Entertainment Archives

What’s happening on music’s biggest night

Posted on February 6, 2023

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A detail view of a giant Grammy trophy during the HBCU Love Tour Atlanta: Grammy U Masterclass at Ray Charles Performing Arts Center on October 10, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Terence Rushin/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

Bad Bunny opened the Grammy Awards on Sunday in Los Angeles with a festive, high-energy performance that brought many of the audience including Taylor Swift who rose to her feet and danced near her table.

Host Trevor Noah introduced Bunny calling him a “global force” who is the most streamed and listened to artist in the world.

By the time the show started on CBS, Beyoncé had already won two Grammys, bringing her a step closer in her pursuit of being the most decorated artist in the show’s history.

What is an EGOT?

To win an EGOT is to have a versatile career decorated with an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award.

During the Grammys pre-telecast ceremony, Beyoncé won for the first time ever in the best dance-electronic music recording category for “Break My Soul.” She also won for best traditional R&B performance for “Plastic Off the Sofa.”

Beyoncé, who now has 30 awards, only needs two more wins to eclipse the record held by the late Hungarian-British conductor Georg Solti, who has 31 Grammys. Solti has held on to the record since 1997.

It’s the first time Beyoncé has been nominated in the dance category. Her seventh studio project is up for best dance-electronic music album.

Beyoncé entered Sunday’s ceremony as the leading nominee including album, song and record of the year. If she wins in any of those major categories, it’ll be her first since since she received the song of the year honor for “Single Ladies” in 2010.

Trevor Noah is set to host the Grammy Awards this year for the third time in a row. (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

Muni Long — a best new artist candidate — beat out Beyoncé in the best R&B performance category for her song, “Hrs. and Hrs.”

Beyonce’s other nominations include best R&B song for “Cuff It” and song written for visual media for “Be Alive,” the Oscar-nominated song from the “King Richard” soundtrack.

That’s one of the main storylines heading into Sunday’s ceremony with several of music’s biggest names who are in the running for the night’s top honors — Harry Styles, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, ABBA and Lizzo are all among the nominees in for album of the year. Adele joins them in the record of the year competition.

Viola Davis is now an EGOT — a term for those who have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony — after she wins for best audio book, narration and storytelling recording. The actor gave an emotional speech and emphatically said “I just EGOT” after she marched on stage to collect her award.

Performers include, from left, Bad Bunny, Luke Combs and Sam Smith, who are all nominated for Grammys this year. (Getty Images)

“Oh, my God,” she said. “I wrote this book to honor the 6-year-old Viola, to honor her, her life, her joy, her trauma, everything,” Davis said. “It has just been such a journey.”

Tattered streetwear, T-shirts and denim mixed with blinged-out couture, wild patterns and plenty of skin on the Grammys carpet. Lizzo wowed in a bright orange Dolce & Gabbana robe adorned with flowers and a huge hood while Taylor Swift wore a long two-piece sparkly skirt with a high-neck and long-sleeve crop top in midnight blue.

Brandi Carlile made a rare appearance during the pre-telecast for a major artist. The singer showed up after her song “Broke Horses” won for best rock performance and best rock song, a songwriter’s award, and best Americana album.

“It’s rock ‘n’ roll, man,” said a smiling Carlile, who jogged on stage with a couple of her band members. “I cannot tell you how much this means to us. We’re born and raised in Seattle. When I met these guys 22 years ago we decided to get into a band.”

Carlile co-wrote “Broken Horses” with twin brothers Phil and Tim Hanseroth.

“Oh my God, this is amazing,” she said. “Oh, I’ll never be the same.”

Kendrick Lamar extended his record in the best rap performance category with his sixth career trophy for “The Heart Part 5,” which also recognized his songwriting as a victor for best rap song.

The Tennessee State University Marching Band beat out the likes of Willie Nelson to win best roots gospel album for “The Urban Hymnal.” The band’s nomination marked the first time a college marching band had been nominated in the category.

Sir the Baptist accepted the award for the band, using his acceptance speech to highlight how underfunded historically Black colleges and universities like Tennessee State are, saying he had to “put my last dime in order to get us across the line.”

Trevor Noah returned for a third time to host the telecast live from downtown Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena. The show will include other performances by Mary J. Blige, Sam Smith, Lizzo as well as special musical tributes to the late musicians Takeoff, Loretta Lynn and Christine McVie.

