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Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Addison Rae announces Australian shows ahead of global tour but not all fans are happy
Hot on the heels of her anticipated debut album, US pop star Addison Rae has revealed she's headed Down Under later this year. The Diet Pepsi hitmaker, 24, has included a whistle-stop Australian run, this November, on her global Addison tour. Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, Addison shared a string of dates that will see her kick off the tour in Dublin before heading across Europe and the US. The Tik Tok star-turned-tunesmith will then round out the tour with three Australian shows - Melbourne 's The Forum on Tuesday November 11, the Fortitude Music Hall in Brisbane on Friday, November 14 and Sydney 's Enmore Theatre on Monday, November 17 'The Addison tour is really real,' she excitedly captioned the announcement. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'I can't believe I get to sing and dance for you (and with you) this Fall. Are you coming?' The announcement sent Australian fans into a frenzy, with many issuing their excitement over on promoter Frontier Touring's Instagram. 'A good way to start the day isn't it?' one quipped, while another offered a similar: 'Best news.' They weren't all happy campers however with a few young Addison Rae fans unhappy with the lack of under 18's shows. 'Coooolllll now make Brisbane all ages pls,' one wrote and another jumped in with: 'WHY IS BRISBANE 18+?' Yet another posted: 'Please make Melbourne all ages or add an all ages show.' Fans will have to get in quick, with the Frontier member presale for all shows kicking off from 10am on Thursday, June 19. General on sale begins at 10am on Friday, June 20. The announcement comes hot on the heels of Addison's self-titled debut album, which dropped earlier this month. Thanks to such viral hits as Diet Pepsi, Aquamarine, and Headphones On, the album has nabbed a number four slot on the Billboard 200, and a number two spot on the Australian ARIA charts. She also recently discussed dropping the second half of her name for the mononymous album Addison. Appearing on Quen Blackwell's YouTube series Feeding Starving Celebrities last week, she admitted that she's 'moved past' the Addison Rae moniker. Quen offered: 'I like the fact that you are changing your stage name and taking off the Rae. Is that something you've talked about?' The Louisiana-bred artist noted she hasn't spoken at length about her name switch, adding, 'But I said it in an interview, I was just like, "Oh, I think I've grown past just being called Addison Rae." And then the album being named Addison kind of was a tie-in for that.' She elaborated, 'Whoever knows me as Addison Rae and knew me as Addison Rae will always know me as that anyways.' Addison continued: 'I just am tired of also signing Addison Rae. It's really long.' 'I just would rather sign Addison,' she confessed with a laugh. 'And then I was like, "Yeah, it just makes more sense because it's going back to the roots, really."' The songstress then pointed out, 'But I know you're going to put Addison Rae on the title [of the YouTube video],' prompting Blackwell to mischievously side-eye the camera. The star also chatted about dropping the latter half of her stage name during an interview with Zane Lowe. 'If you got introduced to me as Addison Rae, as most people did, I think you will always know me as that. 'But I think for me and what making music is doing, for just my own soul and heart, is bringing me back to the core of everything. 'Addison Rae, yes, is a part of me and that will always be a part of who I am. There are element of me that are obviously Addison Rae and encapsulate what people have created as who Addison Rae is,' the blonde beauty stated.
Int'l Business Times
10-06-2025
- Business
- Int'l Business Times
The Smart Way to Plan a Corporate Milestone Anniversary According to Executives Who've Done It Successfully
For most companies, milestone anniversaries are more than just celebrations. They're moments of reflection, reinvention, and renewed connection with employees, customers, stakeholders, and the company's own history and future direction. But planning an anniversary that's both impactful and memorable is no small feat. That's where the real challenge begins. Just ask Shellie Frey, former Vice President and Chief Branding and Communications Officer of Golden State Foods. " Lisa Alonge , founder of Anniversary University ® , actually reached out to us two years in advance of our 75th anniversary," Frey recalls. "At the time, I was leading branding and communications, and COVID had just hit. We ended up doing what I think was Lisa's first virtual Anniversary University ® Forum after years of a live event in NYC. It was a lifeline." This brand was heading into its 75th year, and though the company had celebrated its 60th Anniversary, Frey knew the 75th had to be more robust. "We had instincts and a vision," she says, "but Anniversary University ® gave us the roadmap." Frey, like many leaders, had access to Lisa's Anniversary planning playbook, an extensive video library, and the Anniversary University® Forum. "The Forum was incredible. It brought together experts and leaders who had already been through these