Entertainer extraordinaire Neil Patrick Harris is going from a four-time host of the Tony Awards to a potential nominee for next year’s ceremony. The original Doogie Howser has landed the title role in Hedwig and the Angry Itch. “I am simultaneously ecstatic and terrified to be stepping into Hedwig’s heels,” said Harris, who will sing and dance his way through the performance as a transgender rock star. “It is truly a once-in-a-lifetime role and I can’t wait to begin the journey.” The spring 2014 debut of the musical will be Harris’ first Broadway stint since 2011′s Company. [Entertainment Weekly]
Beyoncé fans will have to wait even longer for a new disc from the star. In an interview with Billboard, singer-songwriter Ne-Yo(who is responsible for “Single Ladies”), revealed that the megastar won’t release anything short of perfection. “They’re still trying to figure out what they want that to be, which I’m not mad at,” he said about Bey’s team. “Beyoncé’s the kind of artist where you’re not gonna see it till it’s right. And her fans—they love her so they’ll be patient.” With songwriting credits from the likes of Sia and Ryan Tedder, we think it’ll be worth the wait. [Billboard]
The Fifty Shades of Grey film is finally getting some direction. Sam Taylor-Johnson has been recruited to direct the racy work, which leads us to believe that her husband, Savages star Aaron Taylor-Johnson, could be the frontrunner for the role of Christian Grey. If so, we would not oppose. [Huffington Post]
Peter Parker won’t be hanging up his suit anytime soon. Sony Pictures announced that it will be releasing two more sequels after next year’s The Amazing Spider-Man 2. “Spider-Man is our most important, most successful, and most beloved franchise,” chairman of worldwide marketing and distribution Jeff Blake said in a statement. “We’re thrilled that we are in a position to lock in these prime release dates over the next five years.” [CNN]
Selma Blair is giving up on Anger Management. The FX star is exiting the Charlie Sheen series amidst rumors of tension on set. Lionsgate Television confirmed the departure in a statement while Blair simply tweeted “I thank you for support and love.” [Hollywood Reporter]
World War Z may boast Brad Pitt as its lead, but it’s his son Maddox Jolie-Pitt who we’re looking out for in the summer blockbuster. The 11-year-old made an uncredited appearance in the action flick as—what else?—a zombie. “He gets shot in the head, multiple times. But he gets double tapped,” Pitt said at the film’s debut. “I don’t know what that says about me as a parent.”See the pair of Pitts when World War Z arrives in theaters on June 21. [Huffington Post]
In 1991, Mariah Carey released “Can’t Let Go” from her second album, Emotions. More than two decades later, theformer American Idol judge is finally practicing The Art of Letting Go with the announcement of her 14th disc. “Melancholic moment, letting go of something this personal to me yet I couldn’t be more excited to give three years of my soul to the fans,” she tweeted earlier this week. Her longtime friend and collaborator Jermaine Dupri added that her new project will “be available for all the lambs on July 23.” [MTV]
With a series of worldwide projections, a controversial tracklist, and an air of unpredictability, we won’t put anything past Kanye West—including this American Psycho-inspired short starring future brother-in-lawScott Disick. [Pitchfork]
Summit Entertainment’s remake of the 1986 film Highlander will have to move on sans Ryan Reynolds. Originally cast to reprise the Connor MacLeod character, Reynolds will no longer star as a “warrior of incredible strength” as noted in the throwback’s trailer. Fans will still get to see the Green Lantern star in R.I.P.D., out on July 19. [Entertainment Weekly]
If it worked for Veronica Marsand Whoopi Goldberg, it may work for James Franco, too. Oz’s wondrous wizard is turning to crowd-sourcing to raise money for a trilogy based on his 2011 short story Palo Alto. “More times than not, I have put in my own money to produce my films and my student’s films,” Franco wrote on the campaign’s Indiegogo page. “However, this time it’s different. We need more funding. I will still fund part of it but I need your help—filming three feature films back-to-back requires more funding than I can give.” Franco is hoping to raise $500,000 for the project by July 17. [Yahoo News]
At just 22 years old, Rita Ora is ascending to the top of the world—if she’s not there already. A fashion-blog favorite in her own right, the modern-day Material Girl has been immortalized with a 3.1 Phillip Lim shoe and is partnering with your favorite designer’s favorite model, Cara Delevingne, on a “sporty and comfortable” clothing line. While recent headlines shine more light on her sartorial savvy though, we can’t lose sight of the fact that she’s a singer first—a Roc Nation chanteuse who’s backed by the one and only Jay-Z at that! The blonde fireball is reminding us of that for her August 2013 cover of Interview magazine, Germany.
