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☆ College admission scandal mastermind says he now lives in a trailer park and can't get a job because of the scheme
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

In documents submitted to the court on Wednesday, prosecutors asked the judge to give Singer six years, which would be by far the longest sentence in the case. Defense attorneys asked for a year of home confinement, or a maximum of six months behind bars. “For most of my life, if not all of it, I have thrived on winning at all costs,” Singer wrote in a letter included in his defense’s sentencing memorandum. “Staggering in scope, Singer’s scheme was also breathtaking in its audacity and the levels of deception it involved,” prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memorandum. Prosecutors also asked for three years of probation, nearly $11 million in restitution to the IRS, and forfeiture of about $8.7 million.

“I Wanna Dance with Somebody” suffers from thin dialogue and predictability — dull trappings intrinsic to biopics. Naomi Ackie as Whitney Houston in "I Wanna Dance with Somebody." To wit: Whitney Houston was a Black woman — ate Black, slept Black, lived Black, cried Black, walked Black and died Black. The most peculiar aspect of this criticism is the fact that nearly all American music is Black music. While Houston has mostly elided criticism that she wasn’t Black enough or didn’t make Black music, the spirit of this indictment lives on today.

☆ How Whitney Houston’s Voice Came Back to Life
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( Neil Shah | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

In ‘Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody,’ filmmakers leaned heavily on scenes of landmark performances, including Houston’s beloved rendition of the national anthem at the 1991 Super Bowl. To play Whitney Houston, actress Naomi Ackie learned every note of the iconic pop singer’s songs. And yet, the audience doesn’t really hear her sing much. That is because it’s Houston’s voice that takes center stage in “Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” a new biopic that arrives in movie theaters on Dec. 23. By memorizing every word, every intake of breath, Ms. Ackie’s singing on set—while unheard—aims to give her role an air of authenticity.

☆ 'It's A Wonderful Life': See the classic Christmas film on the big screen this month
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-10 | by ( Jeanne Bonner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Karolyn Grimes and James Stewart in "It's A Wonderful Life." Fathom has long wanted to revive showings of “It’s A Wonderful Life,” Carey said, noting that fans have been asking for it. No film is a failure if it has fansWhat’s long delighted film historians is the fact that when “It’s a Wonderful Life” debuted, it was largely deemed a wash. As film historian Jeanine Basinger writes in her compendium, “The It’s A Wonderful Life Book,” the original idea for the film languished for years before the studio RKO sold it to Capra in 1945 for a mere $10,000. William Edmunds and James Stewart in 1946's "It's A Wonderful Life."

“Spoiler Alert” opened in U.S. theaters Dec. 2. “Women Talking” opened in select U.S. theaters Dec. 2. “The Whale” opens in U.S. theaters Dec. 9. “Babylon” opens in U.S. theaters Dec. 23. “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” opens in U.S. theaters Dec. 23.

☆ Irene Cara, ’80s pop star behind ‘Fame’ and ‘Flashdance’ theme songs, dies at 63
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-26 | by ( Paradise Afshar | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

CNN —Academy Award winner Irene Cara, best known for singing the theme songs for “Fame” and “Flashdance,” has died in her Florida home, according to a statement from her publicist made on behalf of the singer’s family. I can’t believe I’ve had to write this, let alone release the news,” Judith Moose said in a tweet announcing the singer’s death. “Please share your thoughts and memories of Irene. I’ll be reading each and every one of them and know she’ll be smiling from Heaven. She adored her fans.”Cara’s cause of death is unknown, according to Moose’s statement.

☆ Jennifer Lopez’s social media accounts have gone dark
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —What is Jennifer Lopez up to? The actress and singer’s social media went dark on Tuesday and followers are trying to figure out what it means. All of the previous posts on her verified Instagram account have been deleted and there were no new postings on her Facebook, Tik Tok and Twitter accounts. Lopez has close to 347 million followers in total, with the bulk of those - 226 million - on Instagram. Friday marks the 20th anniversary of her third studio album “This Is Me… Then,” which she dedicated to her then-beau (now husband) Ben Affleck.

☆ The Inside Story of Adele’s Vegas Wardrobe
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-19 | by ( Derek Blasberg | Photography Raven B. Varona | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

“ONE OF ADELE’S SUPERPOWERS is the ability to give you déjà vu in the right way,” says Jamie Mizrahi. The L.A.-based celebrity stylist could be talking about Adele’s musical gift, but she’s actually discussing creating looks for the singer’s Las Vegas residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, which opened last night. (Adele is performing in the same space Celine Dion once had hers.) “Even when she does something new or modern, it feels like the same Adele you first fell in love with,” says Mizrahi. “That’s the look we’re going for.”

☆ Ticketmaster apologizes to Taylor Swift and her fans for ticketing debacle
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-19 | by ( Frank Pallotta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN Business —Ticketmaster apologized to Taylor Swift and her fans late Friday night after a ticketing debacle this week that made it difficult for consumers to buy tickets to the pop star’s new tour. “We want to apologize to Taylor and all of her fans — especially those who had a terrible experience trying to purchase tickets,” the ticketing site said in the blog post. “Once we get through that, if there are any next steps, updates will be shared accordingly,” it wrote. The mea culpa comes after Swift spoke out earlier on Friday about how the situation was “excruciating” for her to watch as it unfolded into chaos. Customers complained on social media about Ticketmaster not loading, saying the platform didn’t allow them to access tickets, even if they had a pre-sale code for verified fans.

