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Liza Minnelli is getting ready to tell her story, her way. The legendary singer and actress is preparing a memoir for the spring 2026 that the 78-year-old EGOT icon said in a statement comes after a lifetime of requests to spill the tea.
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“Since I was old enough to put pencil to paper, people asked me to write books about my career … my life … my loves … my family,” said Minnelli in an announcement on Tuesday (August 6) from the book’s publisher, Grand Central Publishing. “Absolutely not! ‘Tell it when I’m gone!’ Was my philosophy. So, why did I change my mind? A sabotaged appearance at the Oscars, in front of billions of people … a film with twisted half-truths … a recent miniseries that just didn’t get it right. All made by people who didn’t know my family, and don’t really know me. Finally, I was mad as hell! Over dinner one night, I decided, it’s my own damn story … I’m gonna share it with you because of all the love you’ve given me.”
The memoir was written with contributions from two Pulitzer Prize winners, two-time George Polk Award winner Heidi Evans and veteran Los Angeles Times correspondent and arts/entertainment/politics reporter Josh Getlin, as well as Tony winner and Minnelli’s longtime friend performer and music historian Michael Feinstein.
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“I turned to my most beloved friend, Michael Feinstein and yelled: ‘Help!’ We’ve been joined at the hip for 40 years. As Ambassador of the Great American Songbook and my absolute favorite collaborator, Michael’s one of the greats, he’s razor-sharp and, and he tells the truth,” Minnelli continued. “That’s important because, as I fly towards my eighth decade of living, memories differ… This tome has a unique place in history. Most of you don’t know how far back we go. The Minnellis have been in show business for literally hundreds of years!”
The book promises to trace Minnelli’s path from her early years in the spotlight as the daughter of the beloved singer/performer Judy Garland and film director Vincent Minnelli, through her Oscar-winning rise to global fame as Sally Bowles in the 1972 movie musical Cabaret. It will also touch on Minnelli’s long career as an interpreter of the Great American Songbook, her struggle with drugs and alcohol and serious illness and a late-career resurgence as the belovedly daffy Lucille “Lucille Two” Austero on fourth season of the sitcom Arrested Development.
A description of the book from “one of the most iconic and enduring figures in entertainment history,” describes a journey from Minnelli’s early days as a teenage stage performer through her “high-octane marriages and struggles with substance abuse, this memoir offers an intimate look at the star we cherish. It reveals the raw and triumphant experiences that have solidified her status as one of the most compelling performers ever in entertainment history.”
The book, which will be published in hardcover print, e-book and audio editions in spring 2026, will pull back the curtain on what GCP senior vice president and editor-in-chief Colin Dickerman said is a fascinating life that has long transfixed Minnelli’s fervent fans. “From the moment she was born, people have been telling Liza’s story,” Dickerman said. “She is now, after a life of many dizzying triumphs and some terrifying lows, finally ready to tell it herself. Grand Central is absolutely thrilled to help bring this book into the world.”
Tony winner Feinstein’s contribution is described as highlighting Minnelli’s most significant contributions to the American Lexicon, with an audio edition that will feature bonus content with never-released autobiographical “recordings and musings” that the longtime friends have been working on for 15 years. In addition to her Grammy-winning recordings, Minnelli also made her mark in movies (New York, New York, Arthur) TV (Liza With a ‘Z’: A Concert For Television) and her legendary stage runs at New York’s Carnegie Hall and Radio City Music Hall.
“Today, after incredible events and life-threatening battles … I am truly ‘Lady Peaceful, Lady Happy,’” said Minnelli in a lyrical nod to “Maybe This Time” from Cabaret. “Thank you all for loving me so much … being concerned about me. I want you to know I’m still here, still kickin’ ass, still loving life and still creating. So, until this book arrives, know that I’m laughing, safe in every way, surrounded by loved ones, and excited to see what’s right around the curve of life. Kids, wait ’til you hear this!”
