Aretha Franklin Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

EXCLUSIVE: Gladys Knight, the Empress of Soul who recorded hits such as Midnight Train to Georgia and I Heard It Through The Grapevine, is gearing up for a scripted mini-series about her life.

Laverne Cox is a woman of many talents.

She's already admitted that her brain and feet are on fire from training for Strictly Come Dancing but it appears Helen Skelton is also enduring a bit of stress at home. The TV star has been keeping her social media followers updated with her progress during week two of rehearsals for the dance contest.

Disney+ and National Geographic’s anthology series has found the ensemble cast of its upcoming “Genius: MLK/X.” Portraying the pioneering leaders of the Civil Rights Movement are Kelvin Harrison Jr. (“Waves,” “Elvis”) as Dr.

Helen Skelton has said she is 'trying to be sexy' while showing off her blistered feet on social media. The Countryfile host is currently in training for week two of Strictly Come Dancing which will be on screens this coming Saturday.

Will.i.am has claimed he was the inspiration behind Beyoncé’s ‘Break My Soul’ remix EP.Earlier this year, Beyoncé released a four-track EP featuring remixes of the ‘Renaissance’ track from the likes of Honey Dijon, Terry Hunter and Nita Aviance.According to will.i.am though, the whole thing would never have happened without him. Speaking to Metro, he said: “I was in France and her song (‘Break My Soul’) came out and I’m like, ‘I wish the beat did this.’ So I called my collab partner and we did it remotely on FYI, a collaboration tool.”The Black-Eyed Peas singer then claimed “they weren’t thinking about remixes until I sent it.”“They put out a remix EP and my song’s first one on it – and I inspired it,” he continued.

Gorka Marquez and former Blue Peter presenter Helen Skelton were highly praised as they made their dancefloor debut together on Saturday night. The pair floated across the floor on Strictly Come Dancing as they performed the American Smooth to Aretha Franklin's You Send Me.

Strictly Come Dancing stars are getting ready for week one of the 2022 competition. Following Friday's launch show, which saw the celebrities paired up with their professional partners, they are getting ready to perform their first dance. Some stars have taken to their social media to show what they are getting up to in the final hours before they perform in the live show.

Week one of Strictly Come Dancing 2022 is upon us, with this year's contestants set to take to the dance floor for the very first live show this evening. The show airs tonight, Saturday 24 September, following Friday's launch show where it was revealed which celebrity has been paired with which professional dancer.

Aretha Franklin and Tony Bennett, and performed at the 1995 state dinner that President Clinton hosted for President Fernando Henrique Cardoso of Brazil. Hard-nosed jazz fans might have shrugged him off as a pop-jazz quisling who spent much of his time on gospel-powered covers and catchy funk anthems. Yet he gracefully drew on all manner of influences, interweaving jazz, classical and pop with a sureness of touch that defied classification.

“Kellyoke” is back to soothe your hearts.

“The Kelly Clarkson Show” returns with an electrifying start.

Aretha Franklin has proven that the bureau extensively tracked the late singer’s civil rights activism.The 270-page document features reports on the singer from more than 12 US states, and focuses on her friendship with Martin Luther King as well as death threats made against her and a copyright case involving a Yahoo! Groups fan site.The document, which is available to view here, shows that Franklin was monitored ahead of and around her appearances at civil rights movement events, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.The events took place in the late 1960s in Atlanta, Georgia and Memphis, Tennessee respectively, and were referred to by the FBI in the document as “communist infiltration” events.Elsewhere, Franklin was referenced in a note titled: “Assassination of Martin Luther King. Racial matters,” and notes were made of her involvement in a planned memorial concert for the famous activist.

The FBI extensively tracked Aretha Franklin in the 1960s and 1970s, according to newly declassified files. The documents show that the US intelligence agency took particular interest in Franklin’s civil rights activism, and paid close attention to her performances for Martin Luther King Jr’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference.The files were unsealed as the result of a Freedom Of Information request that journalist Jenn Dize filed all the way back in 2018.

Four years ago, after Aretha Franklin passed away at 76, reporter Jen Dize submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to unseal the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s file on the late soul queen. The contents of the 270-page file were finally published late morning in a report by Dize on her investigative journalism substack, Courage News. (Dize had posted what she felt were the most relevant documents hours earlier in a Twitter thread.) They detail a complicated relationship between the Bureau and the legendary singer that found them acting as her harasser, protector, and legal advocate at different points in her life.

Emma Heming Willis has admitted that grief over her husband Bruce Willis' aphasia diagnosis is "paralysing" at times. The 46-year-old star took to Instagram on Tuesday (31. 08.

