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When Cam Amen recounts his childhood as a “bit rough,” he’s underplaying it.
The 27-year-old American Idol contestant is originally from the country’s heartland, Indianapolis, Indiana, a place where his heart was torn from him as a child.
Stepping into the room for his Idol audition, which aired Sunday night (March 26), Amen shared the gutwrenching story of a youth “in and out of foster care.” Holding back tears, he told of how “we all got taken away from our mom,” and remembered the life-changing moment when police came to his class.
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He left foster care at age 18, and took in his brother and sister for five years, with a plan to “raise them right” and get them through high school.
Now it’s his time to shine.
The singer, now living with his girlfriend in Omaha, Nebraska, tackled Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” a gem which found new fans in the mid-90s when Jeff Buckley covered it on his debut LP Grace.
Amen let it pour out, turning on the waterworks with his soulful rendition.
The three judges gave a standing ovation, and Lionel Richie walked on over to give the man a hug. “Welcome home,” Richie said. Luke Bryan was in there next, followed by Katy Perry.
“You’ve been through a lot, but the rest of your life is waiting,” the Commodores frontman explained.
“I can hardly breathe,” Bryan noted. “Your style is so beautiful, unique…every time I wanted you to do something amazing, you did it.” Bryan later told his fellow judges, “he might be the best soul singer we ever had.”
Richie pointed to an otherworldly source. “Divine guidance brought you to us. And my friend you’re going to have one heck of a ride.”
That ride will take him to LaLa Land and beyond. Amen was awarded a “Platinum” ticket, which will enable him to sit out the first round of Hollywood Week.
Watch below.
Lady Gaga was spotted rocking a Harley Quinn outfit while filming scenes for the upcoming Joker sequel.
On Saturday (March 26), the 36-year-old actress and pop star was photographed in full costume and makeup while filming scenes in New York City for filmmaker Tod Phillips’ Joker: Folie à Deux, the follow-up to his Oscar-winning 2019 movie starring Joaquin Phoenix.
In the set photos, Gaga is surrounded by a large crowd while being escorted down court building steps by Gotham City police officers. Her outfit included a red coat, white blouse with black diamonds, and a short black skirt. Onlookers are seen holding signs with messages like “Free Joker” and “Joker Marry Me.”
Although it has not yet been confirmed, Gaga is widely believed to be portraying DC character Harley Quinn in the Joker sequel.
On Feb. 14, Phillips shared a close-up photo on his Instagram of Phoenix face-to-face with Gaga‘s character. In the snapshot, Gaga holds Phoenix’s face in her hands, her eyes open wildly, with evidence on both of their red-paint-smeared faces that they’ve just kissed.
The pop star and actress confirmed her starring role in the Joker sequel in August 2022 by posting a teaser clip on her Instagram, featuring Phoenix and Gaga’s silhouettes dancing together to the song “Cheek to Cheek,” which Gaga famously covered alongside Tony Bennett.
Folie à Deux, which is currently in production, will also star Zazie Beetz, who returns as Sophie, as well as new castmembers Catherine Keener and Brendan Gleeson in yet-unknown roles.
Joker: Folie à Deux is slated to open Oct. 4, 2024.
Jon Hamm is heading to North Shore High. The actor will be joining the cast of the upcoming Mean Girls movie musical as Coach Carr, the gym teacher and bungling sex-ed teacher, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
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Hamm will star alongside Tina Fey and Tim Meadows, who will reprise their respective roles as Ms. Nordbury and Principal Duvall in the musical adaptation of the beloved 2004 film. In a recent Late Night with Seth Meyers appearance, Fey said filming for the Lorne Michaels-produced movie began earlier this month with a cast that also includes Angourie Rice (Cady Heron), Auli’i Cravalho (Janis Ian), Renée Rapp (who originated the role of Regina George on Broadway) and Jaquel Spivey (Damian).
The musical based on the teen comedy that starred Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Lacey Chabert and Amanda Seyfried was turned into a hit coming-of-age Broadway musical in 2018 with a book by Fey after making its premiere at the National Theatre in Washington, D.C. in Oct. 2017.