On Tuesday morning (Aug. 7), Mary J. Blige helped renowned chocolate company Ghiradelli open its first-ever Chocolate and Ice Cream shop in New York City.
Located on the ground floor level of the Empire State Building, Blige was there to cut the ribbon for the store’s grand opening alongside Ghiradelli CEO Joel Burrows. The first 102 fans who made their way to the store received a free Hot Fudge Sundae. Blige, a chocolate enthusiast, savored the opportunity to partner with the company, noting her ultimate ice cream cone would consist of vanilla ice cream, caramel, strawberry sauce, nuts, and a little fudge.
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While yesterday was a day of indulgence for Blige, as she savored some decadent sweets, the R&B legend’s 2024 has been nothing short of a whirlwind — culminating in her induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, to be officially held in October. Blige’s induction headlines a star-studded class, sharing the spotlight with the likes of Cher, The Dave Matthews Band, Ozzy Osbourne, Kool & The Gang and A Tribe Called Quest.
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“It means so much because I worked so hard,” Blige told Billboard ahead of the store opening. “My fans have given me so much, and when I say, ‘We did it,’ I mean my fans and I. We did this because, without them, there’s no me. Through all my blood, sweat, and tears, suffering, getting up, and falling down, they were there. It means a lot to accomplish something like that.”
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Along with celebrating her induction, Blige also looks forward to the 30th anniversary of her seminal sophomore album My Life. Released in 1994, My Life spawned classic singles from Blige like “Be Happy,” “I’m Goin Down,” “Mary Jane,” and the title track.
“That album is so important, because it was so pivotal for when it came time for me to choose,” she says. “I was in a dark place where I didn’t wanna live, and I was begging people to love me and stay with me. Now, I’m not begging anyone to love and stay with me. I love myself. I found my real love. My true love is myself and I. That’s why when it was time for me to choose the My Life album, I chose my life. I chose my life and my fans when it was time to make that turn because I didn’t want to off myself and take half my fanbase with me. That didn’t seem right. I always had a conscious and a spiritual grounding. That’s what made me choose.”
Another milestone inching towards its 30th anniversary is Method Man and Blige’s Grammy-winning smash “I’ll Be There for You/You’re All I Need to Get By.” With a friendship spanning three decades, the two polymaths won their first Grammy together, and now co-star in the acclaimed Starz series Ghost.
“I was a full Method Man and Wu-Tang Clan fan,” Blige remembers. “So Meth did the song in the studio; I believe it was his birthday, and they were there watching me record that song. Meth was so happy. He’s such a beautiful, sweet man. I love him so much. When we did the video, the same thing happened. I had a blast. He’s a beautiful man.”
Though Blige is enjoying her memories from the past, she’ll look into the future when she brings back her Strength of a Woman celebration. This year, she got the festival to New York, her stomping grounds, and brought out 50 Cent, Jadakiss, Jill Scott, Fat Joe and more big names during Mother’s Day weekend at Barclays Center. Blige reveals this won’t be a one-time thing, as she plans to return to Mecca next year with her empowering summit.
[“New York”] was where I originally wanted Strength of a Woman to be, because this is where I’m from and we need it,” says Blige. “New York needs it. It’s home. It’s here to stay and will be here next year.”
Just like the phoenix, Jack Black says Tenacious D will rise again. The singer/actor hinted that the comedy rock duo he fronts with longtime partner Kyle Gass will return at some point after announcing an open-ended break and cancelling dates on an Australian tour following Gass’ controversial on-stage joke about last month’s assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump.
“We need to take a break. Everybody needs a break sometime,” Black told Variety at the red carpet premiere of the film Borderlands on Tuesday night (August 6). “And we’ll be back.”
