Ben Platt, Cynthia Erivo, Leslie Odom Jr. & Rachel Zegler Sing Sondheim Tribute During Grammys In Memoriam

Foo Fighters – who swept their categories at the 2022 Grammys – were originally scheduled to perform at the Sunday (April 3) night ceremony in Las Vegas, but understandably pulled out after the unexpected death of drummer Taylor Hawkins at age 50 on March 25. Ahead of the 2022 telecast’s In Memoriam section, Hawkins – one of the most beloved drummers in the business — received a special video montage tribute, introduced by host Trevor Noah.

The primary In Memoriam segment doubled as a tribute to the late Stephen Sondheim, who died at the age of 91 last November. It opened with Tony, Grammy and Emmy winner Ben Platt taking the stage for a somber take on “Not a Day Goes By” from 1981 musical Merrily We Roll Along as the names and photos of late artists and music business players flashed on the screen behind him.

Next up was Tony and Grammy winner Cynthia Erivo, who delivered a gorgeous rendition of “Send In the Clowns,” originally from A Little Night Music but also made popular by Judy Collins, whose version went to the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100. Tony and Grammy winner Leslie Odom Jr. joined Erivo onstage, singing “Not a Day Goes By” as a countermelody to Erivo’s “Clowns.”

Finally, Rachel Zegler – who portrayed Maria in Steven Spielberg’s 2021 remake of West Side Story and won a Golden Globe for it – entered to sing “Somewhere” from West Side Story. It ended with all of them blending their voices on the musical theater classic as the In Memoriam segment wrapped.

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Olivia Rodrigo Wins Best Pop Vocal Album at 2022 Grammys, Achieving Her Childhood ‘Pipe Dream’

Olivia Rodrigo took home the notable best pop vocal album award at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards Sunday (April 3) for her debut album, Sour.

Wearing a floor-length black and purple gown reminiscent of a goth prom dress, Rodrigo gave Sour producer Dan Nigro a long hug before ascending onto the Grammys stage at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas to accept her third ever Grammy award. Dedicating the honor to her parents, Rodrigo shared a sweet story of her childhood gymnast dreams as a 9-year-old, before deciding “the next week” that she’d grow up to win a Grammy. “[My mom] was very supportive even though I’m sure she thought it was a little kid pipe dream,” she said, cradling the golden gramophone in her hands.

The 19-year-old pop star was up against Justin Bieber’s Justice (Triple Chucks Deluxe), Doja Cat’s Planet Her, Billie Eilish’s Happier Than Ever and Ariana Grande’s Positions. Earlier in the evening, Rodrigo won best new artist and took home best pop solo performance for her smash single “Drivers License.”

The award was presented to the “Drivers License” singer by 30 Seconds to Mars’ lead man and actor Jared Leto. Sour debuted atop the Billboard 200, and held the top spot for five non-consecutive weeks. Her debut hit “Drivers License,” spent eight weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

During the first hour of the Grammy Awards ceremony, Rodrigo gave a heartfelt performance of “Drivers License” while appropriately seated behind the wheel of a Mercedes convertible. The stage also transformed into a suburban street to fit the theme.

Watch her acceptance speech below:

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Jared Leto Talks Box Office Success of ‘Morbius,’ New 30 Seconds to Mars Music and More | 2022 GRAMMYs

Billboard’s Carl Lamarre spoke with Jared Leto on the red carpet of the 2022 GRAMMY Awards.

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H.E.R. on GRAMMY Win, Getting Inspired for Her Album & More | 2022 GRAMMYs

Billboard’s Carl Lamarre spoke with H.E.R. on the red carpet of the 2022 GRAMMY Awards about her GRAMMY win, getting her album ready, touring and who she’s excited to see tonight.

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Storms. Tornadoes. Heat. Humidity. Smoke. Is this Florida, or is it (expletive deleted)?

It’s hot. It’s smokey. It’s going to storm. There’s even the chance for an isolated tornado. What a way to spend a South Florida weekend! That could be one of … Click to Continue »
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Video of brawl in front of fiery motorcycle crash goes viral. Cops say no major injures

It was a scene straight out of a movie in Hollywood Friday night: a motorcycle on fire, a car crashed and fighting in the street. The video of the commotion … Click to Continue »
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What is Ramadan and how do Muslims in South Florida celebrate the holiest month?

Ramadan Mubarak! In Arabic, this means “Blessed Ramadan,” and the greeting is used during Ramadan to send well wishes to Muslims observing the month and its traditions. For Muslims, Ramadan … Click to Continue »
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Camila Cabello Says Paparazzi Makes Her Feel ‘Super Vulnerable’ at the Beach: ‘Never Had a Worse Time’

Camila Cabello shared a note on social media about how it feels to be followed by the paparazzi in her personal time at the beach.

