Latest news with #AmericanIdol
USA Today
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Dawn Staley reveals why she'd want WNBA ownership in Philly over coaching
Dawn Staley reveals why she'd want WNBA ownership in Philly over coaching Kylie Kelce has welcomed some truly incredible guests since starting her podcast, Not Gonna Lie back in early December. The mom of four and media personality has had engaging interviews with former First Lady Michelle Obama, Kaitlin Olsen of It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Olympians like Alex Morgan, Gabby Thomas and Ilona Maher, rocker Avril Lavigne, actress Kat Dennings, American Idol winner and daytime host Kelly Clarkson and more. This week, Kelce added to the prestigious list of women she's had on her show thus far, inviting women's basketball icon Dawn Staley to chat. Staley was a standout at the University of Virginia, leading the Cavaliers to three Final Fours and earning a laundry list of awards before being drafted ninth overall in the 1999 WNBA Draft. She was a six-time WNBA all-star before becoming the head coach at Temple and then South Carolina, where she has won three NCAA titles. Oh, and she has four Olympic gold medals (three as a player, one as a coach). Naturally, the two Philadelphia fans talked about their love for the City of Brotherly Love and how it's the perfect fit for a WNBA expansion team. Owner Dawn and investor Kylie? Sign us up.
Daily Mail
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Katy Perry told music star she was 'GLAD' they left American Idol... amid fears for Orlando Bloom relationship
Katy Perry 's tenure on American Idol was under the spotlight after a former contestant–turned–music superstar opened up about their interactions. According to the rising star, Katy told them she was 'glad' that they left the long-running music competition series when they ran into each other years later. Katy, 40, first joined the series as a celebrity judge for season 16 in 2018, and stepped down six years later in 2024 after season 22. It was in early 2021 that her path crossed with the future singing sensation when they competed in season 21. During an appearance Wednesday on Scott Mills' BBC Radio 2's Breakfast Show, the Grammy Award nominee Benson Boone opened up about catching up with Katy years after he decided to leave American Idol. He admitted to bumping into the singer — who has been beset by rumors that her relationship with fiancé Orlando Bloom is in trouble — a 'couple months ago' and learned that she seemed to be happy that he had quite the show. According to the rising star, Katy, 40, told them she was 'glad' that they left the long-running music competition series when they ran into each other years later; seen in 2023 in LA Boone was asked if he thought Katy believes that she had 'discovered' him on American Idol. During his stint on the series, she said on camera that he had what it took to win the competition, adding that viewers were 'gonna swoon for Benson Boone.' 'Do you want to know the actual truth?' Benson replied. 'I actually think she is really glad that I left the show.' After the two had a chance to catch up a recent awards ceremony, the TikTok sensation came away thinking that Katy was 'really happy' for him. However, he also thought she was 'really worried' for his future. 'I think she understands that when you're starting to go through all of this, like, there's just a lot of hate coming your way, a lot of people that want things from you, so she was more just checking in on me,' he explained. Though Katy was widely mocked for her recent Blue Origin space flight, Benson declared that she 'actually really is a lovely person.' 'She told me, she was like, "Leaving that show was, like, the best thing you ever did." I think she just understands, like, I didn't even know if I wanted to do music at that time.' Despite his misgivings as American Idol was poised to make him a star, Boone later found his way back to music on his own terms. He had already established himself as a popular TikTok performer and singer before auditioning for the series, but the baby-faced performer — who didn't yet have his instantly recognizable mustache — blew away Katy and fellow judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan at his audition, where he also showed that he could play passable piano. After Benson admitted that he wasn't a singer growing up, Lionel declared him a 'natural talent,' and Luke urged him to 'have fun' with his voice now that he had discovered it. Katy dramatically added, 'I'm gonna tell you something that you may not believe, but if you believe it it might happen. I see American Idol, and I see you, and I see you winning American Idol... if you want to.' An awe-struck Benson said that was the 'biggest compliment' he had ever received. He was invited to continue on to Hollywood Week, a round of multiple performances that helps weed out the large group of singers who had survived the initial auditions. But shortly after he was selected as part of the final 24 contestants, Benson opted to end his run on American Idol, which led the series to not broadcast his Hollywood Week performances. But Benson wasn't done with the music industry, and months later Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds signed him to his label Night Street Records via a deal with Warner Records. His first single, Ghost Town, just barely scraped the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart with a peak at number 100, but the song had longevity after gaining exposure on TikTok, and it later was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). His 2022 single, In The Stars, did even better. It only topped out at 82 on the Hot 100, but it went on to be certified 2x Platinum. Benson's career seemed to floundering after multiple singles in 2022 and 2023 that failed to chart, but he came roaring back last year with his biggest success to date, the single Beautiful Things. The song was buoyed by its omnipresent status on TikTok and Instagram, and it reached number two on the Hot 100 and was certified 5x Platinum. Since then, he has had multiple top 40 hits, including last year's Slow It Down and this year's songs Sorry I'm Here For Someone Else and Mystical Magical. Benson looked back on his auspicious first encountering with Katy just as she has been inundated with fan fears for the state of her relationship with her fiancé Orlando Bloom. Yesterday, the 48-year-old Lord Of The Rings star was reported by TMZ to be attending Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez's wedding in Italy without Katy by his side. But the absence turned out to be because Katy had a prior commitment, as she is touring in Australia at the moment. Katy's widely mocked space flight, the critical revulsion her album 143 earned and the poor reviews her ongoing tour have received have all reportedly added to the strain in her relationship with Orlando; seen with Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez in 2023 in Dubrovnik, Croatia Still, the couple have been apart for much of the past month, raising concerns of a potential split. A source previously told People magazine that 'They're pretty much done,' while an insider alleged to Page Six that 'It's over' and the two are 'just waiting until the tour is done before they split.' A friend of the couple exclusively told that the couple are 'are on the rocks' this week. Perry and Bloom first met in January 2016. They had a brief breakup in 2017, but later reconciled by March 2018. The pair got engaged on Valentine's Day in 2019 and welcomed their daughter, Daisy, in August 2020. Bloom also has a 13-year-old son named Flynn with his ex-wife, Miranda Kerr, 42. Katy's widely mocked space flight, the critical revulsion her album 143 earned and the poor reviews her ongoing tour have received have all reportedly added to the strain in her relationship with Orlando.