Lensed in Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, and Marc Jacobs by photographer Damon Baker, the dynamo recounts an early meeting with her Samsung-endorsing boss. “One of his bodyguards stepped on my shoes—brand new Air Jordans… I knelt down to rub them clean, because that’s what you’re supposed to do,” she said. “But Jay-Z grabbed me by the shoulders, pulled me up and went, ‘Don’t ever do that. Come with me.’ And then… we went sneaker shopping—a whole suitcase of sneakers!” Where’s Jay when we scuff up our kicks?!
Although this cover speaks to Ora’s dominance in European pop culture, it’s time that we prep for her stateside arrival. Her first album, Ora, hit number one in the UK, and charted in Ireland, Australia, and Austria, among others. With influential backing and buzz, we can only imagine how her sophomore effort and U.S. debut will fare. “The new album is definitely pop. I love my pop music,” she revealed at the 2013 Glamour Women of the Year Awards. “But it’s kind of got that soul that I loved growing up, so you’re going to hear a lot more soul in there.”
Ora’s Interview Germany feature will hit newsstands on June 19 while her second LP is expected later this year.
Earlier in the year, we brought you the news that R&B singer Ne-Yowould be partnering with British sensation Cher Lloyd in the name of Fruttare to produce a song called, “It’s All Good.” When we spoke with Ms. Lloyd she hadn’t yet gone into the studio with Ne-Yo but was looking forward to it.
“We’re going to go in tomorrow and start reading over the submissions that the fans have sent in,” she told Glam.com. “That’s the beauty of the campaign, not only is it two artists being involved, it’s actually anyone out there who wants to be involved are on social media.”
Fans were allowed to contribute to the song by sharing what inspires them to stay positive on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook with #ItsAllGood in celebration of Fruttare’s new fruit bars. Good news, the song is available now! You can listen to it here.
When one of music’s most successful performers appoints you the “new voice of women,” you’re charged with a major responsibility. For Carson, California, native RaVaughn, that title was coined by Compound Entertainment authority Ne-Yo, and that charge is one she approaches with ease.
“When we started making my music, he gave me that name based on the music that I was making, and my music is about me. As long as I continue to be me and talk about my life and what I’ve been through… I think it’s going to be pretty easy,” she said. “Not necessarily that that’s a small title, but just being me will definitely live up to that because I’m talking about stuff that all women go through.”
With her first two singles, “Better Be Good” and “Best Friend,” the songwriter, turned background vocalist, turned rising solo star, is carving out a more traditional R&B sound than what’s charting from industry contemporaries like Beyoncé, Rihanna, Mariah Carey and more. While her work behind the scenes helped her learn “what to do and what not to do” it’s also primed her to take center stage. Lucky for us, it turns out that her voice isn’t the only thing that’s golden.
During a chat at New York City’s Spin Media offices, RaVaughn revealed the secret to her sun-kissed skin and other summer necessities. From her favorite scent to the soundtrack that keeps her going, here are RaVaughn’s summertime raves!
Her summer skin secret:
“It’s a Vaseline line and it’s called Healthy Glow. They cancelled it… It’s the best thing and I was so disappointed when I found out they were canceling it that I bought it in masses. I have a lifetime supply of it. It helps with the tan… so when the sun hits it, it helps you to tan a little more. It’s like a soft lotion, and I have eczema so I can’t use all kinds of products. Hopefully, Vaseline, if you’re listening, you’ll bring it back out.”
The new hue that’s dressing up her smile: “I’ve never worn Ruby Woo and I’ve never been a really colored-lipstick [girl], but I’ve been kind of getting into that and I’m loving Ruby Woo right now.”
Her go-to summer scent:
“I love Kiehl’s Musk. That’s my favorite scent. I get a million compliments on it. And it’s [unisex], men and women can wear it.”
Easy, breezy summer style:
“I have a pair of shorts… they’re really ripped up, distressed, old jeans. And just any kind of loose, blousy T-shirt. I love Jordans. I’m always in Jordans or sandals. And my glasses. I’m getting a lot of compliments on these glasses. They’re tortoise shell, and these are my summer glasses that I just throw on. I don’t have to wear makeup—just hide behind the glasses and keep it going.”
Where she wouldn’t mind jet-setting to:
“I definitely want to go to Bora Bora. I’ve never been there. I love the way it looks, I just feel like it’s going to be the most relaxing thing ever. I’ve been to Cancún but I definitely want to go back. Where else do I want to go? The Maldives.”
