Aretha Franklin Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

Warner Music Group is launching a podcast network and has set shows from stars including Lupita Nyong’o and Jason Derulo.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorClive Davis doesn’t do anything by half, and his 90th birthday is no exception. Not only will there be a star-studded party tonight at Cipriani in Lower Manhattan, there’s a four-part music-and-interview series on Paramount Plus culled from last year’s virtual pre-Grammy galas; a Clive Davis Gallery with personal items from across his career at New York University’s Brooklyn location; an interview on the “Rock & Roll High School With Pete Ganbarg” podcast airing April 14; a talk at the 92 St.

Following the box office success of “Straight Outta Compton” and the Oscar victories and nominations of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” Hollywood’s appetite for the rock biopic has suddenly enormously grown. In the wake of that movie, we received an Elton John biopic, an Aretha Franklin movie, a Motley Crue flick, with many more are in development, including Bob Marley and more.

Over the years we’ve watched Pink do sick motocross jumps, scale a building, fly through the air held only by a ribbon — all we’re saying is, she’s a total badass we would NOT want to mess with!

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorLooking back 50 years at anything that isn’t related to geology, evolution or astronomy feels like a glimpse at a long-bygone age. That’s especially so for the 14th annual Grammy Awards, which took place on March 14, 1972 at the Felt Forum in New York’s Madison Square Garden and were broadcast on ABC.The show was hosted by virtuoso easy-listening singer Andy Williams; presenters included Ed Sullivan, the Fifth Dimension, the Carpenters and “Brady Bunch” star Florence Henderson.

Al Roker seems to have something to say regarding the shocking moment Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars after he made an insensitive comment about Jada Pinkett Smith's hair.MORE: Amy Schumer releases statement about Will Smith and Chris Rock: 'So disturbing'The Today Show host is the latest star to join in on the contentious conversations and debates happening around the unexpected altercation.The most recent people to release statements about what happened are Amy Schumer, who hosted the Academy Awards alongside fellow comedian Wanda Sykes and actress Regina Hall, as well as Chris' brother, Tony Rock.WACH: The shocking moment people can't stop talking aboutMORE: Chris Rock's brother gives update on comedian following Will Smith Oscars altercationNow Al is offering some very sound advice to Will and fans, using Aretha Franklin's iconic 1968 song, Think, to deliver the message.The beloved weatherman used Thursday's daily video update, which he typically records as he gets his steps in early in the morning, to offer an important lesson.As he walked on his treadmill in his basement, Al started off by saying: "Word from Aretha, think about it, before you do something, think about it," as the hit song played in the background.

LAS VEGAS -- Chaka Khan, Stephen Stills, Sara Bareilles, Cyndi Lauper, Billy Porter and Beck will be among those performing in tribute to Joni Mitchell when she’s honored as the 2022 MusiCares Person of the Year by the Recording Academy.The academy announced the latest additions to the lineup Thursday for the tribute concert and gala to be held in Las Vegas on April 1, two days before the Grammy Awards.Other performers announced Thursday include Lauren Daigle, Angélique Kidjo, Allison Russell and St.

her viral hit “abcdefu,” 17-year-old TikTok sensation Gayle launches an F-bomb tirade against a shady ex: “F—k you and your friends that I’ll never see again/Everybody but your dog, you can all f—k off.”But she was worried that her foul-mouthed rant would piss off her grandmother. “When I played that song for my grandmother, I was so nervous,” Gayle told The Post. “And, you know, she told me that I got to say all the things at 17 that she never could.

Jem Aswad Senior Music Editor“Clive Davis: Most Iconic Performances,” a four-art series featuring concert clips chosen by and interviews conducted by the legendary music executive, will premiere exclusively on Paramount Plus in the U.S. and internationally beginning Wednesday, March 23.In this special miniseries, culled from his virtual 2021 pre-Grammy Gala events, sees Davis taking viewers through some of his favorite musical performances from the last few decades.

Aretha Franklin’s young granddaughter has been rejected from American Idol after auditioning for the long-running talent show last month.15-year-old Grace Franklin didn’t advance from her audition on February 27. Speaking before her audition, she said: “I feel like people expect me to sing exactly like her, but I am my own artist and I have my own voice.”Performing a version of Roberta Flack’s ‘Killing Me Softly’ in the style of the Fugees‘ iconic cover, Franklin was told by judge Luke Bryan that the performance “was all just a little sleepy and subdued to me,” while fellow judge Katy Perry called it “soft”.Another performance, this time of her grandmother’s track ‘Ain’t No Way’, followed, but Franklin was unsuccessful in her attempts to reach the next round of the competition.Watch both performances below.Aretha Franklin died in August 2018 in Detroit at the age of 76.

Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan, but this aspiring singer did it.On Sunday's , the judges are left speechless when they meet contestant Kenedi Anderson. In ET's exclusive sneak peek from Part 2 of the auditions, at first Perry, Richie and Bryan think nothing of her audition.

Angelique Jackson Sherri Shepherd wasn’t a nominee at the 13th AAFCA Awards on Wednesday night, but she certainly had the look of a winner.Shepherd was on hand at the annual awards show — which celebrates the best in film each year — to present the best actress award to her “Chi-town sister” Jennifer Hudson, who the organization’s near-100 members honored for playing Aretha Franklin in “Respect.”“I’m so in awe of her, that she has reinvented herself but she’s still singing those soulful gospel songs, then she’s pop, then she can get in there and act her butt off and did an amazing job in ‘Respect,’” Shepherd told Variety about Hudson on the red carpet outside the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills. “Now the girl’s got her own talk show — welcome to the block, sis! — so, it’s very, very exciting to support her in this manner.” Of course, Hudson isn’t the only one with a new show.

Serena Williams is speaking out after a new article published by The New York Times, used a photo of her sister Venus Williams, with a story that only referenced Serena, titled “Tennis Star’s Venture Firm Has Raised $111 Million.”And while The Times has apologized since the incident and the correct photo was used in the digital version, the article was published in the print version with an incorrect photo of the Tennis star.Serena took to Twitter to share her thoughts after reading a copy of the article accompanied with the photo, stating, “No matter how far we come, we get reminded that it’s not enough,” receiving over 37.000 likes and over 8,000 retweets.She continued, “This is why I raised $111M for @serenaventures. To support the founders who are overlooked by engrained systems woefully unaware of their biases.

Aretha Franklin’s legacy will live on forever, and now, we’re getting another reminder of how far her influence has extended.Over the weekend, fans got to see the legend’s 15-year-old granddaughter, Grace, audition for Season 20 of American Idol, proving that singing runs in the family.“I was really close to my grandma,” the teenager said during the episode on Sunday, February 27. “I got to see her all the time.

In what might be one of the biggest audition shockers in American Idol history, fifteen-year-old hopeful Grace Franklin walked out before the judges and revealed that she is the granddaughter of the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.

American Idol auditions.  passed away in August 2018 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 76 years old. “I was really close to my grandma.

Continuing the Franklin family legacy! Aretha Franklin’s 15-year-old granddaughter, Grace, auditioned for season 20 of American Idol.

on Sunday's season 20 premiere. The late Aretha Franklin's granddaughter, Grace Franklin, the 15-year-old daughter of Aretha's son, Kecalf Cunningham, tested her own musical chops in front of judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan. Grace shared her lineage with the judges right off the bat, and opened up about her relationship with the late R&B legend in an aside package. «I was really close with my grandma.

American Idol is back!

SAG Award nomination for her portrayal of Aretha Franklin in the third season of the anthology series Genius.  And Cynthia Erivo, slipped into a bright red PVC gown as she stepped on to the red carpet at The 28th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday. The 35-year-old actress showcased her incredible figure in the form fitting Louis Vuitton number that she paired with a structured fur cape.

Jennifer Hudson poses on the red carpet at the 2022 Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday (February 27) at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif.

Cynthia Erivo is looking so fierce on the red carpet!

LOS ANGELES -- Jennifer Hudson was named entertainer of the year at the 53rd annual NAACP Image Awards that highlighted works by entertainers and writers of color.After Hudson accepted the award Saturday night, the singer-actor thanked the NAACP for inspiring “little girls like me.” She beat out Regina King, Lil Nas X, Megan Thee Stallion and Tiffany Haddish.“I was just standing here thinking ‘It was here – the NAACP Awards – where I watched so many legends and icons that inspired me,” said the Oscar and Grammy winner. “Now, I’m standing here holding an award like this.

Black History Month, we've put together a playlist of songs that have moved the needle of the culture, documented the times, inspired or have just moved us to dance. Often imitated, but never duplicated, these songs have become a staple in communities, households and even history.

Kris Bowers “Black excellence” is one of those phrases that might be difficult to explain, but you know it when you see it. It almost instantly pops into my mind — often in hashtag form — when I see images of classic Black icons or beautiful Black bodies dressed to the nines and stunningly captured in photographs; everybody Black at award shows; the Obamas; or anything Beyoncé and Jay-Z do.Black excellence is a feeling.