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Black apologized and announced that the group would be taking a break after the pair were lambasted by Australia’s right-wing following the ill-timed joke from Gass. During the band’s show in Sydney on July 14, Black rolled out a birthday cake on stage for Gass and when asked to make a wish, Gass quipped, “Don’t miss Trump next time.” The comment was in reference to the assassination attempt on Trump the day before in Butler, PA, where a 20-year-old gunman opened fire on a Trump rally, grazing the one-term former president’s ear and killing a rally attendee.
Gass initially apologized in an Instagram post, saying, “I don’t condone violence of any kind” and adding that he was “incredibly sorry for my severe lack of judgement”; the post has since been deleted. Gass was dropped by his agent and the remainder of the group’s Australian tour — as well as a planned fall run of shows in U.S. swing states in the lead-up to November’s presidential election — was cancelled. Black also posted an apology on Instagram, writing, “I was blindsided by what was said at the show on Sunday. I would never condone hate speech or encourage political violence in any form.”
At the time of the tour cancellation, Black’s statement said that “all future creative plans are on hold.”
On Tuesday night, Black said he has spoken to Gass since the tour was called off. “Yeah, we’re friends. That hasn’t changed. These things take time sometimes… And we’ll be back when it feels right,” he said with no indication of when the group might return to stage. Black also happened to have a bit of Tenacious D hardware with him on the carpet for the premiere of the action/sci-fi movie in which he plays a wisecracking robot named Claptrap alongside stars Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis and Cate Blanchett.
Pulling out the magic guitar pick from the D’s 2006 big screen comedy, Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny, Black said, “Look what I wore today: I wore the Pick of Destiny. I love Tenacious D. It’s probably my favorite job, if you can call it that. It’s a work of art, it’s my baby.” Black and Gass have been rocking fans’ socks off since 1994, releasing four albums to date.
Blake Lively paid tribute to one of her fashion OGs on Tuesday night (August 6) at the red carpet premiere of her new film It Ends With Us when she wore a throwback dress originally modeled by Britney Spears more than 20 years ago. “Britney, us millennials all have a story of a moment, or […]
BTS‘ Suga has apologized to fans after revealing that he was charged with a driving under the influence charge while riding his electric scooter. The 31-year-old K-pop star wrote a lengthy X post describing the situation in which he expressed his regret over the incident. “I am deeply sorry and deeply sorry to have to […]
Two all-women rock bands hailing from different countries — Japan’s BAND-MAID and Mexico’s The Warning — got together to record a collaborative single called “SHOW THEM,” due Wednesday (Aug. 7). The members of the two groups hit it off after first meeting at a U.S. music festival where both bands performed in 2022.
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In this rare chat with all the members of both bands — five from BAND-MAID and the three sisters from The Warning — in attendance, the women who continue to blast out hard rock for fans around the world spoke about their respect for each other’s music and the process of recording their new single together.
Your bands first met when you performed at the Aftershock Festival in California in 2022, right?
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Miku Kobato (Guitar/Vocals): Yes. We performed on the same day, and the members of The Warning found us and said hi while we were doing an interview there. They said, “Let’s do something together” and we were like, “We’d love to!” We hit it off and had a great time.
Daniela Villarreal Vélez (Guitar/Vocals/Piano): I’d wanted to meet BAND-MAID all day that day.
Paulina Villarreal Vélez (Drums/Vocals/Piano): BAND-MAID are great musicians and I’ve loved them for a long time.
AKANE (Drums/Percussion): That makes me so happy!
Kobato: We also became really curious about The Warning after our bands joined the lineup at the Aftershock Festival, po. I thought it was so cool how three sisters are in a band together, po.
MISA (Bass/Vocals): There’s a groove that can only come from sisters, isn’t there?
KANAMI (Guitar/Vocals): They’re so synchronized, on the same wavelength. It’s something we can’t imitate.
Daniela: We’re very close and share a sisterly bond.
