Britain's King Charles III was admitted Friday to a private London hospital for scheduled treatment for an enlarged prostate, which Buckingham Palace announced last week he would be undergoing. The palace has said his condition is benign, and on Friday it said the monarch was "delighted to learn that his diagnosis is having a positive impact on public health awareness."
"His Majesty would like to thank all those who have sent their good wishes over the past week," the palace noted.
No further updates on the king's treatment were expected, and it was unclear how long he would remain in the hospital or away from his work during recovery.
"In common with thousands of men each year, The King has sought treatment for an enlarged prostate," Buckingham Palace said in its initial statement announcing the unspecified "corrective procedure" last week. It said his public engagements would "be postponed for a short period of recuperation."
Charles was admitted to the same private clinic where his daughter-in-law, Kate, the Princess of Wales, has been since undergoing an unspecified abdominal surgery last week.
Charles was crowned last year at the age of 74 after inheriting the monarchy upon the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. His health is generally understood to have been good. He had a non-cancerous growth removed from his face in 2008, The Associated Press reported.
More than one in three British men will face some issues with prostate enlargement in their lifetime, and the condition is commonly associated with ageing, according to Britain's National Health Service.
"It's not known why the prostate gets bigger as you get older, but it is not caused by cancer and does not increase your risk of developing prostate cancer," the NHS says on its website.
Haley Ott is cbsnews.com's foreign reporter, based in the CBS News London bureau. Haley joined the cbsnews.com team in 2018, prior to which she worked for outlets including Al Jazeera, Monocle, and Vice News.
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Just as a reinvigorated Justin Timberlake has a new album and world tour in his sites, a blast from his past is complicating things at least a little bit.
Yesterday, Timberlake released the first single and video, “Selfish,” from his upcoming Everything I Thought It Was album coming March 15. Last night Timberlake revealed his tour plans to support the new music, unveiling details of tour markets and dates on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
See the itinerary below.
But the drop yesterday of Timberlake’s new “Selfish” single, got fans of Timberland nemesis Britney Spears thinking: Didn’t the “Oops!…I Did It Again” singer have an identically titled song in her own catalogue – why yes, she did, back in 2011 – so Spears fans set about casting their votes in a season when voting never seems to go away.
The end result: Never underestimate the devotion of Britney’s fans. Spears’ 13-year-old song entered the the Top 40 of the U.S. iTunes chart today.
One online Britney fan site that took part in getting the old song onto the charts to needle Timberlake said the prank “started as a joke.” Soon enough other Brit fans had joined the cause and the old song was building steam. “I still can’t believe that it became so big,” the original site told EW, “and we see the results we see now. We are all so happy to see her song making a come back after all these years!”
Spears fans rallied to make it happen after Timberlake announced his new single, off his first album in five years, Everything I Thought It Was, coming out March 15.
“Then we all joined in, saying that Britney Spears was coming back with a ‘brand’ new song,” the fan account said. “I still can’t believe that it became so big, and we see the results we see now. We are all so happy to see her song making a come back after all these years!”
“Then we all joined in, saying that Britney Spears was coming back with a ‘brand’ new song,” the fan account said. “I still can’t believe that it became so big, and we see the results we see now. We are all so happy to see her song making a comeback after all these years!”
In any case, Timberlake, who had a highly publicized and badly-ended romance with Spears way back when, might not have time to ponder the record chart battle, karma or anything else, as he prepares for an upcoming world tour.
Here is the itinerary for The Forget Tomorrow World Tour, announced on Fallon last night. For additional tour information and ticket information go here.
The Forget Tomorrow World Tour
4/29/24
VANCOUVER, CANADA
ROGERS ARENA 5/2/24
SEATTLE, WA
CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA 5/6/24
SAN JOSE, CA
SAP CENTER AT SAN JOSE 5/10/24
LAS VEGAS, NV
T-MOBILE ARENA 5/14/24
SAN DIEGO, CA
PECHANGA ARENA 5/17/24
LOS ANGELES, CA
KIA FORUM 5/21/24
PHOENIX, AZ
FOOTPRINT CENTER 5/29/24
SAN ANTONIO, TX
FROST BANK CENTER 5/31/24
AUSTIN, TX
MOODY CENTER ATX 6/4/24
FT WORTH, TX
DICKIES ARENA 6/6/24
TULSA, OK
BOK CENTER 6/10/24
ATLANTA, GA
STATE FARM ARENA 6/12/24
RALEIGH, NC
PNC ARENA 6/14/24
TAMPA, FL
AMALIE ARENA 6/15/24
MIAMI, FL
KASEYA CENTER 6/21/24
CHICAGO, IL
UNITED CENTER 6/25/24
NYC, NY
MADISON SQUARE GARDEN 6/29/24
BOSTON, MA
TD GARDEN 7/3/24
BALTIMORE, MD
CFG BANK ARENA 7/4/24 HERSHEY, PA
HERSHEYPARK STADIUM 7/7/24
CLEVELAND, OH
ROCKET MORTGAGE FIELDHOUSE 7/9/24
LEXINGTON, KY
RUPP ARENA
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After 2 a.m. Chicago time, there are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions. The full moon in Leo peaks at 11:54 a.m.