Kanye West‘s love life had made headlines long before becoming part of Kim Kardashian‘s reality television world. Ever since Ye broke out on his scene, his romances have been in the public eye – mainly because he’s used them as inspiration for some of his biggest songs. From rapping about his high school sweetheart on his landmark debut to having Amber Rose star in an unreleased music video to riding a motorcycle with Kim in “Bound 2,” Ye’s artistic vision has been motivated by his heart. So, who has this rapper called girlfriend?

While the adult drama has largely migrated to television, there is one sub-genre that has received a new lease of life on late thanks to a trifecta of success: the rock biopic, which, in very recent years, has earned Best Picture Oscar nominations and wins, acclaim, and more importantly, actual box-office returns. While there has still been a few recent misses that haven’t tapped into any of those achievements (Aretha Franklin, “Respect”), with the success of the Academy-Award-nominated Queen biopic (“Bohemian Rhapsody”) and, to a lesser extent, the Elton John one (“Rocketman”), studios continue forging ahead, confidently believing they can reach those same heights.

Lady Gaga for “House of Gucci.” Bradley Cooper missed out for his scene-stealing turn in “Licorice Pizza.” In better news: after not receiving a SAG Award nomination, Kristen Stewart landed her first Oscar nomination for playing Princess Diana in “Spencer.” And the buzz for “Drive My Car” was real: The film received four nominations, including one for director Ryusuke Hamaguchi.Here are the biggest snubs and surprises.SNUB: Lady Gaga, “House of Gucci” As Patrizia Reggiani, Lady Gaga played an Italian woman who married into the Gucci family and orchestrated the murder of her husband. Gaga campaigned ferociously for the Oscar — and she was the only actress who had picked up every precursor, as a nominee for the BAFTA, Critics’ Choice Award, Golden Globe and SAG.

Alan Elliott Alexander Hamilton, who died Jan. 30 at age 77, was a conductor and arranger who was able to add “movie star” to his credits in the last years of his life. His work on Aretha Franklin’s 1972 “Amazing Grace” album — certified as the bestselling album of her career — was heard by millions over a period of almost five decades before Franklin fans actually got to see as well as hear Hamilton’s handiwork as the arranger and conductor of that music.

Didn’t We Almost Have It All: In Defense of Whitney Houston” (Abrams Press), out Tuesday.Feeling pressure to conform to her strict religious upbringing and the norms of the time, Whitney hid her sexuality from the public till her tragic death, which happened 10 years ago this week. “Because her music didn’t fit squarely in the boxes expected of a Black girl making music in the ’80s, she was seen as not Black enough. She was ridiculed.

Clayton Davis Jennifer Hudson’s name is already written in the Academy Awards history books. At 25, she became the youngest Black woman to ever win an acting Oscar for her turn as Effie White in “Dreamgirls” (2006). She’s also the first to do it for a debut role.

Michele Amabile Angermiller The awards race in the best actress and best supporting actress categories is brimming with real life protagonists getting the big screen treatment. From Nicole Kidman’s Lucille Ball  (“Being the Ricardos”) to Lady Gaga (“House of Gucci”) and Kristen Stewart (“Spencer”),  these women were tasked with preserving and presenting the legacy of flesh and blood icons, telling their stories truthfully and without judgment.“I think everyone wants to be seen as a fully realized human being, not as just a caricature,” notes Kidman, who took home the Golden Globe for her lead turn in the Aaron Sorkin biopic.Being entrusted with someone’s life story is a big responsibility, and these actresses took great care in their prep work.

health delays — Elton John is resuming his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour.His retirement tour began in 2018, but due to a series of postponements, he was forced into a performance hiatus.But now, the 74-year-old British singer is back on the road and played at the Crescent City in New Orleans on Wednesday night.“Wow, we haven’t played a show since the 6th of March 2020. This is a new experience for us, I’ve never had this amount of time off in my life … playing music, well at least since I was 17 years of age,” the “Tiny Dancer” singer said to the New Orleans audience, who hung onto their coveted tickets for 745 days.“I can’t thank you enough for being so patient,” he continued.

Editors note: Deadline’s Read the Screenplay series debuts and celebrates the scripts of films that will be factors in this year’s movie awards race.

Tim Gray Senior Vice PresidentThis year’s Oscar race is in a bio rhythm, with a huge percentage of films based upon real people and events.Merriam-Webster defines “biopic” as simply a biographical movie.

Aretha Franklin undoubtedly deserves to be remembered as the “Queen of Soul.” The late musical icon, who died following a battle with pancreatic cancer in 2018 at the age of 76, garnered a whopping 18 Emmy Awards in her illustrious career spanning soul, jazz, pop, R&B and blues.