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American Idol is down to its top 24, and next week’s episode will feature a star-studded list of performers. Teddy Swims, Lauren Spencer Smith and Paul Russell are all set to take the stage on the three-hour April 14 episode of the singing competition series, where the top 20 will be revealed. Swims is fresh […]
At this point in his career, Keith Urban is a singing competition pro. He was a vocal coach on three seasons of the Australian edition of The Voice, and spent four seasons as a judge on American Idol.
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That’s why he was the perfect selection for a mega mentor on season 25 of NBC’s The Voice, helping the contestants prepare for the Knockout Rounds starting on April 8. “It’s such a family vibe on The Voice,” the “Blue Ain’t Your Color” singer tells Billboard, noting that he loved working with coaches Chance the Rapper and John Legend, as well as his fellow country stars Reba McEntire and Dan + Shay.
As a veteran of the singing competition space, he knows that mentorship is personal, opting against “blanket advice” for the contestants. “You have to meet each artist where they’re at. What’s consistent is knowing what advice to take or to discard,” he explains. “I’m sure the coaches would agree that nobody has all the answers. Particularly, if you’re doing something unique, chances are that nobody understands yet. A lot of artists get a lot of ‘You have to change this and change that.’ Sometimes, you don’t have to change anything at all. You have to keep working and make a better version of what already is.”
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Navigating advice from all directions is a “challenge” Urban himself experienced throughout his career, adding that it’s important to be selective with your inner circle. “You can be really stubborn and immovable on certain things but that’s going to keep you stuck. Then, other times, you’d hear someone’s advice and think maybe that’s what you should do and you do it and then you find yourself to be lost and that the advice didn’t work for you,” he says. “For me, the most important thing was having people around me that I trust. Honestly, even family and friends will often have a little bias — positive or negative. You can have some friends that are super jealous or they might have a bias and they’ll give you advice that’s actually not very good. Having people around me that I really, really trust their opinions helped the most in my career.”
As for McEntire and Dan + Shay’s country takeover on The Voice, Urban isn’t surprised. “It’s reflective of the growing popularity of country music as a genre, not just nationally but all around the world,” he says proudly. “It’s extraordinary watching it take off like it’s doing.”
While he’s helping aspiring artists at the beginning of their careers, the four-time Grammy winner is continuing his own illustrious career, as he’s slated to soon release a new album, which will include the songs “Straight Line” and “Messed Up As Me.”
“It’s always fun for me,” he says when asked how he stays passionate about making music after all these years. “I know it sounds crazy, but I get more excited now to write a song than I ever did. Even making the current record was a crazy mix of fear, excitement, discovery, curiosity, passion — just everything. I went through everything with this record, because I’ve never made this record. I’ve never seen this day. We’ve had plenty of fun but we’ve never had this one. And that’s just how I live my life. Every single day is a brand new blank canvas.”
He also stressed the importance of staying in touch with how he felt when he was first beginning his journey in music. “A quick example is when I went into the record company to play my new album the other day for about 50 people,” he recalls. “I wanted to print out the lyrics to every song and while it was a lot of work, I didn’t want to have somebody do it and I wanted to do it myself. So, I stapled all the lyrics together and put together this massive presentation. It felt like putting up my own posters at the beginning of my career. If you lose that feeling, you do start to become jaded and you get bored and your passion just disappears. For me, my passion stays so long as I keep doing the things I did at the beginning and it keeps it exciting.”
Catch Urban during The Voice Knockouts, which begin on Monday (April 8) at 8 p.m. ET on NBC, before it streams the following day on Peacock.
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Brandy Hellville & The Cult of Fast Fashion, a new documentary taking viewers behind the scenes of the popular Brandy Melville clothing brand, premieres Tuesday (April 9) on HBO.
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According to a press release from Warner Bros. Discovery, “Candid interviews with former employees and fashion insiders, as well as troubling accounts from former executives, reveal a troubling toxic work environment and discriminatory recruiting methods at the company and shed light on the inner workings of a business that flourished by setting impossible beauty standards on social media and in real life for its customers and employees.”