Aries (March 21-April 19)
The full moon might create tension dealing with your kids as well as tension in sports events and romantic relationships. The best way to handle this is to be patient. After the full moon peaks, these problems will diminish. Respect authority.
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
This is the classic day for a tug-of-war with parents or authority figures in your family. Family discussions might be split about how to do things or how to move forward on a particular issue. Likewise, you might butt heads with authority figures. Today and tomorrow, these problems will diminish.
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
Be careful and pay attention to everything you say and do because this is a mildly accident-prone day for you due to the energy of the full moon. Guard against impulsive actions or acting without thinking. Ditto for how you speak. (“Did I just say that?”)
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
Because the moon is your ruler, you will feel the energy of today’s full moon. Today you might feel torn between protecting your own financial interests and respecting the interests of others. This is a poor day for important discussions about inheritances and how to share something.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
Because the moon is in your sign today, things will tend to go your way. Nevertheless, today is the only full moon in your sign all year! This could create tension between you and partners and close friends. Be aware of this and be diplomatic and understanding.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
You might feel some tension going on behind the scenes today because the full moon is taking place in a hidden part of your chart. This is why you feel restless and indecisive. (“The red pill or the blue pill?”) Something related to your health might come to a head today. Wait a day or two to decide.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Today’s full moon might create conflict with your kids or some romantic tension. It can also create problems with sports and teammates. The thing to know is that problems intensify before the full moon and afterward, and they diminish. This day gets better as it wears on.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Today you might feel pulled between the demands of home and family versus the demands of your career, job or your reputation in the community. It’s impossible to satisfy both. If caught between a rock and a hard place, you can’t ignore home and family.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
Pay attention to everything you say and do today because the distraction of the full moon energy could be accident-prone for you. In particular, steer clear of arguments about politics, religion and racial issues because they will get outta hand.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
Disputes about money, earnings, possessions, shared property debt, insurance issues and inheritances will culminate today, one way or the other. Wait until the dust settles before you make an important decision. Keep your head down and your powder dry.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
Today the only full moon opposite your sign is taking place, which is why you might feel increased tension dealing with partners, spouses and close friends. Fortunately, this tension will be released very soon. Don’t jump to conclusions. Be patient. Relax.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
Today you have to cut others some slack when dealing with coworkers, or people who are dealing with your health, or maybe your pet because the full moon will make everyone excitable. Fortunately, because it peaks in the morning, things will settle down as the day wears on.
If Your Birthday Is Today
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (1978) shares your birthday. You are hard-working and dedicated because you have a strong sense of purpose. Your idealism propels you to work for the good of others. Take time this year to renew your spiritual and religious beliefs. Meditation, prayer, yoga can ground you. It’s time for reflection.
Kate Middleton was admitted to the hospital for a "planned abdominal surgery" last week, but it wasn’t known to insiders ahead of Kensington Palace's Jan. 17 announcement, royal experts suggested to Fox News Digital.
"Just days before the announcement I spoke to sources close to the family and they gave no indication that anything was afoot," royal expert Shannon Felton Spence told Fox News Digital following a People magazine report that said her surgery came as a surprise to those close to the royal family.
"I believe the report," Spence said, adding that the princess is "essential to the health and wellness of the monarchy. "On the human side of it, she is the mother to a future king. She is the partner to a future king. Catherine is the stability, normalcy, and warmth of the family for the next two generations. She is also an invaluable tool for the institution, as she is consistently ranked as one of the most popular members."
Christopher Andersen, author of "The King: The Life of Charles III," suggested that the main reason the Princess of Wales might have kept her impending surgery quiet was for the sake of her three young children.
Kate Middleton was admitted to the hospital last week for a "planned abdominal surgery."
"Kate is a very private person to start with, but she certainly is most concerned with how this will all affect her young children," he told Fox News Digital. "She obviously doesn't want to concern or frighten them. When you're the age of George, Charlotte, or Louis, of course, it's a scary thing to see a parent go into the hospital. That is one of the principal reasons, if not the principal reason, Kate has sought to downplay the surgery."
But, he said, in reality, keeping her health issue a mystery has fueled rumors.
"Unfortunately, the suddenness of the announcement and the mystery shrouding the Princess's condition have only served to fan the flames of speculation and gossip," Andersen said. "It probably would have been better for the Palace to simply describe the nature of Kate's surgery and get it over with. Until they do, the royal rumor mill will just keep churning away. Compare and contrast this with the King's prostate procedure. Had Charles entered the hospital for a ‘planned surgery’ without further explanation, you can be sure there would have been an uproar."
King Charles III is also expected to be admitted to the hospital for a "corrective" procedure related to an enlarged prostate.
Royal author and commentator Duncan Larcombe added that Middleton’s husband, Prince William, has been given the OK by Charles to only carry out light duties, so he can take care of his wife and Princes George, 10, Louis, 5, and Princess Charlotte, 8.
Kate Middleton was last seen in public heading to Church on Christmas Day in Sandringham.
