State Champ Radio TV/Film
Page: 169
As country music fans and the country music community mourn the passing of singer, songwriter and musical iconoclast Toby Keith, who died Feb. 5 at age 62 following a battle with stomach cancer, it is notable the fortitude he possessed in his final months.
On Sept. 28, Toby Keith played what would be his final television performance when he took part in the inaugural People’s Choice Country Awards held at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House. Keith was honored with the Country Icon Award during the ceremony.
During the show, Keith’s fellow country artist Blake Shelton called him a “global country superstar, award-winning singer-songwriter, devoted and beloved activist, business powerhouse … Toby Keith is a multi-dimensional artist like no other … a global megastar, a man of the people, and a genuine inspiration. Toby Keith is a true icon.”
In accepting the country icon honor, Keith’s speech was both lighthearted and heartfelt. “I bet you never thought y’all’d see me in skinny jeans,” he joked before getting serious. “I want to thank the Almighty for allowing me to be here tonight. He’s been riding shotgun with me for a little while now. I want to thank my beautiful family that’s here. A lot of people go in and make a career like this of 30 years.”
Keith also gave one of the evening’s most powerful performances as he took the stage to sing “Don’t Let the Old Man In,” a song he wrote solo, and which was included in the 2018 Clint Eastwood movie The Mule. Though the physical toll of Keith’s cancer battle was evident as he stood onstage, his voice was a strong as ever — filled with grit, refined by life — as he offered a musical tribute to living every day to its fullest. “Try to love on your wife and stay close to your friends/ Toast each sundown with wine/ Don’t let the old man in,” he sang.
Following the performance, Keith’s “Don’t Let the Old Man In” hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Digital Song Sales in October.
Keith, who was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015, followed the performance by releasing the album 100% Songwriter — an album filled with songs he wrote — in November 2023. His final concerts came in December at the Dolby Live at Park MGM in Las Vegas, when he spearheaded a trio of sold-out concerts, performing several of his hits, such as “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” and “Red Solo Cup.”
Since his career debut in 1993, Keith notched 20 No. 1 Country Airplay hits. He also earned three Billboard Music Awards during his career, including country singles artist of the year (2002), as well as country artist of the year and country albums artist of the year (both in 2005).
See Keith’s People’s Choice Country Awards performance above.
OMG! Usher‘s forgotten he’s performing at the 2024 Super Bowl Halftime Show in Uber Eats’ new commercial for the Big Game, which dropped on Tuesday (Feb. 6).
The star-studded spot kicks off with Friends star Jennifer Aniston receiving an Uber Eats order from an assistant, who was surprised at all the various items — flowers and lotion, for example — the service can deliver. “You know what they say: ‘In order to remember something, you gotta forget something else,’” the Emmy-winning star shares, before pointing to her head and noting, “Make a little room!”
From there, a range of people erase a little knowledge to keep Uber Eats in mind, including David and Victoria Beckham. “Remember when you used to be a pepper lady?” the soccer star asks Posh, who’s in a white “David’s Wife” T-shirt.
“Wasn’t it the Cinnamon Sisters?” she wonders, before the athlete offers up “Basil Babes,” and the designer-singer suggests “Paprika Girls” instead, to which David answers, “No! That’s absurd!”
As Billboard previously exclusively shared in a teaser, Uber Eats’ ad also features country star Jelly Roll forgetting he has face tattoos. “Did someone doodle on my face?!” the “Son of a Sinner” singer asks, horrified, when he see his reflection in a mirror. As he tries to rub the ink off, he screams, “It’s not coming off!”
At the end of the ad — after Aniston has forgotten major period of her life (and a very good Friend) — the eight-time Grammy winner chills with his Uber Eats meal and says wistfully to his two horrified stagehands backstage, “I hope I get to play a halftime show someday, man.”
Fortunately for Usher, that wish is coming true much sooner rather than later. The R&B icon is set to headline the 2024 Super Bowl Halftime Show at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Sunday (Feb. 11). The Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers will face off in the NFL’s championship game beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Watch Usher, Jelly Roll and more stars in Uber Eats’ Super Bowl ad above.