Paulina: We try to be aware of clearly separating our time as sisters from our time as band members, so I think there’s a good balance there. But we did just have a fight this morning. [Laughs]
Alejandra Villarreal Vélez (Bass/Vocals/Piano): We often clash when we’re composing. We each come up with a lot of different ideas, so sometimes we get into big arguments. [Laughs] But we fundamentally have a good relationship and make up quickly.
What do the members of The Warning find compelling about BAND-MAID?
Daniela: Japanese rock and the rock you hear in the U.S. and Mexico are the same genre but they sound completely different. That’s the main reason why I was drawn to BAND-MAID’s music. I also like the fact that they put a very high level of technique into their music.
Paulina: AKANE and I have totally different playing styles, so there were some phrases that were hard for me but I really enjoyed practicing them. BAND-MAID helped us grow and I appreciated that.
AKANE: Wow… I want to return those exact same words to you! [Laughs]
Alejandra: MISA also has a different style from mine, and I think her performance is awesome. I find it really amazing how she can combine parts where she plays with a pick and parts where she slaps in a song, and it’s so fascinating. Tell me how you can play like that. [Laughs]
Daniela: And of course, I think SAIKI and Kobato’s voices are really great, too. It must be the difference in language, but Japanese is unique in that the melody changes one letter at a time, and it’s really amazing how they can sing that so well. I got a lot of inspiration from the vocal side as well.
By the way, do you know why Kobato ends her sentences with “po”? [Translator’s note: Kobato has a signature way of speaking in Japanese, ending sentences with “po,” an onomatopoeia expressing the call of a pigeon. The kanji for Kobato is “little pigeon.”]
SAIKI (Lead vocals): Tell them why you say “po.” Tell them who you really are.
Kobato: I’m Kobato, meaning I have a little bit of pigeon in me, po. That’s why I end sentences with “po,” which is the sound a pigeon makes, po.
Daniela: So it’s pigeonese. [Everyone laughs] I caught that just now. “Narimashita, po.”
Kobato: [Laughs] It feels like we’ve become a little closer again, po.
Let’s talk about your collaborative single, “SHOW THEM.” How did the production process go?
Kobato: KANAMI first came up with the foundation of the song. We started off by having the members of The Warning listen to it.
KANAMI: We wanted to venture out and make a song that would bring out new aspects of each band for this single, and that’s how “SHOW THEM” came about. Everyone in The Warning made changes to the demo I made. Then we made new suggestions in response to that, and repeated the process over and over again until the song was finished.
Daniela: When we heard the demo that KANAMI made, we were very surprised because it was completely different from the direction of our usual music. But we soon began to enjoy figuring out how to mix our own colors into it.
The lyrics are credited to Miku Kobato and The Warning.
Kobato: Yes, po. Since this was a collaboration between two all-women bands, we first discussed making the song about rising to the top together by depicting a strong female figure who can fight in the world.
Paulina: While we started off by sharing that lyrical concept, there were times we interpreted things differently because of the cultural differences between our countries. But when we came to Japan and worked on the lyrics together, it felt like we were on the same page. The nuances that Kobato was looking for became clear.
Kobato: By talking face to face, we were able to understand each other down to the smallest details, po.
Did you record the music together in Japan?
KANAMI: Yes. But we didn’t have much time, so BAND-MAID recorded beforehand and The Warning recorded later. I basically directed the performances, and the three of them were really great. We were done in no time.
Paulina: We didn’t actually play until after we arrived in Japan, but did a lot of mental rehearsals on the plane.
Alejandra: Yeah. We listened to the song over and over.
AKANE: My passion towards performing has really intensified through our collaboration with The Warning. I feel so pumped now and don’t know how to handle it. [Laughs]
Paulina: It was a great experience for us, too, and gave us tremendous motivation.
How did the vocal recording go?
SAIKI: It was my first time recording with another person, so everything was inspiring. I also discovered a lot of things by singing while listening to someone pronounce English really well up close.
Daniela: The melody and prosody are different from our usual songs, so everything was a challenge. But it was really fun to try something new!