Kensington Palace announced on Jan. 17 that Middleton was admitted to the London Clinic for the planned surgery and would likely remain there for two weeks.
The princess was last seen in public while walking with her family to Church on Christmas Day in Sandringham and there were no signs then that she was in ill health.
The palace has also been tight-lipped about what kind of surgery she’s having beyond that it’s abdominal.
"I haven’t been able to get anything out of anyone about her surgery or condition," Spence added.
Royal expert Ian Pelham Turner told Fox News Digital that the news of Charles' procedure has restarted rumors that the king could abdicate in the same way Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II did earlier this month.
He said with William taking care of Kate and Charles, and Sarah Ferguson having their own health issues — Prince Andrew’s ex underwent breast cancer treatment and was just diagnosed with skin cancer — the royal family is "now depleted of major members … This would have meant a massive increase in duties for Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh."
King Charles III will be admitted to the hospital for a "corrective" procedure related to his prostate.
He said that many royal observers have been concerned about the effect a "medical catastrophe" could have on a "slimmed down monarchy."
"Thus, with no Andrew or [Prince] Harry and Meghan [Markle], Princess Anne's similar concern that slimming down would not work has come home to roost," he added. "In reality, it points now to the Firm in disarray and perhaps a major rethink in the Windsor household. At a time of U.K. austerity, spending more money on a potential increase in monarchy size may be frowned upon, but in the long term necessary."
Anderson believes that the princess’ surgery, due to which the palace says she won’t return to royal duties until after Easter, is clearly more of a "genuine health crisis" than a "minor procedure."
"Just because surgery was ‘planned’ doesn't mean it's routine," he added, suggesting: "The two-week hospital stay and the long recovery period leave no doubt that this was a major medical issue of some sort."
Middleton, 42, hasn’t had many serious health issues known to the public in the past, except during her three pregnancies when she suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form of morning sickness, and had to be hospitalized.
Kinsey Schofield, host of the ‘To Di For Daily’ podcast, called Middleton an "integral part of the future of the monarchy."
"William and Catherine somehow define this really beautiful and hopeful vision of the future," she told Fox News Digital. "You can't recreate it because it's authentic and natural. It is effortless. That is why they are so important to today's monarchy. They inspire people to look forward instead of backwards."
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The pop superstar and her two close buds went out in style, hitting up Nobu in Manhattan for some yummy sushi. The sexy trio rolled up in an SUV to the restaurant, before their chauffeur helped them out of the backseat onto the curb.
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A slew of paparazzi photogs were snapping pictures as the women strolled up a small flight of stairs, disappearing inside the famed eatery.
As for their outfits ... Taylor wore a black dress with matching leather boots while carrying a clutch purse. Cara was also decked out in all black, sporting pants and a blazer with an undershirt. Mahomes chose a black and gray patterned mini skirt with black heeled boots. She also carried a white purse.
On Sunday, Taylor and co. began their celebration, partying like crazy after the Chiefs eked out a 27-24 victory over the Buffalo Bills to advance to the AFC Championship game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Taylor had much to be happy about as her hunky beau, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, caught a touchdown pass from Brittany's hubby, QB Patrick Mahomes, during the game.
After the Chiefs won, Taylor, Brittany and Cara enjoyed lots of booze and fun conversations in their VIP suite at Buffalo's Highmark Stadium. Travis' All-Pro brother, Jason, and his wife, Kylie, joined the women and had a blast, too.
At one point, Taylor and Brittany, drinks in hand, were seen toasting each other during the soiree. What a night!
Enlarge/ Santos Escobar and Joaquin Wilde at WWE Smackdown held at Barclay's Center on December 1, 2023, in Brooklyn, New York.
Sportico via Getty
Netflix has agreed to a $5 billion deal to screen World Wrestling Entertainment’s flagship Raw program over the next decade, in the group’s biggest foray so far into streaming live events.
The streaming service is betting that screening three live programs a week will allow it to capture the large and loyal fan base for a show that helped launch the careers of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, John Cena, and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.
The deal, which starts in January 2025, will significantly expand Netflix’s use of the technology that is required to broadcast live sporting events.
The WWE’s decision to abandon USA Network, where it is the top-rated program, also reflects the economic pressures on traditional cable television operators as more consumers shift to streaming.
The agreement “dramatically expands the reach of WWE and brings weekly live appointment viewing to Netflix,” said Mark Shapiro, president and chief operating officer of WWE owner TKO. “This deal is transformative,” he added. TKO is controlled by Ari Emanuel’s Endeavor group.
Under the deal, Netflix will also have the right to stream all WWE programs outside the US, including SmackDown and WrestleMania.
Netflix executives have long played down any interest in pursuing live sports deals even as rival streaming services from Apple and Amazon have started to screen professional sports in an effort to attract subscribers.
At an investment conference in December, Netflix co-chief executive Ted Sarandos said the company had found a niche in “sports adjacent drama,” such as its documentaries on Formula One, tennis, and a recent series on former England footballer David Beckham.
“Where we can really differentiate and outcompete everybody is in the storytelling of sports, the drama of sports,” he said.
Netflix has been working to improve its ability to livestream, which could allow it to show a broader range of programming, from live news and awards ceremonies to stand-up comedy as well as sports.
