State Champ Radio TV/Film
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This year’s Tribeca Festival is packed with musical stories, from biopics and documentaries to hard-hitting investigative films and docuseries that seek to inspire and shine a light on the sounds of the Latino diaspora.
Among the highlights of the NOW portion of the fest are Exposing Parchman, an investigative doc that explores the efforts to reform the Mississippi correctional system led by attorneys on behalf of the inmates of Parchman Prison. In addition to telling the inside stories of these inmates and their families, the movie zeroes in on the work of a team of Roc Nation attorneys and features Roc founder Jay-Z.
The screening will be followed by a conversation with the legal team, some of the film’s subjects and Roc Nation executives.
The fest will also feature the debut of the docuseries De La Calle, a journey into the Latino musical diaspora with special guests Fat Joe and Juelz Santana that a festival description says explores, “the evolution of Urbano music and cultures that ignited the musical revolution of Rap, Reggaeton, Bachata, Latin trap, Cumbia and other sounds that are influencing music and culture worldwide.”
Additionally, Choir will seek to lift up the spirits via the Disney+ film based on the Detroit Youth Choir, who went from rehearsing in a church basement with a handful of kids to taking the stage on one of the biggest reality platforms in the country as finalists on America’s Got Talent. The movie follows the new faces in the choir as they are put through their paces in auditions, asking the question, “can the DYC stay relevant in their hometown and on the national stage?”
The screening will be followed by a conversation with DYC artistic director Anthony White, director Rudy Valdez and executive producer Sara Bernstein, as well as members of the choir and a performance by the DYC.
This year’s event will also feature films about Alicia Keys, Gogol Bordello, Milli Vanilli, Gloria Gaynor, Biz Markie, The Indigo Girls, Tierra Whack and legendary Marvel comic book writer Stan Lee. Click here to see the full 2023 lineup of films.
During Michelle Obama‘s time as the first lady of the United States, she was one of the most famous — and identifiable — people, but that didn’t stop her from becoming a superfan after meeting some of her favorite musicians. Obama appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday (April 19) and revealed that she, too, has been a fangirl in her day.
The topic came up when Fallon inquired whether the former first later ever gets starstruck by people anymore, to which she replied, “Absolutely I do.”
“Just imagine the people that we met,” she continued. “Stevie? You know, when I first met Stevie Wonder? I was just like ‘Stevie!’ I fangirled out. Prince? I mean … Prince played at the White House months before he passed, actually. I fangirl out.”
Later in the program, The Light We Carry author dished on her Netflix special with Oprah Winfrey about the book, and shared that Oprah has been nothing but a generous friend to her and husband Barack Obama.
“Oprah was one of the very open supporters before Barack was even thinking about running. She spotted him when he was a U.S. senator,” the 59-year-old revealed. “Oprah is that person who never asks for anything, but is always there with her generosity, her love and support. There isn’t anything you can’t ask her to do if you’re a friend that she won’t try to do. She is who she appears to be, and I’m lucky to call her a friend.”
Watch Obama talk about fangirling over Stevie Wonder and Prince in the video above, and her friendship with Oprah in the clip below.
The end of each new season of RuPaul’s Drag Race is bittersweet — you’re happy to have a new winner, but sad to see the show come to an end. This year, you can rest easy, because the Drag Race drought won’t last for long.
On Thursday (April 20), Paramount+ unveiled the cast of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 8. The season premiere, which will take place Friday, May 12, on Paramount+, will consist of a two episodes as 12 returning queens compete for a cash prize of $200,000 and a spot in the “Drag Race Hall of Fame” alongside past All Stars winners Chad Michaels, Alaska, Trixie Mattel, Monét X Change, Trinity the Tuck, Shea Couleé, Kylie Sonique Love and Jinkx Monsoon.
The supersized cast features former competitors Alexis Michelle (season nine), Darienne Lake (season six), Heidi N Closet (season 12), Jaymes Mansfield (season nine), Jessica Wild (season two), Jimbo (Canada’s Drag Race season one & U.K. vs. The World season one), Kahanna Montrese (season 11), Kandy Muse (season 13), LaLa Ri (season 13), Monica Beverly Hillz (season five), Mrs. Kasha Davis (season seven) and Naysha Lopez (season eight).