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Who is Benson Boone and why is Katy Perry worried about him?
If you do not know Benson Boone by now, where have you even been? The 22-year-old singer behind the chart-topper Beautiful Things is the new sad-boy icon of this generation. He shot to fame via TikTok, amassing a loyal fanbase and heart-melting streaming numbers. But plot twist—his big break almost came from American Idol. The audition that could have changed everything In 2021, Boone auditioned for American Idol and absolutely floored judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie with his soulful piano performance. Katy even told him she saw a winner in him. But instead of riding the wave, Benson bounced. After reaching the Top 24, he bailed from the show before most even noticed. Katy Perry was secretly glad he quit Turns out, Katy Perry had no hard feelings. In fact, she thought quitting was genius. According to Benson, the two reconnected at an awards show two months ago where she gushed over his success but also voiced genuine concern for him. She told him straight-up that leaving the show was 'the best thing' he ever did. Why was Katy Perry worried? Katy was not just throwing compliments. She expressed serious worry about how fast Benson's fame was rising. From online hate to clingy opportunists, she knows how nasty the industry can get. Benson said she was just 'checking in' and made it clear she was looking out for him—like a true pop queen mentor. From college kid to Grammy nominee Benson confessed that back in 2021, he had no clue if music was even his thing. During COVID, Idol producers reached out after seeing a few of his videos online. He went for it just for fun. Flash forward—he is performing at Coachella, nominated at the Grammys, and dropping his debut album American Heart on June 20. The mentor-friendship we did not see coming Despite the Idol exit, there is no beef between Benson and the show. He clarified that Katy's comment was not shade, just honesty. She simply understood. Now, their unlikely mentor-mentee bond is giving us major wholesome energy in an industry known for anything but.
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher's Rocky Marriage: Are Cracks Beginning to Show?
Image Via IG/ @mfisher1212 (Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher's Rocky Marriage: Are Cracks Beginning to Show?) Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher have long projected the image of a fairytale romance — a country superstar and a hockey hero who built a beautiful life together with two sons. But behind those social media smiles and dazzling public appearances, their relationship has supposedly turned sour. Emerging clashes of personalities and divergent lifestyles and career interests have become a constant source of friction, and it is now being speculated whether the duo is drifting apart instead of becoming closer. Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher: Further Divergence of Lifestyles Driving Marital Discord Since day one, the relationship between Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher has been one of passion and compromise. What was once an element of balance has reportedly become a cause for conflict. Fisher, once a gritty NHL enforcer, has grown to be a traditional family man, while Underwood's career continues to soar, with commitments such as her Las Vegas residency and judging duties on "American Idol." Given that Underwood commutes between Tennessee and Los Angeles frequently, Fisher has allegedly felt the increased responsibilities at home are a source of tension. These contrasts have always existed in their personalities: she's more of an introvert and plant-loving, whereas he tends to be extroverted and an advocate of meat and hunting. It is these contrasts that appear to be creating daily conflict, rather than harmony. Underwood even admitted to being a homebody, while Fisher is said to have a craving for social interfaces. Although opposites attract, in a marriage, they often demand a constant compromise seems to be something the couple is having difficulty with. Also, different opinions on family planning are fanning the fire. It has been reported that Fisher is keen to have more children, but Underwood is happy with their two sons, especially considering the series of painful miscarriages. She has expressed a strong desire to dedicate her time and energy to raising Isaiah and Jacob without feeling pressured to increase the size of their family's different viewpoint that might be widening the gap between them emotionally. Their controversies on careers are also getting further into the public view. Sources indicate Fisher was against Carrie being a judge on "American Idol," worrying it would stretch her too thin and put too much pressure on their home life. Failing to celebrate anniversaries on social media in the past few years has also lessened the confidence fans and observers have that things might be hide-the-paint, picture-perfect for real. Also Read: Who is Mike Fisher's wife? Everything about the American singer and songwriter Carrie Underwood Although Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher have orchestrated a life many would look upon with envy, it appears their relationship is at a crossroads. Unless both can somehow come to an understanding amid their clashing values and career ambitions, the once idyllic bond may continue disintegrating. Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