Last year, the company began experimenting with a special by the comedian Chris Rock, and it intends to stream a live exhibition tennis match between Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz in March.
Shapiro said he was confident that any technical challenges with livestreaming would be smoothed out by the time the agreement took effect next January. “We’ve got an entire year to make sure we’ve got it right.”
The companies are also likely to develop documentaries based on WWE to help widen its appeal, Shapiro said.
“They’ve [Netflix] made a real following out of the documentaries they do on various sports,” he told the Financial Times. “You can expect that over the course of this deal we will look to do a documentary on the characters and superstars of WWE.”
The Grand Ole Opry has apologized to fans after outrage over an embarrassing appearance by an apparently drunken Elle King during a Dolly Parton tribute Friday night.
Describing herself as “f---ing hammered,” the singer cussed during the traditionally family-friendly show, awkwardly bantered with hecklers and failed to remember the Parton song she was supposed to sing as part of the birthday salute.
“We deeply regret and apologize for the language that was used during last night’s second Opry performance,” the Opry’s account on X (formerly Twitter) said Saturday.
Although angry reactions were widespread among country fans, the statement came in response to an attendee at the Ryman Auditorium performance who wrote on X, “Elle King ruined the night with her horrible, drunk, and profane performance. Dolly Parton would’ve been mortified. For our first time at the Opry, it was a shame we all had to witness that… It was such a disappointment to spend $300 on tickets for a show where one of the artists ruined an entire night.”
In the midst of seemingly forgetting the lines to the Parton song “Marry Me,” King appeared in video clips to be altering the lyrics to “I don’t give a shit” and “I don’t know the lyrics to these things in this fucking town… Don’t tell Dolly ‘cause it’s her birthday.” Things didn’t get better when she directly addressed the restless crowd.
“You ain’t getting your money back,” King said in response to angry shouts from the audience. “I’ll tell you one thing more,” she added. “Hi, my name is Elle King and I’m fucking hammered.’” A bandmate suggested she do an original song instead of a Parton cover, and King reportedly responded, “I can barely play another person’s song, let me see if I can play one of mine.”
The firestorm over King’s appearance quickly spread among country fans. Some saw it as a sign that King is misguidedly cultivating an outlaw image as she moves from past pop-rock successes into country, while others worried for her health, since King has been open in interviews about a history of performing while inebriated.
The popular country music site Saving Country Music wrote that King owes both Parton and the Opry an apology, writing, “We know Elle King was drunk because she admitted as much on stage before overcussing, slurring her words, and screwing up her performance. This feels less badass than something like Johnny Cash kicking out the footlights, or Jerry Lee Lewis dropping an emmer-effer bomb to purposely piss off the pearl clutchers. With Elle King, it just comes across as sad, and perhaps a cry for help.”
Added the site’s editor, who goes by the byline Trigger, “Elle King officially migrated to country music with her last album, 2023’s ‘Come Get Your Wife.’ But if she wants to stay in country, cheesing off the Opry and disrespecting Dolly is probably not the best way to go.”
Reps for King and the Opry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
King has recently enjoyed a series of high-profile TV gigs within the country arena, having become a favorite of broadcast bookers, prior to the reactions to Friday night’s Opry performance (which was broadcast over radio but not part of the show’s TV edition). At the turn of the year, she co-hosted CBS’s well-rated five-hour show “New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash.” Prior to that, in July, she was enlisted as the co-host of ABC’s three-hour prime-time special “CMA Fest.”
The singer made a big splash in country with the single “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home),” a duet with Miranda Lambert that reached No. 1 on the country airplay chart. A followup duet with Dierks Bentley, “Worth a Shot,” was not as successful, peaking at No. 38. But King has nonetheless been generally received with open arms as she has transitioned into the format, notwithstanding a few of the expected “carpetbagger” quips — especially as she has indicated an eagerness to make a wholesale leap into country.
In an interview with the San Diego Union-Tribune in 2022, King said “I really like to drink and sing” but added, “I don’t want to get as drunk as I used to… I get nervous before I go on stage, [so] I have couple of drinks [first]. Drinking makes me less nervous about hitting the notes when I sing. If I don’t make them, it won’t sting as much.” But, she added, “This (upcoming) tour will be very different for me, because I put being a mother way, way, way above having a good time. And I’ve had enough good times. I want to bring my family on this tour, so maybe talk to me in a year and see where I’m at.”
Reactions to King’s performance have included compassionate as well as angry ones. “I’m sure Dolly’s first thought would be to try to help this woman,” wrote one commenter on the Saving Country Music page. “Yes, she owes people an apology, but nobody gets to that point without things being seriously wrong in their life. This wasn’t someone trying to make themselves look good at somebody else’s expense, this was someone in real trouble making a pretty big mistake.”
Another commenter described a recent appearance at the Rebels and Renegades Festival in California: “I have no problem with folks boozing it up, no problem with weed etc, but the first 10 minutes of the show was her strutting around making a big show of having each band member toke off her joint. I get it, you are having fun. I guess it was just a little over the top. So, filling that role at the Opry really isn’t surprising to me…. That building/institution has hosted enormous talent but it isn’t a totally clean history. Honestly more wish that a friend would respect another friend enough to do the show straight.”