Ricky Martin enters his high society era in new trailer for the upcoming Apple TV+ series, Palm Royale. The Puerto Rican star is set to play Robert in the comedy series that stars Kristen Wiig, Alison Janney, Laura Dern, Kaia Gerber, Bruce Dern and Carol Burnett, who will be making “extra special guest” appearances. Explore […]
Ben Affleck is entering his new era, and he’s taking some inspiration from his superstar wife, Jennifer Lopez. In a new ad for Dunkin’ that aired during the Grammys on Sunday (Feb. 4), the Oscar-winning star channels Lopez while mocking his viral moment at last year’s ceremony, during which he was spotted looking bored out of his mind.
In the clip, Affleck is watching a news segment about the “Bored Ben” memes from last year’s Grammys ceremony when he growls with an intensity worthy of Batman: “Keeeep laughing. ‘He’s bored.’ NO! He’s steady — always watching.”
He immediately kicks a plan to turn himself into a music star into action. “What’s going on, baby!” he says on a phone call. “I had this crazy dream — you’re gonna laugh. I had come up with, like, some beats, and you were like, ‘Maybe she’ll put that on the record.’ I even had a persona, like J. Lo, or like, B. Lo. That’s the bad version, obviously.” Unsurprisingly, he gets turned down by the person on the other end.
Undeterred, the star shows up at a studio with a burned CD in hand. “These are beats. Right here!” he says confidently, only to be deflated when the producer questions him about the medium he chose. “Big-time music expert, you don’t know where music comes from?!”
But Affleck soldiers on. In a recording studio, he wonders, “Does music have to rhyme?” The star also shows off some ideas for potential red-carpet looks, and works with Charli D’Amelio to learn some dance moves. But there’s one problem with that. “Who is TikTok?” he asks.
Despite hitting multiple bumps in his road to music glory, the director continues on. “They tell you you’re no good, you’re a goofy middle-aged white guy with no rhythm and you can’t sing on key. You’re not coordinated. That means I can’t be a pop star? Underestimate Boston … at your peril,” he warns before dropping a reference to J. Lo’s upcoming album. “This is me now.”
With a hefty chain featuring a giant blinged-out doughnut around his neck a la Flavor Flav’s massive clock necklaces, Affleck stares seriously into the distance, a determined look on his face, as a “To be continued” message appears.
Watch the new Dunkin’ ad starring Ben Affleck above.
Ayo Edebiri is poking fun at herself on Saturday Night Live.
The Emmy-winning The Bear actress, who hosted the Feb. 3 episode of the iconic NBC comedy show, appeared in the sketch “Why’d You Say It,” where game show contestants are asked to explain why they left unsavory comments on other people’s Instagram posts.
After being grilled by the game show’s host (played by SNL cast member Kenan Thompson) about why she left the comment “Die” under a video post where actress Drew Barrymore is enjoying a rainy day, Edebiri’s character Annie tries to give excuses for her negative reaction before finally admitting the truth.
“I meant die, like I’m dying! I love this vid so much,” she says while being interrupted by a wrong answer buzzer. “I meant slay, but I forgot the word. I saw someone being happy and wanted them to feel the exact opposite.”
Thompson quickly responds, “That’s close but it’s not the right answer,” to which Edebiri finally gives the correct reply. “I’m alone a lot, some days I don’t even interact with another human being. And I start wondering, am I dead? Is life even real? So I post comments that I think will get a response from someone because that’s the only way to be certain I am alive.”
Later in the skit, Edebiri’s Annie breaks down and seemingly addresses comments she made in real life about Jennifer Lopez — who also appeared as the SNL episode’s musical guest — during a 2020 appearance on the podcast Scam Goddess, where she told host Laci Mosley that J.Lo’s music career was “one long scam.”
“OK, OK! We get it. It’s wrong to leave mean comments or post comments just for clout — or run your mouth on a podcast and you don’t consider the impact because you’re 24 and stupid,” Edebiri’s Annie says in the sketch. “But I think I speak for everyone when I say, from now on, we’re going to be a lot more thoughtful about what we post online.”
Watch the “Why’d You Say It” SNL skit below. For those without cable, the broadcast streams on Peacock, which you can sign up for at the link here. Having a Peacock account also gives fans access to previous SNL episodes.