☆ B. Smyth, R&B singer, dead at 28
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Marianne Garvey | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —B. Smyth, an R&B artist who found success with his songs “Win Win” and “Twerkaholic,” has died, his brother announced on the singer’s Instagram page. “We also want to say thank you for all of your prayers. #RIPBSMYTH Love you bro!”Smyth had just released a single called “Twerkaholic, Pt.2” and had been watching fan videos while in the hospital for his condition, his brother said. “All those new TikToks and Instagram reels made him really, really happy,” he added. He released “The Florida Files” in 2013.

☆ SZA announces new album ‘S.O.S.’ slated for December release
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Five years after her breakout debut studio album “Ctrl,” R&B singer SZA is ramping up the rollout for her follow-up effort. The new project is called “S.O.S.” and is set for a December release date, according to a new Billboard interview. Her late grandmother appeared throughout the “Ctrl” album in speaking interludes and outros, often offering wise advise to her granddaughter. SZA is set to return to the “Saturday Night Live” stage on December 3 — her second appearance as a solo artist — with Keke Palmer hosting. In early November, she released a teaser video titled “PSA” featuring a new music, which fans interpreted to be an unofficial announcement that a new album was on its way.

☆ Taylor Swift tickets listed for thousands after millions flood Ticketmaster
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Frank Pallotta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN Business —Taylor Swift fans were seeing red on Tuesday when Ticketmaster was overwhelmed by demand as pre-sales for the singer’s new tour went online. The delays had many fans believing they would never, ever, get tickets (…like ever). But tickets to the pop star’s “The Eras Tour” were available Wednesday via the resale market — with some priced at tens of thousands of dollars. Tickets for Swift’s show at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on May 26 are listed for as much as $21,600 each on ticket resale site StubHub. These sky-high prices aren’t just for shows at MetLife, which is right outside New York City.

☆ Ex-Yale coach gets 5 months in college admissions bribery scandal
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

BOSTON — The former Yale University women’s soccer coach whose cooperation with authorities helped blow the lid off the nationwide college admissions bribery scandal by leading the FBI to the scheme’s mastermind was sentenced Wednesday to five months in prison. Federal prosecutors and Meredith’s defense lawyers had recommended no additional prison time beyond the one day he had already spent in custody. But U.S. District Court Judge Mark Wolf said Wednesday that Meredith’s greed and his victims warranted a stiffer sentence. Before he was sentenced, Meredith, his voice shaking, issued an apology and said he had ruined his reputation and his career because he was driven by greed and the desire to provide for his family. In addition to the prison term, Meredith was sentenced to a year of probation, fined $19,000 and ordered to forfeit more than $550,000.

CNN —Aaron Carter, a former child pop singer and younger brother of Backstreet Boys’ Nick Carter, has died, a source close to the family told CNN. Carter, who first found fame as a boy with pop songs like “I Want Candy” and “Crush on You,” is survived by his 11-month-old son, Prince. The singer’s debut studio album, “Aaron Carter,” was released in 1997 and he performed as the opening act for the Backstreet Boys earlier that year. “There’s something I’d like to say that I feel is important for myself and my identity that has been weighing on my chest for nearly half of my life,” Carter wrote on Twitter. The singer later said in an interview that he doesn’t drink and denied that he has a drug problem, CNN previously reported.

☆ Adele praises fan for pronouncing her name 'perfectly,' revealing many have been saying it wrong for years
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Samantha Kubota | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

Singer Adele is setting the record straight on how to pronounce her name. At a recent Q&A event in Los Angeles, the singer debuted her new music video, “I Drink Wine” and chatted with her fans. One British fan submitted a question via video and before answering, Adele was shocked at the perfect pronunciation of her name. The London-based fan who nailed the pronunciation had asked about the singer’s “journey to self-love while writing ‘30’” — her most recent album. I’d go to the studio and stuff like that...I felt very very safe and in safe hands within my private life,” she said.

☆ Five years ago, a circus singer called to say James Brown was murdered
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Thomas Lake | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

On the line was a woman who told me, “James Brown did not die the way they said he died. James Brown, one of the greatest entertainers in American history, died at a hospital in Atlanta in 2006, officially of natural causes. Jacque Hollander's call to Thomas Lake spurred CNN's investigation into James Brown's death. "The James Brown Mystery" is a new, eight-episode investigative podcast from CNN. She’s still convinced that someone murdered James Brown, and that someone murdered Adrienne Brown, and that the killers should be prosecuted.