Her favorite summer memory:
“I took a family vacation when I was 17 to Cancún and that was the first time I went… I thought it was the coolest thing ever. We stayed in a resort [where] we had our own condo… and it was the first time that I had ever seen a pool connected to the bar.”
Summer cocktail:
“I’m a margarita girl all the way.”
Summer soundtrack:
“Of course, besides my own (laughs). I love Justin Timberlake’s “Pusher Love Girl,” and then Kendrick [Lamar's “B*tch Don't Kill My Vibe”], and “Power Trip” [ by J. Cole featuring Miguel].”
Ever since news hit that Kim Kardashian gave birth to her child with Kanye West on Saturday, there has only been one question on our minds: What’s the darling fille’s name?
According to a report from celebrity gossip site MediaTakeOut, KimYe’s bundle of joy has been named Kaidence Georgia Donda West. If true, the fitting moniker is a tribute to West’s late mother Donda West, who died in November 2007. “I have family, but I was with my mother 80 percent of the time,” West said in a rare New York Times interview where he struggled to speak about her passing. “My mom was basically—that’s all I have to say about that.”
The name also pays homage to Kardashian’s late father Robert Kardashian, whose middle name was George; the Yeezuscreative also grew up in Georgia, making the case for a middle-name double entendre. Of course, Kaidence (which is obviously a play on cadence), keeps up with the tradition of K’s in the Kardashian-Jenner clan—we can see a Keeping Up With Kai special now!
Both West and Kardashian have remained silent on the matter, neither confirming or denying the report from MTO, which sources a nurse at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center as the bearer of the baby-naming news. Don’t expect to hear from the (usually) revealing Kardashian-Jenner brood though. Sister Khloé Kardashian-Odom tweeted “More info will come when the time is right,” signaling that the family will keep the name under wraps… for now. “Thank you all for understanding! We love you all dearly! Overwhelmed with love right now ♥.”
While Twitter erupts in theories on baby KimYe’s name, there’s one person we know for sure is in on the secret: Beyoncé. She posted this message on her site to the new parents:
Jennifer Lopez is priming to flex her acting muscle. The 2,500th celebrity to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame will star in a film based on Chilean miners who were notoriously trapped underground for 69 days in 2010. A Mike Medavoy production, The 33 will also feature Antonio Banderas and Martin Sheen. All of a sudden, it makes sense that she may not reclaim her seat at American Idol. [MTV UK]
Drake and Miguel have a question to ask: Would You Like a Tour? If so, consider your wish granted. The pair are launching a 41-city tour that will kick off on September 25 in Portland, Oregon and end in Los Angeles two months later. Drake’s Young Money compatriot Lil’ Wayne will wrap his own America’s Most Wanted tour three weeks before Drake and company hit the road. [XXL Mag]
Kanye Westwasn’t the only star to celebrate fatherhood this weekend. Channing Tatum and Kim Kardashian ex NFL star Reggie Bush both shared photos of their newborn daughters on their first Father’s Day. The White House Down star captioned his Facebook photo with “First Father’s Day with my girls!,” while the Detroit Lions running back wrote “Enjoying my first Father’s Day with my family! #blessed.” Cuteness, overload! [CNN and ET Online]
It’s official: Girl Meets World will be airing next year on Disney! The Boy Meets Worldspinoff will follow Riley, Cory and Topanga’s 12-year-old daughter, as she comes of age in New York City with best friend Maya. Spy Kids: All the Time in the World in 4D star Rowan Blanchard will take on the lead role while Ben Savage and Danielle Fishel will reprise their roles from the original series. “Boy Meets World and its story of adolescent self-discovery resonated with an entire generation of tweens,” said Disney Channels Worldwide executive vice president Adam Bonnett. “In the same way audiences fell in love with Cory Matthews and Topanga Lawrence, we look forward to introducing our viewers to their daughter, Riley Matthews… and building a memorable connection with a whole new generation of fans.” [ABC News]
Beloved R&B singer Aaliyah may have died at the promising age of 22, but her indelible impact is still felt by the music world today. In a most recent tribute to the star, Chris Brown has debuted a new video featuring her vocals and hologram. “Don’t Think They Know,”the second single from Brown’s sixth album X, alludes to gang violence in Los Angeles. Watch the clip here. [Rolling Stone]
Netflix isn’t stopping at Arrested Development. The streaming service inked its biggest deal to date with Dreamworks Animation, making it the home of new original programming based on studio franchises. That means characters from Shrek, How to Train Your Dragon, and Madagascar could be a click away—literally. [The Hollywood Reporter]
First-time director Marya Cohn and VariEnt Pictures representative Gina Resnick are hoping that Kickstarter can bring their new project to life. The pair have launched a campaign to raise money for post-produciton of an indie film starring Emily Van Camp and Michael Nyvquist. “The Girl In the Book tells the story of a young writer’s transformation when her past invades her present,” reads a statement from the project. “Forced to face difficult memories and make bold decisions, she ultimately overcomes her demons, allowing her to find love and rediscover her creative voice.” [GLAM Inbox]
Nineteen hours ago, reality television matriarch Kris Jenner wished Kanye West a Happy Father’s Day. Hours later, daughter Khloé Kardashian-Odom shared her sentiments, tweeting “Mommy/baby are healthy & resting. We appreciate all of the love.” With that, the world welcomed Kim Kardashian‘s bundle of joy—and Hollywood’s newest obsession.
