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SHOWBIZ Netflix, Kal Penn, Dennis Rodman, 'The Voice,' 'Euphoria'
Video below
Terra Field—one of the Netflix employees who organized the walkout around Dave Chappelle's comedy special The Closer—has resigned from the streamer, Deadline reported. Field, along with B. Pagels-Minor, organized an ...
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Broadway titan Stephen Sondheim dies at 91
Stephen Sondheim, one of the giants of Broadway songwriting, died Nov. 26 at his home in Roxbury, Connecticut, according to media reports. He was 91. Among the works in the legend's oeuvre are Company (1970), Follies ...
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EVENTS John Grumpy Co. presenting 'Black Sunday' Nov. 28
John Grumpy Co. is hosting "Black Sunday," which will take place at HVAC Pub, 3530 N. Clark St., on Sunday, Nov. 28, 9 p.m.-2 a.m.. This event will feature celebrity DJ Jamal Smallz. "Black Sunday" will ...
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MUSIC Grammy nominations announced; GLAAD comments
On Nov. 23, the nominations for the 64th Annual Grammy Awards were announced. John Batiste, the musician who also serves as the bandleader on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, led among all nominees with 11 ...
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MUSIC Controversial rapper DaBaby postpones shows
DaBaby's return to touring following fallout for making anti-gay comments at the Rolling Loud music festival in Miami this past summer has been postponed, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. The rapper's been promoting his "Live Show ...
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SHOWBIZ '9-1-1,' Billie Jean King, Lena Waithe, singer Mary Lambert, White Party
Actor Rockmond Dunbar left the Fox show 9-1-1 after four seasons over a vaccine mandate, Deadline noted. His gay character, Michael Grant, was abruptly written off in the Nov. 15 episode, leaving fans of the first-responder ...
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Rainbow Railroad plans 'When I Am Free' benefit concert to get LGBTQI+s to safety
--From a press release. Videos below
Chicago, IL (November 12, 2021) - The annual Chicago 5 Lives Fundraiser hosted by Rainbow Railroad is proud to return this year with "When I Am Free", a benefit concert offering attendees a premier evening of ...
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Lil Nas X part of 'Jingle Ball' on Dec. 7
Queer rapper Lil Nas X will headline KISS FM's Jingle Ball Presented by Capital One this year, run in coordination with iHeart Radio. The event will take place Tuesday, Dec. 7, at Allstate Arena at 7:30 ...
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'When I Am Free' concert supporting Rainbow Railroad on Dec. 3
"When I Am Free: A Benefit Concert for Rainbow Railroad" will take place at Center on Halsted's Hoover-Leppen Theatre, 3656 N. Halsted St., on Friday, Dec. 3, at 7:30 p.m. During this event, there will be ...
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SHOWBIZ Theater items, Lady Gaga, 'Justice League Queer,' Tom of Finland
Eighteen months after he died of COVID, the life of playwright Terrence McNally was celebrated in a packed house Nov. 1 at the Schoenfeld Theatre, Gay City News noted. Tributes poured in from theater artists, while ...
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Britney Spears' conservatorship ends
The conservatorship that has controlled Britney Spears' finances, personal life and medical decisions since 2008, and which for many years was controlled by her father, Jamie Spears, has ended. On Nov. 12, Los Angeles County Superior ...
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SHOWBIZ Gay men's chorus, upcoming films, 'Tiger King,' Mariah Carey
Video below
The New York City Gay Men's Chorus announced its return to the rehearsal room, per a press release. On Nov. 1, 51 members gathered at P.S. 11 in Chelsea, Manhattan, to sing for the first time ...
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MUSIC ABBA releases new album, Voyage
ABBA, one of the most successful pop groups of all time, released Voyage—their first album in nearly 40 years. Details of Voyage were announced in early September, along with "ABBA Voyage," the new concert that will ...
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MCA to showcase Justin Vivian Bond on Oct. 30
On Saturday, Oct. 30, at 3 p.m., The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, 220 E. Chicago Ave., will present "Music Talk: Justin Vivian Bond and Jim Hodges," featuring singer-songwriter, author, painter, performance artist and actor Mx. ...
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MUSIC Indie band Fleece is queering country
Eight years ago, gay songwriter and lead singer Matt Rogers and his friend, bisexual drummer Ethan Soil, founded Montreal quartet Fleece. A few years later, bisexual vocalist Megan Ennenberg and straight man Jameson Daniel—who are both ...
