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As Taylor Swift may put it, Chelsea Blackwell has a “big reputation” after appearing on the sixth season of Netflix’s Love Is Blind — so big, in fact, even Travis Kelce was inspired to do an impression of her on a recent episode of New Heights. Luckily, the reality star is taking it in stride, although she does now have a message for the “Anti-Hero” singer.
The Kansas City Chiefs tight end revealed his passion for the series on Wednesday (March 20), telling his older brother and co-host, retired Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, “You gotta watch Love Is Blind, man. It is the worst trash ever — it’s worse than Catching Kelce — but it’s so f—ing good,” he added, referencing his own 2016 E! dating show, on which 50 women competed for his heart.
“Honestly, I just want you to watch the one girl and to just hear her,” Travis continued over Jason’s objections, before mimicking something Blackwell told then-fiancé Jimmy Presnell during an argument on the show: “You think I’m clingy? I’m clingy? Really?”
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For those out of the loop, Love Is Blind finds a group of men and women dating each other from opposite sides of a wall, unable to see their partners until they get engaged. Blackwell and Presnell emerged from the blind pods with plans to get married; however, Presnell broke things off before they got to the altar.
Travis isn’t the first person to poke fun at Blackwell since season 6 kicked off earlier this year: She went viral early in the season for telling Presnell that people tell her she looks like Megan Fox, stirring up a debate about whether she actually resembles the actress. But the flight attendant has been able to laugh at herself in spite of comments about her demeanor on the show. In a TikTok posted after the football star’s impression went live, she tells the camera while smiling, “I just got the most mortifying news.”
“I really feel like I need to crawl under a rock at this point, because Travis Kelce did an impersonation of me, and the only outlet that this man knows my name — or not even knows my name — is from whining like a baby back bi—,” she continued, rolling her eyes at herself.
The possibility that one of the world’s biggest pop stars may have been watching the show alongside Travis, whom Swift has been dating since last summer, was also not lost on Blackwell. “Taylor Swift, if you’re watching it with him…,” she said, laughing. “Please stop.”
Check out Travis’ impression of Blackwell, as well as the reality star’s response, below.
Scheana Shay is shedding light onto her alleged hookup with John Mayer. In a new episode of Vanderpump Rules on Tuesday (March 19), the 38-year-old TV personality takes part in a game of Never Have I Ever with her castmates, ultimately revealing that she took part in an orgy. When asked by producers when it […]
Reneé Rapp is living out her childhood dreams, and no, that doesn’t refer to climbing the charts with her debut album or starring in one of the biggest films of the year. In an Instagram post Tuesday (March 19), the Mean Girls actress revealed that she recently got to visit the set of Sesame Street, […]
aespa is the latest superstar music fans can experience on the big screen.
Today (March 20), the K-pop girl group unveil plans to bring aespa: WORLD TOUR in cinemas to audiences worldwide for two nights only next month.
The quartet’s debut concert film transports viewers inside aespa’s U.K. live debut at London’s O2 Arena as part of their 2023 Synk: Hyper Line world tour.
aespa: WORLD TOUR in cinemas promises to bring the group’s signature futuristic stage visuals and fierce performances of Billboard Global 200 hits like “Next Level,” “Savage,” “Girls,” “Spicy,” and “Black Mamba,” as well as the individual performances by members KARINA, WINTER, GISELLE and NINGNING. Beyond the stage, the 125-minute production includes behind-the-scenes interviews with the group and glimpses into their inner workings.
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Directed by Yoon Dong Oh (who helmed recent K-pop concert films like NCT Nation: To the World and BTS: Yet to Come in Cinemas) and Hamin Kim, aespa’s movie comes courtesy of Trafalgar Releasing (the global event-cinema distributor that’s teamed with the likes of Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, BTS and Coldplay) with select theaters hosting immersive ScreenX, 4DX and ULTRA 4DX formats.
“Since this is our first world tour, it will always hold a special place in our hearts as it gave us the opportunity to see MYs from all over the world,” aespa said in a statement, shouting out their beloved fanbase, MYs. “We hope you enjoy our first concert movie and keep an eye out for the exclusive content behind the scenes.”