But with 91 Grammy categories, most of the awards were given out during the Recording Academy’s livestreamed Premiere Ceremony.

There could be many other firsts: If Bad Bunny wins album of the year for “Un Verano Sin Ti,” it would be the first time a Spanish-language album has taken home the top honor. Taylor Swift, whose latest album “Midnights” wasn’t eligible for this year’s Grammys, could win her first song of the year trophy for “All Too Well.” An Adele win for song of the year for her track “Easy on Me” would make her the most decorated artist in the category with three wins, the others coming for her megahits “Hello” and “Rolling in the Deep.”

This year’s Grammys have also introduced several new categories, including one for video game music composition, which went to the soundtrack for “Assassins Creed: Valhalla.”

Ozzy Osbourne won two Grammys, cementing the metal god’s late-career rejuvenation.

“Degradation Rules” by Ozzy Osbourne featuring Tony Iommi won the best metal performance and his album “Patient Number 9” won best rock album.

Earlier this year, Osbourne announced the cancellation of his 2023 tour dates in the U.K. and continental Europe and that his health would likely prevent him from touring again.

This year’s show marks a return to Los Angeles after the pandemic first delayed, then forced the Grammys to move to Las Vegas last year. Noah hosted the ceremony as well, which saw Jon Batiste take home album of the year.

AP Entertainment Writer Mark Kennedy contributed to this report.

Longtime AP country music chronicler Joe Edwards dies at 75

Posted on February 4, 2023

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Journalist Joe Edwards, who chronicled country music and helped “Rocky Top” become a Tennessee state song during his four-decade Associated Press career, has died. He was 75.

Longtime AP colleague Randall Dickerson said Edwards’ wife called him to share the news that her husband died Friday after a lengthy illness in Nashville.

Edwards documented the ascent of country music through interviews with stars ranging from Dolly Parton to Taylor Swift. He wrote the AP’s Nashville Sound country music column from 1975 to 1992 and did commentary for The Nashville Network cable TV station in the 1980s.

When Edwards retired in 2012, Reba McEntire said in a video tribute: “I’ll never forget the first time you interviewed me at the very beginning of my career, and I’ll never forget how sweet you were always to me.”

In 1982, a story Edwards wrote about the popularity of the song “Rocky Top” led the General Assembly to declare it a state song.

“He got the ball rolling,” Boudleaux Bryant, the song’s co-writer, said at the time.

He also covered sports and a variety of other topics during his AP career, which was spent entirely in Nashville. He worked most of the jobs in the Nashville bureau, including sports editor, broadcast editor and day and night supervisor.

Edwards was among those covering the death of Elvis Presley in 1977. He also reported about or edited stories from more than 20 Country Music Association awards shows.

He was nominated for several AP writing awards in the 1970s and 1980s.

“I just show up on time and do what I’m told,” he once said.

He wrote often about the syndicated TV show “Hee Haw,” and he once appeared on camera with its cast members.

Edwards began his AP career in 1970 after graduating from Eastern Kentucky University. Prior to that, he attended Vincennes University in Indiana.

While in college, he worked for the Cincinnati Enquirer and the Crawfordsville, Indiana, Journal-Review.

Shortly after taking the job in Nashville, he periodically played basketball with Al Gore, then a reporter for The Nashville Tennessean. Gore later became vice president.

“He was a pretty good rebounder,” Edwards recalled.

Country music stars he interviewed also included Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson, Kenny Rogers, Barbara Mandrell and Loretta Lynn. For several years, Edwards voted on nominees for the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

He specialized in writing obituaries, including those for music stars Johnny Cash, Porter Wagoner, Roy Orbison, Bill Monroe and Carl Perkins.

In 2010, he wrote extensively about the Nashville flooding that left much of the city submerged for several days. But he preferred reporting about more light-hearted topics, such as the taster at the Jack Daniel’s distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee.

Also, Edwards traditionally wrote a year-end story annually wrapping up Tennessee’s offbeat happenings of the year.

“People call and ask if I’m going to do the weird story again,” he said.

In the early 1970s, as bureau sports editor, Edwards spearheaded an effort to include girls high school basketball scores on the AP wire and to have a girls poll join the one for boys.

Opera by Haitian-Canadian composer to premiere during Black History Month: Collaboration between David Bontemps and the OCM | Arts

Posted on January 31, 2023

When 44-year-old Haitian-Canadian composer David Bontemps was told in the summer of 2020 that the Orchestre classique de Montréal (OCM), then led by the late Boris Brott, wanted to produce his first chamber opera, La Flambeau, he was more than thankful. That the work will premiere next Tuesday, Feb. 7 at Salle Pierre Mercure during Black History Month is an added bonus.

