passed away “after a valiant battle for life in the loving company of family.”“He shared many extraordinary gifts in the world as actor, singer, storyteller, creative artist and dear friend,” she added.“His smile, laughter and passion for life will be remembered by the many whose lives he has touched.”Soul suffered from a medley of health issues throughout his life, such as cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.The buddy cop drama aired from 1975 to 1979 alongside Paul Michael Glaser as David Michael Starsky.In February 2023, a reboot of the series with two females as the infamous police partners was announced. However, Soul penned on X (formerly known as Twitter) at them that him and Glaser, 80, should be the leads instead.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor The Palm Springs International Film Festival’s annual gala recognizing some of the year’s finest achievements in cinema Thursday evening saw several honorees let their guards down, allowing the tearducts to flow. Mary Hart returned as host for the starry awards gala held at the Palm Springs Convention Center. Billie Eilish and Finneas became the first songwriters ever to receive the Chairman’s Award for their chart-topper “What Was I Made For?” from “Barbie.” Before paying tribute to their parents and recalling their journey as aspiring actors, Eilish got candid about the emotional song’s personal meaning.

Former Coronation Street and Hollyoaks star, Lucy-Jo Hudson, has revealed that she had to take up a job as a travel agent due to a lack of acting roles. The actress, also known for her roles on Wild at Heart and Doctors, shared her latest career news on Instagram with a glamorous photo of herself, saying: "In my industry, it's not easy." Lucy-Jo wrote: "I could audition for 8 jobs and get none, yet I could fall into a job next week, or I might not work for 6 months! It's not easy but I continue to push as I love nothing more than acting! But while I'm in limbo, I have decided I need a side hustle." She added: "Something that will fit around the kids, that I can take on the road when I'm going to London for castings, something I can keep working on while I get an acting role I love.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor The British Academy of Film and Television Arts, or BAFTA, has become a crucial indicator on which films and performances could garner support for the Academy Awards due to the huge overlap of voting members. Over the years, its influence on the Oscars has been undeniable, with many of its winners often helping to shape a narrative. After getting ignored by all the major guilds, last year’s German-language film “All Quiet on the Western Front” made a big showing before going on to nab nine Oscar nominations and winning four.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor Legendary filmmaker Michael Mann is “worried about the future” of movies. But, he also declares, “Cinema is not dying.” A luminary auteur with a distinctive visual style and gripping storytelling, Mann calls this time following the end of the historic Hollywood strikes “a real watershed moment.” “The companies are split in ways they haven’t been before between streamers and legacy studios,” he tells Variety‘s Awards Circuit Podcast. “Those interests don’t sometimes align.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor Holt McCallany is the quintessential “that guy” actor, with more than 80 film and TV credits to his name. Now he’s stepping into the spotlight as the legendary wrestling family patriarch Fritz Von Erich in Sean Durkin’s harrowing sports drama “The Iron Claw.” McCallany’s first acting attempt came at 14, after he ran away from his New York home and headed to Hollywood with no contacts or strategy. He wound up working at a screwdriver factory in Gardena before his parents — Tony Award-winning producer Michael McAloney and actress and singer Julie Wilson — tracked him down and shipped him to a boarding school in Ireland.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor After a wild year that brought us an atomic bomb creator, a toy doll coming to life and an Indigenous woman’s fight for survival against her white husband, 2024 promises to be another exhilarating one with a slew of highly anticipated films and performances set to grace the silver screen. (See Variety’s most anticipated movies of 2024 for further proof) We’re going to have performers from long-awaited sequels (Joaquin Phoenix in “Joker: Folie à Deux”) and prequels (Anya Taylor-Joy in “Furiosa”), to anticipated biopics (Angelina Jolie in “Maria”) and original stories and characters (André Holland in “The Actor”). There are also performers from long-awaited adaptations (Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in “Wicked: Part One”) and ones from movies that have been finished shooting for quite some time (Mark Rylance in “The Way of the Wind”).

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor Greta Gerwig‘s blockbuster comedy “Barbie” has been deemed an adapted screenplay by the Writers Branch executive committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, despite campaigning for original screenplay, Variety has exclusively learned. When official Oscar nomination voting opens Thursday, Jan. 11, eligible voting members of the branch will only be able to cast votes for the script written by Gerwig and Noah Baumbach in adapted screenplay.