.The model posted a video montage to account on Tuesday night showing everything she and her family have been doing over the last three months set to the soundtrack of “I Say a Little Prayer” by Aretha Franklin. “This was the summer of self discovery—finding new hobbies, going out of my comfort zone and staying active,” she wrote in the caption.

Months after Bruce Willis' debilitating aphasia diagnosis, the legendary actor's wife, Emma Heming Willis, is opening up about her grief. Bruce and Emma Willis married in 2009.The actor was previously married to Demi Moore. (Stephen Lovekin) On Tuesday, the model shared an Instagram video montage, which depicted various activities she's been doing over the summer to cope with her husband's illness.

Thania Garcia CBS News senior cultural correspondent Anthony Mason will be honored with the “SummerStage Icon” award at City Parks Foundation‘s 2022 benefit fundraiser on Sept. 29. The ceremony, naturally enough, will take place at SummerStage in New York’s Central Park. Mason will be recognized for “his significant contribution to arts and culture and for his lifelong devotion to NYC’s parks.” From 2019 to 2021, Mason was a co-host of “CBS This Morning” and prior to that, he was a co-host of “CBS This Morning: Saturday” for seven years. He has interviewed six U.S. Presidents and various senior federal officials, but the journalist is perhaps best known for his interviews with high-profile musicians, including Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, Aretha Franklin, Adele, Lady Gaga, Paul McCartney, Cher, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.

The amount of music history Alabama holds is truly unparalleled. The birthplace of such legends as Lionel Richie, Hank Williams, W.C. Handy and Nat King Cole, it's also proven a popular recording location for the likes of Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan to name but three.

said in statement on her website. “I can no longer travel or perform in live concerts.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer“Amazing Grace” arrived in theaters in 2019, some 47 years after the Aretha Franklin concert film was shot in a South L.A. church.

Beyoncé has reached another milestone on the back of her seventh album, ‘Renaissance’, becoming the fourth woman in history to have 10 songs top the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart.As reported by Billboard themselves, the outlet established the chart in 1958, with only three other women having solo releases top that chart 10 or more times since then.Aretha Franklin reached the milestone twice in the peak of her 63-year tenure, racking up 20 Number Ones between 1967 and 1985. Janet Jackson follows closely with 16 inclusions, while Mariah Carey ties with Bey at 10.Bey’s achievement comes from the success of  ‘Renaissance’ lead single ‘Break My Soul’, which reached Number One on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart this week.

Lamont Dozier, legendary Motown songwriter and producer, died at age 81 on Monday.  The Detroit-born musician wrote and produced popular hits such as "You Can’t Hurry Love" and "Heat Wave" while collaborating with his brothers Brian and Eddie Holland in the 1960s.The Holland-Dozier-Holland team created iconic hits for artists like The Supremes and Marvin Gaye.  Lamont Dozier, legendary Motown songwriter and producer, died at age 81.  (Getty Images) Dozier died "peacefully" Monday at his home near Scottsdale, Arizona, according to a statement issued by his family.The cause of death was not immediately determined. Duke Fakir, a close friend and the last surviving member of the original Four Tops, called Dozier a "beautiful, talented guy" with an uncanny sense of what material worked best for a given group.

Beyoncé's new album, Renaissance, which came a whopping six years after her last solo album, Lemonade, was full of surprises and instantly viral lyrics.MORE: Kelly Rowland stops fans in their tracks with a special gown ahead of an exciting night outOne fellow singer especially surprised by the album is the singer's very own Destiny's Child bandmate, Kelly Rowland, who is mentioned in none other than the Break My Soul remix, which features the one and only Madonna.Upon listening to the song, the star took to Instagram to thank her longtime friend for the shout-out.WATCH: Kelly wows in sleek top and jeansMORE: Kelly Rowland's children have the most adorable bond – see photoThe part of the song where the mom-of-two is mentioned is an ode to several iconic singers, including Nina Simone, Grace Jones, Aretha Franklin, Lauryn Hill, and Beyoncé's sister, Solange Knowles.To the beat of Madonna's iconic hit, Vogue, the songstress sings: "Badu, Lizzo, Kelly Rowl' (You know you can do it)."Kelly posted a clip of the remix on Instagram, and even gave a glimpse to the former bandmates' ongoing friendship when she implied that Beyoncé had gone to her to play some of the tracks that she would eventually release.A post shared by Kelly Rowland (@kellyrowland)The sweet moment between the two former bandmatesShe wrote: "Now, you know you didn't play me this!!" and then added: "It's so damn fire!!"MORE: Kelly Rowland shares special baby bump photos: 'I'm so grateful'MORE: Kelly Rowland reveals major milestone for latest project in candid new videoThanking the fellow singer, she endearingly said: "Ahem——thx for the shout out sis-Boo!! Love you back!!" Then she added: "YOU ALREADY KNOW!!" and fans loved to see that their friendship is still

Beyonce and Madonna have teamed up for a “Queens Remix” of her hit new single “Break My Soul” and there’s currently only one way to listen.