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MUSIC Elton John's 'The Lockdown Sessions' now out
Elton John's The Lockdown Sessions is now out, courtesy of Interscope Records. An album of collaborations recorded remotely over the last 18 months, The Lockdown Sessions features UK #1 single "Cold Heart (PNAU remix)," with Dua ...
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Lyric Opera presenting 'Florencia en el Amazonas' Nov. 13-28
During Nov. 13-28, Lyric Opera of Chicago will run the company premiere of Florencia en el Amazonas—the first Spanish-language work to be presented as part of Lyric's mainstage opera season. There will be evening performances on ...
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SHOWBIZ Superman, TheWrap, Oscar Wilde, Billy Porter, Cher, 'Dragula'
The ongoing comic Superman: Son of Kal-El, by writer Tom Taylor and artist John Timms, launched in July and saw Jon Kent officially take up the mantle of the Man of Steel now that his father, ...
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'Tapping into Ca$h' : CaSera Heining lives double life as DJ Ca$h Era and radio producer
Minutes before DJ Ca$h Era hosted Lollapalooza's first drag show, the Black queer woman behind the stage name was pacing nervously behind the scenes and listening to a drag queen animatedly remind her they were "making ...
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MUSIC Janis Ian's last Chicago concert May 14
In what is being advertised as her last concert in Chicago, LGBTQ singer Janis Ian will be performing at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Ave. on Saturday, May 14, 2022, at 8 p.m. Tickets ($48-$50) will ...
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Lyric Opera running seven performances of 'The Magic Flute' Nov. 3-27
Lyric Opera of Chicago is running seven performances of The Magic Flute, Mozart's final opera, on Nov. 3-27. There will be performances at 7 p.m. on Nov. 3; matinees on Nov. 7, 11, 14 and 17, ...
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SHOWBIZ 'Drag Race' winners, Playboy, punk band, The Dinah, Daniel Craig
Video below
As part of VH1's #LGBTQHerstoryMonth project, five winners from the RuPaul's Drag Race winner's circle—season one's BeBe Zahara Benet, All Stars 4 winner Monet X Change, season 11 winner Yvie Oddly, season 12 victor Jaida Essence ...
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Madonna's latest concert film, Madame X, now out
The concept film to Madonna's acclaimed Madame X Tour has debuted in the United States Latin America, Australia, the Nordics and Canada exclusively on Paramount+, the streaming service from ViacomCBS. Fans outside these markets can watch ...
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Book about musician Tori Amos' works coming out
The book Tori Amos: every album, every song—by rock journalist Lisa Torem—will be out in the United States on Friday, Oct. 29, courtesy of Sonic Bond Publishing. In 1992, Amos—an acclaimed singer, pianist and composer—achieved fame ...
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MUSIC Rachael Sage at Uncommon Ground on Oct. 14
Rachael Sage—described as an "award-winning singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist and member/supporter of the LGBTQ+ community"—will perform at Uncommon Ground-Lake View, 3800 N. Clark St., on Thursday, Oct. 14, at 8 p.m. ...
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Opera singer Ketelson to give Center on Halsted performance
World renowned bass-baritone opera singer Kyle Ketelsen will perform Italian arias at the Center on Halsted to raise funds both to support his alma mater, Clinton (Iowa) High School (Vocal Department) and Care for Real Pantry ...
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Pride Fest sees rainbows over rain
After last year's COVID-related cancellation, the LGBTQ+-focused outdoor affair Pride Fest returned to Lake View after a delay of a few months, as it usually takes place in June. An additional full day was added to ...
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R. Kelly found guilty of racketeering
On Sept. 27, a federal jury in Brooklyn convicted embattled R&B singer R. Kelly of racketeering by a federal jury in Brooklyn, the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York said, according to ...
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MUSIC ROUNDUP: Riot Fest rocks and rolls with the punches
Riot Fest is a massive music festival held annually at Chicago's Douglas Park, held this year on Sept. 16-19 Usually a three-day celebration, Riot held a preview party Sept.16 that began at 2:30 p.m. for the ...
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LGBTQ+ lullaby album to be released Oct. 28
Broadway Records announced the impending release of The Rainbow Lullaby—which the label said is "the world's first LGBTQ lullaby album." The album will be available Thursday, Oct. 28, wherever digital music is sold and on BroadwayRecords.com. ...
