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Usher and Janet Jackson headline 30th Essence Festival of Culture
Read full article: Usher and Janet Jackson headline 30th Essence Festival of CultureThe best of Black culture’s policymakers, thought leaders, creatives, business minds, health experts and, of course, musical talent are converging in New Orleans over the Fourth of July holiday weekend as part of the Essence Festival of Culture.
Janet Jackson to play 2024 Essence Fest instead of the Smoothie King Center this summer
Read full article: Janet Jackson to play 2024 Essence Fest instead of the Smoothie King Center this summerJanet Jackson will make her fourth appearance at the 2024 Essence Festival of Culture this summer in New Orleans.
From marching bands to megastars: How the Super Bowl halftime show became a global spectacle
Read full article: From marching bands to megastars: How the Super Bowl halftime show became a global spectacleWhen the Super Bowl halftime show was born, college marching bands were the main on-field attraction.
Janet Jackson performs alongside YOLA at sold-out concert in Los Angeles on tour stop with Ludacris
Read full article: Janet Jackson performs alongside YOLA at sold-out concert in Los Angeles on tour stop with LudacrisJanet Jackson inserted some youthful spirit into her normally mature concert during a Saturday night tour stop in Los Angeles.
Hawks playoff win pushes Janet Jackson concert back 1 day
Read full article: Hawks playoff win pushes Janet Jackson concert back 1 dayThe Atlanta Hawks are still alive in the playoffs and that will force fans planning to attend Janet Jackson’s concert in the city this week to wait a day to see the music star.
Nicki Minaj to get Video Vanguard Award at MTV Awards
Read full article: Nicki Minaj to get Video Vanguard Award at MTV AwardsNicki Minaj will receive the Video Vanguard Award at the MTV Awards later this month, joining such previous winning music luminaries as Madonna, Janet Jackson, LL Cool J, Jennifer Lopez and Missy Elliott.
Essence Fest is back in New Orleans after two-year hiatus
Read full article: Essence Fest is back in New Orleans after two-year hiatusBlack culture, in all its glory, will be on display over the 4th of July holiday weekend in New Orleans as thousands converge for the in-person return of the Essence Festival of Culture.
Bell tops Chen to win first US figure skating championship
Read full article: Bell tops Chen to win first US figure skating championshipMariah Bell put together a mesmerizing free skate at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, edging Karen Chen on Friday night for her first gold medal and taking any drama out of whether she’s headed to her first Winter Olympics.
New this week: Will Smith, 'Tick, Tick... Boom!' and Adele
Read full article: New this week: Will Smith, 'Tick, Tick... Boom!' and AdeleThis week’s new entertainment releases include a much-anticipated album from Adele, a documentary about Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction during the 2004 Super Bowl half-time show and Will Smith playing father and tennis guru to Venus and Serena Williams.
Oscars invite Steven Yeun, Issa Rae, others to join Academy
Read full article: Oscars invite Steven Yeun, Issa Rae, others to join AcademySteven Yeun, Nathan Lane, Issa Rae, Robert Pattinson, Janet Jackson, Leslie Odom Jr. and Laverne Cox are among the artists being invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Recording Registry adds albums by Janet Jackson, Nas
Read full article: Recording Registry adds albums by Janet Jackson, NasJacksons socially conscious album Rhythm Nation 1814, Armstrongs jazzy When the Saints Go Marching In and Nas debut release Illmatic are among 25 recordings being inducted to the National Recording Registry. (AP Photo)LOS ANGELES – Janet Jackson’s socially conscious album “Rhythm Nation 1814,” Louis Armstrong’s jazzy “When the Saints Go Marching In” and Nas’ debut release “Illmatic” are among 25 recordings being inducted to the National Recording Registry. The Library of Congress announced Wednesday that Labelle’s song “Lady Marmalade” and Kool & the Gang’s “Celebration” are some of the titles tapped for preservation this year. “The National Recording Registry will preserve our history through these vibrant recordings of music and voices that have reflected our humanity and shaped our culture from the past 143 years,” Hayden said in a statement. The library selects titles for preservation because of their cultural and historic importance to the American soundscape.
After top Grammy win, singer H.E.R. is heading to the Oscars
Read full article: After top Grammy win, singer H.E.R. is heading to the Oscars(Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)NEW YORK – A night after winning the top Grammy Award for songwriting, R&B singer H.E.R. Leslie Odom Jr. will also compete for best original song with “Speak Now” from “One Night in Miami...," which he wrote with Sam Ashworth. AdSongs by John Legend, Mary J. Blige, Janelle Monae and Robert Glasper were shortlisted for best original song but didn't make the final cut. The duo of Reznor and Ross have won a number of awards for their scoring work, including an Oscar, Grammy, Emmy and Golden Globe. Terence Blanchard (“Da 5 Bloods"), Emile Mosseri (“Minari") and James Newton Howard (“News of the World") round out the best original score nominees.
