Music
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Record producer Jay David Saks, who died last month, left behind a rich and unique legacy, one that spanned the worlds of classical music and Broadway cast albums. But it all began a member of a “one-hit-wonder” group which had a top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
Saks died on Nov. 16 of Parkinsonism-related causes. He was 79. News of his death was confirmed by Peter Gelb of The Metropolitan Opera.
Saks won 13 Grammys between 1983 and 2014, eight for classical music and five for his work on Broadway cast albums.
He won best opera recording four times, all for work with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra/The Metropolitan Opera Chorus. He won for Verdi: La Traviata Opera Recording; Adams: Doctor Atomic; Wagner: Der Ring Des Nibelungen and Adès: The Tempest.
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He won best musical show album five times for cast albums from Into the Woods and Jerome Robbins’ Broadway and revivals of Guys and Dolls, Chicago and Gypsy.
In addition, Saks won two Daytime Emmys, both for his work on Great Performances at the Met. He won outstanding individual achievement in any area of the performing arts – audio (1983) and outstanding individual achievement in the performing arts – audio (1984).
Born in New York City, Saks grew up in The Bronx. His older sister was the cellist Toby Saks.
During the 1960’s, Saks played bass guitar with The Balloon Farm, which had a top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1968 with the psychedelic pop/rock song “A Question of Temperature.” Saks wasn’t the only member of The Balloon Farm who went on to success in the industry. Fellow member Mike Appel managed Bruce Springsteen from 1972-75 and co-produced his first three albums. Their sole hit was produced by Peter Schekeryk, who went on to produce hits for his wife, Melanie, including the Hot 100-topping “Brand New Key.”
Saks studied at the Juilliard School, and later continued his studies at the Mannes College of Music, from which he graduated in 1970.
As an audio producer for CBS Masterworks, RCA Red Seal (RCA Records), Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG), and Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Saks was responsible for engineering and master recording hundreds of titles.
Beginning in 1980, Saks worked with the Metropolitan Opera in New York City to record and produce more than 1,600 of its telecasts, radio broadcasts and live HD transmissions.
Saks was nominated for 53 Grammys between 1977 and 2018. He received at least one Grammy nomination in 30 different years. He was nominated 10 times for classical producer of the year, but he never won in that category.
Saks’ other cast show album nominations (in addition to his five wins) were for Starting Here, Starting Now, Anything Goes, Assassins, Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying!, Ragtime the Musical (for two different recordings), Cabaret, Fosse, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Man of La Mancha, Avenue Q—The Musical and The Color Purple.
Saks was also nominated for best compilation soundtrack album for a motion picture, television or other visual media for Fantasia/2000.
Saks was nominated for a Primetime Emmy in 2007 – outstanding sound mixing for a variety or music series or special – as audio producer for PBS’ The Magic Flute (Great Performances at the Met).
An avid runner, Saks completed one of the earliest New York City marathons.
Saks is survived by his wife, Linda Saks; their two sons, Jeremy Saks and Greg Saks; and three grandchildren, Bo Saks, May Li Saks, and Ben Saks.
Taylor Swift and Dolly Parton have fans working 9 to 5 trying to figure out if a collaboration between the two blonde country–pop crossover superstars is in the works.
That’s because the “Jolene” singer appears to have given the Eras Tour headliner a “follow” on Instagram, as reported by Uproxx and a number of fan accounts on social media. That tiny movement alone has sparked a wave of speculation that Parton may be gearing up to get in the studio with Swift — or, better yet, that the former might just be featured on the latter’s highly anticipated Taylor Swift (Taylor’s Version).
“I’ll never shut up if Queen Dolly is on Debut TV,” one Swiftie tweeted Wednesday (Dec. 25), while another person commented, “IF DOLLY IS ON DEBUT TV I WILL NEVER RECOVER IT WILL BE THE BEST THING THATS EVER HAPPENED.”
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“IF DOLLY IS ON DEBUT TV IM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PERSON I’LL BECOME,” wrote a third fan.
Taylor Swift (Taylor’s Version) is one of two re-records — the other being 2017’s Reputation — that Swift has left to release in her Taylor’s Version series, which has found the star dropping revamped versions of her first six albums since 2021. So far, she’s unveiled re-recordings of 2008’s Fearless, 2010’s Speak Now, 2012’s Red and 2014’s 1989.
Released in 2006, the 14-time Grammy winner’s self-titled debut LP marks the most distinctly country-sounding album in her discography — so it only makes sense that she would enlist Parton, one of the genre’s biggest legends, to help out. Swift has previously tapped other stars to duet on From the Vault tracks for her Taylor’s Version projects, including Keith Urban for “That’s When” from Fearless (Taylor’s Version), Phoebe Bridgers for “Nothing New” from Red (Taylor’s Version) and Paramore’s Hayley Williams for “Castles Crumbling” from Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).