The musical with music from Fey’s husband, composer Jeff Richmond, and lyrics by Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde), features the songs “Where Do You Belong?,” “Meet the Plastics,” “Apex Predator,” “Stupid With Love,” “More Is Better” and “I’d Rather Be Me,” among others. Fey said the original compositions from the show will be adjusted for the film, with the actor/writer/producer promising that they will be more “pop.”
In need of some new music from your favorite queer artists? We’ve got you covered — Billboard Pride is proud to present the latest edition of Queer Jams of the Week, our roundup of some of the best new music releases from LGBTQ artists.
From Victoria Monét’s long-awaited return to Demi Lovato’s rocked-out reinvention of a classic song, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below.
Victoria Monét feat. Lucky Daye, “Smoke”
Victoria Monét is back, and she’s ready to serve up some delicious R&B with her latest single “Smoke.” The undulating, funk-filled single picks up right where Monét left off with her 2021 single “Coastin’” — with delectable bass lines accentuating her silky smooth vocals as she compares loving her to lighting up a fat blunt. With guest vocals from fellow R&B star Lucky Daye, “Smoke” is sending off a signal that you can’t ignore; Victoria Monét’s superstar era is here.
Demi Lovato, “Heart Attack (Rock Version)”
Over the last 10 years, Demi Lovato has practically become a different person than she was when she unveiled her 2013 album Demi. Just take one listen to the new rocked-out remake of their hit single “Heart Attack” and you’ll see why. The singer reimagined every aspect of the fan-favorite single, swapping out 808s and synths for fiery guitars and pounding drums, while also giving re-recording her vocals to flex her matured pipes. It’s a recontextualization that puts the old track in a brand new light, all while delivering all the thrills you could ask for.
Rina Sawayama, “Eye for an Eye”
Ahead of her co-starring role in the new John Wick movie, Rina Sawayama would like to set the tone. “Eye for an Eye” brings the hard-rock stylings that appeared more in the background of the star’s debut album Sawayama to the forefront, as she spins a tale of revenge and retribution familiar to anyone who’s seen Keanu Reaves’ deadly hitman in action.
Billy Porter, “Baby Was A Dancer”
Put on your dancing shoes, folks, because Billy Porter wants to see you getting down to his brand new disco single. The crux of “Baby Was A Dancer” is a third-person autobiographical exploration of Porter’s own upbringing, as he recalls the preachers, teachers and naysayers who tried to shame him for being who he was. But it’s on the unavoidable chorus where the Pose star gets to the meat of the matter, resolving to be himself and dance all that pain and heartache away — a feeling we in the LGBTQ community can definitely relate to right now.
Saucy Santana, “1-800-Bad-Bxtch”
Saucy Santana’s number might be toll-free, but that doesn’t mean you’re getting away without paying up. On the rapper’s latest bop, “1-800-Bad-Bxtch,” Santana takes charge by taking calls from his prospective partners, listing off one by one the things he’s looking for from a lover. Add onto that a ferocious beat and some of Saucy’s slickest verses, and you’ve got a certified banger on your hands.
Donna Missal, “Flicker”
With her frenetic new single, Donna Missal is taking advantage of the ephemeral while she still can. From the moment it starts, “Flicker” refuses to let up — a driving beat sinks into every second of the track, providing a sense of urgency that’s only ratcheted up by the increasingly chaotic production. By the time reaches its first chorus, it has already exploded into a euphoric hyperpop symphony, before Missal’s otherworldly vocals bring you right back down to start the process all over again.
MAY-A, “Your Funeral”
Self-sabotage is a pretty surefire way to wind up alone, as indie rock artist MAY-A points out on her latest track. “Your Funeral” takes on a cynical, sardonic point of view from it’s first few bars, and spends the rest of the song proving why it’s probably not the best way to approach your own love life. The banging drums and skittering guitars further punch up the declaration that “loving me is your funeral,” before using an excellently crafted bridge to get real about self-doubt and lowered expectations.