Barack Obama has shared his summer playlist for 2021, featuring tracks by the likes of Wet Leg, Burna Boy, Harry Styles, Sampa The Great, and more.The former president of the US began sharing his recommendations for music, books and films and TV shows during his time in the White House and has continued the tradition since.Posting his latest playlist earlier today (July 26), Obama wrote: “Every year, I get excited to share my summer playlist because I learn about so many new artists from your replies – it’s an example of how music really can bring us all together.”The list includes Wet Leg’s ‘Angelica’, Beyoncé’s ‘Break My Soul’, Maggie Rogers’ ‘That’s Where I Am’ and Sampa The Great’s ‘Energy’. In terms of older tracks, Obama selected the likes of Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Dancing In The Dark’, Miles Davis’ ‘Blue In Green’ and Aretha Franklin’s ‘Save Me’.

William "Poogie" Hart, a founder of the Grammy-winning trio the Delfonics who helped write and sang a soft lead tenor on such classic "Sound of Philadelphia" ballads as "La-La (Means I Love You)" and "Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)," has died. He was 77.

hotels, restaurants, bars, shopping, attractions and free things to do, plus how to spend a weekend in New York.     In an age of IMAX theatres and blockbuster premieres, Film Forum might be considered 'retro' by some. But to others – let’s say real film buffs – it’s more of a glance back to the golden age of cinema.

EXCLUSIVE: Next month’s Micheaux Film Festival in LA will honor Bron co-founder and President Brenda Gilbert with the Oscar Micheaux Trailblazer of Excellence Award and filmmaker and Spike Lee collaborator Ernest Dickerson with the Michael Ajakwe Pioneer of Influence Award.

For anyone who has seen the documentary Amazing Grace, it’s hard to imagine a film to rival the one about the making of Aretha Franklin’s gospel album. But the new film Stay Prayed Up contains equally ecstatic moments of a gospel singer in performance, in this case a not widely known but deeply gifted woman referred to as Mother Perry.

Jennifer Hudson has been supported by her fans, after the talented singer and actress shared a clip of herself performing alongside the late Prince.PHOTOS: Inside Jennifer Hudson's majestic $3million Chicago homeThe video saw the talented singers perform together after Prince instructed Jennifer to "take it to church". The pair then launched into an emotive performance that is guaranteed to leave you in goosebumps.

American-British singer Celeste wowed viewers during the Platinum Party at the Palace with her chilling rendition of What A Wonderful World, but who is the 28 year old star? She joined the ranks of some of the biggest names in music, including Diana Ross, Rod Stewart and Alicia Keys, on stage as the nation said "thank you, ma'am" with a series of musical, theatrical and comedy performances. Celeste, accompanied by composer Hans Zimmer, sang her heart out in a cover of Louis Armstrong’s famous track while millions of people looked on. A user praised the vocalist on Twitter: “Kudos to Celeste at #PlatinumPartyatthePalace.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeSPOILER ALERT: Do not read ahead if you have not watched Season 7, Episode 9, of “The Masked Singer,” “One Mask Hurrah – Round 3 Finals,” which aired May 4 on Fox.Alas, En Vogue couldn’t hold on, and it wasn’t Shaggy. Both 1990s artists were eliminated on Wednesday night during the Round 3 finales of this season’s “The Masked Singer.”The En Vogue trio of Terry Ellis, Cindy Herron and Rhona Bennett were unmasked as the Queen Cobra, while Shaggy was revealed to be the Space Bunny.For Queen Cobra, Nicole Scherzinger figured out it was En Vogue, and Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg agreed. Robin Thicke thought it was another 90s R&B group, SWV; and Ken Jeong went big with the more contemporary combo of Ariana Grande/Jessie J/Nicki Minaj.

swept the Grammys with her hip-hop masterpiece — 1998’s “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” — it seemed as if the young singer-rapper was poised to kill us with her songs for decades for to come.But the game-changing artist, who influenced everyone from Drake to Adele, would largely disappear from music — save for the odd single and some concerts — just four years later, following the release of her second solo album, “MTV Unplugged: No. 2.0,” on May 7, 2002.

Group C is making their debut on The Masked Singer!