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Brandy Melville rose to fame during the 2010 Tumblr era and become one of the most popular brands for teens and young girls with nearly 100 stores in over 15 countries and over 80 cities worldwide. With the help of a “calculated social media presence,” the brand promoted an “unattainable aesthetic” using employees and shoppers known as “Brandy Girls,” per the news release.
Former Brandy Melville employees and executives, investigative journalist Kate Taylor, and former Teen Vogue fashion editor Alyssa Hardy are featured in the documentary directed by Eva Orner.
Brandy Hellville & The Cult of Fast Fashion is produced by Jonathan Chinn and Simon Chinn. David Kraemer is line producer, Nick Higgins is director of photography and Claire Didier edited the documentary, which features original music by Cornel Wilczek.
Read on for more ways to watch and stream online without cable.
How to Watch Online
Brandy Hellville & The Cult of Fast Fashion will premiere Tuesday, April 9, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and stream on Max.
If you don’t have cable access, you can stream HBO shows, documentaries and more on Max and other platforms such as DirecTV Stream, Prime Video and Hulu.
Max costs $9.99 per month for ad-supported streaming on two devices, plus content from HBO and other cable networks such as TLC, TBS, TNT, HGTV and OWN.
Join today and save over 40% off when you subscribe to a Max annual plan and prepay upfront. The discount cuts the price to approximately $5.83 per month. This limited offer ends on April 9.
Looking for a free trial to Max? You can land one through third parties such as DirectTV Stream, which offers Max, Paramount+ with Showtime and other channels for free when you subscribe to DirecTV’s Premier plan.
DirecTV subscribers can add Max to other streaming plans for an additional fee. Plans start at just $69.99 per month after a free trial for five days. Click here for more ways to land a free trial to Max.
Some of the shows and documentaries streaming on Max include Quiet on Set, Mean Girl Murders, 90 Day Fiance: Happily, Ever After and HBO originals such as, The Regime, Succession, Euphoria, Barry, Hacks, And Just Like That and The White Lotus. You can also stream movies on Max including Wonka, The Zone of Interest, Mean Girls and Priscilla.
Watch the trailer for Brandy Hellville & The Cult of Fast Fashion below.
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Azealia Banks is playing matchmaker, and she wants to see Tyler, the Creator and Lil Nas X become music’s newest power couple.
Banks posted a lengthy message to Instagram on Sunday (April 7) explaining why she hopes the two talented creatives join forces romantically.
“I really think Tyler the creator and lil nas x should get over their obsession with broke white bussy and become a power couple,” she wrote. “I think the sensationalism of successful black gay men toting trailer a– rent man hookers as arm candy is played , predictable and they’re both obviously being objectified and plotted on by these boys for hire.”
“It would be way more monumental to see [two] young black gay men as an item. Even just for aesthetic reasons,” she added.
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The Harlem native continued to harp on why Tyler and Lil Nas “would shift culture so hard”: “Tyler can teach lil nas x how to rap so he can stop doing his Azealia Banks impression and fire all these weird white creative directors who obviously have no point of references or respect for the nuance, sheer musical opulence and political groundwork laid out for him to inherit.”
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Tyler hopped into Banks’ comment section laughing at the whirlwind of emotions from AB. “lmfao what the hell,” he wrote seemingly caught off-guard; the comment has earned more than 6,000 likes as of press time.
The Grammy-winning rapper has long been coy about his love life, but comedian Jerrod Carmichael recently opened up about how Tyler rejected his advances during an episode of his new reality show Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show.
“I fell in love with my best friend. one out of 10, don’t recommend,” Carmichael said on the program. “I knew I had to tell him. Things started getting kind of weird between us. I had these feelings… So I texted him. I remember saying, ‘I know you didn’t ask for this, but somewhere down the line I developed feelings for you and I don’t know what to do with that.’ Then I immediately turned my phone off and went into therapy. [Tyler] sent me a voice note. I was so nervous. It was like six seconds … He said, ‘Hahahaha, you stupid b–h.’ And I don’t really know what that means.”
Carmichael wanted Tyler to be his date to the Emmy Awards, but the California native declined the invitation. However, they hashed things out publicly during an interview together on the show. “It’s because I told you I had feelings for you, and we didn’t talk about it, ever,” Carmichael explained. “I feel like you left me hanging out there a little bit.”
