Forty-two years after co-founding World Team Tennis ( WTT ), Billie Jean King announced she will step away as the majority owner of the organization, ESPN.com reported. King, 73, said she was selling her share to Mark Ein, founder and owner of the Washington Kastles, and Fred Luddy, owner of the San Diego Aviators. King will continue to serve as the owner of one of the league's teams, the Philadelphia Freedoms, as well as retain a minority role in WTT.
When the power went out temporarily during a show in Adelaide, Australia, Adele switched gears from singer to comedian in mere seconds, Radio.com noted, citing NME. "So we're having a technical difficulty," she told her audience. "I'm not quite sure what it is. Shall I try and tell some jokes?" After power was restored, she closed her set with "Someone Like You."
The docuseries Outpost will debut on both Fusion TV ( English language ) and UniMas ( Spanish language ) on March 26, a press release noted. Season one focuses on stories based in Latin America that resonate on a global scale, and will have special guest correspondents such as musician Jon Batiste, trans model Carmen Carrera and legendary boxer Mike Tyson. In the premiere-week episodes, "Empowering New Voices" features Carrera in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Gabriel Leigh in El Alto, Bolivia, as they explore the various ways people are raising their voices and taking back the power.
Arrow star Stephen Amell stripped down to a pair of camouflage briefs at co-star John Barrowman's 50th-birthday party, according to NewNowNext.com . "Here's the thing—John Barrowman is only turning 50 once," Amell explained on Instagram. He and another friend in undies sported Barrowman's initials on their bare chest. Barrowman, who shaved his hair down to its natural gray roots, also debuted a T-shirt supporting transgender equality.
RuPaul dropped some major news on Hollywood Today Live: He finally tied the knot with his boyfriend of 23 years, Wyoming rancher Georges LeBar, USA Today noted. The couple wed in January, he said, on their anniversary. "I met him on the dance floor at Limelight in 1994 on his birthday," explained the Emmy-winning RuPaul. "We got married on his birthday, on the anniversary of the night we met." RuPaul later told Entertainment Tonight that the 2016 election outcome gave the couple the final push.
Speaking of RuPaul, the slate of guest judges has been revealed for the upcoming season of RuPaul's Drag Race, according to NewNowNext.com . Some of the judges include singer Meghan Trainor, trans icon Candis Cayne, actress Lisa Kudrow, entertainer Tamar Braxton, UnREAL star Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman, YouTube star Todrick Hall, the group The B-52's and actor Cheyenne Jackson. The new season stars March 24, VH1 will throw a live viewing party ( on Friday nights ) that Wendy Williams will host, Logo announced.
The Power Rangers is making history as the first big-budget movie to feature a gay superhero, LGBTQ Nation reported. In the movie, Yellow Ranger Trini Kwan, played by Becky G, is shown struggling to accept her sexual orientation. Characters like Wonder Woman, Catwoman, Batwoman, Harley Quinn, Deadpool, Northstar and Iceman have all been shown to be LGBTQ in comic books, but not as much on the big onscreen.
Nate & Jeremiah By Design premieres Saturday, April 8, on TLC, according to a press release. The show follows the couple inside and outside of the home, as they juggle married life and raising their baby daughter, Poppy, while helping distressed homeowners turn disasters into dream homes.
Singer Katy Perry, accepting an award at the Human Rights Campaign Los Angeles' 2017 Annual Gala on March 18, said that even when growing up in a religious household she knew sexuality was a spectrum, Newsday noted. She recalled that during "most of my unconscious adolescence, I prayed the gay away at my Jesus camps. But then in the middle of it all, in a twist of events, I found my gift. And my gift introduced me to people outside my bubble, and my bubble started to burst." The LGBT community, she added, was "nothing like I had been taught to fear. They were the most free, strong, kind and inclusive people I have ever met."
Tyra Banks will return as host of America's Next Top Model, which has been renewed for a 24th cycle and second on VH1, Deadline noted. Banks, who hosted all 22 seasons of Top Model on UPN and the CW, will also continue as executive producer alongside Ken Mok. Banks replaces Rita Ora, who hosted the first Top Model season on VH1. The announcement came days after Banks was announced as the new host of NBC's America's Got Talent.
Rachel Maddow's reveal of Donald Trump's headline-challenged 2005 tax return attracted 4.13 million viewers on March 14—her biggest audience ever, according to Deadline. Her Trump tax reveal nabbed the network's second-biggest audience ever for MSNBC for a regularly scheduled show, behind only the October 29, 2008 episode of Countdown With Keith Olbermann, which had averaged 4.2 million total viewers. That came six days before the 2008 election of then-President Barack Obama.
Ian McKellen thinks controversy surrounding the inclusion of a gay character in Disney's live-action movie Beauty and the Beast is "rubbish," CNN noted. "People who don't like the idea of gay characters appearing in fairy stories should think what they would think if they were gay themselves and why should they be excluded?" McKellen told CNN. Actor Josh Gad's character in the film, LeFou, briefly dances with another male character at the end of the movie. The moment prompted Russia to restrict children under 16 from seeing "Beauty and the Beast" and one drive-in-theater in Alabama not to screen it.
Caitlyn Jenner might be in talks to join the cast of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, a Washington Blade item noted. Naughty Gossip reported that Jenner is considering the reality show after E! cancelled her own show, I Am Cait, due to low viewership. Jenner's memoir The Secrets of My Life—which reportedly accuses Kris Jenner of forcing Caitlyn to hide her transgender identity—will be released April 25.