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CEO of Trafalgar Releasing Marc Allenby adds, “Dedicated MYs, as well as those curious to discover the global phenomenon, will appreciate the opportunity to witness the full artistry and energy of aespa’s captivating live show on the big screen.”
“We are pleased to release a live concert of global artist aespa’s first world tour as a movie in special formats,” says Jongryul Kim, CEO of CJ 4DPLEX. “ScreenX and 4DX will recreate the thrilling performance of aespa and fans in the theatre with immersion.”
aespa: WORLD TOUR in cinemas hits theaters worldwide on April 24 and 27. Tickets go on sale on March 27. Fans can find screening details and participating countries at aespaworldtourincinemas.com.
Travis Kelce is a whiz on the field, but soon, he may put his smarts to the test elsewhere. According to a report from Variety, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end is in talks to host a Prime Video reboot of Fox’s Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?, which would this time employ celebrity guests in place of elementary schoolers.
The publication attributes the information to two unnamed sources familiar with the discussions. Those people also apparently noted that there are questions regarding “how much of a commitment Kelce could make to the venture if he continues playing football.”
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Billboard has reached out to Kelce’s managers for comment.
Originally hosted by Jeff Foxworthy, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? first aired on Fox in 2007. Running for a total of four seasons, the game show saw adult contestants competing to answer grade-school-level questions with the help of a group of actual elementary schoolers. In 2019, the series was briefly revived on Nickelodeon with John Cena at the helm.
As mentioned above, Prime Video’s version would reportedly feature celebrities instead of a panel of children, as it did in previous iterations. Whether one of those stars will be Taylor Swift, who has been dating Kelce since last summer, or any of his Chiefs teammates, such as quarterback Patrick Mahomes, remains to be seen.
The revamped show wouldn’t be the football pro’s first time dipping his toes into the world of entertainment. Kelce has starred in a number of commercials in recent years, including for brands such as Pfizer, State Farm and Experian, and he co-hosts a podcast called New Heights with his older brother, retired Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce.
In 2016, Travis starred in the E! reality dating series Catching Kelce, which found a group of 50 women competing against each other for his heart. The Ohio native would later make fun of the show while hosting Saturday Night Live in 2023, quipping, “It was kind of like The Bachelor, except instead of roses I handed out footballs, and instead of watching, people did not.”
He added at the time, “It was a little embarrassing, but I got really good at reality TV.”
21-year-old Alyssa Raghu pulled the ultimate steal on her best friend and roommate on American Idol this week, sneaking into 20-year-old Julia Davo’s failed audition. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Davo introduced herself to the judges, before performing a rendition of “Life on Mars?” by David […]
Attention, staff! It’s time for us to circle back to the latest episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race, where the contestants brought all the corporate synergy they could to the main stage.
On Friday’s episode (March 15), the seven remaining queens of season 16 were tasked with performing in a series of employee training seminars to help the staffers of the world learn how to handle drag in the workplace. Whether they were giving a much-needed history lesson about the art of drag or teaching their corporate underlings what to do (or more importantly, not do) in the presence of a queen, the girls pulled together an informative all-hands meeting for their loyal viewers.
With a hilarious performance centered around teaching employees whether or not they are drag queens, Sapphira Cristál took home her third challenge win of the season, making her the winningest contestant of the season thus far. Meanwhile, after a pair of less-than-ideal showings, Morphine Love Dion and Mhi’ya Iman Le’Paige were put under performance review by the panel of judges.
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Lip synching to Donna Summers’ 1979 hit “Dim All the Lights,” Dion and Le’Paige pulled out all of the stops (and in some cases, parts of their own costumes) to earn their employers’ adoration. At the end, Dion kept her spot in the company, while Le’Paige was handed a cardboard box and asked to collect her things by EOD.
Below, the Queen of Flips breaks down the art of lip synching, what it means to be season 16’s unquestioned lip sync assassin, and how it felt being labelled the “quiet” queen of the season.