Tyler replied with a laugh. “I did. Yeah, I did. And I think I just, like, brushed it off,” he said. “Getting news like that and then avoiding it is a way to avoid change.”
The IGOR rapper said he looks at Carmichael — who narrated on Tyler’s 2019 album — as “truly family” and a “brother.”
It’s official! The Boss’ life is coming to the big screen.
20th Century Studios and Disney announced on Monday (April 8) that they will produce and distribute the upcoming Bruce Springsteen biopic, Deliver Me From Nowhere, which chronicles the making of the rocker’s 1982 album, Nebraska. Additionally, The Bear star Jeremy Allen White is in talks to portray Springsteen in the film.
The biopic is based on Warren Zanes’ 2023 book, Deliver Me from Nowhere: The Making of Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska, and will feature involvement from Springsteen himself as well as his manager Jon Landau. Per a press release, Scott Cooper will direct the film, while Ellen Goldsmith-Vein and Eric Robinson will produce alongside Cooper, Zanes and Scott Stuber.
“Warren Zanes’ Deliver Me From Nowhere is one of the best books ever written about Bruce Springsteen and his music,” said Landau in a press statement. “Bruce and I are thrilled that Scott Cooper has chosen to write and direct the film based on that book – we think he’s the perfect filmmaker for the job. Scott, with producers Ellen Goldsmith-Vein and Eric Robinson at The Gotham Group, and Scott Stuber are bringing together a superb team to ensure that this project has the vision and soul that have been the hallmark of Bruce’s 55-year career. We’re thrilled to have the wholehearted commitment and support of the entire team at 20th and Disney.”
Cooper added, “I once read that Nebraska is an album that moves you to the marrow of your bones. I couldn’t agree more. Bruce Springsteen, and Nebraska, in particular, have had a profound impact on me and my work. Through themes of despair, disillusionment, and the struggles of everyday Americans, Bruce has formed an unparalleled legacy, painting an unflinching portrait of the human condition. Yet, amidst the darkness, a sense of resilience and a sense of hope shines through, reflecting an indomitable spirit. That’s the Bruce I’ve come to know and love and will honor with this film. Warren Zanes’ wonderful telling of this chapter in Bruce’s life is ripe for cinematic adaptation. This film has the potential to be a transformative cinematic experience, offering audiences a window into the soul of Bruce Springsteen and the universal truths that bind us all together.”
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Springsteen has previously said that Nebraska, his sixth studio album, is his most definitive work. “If I had to pick out one album and say, ‘This is going to represent you 50 years from now’ I’d pick Nebraska,” he told CBS Sunday Morning in 2023. The project peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 albums chart dated Oct. 30, 1982.
Production for Deliver Me From Nowhere is set to begin in the fall.
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Bad Bunny is traveling solo for Gucci’s latest Valigeria campaign. The 30-year-old rapper hits the airport carrying luggage from Gucci’s Savoy collection, now available in a range of vibrant colors to spice up your travel season.
The fashion house posted footage of the campaign on X on Saturday (April 6) with the caption, “Bad Bunny takes a trip with the House’s signature luggage-in hand in the latest Gucci Valigeria campaign.”
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The “Monaco” singer is no stranger to travel. He’s currently on the road for his Most Wanted Tour, which stops in Washington, D.C., on April 9 and Brooklyn Barclay’s Center on April 11, 12 and 13.
Gucci’s Savoy collection of duffle bags, backpacks, trolleys and accessories are available in the fashion houses’s signature GG monogram motif with accents of bright blue, florescent pink, orange and green.
The new drop includes the GG Rubber Effect Duffle ($3,700) in bright blue leather. Made from GG rubber-effect leather, the fluorescent duffle bag features polyester lining, two zippered pockets, an adjustable shoulder strap and a removeable ID tag.
GG Rubber-Effect Large Duffle Bag, Bright Blue Leather
The GG rubber effect duffle measures 20.5 x 13 inches x 11 inches, making it roomy enough to take on a trip for spring break, music festival season, summer vacation and other travel excursions. The bag is available in blue, black and in Gucci’s monogram print with bright blue leather trim.