Toronto-based REVRY—which calls itself "the world's first LGBTQ streaming service dedicated to all forms of digital entertainment created by and for queer and allied audiences"—is launching the dramatic webseries Dorian Gray, a reinterpretation and spiritual successor to Oscar Wilde's The Portrait of Dorian Gray, according to Cycle66.net . The series is a REVRY Original digital series, developed by Canadian Screen Award-nominated creator RJ Lackie ( Inhuman Condition, Darken, All For One ). A trailer is at https://youtu.be/D_EJLXaPu8c.
Penelope Cruz has been tapped to star as Donatella Versace, the sister of murdered fashion designer Gianni Versace, in Versace: American Crime Story—the third installment in the Emmy-winning anthology series from Ryan Murphy, Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson, Deadline reported. Cruz will star opposite Edgar Ramirez and Darren Criss in the 10-episode limited series, which examines the July 1997 assassination of Gianni Versace ( Ramirez ) on the steps of his Miami Beach mansion by sociopath and serial killer Andrew Cunanan ( Criss ).
Two weeks into Shades of Blue's sophomore run, NBC's has renewed the police corruption drama starring Jennifer Lopez and Ray Liotta for a third season, Deadline reported. The plot is as follows: Harlee Santos ( Jennifer Lopez ) is a single mother and resourceful detective at the heart of a tight-knit crew of Brooklyn detectives, led by enigmatic Lt. Matt Wozniak ( Ray Liotta ), who often leads the team to step outside the limitations of the law in order to effectively protect their precinct and their own. The cast also includes includes Drea de Matteo, Dayo Okeniyi, Vincent Laresca, Hampton Fluker, Sarah Jeffery and Gino Anthony Pesi.
Variety will honor Jessica Chastain, Chelsea Clinton, Gayle King, Blake Lively, Audra McDonald and Shari Redstone at its annual Power of Women: New York luncheon on April 21, Page Six noted. The event at Cipriani Midtown will be hosted by Vanessa Bayer ( Saturday Night Live ). Each of the recipients will be featured on a cover of the magazine's upcoming issue, which hits stands on April 18.
Madonna has taken to the internet to find her next trainer, Entertainment Tonight reported. She took to Instagram to spread the news, announcing a partnership with DanceOn and encouraging those qualified to apply online. Those interested in applying must be 18 years or older, have a strong dance and/or choreography background and personal training certification, and can submit video applications ( at DanceOn.com/Madonna ) showing their skills using the hashtags #MadonnaChallenge and #DanceOn.
Faith Hill and Tim McGraw announced that they will release their first joint album, according to an InStyle item that cites Entertainment Weekly. The untitled album is set to be released later this year, but fans will get a taste of what's to come when the first single from the LP, called "Speak to a Girl," debuts March 23. The longtime married couple will also perform the track April 2 at the 52nd Academy of Country Music Awards.
The Daily Show host Trevor Noah has claimed that Senior Trump Adviser Omarosa Manigault bailed on an appearance at the show, Deadline noted. "Today we were supposed to be joined by Senior Trump Adviser Omarosa [Manigault] who, of course was here to promote her episode of 'Say Yes to the Dress'," The Daily Show host Trevor Noah told his viewers. "But at last minute she bailed on us. And the reason she gave—and this is true again," Noah said, anticipating another misunderstanding—"is that the administration did not want her interview on The Daily Show to eclipse the news of the day."
Man of Steel's Henry Cavill has been cast in Paramount's upcoming sequel Mission: Impossible 6, according to Deadline. Director Christopher McQuarrie subtly made the announcement in an Instagram capture that read, "Say, @henrycavill. Had a thought. Curious if you're interested in a role in the 6th installment of Mission: Impossible. No pressure." Cavill responded in the comment section, "How can I say no to a man with such perfect hair….."
Actress and singer Lea Michele has launched the preorder for her upcoming sophomore album, Places, a press release stated. The 11-track album, which is set to release on April 28, features the previously released "Love Is Alive" and new song "Anything's Possible." She will also embark on a national tour of intimate concerts.
Mel B has filed for divorce from her husband of nearly 10 years, Page Six noted. The former Spice Girl and current America's Got Talent judge, whose real name is Melanie Brown, cited irreconcilable differences for her breakup from producer Stephen Belafonte. Her petition was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. They have a 5-year-old daughter together, and Brown is seeking joint custody.
Jeffrey Sanker's White Party Palm Springs will take place May 5-8, according to Business Wire. Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Kyle Richards, singer Belinda Carlisle and DJ Eliad Cohen are slated to appear and/or perform. See JeffreySanker.com .
The Cranberries are set to release Something Else, a new album featuring re-worked renditions of their major hits, as well as brand new material, a press release noted. The album is due April 28 via BMG on digital and CD formats, and includes seminal Cranberries songs like "Linger," "Zombie," "Dreams" and "Ode To My Family." Something Else celebrates the 25th anniversary of the band.
More than two years after Ricardo Medina's roommate was stabbed to death, the ex-Power Rangers actor pleaded guilty today to the death of Josh Sutter, Deadline reported. With sentencing set for March 30, Medina could face up to six-years in state prison. When he was formally arrested in January 2016 on a charge of murder, Medina could have been behind bars for 26 years to life.