San Francisco Chronicle
a day ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Movie Review: In '28 Years Later,' a zombie pandemic rages on
Most movies are lucky to predict one thing. Danny Boyle's 2002 dystopian thriller '28 Days Later' managed to be on the cutting edge of two trends, albeit rather disparate ones: global pandemic and fleet-footed zombies. Add in Cillian Murphy, who had his breakout role in that film, and '28 Days Later' was unusually prognostic. While many of us were following the beginnings of the Afghanistan War and 'American Idol,' Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland were probing the the fragile fabric of society, and the potentially very quick way, indeed, horror might come our way. Boyle always maintained that his undead — a far speedier variety of the slow-stepping monsters of George A. Romero's 'The Night of Living Dad' — weren't zombies, at all, but were simply the infected. In that film, and its 2007 sequel '28 Weeks Later' (which Juan Carlos Fresnadillo helmed), the filmmakers have followed the fallout of the so-called rage virus, which emptied London in the first film and brought soon-dashed hopes of the virus' eradication in the second movie. Like the virus, the '28 Days Later' franchise has proven tough to beat back. In the new '28 Years Later,' Boyle and Garland return to their apocalyptic pandemic with the benefit of now having lived through one. But recent history plays a surprisingly minor role in this far-from-typical, willfully shambolic, intensely scattershot part three. The usual trend of franchises is to progressively add gloss and scale. But where other franchises might have gone global, '28 Years Later' has remained in the U.K., now a quarantine region where the infected roam free and survivors — or at least the ones we follow — cluster on an island off the northeast of Britain, connected to mainland by only a stone causeway that dips below the water at high tide. Boyle and cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle, who innovatively employed digital video in '28 Days Later,' have also turned to iPhones to shoot the majority of the film. Boyle, the 'Slumdog Millionaire,' 'Trainspotting' filmmaker, is an especially frenetic director to begin with, but '28 Years Later' is frequently gratingly disjointed. It's a visual approach that, taken with the story's tonal extremes, makes '28 Years Later' an often bumpy ride. But even when Boyle's film struggles to put the pieces together, there's an admirable resistance to being anything like a cardboard cutout summer movie. The recent event that hovers over '28 Years Later' is less the COVID-19 pandemic than Brexit. With the virus quarantined on Britain, the country has been severed from the European continent. On the secluded Holy Island, 12-year-old Spike (Alfie Williams, a newcomer with some sweetness and pluck) lives with his hunter father, Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), and bedridden mother, Isla (Jodie Comer). The scene, with makeshift watchtowers and bows and arrows for weapons, is almost medieval. Jamie, too, feels almost like a knight eager to induct his son into the village's ways of survival. On Spike's first trip out off the island, his father — nauseatingly jocular — helps him kill his first infected. Back inside the village walls, Jamie celebrates their near scrapes and exaggerates his son's coolness under pressure. Other developments cause Spike to question the macho world he's being raised in. 'They're all lyin', mum,' he says to his mother. After hearing of a far-off, supposedly deranged doctor whose constant fires mystify the townspeople, Spike resolves to take his mother to him in hopes of healing her unknown illness. Their encounters along the way are colorful. Ralph Fiennes plays the doctor, orange-colored when they encounter him; Edvin Ryding plays a Swedish NATO soldier whose patrol boat crashed offshore. Meanwhile, Comer is almost comically delusional, frequently calling her son 'Daddy.' And the infected? One development here is that, while some remain Olympic-worthy sprinters, other slothful ones nicknamed 'Slow-Lows' crawl around on the ground, rummaging for worms. Buried in here are some tender reflections on mortality and misguided exceptionalism, and even the hint of those ideas make '28 Years Later' a more thoughtful movie than you're likely to find at the multiplex this time of year. This is an unusually soulful coming-of-age movie considering the number of spinal cords that get ripped right of bodies. It's enough to make you admire the stubborn persistence of Boyle in these films, which he's already extending. The already-shot '28 Days Later: The Bone Temple' is coming next near, from director Nia DaCosta, while Boyle hopes '28 Years Later' is the start of trilogy. Infection and rage, it turns out, are just too well suited to our times to stop now. '28 Years Later,' a Sony Pictures release, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association for strong bloody violence, grisly images, graphic nudity, language and brief sexuality. Running time: 115 minutes. Two stars out of four.