[embedded content]
Jennifer Lopez delivered another pair of standout performances on Saturday Night Live. During her Feb. 3 appearance on the iconic NBC sketch comedy show, hosted by Emmy-winning The Bear star Ayo Edebiri, the 54-year-old superstar singer and actress performed two songs from her upcoming ninth studio album, This Is Me… Now. For her first dazzling […]
Jennifer Lopez is performing on Saturday Night Live this weekend — or will it be J.Lo?
In promos for Saturday’s new episode, this week’s host — first-timer Ayo Edebiri — introduces Lopez as the musical guest, much to SNL castmember Heidi Gardner’s disappointment.
“Nuts, I thought it was going to be J.Lo!” Gardner laments.
“I am J.Lo,” Lopez informs her, to which Gardner replies, “Lady, she just said your name was Jennifer Lopez.”
After explaining that J.Lo is short for Jennifer Lopez, Edebiri says that her name Ayo is actually short for “I owned the first combination Dunkin’ Donuts/Baskin-Robbins.” “Really?” a stunned Gardner asks. “No,” Edebiri admits.
Elsewhere in the promos, Lopez tells Edebiri she’s really excited to share the episode because “I love your show” — referencing the actress’ Emmy-winning dramedy series The Bear. “I love your everything,” Edebiri shoots back. What does Gardner love? “A brisk fall morning where the light is just beginning to paint the landscape.”
Later, Gardner suggests the trio do “something really funny together this week,” to which Edebiri suggests locking SNL castmember Bowen Yang in a green room. “I already did that this morning,” Lopez says. “Oh, I meant like a sketch — is he OK?” Gardner worries.
While this marks Edebiri’s first time hosting, it will be Lopez’s fourth time on the show — once as the musical guest, once as the host, and twice pulling double-duty in 2001 and 2010.
Lopez is promoting her upcoming ninth studio album, This Is Me… Now, which serves as a sequel to 2002’s This Is Me… Then. Last month, she released the project’s first single, “Can’t Get Enough,” followed by a remix with Latto. In January, Edebiri took home the Emmy for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series for her role as Sydney in The Bear as well as the Golden Globe for best actress – television series musical or comedy.
Watch the new promos below.
[embedded content]
Carl Weathers, the former NFL star known for his roles as Apollo Creed in the Rocky franchise and Derick “Chubbs” Peterson in Happy Gilmore, died on Thursday (Feb. 1). He was 76 years old. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Weathers died in his sleep at his […]
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Following the success of Swarm, Donald Glover is back on Prime Video, this time with a lead role in Mr. & Mrs. Smith. The series, about two spies moonlighting as a married couple, premieres on Prime Video on Friday (Feb. 2).
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Glover and Maya Erskine play strangers who land jobs working for a spy agency and take on new identities as John and Jane Smith. The eight-episode series is co-created and executive produced by Glover and Francesca Clone.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith is a reimagining of the 2005 film starring Brad Pitt and Angeline Jolie.
Keep reading for details on how to stream the show for free on Prime Video.
How to Watch Mr. & Mrs. Smith
All eight episodes of Mr. and Mrs. Smith dropped on Prime Video on Friday. Prime members can stream it at no additional charge.
Not a member? Click below to launch your 30-day free trial to stream Mr. & Mrs. Smith and other must-watch content in the Prime Video library, including Underdoggs, Saltburn, Daisy Jones & The Six, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Harlem, Invincible, The Boys, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Fleabag, The Summer I Turned Pretty, The Wheel of Time, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and The Legend of Vox Machina.
Prime Video is home to exclusive TV shows, movies and more that members can stream free. Plus, Prime Video allows you to add channels such as Paramount+, HBO Max and Starz, so you can stream from one app.
Prime Video comes included with your Prime Membership – and it’s free for the first month. After the free trial ends, your membership will renew at $14.99 a month, or $139 for the annual plan. Amazon also offers 50% off for eligible students and SNAP/Medicaid recipients.
Watch the trailer for Mr. & Mrs. Smith below.
[embedded content]
Not many could’ve had T-Pain defending Elmo’s honor on their 2024 bingo card, but here we are. The “Buy U a Drank” rapper-singer came to Elmo’s defense after the Sesame Street staple was attacked on the Today show by actor-comedian Larry David on Thursday (Feb. 1). Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See […]