Kardashian went in to labor on Saturday, and with West by her side, gave birth to a healthy baby girl at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, the same facility where her nephew Mason and niece Penelope were delivered. While the child was born five weeks early, reports offer that the young Gemini was the result of a natural birth and weighed in at a little under five pounds. So far, the Kardashian-Jenner clan have remained mum on a name for their new “miracle,” (which has to start with the letter ‘K’), but at yesterday’s Daytime Emmy Awards, Jenner did offer a tease. “We’re happy, everybody’s good and she’s beautiful.” From a family of makeup entrepreneurs and budding models, this is no surprise.
For West, his young beauty’s arrival came a day before Father’s Day and puts him in headlines for something other than tomorrow’s release of his sixth album Yeezus. While we suspect he and his better half will stay out of the spotlight in the coming weeks, we’re sure the next paparazzi shots to emerge of the G.O.O.D. Music authority will feature a (rare!) smile.
There’s a reason he wears an “S” on his chest, and Kal-El proved it to Lois Lane, Metropolis, and the rest of the world by snuffing out the competition and breaking a June record. See what other movies had their eyes on the skies this weekend:
1. Man of Steel $113.1M
2. This Is The End $20.5M
3. Now You See Me $10.3M
4. Fast & Furious 6 $9.4M
5. The Purge $8.2M
6. The Internship $7M
7. Epic $6M
8. Star Trek Into Darkness $5.7M
9. After Earth $3.8M
10. Iron Man 3 $2.9M
Daft Punk. Kanye West. J Cole. Just when you thought your summer soundtrack couldn’t get any better, it has.
Whether or not you tuned in to the San Antonio Spurs versus the Miami Heat during last night’s round of the NBA Finals, by now you know the biggest highlight of the game: Jay-Z has been working with Timbaland, Pharrell, and Rick Rubin on his 12th studio album. And the solo effort, Magna Carta Holy Grail, will be released on July 4th. While the multimedia magnate teased a major announcement on his Life and Times blog last week, we can’t say we saw this coming.
In a 3 minute-2 second spot with Samsung, the reigning hip-hop authority is seen in the studio with his collaborators, laying out the blueprint for what could be his biggest album to date. “It’s this duality of ‘How do you navigate your way through this whole thing—through success, through failures, through all of this—and remain yourself?” he says in the clip.
With only three weeks left until the national holiday and album drop, this is the first marketing effort from Jay-Z. It seems that he, like West and Beyoncé, are at a point in their careers where their names alone are enough to catapult respective creative feats. Think about it: which other artist has been projected to sell 500,000 units in his album’s first week while eschewing conventional promo tactics? What singer do you know who can sell out an international world tour off the strength of a few high-profile performances and campaigns, without publicly hinting at a new single or album release? We’ll wait.
“We don’t have any rules, everyone’s trying to figure it out,” Jay-Z muses in the video. “That’s why the Internet’s like the wild west—the wild wild west. We need to write the new rules.”
That, though, is not where the great news subsides. In addition to serving the masses with new music (yes, before Queen Bey), one million owners of the Samsung Galaxy S3, Galaxy S4, and Galaxy Note 2 will receive Jay-Z’s latest LP for free. Samsung has already purchased 1 million copies for $5 dollars each, and will make the project available to customers who download a special app, which drops on Google play in one week. That means Jay-Z has already made $5 million off his record and if you don’t own Samsung’s latest android device, you’ll have to wait three more day until the album is released to the public on July 7. Your move, Apple.