SAIKI: The key was really high, too. We both did well!
KANAMI: I really like vocals that make an effort in a higher key, so I might have given them both a hard time. [Laughs] But the result was really satisfying so I’m happy about that.
Your bands became closer through this collaboration, so it’d be great if you could do something together again.
Kobato: Since The Warning came to Japan this time, we’d love to go to Mexico and do a show together next time, po!
Alejandra: Maybe next time we can work together on a song that we wrote the base for.
Daniela: I’ll lower the key a little bit then. [Laughs]
—This interview by Hideyuki Mori first appeared on Billboard Japan
Rammstein frontman Till Lindemann is taking legal action against a German news outlet for their coverage of the sexual misconduct allegations that have followed him since last year.
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The controversy began in May 2023 when a female fan publicly accused Lindemann of misconduct, alleging she had been drugged at a pre-concert party in Lithuania.
Shelby Lynn, from Northern Ireland, told the BBC she was recruited and “groomed” for sex with the singer after a concert. Lynn claimed her drink was spiked at the show, but said she was not sexually assaulted.
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Lindemann denied the allegations, with lawyers calling the accusations “without exception untrue”.
Despite Lindemann and Rammstein’s firm denials of wrongdoing, the allegations led to serious consequences. Lindemann was dropped by his publisher, and the Berlin public prosecutor’s office launched an investigation.
The investigation was concluded and dropped in Aug. 2023.
The prosecutor’s office stated at the time, “The statements made by witnesses in the press reports have not been confirmed by the investigations.” Following this announcement, Lindemann briefly commented on social media: “I thank all those who have waited impartially for the end of the investigation.”
In Aug. 2024, Rammstein released a statement addressing the past allegations:
“Since last summer, we have been actively dealing with the accusations made against the band. We take this dispute very seriously, even if much of it is unfounded and excessively exaggerated. It is an inner process that will accompany us for a long time to come. Each of us does this in our own way and deals with it differently,” the statement read.
The band also expressed gratitude, saying, “At this point, we would particularly like to thank our families and loved ones for their unrestricted support and love; they too were hit hard by the allegations made and the media’s handling of them.”
“We thank our crew, our management, all our employees and everyone who has supported us and remained loyal along this journey. This massive stadium tour with this great show and this extraordinary stage has now come to an end after 135 concerts in 5 years with 6 million fans.”
“It’s not Rammstein. It’s not us. It’s not you. The path continues.”
Lindemann has now filed a criminal complaint against executives at the German publication Der Spiegel, with an Aug. 2 press release from Lindemann’s legal team revealing that he has filed a criminal complaint with the Hamburg Public Prosecutor’s Office against Der Spiegel’s executives, as per LoudWire.
The complaint alleges that the publication’s reporting included falsified documents and an attempt to commit trial fraud.
Kehlani has addressed allegations from their ex-partner, Javaughn Young-White, claiming the singer is involved in a cult that allegedly puts their 5-year-old daughter, Adeya Nomi, at risk.
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The accusations first surfaced when Young-White filed for full custody of Adeya on July 24, citing serious concerns for her safety.
Court documents obtained by Billboard reveal Young-White’s claim that “everyone else has bigger say-so when it comes to the upbringing of our daughter than I do.” He alleged that Adeya was “born in a home and not in a conventional setting like a hospital,” explaining why his name isn’t on the birth certificate.
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Young-White’s allegations escalated to accusations of Kehlani‘s involvement in what he termed a “cult.”
He claimed, “While Respondent is on tour, and our daughter is in the care of her fellow cult members, Adeya sleeps in the bed with, and is given baths by random adult members of the cult and she is often in the bedroom alone with some of these people.”
He even alleged being “physically restrained and threatened” when attempting to retrieve Adeya.
In response, Kehlani took to her Instagram Story on Aug. 6 to address the allegations head-on.