Parton herself did not appear at the Opry tribute shows, which celebrated her 79th birthday. Others participating and causing less of a stir than King included Ashley Monroe, Tigirlily Gold, Dailey & Vincent and Terri Clark. (Lauren Alaina was also booked but canceled not long before showtime, attributing it to snowy Nashville conditions and telling fans on social media, “I live out on country roads & am unable to get off my street. Can’t wait to see y’all at the Opry soon.”)
King has a busy tour schedule lined up through the spring and summer, including a show planned for California’s Stagecoach Festival April 26.
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Michelle Trachtenberg has hit out at “haters” who have expressed their concern over her health.
The “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” alum, 38, fired back at critics who addressed her appearance on social media, sparking concerns over her wellbeing.
Last week, Trachtenberg posted a selfie with “Spy Kids” star Alexa PenaVega, writing, “These kids….now adults getting our roots/hair done! Love this girl @vegaalexa.”
But the “Gossip Girl” star’s comments section was flooded with endless messages from concerned fans, some of which said she looked “sick.”
“Explain to me how I look sick,” the “Ice Princess” actress responded. “Did you lose a calendar and not realize I’m not 14. I’m 38. How sad for you to leave such a comment.”
The fan soon apologized, saying they meant “no disrespect” by the comment, and that it was a genuine concern.
Michelle Trachtenberg has hit out at “haters” who have expressed their concern over her health. Instagram / Michelle TrachtenbergThe “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” alum, 38, fired back at critics who addressed her appearance on social media, sparking concerns over her wellbeing. Instagram / Michelle Trachtenberg
Trachtenberg shared yet another selfie later that day, writing, “I’ve received several comments recently about my appearance. I have never had plastic surgery I am happy and healthy. Check yourself haters.”
But the post only encouraged more fans to express concerns over the actress’s health.
After being hit with more comments, Trachtenberg returned to the social media platform to share another selfie of her new hairstyle.
The “Gossip Girl” star’s comments section was flooded with endless messages from concerned fans, some of which said she looked “sick.” Instagram / Michelle Trachtenberg
“Fun fact. This is my face,” she captioned the Instagram pic. “Not malnutrition no problems. Why do you have you hate? Get a calendar.”
Actress Kristin Chenoweth commented, “Ignore the hate baby! You’re stunning!!!”
Trachtenberg is arguably best known for her work as Buffy’s (Sarah Michelle Gellar) younger sister Dawn Summers, nicknamed “The Key,” in the hit drama “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” which ran from 2000 to 2003.
“Explain to me how I look sick,” Trachtenberg responded to a critic. “How sad for you to leave such a comment.” Instagram / Michelle Trachtenberg
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She then portrayed the role of scheming Upper East Sider Georgina Sparks in 28 episodes of “Gossip Girl,” which ran from 2008 to 2012.
Last year, Trachtenberg reprised her role in two episodes of Season 2 of the hit teen drama’s reboot, which has since been canceled.
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After months of rumors, Common and Jennifer Hudson are finally ready to publicly confirm their relationship.
On Jan. 22, Common will be a guest on “The Jennifer Hudson Show,” and he is expected to open up about his love life.
In a clip from the episode shared on the show’s official Instagram account Jan. 21, Hudson cheekily presses Common to discuss romance.
“Let’s get down to business, Mr. Common,” Hudson playfully says. “I’m a host, and so I have to ask you this question, because everybody always wants to know this. Are you dating anyone?”
The audience squeals and cheers as the 51-year-old rapper nervously giggles.
He replies, “So, yes. And I’m in a relationship that is (with) one of the most beautiful people I’ve ever met, in life.”
The crowd applauds while he continues to list specific qualities that confirm he is complimenting the singer and Academy Award-winning actor.
“She’s smart. She loves God. She has something real down-to-earth about her. She’s talented. But I set my standard kind of high because she had to have an EGOT,” he adds. “She had to win an Oscar on her first movie. I set my standard high. She had to get her own talk show.”
After hearing him praise her, Hudson, 42, said, “Oh, OK,” and adorably giggled before the video ended.
“We had a little fun and it’s great to be on ‘The Jennifer Hudson Show,’” he said. "I felt like, man, why not just be loving and honest with who I am and who we are? And it felt good."
He added that he's typically a private person who holds certain things in his life "sacred."
"So any relationships that I have are not for public consumption, but at the end of the day we were on a show. We had a good time," he continued.
When Hoda Kotb asked Common if he’s the “marrying type” and if his current relationship could be the “one,” he laughed before giving his answer.
“I feel like I have grown and the work that I have done on myself has allowed me to see that I am a marrying type. I am the type that, I'm capable and have the capacity, and if at some point in my life I may want to do that, I would know when the right time is.”
"For me, everything is divine," he added. "I work from that discernment that God speaks — when He speaks into your stomach and you feel it in your heart and your spirit, so when I would feel that, I will communicate with that person and if she's feeling that, then why not?"