The news comes on the heels of the latest Drag Race crowning. Last week, Sasha Colby took home the top prize for season 15. In an interview with Billboard shortly after her victory, Colby said that she felt awestruck that she managed to win the competition. “When I made a miracle happen by winning [Miss] Continental, I sort of thought that you get one miracle in your lifetime,” she said. “But it’s wild to think that we made magic again.”
RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 8 premieres on Paramount+ on Friday, May 12. Watch the full “Meet the Queens” video below:
Kid Cudi is adding more animated projects to his résumé, as Deadline announced he is set to star in Knuckles, the Paramount+ spin-off series of Sonic the Hedgehog.
The “Day ‘n’ Nite” rapper excitedly shared the news to his Instagram feed. “When life has more dreams for you to fulfill,” the artist captioned the post, adding, “its lit #knuckles @paramountplus.”
Over on Twitter, Cudi treated followers to a photo of his cat Sweets, who adorably cuddled up to a tiny Knuckles plushie, eyes half-open. “Sweets is happy and excited about the Knuckles show,” the 39-year-old wrote.
Per Deadline, Knuckles will take place between the events of the Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 movies and will follow the titular animated character on “a hilarious and action-packed journey of self-discovery as he agrees to train Wade as his protégé and teach him the ways of the Echidna warrior.” The series is scheduled to premiere on Paramount+ on Dec. 20, 2024.
While Cudi’s role in the show is still under wraps, Idris Elba — who previously voiced Knuckles in the Sonic movies — will reprise the role of the titular character. Tika Sumpter and Adam Pally will return as Maddie and Walt Whipple, respectively. Edi Patterson, Julian Barratt and Ellie Taylor flesh out the cast. Knuckles marks Cudi’s second animated credit, coming off Entergalactic, his 2022 animated special developed with Netflix.
See Cudi’s posts below.
The torch is being passed from one good witch to another.In a recent appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show, Kristin Chenoweth opened up about the thrillifying advice she gave Ariana Grande on stepping into the sparkly pink shoes of Glinda in Wicked, a role Chenoweth originated on Broadway in 2003.
“She was really nervous,” the 54-year-old musical theatre legend recalled. “She said, ‘I want to pay homage to you but I’m scared. I want to make you proud.’ I go, ‘Well you’ve already made me proud, so it doesn’t matter. Check, done that.’”
Chenoweth went on to share the wisdom she gave her mentee on playing Glinda in Jon M. Chu’s upcoming live action adaptation of the Wizard of Oz inspired musical, due out in theaters next year: “What I want to encourage you to do, Ariana, is make Glinda your Glinda. Sure, you can tip your hat at me if you want, but really I just want you to do you.”
The Holidate actress went on to say that the topic made her emotional because “I’ve known [Ariana] since she was ten.” “I’m so proud of her,” she added. “I can’t wait to see her do it.”
The hype for Chu’s two-part film adaptation, which also stars Cynthia Erivo playing the titular character of Elphaba, has never been higher. First look photos of both leading ladies in costume were released Sunday (April 16), and pictures and videos of Grande on set recently went viral on Twitter.
One of the viral videos shows the pop star shooting a scene from the beginning of the musical, effortlessly singing the operatic high notes in opening number “No One Mourns The Wicked” while addressing the citizens of Oz. Fans couldn’t get enough of Grande’s vocals or her stunning pink ballgown, with one fan tweeting: “That film is going to be crazy cause look how ariana grande Ate that up omg.”
Watch Kristin Chenoweth recall the “Wicked” advice she gave Ariana Grande below:
After a star-making turn on season 15 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Sasha Colby took home the crown and $200,000 on the April 14 finale episode. Now, she’s getting her flowers from none other than Ariana Grande.
In a post to her Instagram Stories on Tuesday (April 18), Grande shared Colby’s interview with Vogue, which led America’s Next Drag Superstar to repost the “Positions” singer’s support on her own stories. Grande reposted Colby, this time adding a sweet message for the winner: “I love you so.”
Grande has a storied history with Drag Race. Earlier this year, the singer served as the first guest judge on season 15, where she watched as the queens put on a talent show before the bottom two lip-synched to her hit song “7 Rings.” It’s far from the first time that Grande’s music has been used on the show; in fact, her songs have been featured nine times throughout the show’s run, putting her just below Britney Spears and RuPaul herself for the most times lip-synched in the series.