milestones. We got to hear real case studies, including what they did, how they budgeted, what worked, and even what didn't," Frey says. "Even with our own plans in place, it became a checklist, a reference, a way to make sure we didn't miss anything. And most importantly, it inspired us to think not just about celebrating the past, but using the anniversary to catapult the company forward." That idea of looking forward, not just back, became a core theme for Frey's team. "Lisa encouraged us to think about how an anniversary could spark forward momentum, not just nostalgia. She helped us define measurable goals and gave us tools to budget effectively, which is critical when you're working across departments and managing executive approvals," Frey states. What stood out the most for Frey? "Lisa herself. She's not just a consultant. She's a goldmine. The anniversary planning playbook and video library, the website, The Forum, her expertise—it's all there. But Lisa also makes herself available in a way most advisors don't. She's your on-call sounding board, 24/7. You feel like you have a real partner in this process. It saved us time, saved us money, and ultimately elevated the quality of everything we did," Frey remarks. That level of partnership left an impression on Laura Hollingsworth, too, who was the Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of the Opry Entertainment Group, when she first heard about Anniversary University®. "Somebody mentioned Lisa to me in passing, and I said, 'No, I've never heard of her.' But once I looked into it, it was like discovering a whole new world of insight," Hollingsworth says. For Hollingsworth, the biggest challenge wasn't ideas; it was how to organize and prioritize them. "We were a company full of great ideas," she says. "But what Anniversary University ® helped us do was hone in on the ones that mattered most. It gave us the structure to filter what would actually make an impact." Early in the planning process, Hollingsworth and a small team immersed themselves in a full day-and-a-half of Lisa's virtual Anniversary Forum. "We took pages of notes," she says. "And what was just as valuable as the successes were the stories of what didn't work. People were candid, and that honesty helped us avoid a lot of missteps." Anniversary University® Helping Clients Celebrate Milestones Anniversary University® The real game-changer for Hollingsworth was Lisa's planning playbook. "It wasn't even published when Lisa first told me about it, and I remember saying, 'I need that the moment it's available.' And when it arrived, I was blown away. We used it cover to cover. It was comprehensive, practical, and it helped us not only think about the big picture but also execute every small detail," Hollingsworth shares. More than anything, Hollingsworth remembers Lisa's personal involvement. "She was so engaged from day one, calling, emailing, and following up," Hollingsworth says. "It wasn't a transactional relationship. Lisa was ideating with us, checking in, and offering new resources. She exceeded expectations in every way." For Kara Calderon, Head of Sustainability & Community Engagement at Reynolds American Inc., the journey began with a forwarded email from her boss, an introduction to Anniversary University® from Lisa. "I signed up for one of her Forums and just hearing people speak about their experiences was incredibly helpful," she says. Calderon recalls Lisa talking about needing to know one's 'why.' This is one of the early insights from Anniversary University® that stuck with her the most. Calderon states: "Why are you celebrating this anniversary? What's the story you're telling? That clarity became the foundation for our every decision. Our why never changed, even when timelines shifted and budgets flexed. Lisa helped us anchor to that purpose." She faced the common challenge of balancing anniversary planning with day-to-day responsibilities. But what really set Lisa apart, says Calderon, was her proactive support. "She didn't just send a book and disappear. She checked in. She'd email or call and say, 'Hey, how's it going? Are you stuck? Do you need a resource?' And often, it was exactly what I didn't realize I needed at that moment. It gave me the chance to step back and recalibrate," Calderon states. For Calderon, the most valuable aspect of Anniversary University® was the combination of structure and inspiration. "You don't have to reinvent the wheel unless you want to," she says. "Lisa has built a network of professionals who do this well, and you get access to all of that. Her inquisitive nature pushes your thinking. You'll hear something and go, 'Oh, I hadn't considered that. Maybe I can adapt to it.' It absolutely expanded our vision of what this anniversary could be." In the end, each of these clients arrived at the same conclusion: Anniversary University® isn't just a toolkit. It's a transformational resource. And Lisa is the secret weapon behind it. Whether planning a 25th anniversary, a 200th, or anything in between, and whether it's three years away or just around the corner, these leaders all say the same thing: Start with Lisa. As Frey puts it, "Partnering with Anniversary University ® was one of the best decisions we made. If you want a successful benchmark anniversary, this is the place to go."