The full "Jennifer Hudson Show" interview will air Jan. 22, and it seems he and Hudson may speak further about their relationship.
"This is the moment we’ve all been waiting for! Tune in tomorrow to hear @iamjhud’s response!" "The Jennifer Hudson Show" Instagram account captioneditspost.
Fans celebrated Common and Hudson’s romance in the comments.
“She was trying so hard not to blush,” one person wrote. “This is so adorable! I’m happy for them.”
Another said, “THIS WAS A SMOOTH ANNOUNCEMENT!!”
Although there had been rumors for months that the two are a couple, they had been tight-lipped about their relationship. In June, Common stopped by TODAY, and Al Roker asked him about the “Dreamgirls” star.
At the time, Common didn’t reveal if they were an item, but he did dole out another list of sweet compliments.
“I’ll say, speaking of Chicago, she’s a Chicagoan, this amazing human being — I’ve always been inspired by her,” he gushed. “She’s one of the most beautiful people I ever met on the planet. Incredible heart, and she’s just dope, man.”
He continued, “Seeing her evolve and like from an actress and singing, like just doing so many things and now her talk show. She’s amazing, she’s inspiring. I’m grateful to know her.”
Common was previously in a relationship with Tiffany Haddish. She said in an interview with The Washington Post in July 2023 that their breakup “wasn’t mutual” as he had previously implied after they split in 2021.
He has a daughter, Omoye Assata Lynn, with former partner Kim Jones.
Hudson dated James Payton from 1999 to 2007. She started dating former WWE wrestler David Otunga, and the two became engaged in 2008. They called it quits in 2017.
NEW YORK (AP) — On a quiet weekend in movie theaters, “Mean Girls” repeated atop the box office with $11.7 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday, while a handful of awards contenders sought to make an impact ahead of Oscar nominations Tuesday.
With a dearth of new releases in cinemas, Paramount Pictures’ Tina Fey-scripted musical “Mean Girls” pushed its two-week total past $50 million, along with $16.2 million internationally. So far, it’s outpacing the tally for the 2004 original “Mean Girls.”
Only one new film debuted in wide release: “I.S.S.,” a modestly budgeted sci-fi thriller starring Ariana DeBose. The film, which speculates what would happen aboard the International Space Station if war broke out between the U.S. and Russia, debuted with $3 million on 2,518 screens for Bleecker Street.
Expectations weren’t high for “I.S.S.,” which drew only so-so reviews and was lightly marketed. Audiences also didn’t like it, giving the film a “C-” CinemaScore.
But even for January, historically a low ebb for moviegoing, it was a sparsely attended weekend, with paltry options on the big screen. The top 10 films collectively accounted for just $51.3 million in box office, according to Comscore.
With a similarly thin release schedule on deck for next weekend, it could be the start of a chastening trend for Hollywood in 2024. Due to production delays caused by last year’s strikes, there are significant holes throughout this year’s movie calendar.
The Jason Statham thriller “The Beekeeper,” from Amazon MGM Studios, remained in second place, grossing $8.5 million in its second weekend to bring its total to $31.1 million. Warner Bros. “Wonka,” six weeks into its smash run in theaters, was third, with $6.4 million in ticket sales. It’s taken in $187.2 million domestically.
Also continuing to leg out was Sony Pictures’ “Anyone But You.” The rom-com starring Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell, crossed $100 million globally in its fifth week of release. It’s the highest grossing R-rated romantic comedy — a genre that has largely migrated to streaming platforms — since 2016’s “Bridget Jones’s Baby.” Domestically, it came in fourth with $5.4 million.
Much of the weekend’s action was in expanding awards contenders.
After a qualifying release in December, Ava DuVernay’s “Origin,” starring Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor as the “Caste” author Isabel Wilkerson, launched in 125 theaters and pulled in $875,000 — a strong start for the acclaimed film.
Yorgos Lanthimos’ dark fantasy “Poor Things,” starring Emma Stone, added 820 theaters and grossed $2 million from 1,400 locations. The Searchlight Pictures release, which won the Golden Globe for best comedy-musical, has earned $33.7 million globally in seven weeks of slowly expanding release.
Cord Jefferson’s “American Fiction,” starring Jeffrey Wright as a frustrated novelist, expanded to 850 screens and pulled in $1.8 million. “American Fiction,” up to $8 million in six weeks, will look for a boost in Tuesday’s Oscar nominations.
Jonathan Glazer’s Auschwitz film “The Zone of Interest” expanded to 82 screens, grossing $447,684 for A24.
But after a strong launch, another awards contender, “The Color Purple,” has quickly fallen off the radar of moviegoers. Though widely acclaimed and with the backing of producers Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg, the Warner Bros. musical has dropped fast in recent weeks. In its fourth week of release, the Blitz Bazawule-directed film starring Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson and Danielle Brooks, grossed just $720,000. Its domestic total is $59.3 million, below hopes for the $100-million budgeted film.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
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Given the warm reception in Park City, the film sparked an all-night bidding war among several distributions to land global rights, with the deal closing early Sunday morning.