☆ Jerry Lee Lewis, rock ’n’ roll pioneer who sang ‘Great Balls of Fire,’ dies at 87
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Brandon Griggs | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

And I’ve been on one all my life,” Lewis said in “Jerry Lee Lewis: His Own Story,” a 2014 biography by Rick Bragg. Jerry Lee Lewis performs on stage at the Country Music Festival held at Wembley Arena, London in April 1982. In 1989 “Great Balls of Fire!”, a biopic starring Dennis Quaid as Lewis, brought new attention to Lewis’ life and music. Jerry Lee Lewis speaks at the Country Music Hall of Fame 2022 inductees presented by CMA at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on May 17, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. Well, forget about it, let me hear that song.’”Lewis is survived by his wife, Judith Coghlan Lewis, his children Jerry Lee Lewis III, Ronnie Lewis, Pheobe Lewis and Lori Lancaster, sister Linda Gail Lewis, cousin Swaggart and many grandchildren, nieces and nephews, according to his representative’s statement.

☆ Sam Smith and Kim Petras are first nonbinary and trans artists to reach number 1 on Billboard chart
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Toyin Owoseje | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

While Smith has had eight UK number ones, including their Grammy award-winning song “Stay with Me,” this is British singer’s first on the Billboard Hot 100. Sam Smith, Kim Petras - UnholyPetras, a transgender woman, shared the news on her Instagram page, telling her 775,000 followers that she was “so grateful” for the song’s success. “Sam, I can’t thank you enough for riding with me for years at this point,” the German pop star wrote. “I’m so honored to be part of your first number one in the US which you should have 500 of at this point. In 2019, she told UK outlet Metro that while she is a transgender activist, she wants her talent, not her gender, to be the topic of conversation.

☆ Willie Spence, ‘American Idol’ Season 19 runner-up, dead at 23
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Willie Spence, a singer who as a teen went viral with his rendition of Rihanna’s hit “Diamonds” and was the runner up on Season 19 on “American Idol, has died the show confirmed in a social media posting on Wednesday. “We are devastated about the passing of our beloved American Idol family member, Willie Spence,” read the caption on a video of Spence’s “Idol” audition, posted on the show’s verified Instagram account. TMZ also reported that a family member confirmed to them that Spence died after a crash. Spence also chose to perform the song for his audition for “American Idol” in 2021. That’s where I see myself in five years.”“American Idol” fifth season runner up Katharine McPhee Foster took to her Instagram stories to post a tribute to Spence, who she met on “Idol” during his season.

☆ Madonna baffles the internet with 'I'm Gay' TikTok video
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-10 | by ( Zachary Schermele | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

A viral video of gay icon Madonna appearing to suggest that she is gay herself has taken the internet by storm. During an interview on Andy Cohen’s talk show “Watch What Happens Live!” Mizrahi suggested Bernhard and Madonna at one point had a sexual relationship. “The gay community has been incredibly supportive of me,” she told Ellen DeGeneres during a 2010 interview in which she sounded the alarm about a rise in suicides among gay teenagers. Madonna’s video resembles another recent TikTok from actress Shay Mitchell, who played a lesbian in the teen drama “Pretty Little Liars,” in which Mitchell seems to come out as bisexual. Representatives for Madonna did not immediately respond to NBC News’ request for comment.

☆ Beyoncé denies claim she misused ‘I’m Too Sexy’ sample
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-08 | by ( Zoe Sottile | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Genre-crossing superstar Beyoncé has denied allegations that she misused a sample of Right Said Fred’s “I’m Too Sexy” on her newest album. Right Said Fred described Beyoncé as “arrogant” in a comment made to the British tabloid The Sun on Tuesday. Fred Fairbrass and Richard Fairbrass of the band Right Said Fred during the ARD TV-Show "Schlagerbooom - Das Internationale Schlagerfest" at Westfalenhalle on November 2, 2019, in Dortmund, Germany. “The comments made by Right Said Fred stating that Beyoncé used ‘I’m Too Sexy’ in ‘Alien Superstar’ without permission are erroneous and incredibly disparaging,” the singer’s representative told Entertainment Weekly on Friday. Additionally, “Alien Superstar” doesn’t use any of the sound recordings from “I’m Too Sexy,” just the composition, according to the statement.

☆ Stocks week ahead: Intel is the Dow's biggest loser
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-25 | by ( Paul R. La Monica | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Shares of Intel (INTC) are down more than 45% this year, making it the biggest dog of the Dow. Intel (INTC) is struggling despite well-publicized plans to build more plants in the United States and hire more at home. To be fair, Intel is not the only chip company that’s having a tough time this year. But longer-term, I think Intel will right the ship,” said Jeff Travis, portfolio manager of Oak Associates Funds. Travis does think that semiconductor stocks are still a good “secular growth industry” and that valuations are now attractive given how sharply the stocks have fallen.

☆ Henry Kissinger’s Warning at Age 100
▼ + stars: | 1826-07-04 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Wonder Land. As the Republican presidential candidates start to offer something more than Donald Trump's various paybacks, President Biden figures running against 'MAGA' is his path to a second term. Images: AP/Getty Images Composite: Mark KellyHenry Kissinger and George Shultz were historically significant secretaries of State and fast friends, and both lived to be 100 years old. This is one of those remarkable details of history, like John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both dying on July 4, 1826. Shultz died in 2021, but Mr. Kissinger celebrates his centennial on Saturday, and may he live many more years.

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