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Pitchfork Music Festival returns and turns 15 in 2021
Pitchfork Music Festival turned 15 years old in Chicago this year after being cancelled last year because of the pandemic. This lively celebration of eclectic music continued in the same spot (Union Park) with the usual ...
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'Andersonville Homecoming' Sept. 24-26; line-up, vendors, safety protocols announced
--From a press release
CHICAGO (Sept. 15, 2021) — The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce (ACC) is pleased to announce the full entertainment line-up and vendors for Andersonville Homecoming--a three-night, two-day outdoor festival featuring ...
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CAIC announces 2021 Collaborative Works Festival, immigration, migration in song
--From a press release
CHICAGO— Collaborative Arts Institute of Chicago (CAIC) begins its eleventh anniversary season with its annual Collaborative Works Festival, held in venues around Chicago from October 6—9, 2021. The 2021 Collaborative ...
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MUSIC Lil Nas X wins top award at MTV VMAs
The MTV VMA Awards took place Sept. 12—and an LGBTQ+ artist took home one of the night's top awards. Lil Nas X won Video of the Year for "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)," besting Cardi ...
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SHOWBIZ 'Boy Meets Boy,' Jennifer Hudson, 'SVU,' tennis honor, ABBA
Ariztical Entertainment is releasing the German movie Boy Meets Boy on DVD and VOD on Oct. 26. According to a press release, the plot of the 70-minute movie is as follows: "Harry has been partying for ...
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Pride Fest will extend to Oct. 3; headliners include Kristine W and Mya
Mya, Shangela, VINCINT, Crystal Waters, Kristine W, Brooke Eden and St. Panther are among the headliners for Chicago Pride Fest now taking place over three days, Oct. 1-3, in Chicago's LGBTQ+ landmark Northalsted/Lake View district. The ...
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ARC Music Festival debuts in Chicago over Labor Day Weekend
Replacing North Coast Music Festival's usual spot in Union Park, ARC Music Festival launched Sept. 4-5. North Coast was forced to move to SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois, that same weekend to a stadium that was ...
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MUSIC 'Global Citizen Live' to run Sept. 25-26
International advocacy organization Global Citizen announced the expansion of "Global Citizen Live" to include Los Angeles and London with an outdoor event in L.A., which is presented by Verizon, and headlined by Stevie Wonder with Adam ...
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'Close-Up with Carmen' Sept. 9 at Center on Halsted
'Close-Up with Carmen'—about the intersection of drag and opera—will take place Thursday, Sept. 9, at 6 p.m. at the Hoover-Leppen Theatre at Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St. During this event, participants will discuss cross-dressi ...
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Britney Spears' dad petitions to end conservatorship
In a huge win for pop star Britney Spears, her father and the conservator of her estate, Jamie Spears, filed a petition to end the arrangement on Sept. 7, media outlets reported. Jamie cited his daughter's ...
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MUSIC Upcoming 'Carmen' featuring queer lead, male drag
On Sept. 16 and 18 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph St., Chicago audiences will have the rare opportunity to hear two world-class dramatic mezzo-sopranos debut new roles opposite one another ...
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SHOWBIZ 'Idol' alums, Zendaya, Gaga, 'Queer As Folk,' women rappers
American Idol alum David Archuleta said that God urged him to come out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, NBC News noted. The Nashville resident told Today.com he wasn't sure if the community would embrace ...
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Lil Nas X receives inaugural Trevor Project award
The Trevor Project announced that "Old Town Road" rapper Lil Was X was the recipient of its inaugural Suicide Prevention Advocate of the Year Award. On its website, the organization stated, " Lil Nas X has ...
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MUSIC Laura Jane Grace gives good advice to future trans and queer artists
For one hour and 48 minutes, Laura Jane Grace will take listeners on a journey with the new Audible project Black Me Out. This transgender musician covers a great deal of territory in the session, from ...
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Chicago Gay Men's Chorus' 'CGMC: Undressed' Sept. 17-18
The Chicago Gay Men's Chorus will hold its fall cabaret event "CGMC: Undressed" on Sept. 17-18 at two different venues. On Friday, Sept. 17, at 8 p.m., the chorus will perform at Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 ...