Eisenberg directed “A Real Pain” in addition to starring alongside Kieran Culkin. They play cousins whose tour through Poland in honor of their grandmother sparks some serious family rivalry. Their co-stars include Will Sharpe, Jennifer Grey, Kurt Egyiawan, Liza Sadovy and Daniel Oreskes.
“A Real Pain” is one of two movies that Eisenberg is headlining at this year’s festival — the other is Bleecker Street’s wacky comedy “Sasquatch Sunset.” The actor says “A Real Pain” is an acutely personal story. In the film, the cousins end up joining a Holocaust tour, and at one point in the film, they visit a nondescript house to seek some solace.
“The house at the end is my family’s house,” Eisenberg told the audience during the premiere. “They were taken out of there in 1939.”
Searchlight Pictures plans to release “A Real Pain” theatrically this year.
“We are blown away by Jesse’s vision and craft in telling this hilarious and profound film,” said Searchlight Presidents Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum. “He tells a deeply personal story and makes it universal. We can’t wait to bring it to audiences around the world.”
Eisenberg added in a statement, “Making ‘A Real Pain’ was a true labor of love, and it has been so thrilling to premiere at Sundance. I couldn’t be more honored to work with Searchlight and to bring this story to a wider audience.”
The film was produced by Dave McCary, Ali Herting, Emma Stone for Fruit Tree, Jennifer Semler and Ewa Puszczynska.
“We are the utmost believers in Jesse as a creative voice and were thrilled to collaborate again on his second film with such ambitious scope and themes,” Stone’s Fruit Tree said in a statement. “To have another friend and beloved collaborator on board in the singular Kieran Culkin was more than we can ask for, as well as working with the amazing team at Searchlight.”
Executive producers are Ryan Heller, Jennifer Westin and Michael Bloom of Topic Studios, as well as Kevin Kelly.
“We could not be more proud of Jesse and this beautiful film, and are absolutely thrilled to re-team with David, Matthew and our friends at Searchlight on its release,” said Ryan Heller, executive VP of film and documentary at Topic Studios.
CAA Media Finance and WME Independent brokered the deal with Searchlight execs Paul Hoffman and Chan Phung. Deadline first reported news of the sale.
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Kanye West is being accused of brainwashing his wife Bianca Censori after sharing a revealing photo of her while cooking in the kitchen.
“Cream of wheat,” the “Jesus Walks” rapper, 46, captioned a photo on Instagram Saturday of the Yeezy architectural designer, 29, wearing only a leather face mask, black boots and a risqué swimsuit that fully showcased her behind.
“This is actually sickening,” one person commented.
“Why is no one seemingly intervening and helping this woman? I don’t think food is being cooked here, I think her brain is!”
Another agreed, “she’s trapped in a dangerous psychological game.”
A third chimed in, “She seems so unhappy and defeated. She’s enslaved to him and it’s really sad,” while a fourth added, “i feel so sorry for her. He’s using her for her body.”
However, not all think Censori is under West’s mind control, with some noting that she is an adult and can think for herself.
Kanye West posted a risqué photo of his wife, Bianca Censori, that shocked many of his folllowers. Instagram/@kanyewest
“it’s ALMOST like she is an adult who can make her own decisions. Ye isn’t a murderer,” one fan argued.
Another — pointing out the benefits the billionaire rapper’s wife has as well in the relationship — added, “and she’s using him for his money😭 what’s ur point.”
It’s not just social media that is concerned for Censori, though. It’s been rumored in the past that people close to her are worried about her.
“Bianca is stuck, and her friends are trying to save her, but no one can because of the blockades Kanye has put up [around her],” a source told the Daily Mail in September 2023.
“Everyone is extremely concerned. This isn’t who she is. She is an incredibly outspoken and lively person who is never one to keep her mouth shut.”
An insider then shared a few days later that friends had reportedly been able to make contact with Censori to express their opinions but she was not interested in listening to them.
Censori reportedly dismissed pals’ concerns as them being “jealous.”
“A few of her friends were finally able to reach her, but she wasn’t interested in talking, nor was she interested in anyone’s concerns for her,” a source told the Daily Mail at the time.
“She’s shut everyone out and told one of her former friends to ‘f–k off’ when they tried to ask if she was OK. She is saying that her friends are just jealous of her stardom.”
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Corralling 46 music stars – many of them the most consequential of their era – in one place, on one night, with one song to complete would be impressive today.
But to execute in a time when cell phones were rare and emails were esoteric, coordinating that many artists, agents, managers, songwriters and everyone else involved in fashioning one of the most indelible events in pop music history … well, it was a staggering feat.
That historical gathering on Jan. 28, 1985 is spotlighted in the documentary, “The Greatest Night in Pop,” which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival Friday and arrives on Netflix Jan. 29.
The 97-minute film weaves the origin of the song, written by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson, with the tick-tock of how the night-into-morning unfolded as artists worked out their vocal parts, became “hangry” (chicken and waffles from Roscoe’s was ordered) and sweetly emotional (Diana Ross asked Daryl Hall to autograph her sheet music). Original footage peeks into the creation of the recording with the all-star cast that included a baby-faced Bruce Springsteen, characteristically awkward Bob Dylan, spunky Cyndi Lauper, engaged Stevie Wonder and ponderous Paul Simon.