Meanwhile, Colby is settling into her reign nicely. In her interview with Billboard shortly after her crowning, the drag superstar said that she wanted her win to be a signal to those currently working to erode LGBTQ rights around the world. “To me, this is why I waited [to be on Drag Race], because I was supposed to be here right now, to be the face of exactly what these people are trying to eradicate,” she said.
Check out Ariana’s message to Sasha Colby here before it expires.
Just because Katy Perry‘s on the American Idol judging panel doesn’t mean everyone’s going to agree with her. In fact, on Monday’s (April 17) episode, the competition show’s live audience in Hawaii went as far as to boo the pop star after she gave some harsh criticism to fan-favorite Nutsa Buzaladze.
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Buzaladze, who’s already earned a reputation for delivering show-stopping, high-energy performances, sparkled during her live rendition of Grace Potter and the Nocturnals’ “Paris (Ooh La La).” But for Perry, there was a little too much sparkle.
“Nutsa, every time you take the stage, it’s like you glitter bomb the stage,” the “Firework” singer told the Top 26 hopeful. “Listen, I think one thing I personally would like to see from you is not one piece of glitter the next time. I know that’s gonna be hard.”
Fans in the audience, however, couldn’t have disagreed more. The crowd started booing loudly in response, causing fellow judge Luke Bryan to cheer, “Yes! Katy got booed. Katy got booed.”
Perry, however, was unfazed. “OK, first time in six seasons, woo hoo,” she dismissed the jeers. She then clarified to Buzaladze what she meant. “What I’m saying is that I’d like you to flip the script. I think we want to be pulled in by our hearts, too. I’d love to see that, and I think America might too.”
In Perry’s defense, Buzaladze herself has admitted she needs to learn how to dial it back a little. When the 25-year-old contestant first auditioned for Idol in Las Vegas, the “Roar” singer told her the energy was “turned up too hot.”
“My problem is, I feel always that I have a lot of energy,” the hopeful admitted a few weeks ago while preparing for the Hollywood Week solos round.
Watch Katy Perry get booed for the first time in six seasons above.
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The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon already has plenty of fun music-focused segments, like Classroom Instruments and Wheel of Musical Impressions. Now, the popular late night talk show has added a brand new series called “Musical Stairs.”
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As the name suggests, the segment features artists performing their latest hits in the Tonight Show stairwell, backed by The Roots. In a teaser clip shared exclusively with Billboard on Tuesday (April 18), the Jonas Brothers are the first stars to take on “Musical Stairs,” performing a stripped-back rendition of their new single “Waffle House.”
In the 30-second teaser, Joe Jonas is seen singing the first verse and chorus, as Nick Jonas provides harmonies and Kevin Jonas accompanies The Roots on acoustic guitar.
“Waffle House” is the second single off the Jonas Brothers’ forthcoming ’70s-inspired studio set, The Album, which is scheduled for release on May 12 via Republic Records. The inspiring track follows the soaring lead single “Wings.”
Watch a clip of Jonas Brothers performing “Waffle House” below, and catch the full segment on Tuesday night (April 18) on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. The show airs every weeknight at 11:35 p.m. ET on NBC. For those without cable, the Tonight Show is also available to stream online through streaming services including Hulu (sign up here) and Peacock TV (sign up here).
Wynonna Judd is headed to Paramount+. On Tuesday (April 18), the streamer announced the country legend’s upcoming documentary Wynonna Judd: Between Hell and Hallelujah.
The feature, which premieres April 26, promises to give fans a vulnerable behind-the-scenes look at Judd’s life as she picks up the pieces, rebuilds her life’s work and embarks on cross-country tour to continue the legacy of The Judds after the tragic passing of her mother Naomi Judd last year. Along the way, country royalty and rising stars alike will make appearances, including Ashley McBryde, Brandi Carlile, Faith Hill, Little Big Town, Kelsea Ballerini, Martina McBride and Trisha Yearwood.
“It’s real and it’s raw. It’s celebration and sadness,” Judd said in a statement. “It’s all of the people who I leaned on during one of the toughest seasons of my life. I wanted the opportunity to tell my story in my voice. If doing so helps one person out there choose life, then I am grateful.”