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MUSICALS Highland Park Players to run 'Matilda' Sept. 24-Oct. 3
The Highland Park Players return to live theater with the Tony-winning musical Matilda The Musical! opening Sept. 24 and running through Oct. 3 at the Northbrook Theatre, 3323 Walters Ave., Northbrook. Performances are Sept. 24-25 and ...
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'Broadway in Your Backyard' event Sept. 28 at Gold Coast hotel
Ambassador Chicago, a JDV by Hyatt Hotel, in collaboration with Porchlight Music Theatre, will hold a special performance at the hotel—part of Porchlight's "Broadway in Your Backyard" series—on Tuesday, Sept. 28. Doors will open at 6:30 ...
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Controversial rapper DaBaby meets with Black HIV advocates
On Aug. 31, Black leaders from nine HIV organizations across the country announced they held a virtual, private meeting with rapper Jonathan "DaBaby" Kirk to discuss HIV facts and share personal stories of living and thriving ...
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MUSIC Local band Glad Rags releasing 'All of Them' on Oct. 15
Chicago-based queer psychedelic orchestra band Glad Rags will release the LP All of Them on Oct. 15. The six-member band began recording the record in late 2018 at Jamdek Studio, and spent 2019 tracking overdubs and ...
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SHOWBIZ Billy Porter, 'Death Drop,' Brandi Carlile, vintage films, Gaga
Billy Porter will direct a queer teen comedy feature titled To Be Real for Amazon Studios, which is being helmed by Gabrielle Union's I'll Have Another Productions, NME.com noted. Porter, who is currently working on his ...
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MUSICALS 'Beautiful' in Chicago on Nov. 2-7; tickets on sale Sept. 1
Producers Paul Blake and Sony/ATV Music Publishing announced that individual tickets for the Tony- and Gramm-winning Broadway hit Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, about the early life and career of ...
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Andersonville Chamber of Commerce to present Andersonville Homecoming
--From a press release
CHICAGO (August 26, 2021) — The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce (ACC) is pleased to announce Andersonville Homecoming, a three-night, two-day outdoor festival featuring live entertainment, local artisans and merchants, food ...
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MUSIC R.E.M.'s 'Hi-Fi' set for 25th-anniversary reissue
Craft Recordings is celebrating the 25th anniversary of R.E.M.'s 10th studio album, New Adventures in Hi-Fi, with a special reissue, currently available for pre-order and set for release Oct. 29. The bonus-filled 2-CD/1-Blu-ray Deluxe Edition offers ...
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MUSIC Diplo, Galantis part of Spring Awakening
The organizers of the Chicago electronic dance music (EDM) festival Spring Awakening have added the acts Diplo and Galantis to the Oct. 2-3 event. Spring Awakening will take place in Addams/Medill Park, 1301 W. 14th St. ...
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MOVIES 'Mr. SOUL!' looks at groundbreaking '60s show and Black, gay host
Al Green, Stevie Wonder, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, Nikki Giovanni, James Baldwin, Cicely Tyson, Harry Belafonte, Muhammad Ali, The Last Poets, Earth, Wind & Fire, Sidney Poitier, Mavis Staples and even a teenaged Arsenio Hall were ...
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MUSIC Morrissey, Slipknot added to Riot Fest
With Nine Inch Nails cancelling all 2021 tour dates, including this year's Riot Fest (Sept. 16-19, in Chicago's Douglass Park), festival organizers revealed headliner additions and that a second batch of Riot Fest Late Night show ...
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MUSIC George Clinton, Neko Case at Out of Space Fest on Sept. 2-5
The line-up of Evanston SPACE's summer concert series, "Out of Space"—at Temperance Beer Company (Sept. 2-5)—has been unveiled. Acts include Big Boi and Twista (Sept. 2); Drive-By Truckers and JD ...
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MUSIC Lyric Opera of Chicago's 'Pagliacci' on film
Lyric Opera of Chicago announced that registration is now open for audiences to secure a free link to screen the new, original film production of Leoncavallo's Pagliacci, filmed at the Lyric Opera House. Audiences can now ...
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Madonna, Warner Bros. announce global partnership
Madonna and Warner Music Group announced a milestone, career-spanning global partnership that includes a new agreement for her entire recorded music catalog. With global sales of more than 300 million records, Madonna is the best-selling female ...