Courier-Mail
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Courier-Mail
‘Black-listed': Anastacia reveals the moment she realised she'd never achieve success in America
Don't miss out on the headlines from Music. Followed categories will be added to My News. Anastacia has one of the most recognisable voices in the music industry, but heartbreakingly an entire continent never got the chance to experience it. Breaking out in the early 2000s with iconic banger I'm Outta Love, Anastacia quickly became one of the biggest pop stars in the world and she's enjoyed success ever since, and will soon be bringing her sell out NTK25 tour down under. But one place the American's tour won't be visiting is North America, and it's all because record label politics meant that one of the biggest music industry markets on earth never got the chance to get to know Anastacia's vocal talents. 'I'm at that age where I'm fine with what I've got. My resume is beautiful and I'm proud of it,' the feisty singer told 'At the beginning, I felt like what's wrong with me, because I didn't know the reason why.' Anastacia. Picture: Jason Edwards As she prepared to go into the promotional tour for her second record, Anastacia finally realised the incredible success she was experiencing around the world was never going to happen in her home country. 'Then I kind of got an idea of what happened between the radio station and the record company, that it was like a power struggle thing,' she continued. 'And the radio stations made you. The record company made the radio station upset and I was the black-listed name.' 'So it wasn't that I was this rejected artist in America. It was like, they never actually knew me.' She'll be playing four shows later this year in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Picture:. While she was never given the chance to show off her talents in the US, thankfully the rest of the world immediately embraced her powerhouse vocals and ear for a banger. After performing to sell out crowds in Europe, Anastacia has announced that she's bringing her latest tour to Australia later this year. She'll be performing in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney in September, with just a handful of tickets left remaining for fans to snap up ahead of the shows. Anastacia's Not That Kind 25 tour starts at The Forum in Melbourne on September 24, before heading to the Coliseum Theatre in Western Sydney on September 26, the Sydney's Enmore Theatre on September 27, before a final show at Brisbane's Eatons Hill Hotel on September 29. Tickets are available here. Originally published as 'Black-listed': Anastacia reveals the moment she realised she'd never achieve success in America
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CEO Melissa Sobolik to leave Great Plains Food Bank
May 19—FARGO — The Great Plains Food Bank is starting a search for a new leader as CEO Melissa Sobolik announced she will be leaving the organization in July. In an email Monday, May 19, Sobolik announced she will be leaving the Great Plains Food Bank to be the CEO of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank in Providence. Sobolik's final day at the Great Plains Food Bank will be Friday, July 11. The Great Plains Food Bank is North Dakota's only food bank. It serves a network of 196 partners, like food pantries and shelters, in 100 communities across North Dakota and Clay County, Minnesota. In the email, Sobolik reflected on her work at the food bank. "Serving as the CEO and working at the Great Plains Food Bank for the past 18 years has been the honor of my life," she wrote. "I am immensely proud of the work we have done together to end hunger and nourish hope across North Dakota and beyond." Sobolik started at the Great Plains Food Bank in 2007, working with food bank members. In 2016, she started its Ending Hunger 2.0 program, which focuses on hunger prevention. She served as the president of the organization from 2019 to 2021, when she was named CEO. Sobolik is the organization's second CEO. Sobolik told The Forum she was not looking for a new job, but was approached about the opportunity at the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. "When I actually went out to Providence, I fell in love with the community, and really saw it as the next professional growth opportunity for myself," she said. Great Plains Food Bank Board of Directors Chair Jasper Schneider said Sobolik helped the stature of the organization and increased its reach. In the past five years, the food bank expanded to tribal areas in North Dakota and has increased the amount of food distributed to communities. "This has all been done in the backdrop of a pretty complicated last five years, right, when you look at a worldwide pandemic, global inflation, supply chain issues, workforce challenges," Schneider said. "Under Melissa's leadership, she's persevered through all of that." Sobolik said the most rewarding part of the job has been helping people. "Some of my proudest moments are getting to see the faces and the smiles of the people that you get to help, and hearing their stories and hearing them say 'thank you,' " she said. Another highlight of the job was a recent $5 million appropriation from the North Dakota Legislature, the largest financial gift in the food bank's history, Sobolik said. Great Plains Food Bank Chief Operating Officer Kate Molbert will serve as interim CEO as the nonprofit's board of directors searches for a new CEO, the email said. Sobolik is confident in her team's ability to continue working through the transition. "One of the things I've prided myself on is hiring people smarter than me, and so there's an amazing team to step in and do this job without me and keep the organization running and keeping people fed," she said. Schneider said the board plans to conduct a nationwide search for its next leader and is evaluating different firms to help guide that search.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Barack Obama coming to Connecticut this spring
HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — Former president Barack Obama is coming to Connecticut this spring to speak at The Connecticut Forum. The event, called An Evening with President Barack Obama, is part of a partnership with the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. Obama is anticipated to speak at The Bushnell Performing Arts Center on June 17 at 7:30 p.m. 'We are honored to host President Barack Obama at The Connecticut Forum,' Mana Zarinejad, executive director of The Connecticut Forum, said in a written statement. 'For more than three decades, The Forum has served a critical role in Connecticut – bringing people together to consider the great challenges and opportunities of our time through thoughtful discussions. In so doing, we hope to bridge the divides that exist between individuals and communities. We cannot think of a better bridgebuilder and leading global statesman to join the Forum stage than President Obama.' During the event, the former president will 'touch upon' his presidency and work with the Obama Foundation. He will also discuss his future outlook and current challenges. For ticket information and to learn more, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