$100,000 in damages after a jury decided that the men were entitled to $50,000 each for being denied a marriage license by Davis after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned state-level bans on same-sex nuptials across the nation in mid-2015.Ermold and Moore sued Davis after she declined to issue the couple a marriage license three separate times, and refused to permit her deputies to issue a license bearing her official name or title.She argued that allowing the license to be issued would violate “God’s definition of marriage” and her personal beliefs opposing homosexuality as an Apostolic Christian.During the fall of 2015, Bunning sentenced Davis to five days in jail for contempt of court for refusing to allow marriage licenses to be issued — not only to Ermold and Moore, but to several other couples, gay and straight — lest she be accused of discriminating against same-sex couples.Following her release, she agreed not to block her deputy clerks from issuing licenses that had been edited to remove her name and title — although both she and her deputy raised concerns about the validity of such licenses.In a tacit show of support for Davis, Kentucky lawmakers later passed a law to change rules that removed county clerks’ names from marriage licenses.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor has made some changes in her life. We’ve all grown to know her as the two-time Emmy nominated actress from “When They See Us” and “Lovecraft Country” and her Oscar-nominated performance in “King Richard,” all of which came under her initial professional name: Aunjanue Ellis. When the first promotional materials were released for her new film “Origin” from writer and director Ava DuVernay, a natural question began circulating regarding the hyphenated addition of “Taylor” to her professional name.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor Who says you can’t laugh and win Oscars, too? In a stunning year for cinema, the candidates for the coveted best picture category are overflowing with prime comedic endeavors that surpass their dramatic counterparts. From a toy doll to an author with a triumphant “Black book” to a reverse Frankenstein tale that shows a whole lot of sex, the Academy has an opportunity to invite the softer side of cinema to its ceremony.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor Oscar voters tend to be big-screen enthusiasts. But the reality is that not every awards contender will be seen in the cinema — and that’s especially true during the holiday season, when all the family commitments, shopping and big meals can turn even a movie theater evangelist like Christopher Nolan into a couch potato. The allure of a theater’s dim, cool ambience and sharing the experience with strangers is what many filmmakers envision for their creations.

Ashley Benson is showing off her growing baby bump during a date night with husband Brandon Davis.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the shortlists in 10 categories for the upcoming 96th Oscars ceremony. Overall, Greta Gerwig’s meta-comedy “Barbie” had the most mentions with five including sound, original song for its three submissions from Billie Eilish (“What I Was Made For?”), Dua Lipa (“Dance the Night”) and Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt (“I’m Just Ken”), and original score, from the latter duo. The big miss for “Barbie” was in makeup and hairstyling, which was the category that yielded the most surprises.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor Get in, loser. We’re riding with Rachel McAdams because she’s still Queen Bee. Since she’s become a mother, life has changed.

George Strait, Willie Nelson, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Garth Brooks as well as up and coming icons like Morgan Wallen, Zach Bryan, Luke Combs and Tyler Childers.Plus, if you ask us, any year that promises Southern Fried rockers Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell and Nathaniel Rateliff on tour will surely be a good time.Alright, no more line dancing around it.Here are the 50 biggest country concert tours that just might be coming to a city near you in 2024.Feat. Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town.Runs May 4 through Dec. 7.Feat. Zac Brown Band, Megan Moroney and Uncle Kracker on select dates.Runs April 20 through Aug. 25.Runs Feb. 7 through May 11. Feat. Carly PearceRuns Feb. 3 through June 29.Feat. Whiskey Myers, Neal McCoy, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Charley Crockett, Marty Stuart and Old Crow Medicine Show on select dates.Runs April 5 through Sept. 14.Runs April 26 through June 29.Feat. Dustin Lynch and Emily Ann Roberts.Runs Feb. 22 through May 4.Runs Feb. 7 through May 10.Runs Jan. 18 through Feb. 3.Runs Jan. 31 through June 26.Runs Jan. 15 through Feb. 27.Runs Jan. 5 through March 2.Runs Jan. 19 through March 21.Runs March 1 through July 20.Feat. Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, Bailey Zimmerman, Jon Pardi, Nate Smith, Bryan Martin, Lauren Watkins and Ella Langley on select dates.Runs April 4 through Aug. 9.Feat. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Sheryl Crow, Sierra Ferrell, the Middle East, Matt Maeson and Levi Turner on select dates.Runs Feb. 9 through Dec. 19.Feat. The Avett Brothers, Cody Jinks, Charles Wesley Godwin, Hailey Whitters, The Wilder Blue, Jordan Davis, Mitchell Tenpenny, Drew Parker and Colby Acuff.Runs April 12 through Aug. 16.Feat. S.G. Goodman, Wynonna, Shovels & Rope, Allison Russell and Sylvan Esso on select dates.Ru

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor The Oscars shortlist voting period has closed as of 5:00 p.m. PT. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will announce the finalists in 10 categories — documentary feature (15), documentary short subject (15), international feature (15), makeup and hairstyling (10), sound (10), original score (15), original song (15), animated short film (15), live action short film (15), and visual effects (10) — on Thursday, Dec.

