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Keke Palmer had a moment on the red carpet at this year’s Met Gala. And while she looked fabulous and enjoyed the evening, it wasn’t without its stressors. Chief among them was being called out by none other than Nicki Minaj on the red carpet. The Nope star stopped by The Tonight Show on Tuesday […]
The Tammy Faye Broadway musical is closing just weeks after making its debut. According to the New York Times, the show about the scandal-plagued 1970s-80s televangelist/singer who became a camp icon thanks to her outrageous makeup and sartorial style will dim the lights after a surprisingly short run.
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The Times reported that the $22 million show featuring music by Elton John and lyrics by Scissor Sisters’ Jake Shears — with a book by James Graham (Ink, Finding Neverland) — scored decent reviews in its premiere run in London in 2022, but was plagued by poor reviews in New York, where it failed to find an audience.
And so, the show that opened on Nov. 14 will go dark on Dec. 8, after just 24 preview and 29 regular performances due to what the paper described as a “disastrous” box office performance that included being the lowest-grossing show on Broadway last week, where it played to 37% empty houses at the Palace Theater, one of the largest theaters on the Great White Way.
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In its review last week, the Times called the show a “bland, tonal mishmash” and a “disjointed, strangely bland musical.” Former R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe begged to differ, however. Writing on Instagram over the weekend, Stipe said he was moved by the show’s opening night, calling it a “tour de force” and “beautifully moving and soulful telling of the Tammy Faye Bakker story” in a post that that featured a snap of the singer with John and Roseanne Cash.
On Tuesday (Nov. 19), Shears posted a tribute to the cast and crew of the show on Instagram. “What a ride these last 12 years (and 12 weeks) have been. Getting Tammy Faye up on Broadway has been one of the most thrilling experiences of my life,” he wrote. “What a joy working with this entire cast, their stamina and talent staggering… and beautiful to watch. Thank you to all the collaborators, cast and crew.. I’m immensely proud of our work. I believe that musical theatre is one of the most archaic forms of art: complicated and managerially elaborate.”
Sir John also wrote about being chuffed for the Broadway bow, congratulating the cast and crew for their “extraordinary hard work and talent… it’s been a true honour to collaborate with you all.”
John wrote the music for one of Broadway’s most enduring modern hits, The Lion King, as well as for the Tony- and Grammy-winning Aida, Billy Elliot: the Musical, The Devil Wears Prada and Lestat, with the latter also having a brief run on Broadway, closing after 33 preview and 39 performances in 2006.
Soul legend Al Green has turned his attention to college rock favorites R.E.M., sharing a cover of the Georgia outfit’s 1993 single, “Everybody Hurts”.
Released on Tuesday (Nov. 19), Green’s cover of the song sees the veteran singer reimagining the original in his trademark soul style, backing his delivery of the hopeful lyrics with a full band, including strings and backing vocalists.
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“Recording ‘Everybody Hurts,’ I could really feel the heaviness of the song and I wanted to inject a little touch of hope and light into it,” Green wrote on social media. “There’s always a presence of light that can break through those times of darkness.”
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Originally released on the 1992 album Automatic for the People, “Everybody Hurts” was issued as the record’s second single, becoming its most successful. While the album itself peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, “Everybody Hurts” reached No. 29 on the Hot 100, and peaked at No. 13 on the Pop Airplay charts.
It’s since been utilized by a number of charitable organizations, including the Samaritans in the U.K., and the Helping Haiti fund and the Disasters Emergency Committee, who organized a cover version to aid in support of the devastation from the 2010 Haiti earthquake. The cover featured contributions from the likes of Mariah Carey, Miley Cyrus, Rod Stewart, Jon Bon Jovi, Kylie Minogue, and many others, eventually peaking at No. 21 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.
In February 2019, the song became embroiled in slight controversy when President Donald Trump shared clips from his State of the Union address cued to the track over a montage of congressional democrats looking dejected. R.E.M. later protested his usage of the song, evoking the title of their 1988 track “World Leader Pretend” in their response, and ultimately convincing Twitter to take down Trump’s original clip.
The cover of “Everybody Hurts” is Green’s first single to be released since last year’s cover of Lou Reed’s “Perfect Day”, which in turn followed his first new music in a decade with 2018’s cover of Freddy Fender’s “Before the Next Teardrop Falls”. Green’s last studio album, Lay It Down, was released in 2008 and peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard 200.
Morrissey has asserted that his lack of recorded output in recent years isn’t due to a lack of inspiration or ideas, but rather due to a war on “free speech”.
The comments were made by the former Smiths frontman at a concert in Newark, New Jersey last Wednesday (Nov. 13), with the Asbury Park Press reporting that the musician vented his frustrations in the midst of his 20-song set.
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“As you know, nobody will release my music anymore,” Morrissey told the crowd. “As you know because I’m a chief exponent of free speech. In England at least, it’s now criminalized.