Just days after its premiere on Paramount+, the documentary will be followed by CMT Presents The Judds: Love Is Alive – The Final Concert, which is set to air April 29 on CMT in the tradition of the mother-daughter duo’s classic farewell tour from the early ’90s.
Jason Owen, the CEO of Sandbox Productions who produced both Judd-centric specials, added, “The Judds will forever be one of country music’s most iconic and storied duos. Their original 1991 farewell concert was entertainment at its finest and being able to recreate that concert with Wynonna and so many talented artists is something I will cherish forever. Watching Wynonna fully embrace this tour to honor The Judds’ legacy was beyond inspiring, and I can’t wait for others to witness her strength in Between Hell and Hallelujah.”
Get a first look at the artwork for Wynonna Judd: Between Hell and Hallelujah below.
Wynonna Judd: Between Hell and Hallelujah
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The 2023 Tribeca Festival announced its lineup for this year’s event on Tuesday (April 18) and among the 109 feature films from 127 directors from 36 countries are a number of documentaries about some of the most beloved, scandalous and intriguing musicians of the modern era.
The Festival, which takes place from June 7-18, will spotlight 93 world premieres and a diverse roster featuring 43 first-time directors with 41% of all feature films directed by women and, in a first, more than half of competition films directed by women (68%), as well as 36% of feature films directed by BIPOC filmmakers.
Among the notable music-related movies are:
Uncharted — (world premiere) Director Beth Aala goes behind the scenes of Alicia Keys’ “She Is the Music” songwriting camp, with a performance from She Is the Music artists afterwards curated by Keys.
Scream of My Blood: A Gogol Bordello Story — (world premiere) After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, GB leader Eugene Hütz breaks down the influence of Ukrainian and Roma culture on his punk band’s music, followed by a performance by the band.
Milli Vanilli — (world premiere) Director Luke Korem’s deep dive into the origin and precipitous downfall of the “Girl You Know It’s True” duo featuring a rare interview with surviving member Fabrice Morvan. (This writer was interviewed for the film.)
Gloria Gaynor: I Will Survive — (world premiere) A documentary chronicling the “I Will Survive” singer’s comeback with a new gospel album, touching on her struggles with ageism and financial ruin, followed by a live performance.
All Up in the Biz — (world premiere) Director Sacha Jenkins collages celebrity interviews, rare film, reenactments and animation to describe how late rap icon Biz Markie left his mark on the music world.
It’s Only Life After All — (New York premiere) A look at the beloved folk duo, with a songwriting masterclass to follow.
Songs About F–king — (world premiere) Musician Marc Rebillet goes on one of the first live music tours after the COVID-19 lockdown, with musical Q&A with Rebillet afterwards.
Waitress, the Musical – Live on Broadway! — (world premiere) A movie treatment of the Broadway musical about a small-town pie baker with big dreams featuring lyricist Sara Bareilles, who will perform live after the screening.
Cypher — (world premiere) Director Chris Mourkabel “captures the weird and sinister side of fame” in a pseudo-documentary about rapper Tierra Whack.
Bad Like Brooklyn Dancehall — (world premiere) Doc about the city’s role in the evolution of dancehall, featuring Shaggy and Sean Paul, followed by performance from dancehall legends.
Maestra — (world premiere) Director Maggie Contreras follows women from different backgrounds as they compete in the first all-women competition for conducting.
In addition to those music features, the festival will host the “Escape From Tribeca” series featuring films such as Enter the Clones of Bruce, a doc looking at the Bruce Lee exploitation craze, director Sav Rodgers’ Chasing Chasing Amy about the filmmaker’s journey of self-discovery while making a doc on the development of Kevin Smith’s controversial LGBTQ+ film Chasing Amy and Taylor Mac’s 24-Decade History of Popular Music, a concert film that dives into New York theater legends Mac’s “ostentatiously queer 24-hour musical performance.”
There will also be a world premiere of the life of late Marvel Comics genius Stan Lee, a profile of legendary MLB promoter and owner Bill Veeck (The Saint of Second Chances) touching on his famous 1979 “Disco Demolition” stunt at Chicago’s Comiskey Park, a profile of New York concert promoter Ron Delsener (Ron Delsener Presents) and the world premiere of Anthem, in which DJ Dahi and composer Kris Bowers set off on a road trip across the country to find out what it sounds like to have a national anthem that actually reflects America.
For a full list of this year’s films click here.