While paparazzi snapshots of the singer in a bikini circulated on the internet Saturday (April 2), she took a moment to address what she goes through when she just wants to enjoy some time in nature.

“Every time I’ve gone to this beach club in Miami I get papped – somehow when I check in paps know and get me in my bikini and every time I’ve felt super vulnerable and unprepared,” wrote Cabello, whose new album Familia is due out on April 8. “I’ve worn bikinis that were too small and paid no mind to how I looked, then saw pictures online and comments and been so upset.”

“I reminded myself when it impacted my self esteem that I was thinking the culture’s thoughts and not my own. A culture who has gotten so used to an image of what a ‘healthy’ woman’s body looks like that is completely not real for a lot of women. Photoshop, restrictive eating, over exercising, and choosing angles that make our bodies look different than how they are in the moment and in their natural form, when we take a deep breath, when we eat a meal, when we allow waves to tussle us around,” she said.

“I remind myself of this, listen to podcasts on intuitive eating, follow women who accept their cellulite, stretch marks, bellies, bloating, and weight fluctuations… and still, I’m a single woman in her 20s in the middle of a s— ton of promo and I want to feel like I look ‘good,’” Cabello admitted.

“Today I got a new bikini, a whole f—in cute outfit, put lip gloss on, and didn’t eat anything too heavy before going in the OCEAN cause I knew it was gonna be basically a whole photoshoot,” wrote Cabello. “I held my core so tight my abs hurt and didn’t breathe and barely smiled and was so self conscious of where the paps were the whole time i couldn’t let go and relax and do what we’re meant to do when we go out into nature. I tried to pretend they weren’t there but I couldn’t and I held my breath from my sun chair in the ocean.”

The “Bam Bam” singer then described seeing children playing at the beach with “no self consciousness” and noted that her goal was to “get back to feeling like 7 year old me on the beach” — “happy, silly, breathing, pretending to be a mermaid, FREE.”

“I knew I looked ‘good’ in the pictures and thought I would feel accomplished and yet I’ve never had a worse time at the beach,” Cabello said.

“I’m not yet at the point in my journey where I can not give a f—,” she added.

Cabello’s upcoming 12-track Familia album features collaborations with Ed Sheeran (“Bam Bam”), Willow (“Psychofreak”), Maria Becerra (“Hasta Los Dientes”) and Yotuel (“Lola”).

See her full note below.

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Netflix Backs Away from Will Smith Film ‘Fast and Loose’

The week before the Oscar ceremony, director David Leitch — in a stroke of unintentional good timing — withdrew as the director of a planned Netflix movie Fast and Loose, starring Will Smith. Instead, he moved onto Fall Guy, starring Ryan Gosling, for Universal, which is supposed to start production in August.

A source says Netflix was competing with Universal to be the next project for Leitch, but Universal pulled ahead. According to sources, Netflix put out an urgent call for another director to take over a project featuring the star who was heavily favored to win best actor at the Oscars. But soon after Smith’s attack on Chris Rock on the Oscars stage, Netflix quietly moved the project to the back burner.

Fast and Loose was to tell the story of a crime boss who loses his memory after an attack. Piecing together clues, he discovers that he has led a double identity as a wealthy kingpin and a broke CIA agent. It appears that Netflix was understandably wary of moving forward. It is unclear whether it will try to make the project with another star and director.

Smith now has Apple+’s slave escape drama Emancipation in post-production. The streamer had planned a 2022 debut but has not dated its release. Apple declined to comment. Otherwise, Bad Boys 4 at Sony had been in active development — Smith received 40 pages of the script prior to the Oscars — but will now pause, a source said. A few other projects in pre-production are likely to do the same. Netflix did not respond to requests for comment.

In his April 1 statement resigning from the Academy, Smith said, “Change takes time and I am committed to doing the work to ensure that I never again allow violence to overtake reason.”

Smith, Gosling and Leitch are all CAA clients.

This article originally appeared on The Hollywood Reporter.

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Elton John Credits Ryan White’s Family With Saving His Life

Elton John credits teenage AIDS victim Ryan White and his family with saving his life.

The singer told the crowd at his concert at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Friday (April 1) that spending time around White’s family caused him to make changes in his life. White was from Indiana.

“I knew that my lifestyle was crazy and out of order. And six months later, I got sober and clean and have been ever since,” John said.

He said White’s family was the catalyst for him to change.

“I cannot thank them enough, because without them, I’d probably be dead,” the singer said, WTHR-TV reported.

White died in Indianapolis at age 18 on April 8, 1990. He had contracted HIV years earlier through a tainted blood transfusion. His mother, Jeanne White-Ginder, continues to share a close relationship with John, who acknowledged her presence at the concert.

“I love you so much,” John said. “Thank you for all you’ve done for me. This song is for you.”

He then began playing “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me.”

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