Kragen wanted to use Band Aid, the collective of British musicians spearheaded by Bob Geldof that achieved worldwide attention for its charity single, “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” in 1984, as a blueprint for a song with American artists.
A call from Kragen to Richie, “changed everything,” the R&B-pop superstar recalled in a current interview held at Henson Recording Studios (formerly A&M Studios), where the assembly of musicians dubbed U.S.A. for Africa recorded “We Are the World.” (New commentary also comes from other original participants including Springsteen, Lauper, Huey Lewis, Dionne Warwick and Kenny Loggins.)
The idea was sound. The implementation was challenging. And the result? Never to be duplicated.
Here are some revelations from the documentary spotlighting that one exceptional congregation withone rule from Jones, plastered on a handwritten sign above the doorway, Ted Lasso-style: “Check your egos at the door.”
Many of the biggest stars almost didn’t make the ‘We are the World’ recording session
The recording date for “We are the World” purposely dovetailed with the American Music Awards, held earlier in the evening of Jan. 28 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Richie, as if he didn’t have enough to focus on between tightening the song with Jackson and helping steer the stable of artists, also hosted and performed at the AMAs.
While the majority of singers attended the AMAs and could hop in their chauffeured cars for the 9-mile ride to A&M Studios in Hollywood after the ceremony, some schedules gave Richie heartburn.
Springsteen had wrapped the first leg of his “Born in the U.S.A.” tour the night before in snowy Syracuse but vowed to hop on a flight west.
Jones called Warwick and told her she needed to be in Los Angeles, to which she replied, “No, I’ll be in Las Vegas.”
She wound up in Los Angeles.
Even those already on site, like Lauper, a two-time winner that night at the AMAs, injected drama into the run-up.
“Cyndi came to me during the (AMAs) and said, ‘My boyfriend heard the song and he doesn’t think it will be a hit, so I can’t come,’” Richie said. “I said, ‘Cyndi, it’s pretty important for you to make the right decision.’”
“Well, nobody knew (if it would be a hit)!,” she said with a smile. “It was a great group of people, but I was so punch-drunk tired.”
The pressure mounted on Richie, who succinctly summarized, “We had one night. They’re not coming back tomorrow.”
Sheila E. felt she was used to try to get Prince
The ace percussionist and longtime friend of Prince performed “The Glamorous Life” on the AMAs and was invited by Richie to come to the studio after the show.
Prince was also at the show to collect three awards and uncork an incendiary rendition of “Purple Rain.”
At the time, he and Jackson were perceived rivals, with each leapfrogging the other on the charts and magazine stands with “Thriller” and “Purple Rain,” so, as Sheila E. said, the two of them singing on “We Are the World” would have made a potent statement.
At the studio, many musicians were murmuring about why Prince wasn’t there.
Sheila E., led to believe she’d have a solo in the song, called Prince while she was waiting and told him, “Man, you should come, it’s really cool.” The enigmatic musician was at Mexican restaurant Carlos ‘n Charlie’s and told her he would stop by if he could play a guitar solo in another room, the antithesis of the spirit of the night.
“I knew he wasn’t going to come because there were too many people,” she remembered in a current sit down at Henson Studios.
After hours passed, Sheila E. realized, “They never intended to have me sing a verse, which was a little heartbreaking.”
The lyric earmarked for Prince was given to Huey Lewis at the suggestion of Loggins.
Lewis, in a new interview, said that assignment made him so nervous, his legs started shaking.
Why wasn’t Madonna part of ‘We Are the World’?
While Kragen helped organize the throng of artists, Harriett Sternberg worked with him (among her duties was to express mail 45 cassettes of the demo Richie and Jackson recorded so artists could hear the song in advance) and recalled arguing with her boss about two of the biggest female stars at the time.
“I wanted Madonna, but Ken wanted Cyndi,” she said matter-of-factly.
It’s never explored why Madonna – a bonafide hitmaker by 1985 who presented at the AMAs – wasn’t invited to participate, but in a recent interview, producer, musician and industry insider Nile Rodgers said “some of her peers” felt she didn’t deserve a spot in the lineup.
Lauper, meanwhile, a standout with her persimmon and banana-yellow hair, stunned the group into awed silence with her bulldozer of a voice. Amusingly, she needed a couple of takes because noise from her layers of jewelry kept tarnishing the recording.
Waylon Jennings left in the middle of recording
Early in the recording process, Wonder suggests the song should include Swahili, in honor of Africa. As he spitballs phrases and chants, with Al Jarreau leaning in to suggest or correct, Waylon Jennings loses patience with the process and the inclusion of the native language.
Cameraman Ken Woo recalled in the documentary Jennings’ disgust.
“He said, ‘Ain’t no good ol’ boy ever sung Swahili. I think I’m out of here',” Woo said over footage of Jennings taking off his headphones and weaving his way through the cluster of artists and toward the door.
Richie also remembered the moment.
"(He said) ‘I’m not dealing with this. I don’t know what that means, but I’m not gonna say it'," Richie says. "We lost Waylon right there."