Wrabel, “One Drink Away”
Sobriety is a life-long journey — which means that it’s also a life-long struggle. That’s the argument that Wrabel poignantly sends home on his deeply personal new song “One Drink Away.” Looking back on his life before getting sober, Wrabel perfectly communicates the mixed feelings of dread at the person he was and frustration at how hard it is to maintain the person he is now. It’s only a further testament to the singer-songwriter’s skill with his pen that in just 3 short minutes, he can translate the struggles of staying clean with such eloquence on this heartbreaking single.
Check out all of our picks on Billboard’s Queer Jams of the Week playlist below:
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“Dream big, walk confidently.” J Cole’s Dreamville Records imprint is teaming up with Crocs on a collegiate collaboration that serves as a reminder to chase your dreams.
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Released on Thursday (March 23), the Dreamville x Crocs collab includes the Classic Clog ($69.99), Classic Slides ($39.99) and 13 Jibbitz charms ($49.99). The charms are designed to look like chenille letters and spell out the word “dream,” along with pennant banner charms showcasing the Dreamville logo and celebrating cities such as Atlanta, North Carolina, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Chicago and New York.
“We took a spin at the Classic Clog,” Dreamville tweeted on Thursday along with a video introducing the new collection, which is available online at Crocs.com, Dreamville and Amazon in women’s sizes 6-12 and men’s sizes 4-13.
If you wear a half size, Crocs recommends sizing down for the best fit. Crocs clogs and slides feature the brand’s signature lightweight and comfortable design with ventilation ports that add breathability and help shed water and debris quickly.
The Dreamville x Crocs collab comes just in time for the annual Dreamville Music Festival taking place April 1-2 at Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh, N.C. Usher, J. Cole, Drake and Burna Boy will headline the two-day festival featuring performances from Lil Durk, Ari Lennox, City Girls, GloRilla, Sean Paul, Earthgang, Summer Walker, J.I.D., BAS, Baby Tate and Waka Flocka Flame.
This latest pairing is in a long list of collaborations between Crocs and musicians, including Luke Combs, SZA, Karol G, BTS, Justin Bieber, Diplo, Post Malone and Bad Bunny.
Shop the Dreamville x Crocs collection below.
Crocs
Dreamville x Crocs Classic Clog
$69.99
Crocs
Crocs Unisex-Adult Dreamville X Crocs Classic Slides, Multi, 6 US Men
$39.99
Dreamville x Crocs
$49.99
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It’s a Taylor Swift takeover! Swifties have been on cloud nine since The Eras Tour officially kicked off last week and will resume in Las Vegas on Friday (March 24).
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Several photos from the tour went viral, including a cup of “Lavender Haze” lemonade sold during Swift’s Eras Tour kickoff at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. The “Bad Blood” Sangria made its rounds on social media as well, but the Swift-inspired specialty lemonade seems to be a fan favorite — and it also happens to be a great beverage for spring.
How do you make lavender lemonade? It’s easier than you might think. To start, you’ll need around 3/4 ounce to one ounce of lavender syrup, a cup or more of lemonade (fresh or store-bought) and roughly half a cup to a cup of sugar. You can also substitute sugar with honey.
A Swiftie apparently shared the “official” Purple Haze Lemonade recipe from The Eras Tour on TikTok earlier in the week. The ingredients include, Empress gin, lemon juice, Falernum liqueur, rhubarb bitters and Elderflower tonic water.
We searched TikTok and Reddit to find other lavender lemonade recipes such as the “Lavender Haze” lemonade cocktail that was posted last October after Swift dropped her Midnights album.
The cocktail is made with dried lavender, fresh lemon juice, lemonade, lavender syrup, club soda and Empress 1908 Gin.
Liudmyla Yaremenko/GI
To make a non-alcoholic lavender lemonade, simply mix lavender simple syrup with lemonade, water and sugar (you can also add a non-alcoholic gin or vodka to make into a mocktail).