“I feel very privileged and humbled to just have my opera produced, because there are so many composers that have written major works that never had the chance to be presented to the public,” said Bontemps. “The opportunity to have it first presented in the city where I live is a big honour.”

Born in Port-au-Prince, Bontemps moved to Montreal in 2002, where he was quickly recognized by his peers. He has since written and recorded several albums and has received working grants from the Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec and the Canada Council for the Arts

His opera is based on the 2014 award-winning play of the same name by his friend, Faubert Bolivar. The two former Port-au-Prince schoolmates have known each other for years and continued to follow each other’s careers as they took different paths, Bolivar as a teacher, writer, poet and dramaturge and Bontemps as a pianist and composer.

Cameroonian-born soprano Suzanne Taffot, Canadian mezzo soprano Catherine Daniel, and Jamaican Canadian tenor Paul Williamson.

Photos: Various

“He sent me his book in 2014 and when I read it I knew I had to write an opera based on it, but I never had the time or the opportunity. It was only in 2020, during the first pandemic lockdown, that I found the time and I wrote it in five weeks,” Bontemps explained during our recent interview.

Steeped in Haitian lore and West African mythology, La Flambeau is a critique of misogyny, corruption and the abuse of power. It tells the story of a dysfunctional couple, Monsieur (a narcissistic, ambitious and idealistic intellectual), Madame (who talks to her dead parents), and their working-class housekeeper, Mademoiselle. Violating his own principles, Monsieur rapes Mademoiselle. After a surreal trial, the corrupt elitist, who cloaks himself in virtue to subjugate the disadvantaged, confesses, and is subjected to a form of mob justice and turned into a zombie in service to his community.

Bontemps says he loves the story because it touches many aspects of pluralism, including language (Haiti’s divide between French and Creole speakers), class, education, as well as justice and belief systems — Western Christianity vs. the demonized West African-inspired Voodoo that some still manage to maintain and preserve. “But mainly, it’s about respecting everyone and observing that a society that is without respect and love is just a crazy, crazy place — a real dystopia.”

Like the play, Bontemps says his musical compositions both blend and contrast European classical music with Afro-Caribbean as well as traditional African rhythms, melodies and harmonies.

American bass Brandon Coleman, Montreal actress and director Mariah Inger, and Maestro Alain Trudel.

Photos: Various

His 80-minute opera — sung in French, with short passages in Haitian Creole — is scored for four singers, a string orchestra and maracas. Conducted by Maestro Alain Trudel, the cast features Cameroonian-born soprano Suzanne Taffot, Canadian mezzo soprano Catherine Daniel, Jamaican Canadian tenor Paul Williamson, and American bass Brandon Coleman, with stage direction by Montreal actress and director Mariah Inger.

Maestro Brott, who at age 78 was killed on April 5, 2022, in a hit-and-run in Hamilton, Ontario, left his mark on the final product. “We had the chance to have a workshop in September 2021 with him, so the score has a lot of his recommendations and his influence is there somewhere. Unfortunately, he won’t conduct it although he said he really liked the music,” said Bontemps, adding, “But I’m very lucky to have Alain Trudel, a long-time friend of Boris.”

Salle Pierre Mercure in L’Université du Québec à Montréal is located at 300 de Maisonneuve Blvd. E. For tickets and information, visit orchestra.ca.

S Club 7 star reveals she’s homeless, sleeps in an office with her two children

Posted on January 28, 2023

Hannah Spearritt, who found fame as part of British pop group S Club 7, has revealed she’s now homeless and forced to sleep in an office with her two young children.

The singer, 41, told the Sun that she, her partner Adam Thomas, 42, and their two daughters Tea, four, and Tora, two, were given just two days to find a place to live after an eviction notice from their landlord around Christmas.

The eviction forced Spearritt to call in favors from friends after she and Thomas were told to either have a “crazy” $10,400 upfront payment for a short-term rental or move out.

“What screwed us is we didn’t have time to find another place,” she told the outlet. “We had somewhere over Christmas but ran out of time before we could move in.”

“It was just a couple of weeks. We filled the unopened café with our belongings — we were so lucky to have that storage space — but had nowhere to go.”