Plus, Parton and Swift are openly fans of each other. In November 2023, the “Anti-Hero” singer told The Hollywood Reporter, “Dolly is a force of evolution and transformation in our industry, but she does it with such playful levity it almost looks effortless. Her sense of humor and mischief are easily my favorite things about her, because I think it forces the world to reconcile that a woman can be a serious artist and writer who also has raucous fun with it, can make people laugh and be in on every joke.”
“Taylor Swift is amazing what she has done with her career,” Parton said of Swift in an interview with Variety the following September. “I just admire her very much and how she’s handled her business, her personal life and what all she has meant to so many young people. [She’s] been a great inspiration.”
Beyoncé may have wrapped her Christmas Day Halftime Show performance, but famous fans such as Serena Williams and Reneé Rapp still aren’t over it.
Following the 32-time Grammy winner’s high-production showcase midway through the Houston Texans vs. Baltimore Ravens game Wednesday (Dec. 25), the tennis legend took to X to gush about Bey’s star power. “Honestly can’t get enough of you,” Williams wrote moments after Bey exited the field.
A certain Mean Girls star had paragraphs’ worth of praise to share about Bey’s performance on Instagram Stories. “I’m not f—ing kidding ya’ll don’t GET IT!!!!!,” Rapp wrote over a black background. “WHY AM I CRYING DURING A DRUMLINE?? SHE’S BEEN IT SHE’S STILL IT SHE WILL ALWAYS BE IT!! BEYONCÉ TILL I DIE.”
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“like this is the worlds most beautiful person alive,” the “Snow Angel” singer continued in a second post. “you wanna talk about being a FAN?! SHE MADE A FAN OUT OF ME YOUNG AND KEPT IT THAT WAY HOW ARE YOU STILL THAT FINE AND PERFORMING LIKE THAT!!! full body chills.”
The “Break My Soul” vocalist’s halftime offering was certainly one for the history books, with the show marking the first time Bey performed any songs from her Billboard 200-topping album Cowboy Carter. Shaboozey, Post Malone, Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy and Reyna Roberts all joined her to help sing their respective collaborations from the Grammy-nominated LP — including “Sweet Honey Buckiin,’” “Levii’s Jeans” and “Blackbiird” — while Bey’s eldest daughter, Blue Ivy, accompanied her mom on the field for a few dance numbers.
During and after the show, Bey also received support from both of her Destiny’s Child bandmates. Michelle Williams was on hand at NRG Stadium to cheer the Ivy Park founder on, sharing an on-site photo on Instagram Stories during the performance, while Kelly Rowland reposted a clip on her Story of the “Irreplaceable” musician and Blue Ivy dancing together during “Texas Hold ‘Em” and wrote, “SHUT IT DOWN!!!!”
Luckily for Williams, Rapp, the Destiny’s Child women and every other person in the Beyhive who loved the musician’s showcase, Netflix will soon drop a Beyoncé Bowl special featuring footage from the 12-plus-minute set. The streamer aired the performance — plus the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Pittsburgh Steelers and Texans-Ravens games — live on Christmas Day.
Shortly after the show, Bey also teased that she has a new project coming in 2025, dropping a cryptic video of her riding a horse and swinging an American flag. “1.14.25,” reads a message at the end of the clip, which Live Nation reposted on socials — a move that has many fans convinced the star is planning to embark on a tour next year.
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Paris Hilton wants you to unwrap her, but she didn’t leave much to take off in a cheeky holiday video set to Ariana Grande‘s “Santa Tell Me” on Christmas Day. In an NSFW clip posted to Instagram on Wednesday (Dec. 25), the businesswoman leaves little to the imagination while wearing red pumps and matching fingerless […]
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce celebrated their second Christmas as a couple this year, and part of their to-do list appears to have been sending holiday presents to the Kansas City Chiefs tight end’s teammates and their families.
Two people who received gifts from the pop superstar and Kelce were Sheawna Weathersby and her boyfriend, Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones. The women’s clothing entrepreneur shared a photo of a cluster of presents sent by Swift and the tight end — which included an orange Louis Vuitton bag — on Instagram Stories Wednesday (Dec. 25) and wrote, “So blessed and grateful this holiday season … Thank yoouuu Tay Tay!”
The haul also featured two boxes with velvet ribbon and mixed-and-matched holiday wrapping, on one of which Swift wrote in her famous loopy handwriting, “Merry Christmas She She! Love, Tay Tay!”
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On a tag attached to a large Santa-print gift bag, the “Anti-Hero” singer drew a few stars and wrote, “Merry Christmas She She and Chris! Travis and Taylor.”