While there are plenty of lavender syrups in stores and online, such as Torani Lavender Syrup and Monin Lavender Syrup, you can also make your own at home. To do so, boil 1-2 cups of dried lavender flowers in a pot of with sugar and water (1:1 ratio). Once the lavender steeps, use a strainer to pour it in a cup, so the lavender buds don’t get into the liquid. Next, mix the lavender simple syrup with 1-2 cups of lemonade or more, depending on how much you’re making, add 1-2 cups of cold water, stir and refrigerate or serve over ice (you can also add a lavender flower as garnish).
Want more Swift-inspired recommendations? Read our roundup of outfits inspired by The Eras tour.
Lil Nas X may be known for his no-holds-barred online personality, but even his fans are letting him know to pump the breaks following a recent tweet.
On Wednesday (March 22), Lil Nas tweeted out a simple message to his followers: “where do the gays be in africa,” he wrote. “i wanna come there.”
Fans quickly pointed out that the timing of the rapper’s tweet wasn’t great, especially considering a new law in Uganda punishing homosexuality.
The Ugandan parliament passed a sweeping anti-LGBTQ law on Wednesday, criminalizing “identifying as LGBTQ+, or the so-called promotion of gay identity,” according to a report from NPR. Performing sexual acts with a person of the same sex was already illegal in Uganda, but the new law would punish the mere act of identifying as queer with up to 20 years in prison, or the death penalty in cases of “aggravated homosexuality” — a broad definition that includes “repeat offenders,” having sex with an HIV-positive person and more.
A number of users responded to Lil Nas’ tweet pointing to the new Ugandan law. “The Uganda gays need love and solidarity today,” wrote singer-songwriter Simon Curtis, while another person wrote, “nah bro. stay home, be safe.” Others called out the “Industry Baby” rapper’s statement through quote tweets, with one fan asking that he “read the room,” while another pointed out his “terrible timing.”
The latest backlash comes shortly after Lil Nas X published an apology for another tweet he posted joking that he had transitioned. “apologies to the trans community i def handled that situation with anger instead of considering why it was not cool,” he wrote. “much love to you guys. sorry.”
Check out Lil Nas X’s tweet below:
where do the gays be in africa i wanna come there— pussy (@LilNasX) March 22, 2023
Dear Mama: The Saga of Afeni & Tupac Shakur is set to arrive on FX in April, and ahead of its release, the television company dropped a second trailer for the docuseries on Wednesday (March 22), which further details late hip-hop icon Tupac Shakur and the relationship he had with his activist mother, Afeni Shakur, who died in 2016.
Early footage of a teenage Shakur plays in the trailer, and highlights him talking about his mother’s teachings. “My mother taught me to analyze society and not be quiet. My mother was a Black Panther and she was really involved in the movement,” he said.
Baby photos of the rap great and black-and-white shots of Afeni sharing knowledge of the Black Panther’s message to crowds, being escorted by police and sitting in for hearings are also included. “It was very difficult for me to be a mom, but I knew very well how to protect my children,” she explains, adding that she did not want him to know what it was like to go to jail, as she’d been many times herself. “I think my mother knew that freedom wouldn’t come in her lifetime, just like I know that it won’t come in mine,” Tupac says, shortly after.
Afeni’s Black Panther work resulted in her and Tupac having an awkward relationship at times, the rapper shared as a teen: “We never spent time together because she was always speaking and going to colleges. And then after that was over, it was more time spent with me. And we were both just like ‘You’re my mother,’ and she was like, ‘You’re my son, and what do we do?’”
Ultimately, Afeni moved her family out to Baltimore in 1984, where Tupac’s life took a rough turn. “My mama was a crack addict. I ended up in Baltimore on welfare with no lights on,” adult Tupac angrily tells a crowd of people.
Dear Mama is “told through the eyes of the people who knew them best,” a previous news release from FX stated. “An intimate wide-angle portrait of the most inspiring and dangerous mother-son duo in American history, whose unified message of freedom, equality, persecution and justice are more relevant today than ever.”