Spearritt, and her partner Adam Thomas, are forced to sleep in an office with their two young children.

Instagram/@hannahspearritt

Spearritt, whose band pocketed $85 million in the late ‘90s and early 2000s, insists she wasn’t paid a fair amount in comparison to the revenue the band was raking in.

“People think we must all be millionaires but sadly it’s just not true,” Spearritt explained. “It was what it was and we enjoyed ourselves at the time.”

The singer partner added, “S Club 7’s manager Simon Fuller did well for himself didn’t he?”

S Club 7 dominated the pop music charts from the late 1990s to the early 2000s.

Fuller, who also managed the Spice Girls, is worth an estimated $600 million.

Meanwhile, Spearritt, who reportedly earned a salary of $190,000 a year during her time in the group, revealed she and her family are now sleeping in a friend’s business building — and using the office space as their living room.

“The kids’ beds were there and we had the crayons out. It was stressful,” she added.

The pair were given just two days to find a place to live after an eviction notice from their landlord around Christmas.

Adding insult to injury, Spearritt has also been bed-found due to a recent illness — making their current living situation even more difficult.

The couple also had plans to open up a cafe of their own, however, they were forced to hit the brakes on their business ventures after being evicted.

S Club 7 dominated the pop music charts from the late 1990s to the early 2000s. The group’s most popular hits include “Don’t Stop Movin’,” “Bring It All Back,” and “Have You Ever.”

The group won “Best Breakthrough Band” at the annual BRIT awards in 2000 and launched a TV show in the US in 1999.

Country music duo Brooks & Dunn coming to Omaha

Posted on January 23, 2023

Brooks & Dunn, one of country music’s best-selling duos, will bring their “Reboot 2023” tour to Omaha this summer.

The concert will be held June 1 at the CHI Health Center Omaha. Special guest performer Scotty McCreery will be the opening act.

Led by musicians Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn, Brooks & Dunn has 17 Country Music Association awards, 26 Academy of Country Music awards and two Grammy Awards. In 2019, they received the Academy of Country Music’s Icon Award, which is given to those who have advanced the popularity of country music through songwriting, recording, production, touring, film, television and more.

The duo’s most famous songs include “Boot Scootin’ Boogie”, “Neon Moon” and “Believe”.

Canadian Country Music Association Announces Incoming Board Of Directors

Posted on January 17, 2023

(L-R) Cameron-Passley, Napoleone, Proulx, & Rambeau Smith

The CANADIAN COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION (CCMA) has announced the incoming Board of Directors for 2022-2023. These are leaders from the Canadian music, entertainment and arts community who are dedicated to the organization’s mission to elevate and celebrate talent found within CANADA. This year’s four incoming board members are:

MELISSA CAMERON-PASSLEY – Dir., Creative & Operations at KILOMETRE MUSIC GROUP, co-chair of MUSIC PUBLISHERS CANADA’s NXTGEN committee, and an appointed member of the CCMA Board of Directors.

MADELAINE NAPOLEONE – WARNER MUSIC CANADA VP/Marketing

JOELLE PROULX – Pres. and co-owner of AGENCE RANCH, where she oversees the management of BRITTANY KENNELL, day-to-day management, publicity and tour coordination for MATT LANG and publicity for artists and Country events including FIVE ROSES, LASSO MONTREAL and QUEBEC COUNTRY GALA.

JULIA RAMBEAU SMITH – Currently oversees all communications for The MRG GROUP, which consists of more than 20 business entities including venue operations, live promotions, hospitality and travel. At MRG, she is actively working on a program to support local and emerging acts to play at the only Country-themed bars in TORONTO (CCMA AWARD-winning, ROCK ‘N’ HORSE SALOON) and VANCOUVER (YALE SALOON).

CCMA Pres. AMY JENINGA said, “We are pleased to be adding new and inspiring voices to our Board of Directors, and I look forward to working with them to elevate, evolve and create new opportunities for our association in the years ahead. Together, they will help us accomplish our goal of celebrating Canadian Country music both here in CANADA as well as globally. This dedicated group of industry veterans are eager to help our members stay connected and engaged throughout the year, and we are excited to have them join us.”

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Maren Morris apologizes for country music’s treatment of LGBTQ community on ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’

Posted on January 16, 2023

Maren Morris got emotional Friday after fulfilling her “decade-long dream” of appearing as a guest on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and apologized for the way the country music world treated the LGBTQ community, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

“I’ve done some cool s–t. #DragRace is rivaling it all. Getting my jacket framed next to my Grammy. It is DONE,” tweeted the star.