“What has been published in the media over the past 24 hours is incredibly hurtful, inaccurate, inappropriate, and simply untrue,” they stated.
“I strongly deny any claims that I have put my child in harm’s way or left my child alone with anyone deemed dangerous or unsafe. I also do not align with any of the allegations made against my former religious community that have been stated in the media.”
Kehlani then went on to address their commitment to Adeya’s well-being: “I have always taken great care to ensure that my child remains protected and safe at all times. My child and my commitment to motherhood have always been my sole driving forces in this life and will always remain so.”
“This is a legal, private, familial matter that will be handled accordingly, and I will now be taking space for my own personal well-being and, most importantly, for the well-being of my child. Thank you for your support and for respecting our privacy. I will not be commenting further and will let the legal due process take place,” the “After Hours” singer concluded.
Young-White then released a statement of his own, attempting to clear the air regarding the portrayal of his claims in the media.
He accused TMZ of misrepresenting his words, stating, “That’s factually incorrect and I think it’s disgusting that TMZ would exploit a child’s image like that. Further, I have not been made aware of any court-ordered mediation as of writing this per the account of TMZ. Personally, I would love for TMZ to justify to me, the father, how they came up with this narrative.”
He continued, “The TMZ article sensationalized aspects of what was said while simultaneously breaching my confidentiality.”
“Further, the filing of my case was incomplete and did not have my authorization by error of counsel. I am no longer represented by the aforementioned counsel. There will be an amended filing soon which will illustrate the full range of my concern.”
Young-White insisted that he does not intend to vilify Kehlani, stating, “I do not need to paint an unfair image of my co-parent for my justifiable feelings to be respected by the court of law. This unfortunate trauma only increases the obstacles in ensuring my child’s well-being.”
“For now, I am hoping to clear the discrepancies made by TMZ. I hope to see a formal retraction and apology.”
Garbage frontwoman Shirley Manson has provided fans with an update on the injury that led to the cancellation of the band’s 2024 tour dates.
On Aug. 7, Manson took to Garbage‘s Instagram to share more about her condition, following the band’s Aug. 1 announcement that all remaining 2024 performances would be scrapped due to an injury requiring surgery and rehabilitation.
In her post, Manson described her state upon returning home: “I returned home from tour an absolute hot mess. So broken that my poor husband had to push me through Heathrow and LAX airports in a wheelchair. I also had a dose of laryngitis and a massive cold sore on my lip.”
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Addressing concerns about her vocal health, Manson shared an image of her vocal cords, stating, “I was freaking out that I had somehow managed to damage my vocal cords on top of everything else but yesterday I was scoped and everything is as it should be.”
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“These are my vocal cords. My doctor said they were beautiful,” she added.
Manson did not initially reveal the nature of her injury when the band announced the cancellation of their shows.
In a statement posted to Instagram on Aug. 1, they said: “It is with great regret that we announce the cancellation of all our remaining dates for the rest of the year due to an injury that [frontwoman] Shirley [Manson] sustained on our recent tour in Europe that will require surgery and rehabilitation to correct.”
“This is not a decision that we have taken lightly, and we apologize to our amazing fans and supportive promoters,” they wrote. “We look forward to playing for you all again in 2025.”
Manson also took to her personal social media account to share her disappointment in having to cancel shows.
“No one is more crushed about this than I am. You know I would push through if I could,” she wrote in the caption accompanying the band’s announcement.
Among the impact dates were several high-profile festival appearances, including Ohana Fest in Dana Point, CA, and HFStival in Washington, DC. Liz Phair will now step in for the band at HFStival, while DEVO will be added to the bill for Ohana Fest.
A celebratory tour from Lauryn Hill and The Fugees scheduled to take place throughout the summer and fall has been canceled, according to Variety. Per the publication, ticket holders received messages from Live Nation on Tuesday (Aug. 6) that reads, “Your event has been canceled. A refund will be on its way to your account soon.” […]