Yellen's encore: Lending economic heft to Biden's virus plan
Read full article: Yellen's encore: Lending economic heft to Biden's virus plan“Yellen is uniquely poised," said Brian Deese, director of Biden’s National Economic Council. "She has as much experience and expertise of addressing the challenges of our time as any living economic policymaker today. AdYellen juggled parenting with her work as a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, in the 1980s, helping to build her son’s pinewood derby car as a colleague fed economic data into a computer. It’s an argument cultivated from years of research that fully blossomed during Yellen’s time as Fed chair. She said Yellen values differences of opinion and diversity because that helps her get a fuller sense of the economy.
For Kelly Rowland, good things come in threes
Read full article: For Kelly Rowland, good things come in threesFILE - In this Jan. 28, 2019 file photo, Kelly Rowland attends the premiere of "What Men Want" in Los Angeles. Rowland released an EP titled K, featuring six tracks heavily influenced by Afrobeat rhythms. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)NEW YORK – If good things come in threes, then Kelly Rowland is basking in her current moment of bliss. But Rowland didn’t always possess that “Black Magic” confidence. “And I don’t know a lot of people who get that in this industry.”_____Follow Associated Press entertainment journalist Gary Gerard Hamilton at twitter.com/garyghamilton
Viral and vital, college gymnasts finding their voice
Read full article: Viral and vital, college gymnasts finding their voiceThe social justice movement in college athletics has popped up in most unusual place: gymnastics. From UCLA to Pittsburgh, Black gymnasts and the programs they represent are using their platform to empower and uplift. Her experience at Arkansas was simply reflective of the culture at large in the sport at the time. From Pittsburgh to California, female gymnasts are using their platform to empower, educate and bring light to causes they believe in. “Personally I would say (gymnastics) is a predominantly white sport,” Ward said.
Timberlake apologizes to Britney Spears and Janet Jackson
Read full article: Timberlake apologizes to Britney Spears and Janet JacksonTimberlake says that he wants to apologize to Britney Spears and Janet Jackson because I care for and respect these women and I know I failed. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)NEW YORK – In a lengthy social media post, Justin Timberlake says that he wants to apologize to Britney Spears and Janet Jackson “because I care for and respect these women and I know I failed.”“I’ve seen the messages, tags, comments, and concerns and I want to respond. AdFans called out Timberlake for contributing to Spears' very public breakdown and controlling the narrative about the end of their relationship. More backlash hit Timberlake as social media began to recall the wardrobe malfunction with Jackson that caused a national controversy at the 2004 Super Bowl. I want to take accountability for my own missteps in all of this as well as be part of a world that uplifts and supports,” Timberlake wrote.
Vote for the best Super Bowl Halftime performance in our bracket
Read full article: Vote for the best Super Bowl Halftime performance in our bracketPrince performs during the "Pepsi Halftime Show" at Super Bowl XLI between the Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears on February 4, 2007 at Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)Some people watch the Super Bowl for the game, some watch it for the commercials and others watch it for the halftime performance. The halftime performances over the years have changed drastically. So this got us thinking: Do you have a favorite Super Bowl halftime performance? We created a bracket so you, our viewers and readers, can pick the ultimate halftime performance.
Despite bleak 2020, celebrities make effort to brighten year
Read full article: Despite bleak 2020, celebrities make effort to brighten year(AP Photo)LOS ANGELES – Yes, 2020 may seem like a complete fail with all the constant bad news and tragic moments. It’s been filled with gloom and doom, but some celebrities and those inspired by them have tried to brighten a bleak year. He reassigned his 10 seamstresses in New York to produce thousands daily for health care workers on the frontlines. The singer and husband Emilio Estefan's restaurant Estefan Kitchen served up homemade meals for health care workers in Miami. The challenge coordinated offers by celebrities and athletes to raise funds to feed those in need during the pandemic.
South Africa lifts spirits with Jerusalema dance amid virus
Read full article: South Africa lifts spirits with Jerusalema dance amid virusPeople celebrate South Africa's Heritage Day by dancing at Zoo Lake park in Johannesburg Thursday Sept. 24, 2020. As the number of worldwide Covid-19 death is nearing the million mark, coronavirus related case numbers and deaths in South Africa hit the lowest in months. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)JOHANNESBURG – South Africans of all walks of life are dancing to “Jerusalema,” a rousing anthem to lift their spirits amid the battle against COVID-19. Soon it became a dance craze across southern Africa and beyond with Youtube featuring scores of videos of various groups doing the line dance. In its battle against COVID-19, South Africa has weathered its first peak, registering more than 665,000 cases, including 16,206 deaths, nearly half of the total of all Africa's 54 countries.