In the post-episode “Untucked” clip, Morris, 32, got teary as she spoke to the contestants of the reality show.

“Coming from country music and its relationship with LGBTQ+ members, I just want to say I’m sorry,” said Morris. “And I love you guys for making me feel like a brave voice in country music. So I just thank you guys so much for inspiring me.”

“I’m gonna cry,” Morris continued.

In August, Morris slammed the wife of singer Jason Aldean for spreading anti-trans information on her Instagram account. The “Chasing After You” singer called Aldean an “Insurrection Barbie” and asked her to “not be a scumbag human.”

In the post-episode “Untucked” clip, Morris, 32, got teary as she spoke to the contestants of the reality show.

Jason Davis/Getty Images

Morris got emotional Friday after fulfilling her “decade-long dream” of appearing as a guest on “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”

Morris also spoke out against Candace Cameron Bure and her plans to “keep traditional marriage at the core” after leaving the Hallmark Channel for the Great American Family network. Morris commented on the post saying “Make DJ Gay Again,” referring to Bure’s “Full House” character.

Turning to healing music during times of trouble – News Features

Posted on January 7, 2023

The writer (at the back playing guitar) joins a group of music enthusiasts at Independence Square to form an alliance that believes that music heals

It all started with a wish to reach out to a world that seems to be slipping away.

After three years of Covid and lockdowns, followed by the nightmare of a crashed economy and political mayhem, everybody’s in need of help, sympathy and a degree of comfort.

But it’s hard to reach out to people in the streets. There’s a lot of mistrust. In a broken society, no one has much faith in anyone or anything.

But music is a great healer. On Christmas day, I decided to reach out to a bleak world by playing music in a public space.

I planned to go alone, but a friend volunteered to accompany me and also take a few photographs. We selected Vihara Maha Devi Park as our venue. There wasn’t the usual holiday crowd; the lack of public transport, fuel prices and cost of living inducing most people to remain home. But it was a beautiful evening and the park and the Town Hall were nicely lit.

The goal was to open a direct communication between me and the fascinating world of music and people who create marvelous sounds with all kinds of instruments, to go beyond being a listener or fan to a more proactive role as a musician

For me, it was a big psychological breakthrough as well. As an adult learner of music, I had to work very hard towards my goal of becoming a musician, and I started with the violin, a difficult instrument.

The goal was to open a direct communication between me and the fascinating world of music and people who create marvellous sounds with all kinds of instruments, to go beyond being a listener or fan to a more proactive role as a musician.

But there was an acute fear of playing for an audience. Playing for yourself at home is one thing. I remember venturing out long ago and then panic setting in.

But there comes a time when you know it’s now or never. Either it happens now or it won’t happen, ever. On Christmas day, I gathered enough nerve to venture out, and it wasn’t the same old world of complacent securities, or comfortable illusions covering up latent insecurities, that I stepped into.

But the sun sets without being overwhelmed by humanity’s myriad problems. On a good day, global warming notwithstanding, it will set a great stage for us to step out and do our thing. To go out and reach out, being comforted by the fact that you still have enough resources to offer the world a little listening pleasure.

I took the violin because it can be heard above the din of motor traffic. I played a few short pieces – Hymn for Joy from Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Greensleeves and my own composition.

I was there for just half an hour, but it made a world of difference to me. A few walkers and even a motorcyclist stopped to listen. I wasn’t asking anyone for a favour. But I was doing one for myself; in terms of self confidence and self esteem.

Musicians don’t need to retire. My age group was among the worst affected by the pandemic; leading to depression and suicide. Things only got worse last year. But, if you can play any instrument, you still have a great resource. You can go out and play, and disseminate your music via social media. You don’t need to be famous or have a band or a contract. As for antiquated laws, the police often turn a blind eye to a solitary musician on the street. Or you can go to a police station and obtain permission.

The violin sounds beautiful in the dusky light. But any instrument played well can transport us to other, better, worlds. That’s the power of music.

The same night, a friend asked me to come and play near All Saints Church, Colombo 08, after the midnight mass. As I waited on the pavement, a group of policemen came to check me.

They said people inside were alarmed that a stranger with a black case was waiting outside. After checking my ID, and once I explained why I was there, they relaxed a bit, but asked me to leave.