Gucci’s Valigeria campaign was conceived by Gucci creative director, Sabato De Sarno. Bad Bunny starred in part one of Gucci’s Valigeria with Kendall Jenner last year. The duo reportedly split in December, though neither confirmed that they were dating. Jenner also appears solo in Gucci’s new Valigeria campaign showcasing the women’s collection.
Shop the collection here.
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Aoki Lee Simmons was spotted enjoying beach time with a much older beau, and her disgraced father Russell Simmons appeared supportive in social media posts.
Last week, Aoki Lee Simmons was spotted at the beach on the island of St. Barts in the company of restauranteur Vittorio Assaf, indulging in heavy public displays of affection including sharing kisses. The 21-year-old model and Harvard University graduate is the youngest daughter of rap mogul Russell Simmons and former model and entrepreneur Kimora Lee Simmons. Assad, 65, co-founded the Serafina Restaurant Group in New York City.
In the recently released photos, Simmons and Assaf could be seen frolicking, with the restauranteur taking pictures of Simmons in various poses. Notably, it was reported that the photographs of the excursion showed up on Aoki Lee Simmons’ Instagram page – with Assaf not being shown in any of them. “Girls (possibly mermaids!) on film,” she wrote in the caption of one photo, sporting an olive green bikini.
An unnamed source did confirm that the two were seeing each other in People Magazine, saying that they were “enjoying each others’ company.” Simmons also recently was in Assaf’s hometown of Milan, Italy during their fashion week in February.
Aoki would then talk about the pair in an Instagram Live session and referred to Assaf as her “boyfriend” while seeming to be intoxicated, which garnered some brushback from fans concerned over the wide age disparity between her and Assaf. “Shes actually giving little girl energy and it’s making it extremely creepy,” one person reportedly commented. Assaf made headlines in 2021 after his now ex-wife Charlotte Bonstrom left him for the ex-husband of her twin sister.
The relationship between Russell Simmons and his daughters has been rocky with Aoki even calling her dad out for abusive behavior online but the 66-year-old Def Jam Records founder seemed to be supportive of his youngest daughter’s new relationship in photos that he shared on his Instagram Stories over the weekend. “Happy Sunday,” he wrote with one photo of Aoki and her sister, Ming when they were children that he shared. He also shared a photo of himself and Aoki in another Instagram post, writing: “Throwback from last fathers day nyc …bode bikram yoga express class .. vegan lunch cryotherapy vitamin drip … all around amazing day ❤️ @aokileesimmons love you always”
The iconic amp maker Marshall is offering up an iconic deal right now, with its best-selling Major IV Headphones available for just $96 on Amazon. Regularly $150+, this is the first time these wireless headphones have been under $100, and the cheapest price we’re seeing for the retro-inspired cans online. Explore Explore See latest videos, […]
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When it comes to online shipping, the weekend is good time to dig for discounts. According to a recent report, people tend to shop more on Saturdays and Sundays, which makes since because most people are at home on the weekends (and pay day usually falls on Fridays for most workers).
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Before the clock winds down on your weekend, we searched through some of the biggest spring sales to find the eight best clothing sales to shop before the weekend ends. The list includes $13 cargo pants, $15 men’s T-shirts and other savings of up to 48% off.
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See below for a roundup of deals on denim shorts, T-shirts, jeans and other seasonal essentials from retailers such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Nike, Nordstrom, REI, Revolve, Walmart and Amazon.
Abercrombie & Fitch
Abercrombie & Fitch Curve Love High Rise Mom Short
$40
$48
17% off
‘Tis the season for jean shorts. If you’re looking for affordable festival season wear, Abercrombie’s Love High Rise Mom Shorts checks both boxes. The shorts are available in multiple sizes and washes including black and blue denim.
REI
Patagonia Houdini Women’s Jacket
$64.93
$109
40% off
For running or casual wear, Patagonia‘s Houdini Women’s Jacket at REI is a lightweight, weather-resistant jacket that shoppers can’t stop buying. It’s made from recycled ripstop nylon, a water-resistant material typically used to make things like sails for boats, sleeping bags and flags. Save up to 40% off Patagonia‘s Houdini Women’s Jacket at REI in select colors.