Colin Jost and Michael Che were back at it again on Saturday Night Live and wrote jokes for each other in what’s become an annual tradition.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences branches began voting today to determine the shortlists in 10 categories for the upcoming 96th Academy Awards. These categories, along with the number of films to be named, are: documentary feature (15), documentary short subject (10), international feature (15), makeup and hairstyling (10), sound (10), original score (15), original song (15), animated short film (10), live action short film (10), and visual effects (10). The shortlist voting period runs from Dec.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor Danielle Brooks is having one of the most significant moments in her career, playing Sofia in “The Color Purple.” It’s a role that she portrayed on Broadway and received her first Tony nomination — but it wasn’t easy for the critically-acclaimed performer to get here. As the spirited and no-nonsense wife to Harpo (Corey Hawkins), Brooks’ Sofia is positioned as the hopeful and joyous anchor in a narrative that, at times, carries a thematic weight, craving moments of levity.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans Editor “The Color Purple” director Blitz Bazawule hesitated to take on the latest incarnation of Alice Walker’s sacred text. However, when he revisited the book, the first line (“Dear God, I’m 14 years old”) struck him as a way to navigate a familiar story and “keep expanding Celie’s imagination.” In the new musical movie adaptation, as Celie (Fantasia Barrino) is bathing Shug (Taraji P. Henson), an old record plays on a gramophone in the background.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor It didn’t take long for America Ferrera to find the personal connection in the speech she delivers as Gloria in the box-office smash “Barbie.” “I think when we’re not historically meant to be in a room, it’s very difficult to show up in those spaces as your whole self,” she says on Variety’s Awards Circuit Podcast. “Because you are taught to be grateful, you’re in the room.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor Awards Circuit Column: It’s not just about “Barbenheimer” and biographical dramas. Awards voters need to look beyond the shiniest Oscar contenders to find under-heralded gems. From documentaries about musical greats to coming-of-age stories that brilliantly tap into the tribulations of being a tween, several movies deserve to be in the conversation for top prizes.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor The top 20 finalists for the visual effects Oscar have been notified they have made it to the next round of voting. With Oscars shortlist voting opening in eight categories on Thursday, Dec. 14, Variety has learned exclusively that the visual effects finalists include Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie,” Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Poor Things,” Zack Snyder’s “Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire” and the lone animated feature contender, “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.” Read: Variety’s Awards Circuit for the latest Oscars predictions in all categories.

Variety FYC Fest on Dec. 6 in Los Angeles. Variety‘s senior awards editor Clayton Davis, Senior Artisans Editor Jazz Tangcay and Senior Entertainment & Media Writer Matt Donnelly moderated several panels throughout the event.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor The Academy has revealed the list of eligible films for consideration in best animated, documentary and international feature of the year, encompassing a broad range of blockbusters and critically acclaimed titles. GKids’ “The Boy and the Heron,” Pixar’s “Elemental,” Sony’s “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” and Illumination’s “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” are among the 33 animated films in the running.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor The “Barbenheimer” craze continues with Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” and Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” being named among AFI Awards 2023 top 10 best films of the year. Netflix led studios with two movies making the list — Bradley Cooper’s Leonard Bernstein biopic “Maestro” and Todd Haynes’ black comedy “May December.” With an eclectic mix of critically acclaimed and consumer friendly titles, the list of top movies also includes films by newcomers (Cord Jefferson’s “American Fiction” and Celine Song’s “Past Lives”), veterans (Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” and Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers”) and stylish visionaries (Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Poor Things” and Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers and Justin K.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor “Killers of the Flower Moon” has been named best picture by the National Board of Review, the organization announced on Wednesday. Co-distributed by Apple Original Films and Paramount Pictures, the crime epic also nabbed prizes for director Martin Scorsese and actress Lily Gladstone.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor SPOILER ALERT: This story contains spoilers for Netflix’s “May December” In Netflix’s “May December,” one of the most memorable scenes features Joe Yoo (played by Charles Melton) arriving at the hotel to deliver a letter from his wife Gracie (Julianne Moore) to actress Elizabeth Berry (Natalie Portman). Their encounter leads to a brief yet intense sexual liaison on the floor, culminating in a conspicuous silhouette shot of Joe’s penis. Amid Samy Burch’s narrative brilliance and Todd Haynes’ tantalizing direction, one might imagine Melton — known for his role in The CW’s “Riverdale” — felt immense pressure acting opposite Oscar winner Portman, who also produced the film.

ABC Signature veteran Tracy Underwood has been elevated to President of the Disney Television Studios division. Underwood, most recently EVP of creative affairs for ABC Signature, is taking over the top post vacated by Jonnie Davis in July.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor The Film Independent Spirit Awards nominations will be announced on Tuesday, a day before the National Board of Review will weigh in on its selections for the best films and performances of 2023. They’ll be following the New York Film Critics Circle who kicked off the season last week by crowning Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” as its top choice. Its West Coast counterpart, Los Angeles Film Critics, will drop their choices on Sunday.

William Earl This awards season’s premier contending filmmakers, talent and artisans will gather for exclusive panels at Variety FYC Fest on Dec. 6 in Los Angeles from 9 a.m.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor One of Hollywood’s beloved couples comprises “Oppenheimer” star Emily Blunt and John Krasinski, known for his breakthrough role on the hit NBC comedy series “The Office.” Interestingly, fans of the classic mockumentary often want to see Krasinski alongside his former on-screen partner (Jenna Fischer’s Pam Beesly) rather than Blunt on the red carpet. “Whenever I walk beside him, people still shout out, ‘I wish you were with Pam,’” Blunt shared during an episode of the Variety Awards Circuit Podcast.