The documentary series, which was announced in 2019, is scheduled to arrive on April 21 on FX, and will later stream on Hulu.
Watch the new trailer for Dear Mama: The Saga of Afeni & Tupac Shakur above.
An ‘80s TV star had to jump as The Masked Singer went country on Wednesday night (March 22).
Holly Robinson Peete, the author, singer and actress who made her name on 21 Jump Street, alongside a young Johnny Depp, was one of two celebrities unmasked on “Country Night”.
Dressed to impress as Fairy, the multi-hyphenate performed “Angel of Montgomery” by Bonnie Raitt, then engaged in a head-to-head “Battle Royale” with Macaw on Shania Twain’s hit “That Don’t Impress Me Much.”
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Sadly, for Robinson Peete, one had to go home.
“How did you not know it was me,” she questioned Nick Cannon and the four panelists. No hard feelings.
“I’ve so enjoyed this,” she enthused. “This was a lot of fun.”
So why do the show? “I’ve always been sort of a closet singer.” It turns out, she sang the theme for 21 Jump Street, and gave an impromptu example for the cameras.
This isn’t her first rodeo. Robinson Peete won “Sesame Street Night,” and her dad, we learned, is Matt Robinson, the original Gordon from the beloved kids show. Dad used to talk to Oscar the Grouch, daughter got to sing to the trash dude. “Talk about a full circle moment,” she remarked.
Earlier, Axolotl performed Leann Rimes’ “Can’t Fight the Moonlight”.
She couldn’t fight the unmasking, though. Under the helmet was five-time WWE women’s champion Alexa Bliss.
Despite crunching rivals on the canvas for a living, singing for an audience is well-outside her comfort zone. “This was something that was personal for me because I have actually crippling stage-fright when it comes to singing,” she explained.
“I actually cried backstage before coming out here because I was just so nervous. But I am just so proud of myself because I conquered my fears. And y’all were so great.”
Bliss added, “I deal with anxiety and this was something that I wanted to show I can make myself proud.” And for those of us with fears, some advice: “Do something every day that scares you because I did that today and it was so fun.”
Robinson Peete and Bliss join a growing group of unmasked celebrities in this season nine of Fox’s wacky hit. Others include Malin Akerman (Squirrel), Lele Pons (Jackalope), Michael Bolton (Wolf), Grandmaster Flash (Polar Bear), Debbie Gibson (Night Owl), Howie Mandel (Rock Lobster), Sara Evans (Mustang) and Dick Van Dyke (Gnome).
Back in her own little corner… or make that kingdom! Brandy revisited her role as Cinderella in a new teaser for Descendants: The Rise of Red released on Wednesday (March 22).
The clip features the R&B legend — who originally graced the screen as the iconic princess in the 1997 TV movie Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella — wearing a regal, voluminous gown of baby blue and matching overcoat with her hair in a long, blue braid. She even reunites with her co-star Paolo Montalban, who’s now graduated from Prince to King Charming.
Brandy’s casting was first revealed back in November when the project was announced as a Descendants spin-off titled The Pocketwatch. At the time, the movie musical was purportedly centered around Red, the daughter of the Queen of Hearts, and Chloe, the daughter of Cinderella and Charming — but there’s no word yet on whether any plot points may have changed along with the new title.
The artist known as the Vocal Bible last returned to her Disney princess roots in summer 2022 for the original film’s 25th-anniversary reunion special, which also featured interviews with Montalban, Whoopi Goldberg, Victor Garber, Bernadette Peters, Jason Alexander and more. “I remember like it was yesterday,” she said of working with the late Whitney Houston on the beloved movie.
She also performed a medley of Cinderella tracks such as “The Sweetest Sound,” “In My Own Little Corner,” “Impossible,” “A Lovely Night” and “Ten Minutes Ago” for one of Todrick Hall’s viral videos during the pandemic.
Get a first look at Brandy’s on-screen reunion with Montalban as Cinderella and King Charming below.