“Go home, have a drink and have a good night’s sleep without wasting your time,” a senior policeman told me.
It was a stark reminder of the times we live in. I forgot that church audiences have been traumatised by the 2019 Easter bombings.

Nothing has been resolved, but we need to move on. The healing power of music can help.
The responses to my Face Book post that night was overwhelming and surprised me. There are many people out there so pleased that you have reached out to the world with a little music making in these difficult times.

One thing leads to another. Iqbal Mohomed, driving force behind the Guitar Festival who has done more than anyone else to promote free music in Sri Lanka, called and said he was performing with others at the Independence Square on the first of January by singing Guantanamera and other songs. I decided to join them.
True to his political beliefs, he was celebrating Cuba’s national day as well. I don’t engage in politics, but I believe in the power and pleasure of music. Shakespeare has said a lot about music – ‘If music be the food of love, play on’, and ‘the earth has music for those willing to listen.’ He must have been a big music fan.

Iqbal was there with his wife Gayathri Gananathapillai, and old friend Rohan Silva. Gayathri plays guitar as well as flute, while Rohan can sing and play harmonica. Iqbal brought along his piano accordion.

Again, the dusky weather was lovely as we sat between the two ponds and played. The repertoire included Guantanamera and Bob Dylan’s Where Have All the Flowers Gone, Russian and Latin American folk songs and Iqbal’s own soulful orginal ballad dedicated to national hero Monaravila Keppetipola.

The crowd wasn’t large, but we had an attentive audience. A Malaysian visitor strode over to inquire about Gayathri’s Andean flute. He said there is a similar instrument in Malaysia and Indonesia.
Music can get strangers talking. That’s the power of music.

Now we plan to get together again at the same venue on February fourth. Music is addictive. I think it’s the best thing one can get addicted to. As Bob Marley said, when music hits you, you don’t feel the pain.

Here’s which pop star embodies your zodiac sign

Posted on January 4, 2023

We hate to burst your bubble but Pop stars are here to stay.

Short for “popular,” these musicians representing genres that run the gamut from country and rap to R&B and of course Pop, have become some of the greatest icons of the modern day.

It’s no surprise that when it comes to some of the biggest celebrities on the globe, those who bring us our favorite tunes, pull on our heartstrings with powerful lyrics and speak the universal language of music, are indeed the ones that rule the world.

We become captivated by their albums, singles, stories and legacies, fascinated by who they are on—and off—stage. Buckle up as we dive into some of your favs!

To understand the world of pop music, the New York Post spoke exclusively with celebrity music producer Craig J Snider. As a team, we put our heads together to create the definitive list of pop stars astrology and the zodiac.

During our conversations, Craig discussed wanting to think outside of the box when it comes to his choices—so very few of the pop stars we’ve labeled actually are their particular zodiac sign. He wanted to spin it in a way that each of his choices mirrors the energy of each zodiac sign—and I totally applaud his creativity for that!

ARIES (MARCH 21 – APRIL 19): Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga embodies the archetype of Aries.

Getty Images for Live Nation

When it comes to a powerhouse who was “born this way,” there’s only one Lady Gaga. Her legacy exemplifies a “no holds” barred approach to life, music, songwriting, fashion, acting and more. This is why she’s the perfect embodiment of the fire within an Aries! This queen has not only pushed the cultural and musical needle forward, but reinvented herself as an artist and performer numerous times. She’s a straight up warrior, for love and pop poetry! Anyone that can dominate remaking “A Star is Born” is a true legend.

TAURUS (APRIL 20 – MAY 20): Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj is a pop star not to be messed with.

When it comes to a pop star with a hard-hitting, stubborn edge, there’s none other than Nicki Minaj. As if she’s ruled by the planet Venus—just like Tauruses are—she brings a swag, confidence and feminine glamour to her work. Minaj is immensely strong and lives like a queen: just like the zodiac sign of the bull. However, the point that sealed the deal with this pop star pick is that she definitely has the temperament of the bull—peaceful and charming, and never someone to mess with. Beware her horns if you’ve pushed her too far!

GEMINI (MAY 21 – JUNE 20): Katy Perry

Katy Perry brings a mysterious, exciting edge to everything that she does.

Spontaneous, hilarious and unique, Katy Perry is tremendously multi-faceted. The thing about her is that you can’t keep her in a cage! She is also the queen of camp, showing that she isn’t afraid of keeping things fresh and entertaining while having fun—just like a Gemini. She’s very smart and witty, always ready for her next big adventure. Also, anyone that jumps off the Auckland Harbour Bridge mid-tour in New Zealand is about as badass as it gets!