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SHOWBIZ Ben Platt, Billie Jean King, Megan Thee Stallion, 'Horror Stories' series
Queer Grammy, Tony and Emmy-winning artist Ben Platt has dropped his new album, Reverie, via Atlantic Records, per a press release. Platt will mark the arrival of Reverie with his biggest North American headline tour to ...
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Lightfoot's "Chicago in Tune" music festival starting Thursday
--From a press release
CHICAGO—Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) today announced more details for the new "Chicago in Tune" music festival starting Thursday — including ...
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LGBTQ women's music event 'Still Rising' on Aug. 21
Still Rising—for LGBTQ women DJs, producers, promoters and their allies—will take place Saturday, Aug. 21, at Epiphany Center for the Arts, 201 S. Ashland Ave. There will be a mixer, workshops and, of course, music at ...
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Sones de Mexico's 'Zulema' at Chicago venues through Sept. 2
Zulema—Grammy-nominated Sones de Mexico Ensemble's new work—will be in various Chicago venues through Sept. 2. The ensemble is a Chicago folk music group that specializes in the Mexican musical tradition known as son. Zulema continues throug ...
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Market Days returns as acts provide plenty of tunes and drama
One of the largest outdoor street festivals in the Midwest, Market Days began in 1982 and returned in 2021 for the 39th time. The Lake View area outdoor celebration ran Aug. 6-8 after being cancelled the ...
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SHOWBIZ Frank Ocean, NPH, Playboy-era film, Vogue model
Miranda Lambert video below
Frank Ocean will headline Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 2023—three years after he was originally supposed to, according to co-founder Paul Tollett, Billboard noted. The Goldenvoice CEO broke the news in an interview with ...
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Lollapalooza features the most diverse lineup seen in 30 years
The huge outdoor festival Lollapalooza celebrated its 30th anniversary July 29-Aug. 1—to full capacity. A livestream was broadcast in 2020 to keep in the spirit alive due to a pandemic, forcing a year's postponement for in ...
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Angelica Ross gets 'Fierce' for Market Days
Born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Angelica Ross was destined for great things in the future. After struggling with jobs for many years herself, Ross created TransTech Social Enterprises as an incubator for finding transgender talent in the ...
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Chenoweth and Menzel to co-host 'Wicked in Concert' PBS special
PBS's Wicked in Concert special on Aug. 29 will be co-hosted by the musical's original Broadway stars, Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, Deadline reported. The event is slated to feature performances by Mario Cantone, Gavin Creel, ...
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MUSIC Marie Osmond talks Sound of Music, Ravinia, lesbian daughter [UPDATE]
The multitalented performer Marie Osmond continues to hit milestones in her more than five-decade-long career. She became a country music star with a cover of "Paper Roses" and then took over television with Donny & Marie, ...
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DaBaby out of Lolla line-up after anti-gay rant, video
Following various homophobic comments made at another festival stage as well as on video, rapper DaBaby was taken out of the Lollapalooza line-up for Aug. 1, The Chicago Tribune reported. Young Thug, previously slated for ...
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SHOWBIZ Ruby Rose, Matt Ryan, Beyonce, The Dinah, Simone Biles
Ruby Rose (Batwoman; Orange Is the New Black) tearfully revealed that it took her hours to get accepted into an emergency room due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, EW.com revealed. Rose took to her Instagram Story ...
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Millennium Park Summer Music Series starts Monday
--From a press release
Millennium Park Summer Music Series, presented by the Millennium Park Foundation, features a wide variety of music from established and emerging artists — in 10 genre-defying concerts at the iconic Jay Pritzker Pavilion. This year's series ...
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Logan Center Bluesfest to include Shemekia Copeland, avery r. young
This year, the Third Logan Center Bluesfest will take place Oct. 15-17. It will be a hybrid model with a series of intimate concerts, conversations and special events in which select programming is offered in-person, at ...
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Rapper DaBaby defends anti-gay comments
Rapper DaBaby addressed his recent controversial comments at the Rolling Loud music festival in Miami—and drew the ire of many on social media, CNN.com noted. During the performance, he made false and insulting comments about gay ...
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SHOWBIZ Script contest, LGBTQ film, Lady Gaga, Showtime, out sprinter
GLAAD and The Black List—the writer-centric entity whose work includes its annual list, screenplay marketplace, writer labs, and film and television productions—announced plans for The 2021 GLAAD List, the third ...
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