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“You cannot speak freely in England. If you don’t believe me, go there. Express an opinion, you’ll be sent to prison. It’s very, very difficult.”
Morrissey’s comments are likely in reference to both the backlash he faced following his apparent support of far-right political party For Britain, and the fact he has not issued a new album since 2020’s I Am Not a Dog on a Chain.
In February 2023, however, the singer was scheduled to release his 14th record, Bonfire of Teenagers, which was reportedly completed in mid-2021. Alongside appearances from Miley Cyrus and Iggy Pop, the album reportedly featured production by Andrew Watt and musical assists from the likes of the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ drummer Chad Smith, bassist Flea and former RHCP guitarist Josh Klinghoffer.
Three months before its planned release, Morrissey issued a statement noting the record was “no longer scheduled for a February release”, claiming its “fate is exclusively in the hands of Capitol Records (Los Angeles.).” These claims were soon followed by news that Cyrus had requested her vocals be removed from the record.
He later issued another statement claiming he was “too diverse” for for Universal Music Group, noting that “although he does not believe that Capitol Records in Los Angeles signed Bonfire of Teenagers in order to sabotage it, he is quickly coming around to that belief”.
While Bonfire of Teenagers remains unreleased, Morrissey has since reportedly completed an additional album titled Without Music the World Dies. Despite offering the album to “any record label or private investor [that] has interest in releasing this project” due to his split with Capitol, that album too remains unreleased.
When Sabrina Carpenter set up shop in Los Angeles for three dates of her Short n’ Sweet Tour, she brought out the big guns. There was Christina Aguilera. There was Jack Antonoff. And then there was Domingo. On the new Pop Shop Podcast, we welcome Billboard deputy editor Lyndsey Havens so she and Katie can […]
Dame Dash claims Drake offered $6 million for his Roc-A-Fella shares, but “disappeared.”
In a recent video uploaded to Dash’s America Nu Network YouTube page, the Harlem businessman talked about the controversial auction. “So, the auction happened yesterday and basically no one showed up,” he began. “Only Jay‘s lawyers, the state [of New York], and the crew that was initially suing me.” He then mentioned that he wasn’t there because it was his son’s birthday and that he “just wanted this thing to be done.”
According to the New York Post, the state of New York made a $1 million bid and won as they continue to try and collect the $8 million in back taxes Dash owes the state. “No one showed up,” Dame reiterated. “And the state made a bid for it and that’s really what it was worth.” He then continued by throwing some shade towards his former business partner Jay-Z, “What this really taught me was that, in the world, homie isn’t as big as he portrayed. I thought more people would be interested in buying it because of the art value of it. And that’s the only thing I was selling, because of how everyone portrays they love this dude… I thought people would at least show up. No one even showed up.”
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Dash then revealed Drake made a hefty offer over DM, but went ghost. “At the end of the day, I don’t really understand it,” he said of the situation. “My child support, I guess, will get paid. And in my mind, I wasn’t getting any of that bread anyway. If I could sell it, I thought people really loved homeboy, pause, way more than they did. People did not show up. Drake did put a bid in for $6 million but then he disappeared. It’s in my DM… I don’t know what happened. But other than that, no serious people. No one wanted that sh—t. Period.”
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Back in August, Dame offered an original Roc-A-Fella chain to anyone who bids over $10 million, but obviously that scenario never came to fruition. Also, there have been rumors swirling about whether or not Roc-A-Fella Inc.’s main asset Reasonable Doubt would eventually land in the hands of Jay-Z, ultimately scaring potential buyers off. However, a judge refused to give a ruling in that regard. “The asset that is the subject of the auction is Dash’s one-third interest in RAF [Roc-A-Fella] itself, not the work owned by RAF,” the judge wrote. “The Court does not presently have jurisdiction over the validity of Carter’s copyright termination notice.”
You can watch the full video below.
These celebrities have the right to remain silent! Sabrina Carpenter wrapped up the U.S. leg of her popular Short n’ Sweet tour in support of her recent her Billboard 200-topping sixth studio album in Los Angeles on Monday night (Nov. 18), and amid the hilarious bits she sprinkles throughout the show is a viral one that […]
JoJo Siwa and Dakayla Wilson have broken up, three months after confirming their relationship in August. “We have gone our separate ways, but she is an amazing girl,” Siwa told People. “And I got my own fun holiday plans, and I know she’s got her family that she’s spent the holidays with.” Siwa and Wilson met […]
It’s been less than a week since Lil Nas X came back with his latest track “Light Again,” and he’s already teasing yet another new song out this week. In a post to his Instagram on Tuesday (Nov. 19), Lil Nas shared the artwork and release date for his newest single. Titled “Need Dat Boy,” […]
Following his recent 11-date, sold-out run of shows across the country, Stevie Wonder will bring his Sing Your Song! As We Fix Our Nation’s Broken Heart concert to Los Angeles on Dec. 14. His upcoming performance at the city’s Crypto.com Arena will also be part of the celebration marking the legendary artist’s 25th House Full […]