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You made it to the top seven on this season! How are you feeling about your run on the show?
I’m feeling good about everything. I know I made my family and my friends proud, and Florida. I feel like I could have done better, but you know, it is what it is!
Well, you made history by joining a very elite group of Drag Race queens who won three or more lip syncs, including queens like Jujubee, Alexis Mateo and Coco Montrese, among others. What does it mean for you to be in that esteemed company?
I’m so honored, first and foremost. Yeah, I hadn’t even thought about that, if I’m being completely honest! But the names that you just said, it is an honor to be a part of that group of girls. It’s great to be a lip sync assassin, I’ll be honest. [Laughs.]
Yeah, it felt like the girls were genuinely scared to be in the bottom with you, and rightfully so.
Yes they were! They even told me, on the show, that they never wanted to go against me in the bottom. Like, with Dawn for example … I kind of told her that if she was in the bottom because of me this week, and we had to lip sync, I said that I was going to beat her. But if the judges said, “Mhi’ya, shantay you stay,” I would’ve refused and asked them to let Dawn stay. I felt like she deserved it more, and it was my fault we were in the bottom.
I’m always fascinated by the art of lip synching and what makes them so entertaining. So, as someone who nails almost every lip sync you do, what do you think is the key to giving a top-tier lip sync performance, on or off the show?
For me, when I was lip syncing, it was all about selling the song to the judges. Whatever song I was lip syncing to, there were a couple of things I had to make sure I was doing; I wanted to make sure I was on beat, I wanted to make eye contact with the judges, and I wanted to take over the whole stage. That, to me, is what it’s all about, is dominating the stage and pretending like no one is there but you and the judges.
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Which brings us to this particular lip sync, where you were definitely aware of the other queen on the stage, to the point where you threw your detached train onto Morphine mid-song. Between that, and her throwing her chicken cutlets at you, this felt like peak Drag Race shenanigans. How aware were you in the moment about the iconic moments you were both serving?
Oh, let me tell you, none of that was planned for this lip sync. I knew that the train was detachable, so I knew at some point it was coming off. But when I saw her down on the floor, I said, “Oh, okay, here’s my chance to throw her off her game.” So I spun around and threw that train! It kinda became a little catfight. [Laughs.]
We absolutely also need to talk about that Cher-meets-Kermit the Frog impression you attempted while on stage. After you filmed that moment, did you anticipate fans running with this moment as much as they have since?
I mean, I made literal merch out of it, and everywhere I go, I am asked to do that Cher impersonation. Everywhere I’m going people are asking me to do Cher on the mic, and people just fall out when I do it. So, I’m happy to see it!
Throughout the season, I noticed you got more than a few critiques, either from the judges or the other girls or even the fans online, about you being a “quiet” queen. Did that ever feel difficult to hear, either on set or online?
Yeah, it was definitely difficult to hear the judges say it as much as they did. But, I will say, there were times when I would try to come out of my shell, and prove to the judges that I’m not as quiet or timid as some people might think I am.
I mean, Snatch Game seems like a pretty excellent example of that!
Yes, I was so proud of myself after Snatch Game. Honestly, before we started filming, I was fully s—ting bricks. I was so, so nervous, and had no idea what I was going to do. But once they said action, something just came over me, and it really felt like I became this other person. It was so much fun.
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Before we let you go, I’d love to know — what music have you been listening to lately?
Oh, the album I’ve listened to every day for the last few weeks is Doja Cat’s Scarlet. I love it so much. The song, though, is probably “Ouchies” — I am obsessed with that whole song.
The Voice 2024 has entered the Battles phase. And, for two Team Dan + Shay hopefuls, a fight to the end with a twist.
Karen Waldrup, a Mandeville, Louisiana native, all turbo power, and Ryan Argast, a Plainfield, Illinois man with range and gravel in his voice, were sent into the ring with a cover of Dan + Shay‘s 2023 number “Save Me The Trouble”.