Amazon
Carhartt Men’s Loose Fit Heavyweight Short-Sleeve Pocket T-Shirt
$14.99
$19.99
25% off
Stocking up on men’s T-shirts? This Carhatt tee is available in 23 colors including black, blue, white, green, grey and red.
Walmart
Celebrity Pink Women’s Cargo Pants
$12.97
$18.50
30% off
Hot deal! These $13 cargo pants are part of Walmart’s spring savings. The pants are available in pink and dusty olive and in sizes ranging from XS-XXXL.
Nike
Nike Sportswear Club Fleece
$33.97
$65
48% off
Nike’s Sportswear Fleece Pullover is so popular that it’s almost out of stock, but you can find it on sale at select retailers including Nike and Dick’s Sporting Goods. The hoodie comes in over a dozen colors including white, black, green, tan, brown, yellow and red.
Levi’s
Levi’s Low Pro Women’s Jeans
$49.50
$79.50
38% off
We can thank Beyoncé for making Levi’s jeans go viral and for boosting the company’s stock by 20 percent. You can get a pair of Levi’s jeans for $49.50 when you buy two or more. Plus, save up to 30% off select styles at Levis.com.
Revolve
Superdown Nicola Open Back Romper
$55
$84
35% off
We love a romper, but especially one that’s on sale. The design pictured above is a silk romper with an open-back silhouette (available in sizes XXS-XL). Check out Revolve’s sale page for more discounts.
Nordstrom
Open Edit Relaxed Fit Blazer
$59.63
$79.50
25% off
An oversized, relaxed fit blazer should be a closet staple for every season. This Open Edit blazer is on sale at Nordstrom in five colors including black, tan, blue hydrangea, blue illusion and cayenne.
For more product recommendations, check out our lists of new beauty drops to shop for spring 2024 and the perfect footwear for festival season.
Kristen Wiig has officially become a member of the Five-Timers Club at Saturday Night Live.
The actress and comedian returned to Studio 8H on April 6, marking her fifth time hosting the long-running sketch comedy show. During her opening monologue, the Palm Royale star was welcomed into the prestigious group by some huge celebrities — many of whom weren’t actually Five-Timers themselves.
The cameo-filled segment started with Paul Rudd, who popped up from the audience wearing a Five-Timers Club jacket he received in 2021. “I also heard a rumor that you might be doing one of those Five-Timers sketches featuring awesome celebrity cameos,” the Ant Man actor told Wiig. “So is there a script or something I could look at for that?”
After Wiig broke the news that the evening’s episode wouldn’t feature a Five-Timers Club skit, former SNL writer Paula Pell stood up to note that the NBC show hands out Five-Timers Club jackets “to everybody like free maxi pads.” Proving her point, Matt Damon appeared wearing one of the dark blue coats despite the fact that he’s only hosted SNL twice.
Damon boasted that SNL creator Lorne Michaels told him “the first time I hosted was so good, it counted for three. Second time, not quite as good, that only counted for two, but by my math, that’s five, baby!”
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Wiig then questioned whether the Five-Timers Club held anymore meaning before the camera cut to Michaels surrounded by Jon Hamm, Fred Armisen, Will Forte and Martin Short — all of whom wore the jackets despite not having hosted five times. “Together, we’ve hosted five times,” Forte said.
As the monologue closed, with Wiig being serenaded by the celebs, Ryan Gosling — who is set to host next week’s SNL — made a cameo wearing the Five-Timers coat, even though he has not hosted the appropriate amount of times. “Are you sure?” the Barbie star asked Michaels. “I mean, I haven’t even hosted three times yet. It seems unfair.”
The monologue ended with Gosling handing Wiig her very own Five-Timers jacket.
Earlier in the show, English songstress RAYE made her musical guest debut on SNL, performing a pair of songs from her Brit Award-winning debut album, My 21st Century Blues.
Watch Wiig’s SNL monologue below. For those without cable, the broadcast streams on Peacock, which you can sign up for at the link here. Having a Peacock account also gives fans access to previous SNL episodes.
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