CANCER (JUNE 21 – JULY 22): Post Malone

Post Malone exemplifies the Cancer energy—and it also happens to be his actual zodiac sign! This is because on the outside, he can show he has a tough exterior, but underneath it all, he’s as sensitive, emotional and passionate as they come! This shows pure and potent Cancer vibes. He has the heart of a lover and even has found that becoming a parent is one of his greatest journeys: something that all Cancers thrive within.

LEO (JULY 23 – AUGUST 22): Beyoncé

Beyoncé is regal being that became a real life Queen.

When we talk about “the Queen B,” there’s no other Beyoncé! She embodies the raw fire and energy of a leader and the regality of royalty more than any other pop star on this list—and because of that, she’s the Leo pick! Since her first days in Destiny’s Child, she’s shown that she’s the main event and can carry powerful, deep musical narratives throughout her body of work.

Not only this, though, she knows how to break musical boundaries, truly create along many different mediums and “break my soul.” Another trait that links her to the Leo archetype is that she’s as loyal as they come—always standing by her man—Jay-Z. Talk about a power couple!

VIRGO (AUGUST 23 – SEPTEMBER 22): Jennifer Lopez

When it comes to one of the hardest working pop stars on Earth, Jennifer Lopez embodies the unending tenacity, perseverance and desire for perfection that aligns with the archetype of Virgo. Her list of accomplishments—and skills—continues to go on and on as she pushes herself to be the best version of herself at all times. She’s a multi-talente dancer, singer, actress, fitness buff, business woman and mother. No one works harder with more esprit de corps than J Lo! What a force to be reckoned with!

LIBRA (SEPTEMBER 23 – OCTOBER 22): Jay-Z

When it comes to a pop star who can spit rhymes, keep people on their toes and build an empire, there’s the king of hip hop for all time: the great Jay-Z! He knows how to work people—and crowds and the media—with the perfect sense of grace. Just as Libra is ruled by the planet Libra, Jay-Z knows how to blend art, music, business and pleasure! He can spin all the plates strategically and with ease!

SCORPIO (OCTOBER 23 – NOVEMBER 21): Madonna

When it comes to a pop star who embodies pure and total sexual desire and raw power, there’s the one-and-only Madonna. Her ability to push boundaries—as well dive into her “shadow self” and emerge like a phoenix through her art and life—aligns her with Scorpio.

Scorpio rules sex—as well as transformation—something we’ve seen her do in her art, performances, video and other masterpieces, as well. She’s also “all or nothing” about everything with endless passion, drive, business-saavy and sexual libido in spades!

SAGITTARIUS (NOVEMBER 22 – DECEMBER 21): Lizzo

Sagittarius energy is all about being big, bold, beautiful and unapologetic! This is why Lizzo embodies the archetype of always feeling “good as hell!” Jupiter, the planet of miracles and expansion, rules Sagittarius and is an optimistic, “go big or go home” vibe—and also aligns with how Lizzo has absolutely taken the world by storm. Lizzo’s persona bucks the current trend of lithe waifs that sing breathlessly in your ear. She comes roaring like a cannonball and dominates the stage! She is eager—and confident—as she breaks the barriers of what female artists should look and sound like. And then coming in hot with the flute? Slay, queen, slay.

CAPRICORN (DECEMBER 22 – JANUARY 19): DJ Khaled

Capricorn energy is ambitious, long-lasting and business-saavy—so our choice for this zodiac sign is DJ Khaled! Not only has he built an empire over the last decade, he’s shown that he was a mastermind all along. This “big boss” energy—by orchestrating masterful collaborations with A-list “who’s who” music celebrities—has shown that he likes his luxury and can manifest swag forever.

AQUARIUS (JANUARY 20 – FEBRUARY 18): Taylor Swift

Multi-faceted, ever fluid and groundbreaking: there’s only one Taylor Swift. Aquarius is ruled by the planet of freedom and the future, Uranus. Swift brings a genre-bending and ever evolving approach to her music: from country to pop to dance to indie singer-songwriter!

The other reason we placed her here is because she’s unafraid of change and growth, as the Aquarius archetype always seeks progressive transformation. Community is also a big part of Aquarian energy, and when it comes to an artist who has inspired a generation of women—as well as a devoted, large and fierce fan base—Swift has done it all.