Swift and Weathersby have become pals in the year and a half since Swift first started dating the New Heights podcaster over the summer of 2023. In September, the two women shared selfies from their shared suite at Arrowhead Stadium following the Chiefs vs. Cincinnati Bengals game, as well as posed for photos with Chariah Gordon — who is engaged to Kansas City wide receiver Mecole Hardman Jr. — which Weathersby shared on Instagram.
On Christmas Day this year, Kelce and his teammates were busy facing off against the Pittsburgh Steelers, winning 29-10. Exactly one year prior, Swift — wearing a custom “#87” Santa hat — celebrated Christmas at Arrowhead, where the Chiefs defeated the Las Vegas Raiders just two months before the Kansas City team won the 2024 Super Bowl.
The 14-time Grammy winner wasn’t present for the Chiefs’ Christmas Day game this year, but she did attend her boyfriend’s match against the Houston Texans four days prior. Swift arrived at Arrowhead Dec. 21 dressed for the season in a furry red coat and black cap, marking the first game she was able to catch since the early December close of her historic Eras Tour.
“The unbelievable Eras Tour has come to an end,” Kelce recently congratulated his superstar girlfriend on New Heights. “Shout out to everybody that was a part of that show. Obviously, it’s her music, her tour and everything, but that was a full production, man. That thing was the best tour in the world because of a lot of people, but mostly because of Taylor.”
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Mexican singer Dulce, an iconic figure of ballad and romantic music who conquered several generations in Mexico with her powerful voice, died at the age of 69 in Mexico City after medical complications, her family and staff announced on Wednesday (Dec. 25).
“With deep sorrow and sadness, we confirm the sensitive passing of our beloved Dulce, an exceptional artist and a wonderful person who left an indelible mark in the hearts of all those who knew her,” reads a statement posted on Dulce’s Instagram account, along with a photograph of the artist.
The news of the death of the singer born Bertha Elisa Noeggerath Cárdenas was confirmed by the National Association of Actors (ANDA), the union to which the singer belonged, in a message on social media.
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“The National Actors Association deeply regrets the passing of our colleague Bertha Elisa Noeggerath Cárdenas, ‘Dulce’, a member of our union. Our condolences to her family, friends and colleagues. May she rest in peace,” reads the message published on X.
After the artist’s sister Isabel Noeggerath announced the singer’s death in a brief Facebook post, a wave of messages from various Mexican show-business figures appeared on social networks.
“My dear Dulce, your departure makes me so sad, you don’t know how much I will miss you, dear friend, thank you for all the wonderful moments we shared my doll, thank you for your love, your friendship, for always joining your voice with mine and for always being for me. Fly very high my Dulce, I will always keep you in my heart, I adore you and I will admire you forever! A tremendous artist won the sky, lots of light on your path,” wrote singer Rocío Banquells on X.
“Farewell my dearest Dulce! What a great gift it was to share with you! I’m going to miss you!” expressed singer Manoella Torres on Instagram.
“Today we have to face a loss that fills us with sadness. Dulce was a person who left her mark on those of us who were fortunate enough to know her. Our hearts go out to her family, friends and colleagues in this difficult moment. Rest in peace,” wrote Argentine singer Amanda Miguel in a message on X.
Dulce was born on July 29, 1954, in the border city of Matamoros, Tamaulipas, and was a renowned artist in the Latin music scene. According to what she told on several occasions, in 1974 she met José José, who by then was already a great figure in music, and who was captivated by her voice. He was the one who got her an audition with Polygram record executives, said the artist in an interview with Imagen Televisión. In 1978 she achieved fame by participating in different musical events, such as the Mallorca Festival and the Yamaha Song Festival in Tokyo.
With her fusion of ballad and pop, she made a place for herself in the music industry in Mexico and Latin America with hits such as “Tu Muñeca,” “Lobo,” “Déjame Volver Contigo,” “Aún lo Amo,” “Hielo,” “Fui Demasiado Fácil,” “Soy Una Dama,” “Cara Cara,” “Pájaro Herido,” “Échame la Culpa a Mí” and “Cuál de los Dos.” She also performed “Amor en Silencio,” the main theme of the 1988 soap opera of the same name, written by Marco Antonio Solís.
Between 2011 and 2018, Dulce was part of the GranDiosas tour, along with Rocío Banquells, María Conchita Alonso and Karina.
SEVENTEEN made sure its CARATs had a shiny and bright Christmas this year. The K-pop group delivered a rollicking take of Brenda Lee’s holiday classic “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” during The Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade special, which aired on ABC and Disney+ on Wednesday (Dec. 25). “These superstars have been selling out […]
An Eminem–50 Cent joint album has been atop Shady and G-Unit fans’ Christmas lists for more than a decade, and there’s still hope for it to eventually happen. Eminem and Paul Rosenberg joined DJ Whoo Kidd’s Whoo’s House Podcast on Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) for a rare 30-minute interview that at one point found Em […]