The contestants impressed the coaches with their obvious talent, and earned a few hollers with a smoking hot conclusion. “That was just steamy at the end,” Chance the Rapper remarked.
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“That’s better than the original version,” Dan Smyers insisted.
“That was so good. The energy, the passion, the power coming out of you two,” John Legend said. The rasp in Argast’s voice is his “superpower,” he enthused. Though he’s “mad he didn’t turn” for Waldrup, whose tone and vibrato worked magic. Legend would chose the latter, if he had the option.
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Reba McEntire did turn for Waldrup. “I think you’re fantastic,” she remarked. And there’s a lot of love for the “growl” in Argast’s voice.
That performance was “awesome,” Chance chimed, though the pair had mismatching “energy levels.” Karen, he continued, has a “true talent. It was like there was a storm around you and you were just shining through it.” The Chicago rapper was quietly kicking himself for not turning for her when he had the chance. The final moments of the Battle were “steamy,” he reiterated, and exactly what the cameras adore.
Dan + Shay had the last word. Argast’s “presence on stage is incredible,” claimed Smyers, while Waldrup “rose to the occasion,” belting out a “guy’s song.”
It’s a voice that reminds Mooney of old country, classic stuff he grew up listening to. “I love that sound, it’s very unique.” Argast’s voice, he continued, is “powerhouse.”
With the kind words out the way, a decision had to be made. They chose Waldrup.
Dan + Shay are the newbies on this 25th season of NBC’s The Voice, joined by returning coaches Reba McEntire, John Legend and Chance the Rapper.
Watch the Battle below.
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Sometimes all you need is that little extra push from someone who knows how special you are. On Monday night’s (March 17) audition episode of American Idol, 20-year-old Las Vegas native Athena Jett came in with confidence and a voice that should have at least gotten her a look from judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan.
But, just in case, she also had her adorable 12-year-old sister (and bestie) Angelina in tow to help boost her chances with good energy and a special homemade gift for Perry’s four-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Daisy Dove. Angelina proudly handed over a crocheted pink and white purse covered in a daisy pattern, naturally, with Perry loving the sweet gesture and hugging Angelina, saying Daisy definitely “loves a purse.”
In the lead-up package, Athena talked about how close the sisters are and how Angelina is her “biggest fan… she’s such a bright ball of energy and she believes in me so much.”
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Perry then invited Angelina to stand by the piano as Athena sang a somewhat shaky version of Sophia James’ jazzy 2021 ballad, “Somebody New.” Angelina was brought to tears, as was Bryan, with Perry praising the singer’s “great voice,” but saying that Athena’s nerves appeared to get the best of her. “People are out there fighting tooth and nail and so I am worried about putting you in the ring,” Perry said.
Then, unexpectedly, Angelina sheepishly raised her hand — as she and Athena shared whispered “I Love You”‘s to each other across the room — and asked if she could suggest a different song for her sibling to sing. “I don’t want to be barging in or anything, but I remember for piano recital my sister sang ‘Never Enough’ from The Greatest Showman. I really think that that was a really good song that she sang,” Angelina said.
Perry repeatedly encouraged Athena to raise her voice and sing it out loud as the singer hit a series of high notes during her second go and Perry jumped to her feet, sweeping Angelina up in a giant spinning hug. “Good job, you’re gonna come to Hollywood too,” Perry said as she shook Angelina’s hand.
“I couldn’t do this without her,” Athena said to the weeping panel, as Perry said that she went from a “hard no” to a “what the hell was that? That was phenomenal. You have to use that. That is your sword!” Bryan praised a crying Angelina for being so brave and stepping up to advocate for her sister, after which the weepy Angelina handed over the golden ticket to her overwhelmed big sis.
Watch Athena Jett’s audition below.
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Turns out, Chance the Rapper is a Password master. In a new preview clip for the upcoming March 19 episode shared exclusively with Billboard, Chance the Rapper and Jimmy Fallon serve as celebrity partners for the two contestants. In the game, the two teams attempt to convey mystery words to each other — or “passowords” […]