PISCES (FEBRUARY 19 – MARCH 20): Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber possesses tremendous levels of creativity.

Of all the icons that embody the multi-dimensional energy of Pisces, there’s only one Justin Bieber. Built from a passion to sing, express his creativity and lay his heart on his sleeve, Bieber has shown that he’s a feelings first kind of pop star! Not only this, but as Pisces is the zodiac sign most closely aligned with spirituality due to them being ruled by Neptune, he’s even found his divine connection to his “holy energy.”

Special thanks to celebrity music producer Craig J Snider for collaborating with me on this article!

Craig J Snider, Celebrity Music Producer. @CraigJSnider

Craig J. Snider is a Composer, Producer, Remixer, Songwriter, and Multi-instrumentalist who works between Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago. His work includes 35+ Billboard Dance Chart #1 hits by artists such as Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Katy Perry, Justin Timberlake and Madonna. Recently, he and his band “The Shamanic” scored top ten hits with their first singles’ “Fire” and “FK Always.”

Astrology 101: Your guide to the stars

Kyle Thomas is a globally recognized pop culture astrologer who has been featured in “Access Hollywood,” E! Entertainment, NBC & ABC television, Cosmopolitan Magazine, Hulu, Bustle, Elite Daily, Marie Claire and more. He is known for his cosmic guidance for celebrities, business executives and prominent influencers. His work harnesses the power of the stars in regards to entertainment lifestyle and trends affecting people worldwide. For more information, visit KyleThomasAstrology.com.

When will Sometimes When We Touch air on Paramount+? Release date, plot, and more about the documentary

Posted on January 3, 2023

The brand new documentary series Sometimes When We Touch is all set to make its arrival this Tuesday, January 3, 2023, at 3 am ET/ 12 am PT on Paramount+. The show will consist of a total of three parts and chronicle the epic history of Soft Rock music.

The Lauren Lazin-directed documentary is written by Chuck Thompson. In addition, Sometimes When We Touch will see Pete Sepenuk as the narrator of the docu-series. The show is produced by Van Toffler, with Bruce Gillmer, David Gale, Chuck Thompson, and Vanessa WhiteWolf serving as the executive producers. Besides them, MTV Entertainment Studios and Gunpowder & Sky have co-produced the Paramount+ docu-series.

A still from Sometimes When We Touch (Image Via Paramount Plus/YouTube)

Ever since the official trailer for the show was launched by Paramount+, the audience, especially the admirers of the Soft-Rock genre in music, has been eagerly waiting to see what the documentary series will bring to the table.

The three-part docu-series Sometimes When We Touch will chronicle the development of Soft Rock as a music genre

Trailer and what can be expected from the docu-series?

The trailer of the much-anticipated docu-series was released by Paramount+ on December 13, 2022. Following this, fans of the Soft Rock music genre soon expressed their excitement to watch the series.

Apart from that, Paramount+ also published an official synopsis for Sometimes When We Touch, which read:

“Soft Rock dominated pop music. Then became a punch line. Now its influence is felt everywhere from hip-hop samples to TikTok. The exclusive new series charts a musical movement through its most treasured songs, stories and stars.”

Subtitled The Reign, Ruin and Resurrection of Soft Rock, the docu-series will delve deep into all the stages the music genre has gone through to date. Moreover, it will take the audience on a nostalgic journey to the colorful and thrilling world of Soft Rock music while also providing the viewers with insights into the lives of great artists associated with the genre.

While talking about the Paramount+ documentary series to Variety magazine, The Gunpowder & Sky CEO, Van Toffler, said:

“You can trash, bash and malign soft rock as much as you want, but I bet you know every song in the Hall & Oates catalog,…Personally, I’m happy that the kids are finally learning about the virtues of the Carpenters and Michael McDonald via their sampling in current hip-hop.”

Who will be featured in the docu-series?

The list of artists whose hit songs will appear in the documentary series includes John Oates, Daryl Hall, Kenny Loggins, Christopher Cross, Michael McDonald, Air Supply, the Carpenters, Ambrosia, Lionel Richie, and Captain & Tennille.

In addition, the artists who will be interviewed in the series entails Sheryl Crow, Run DMC’s Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Stewart Copeland of the Police, Susanna Hoffs, Richard Marx, LA Reid, Verdine White, Robert “Kool” Bell, Toni Tennille, Loggins, Ray Parker Jr., Dan Hill, and a few others.